Prediction Edge
Democrat
Brandon Riker

Overview

Current roleEntrepreneur

PartyDemocratic

Political ideologyProgressive Democrat

LocationCalifornia

BackgroundEntrepreneur

Show more

EducationWashington College — B.A. in Economics (Phi Beta Kappa; magna cum laude)

Notable personal detailsBrandon Riker is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in California's 48th Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. He is a Palm Springs-based entrepreneur and economist. He earned an economics degree from Washington College and a Master of Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

SourcesShow

Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Supports making the first $50,000 of income tax-free, eliminating the Social Security payroll tax income cap, updating capital gains taxation and closing loopholes used by wealthy taxpayers, and expanding investments in social programs and healthcare subsidies.

Healthcare

Supports strengthening and expanding the Affordable Care Act’s subsidies to improve affordability and access to healthcare; emphasizes expanding government programs to reduce healthcare costs for working families.

Show more

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

The candidate supports codifying reproductive freedom into federal law and protecting access to abortion, contraception, and fertility care (including IVF), along with safeguards for medical privacy and personal health data. He positions reproductive freedom as a fundamental right to be protected at the federal level.

Climate & Energy

Supports re-entering the Paris Agreement and investing in new technologies to meet climate commitments, and favors clean-energy investment and related infrastructure as part of economic opportunity and job creation.

News

AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 18, 2026

Brandon Riker is in the news as one of the leading Democrats in California’s 48th Congressional District race. Recent coverage says he is competing with Marni von Wilpert and Ammar Campa-Najjar for one of the top-two spots in the June primary, with Republican Jim Desmond widely expected to take the other. He also recently answered a candidate questionnaire on issues including taxes, voting rights, immigration, climate, defense spending, and congressional oversight. The race is being watched closely because redistricting has made the district more favorable to Democrats, but the top-two primary system could still leave Democrats split.

fec.gov+52

Polls

Tulchin Research
10%8%6%4%2%0%
8%
Brandon Riker
B. Riker
Date (Start - End)SpreadShare
Tulchin ResearchApr 30, 2026
8.0%
SurveyUSAApr 19, 2026
4.0%
Tulchin ResearchFeb 22, 2026
5.0%
Public Policy PollingFeb 17, 2026
8.0%
Blueprint PollingFeb 4, 2026
8.0%
Blueprint PollingFeb 4, 2026
7.0%

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne

Fundraising

Latest report: Cycle 2026
Total raisedCash on hand
$2.3M
$1.7M
$1.1M
$566.3K
$0

2026

Latest
Year
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate

Cycle 2026

$2.3M
$21.2K
$2.2M
$124.7K

Source: FEC

New updates coming soon

We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.

  • Endorsements