Election law changes? Our legislation tracker’s got you. Check it out!

California's 15th Congressional District election, 2026 (June 2 top-two primary)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge-smaller use.png
U.S. House • Congressional special elections • Governor • Lt. Gov • Attorney General • Secretary of State • State executive offices • State Senate • State Assembly • Supreme court • Appellate courts • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • Recalls • All local elections by county • How to run for office
Flag of California.png


← 2024
California's 15th Congressional District
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Top-two primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 6, 2026
Primary: June 2, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in California

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
California's 15th Congressional District
1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 15th • 16th • 17th • 18th • 19th • 20th • 21st • 22nd • 23rd • 24th • 25th • 26th • 27th • 28th • 29th • 30th • 31st • 32nd • 33rd • 34th • 35th • 36th • 37th • 38th • 39th • 40th • 41st • 42nd • 43rd • 44th • 45th • 46th • 47th • 48th • 49th • 50th • 51st • 52nd
California elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A top-two primary takes place on June 2, 2026, in California's 15th Congressional District to determine which two candidates will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
March 6, 2026
June 2, 2026
November 3, 2026



California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.[1][2]

Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top-two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round of elections.

As of October 2025, California was one of five states to use a top-two primary system, or a variation of the top-two system for some or all statewide primaries. See here for more information.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on California's 15th Congressional District's top-two primary. For more in-depth information on the district's general election, see the following page:

Candidates and election results


Nonpartisan primary

Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 15

Incumbent Kevin Mullin (D), Anthony Dang (D), Mantosh Kumar (D), Charles Hoelter (R), and Jim Garrity (No party preference) are running in the primary for U.S. House California District 15 on June 2, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Kevin Mullin
Kevin Mullin (D)
Image of Anthony Dang
Anthony Dang (D)  Candidate Connection
Image of Mantosh Kumar
Mantosh Kumar (D)  Candidate Connection
Image of Charles Hoelter
Charles Hoelter (R)  Candidate Connection
Image of Jim Garrity
Jim Garrity (No party preference)

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = 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

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Anthony Dang

Image of Anthony Dang

Website

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I grew up in Foster City, the son of a Vietnam War refugee who came to this country with nothing. In 2004, my brother Andrew was killed in Iraq. I enlisted in the Marine Corps at 18 with Combat Assault Battalion and 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. I fought in the 2nd Battle of Ramadi, where I was shot, survived two IED blasts, and lost close friends in combat. I came home with a 100% permanent disability rating from the VA and wounds that don't fully heal. After nearly not surviving the transition home, I rebuilt my life through education and service. I earned my degree in Political Science from UC San Diego and a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard, where I studied national security, public finance, and evidence-based policy. I've worked at nonprofits serving combat veterans, at the Pentagon analyzing defense budgets and national security programs, and in the defense industry, where I reported waste and fraud and was terminated in retaliation. I live in Belmont with my wife, Anne, a fellow Marine, and our two sons, one of whom has special needs. I'm the founder of ProConcordia, a civic technology startup focused on making government more transparent and accessible to everyday citizens. My background spans government, defense, aerospace, technology, and nonprofit work, and my career has centered on accountability, evidence-based decision making, and fighting for people the system overlooks."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Working families in San Mateo County are being priced out of the communities they built. My own family has experienced financial instability after I was terminated for doing the right thing. I know what it feels like to wonder whether you can stay in the place you call home. In Congress, I will push for federal incentives to build affordable housing, renter protections, and cracking down on corporate landlords who treat our neighborhoods like investment portfolios. The people of this district should not have to choose between staying close to their jobs and schools or being able to afford rent.

Accountability for the rich and powerful. I've seen corruption from the inside. I worked at the Pentagon, then moved into the defense industry, where I witnessed waste and fraud on programs funded by taxpayer dollars. When I reported it, I was fired. That experience taught me something this district already knows: the rules don't apply equally. The wealthy and well-connected operate by a different set of standards, and the people who speak up pay the price. In Congress, I will fight for transparency in government spending, stronger whistleblower protections, and real consequences for those who abuse public trust. Accountability is not a talking point for me. It cost me my career.

I'm raising two sons on the Peninsula, one of whom has special needs. My wife and I have fought for every service and accommodation our family needs, and we know how broken the system can be for families like ours. My father came to this country as a Vietnam War refugee. I know what is at stake when the government turns against its own communities. In Congress, I will work to expand disability services, strengthen protections under IDEA, and defend immigrant families from federal overreach. I'm running to protect the people this system was built to overlook.

Charles Hoelter

Image of Charles Hoelter

Website

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "Retired UPS Supervisor ( worked there for 25+ years) Lived in S.F. for 27 years then moved to San Mateo County where i have resided for 36 more years. Married for 31 years and have 3 children"

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Working on keeping men out of women sports

Term limits on politicians

Voter ID for elections so only US citizens and clean up voter roles for all states

Mantosh Kumar

Image of Mantosh Kumar

WebsiteFacebook

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

An Affordability Crisis - Our CA-15 communities are suffering from skyrocketing costs for essentials like groceries, insurance, taxes, and utilities are outpacing wages. Teachers, nurses, and police can't afford to live in the communities that they serve and endure long commutes. Heartbroken retirees are forced to leave their long-time homes where they lived all their lives. This cruel, unsustainable situation stems from years of unrepresentative, PAC-funded, self-serving politics. As your Congressman, I will fight back by recognizing healthcare as a right ("Medicare for All"), repealing Trump’s inflationary tariffs, and holding insurance companies and county boards accountable for arbitrarily raising premiums and property taxes.

Fight authoritarianism - Tired of Democrats' weak-kneed response to Trump and his enablers' assault on democracy? Mantosh Kumar will change that. As your Congressman, Mantosh—a bold Democrat challenger—will fiercely defend our institutions: impeach threats to elections, expose authoritarian plots, and unite us against subversion. No more tepid talk; he'll lead historic reforms to safeguard voting rights, curb executive overreach, and restore civility in Washington. Inspired by Lincoln, FDR and JFK, Mantosh will fight for you—affordable housing, healthcare, and a thriving economy—while battling the forces eroding our republic. Vote Mantosh Kumar: The fighter CA-15 needs to alter history's course. Join at mantosh.us. #MantoshForCongress

Get ready for the future - In AI's transformative era, Mantosh Kumar— a tech-business leader — is uniquely suited to prepare our kids, educators, and workforce. With decades solving complex challenges, driving large-scale ops excellence, Mantosh will champion AI training programs: empowering schools with AI curricula, up-skilling teachers to inspire excitement over fear, and retraining workers for AI-driven jobs. He'll partner with tech firms for apprenticeships, advocate ethical AI policies to protect privacy/jobs, fund community AI labs for hands-on learning, and push legislation for safety nets like transition grants —ensuring prosperity for all Americans.

Voting information

See also: Voting in California

Election information in California: June 2, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: June 2, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by May 18, 2026
  • Online: May 18, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: N/A
  • By mail: N/A by N/A
  • Online: N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: N/A
  • By mail: N/A by N/A

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

May 23, 2026 to June 1, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (PT)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Kevin Mullin Democratic Party $545,680 $368,324 $229,127 As of December 31, 2025
Anthony Dang Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Mantosh Kumar Democratic Party $7,384 $1,421 $5,963 As of December 31, 2025
Charles Hoelter Republican Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Jim Garrity No party preference $0 $0 $0 Data not available***

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district before and after redistricting ahead of the 2026 election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map used in the 2024 election next to the map in place for the 2026 election. Click on a map below to enlarge it.

2024

2023_01_03_ca_congressional_district_015.jpg

2026

2027_01_03_ca_congressional_district_15.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026
Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is D+26. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 26 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 15th the 26th most Democratic district nationally.[3]

2024 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in California's 15th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
72.2%24.3%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in California, 2024

California presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 16 Democratic wins
  • 15 Republican wins
  • 1 other win
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party R R R P[4] D R R R D D D D D R R R D R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D
See also: Party control of California state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of California's congressional delegation as of March 2026.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from California
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 2 43 45
Republican 0 7 7
Independent 0 1 1
Vacancies 0 1 1
Total 2 52 54

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in California's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in California, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorDemocratic Party Gavin Newsom
Lieutenant GovernorDemocratic Party Eleni Kounalakis
Secretary of StateDemocratic Party Shirley Weber
Attorney GeneralDemocratic Party Rob Bonta

State legislature

California State Senate

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 30
     Republican Party 10
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 40

California State Assembly

Party As of October 2025
     Democratic Party 60
     Republican Party 20
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 80

Trifecta control

California Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty years with Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R R R D D D D D R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
Assembly D D D S R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in California in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in California, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
California U.S. House All candidates 40-60 $1,740 3/6/2026 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ California Legislative Information, "California Constitution, Article II, Section 5," accessed October 29, 2025
  2. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed October 29, 2025
  3. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  4. ↑ Progressive Party


California's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Alex Padilla (D)
Adam Schiff (D)
Representatives
District 1
Vacant
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
Ami Bera (D)
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
Adam Gray (D)
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
Ro Khanna (D)
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
Jim Costa (D)
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
Raul Ruiz (D)
District 26
District 27
District 28
Judy Chu (D)
District 29
Luz Rivas (D)
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
Ted Lieu (D)
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
Young Kim (R)
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
Dave Min (D)
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
Democratic Party (45)
Republican Party (7)
Independent (1)
Vacancies (1)


Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=California%27s_15th_Congressional_District_election,_2026_(June_2_top-two_primary)&oldid=11031794"