List of congressional candidates vying to succeed Xavier Becerra
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- There are 23 candidates hoping to fill the open seat in Congress left vacant by Xavier Becerra, who was named the California's attorney general.
The election for the 34th Congressional District, which includes Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights, downtown L.A. and Koreatown, will be held on Tuesday.
Here are the candidates, including profiles on several contenders:
ROBERT AHN - Democrat
While Ahn may have jumped into the race a little late, he has raised more than $300,000 in campaign donations. That is more than any of the other candidates. Much of that support is coming from L.A.'s Korean community, who see Ahn as their only hope for representation in Congress.
He has been endorsed by former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player who was Ahn's high school teammate at Harvard-Westlake School.
VANESSA ARAMAYO - Democrat
MARIA CABILDO - Democrat
Maria Cabildo is a non-profit executive and veteran of the L.A. City Planning Commission, who has been endorsed by the Los Angeles Times. She said the reason she jumped into the race was the election of Trump as president.
"I felt that he was potentially so destructive to our American values that I couldn't continue to do what I've been doing," she said.
Cabildo said what she loved about the Times' endorsement is that it made clear that she already had a distinguished career outside of politics and that she has delivered for her community already.
ALEJANDRA CAMPOVERDI - Democrat
If you've been watching cable news within the last month, you've likely seen a political ad featuring Campoverdi. In it she reveals she has a gene that gives her an 85 percent chance of developing breast cancer. In two years, at the age of 39, she plans to have a double mastectomy.
She hopes the message will continue the conversation about women's bodies and their rights. Campoverdi is a former White House staff member for the Obama administration.
ARTURO CARMONA - Democrat
Arturo Carmona served as the deputy political director of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. He sounds a little like the senator from Vermont, too. Carmona, a child of immigrants from Mexico, has worked as a legal advocate for immigrants for decades. Eyewitness News asked what we've asked others in this race - his opinion on our president.
"I feel that he is racist. I feel that he is a neo facist, based on the type of rhetoric he's advancing. I think that his divisive politics are breaking our country apart," Carmona said.
WENDY CARRILLO - Democrat
RICARDO DE LA FUENTE - Democrat
ADRIENNE NICOLE EDWARDS - Democrat
YOLIE FLORES - Democrat
MELISSA GARZA - Democrat
JIMMY GOMEZ - Democrat
The state Assembly member has been endorsed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
The front runner, who made it clear he doesn't like President Donald Trump, said he will fight for his potential constituents in Washington, D.C. He believes Democrats have a lot to protect during this administration.
SARA HERNANDEZ - Democrat
Hernandez, who was a school teacher 10 years ago, decided to change careers and went to law school. She is the daughter of two civil rights attorneys who fought for farmworkers during the farmworker movement in the 70s and 80s.
The teacher-turned-lawyer hopes to revive and pass the Dream Act if she were elected to Congress. Hernandez also believes voters should help break the mold in politics and not vote for establishment Democrats.
STEVEN MAC - Democrat
ANGELA MCARDLE - Third party / other
SANDRA MENDOZA - Democrat
KENNETH MEJIA - Green Party
Mejia is hoping to become the first member of the Green Party ever elected to Congress. At 26 years old, he would also become the youngest member of Congress. The Bernie Sanders supporter said he would be able to represent a generation that is often excluded in politics and would work with both sides of the aisle.
"What we're going for is the revolutionary vote and what we've been talking about is how people are sick and tired the Democratic Party letting them down, especially in L.A., and from local to state to federal," Mejia said.
RAYMOND MEZA - Democrat
WILLIAM MORRISON - Republican
MARK EDWARD PADILLA - Third party / other
ARMANDO SOTOMAYOR - Democrat
RICHARD JOSEPH SULLIVAN - Democrat
TRACY VAN HOUTEN - Democrat
Van Houten has worked as a rocket scientist with NASA for the past 13 years. She was part of the team that successfully sent the Mars' Curiosity Rover to the Red Planet. The mother of two young children, Van Houten said she would like to concentrate on education and the environment.
"Less than 3 percent of Congress is made up of moms with minor children and it's really important to have skin in the game when you're making these big decisions about the direction of our country," Van Houten said. "I know what the facts are, and the facts are that climate change is real, black lives matter, that women's rights are human rights, that no human being is illegal, and that love is love."
TENAYA WALLACE - Democrat
