Incumbent
CA-24 primary: first place
$1.2K
JUN 6, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age61 years old (Nov 18, 1964)
GenderMale
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LocationCalifornia
BackgroundU.S. Representative
EducationUniversity of California, Santa Barbara — B.A. (1990)
Notable personal detailsSalud Ortiz Carbajal is a Democratic politician who has served as the U.S. representative for California's 24th congressional district since January 3, 2017. Before Congress, he served on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and worked in Santa Barbara County government, including in the public health department and as chief of staff to Supervisor Naomi Schwartz. He earned a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an M.A. from Fielding Graduate University. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1984 to 1992.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Salud Carbajal supports targeted tax credits and investments to lower costs for families and spur economic opportunity, including child care and low-income housing tax credits, and backs market-based climate pricing. He criticizes policies he describes as regressive (such as tariffs) and has supported legislation that uses tax incentives to advance social and climate goals.
Healthcare
Supports major public options including backing legislation to establish a single‑payer Medicare-for‑All program and also promotes strengthening Medicare and Medicaid, lowering drug costs, and expanding access to affordable coverage.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protections for Dreamers and other humanitarian relief beneficiaries, advocates for pathways to citizenship for DACA/TPS recipients, and sponsors legislation to prevent deportation of certain families; favors restoring limits on immigration enforcement in sensitive locations and pursuing bipartisan immigration reform that pairs border security with legal pathways. Positions emphasize reform and humanitarian protections while acknowledging border security as part of a bipartisan framework.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports reproductive rights and the constitutional right to choose, including codifying Roe v. Wade into law. Co-sponsor and leading advocate for the Women’s Health Protection Act and supports repealing the Hyde Amendment to expand abortion access. Has participated in reproductive-rights advocacy and public statements calling the Dobbs decision a threat to abortion access.
Climate & Energy
Supports measures to advance clean energy, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle infrastructure while backing climate mitigation efforts; has advocated for local clean-energy projects and funding for EV charging. Positions acknowledge a role for transitional energy sources and nuclear on the Central Coast.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports universal background checks, federal red flag (extreme risk protection) measures, and reinstating national restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Championed and helped pass provisions funding red flag laws as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and has publicly called for banning assault weapons.
News
Salud Carbajal is in the news because he is running in California's 24th Congressional District primary and was leading in early vote results. The race includes Republican Bob Smith and candidates Sarah Bacon and Helena Pasquarella, with the top two advancing to the general election. Recent coverage has focused on the primary field and the issues each candidate is emphasizing, including cost of living, housing, health care, and campaign reform.
Endorsements
Endorsers of Salud Carbajal for CA-24 primary: first place
Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter
Public endorsement
Sierra Club Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter endorsed Salud Carbajal in its 2026 endorsements.
Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund
Political organization
Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund included Salud Carbajal in its 2026 California primary election voter guide endorsements.
Indivisible Santa Barbara
Public figure
Indivisible Santa Barbara endorsed Salud Carbajal in its 2026 primary endorsements.
Santa Barbara Independent
Public figure
Santa Barbara Independent endorsed Salud Carbajal in its June 2026 primary election endorsements.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262022
2024
2026
LatestCycle 2022
Cycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls