California 31st Congressional District — U.S. House
November 3, 2026 General Election — Cisneros (D) vs. Ching (R)
District: CA-31 spans the eastern San Gabriel Valley into southwestern San Bernardino County — including Pomona, West Covina, Azusa, El Monte, and communities out to Chino. Heavily Latino and Asian American; voter registration is solidly Democratic (roughly 48% Dem / 21% GOP), making this a safe-to-likely Democratic seat. Incumbent: Gil Cisneros (D), first elected here in 2022, is seeking a third term. California's top-two primary sent Cisneros and Republican Eric Ching to the November runoff. A Democratic hold would matter to the national House math (Democrats need a net gain of six seats to flip the chamber).
Judges on your ballot: CA-31 spans two appellate districts, so the judges on your ballot depend on your county: Los Angeles County voters see the 2nd District’s 18 Court of Appeal questions →. San Bernardino County voters (Chino, Ontario) see the 4th District’s 15 questions →. Everyone also votes on the 2 Supreme Court justices, shown at the top of each page.
Also on your ballot: CA-31's San Bernardino County communities (Chino, Chino Hills, Ontario, Montclair) also help elect a State Senator — District 32 (Seyarto vs. Tate) — and choose countywide offices: Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector, Sheriff, Superintendent of Schools, and Board of Supervisors District 4 →
Gil Cisneros Dem Age 55 Incumbent
U.S. Representative (CA-31) • Pomona
U.S. Navy veteran (11 years on active duty). A former defense official and philanthropist — after winning a large lottery prize in 2010 he founded a nonprofit that helps first-generation college students. Earned his MBA from USC. First elected to Congress in 2018 (CA-39); served in the Biden administration as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (2021–22); returned to win the redrawn CA-31 in 2022 and won re-election in 2024. He is a veteran-housing and higher-education advocate in the House.
Top Issues / Platform
- Veterans: expand veterans' benefits, housing, and family support
- Education: make college more affordable, first-generation student support
- Cost of living: lower prescription-drug and housing costs for working families
- Public safety & jobs: community policing, manufacturing and good union jobs
- Re-elect message: leverage his committee work to deliver district projects
Read on the race
- Strengths: Incumbent in a D+ district with strong name ID and a personal story that resonates locally; institutional support (House Dems, labor, veterans groups).
- Weaknesses: the district's Asian American and NPP voters can split tickets; Republicans target him by linking him to national Democratic issues on crime and the border.
- No celebrity or self-funded opponent means outspending is unlikely — race is rated safe/likely Democratic.
Eric Ching Rep
Business owner / long-time Republican activist
A businessman who has been active in San Gabriel Valley Republican politics for years; he previously ran for Congress in 2022. Campaigns as a fiscal conservative focused on easing the cost of living, cutting taxes and regulations, and tightening public safety and border-enforcement laws. He advanced through California's top-two primary as the second-place finisher behind Cisneros.
Top Issues / Platform
- Affordability: lower taxes, gas prices, and housing costs
- Public safety: support law enforcement, address retail theft and fentanyl
- Border security: enforcement-focused immigration policy
- Small business: cut red tape, support entrepreneurs
Read on the race
- Strengths: A clean check on an incumbent in a year when affordability frustrations are running high (PPIC shows affordability as the top voter concern).
- Weaknesses: Heavily outnumbered Democratic registration (roughly 2:1); limited name ID and no elective office; no credible path seen in nonpartisan ratings.
Sources
- Ballotpedia — CA-31 (June 2 top-two primary) evaluation & candidate pages
- FEC filings — CA-31 race (2026 cycle)
- CalMatters and Los Angeles Times district/candidate coverage (2025–26)
- Official Secretary of State certified list of qualified candidates (2026 general)