Political ads · 2026 · CA

California House District 42 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them

Robert Garcia won · 61.8% to 38.2%, with an estimated 88% of the vote counted · Called by AP on Nov 4

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Brian Burley (Republican) and Robert Garcia (Democrat) are the nominees for California's 42nd congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. Robert Garcia is the incumbent. By their latest FEC reports, Brian Burley's campaign had raised $251,000 (through October 14, 2026) and Robert Garcia's campaign $3.4 million (through October 14, 2026). Outside groups have reported $309,000 for Robert Garcia and $0 against.

Brian Burley (REP), Robert Garcia (DEM, incumbent). 1 other filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 0 ads analyzed, 0 with at least one technique in the copy. Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing.

Also on every California ballot: 14 statewide ballot measures → The ballot wording and the official arguments, read for rhetorical techniques.

How to vote in California

From California's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.

Registration	Register by Mon, Oct 19 (Conditional (same-day) registration Oct 20 - Nov 3). Same-day registration: Conditional registration, provisional ballot, Oct 20 - Nov 3 (passed)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
Early voting in person	Mon, Oct 5 to (Varies by county; VCA vote centers open Oct 24)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
By mail	Anyone can vote by mail; return it by Tue, Nov 3 (Postmarked by Nov 3 and received by Nov 10; drop-off by 8 p.m. Nov 3) (passed)Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov ↗Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
Election Day	Tue, Nov 3. Polls: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. (passed)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
ID at the polls	Generally no ID required; some first-time voters who registered by mail/online without ID may be askedSource: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov ↗

Check your registration and polling place ↗ California's official election site ↗

Checked October 8, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.

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Money in this race

From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.

Brian Burley (REP)

Raised: $251K through 2026-10-14 individuals $65K · PACs $0 · candidate's own money, incl. loans $186K · cash on hand $1,939
Outside spending: none reported

Bundled through PACs: none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01

All filings at the FEC ↗

Robert Garcia (DEM, incumbent)

Raised: $3.4M through 2026-10-14 individuals $2.6M · PACs $765K · party $1 · candidate's own money, incl. loans $38 · cash on hand $1.6M
Outside spending: $309K supporting Garcia · latest reported 2026-10-27
Largest outside spenders: EQUALITY PAC — $309K supporting Garcia Largest donors: TORRES VICTORY FUND $2.3M (26%) (its largest donors: ABORN, KARA $5.9M); PETROFF, TIMOTHY $2.2M (25%); EQUALITY PROJECT $1.2M (13%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); EQUALITY COALITION $365K (4%) (its largest donors: PHIFER, BEVERLY $154K); EQUALITY PROJECT PAC $202K (2%) SIERRA CLUB INDEPENDENT ACTION — $10 supporting Garcia

Bundled through PACs: $14K through 1 PAC · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01 JSTREETPAC — $14K from 32 gifts Lobbyist/registrant PAC

189 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election

ACI PAC $1,000
AFLAC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AFLAC PAC) $2,500
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC $6,000
AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP CIVIC ACTION COMMITTEE (AKA AKIN GUMP PAC) $750
ALASKA AIR GROUP INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION PAC $5,000
ALTRIA GROUP, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ALTRIAPAC) $3,000
AMALGAMATED SUGAR COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION - COPE $7,500
AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC SEPARATE SEGREGATED FUND (AMAZON PAC) $2,000
AMERICA'S CREDIT UNION PAC $1,500
AMERICAN AIRLINES PAC $2,500
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AAJ PAC) $10K
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES $1,000
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS SEPARATE SEGREGATED FUND (CRNA-PAC) $1,000
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC) $10K
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES (ACEC/PAC) $4,000
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
AMERICAN DREAM FOR ALL PAC $3,500
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVT. EMPL. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES P E O P L E $5,000
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AFL-CIO COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION $7,500
AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION PAC $1,000
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
AMERICAN INVESTMENT COUNCIL PAC $2,500
AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL ACTION $5,000
AMERICAN SUGAR CANE LEAGUE OF USA, INC PAC $3,000
ARDA-RESORT OWNERS COALITION PAC $2,500
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL FLIGHT ATTENDENTS PAC $2,500
AT&T INC. EMPLOYEE FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AT&T EMPLOYEE FEDERAL PAC) $2,000
AVANTUS LLC PAC $1,000
BARNES & THORNBURG POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
BHFS-E, PC PAC (BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE) $1,000
BLUE ORIGIN LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
BMO FINANCIAL CORP GOOD GOVERNANCE FUND: FEDERAL (BMO PAC) $1,000
BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY RAILPAC $7,500
BOEING PAC $1,000
BUILD POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS (BUILDPAC) $2,500
CAREFIRST BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD ASSOCIATES FEDERAL PAC $5,000
CARNIVAL/PRINCESS HOLLAND AMERICA LINE INC. PAC (HALPAC) $5,000
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
CHC BOLD PAC $5,000
CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. FEDERAL PAC, AKA CISCO SYSTEMS EPAC $1,000
COMCAST CORPORATION & NBCUNIVERSAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE - FEDERAL $6,000
COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF COTTON $2,500
COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA - COPE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE $5,500
CRAIGHEAD FOR SCHOOL BOARD 2026 $500
CSX GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND $2,000
CVS HEALTH PAC $2,500
DEFEND THE VOTE $2,500
DELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $3,500
DELOITTE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
DELTA AIR LINES PAC $2,500
DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF THE SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY $5,000
DEMOCRATS OF ORANGE COUNTY PAC $5,000
DNC PAC $1,500
DOING RIGHT - RESULTS ACTION UNITY LEADERSHIP PAC $2,500
DOMTAR PAC $500
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS PAC $10K
EDISON INTERNATIONAL PAC $3,500
ELEVANCE HEALTH, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ELEVANCE HEALTH PAC) $2,500
END CITIZENS UNITED $1,500
ENGINEERS POLITICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE (EPEC)/INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS $5,000
ENVELOPE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION PAC $2,500
EQUALITY PAC $18K
EQUALITY PROJECT PAC $5,000
ERNST & YOUNG PAC $10K
FAAMA PAC $1,000
FEDERAL MANAGERS' ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
FEDEX CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
FGS GLOBAL (US) LLC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
FIGHT FOR FAIR LINES PAC $1,000
FLORIDA SUGAR CANE LEAGUE PAC $1,000
FRATERNITY & SORORITY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE HOLDINGS, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY PAC $2,500
GILEAD SCIENCES INC HEALTHCARE POLICY PAC $2,500
GOOGLE LLC NETPAC $2,000
GRIDIRON-PAC $5,000
HALLPAC $5,000
HOLLAND & KNIGHT COMMITTEE FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $1,000
HONOR PAC $1,000
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN PAC $7,050
INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS OF AMERICA, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (INSURPAC) $2,500
INTEL CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (IPAC) $2,500
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS INTERESTED IN REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION PAC $3,500
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL AND TRANSPORTATION WORKERS POLITICAL ACTION LEAGUE $5,000
INTERNATIONAL LONGSHORE AND WAREHOUSE UNION -- POLITICAL ACTION FUND $2,500
INVENERGY LLC PAC $1,000
JACOBS SOLUTIONS, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (JACOBS PAC) $2,500
JSTREETPAC $500
KEEP US POSTED PAC $3,500
KPMG PARTNERS/PRINCIPALS AND EMPLOYEES PAC $10K
LA BAMBA PAC $10K
LABORERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA (LIUNA) PAC $3,500
LEAGUE OF CONVERSATION VOTERS ACTION FUND $1,000
LOS ANGELES / ORANGE COUNTY BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL $2,500
LOWE'S COMPANIES INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $4,500
MACHINISTS NON PARTISAN POLITICAL LEAGUE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS & AEROSPACE WORKERS $5,000
MAINSTREAM PAC $4,500
MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INC. EMPLOYEE PAC (MASTERCARD PAC) OR (MASTERCARD EMPLOYEE PAC) $2,000
MATSON, INC. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMITTEE $10K
MCKINSEY & COMPANY, INC. UNITED STATES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (MCKINSEY PAC) $5,000
META PLATFORMS, INC. PAC $1,000
MICHIGAN SUGAR COMPANY GROWERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
MICROSOFT CORPORATION STAKEHOLDERS VOLUNTARY PAC - MSVPAC $2,500
MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE SUGAR PAC $1,000
MOLINA HEALTHCARE, INC. PAC $3,500
MORE PERFECT UNION PAC $2,000
MORGAN STANLEY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (MORPAC) $1,000
NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COM (NARFE-PAC) $4,000
NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION PAC $7,500
NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION PAC $1,000
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONVENIENCE STORES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS OF U.S.A. POLITICAL FUND (LETTER CARRIER POLITICAL FUND) $7,500
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $6,000
NATIONAL COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION - PAC $1,000
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION PAC $2,500
NATIONAL POSTAL MAIL HANDLERS UNION PAC $1,500
NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION RETAILPAC $1,000
NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION AMERICA'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES PAC $3,000
NATIONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
NATIONAL STAR ROUTE MAIL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,500
NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
NATIONAL UNION OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS FEDERAL COPE $5,000
NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION $4,000
NEXTERA INC PAC $3,500
NIKE INC FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (NIKE FEDERAL PAC) $5,000
NJASAP PAC $2,500
NO VOTE LEFT BEHIND PAC $7,500
NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORP GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND $4,000
NORTH AMERICA'S BUILDING TRADES UNIONS POLITICAL EDUCATIONAL FUND $1,000
ORANGE COAST HUDDLE $500
OWENS & MINOR INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $500
PATENT OFFICE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
PERATON CORP. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (A.K.A. 'PERATON PAC') $3,500
PETE AGUILAR FOR CONGRESS $4,000
PFIZER INC. PAC $2,500
PHARMACEUTICAL CARE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (PCMA PAC) $500
PITNEY BOWES INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $4,000
PNC BANK POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,500
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES $1,000
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS PAC $2,500
PROFESSIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SPECIALISTS PAC $2,500
RELATIVITY SPACE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (RELATIVITY PAC) $1,000
RESISTANCE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $7,500
ROCKET LAB USA, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ROCKET LAB PAC) $1,500
SEMPRA ENERGY EMPLOYEES POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE- FEDERAL $2,000
SHORE PAC $1,000
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BEET SUGAR COOPERATIVE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
SSA MARINE INC. GOOD GOVERNMENT FUND $2,500
SUPERVISORS PAC $5,500
SYLVAMO CORPORATION PAC $2,500
T-MOBILE PAC $1,000
TAKE BACK THE HOUSE PAC $2,500
TARGET CORPORATION CITIZENS POLITICAL FORUM $1,500
TEXTRON INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $2,000
THE CIGNA GROUP EMPLOYEE PAC $2,500
THE COUNCIL OF INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
THE GUIDEHOUSE INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (GUIDEHOUSE PAC) $5,000
THE HARTFORD INSURANCE GROUP, INC. FEDERAL PAC (AKA HARTFORD ADVOCATES FEDERAL FUND) $1,000
THE INLAND EMPIRE STRIKES PAC $2,000
THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY PAC (SMUCKER PAC) $3,500
THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO STEWARDSHIP PAC $1,000
TITLE INDUSTRY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (TOYOTA/LEXUS PAC) $2,000
TRANSDIGM GROUP INC. EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE $2,500
TWDC ENTERPRISES 18 CORP. EMPLOYEES PAC AKA 'THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY EMPLOYEES PAC' OR 'DISNEY PAC' $2,000
U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION PAC $1,000
UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION FUND FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT $3,733
UNITED AIRLINES INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
UNITED POSTMASTERS AND MANAGERS OF AMERICA POLITICAL FUND $1,000
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED PAC (UNITEDHEALTH GROUP PAC) $5,000
UPSPAC $2,500
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (VERIZON PAC) $3,000
WALGREEN CO PAC (WALGREENSPAC) $1,000
WALMART INC. PAC FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT $3,000
WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY PAC $1,000
YES WE CAN DEMOCRATIC CLUB $500
YOUNG DEMOCRATS OF LONG BEACH $150
ZENECA INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AZPAC) $1,000
ZURICH HOLDING COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC. COMMITTEE FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT (Z-PAC, ZURICH PAC) $1,000

All filings at the FEC ↗

No campaign ads analyzed for this race yet.

What this page is

An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in CA; or it ran mostly in CA and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
A technique is a specific rhetorical move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. Running a check and seeing its verdicts are part of Semblen Pro, because each check costs money to run; anyone can see which claims an ad makes. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
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Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.