U.S. House, California 3rd Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in California's 3rd Congressional District?
Ami Bera has the strongest record in California's 3rd Congressional District. Ami Bera scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Robb Tucker at 61, as of October 9, 2026. Ami Bera's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Robb Tucker's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Ami Bera
68 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 69
Republican
Robb Tucker
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Ami Bera
- On the record2025-03-06
Voted Yea on the March 2025 resolution censuring Rep. Al Green, which Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 62, 2025
- On the record2025-11-18
Voted Yea on the November 2025 resolution disapproving the conduct of Rep. Jesus Garcia, which Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 292, 2025
- Credit2025
Ranked 79th in the House on the Lugar Center Bipartisan Index for 2023, in the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
- Credit2022
Sponsored the Tracking Pathogens Act (H.R. 7152), enacted in the 117th Congress, one of three bills he sponsored that became law.
Source: GovTrack, enacted legislation
Robb Tucker
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Ami Bera. Annual financial disclosure for 2025 filed Aug. 12, 2026, and campaign reports are on file with the FEC. No House Ethics Committee matter or FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10081578, House Committee on Ethics site search for "Ami Bera", FEC administrative fines search
Robb Tucker. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or FPPC penalty naming him found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Ami Bera. Voted Yea on the 2025 resolutions censuring Rep. Al Green and disapproving the conduct of Rep. Jesus Garcia, both opposed by Democratic Leader Jeffries, and broke with him on other passage votes.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 62, 2025, House Clerk Roll Call 292, 2025
Robb Tucker. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Ami Bera. Took part in the League of Women Voters of Nevada County District 3 candidate forum before the June primary; the League says both finalists agreed to a general election forum but a scheduling conflict intervened.
Sources: League of Women Voters of Nevada County, forum video page, League of Women Voters of Nevada County, general election forums
Robb Tucker. Took part in the League of Women Voters of Nevada County District 3 candidate forum before the June primary; the League says both finalists agreed to a general election forum but a scheduling conflict intervened.
Sources: League of Women Voters of Nevada County, forum video page, League of Women Voters of Nevada County, general election forums
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Ami Bera. Physician and former UC Davis associate dean, in Congress since 2013. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee finding found.
Sources: KGET (Inside California Politics/FOX40), House Committee on Ethics site search for "Ami Bera"
Robb Tucker. Ran his family's mobile home community business as president and CEO until 2020 and has served as a Nevada County supervisor since January 2025. No conduct finding found.
Source: Getting to know District 2 Supervisor Robb Tucker (Nevada County, in The Union)
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Ami Bera. In sworn federal office since 2013. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to certified electors and made no 2017 objection; no misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
Robb Tucker. Sworn in as Nevada County District 2 supervisor on Jan. 6, 2025. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Getting to know District 2 Supervisor Robb Tucker (Nevada County, in The Union)
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Ami Bera. In the U.S. House since January 2013, seeking an eighth term.
Sources: KGET (Inside California Politics/FOX40), GovTrack, missed votes
Robb Tucker. Elected Nevada County supervisor, serving since January 2025, after running the family business as president and CEO.
Sources: Getting to know District 2 Supervisor Robb Tucker (Nevada County, in The Union), KGET (Inside California Politics/FOX40)
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Ami Bera. Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific subcommittee and serves on the Intelligence Committee; three bills he sponsored were enacted in the 117th Congress.
Source: GovTrack, committee membership
Robb Tucker. Publishes a detailed platform that ties federal issues to county experience and names specific legislation he would push for.
Source: Campaign site, Platform
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Ami Bera. Publishes issue pages, offers a constituent survey and updates through his office site, and took part in a 2026 candidate forum. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Office site, home page, League of Women Voters of Nevada County, forum video page, Ballotpedia, Ami Bera
Robb Tucker. Publishes a detailed platform and took part in a 2026 candidate forum. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Platform, League of Women Voters of Nevada County, forum video page, Ballotpedia, Robb Tucker
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Ami Bera. Listed as of Elk Grove and has represented Sacramento County since 2013; whether his home falls inside the new 3rd District was not established. FEC by-state totals show about 74 percent of itemized individual contributions from California.
Sources: Congressional Directory, 116th Congress, KGET (Inside California Politics/FOX40), FEC contribution totals by state, Statewide Database, AB 604 City Splits Report
Robb Tucker. Born in Nevada County, which lies wholly in the new district, and serves as a county supervisor. FEC by-state totals show about 93 percent of itemized individual contributions from California.
Sources: Getting to know District 2 Supervisor Robb Tucker (Nevada County, in The Union), KGET (Inside California Politics/FOX40), FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Ami Bera. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Robb Tucker. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Ami Bera. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.235 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.543, below expectations. Raised to 2 under E14: his Tracking Pathogens Act was enacted in the 117th Congress.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Robb Tucker. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Ami Bera. Missed 82 of 7,608 roll call votes, 1.1 percent, from January 2013 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Robb Tucker. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Ami Bera. Lists a Sacramento County district office and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, Office Locations
Robb Tucker. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Ami Bera. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 0.30238 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 79, in the top quarter of the House.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Robb Tucker. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Ami Bera. No public record found.
Robb Tucker. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in California's 3rd Congressional District?
Ami Bera has the strongest record in California's 3rd Congressional District. Ami Bera scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Robb Tucker at 61, as of October 9, 2026. Ami Bera's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Robb Tucker's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in California's 3rd Congressional District in 2026?
Ami Bera (Democratic, incumbent), Robb Tucker (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Ami Bera a good candidate for Congress?
Ami Bera scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 69 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Robb Tucker a good candidate for Congress?
Robb Tucker scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every California race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the California 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.