Democrat · California's 34th District · 2026
Jimmy Gomez
Gomez grew up without health insurance; a childhood bout of pneumonia left his family struggling with the bills.
Biography
Jimmy Gomez grew up without health insurance and says childhood pneumonia left his family nearly bankrupt from medical bills.1 The son of Mexican immigrants, he lives in Eagle Rock and has one son.12 He is a lifelong Dodgers fan.2
After high school, Gomez worked in fast food and stocked retail shelves overnight.1 He attended Riverside Community College, earned a political science degree at UCLA and completed a master's in public policy at Harvard's Kennedy School.2 His subsequent work included organizing with AFSCME and advocating for nurses through UNAC/UHCP.1
Before entering Congress in 2017, he served in California's Assembly and chaired its Appropriations Committee.2 He authored a law signed in April 2016 that increased wage replacement for paid family leave beginning in 2018 and removed the waiting period for those benefits.3 He now serves on Ways and Means and helped found the Congressional Dads Caucus and Congressional Renters Caucus.2 The Dads Caucus advocates affordable childcare, paid family leave and a stronger child tax credit.4
His published platform supports Medicare for All, national paid family leave, abortion rights, student debt relief and more affordable housing.1 He also supports help for renters and services for people experiencing homelessness.1 Fellow Democrat Angela Gonzales-Torres challenges him in the district's general election.5
Record and controversies
House review of sexual misconduct allegations
On August 17, 2026, the House Ethics Committee said it was reviewing allegations of sexual misconduct, including inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer.6 It emphasized that the investigation did not itself establish that a violation had occurred.6 Gomez acknowledged personal mistakes outside his marriage and apologized to his wife.7 He described the conduct as consensual, denied violating the law or House rules, and said he would cooperate.7 The Associated Press still described the investigation as ongoing on October 24.8 A subsequent public finding or closing action was not verified for this collection as of October 28, 2026.