Democrat · California's 24th District · 2026
Salud Carbajal
Carbajal came to the United States from Mexico at five and spent summers working in the fields alongside his father.
Biography
Salud Carbajal came to the United States from Mexico at five and spent summers working in the fields alongside his father. He became the first in his family to graduate from a university, earning his bachelor's degree at UC Santa Barbara and later a master's in organizational management.1
He also served eight years in the Marine Corps Reserve, including an active duty callup during the Gulf War. He and his wife, Gina, have two children. Before Congress, he spent twelve years on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, working on environmental, public health and community issues.1
First elected to Congress in 2016, Carbajal works on defense, agriculture and transportation policy. His legislative record includes measures addressing boat safety after the Conception fire and support for state red flag gun laws. He also advocated for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, designated in 2024.1
Housing affordability is a central priority. His proposals include federal support for safe parking programs for people living in vehicles, more housing investment and changes to how veterans' disability benefits affect housing assistance eligibility.2 He also supports renewable energy and immigration reform.1 Carbajal faces Republican Bob Smith, a retired Navy commander and engineer seeking his first elected office.3
Record and controversies
2015 state campaign reporting penalty
California's political ethics commission approved a $7,500 penalty in April 2015 involving Carbajal and his 2012 supervisor committee.4 The settlement addressed three missing rapid disclosure reports for donations the committee made in 2010 and acceptance of a $15,000 cashier's check in 2011 that was not drawn on the donor's account.5 It described the reporting failures as at worst negligent, noted cooperation and no previous enforcement history, and said there was no evidence the cashier's check violation was intentional. The treasurer said he had not realized it was a cashier's check; that contribution had been reported on time.5
Disputed ICE business card allegation
After a July 10, 2025 raid in Carpinteria, DHS accused Carbajal of exposing an ICE public affairs employee to protesters by showing his business card, and connected that to a rock attack injuring the employee.6 Carbajal disputed that account, saying the employee voluntarily handed him the card in front of journalists and cameras, and that he had come to seek answers for constituents.7 The accusation is disputed; this review did not verify a criminal charge or official finding against Carbajal over that incident.