Candidates for California's 31st Congressional District
2026 Primary Election — June 2, 2026
District: CA-31 covers parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, including Azusa, Covina, West Covina, Glendora, and — under the Prop 50 map — the city of Chino. Voter registration: 44% Dem, 28% GOP, 19% NPP — a solidly Democratic district. Incumbent: Democrat Gil Cisneros, first elected in this district in 2024 after previously serving CA-39 (2019–2021). California uses a top-two primary: all candidates appear on one ballot; the top two vote-getters advance to November 3 regardless of party.[1]
Gil Cisneros Dem Age 54
Incumbent U.S. Representative • Covina Incumbent Favorite
U.S. Representative for CA-31 (2025–present), previously served CA-39 (2019–2021). Navy veteran (11 years). Won $266M lottery in 2010 and became a major philanthropist. Served as a Biden appointee in the Department of Defense. $359K raised.[1]
Top Issues / Platform
- Veterans' services — expand VA healthcare, support military families
- Education — increase Pell Grants, fund community colleges
- Healthcare — protect Affordable Care Act, lower prescription costs
- Gun safety — universal background checks, red flag laws
- Clean energy investment and environmental justice
Key Endorsements
- House Majority PAC
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund
- Sierra Club
- Veterans' organizations
- $359K raised; $112K COH (Dec 2025)[2]
Strengths ▲
- Incumbent with institutional backing from DCCC and House Democratic leadership
- Compelling personal story — Navy veteran, philanthropist, first-generation college graduate
- Solid Democratic district — Harris won CA-31 by 12 points
Weaknesses ▼
- Faces two Republican challengers — vote-splitting unlikely to threaten top-two finish
- Previously lost re-election in CA-39 (2020) after a single term
- Relatively low fundraising for an incumbent ($359K)
Eric Ching Rep Age 50
Walnut City Councilmember • Walnut Top Republican Challenger
Walnut City Council since 2012, served as Mayor (2016–2017) and twice as Mayor Pro Tempore. First-generation immigrant from Taiwan. Entrepreneur and business owner. President of Chinese American Association of Walnut. $67K raised.[4]
Top Issues / Platform
- Public safety — fully fund law enforcement, combat fentanyl trafficking
- Constitutional rights — defend Second Amendment, religious freedom
- Fiscal conservatism — cut government waste, reduce national debt
- Parental rights — keep schools focused on academics, not indoctrination
- Secure the border and reform legal immigration
Key Endorsements
- Grassroots campaign with local Republican support
- Completed Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey
- $67K raised; $59K COH (May 2026)[4]
Strengths ▲
- Over a decade of elected experience — longest-serving Republican on ballot
- Strong ties to the Asian American community — Walnut is 60% Asian American
- Moderate Republican tone could appeal to crossover voters
Weaknesses ▼
- Running in a Democratic-leaning district with a well-funded incumbent
- Modest fundraising limits ability to reach voters districtwide
- Walnut represents a small portion of the expanded CA-31 district
Erskine Levi Rep Age 74
Retired Teacher / Former Law Enforcement • Covina Conservative Grassroots
Retired social science teacher (30 years), former law enforcement officer and security captain (9 years). Former Captain in U.S. Army National Guard (20+ years). Cold War veteran. Former Military Police SWAT team member. Completed Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.[6]
Top Issues / Platform
- Border security — enforce immigration laws, deport criminal gangs
- Election integrity — national voter ID, eliminate mail-in ballots
- Crime — strengthen federal law enforcement, tough on crime
- Military readiness — rebuild military, eliminate DEI policies
- America First foreign policy
Key Endorsements
- No major endorsements reported
- $0 raised; no FEC activity[6]
Strengths ▲
- Long career in public service — teacher, law enforcement, military
- Clear, detailed policy platform on Ballotpedia
- Strongly conservative platform could consolidate GOP primary base
Weaknesses ▼
- Zero fundraising — no campaign infrastructure
- No elected experience; limited name ID
- Hardline positions (eliminate mail-in voting) may alienate swing voters
Race Summary & Outlook
CA-31 covers parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, including Azusa, Covina, West Covina, Glendora, and — after Prop 50 — the city of Chino. Incumbent Gil Cisneros (D) is seeking his second full term (non-consecutive) in a solidly Democratic district.[1]
Key dynamics among the 3 candidates:
- Gil Cisneros (54) is the incumbent with institutional backing, a compelling Navy veteran/philanthropist narrative, and a district that leans 12 points Democratic.
- Eric Ching (50), the Walnut councilmember and former mayor, is the best-funded GOP challenger with $67K raised and over a decade of elected experience.
- Erskine Levi (74) is a long-shot grassroots conservative with no fundraising but a detailed platform focused on border security and election integrity.
- With only three candidates, the top-two primary is expected to advance Cisneros and one of the two Republicans to November, where Cisneros is heavily favored.
Primary: June 2, 2026 — General: November 3, 2026