Joe Kerr

Joe Kerr

Democratic Party

Candidate, U.S. House California District 40

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 3, 2026

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Profession

Firefighter

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Joe Kerr (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 40th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.^[source]

Biography

Joe Kerr's career experience includes working as a firefighter in roles such as fire captain with the Orange County Fire Authority. He was elected as the first president of the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, a position he held for 17 years, and was the vice president of the California Professional Firefighters and the Orange County Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO). Kerr also served as vice chair of the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Elections

2026

See also: California's 40th 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 40

The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 40 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Young Kim (R)
		Christina Gagnier (D)
		Joe Kerr (D)
		Nina Linh (D)
		Perry Meade (D)
		Lisa Ramirez (D)
		Paula Swift (D)
		Esther Kim Varet (D)
	Submit photo	Maricar Payad (American Independent Party)
	Submit photo	Christian Ahmed (No party preference)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Christian Mendez (D)

Endorsements

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2024

See also: California's 40th Congressional District election, 2024

California's 40th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 40

Incumbent Young Kim defeated Joe Kerr in the general election for U.S. House California District 40 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Young Kim (R)	55.3	211,998
		Joe Kerr (D)	44.7	171,637

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 383,635
= 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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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 40

Incumbent Young Kim and Joe Kerr defeated Allyson Damikolas in the primary for U.S. House California District 40 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Young Kim (R)	56.4	109,963
✔		Joe Kerr (D)	25.6	49,965
		Allyson Damikolas (D)	18.0	35,153

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 195,081
= 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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2022

See also: California State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for California State Senate District 38

Catherine Blakespear defeated Matt Gunderson in the general election for California State Senate District 38 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Catherine Blakespear (D)	52.2	190,992
		Matt Gunderson (R)	47.8	174,581

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 365,573
= 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 California State Senate District 38

Matt Gunderson and Catherine Blakespear defeated Joe Kerr in the primary for California State Senate District 38 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matt Gunderson (R)	45.9	106,358
✔		Catherine Blakespear (D)	43.0	99,583
		Joe Kerr (D)	11.2	25,908

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 231,849
= 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.

2018

See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, California (2018)

General election

General election for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 4

Doug Chaffee defeated Tim Shaw in the general election for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 4 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Doug Chaffee (Nonpartisan)	50.4	76,859
	Submit photo	Tim Shaw (Nonpartisan)	49.6	75,537

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 152,396
= 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 Orange County Board of Supervisors District 4

The following candidates ran in the primary for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 4 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Tim Shaw (Nonpartisan)	20.6	18,171
✔		Doug Chaffee (Nonpartisan)	20.5	18,093
		Joe Kerr (Nonpartisan)	20.1	17,717
		Lucille Kring (Nonpartisan)	17.4	15,347
	Submit photo	Rose Espinoza (Nonpartisan)	11.8	10,397
	Submit photo	Cynthia Aguirre (Nonpartisan)	9.6	8,419

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 88,144
= 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.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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You can ask Joe Kerr to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing info@joekerrforcongress.com.

2024

Joe Kerr did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Kerr’s campaign website stated the following:

“	We have enough talkers in Congress. It’s time for leaders who will champion the most critical issues facing our country. That’s why you can count on me in Congress - I’ll fight like hell to protect reproductive freedom, offer solutions to climate change and gun violence, advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, and create an economy that works for all people. Protect Reproductive Freedom Reproductive freedom is personal to me. My son, Joey, was conceived through IVF (in vitro fertilization) which was protected by Roe v. Wade. Without Roe v. Wade, I would not be a dad. This personal experience ingrained in me a deep commitment to protect women’s healthcare and their freedom of choice. I will fight to: >>> Codify Roe v. Wade >>> Protect and advance reproductive freedom >>> Protect Planned Parenthood from the anti-choice lobby >>> Expand protections in women’s healthcare >>> Improve access to affordable healthcare >>> Advance paid maternity leave >>> Improve access to contraception and safe and legal abortion >>> Repeal the Hyde Amendment Tackle Climate Change We should be tired of politicians that talk about climate change but do nothing about it. I have concrete solutions that will reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate climatic extremes. I didn’t fight fires to just save lives and personal property - I fought them to also save the environment. Climatic extremes are deteriorating our environment and creating environmental injustice - wildfires are one of the main causes of these extremes. Most don’t know this, but one 100,000-acre wildfire produces more CO2 greenhouse gas emissions than 7 million cars running simultaneously and continuously for a year. Even a 1-acre fire releases 12 tons of CO2 greenhouse gas emissions that remain in the atmosphere for the next 100 years. And in California, we can burn upwards of 4 million acres per year. No other member of Congress would have this expertise. We can’t solve climate change without solving wildfires first. Who better to solve this problem than a 34-year firefighter. In Congress, I’ll fight to: >>> Secure federal funding for AI technology that would identify wildfires across California before they become out-of-control >>> Hold serial polluters accountable. As Vice Chair of the Regional Water Quality Control Board, I was one of the first in the country to fine serial polluters. I’ve done it before, I’ll do it again. Economy That Works for All As a labor leader, I have worked on behalf of California’s working people for decades. I led the charge to pass over 200 bills and initiatives and get them signed into law, some of which addressed policies to help working people. I will take this experience in the labor movement with me to Congress in an effort to create an economy that works for all people. I will: >>> Fight for good jobs because good jobs feed a good economy. Jobs with healthy benefits so that workers can invest back into the economy. >>> Support small businesses >>> Ensure major corporations pay their fair share >>> Fight for a common sense increase in the minimum wage >>> Bring federal dollars back to the district, creating jobs right here at home >>> Ensure there is equity in taxation - low for working families and the top 1% pays their fair share >>> Grow the middle class, lower costs, and strengthen our economy End Gun Violence Just recently, there have been two mass shootings in the 40th Congressional District. In response, incumbent Young Kim continues to take money from the NRA and ignore this crisis. The shooting at Cook’s Corner in Trabuco Canyon hits close to home for me. It is a place my family would frequent for their Wednesday night spaghetti. For some reason that I still can’t explain, my family and I decided not to go that night. In Congress, I will lead on this issue: >>> Gun registration - if we can require vehicles to be registered, we can require guns to be registered >>> Universal background checks >>> Removal of military grade weapons from our streets >>> Stronger restrictions on firearm availability to those with mental health concerns or that are flagged to law enforcement >>> Require insurance on firearms >>> Remove the availability of high capacity magazines >>> Enforce waiting periods Affordability and Cost of Living While we work to create an economy that works for all people, I will also lead the charge to make life more affordable in all aspects. >>> Fight for Affordable Housing What is affordable to one isn’t always affordable to another. We need to take a wholesome and aggressive approach to the housing crisis. >>> Fight for Affordable Healthcare As President of the Orange County Professional Firefighters, I created our own healthcare system for firefighters, retirees, and their families. It lowered the overall cost and increased benefits without raising taxes a single penny. I’ll take this knowledge with me to Congress as we fight for an affordable healthcare solution nationwide. >>> Deliver Real Solutions on Homelessness Unfortunately, at one point or another, a member of my family has experienced homelessness. And as a first responder, I have the real-life experience to tackle this issue in both the short-term and long-term. More priorities: >>> Make college more affordable >>> Reduce the cost of living >>> Bring down the cost of prescription drugs >>> Protect Social Security and Medicare LGBTQIA+ Protections As a Fire Captain and labor leader, I had the honor of fighting to protect members of the LGBTQIA+ community, their economic opportunity, and equality in the workplace. I have assembled a campaign team that reflects the diversity of our district, including multiple members of the LGBTQIA+ community. In Congress, I will continue my work to protect the LGBTQIA+ community and expand their rights. >>> Support and advocate for passage of the Equality Act. >>> Protect marriage equality. >>> Support increased funding for HIV and AIDS prevention, research, and treatment. >>> Address anti-transgender discrimination through a wholesome federal response. >>> Oppose any effort to discriminate and limit opportunity for LGBTQIA+ people, publicly or privately	”
—John Kerr’s campaign website (2024)

2022

Joe Kerr did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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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.

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Joe Kerr campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2026*	U.S. House California District 40	Candidacy Declared general	$124,384	$112,546
2024*	U.S. House California District 40	Lost general	$2,080,923	$2,080,923
2022	California State Senate District 38	Lost primary	$177,354	$180,275
Grand total			$2,382,661	$2,373,744
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

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Candidate

U.S. House California District 40

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Footnotes

[show]

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

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

George Whitesides (D)

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

Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)

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)