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Jonathan Wagoner
From Ballotpedia
Jonathan Wagoner (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 26th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Wagoner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jonathan Wagoner was born in Burbank, California. His career experience includes working as a business owner.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: California's 26th Congressional District election, 2026
Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House California District 26
Incumbent Julia Brownley, Samuel Gallucci, Michael Koslow, and Jonathan Wagoner are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 26 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Julia Brownley (D) | |
 | Samuel Gallucci (R) | |
 | Michael Koslow (R) | |
 | Jonathan Wagoner (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. | ||||
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jonathan Wagoner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wagoner's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m Jonathan Wagoner, a husband, father, small business owner, and proud resident of Ventura County. I wasn’t born into politics. I was raised by a single mother who taught me the value of hard work, faith, and community.
I started working right out of high school, cleaning carpets and later working in management at a large retail chain, before launching my own restoration company and eventually co-founding a digital marketing business to help other local service businesses grow.
I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is to build something from nothing, how broken our systems can be, and how out of touch many of our elected officials are. I’m not running for Congress to become part of the political machine. I’m running because I believe Ventura County deserves a representative who’s been in the trenches, understands real-world struggles, and is ready to bring people together to find real solutions.- I’m not a career politician. I’m just a regular guy who has lived the challenges Ventura County families face every day. I’m running for Congress to bring common-sense leadership, restore trust, and focus on real solutions instead of party politics. It’s time to put people over partisanship and elect someone who has been in the trenches and understands what it means to work hard, listen, and lead with integrity.
- I believe leadership means showing up, listening, and getting things done. Ventura County deserves a representative who will put the community first, not party agendas. I’ll work across the aisle to protect working families, support small businesses, and bring accountability back to government. I’m here to make a real difference for the people who call this place home.
- I’m running to bring Ventura County the kind of leadership it deserves, grounded in real-life experience, not political ambition. I’ve built businesses, faced challenges, and worked hard to create opportunities for others. In Congress, I’ll bring that same drive to fight for working families, protect our local economy, and deliver solutions that actually improve lives. This campaign is about service, not status.
I’m passionate about public policy that strengthens working families, supports small businesses, and restores trust in government. I care deeply about economic opportunity, lowering the cost of living, and reducing the red tape that holds entrepreneurs back. I believe in term limits, improving public safety, and protecting our seniors by ensuring they have access to quality care, financial security, and the respect they’ve earned. Above all, I want policies that put people over politics and deliver real results for Ventura County.
I look up to my mom more than anyone. She raised me and my brother as a single mother, worked hard every day, and never gave up even when things were tough. She beat cancer, kept our family together, and showed me what real strength, faith, and resilience look like. Her example taught me to work hard, stay grounded, and always put people first. If I can lead with even a fraction of her courage and heart, I will be doing something right.
The most important qualities in an elected official are integrity, accountability, and a willingness to listen. We need leaders who show up, tell the truth, and follow through. An official should serve the people, not a party or personal ambition. They should lead with humility, make decisions based on what is right rather than what is politically convenient, and always remember they work for the community.
I bring a strong work ethic, real-life experience, and a deep commitment to serving others. I have built businesses from the ground up, led teams, and navigated challenges that many families and small business owners face every day. I listen before I speak, I lead with integrity, and I follow through on what I say. I believe these qualities, combined with my passion for our community, would make me an effective and accountable representative.
The core responsibilities of a member of Congress are to represent the people, protect the Constitution, and deliver real results for their district. That means listening to the community, writing and voting on legislation that improves lives, and holding the federal government accountable. It also means being accessible, transparent, and always putting the interests of the people above politics or party lines.
I’m not focused on leaving a legacy. Focusing too much on legacy can become a distraction from serving others. I want to stay present, do the work, and make decisions based on what is right for the people I represent. If anything is remembered, I hope it is that I showed up, listened, and did everything I could to make life better for my community.
The first historical event I clearly remember is September 11th. I was 12 years old at the time. Even at that young age, I knew the world had changed. I remember the fear, the confusion, and the deep sense of unity that followed.
My very first job was working as a janitor at my church. I was just a teenager, and I held that job for a little over two years. It taught me the value of hard work, showing up on time, and taking pride in every task, no matter how small. That experience shaped a lot of how I approach work and service today.
Beyond by Leon Bridges
The House of Representatives is unique because it is the chamber closest to the people. With two-year terms and smaller districts, members of the House are held accountable more frequently and are expected to stay closely connected to their communities. It was designed to reflect the voice of the people, and when it functions as intended, it ensures that everyday Americans have a seat at the table in shaping the direction of our country.
Experience in government can be helpful, but it should not be a requirement. What matters most is integrity, leadership, and a willingness to serve the people, not a political agenda. In many cases, career politicians become disconnected from the real world. I believe bringing in people with real-life experience in business, family, and community can lead to better, more practical decision-making. Washington needs more common sense and fewer career insiders.
One of our greatest challenges over the next decade will be restoring trust in our institutions and bridging the divide between Americans. We’re facing rising costs of living, a struggling middle class, a broken immigration system, and increasing threats to national security. At the same time, we need to address government overreach, protect individual freedoms, and get serious about fiscal responsibility. Meeting these challenges will take real leadership, common sense, and the courage to put country before politics.
I believe two-year terms keep representatives accountable, which is important. They are a reminder that elected officials work for the people and must stay connected to their communities. However, the short term also means constant campaigning, which can distract from doing the job. I support exploring reforms that maintain accountability while allowing more time to focus on results. Ultimately, what matters most is how a representative uses their time in office to serve the people with integrity and purpose.
I fully support term limits. Public service should never become a lifelong career. When politicians stay in office too long, they lose touch with the people they’re supposed to represent. Term limits bring fresh ideas, new energy, and real accountability. They help prevent corruption, reduce influence from lobbyists, and ensure that elected officials stay focused on serving the people not holding onto power.
Yes, I believe compromise is both necessary and desirable in policymaking, as long as it does not require sacrificing core values. In a country as diverse as ours, we will not agree on everything, but that should not stop us from finding common ground. Good leadership means listening, negotiating in good faith, and delivering results that move us forward. We need less political grandstanding and more real solutions. Compromise, when done right, is not a sign of weakness but a sign of a functioning democracy.
The power to originate revenue bills is a critical responsibility, and I would take that role seriously. If elected, I would prioritize using this authority to push for fiscally responsible policies that ease the burden on working families, support small businesses, and reduce wasteful spending. Every dollar raised and spent by the federal government should be accountable to the people. I would focus on making sure tax and spending policies reflect the needs of Ventura County, not special interests in Washington.
I’m interested in serving on committees that focus on the real challenges facing everyday Americans. The Small Business Committee stands out because I know firsthand how hard it is to build and sustain a business. I’m also interested in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which is critical for Ventura County’s growth and safety, and the Oversight and Accountability Committee to help restore trust in government. I want to be where I can make the biggest impact for the people I serve.
I believe financial transparency and government accountability are non-negotiable. Taxpayers deserve to know how every dollar is being spent and why. We need to eliminate waste, expose backroom deals, and make sure elected officials are held to the same standards as the people they represent. I support strict oversight and public access to spending and voting records. Trust in government starts with telling the truth and leading by example.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
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
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 3, 2025
Senators
Alex Padilla (D)
Adam Schiff (D)
Representatives
District 1
Doug LaMalfa (R)
District 2
Jared Huffman (D)
District 3
Kevin Kiley (R)
District 4
Mike Thompson (D)
District 5
Tom McClintock (R)
District 6
Ami Bera (D)
District 7
Doris Matsui (D)
District 8
John Garamendi (D)
District 9
Josh Harder (D)
District 10
Mark DeSaulnier (D)
District 11
Nancy Pelosi (D)
District 12
Lateefah Simon (D)
District 13
Adam Gray (D)
District 14
Eric Swalwell (D)
District 15
Kevin Mullin (D)
District 16
Sam Liccardo (D)
District 17
Ro Khanna (D)
District 18
Zoe Lofgren (D)
District 19
Jimmy Panetta (D)
District 20
Vince Fong (R)
District 21
Jim Costa (D)
District 22
David Valadao (R)
District 23
Jay Obernolte (R)
District 24
Salud Carbajal (D)
District 25
Raul Ruiz (D)
District 26
Julia Brownley (D)
District 27
District 28
Judy Chu (D)
District 29
Luz Rivas (D)
District 30
Laura Friedman (D)
District 31
Gil Cisneros (D)
District 32
Brad Sherman (D)
District 33
Pete Aguilar (D)
District 34
Jimmy Gomez (D)
District 35
Norma Torres (D)
District 36
Ted Lieu (D)
District 37
District 38
Linda Sánchez (D)
District 39
Mark Takano (D)
District 40
Young Kim (R)
District 41
Ken Calvert (R)
District 42
Robert Garcia (D)
District 43
Maxine Waters (D)
District 44
Nanette Barragán (D)
District 45
Derek Tran (D)
District 46
Lou Correa (D)
District 47
Dave Min (D)
District 48
Darrell Issa (R)
District 49
Mike Levin (D)
District 50
Scott Peters (D)
District 51
Sara Jacobs (D)
District 52
Juan Vargas (D)
Democratic Party (45)
Republican Party (9)
