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Brian Forde
Brian Forde (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 45th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Biography
Forde's professional experience includes working at Cyberfrog Technologies, Llamadas Heladas, United States Peace Corps, The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, MIT Media Lab, and MIT Sloan School of Management. He earned his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his M.B.A. from London Business School.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: California's 45th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House California District 45
Incumbent Derek Tran, Brian Forde, Mark Leonard, Chi Charlie Nguyen, and Michelle Steel are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 45 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Derek Tran (D) | |
 | Brian Forde (D) | |
 | Mark Leonard (R)  | |
 | Chi Charlie Nguyen (R) | |
 | Michelle Steel (R) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2020
See also: California's 45th Congressional District election, 2020
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 45
Incumbent Katie Porter defeated Greg Raths in the general election for U.S. House California District 45 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Katie Porter (D) | 53.5 | 221,843 |
 | Greg Raths (R) | 46.5 | 193,096 | |
| Total votes: 414,939 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 45
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 45 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Katie Porter (D) | 50.8 | 112,986 |
| ✔ | | Greg Raths (R) | 17.9 | 39,942 |
 | Don Sedgwick (R) | 12.8 | 28,465 | |
 | Peggy Huang (R) | 11.1 | 24,780 | |
 | Lisa Sparks (R) | 4.0 | 8,861 | |
 | Christopher Gonzales (R) | 2.4 | 5,443 | |
 | Rhonda Furin (R) | 1.0 | 2,140 | |
| Total votes: 222,617 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brian Forde (D)
- Julie Proctor (R)
- Mimi Walters (R)
- Brenton Woolworth (R)
- Ray Gennawey (R)
- Aditya Pai (D)
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 45
Katie Porter defeated incumbent Mimi Walters in the general election for U.S. House California District 45 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Katie Porter (D) | 52.1 | 158,906 |
 | Mimi Walters (R) | 47.9 | 146,383 | |
| Total votes: 305,289 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 45
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 45 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mimi Walters (R) | 51.7 | 86,764 |
| ✔ | | Katie Porter (D) | 20.3 | 34,078 |
 | Dave Min (D) | 17.8 | 29,979 | |
| Brian Forde (D) | 6.0 | 10,107 | |
| John Graham (Independent) | 2.3 | 3,817 | ||
 | Kia Hamadanchy (D) | 1.9 | 3,212 | |
| Total votes: 167,957 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Greg Ramsay (D)
- Eric Rywalski (D)
- Ron Varasteh (D)
Endorsements
- Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.)
- Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.)
- 314 Action
| Click [show] to see more endorsements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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Campaign finance
Campaign finance disclosures from May 16, 2018, showed the following:
- Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.5 million and had nearly $1.6 million in cash on hand.
- Brian Forde had raised nearly $1.5 million and had nearly $550,000 in cash on hand.
- Katie Porter had raised about $1.15 million and had about $172,000 in cash on hand.
- David Min had raised about $1.1 million and had nearly $250,000 in cash on hand.
- Kia Hamadanchy had raised more than $620,000 and had nearly $90,000 in cash on hand.
Campaign finance disclosures for the first quarter of 2018 showed the following:
- Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.2 million and had nearly $1.7 million in cash on hand.
- Brian Forde had raised more than $1.2 million and had more than $660,000 in cash on hand.
- Katie Porter had raised more than $1 million and had more than $575,000 in cash on hand.
- David Min had raised almost $900,000 and had more than $385,000 in cash on hand.
- Kia Hamadanchy had raised almost $575,000 and had nearly $150,000 in cash on hand.
The table below contains data from FEC Quarterly October 2017 reports. It includes only candidates who reported at least $10,000 in campaign contributions as of September 30, 2017.[4]
Democrats
Republicans
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
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You can ask Brian Forde to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing info@forde.com.
2020
Brian Forde did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Campaign website
Forde’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE In Congress, I will fight to: Rejoin the Paris Climate Accord Achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050 Divest of all federal funds from the fossil fuel industry Prevent offshore oil drilling Transition immediately to a clean energy economy that limits global average temperature increase to 1.5–2 C° above pre-industrial levels. PROVIDING A MODERN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM In Congress, I will fight to: Expand Medicare for all – limiting excess spending and curbing cost overages while providing exceptional healthcare for all Americans Create an Open Source Electronic Medical Record system Expand Medicaid and prevent applicants from having to drug test or meet work requirements in order to qualify Expand funding for the NIH and advocate for evidence-based research and practice guidelines Expand WIC, CHIP, and other programs for underserved and marginalized communities Protect Planned Parenthood and expand Title X family planning funding PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE In Congress, I will: Fight efforts to privatize Social Security and leave it vulnerable to the whims of the stock market Resist any attempts to cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or pull money out of Social Security to pay for other government programs Oppose efforts to turn Medicare into a voucher system, leaving the burden of health care on to the backs of seniors Allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices as the Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicaid currently do Demand better transparency from Medicare to diminish fraud and waste PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE From Sandy Hook to San Bernardino, gun violence has impacted far too many in our nation. One in three Americans knows someone who has been shot, including me. It's time we put books before bullets and focus on learning, not lockdowns. It's time we get rid of 18th century laws that do not reflect the reality of dangerous 21st century weapons of war. It's time 60- to 70-year olds in Congress fought the NRA with the tenacity with which 16- and 17-year-olds who cannot legally vote fight. I am proud to be a Moms Demand Action "Gun Sense Candidate of Distinction" and refuse any contributions from the NRA. In Congress, I will fight to: Digitize gun records Demand universal background checks Close the gun show and online loopholes that allow guns to be sold without background checks Create tax incentives and research funds for Gun Safety Technology Ban bump stocks Mandate National Gun Violence Restraining Orders Halt the sale of high-capacity magazines and the AR-15 assault-style rifle used in the Stoneman Douglas shooting Reinstate the Federal Assault Weapons Ban DEFENDING WOMEN'S RIGHTS & HEALTH At the White House, I worked with the Council on Women and Girls to advance women's equality, and diversity in the technology industry. I also helped launch the Department of Labor's Equal Pay App Challenge, an innovative initiative to arm women with the tools to negotiate higher wages. In Congress, I will fight for: Equal Pay for Women – It's been 54 years since President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act and we are still fighting the gender wage gap. I will support the Paycheck Fairness Act to bring women's wages to equal measure with men's. Paid Family Leave Fully funding the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to strengthen the agency's capacity to investigate sexual harassment Individual families maintaining control of decisions about family planning and a women's right to choose Planned Parenthood, a vital organization that provides healthcare for 1 in 3 women in America PASSING COMPASSIONATE IMMIGRATION REFORM As a member of Congress, I will: Support a clean DACA bill that provides a path to citizenship for DREAMers Provide a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million hardworking and tax-paying undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Work to reduce the fraud and abuse of H-1B and L1 visas fraud that enables companies to underpay foreign workers and replace American workers Propose the Keep Families Together Act which will prevent immigration authorities from separating undocumented parents from their children STANDING UP FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS In Congress, I will support: Condemning and fighting the offensive and un-American Trump-Pence transgender troop ban – because those who step up to serve in our military deserve our thanks and respect, not discrimination Strengthening federal and state hate crime laws Funding of federal programs that serve the LGBTQ community and those living with HIV and AIDS Mandating federal workplace protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Enacting federal anti-bullying laws to protect LGBTQ students and support putting into law protections for transgender Americans EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION In Congress, I will fight for: Debt-free college education Improved access to Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math Comprehensive computer science and coding instruction from 1st to 12th grade Pre-K for All Loan forgiveness for public school teachers DEFENDING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY But I also know that 21st century warfare is being fought online. Companies are being hacked, elections are being manipulated, and our electrical grid is vulnerable to attack by foreign governments. In Congress, I will fight to: Put further sanctions on North Korea Put pressure on the President to rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal Increase federal funding for the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) Upgrade our government's technology with a $3B IT Modernization Fund Pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act which would create an independent, bipartisan-appointed commission to investigate foreign interference in the 2016 election and prevent future attacks PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY & DATA Facebook to Equifax – if companies choose to profit off of your data, they have a solemn responsibility to protect your private information from being stolen. Oil companies are responsible for paying for their oil spills – and data companies should be responsible for paying for their data spills. In Congress, I will fight to: Protect all citizens from warrantless data collection Inform citizens about who can access the information that they put on the Internet Defend our constitutional rights to individual privacy Ensure an open and free Internet by supporting legislation to reinstitute net neutrality GROWING A STRONG ECONOMY & JOBS Of course, at the center of a stable economy ought to be a robust middle class – where all children grow up in safe, state-of-the-art schools; where college is affordable and workers are paid a livable wage; where every family has access to quality, affordable health care; and where seniors are guaranteed their benefits after a lifetime of hard work. In Congress, I will: Fight to increase wages and benefits to address the high cost of living in Orange County Support an increase in the minimum wage to $15 and peg it to inflation Expand support for job training programs for veterans Work to grow our investments in alternative and renewable “green energy” that creates 21st century jobs Support expansion of technical and vocational schools, as an alternative to higher education, so students can gain the skills and hands-on experience they need to jump into specialized careers with companies that are ready and eager to hire REFORMING OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM Americans also deserve equal protection under the law. Yet, when minorities are arrested at higher rates than Caucasians, injustice prevails. I believe in safeguarding the civil liberties of all Americans. In Congress, I will: Focus on investing in education, economic growth, and jobs -- investing in opportunity instead of squandering tax dollars building more prisons Fight to diminish the prevalence of extended solitary confinement Support programs that keep children who have been in the juvenile justice system from falling into a lifetime in the prison system Support services that facilitate successful reintegration of inmates into communities Sponsor the Racial Profiling Prevention Act Work to rebuild the civil rights protections broken down by the Trump administration HONORING OUR VETERANS In Congress, I will fight to: Fully fund the Veterans Administration Support all efforts to address the Veterans claims processing backlog Resist efforts by the Trump Administration to privatize the Veterans Administration Propose the G-IT Bill to provide funding to teach coding to returning veterans, to prepare them for leadership roles in the 21st-century economy. This bill would cover computer science degrees at universities, coding boot camps, incentives for businesses to hire G-IT grads, and allow service-members wounded in combat to finish their service attaining a computer science education. ADDRESSING INCOME INEQUALITY In Congress, I will fight to: Repeal the GOP Tax Bill which gives $1.5 trillion gift to large corporations and dramatically increases our deficit Raise the minimum wage to $15 and peg it to inflation Develop a fairer tax code that ensures everyone to pays their fair share SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING In Congress, I will fight to: Strengthen and expand the Housing Credit, to incentivize developers to create more affordable housing in our community Better fund federal rental housing subsidies for individuals and families most at risk for homelessness DEFINE OUR FUTURE Brian's experience and accomplishments have uniquely prepared him to serve in Congress at a time when technology is impacting every part of our lives. Brian has spent his life fighting to reverse climate change because he believes it is an urgent and moral obligation to our future generations to preserve and protect the Earth. He was personally selected by President Obama to lead the Climate Data Initiative, an effort to leverage open government data resources to forge cross-sector partnerships and build tools that will make America's communities more resilient to climate change. Brian believes that science is fact and that technology can be an equalizer and expand opportunity for all. In the Obama White House, he led Tech Hire, a program to broaden the availability of coding bootcamps across the country and provide technology jobs for women, people of color, and veterans. Brian believes that if you served our country, we are forever indebted to you for your service. That's why he will propose a new "G-IT" Bill that would retrain veterans and prepare them for leadership roles in the 21st-century economy. The bill would cover computer science degrees at universities, incentivize businesses to hire G-IT grads, and allow service-members wounded in combat to finish their service by attaining a computer science degree or completing coding bootcamps. [5] |
” |
| —Brian Forde’s campaign website (2018)[6] | ||
Response to Ballotpedia
Forde provided the following description of his political philosophy to Ballotpedia:
| “ | Americans are looking for new leaders — people who understand where they’re coming from and actually want to get things done.
As an entrepreneur, technologist, and policymaker, I’ve spent my entire career finding ways to bring government policies and business models into the 21st century – making them serve people the way they expect and deserve to be served. Our values are being challenged by an Administration hell-bent on taking us back to the injustices of the past, our full time jobs are turning into gigs, and our gigs are being automated out of existence. At this unique moment in history we have a choice. We can define our future or we can be defined by it. I choose to define it.[1][5] |
” |
| —Brian Forde, 2018 | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on February 2, 2018
- ↑ Ballotpedia's Elections Team, “Email communication with Mike Stern," Communications Director for Brian Forde For Congress (CA-45), March 27, 2018
- ↑ Ballotpedia's Elections Team, “Email communication with Caron S. Berkley, Communications Director, Brian Forde for Congress," May 1, 2018
- ↑ FEC, "Federal Election Commission," accessed November 5, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Brian Ford for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
