CA-24 primary: first place
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JUN 6, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleDefense systems engineer
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationCalifornia
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BackgroundDefense systems engineer
Notable personal detailsRobert “Bob” J. Smith is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in California’s 24th Congressional District (2026 cycle). He is a retired U.S. Navy commander and has worked as a defense systems engineer. He has been based in Carpinteria, California, and is married with two children.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports reducing federal spending and regulations to lower costs, and favors tax incentives and other market-oriented measures (including incentives for housing construction) rather than tax increases. Emphasizes cutting wasteful federal spending and providing tax incentives to spur supply and affordability.
Healthcare
Supports addressing healthcare affordability as part of cutting federal spending and reducing regulations; emphasizes lowering healthcare prices within a broader affordability agenda rather than proposing major public expansions. Positions focus on market-oriented cost reduction and oversight of spending. Guessing or inference is not included; summary reflects the campaign’s stated priorities on affordability and healthcare pricing.
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Immigration & Border
Supports securing the border and enforcing federal immigration law while also backing targeted legal pathways such as modernized agricultural/seasonal work visas and reforms for Dreamers; calls for immediate deportation of violent offenders. The position emphasizes stronger enforcement with some limited legal-regularization measures and humanitarian exceptions for long-term contributors.
Climate & Energy
Supports a ‘‘balanced grid’’ that uses renewables layered on reliable baseload power, promotes development of small modular nuclear reactors and fusion energy, and opposes certain offshore wind projects along the California coast. Emphasizes affordable, reliable energy and federal funding for water storage and drought resilience.
News
Bob Smith is running in California’s 24th Congressional District primary, where the top two finishers move on to the general election. Early results show Democratic incumbent Salud Carbajal leading Smith. Recent coverage has focused on the primary field and the candidates’ positions on issues like cost of living, housing, health care, and campaign reform.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements