U.S. House, California 41st Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in California's 41st Congressional District?
Linda Sánchez has the strongest record in California's 41st Congressional District. Linda Sánchez scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Linda Sánchez's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Mitch Clemmons (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Mitch Clemmons
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Linda Sánchez
58 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 44
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.
Mitch Clemmons
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Linda Sánchez
- Mark against2026-01-09
Filed a periodic transaction report Jan. 9, 2026 for an Oct. 28, 2025 sale of up to $15,000 of Cisco stock owned by her son, past the 45-day STOCK Act deadline; her office acknowledged it.
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20033755, NOTUS, Jan. 14, 2026
- On the record2025-07-17
Voted Nay on final passage of the GENIUS Act in July 2025 when House Democratic Leader Jeffries voted Yea.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 200, 2025
- On the record2025
Rated below expectations by the Center for Effective Lawmaking for the 118th Congress, with a Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.140 against a benchmark of 0.564.
- On the record2022-07-28
Made an obscene gesture toward the Republican dugout at the July 2022 Congressional Baseball Game; she said she reacted to a misogynistic comment, and later attributed the comment to a fan.
Source: Fox News, July 29, 2022
- On the record2021-01-07
Voted Nay on both House objections to certified presidential electors in January 2021 and on the January 2005 objection to Ohio's electors.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 7, Jan. 6, 2005
- On the record2020-08-06
PolitiFact rated Mostly False her July 2020 statement that the average cost of child care exceeds one year of college.
Source: PolitiFact, Aug. 6, 2020
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Mitch Clemmons. Filed a House candidate financial disclosure on Sept. 21, 2026, and campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082925, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Linda Sánchez. A periodic transaction report filed Jan. 9, 2026 disclosed an Oct. 28, 2025 stock sale by her dependent son, past the STOCK Act's 45-day deadline; her office acknowledged the late disclosure. Annual 2025 disclosure filed July 23, 2026 after extensions.
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20033755, NOTUS, Jan. 14, 2026, House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077966
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Mitch Clemmons. No public record found.
Linda Sánchez. Voted against her party's three top House leaders on 11 roll calls in 2025 and 2026, including Nay on the GENIUS Act and on a 2026 FISA extension they supported.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 200, 2025, GENIUS Act, House Clerk Roll Call 155, 2026, FISA extension
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Mitch Clemmons. No public record found.
Linda Sánchez. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Mitch Clemmons. No public record found.
Linda Sánchez. In Congress since 2003 and a former ranking member of the House Ethics Committee. No censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee finding against her found.
Sources: GovTrack, missed votes, House Committee on Ethics site search for Linda Sanchez
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Mitch Clemmons. No public record found.
Linda Sánchez. Voted Nay on both House objections to certified presidential electors in January 2021 and on the January 2005 objection to Ohio's electors. Not on the Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus list; no misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 7, Jan. 6, 2005
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Mitch Clemmons. Has run his own plumbing company since 2002 after working as a warehouse manager.
Source: Ballotpedia News, July 15, 2026
Linda Sánchez. In the U.S. House since January 2003, seeking a 13th term.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Mitch Clemmons. States positions in general terms on election security, public safety, schools and the economy in his candidate survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mitch Clemmons
Linda Sánchez. Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade; also serves on the Health subcommittee.
Source: GovTrack, committee membership
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Mitch Clemmons. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026 and in 2022.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mitch Clemmons
Linda Sánchez. Offers an e-newsletter and publishes issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Mitch Clemmons. No public record found.
Linda Sánchez. Calls Whittier, in the new district, her hometown, and her district office is in Whittier; she has represented the area since 2013. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 33 percent of itemized individual contributions from California.
Sources: The Downey Patriot, Office site, Offices, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Mitch Clemmons. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and he has run a business since 2002. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, Ballotpedia News, July 15, 2026
Linda Sánchez. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Mitch Clemmons. No public record found.
Linda Sánchez. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.140 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.564, below expectations. GovTrack lists two enacted bills she sponsored, both in the 116th Congress.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Mitch Clemmons. No public record found.
Linda Sánchez. Missed 649 of 15,180 roll call votes, 4.3 percent, from January 2003 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Mitch Clemmons. No public record found.
Linda Sánchez. Lists a Whittier district office and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Sources: Office site, Offices, Office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Mitch Clemmons. No public record found.
Linda Sánchez. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.54719 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 232 of 436.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Mitch Clemmons. No public record found.
Linda Sánchez. 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 41st Congressional District?
Linda Sánchez has the strongest record in California's 41st Congressional District. Linda Sánchez scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Linda Sánchez's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Mitch Clemmons (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in California's 41st Congressional District in 2026?
Mitch Clemmons (Republican), Linda Sánchez (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Mitch Clemmons a good candidate for Congress?
Mitch Clemmons has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Linda Sánchez a good candidate for Congress?
Linda Sánchez scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 44 of 100. 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.