Representative Julia Brownley, Democratic from California

Julia Brownley

California's 26th congressional district

CA-26 Midterms Intelligence

Julia Brownley sits in a Ventura County seat that is comfortably Democratic but not sleepy: CA-26 is D+12, with Democrats taking 56%, yet its high competitiveness score reflects a coalition that must be maintained, not assumed. The district’s defining feature is its affluent-but-pressured suburban character—median income is $115,527, but housing costs are punishing, with median home values at $839,600—alongside a large Hispanic population at 44.3%. Brownley’s long tenure and committee portfolio fit the district’s profile: pragmatic, services-oriented, and attentive to veterans, infrastructure, and coastal resource issues.

For advocates, the opening is to frame priorities through cost of living, mobility, and resilience rather than ideology. This is a district where quality-of-life arguments travel better than partisan ones: transportation relief, water reliability, climate adaptation, and veterans’ access all map onto local anxieties. The strategic tension is between economic comfort and household strain—voters are relatively well-off on paper but highly sensitive to affordability shocks—so campaigns should stress practical benefits, local delivery, and protections for middle-class homeowners, renters, and working Latino families.

Representative Julia Brownley represents California's 26th congressional district, serving 751,824 constituents. The district has an estimated median household income of $115,527 and an unemployment rate of 6%.

Economic & Demographic Snapshot

751,824Population
↓ 5,778
$115,527Median Incomenat'l $37,585
↑ $8,618
6%Unemploymentnat'l 3.5%
↑ 0.5%
6.4%Poverty Ratenat'l 12.4%
↑ 0.4%
66.6%Homeownershipnat'l 65.5%
→ no change
$2,412Median Rentnat'l $1,163
↑ $165
0.5%Public Transitnat'l 5%
→ no change
26.1 minMean Commutenat'l 26.4 min
↓ 0.3 min

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2017-2021 vs. 2019-2023). All figures are statistical estimates with 90% confidence level.

California District 26 Demographics

Median Age 39.4 (vs 38.5) · Homeownership 66.6% (vs 65.5%) · Bachelor’s+ 37.5% (vs 33.7%) · Poverty 6.4% (vs 12.4%) · Income $115,527 (vs $37,585)

Key Issues for This District
Immigration policyEducation accessRent burden

Age Distribution

Near the national median age (39.4 vs 38.5 nationally). The largest age cohort is 10–19 at 13.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

A majority-minority district. White residents are the largest group at 51%. Also significant: Hispanic (44.3%).

* Hispanic includes respondents of any race. Racial categories include both Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals.

Education

37.5% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, above the 33.7% national average. 15% of residents lack a high school diploma.

Income Distribution

Median household income is $115,527, well above the $37,585 national median.

Housing

Homeownership at 66.6% (vs 65.5% nationally). Median rent is $2,412. Median home value is $839,600.

How People Get to Work

Car-dependent: 70.1% drive alone to work. Average commute is 26.1 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
Data represents 5-year statistical estimates for increased reliability.

California District 26 FAQ

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