The historically safe Los Angeles House seat held by Democratic Representative Jimmy Gomez has become highly competitive following allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him. Gomez admits to marital "mistakes" but denies assault, while the House Committee on Ethics conducts an active investigation. His socialist challenger, Angela Gonzales-Torres, has capitalized on the scandal and holds a narrow 41% to 38% lead in a September 2026 poll, threatening to unseat the veteran incumbent.
The 34th District seat
- ▪A September 2026 Guardrails Alliance poll of California's 34th District showed Angela Gonzales-Torres leading Representative Jimmy Gomez 41% to 38%, focusing on artificial intelligence policy and candidate perceptions rather than the sexual misconduct allegations.
- ▪Representative Jimmy Gomez has been on the ballot and reelected in every midterm election since 2017.
- ▪U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez of California's 34th District was accused of sexual assault and harassment, which has turned his historically safe Democratic House seat competitive ahead of the November 2026 election.
Allegations and Gomez's response
- ▪Representative Jimmy Gomez admitted to making "personal mistakes" outside of his marriage but denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the relationship with the staffer was consensual.
- ▪The allegations against Representative Jimmy Gomez first surfaced in April 2026, when the New York Post reported he was seen in 2023 kissing a congressional staffer who was two decades younger than him.
House reactions to the allegations
- ▪Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar called the sexual misconduct allegations against Representative Jimmy Gomez "serious and disturbing."
- ▪The House Committee on Ethics announced on August 17, 2026, that it is reviewing allegations that Representative Jimmy Gomez may have engaged in sexual misconduct violating House code of conduct rules.
Angela Gonzales-Torres's campaign
- ▪Angela Gonzales-Torres entered the congressional race a year before Representative Jimmy Gomez was accused of sexual misconduct and has secured endorsements from the Democratic Socialists of America and Justice Democrats.
- ▪Angela Gonzales-Torres is leveraging rising voter support for socialist policies in California, focusing her campaign on sky-high rent prices, healthcare for all, and expanding housing vouchers.
- ▪Angela Gonzales-Torres, a Democratic Socialists of America member challenging Representative Jimmy Gomez, has repeatedly called for Gomez's resignation and made the sexual assault and harassment allegations against Gomez a centerpiece of her campaign
Campaign endorsements
- ▪Nearly 100 party delegates signed a petition calling on the California Democratic Party to rescind its endorsement of Representative Jimmy Gomez following the sexual misconduct allegations.
- ▪Former Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg is among the progressive figures who have endorsed Angela Gonzales-Torres, the challenger to Representative Jimmy Gomez
Debatable claims
- ▪Representative Jimmy Gomez should resign from Congress over sexual misconduct allegations
- ▪Representative Jimmy Gomez's progressive legislative record matters more than his personal misconduct
- ▪The California Democratic Party is justified in rescinding its endorsement of Representative Jimmy Gomez
- ▪Accepting AIPAC campaign funding is incompatible with progressive representation
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