Gomez Loses 34th District as 16 of 18 LA County Incumbents Win

Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez lost his bid for reelection in California’s 34th Congressional District on Wednesday, November 4. The Associated Press projected that Democratic socialist Angela Gonzales-Torres would take the seat, which includes downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, Highland Park, and Eagle Rock. Gomez is currently facing a House ethics investigation regarding alleged sexual misconduct, a claim he has denied. His defeat marks the only apparent loss for an incumbent representative from Los Angeles County in this cycle.

The Associated Press had called 16 of the county’s 18 congressional races by Wednesday afternoon. In those decided contests, nearly every incumbent secured reelection. Rep. George Whitesides in the 27th District won a solid victory. He received about 62% of the vote compared to 38% for Republican challenger Jason Gibbs. Whitesides first won this northern Los Angeles County district two years ago in a highly competitive race. Recent redistricting made the district more Democratic, contributing to his comfortable lead in this election.

Two races remained undecided as of Wednesday afternoon. In the 23rd District, Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte held a slight lead over Democrat Tessa Lynn Hodge. The district covers parts of the Inland Empire, Kern County, and northern Los Angeles County. Obernolte had 51.3% of the vote, or 67,169 ballots, while Hodge had 48.7%, or 63,681 ballots. That gap of fewer than 4,000 votes represented a narrow margin for the three-term congressmember, who won reelection by 60% two years ago.

Hodge is a social worker and business owner. The 23rd District has a plurality of Republican voters, with nearly 24,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats. Obernolte also held a financial advantage. His latest Federal Election Commission filings showed nearly $1.4 million in cash on hand. Hodge reported having just $12,000 in mid-October. Michael Trujillo, a Democratic strategist based in Los Angeles, said the close race reflected a national trend. He described the result as a potential heartbeat for the Democratic challenger in a race that was not initially targeted by national Democrats.

In the 29th District, Rep. Luz Rivas maintained a commanding lead over Democratic challenger Angélica María Dueñas. Rivas was ahead with approximately 60% of the vote, while Dueñas had 40%. Dueñas is a community organizer and human resources specialist. The 29th District includes Panorama City, Arleta, Van Nuys, Valley Village, Sylmar, and San Fernando. Redistricting adjusted the district’s boundaries, removing parts of the Kagel and Lopez Canyon areas and extending east along the Foothill 210 freeway toward Sunland.

Democrats represent 52% of registered voters in the 29th District, while Republicans make up 18%. About 25% of voters in the district have no party preference. Rivas is seeking a second term in office. The district’s voting patterns suggest a comfortable path to victory for the incumbent, unlike the tighter contest in the 23rd District.

Statewide, the California secretary of state’s office reported that nearly 8 million voters cast ballots out of more than 23 million registered voters. Some competitive contests may take days or weeks of ballot counting before a winner is declared. Election results will not be considered official until next month. Local election officials must certify their county’s results by December 3. The California secretary of state must then certify all state election results by December 11.

The 2026 midterm elections concluded on Tuesday. The final certification process ensures that all ballots are counted and verified according to state regulations. The outcome in the 34th District stands as the primary change in leadership for Los Angeles County’s congressional delegation, while the 23rd District race remains the most closely watched undecided contest in the region.