California voters will decide in November whether to return Representative Jimmy Gomez to Congress amid an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Gomez, a Democrat representing a largely Latino district in downtown Los Angeles, faces a challenge from progressive candidate Angela Gonzales-Torres, who has made the ethics inquiry a central issue in her campaign.
Gomez, who has served five terms since his 2017 special election victory, has weathered multiple left-leaning primary challenges but has never lost a race in the district, which is marked by high poverty and low voter turnout. In the June primary, he received nearly half the vote, while Gonzales-Torres secured 31 percent, advancing both candidates to the November runoff under California’s open primary system.
The House Ethics Committee announced in August that it was investigating claims Gomez made "inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer," a violation of House rules. Gomez acknowledged “mistakes outside my marriage” shortly after the announcement and pledged cooperation with the review, which remains open. A Washington law firm representing an anonymous woman stated she had been interviewed by the committee about experiences of sexual harassment and assault involving Gomez. He has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that any interactions were consensual. Neither the full details of the allegations nor their veracity have been publicly confirmed.
Gonzales-Torres, a 31-year-old activist supporting formerly incarcerated college students, had already been campaigning against Gomez before the ethics probe surfaced. She cites his backing of Israel’s military actions in Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attacks, and his vote against legislation to cut aid to Israel, as motivators for her challenge. She describes the district as anti-war and anti-imperialist and criticizes the allocation of federal funds toward military support rather than addressing local needs.
Gomez’s campaign declined to comment directly on the sexual misconduct claims or Gonzales-Torres’s criticisms but highlighted his legislative work on immigration, including a lawsuit to allow congressional visits to detention centers and proposed funding shifts from immigration enforcement agencies to housing initiatives. Gomez also emphasized his record of opposing former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and positioned himself as an experienced defender of democracy.
This year’s allegations against Gomez add to a series of sexual misconduct cases involving House members in 2026. Four other representatives have resigned, retired, or lost reelection bids amid similar claims, though the accusations against Gomez are less publicly detailed. Unlike Gomez, several of his colleagues faced extensively reported scandals, including Rep. Eric Swalwell of California and Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, both of whom resigned this year.
Campaign finance activity around Gomez’s race reflects mixed support. While the American Israel Public Affairs Committee heavily backed Gomez in 2024, there has been no reported spending by AIPAC this cycle. Instead, Latino-focused political action committees Bold America and Nuestro PAC recently injected roughly $450,000 into the contest. Conversely, progressive groups, including the Guardrails Alliance and Progress Action Fund, have funded digital advertisements highlighting the misconduct investigation and Gomez’s ties to Trump-aligned tech donors.
Efforts to engage an electorate in one of California’s poorest and most underrepresented congressional districts remain challenging. Voter registration and turnout are among the lowest in the state. Some residents express more immediate concerns related to economic hardship and housing instability than congressional affairs.
Gonzales-Torres acknowledges the uphill battle, citing limited campaign resources in a costly media market. She aims to use the investigation as an opening to introduce herself and promote her policy agenda, supported by endorsements from national progressive organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America and Justice Democrats. Activist David Hogg, working with her campaign, emphasized the importance of accountability within the Democratic Party, urging voters to be aware of the allegations during the election.
As Election Day approaches, the race in California’s 34th Congressional District reflects broader conversations about political accountability, progressive challenges within the Democratic Party, and the impact of ethics inquiries on electoral dynamics.