Meet the 10 candidates campaigning to take on Ken Calvert in the 2026 midterm election
Republican voters are using their donations to fight against Democrats who are pushing to turn the district blue. As of July 14, Calvert has raised more funds than all of his challengers combined — $2.5 million, to be exact, according to the latest filings by the Federal Election Commission.
In 2024, Democrat Will Rollins faced Calvert and lost by a mere 3% margin of defeat, two years after Rollins also unsuccessfully challenged the incumbent.
Rollins announced that he will not be running in this election cycle, but there is a growing list of newcomers who have stepped up. Fundraising and campaign efforts are only just beginning, so there are bound to be shifts on the ballot come next year. Even so, this race could play a role in the Democrats' fight for a House majority, so it's one to watch closely.
Under California's "top two" primary system, the two people receiving the most votes in the 2026 primary — regardless of party — will advance to the general election. Although that usually means one Democrat and one Republican, it doesn't have to.
Given Calvert's over 30-year run in Congress, taking his Congressional seat has proven to be a challenge — so who's ready to rise to the occasion? Meet the eight Democrats and two Republicans looking to oust Calvert in November 2026.
Katherine Aleman
Inland Empire native Katherine Aleman is a middle school teacher and the owner of a small farming business. Endorsed by former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, Aleman is running on a platform of affordability. She proved that she can swing Republican voters in 2020 after being elected to the Norco City Council as a Democrat, despite the city's nearly 30% Republican voter registration advantage. Aleman was not reelected in 2024.
Learn more: katherinealeman.com
Jason Byors
Jason Byors has lived in Southern California since the 1990s, and he has a background in financial services and computer engineering. Trying to turn the district blue, Byors is running on being pro-democracy and pro-human rights.
Learn more: jasonbyorsforcongress.com
Abel Chavez
Having grown up in Romoland and Nuevo, Democrat Abel Chavez is a former high school science teacher who is now the president of the Nuview Union School Board. His key issue areas are housing, healthcare, education and supporting small businesses.
Learn more: abelchavezforcongress.com
Anuj Dixit
As a lawyer, Anuj Dixit says he fought for the middle class, and he plans to do the same alongside Democrats in Congress. Dixit grew up in an immigrant family on March Air Force Base in Riverside County. If elected, he wants to break up monopolies and get corporate PACs out of politics.
Learn more: anujdixitforcongress.com
David Karson
David Karson is a Navy veteran who has worked in finance and tech, and he is running against Calvert as a Democrat. If elected, he intends to focus his policymaking on social security, Medicaid, healthcare and affordable housing. He is also interested in increasing funding for programs in schools and wants to create a national AI cloud.
Learn more: karsonforcongress.com
Ferguson Porter
As a film school graduate, Ferguson Porter sees his creativity as an advantage for writing legislation. He is a small business owner from Texas who has lived in Palm Springs for 15 years. Porter is a Democrat passionate about bringing justice and equality to the constituents of California's 41st district.
Learn more: voteporterforcongress.com
Brandon Riker
In Congress, Brandon Riker hopes to confront the issue of income inequality and provide better futures for the 41st district. Since working as an economist and entrepreneur, Riker currently serves on the board of SafePlace International. His Congressional campaign has raised a record-breaking $900,000 in its first quarter. Riker is a Democrat who has lived in the Coachella Valley for nearly a decade.
Learn more: rikerforcongress.com
Tiffanie Tate
Inland Empire resident and retired OB-GYN Tiffanie Tate is running to champion reproductive rights, education and economic stability for the district. Dr. Tate is also a retired U.S. Naval officer, a published author, and morning radio show co-host. Running as a Democrat, she hopes to be an advocate for all.
Learn more: drtateforcongress.com
Shaaf Patel
Nuevo resident Shaaf Patel was a small business owner prior to being shut down by the Small Business Association. Now, he is running as a Republican to support small business owners and fight against government overreach. The current status of his campaign is not clear.
Learn more: spatel-ca41.carrd.co
Cody Wiebelhaus
Cody Wiebelhaus is going against Calvert as a member of his own party. The only other Republican in the race, Wiebelhaus had said on social media that he 'believes in standing for the people, not the party' and wants to reject political extremism on both sides of the aisle. Wiebelhaus is a managing director with Independent Healthcare Consultants, and he promises to advocate for healthcare and LGBTQ+ rights.
Learn more: codyforca.com (As of July 22, the site is not yet active)
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Election 2026: Everybody who is running against Ken Calvert
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