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Sonia Devgan-Kacker enters race for CA-26
The democrat said her decision to run stems from her experience treating patients and managing a local medical practice in the district.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 17, Mar 2026
- 15:59 EDT
- 25
Sonia Devgan-Kacker / drsoniaforcongress.com
Community physician and small business owner Sonia Devgan-Kacker has announced her candidacy for the open seat in California’s 26th congressional district, positioning her campaign around healthcare, economic stability, and disaster preparedness.
The seat is open after Democratic Rep. Julia Brownley, who has represented the district for multiple terms, is not seeking reelection in 2026, setting up a competitive race in both parties.
Also Read: CA-17 congress race gets another Indian American contender
Devgan-Kacker, a board-certified family physician, has practiced in the district for 26 years and owns Westlake Village Urgent Care, Occupational and Family Medical Clinic. According to her campaign, she has overseen more than 200,000 patient visits and worked with families, employers, schools, and local institutions across the region.
“I’m not a career politician. I solve problems every day,” Devgan-Kacker said in a statement. “When this seat opened, I felt a responsibility to step forward. I’ve spent 26 years diagnosing challenges in this community — now I’m ready to help address them in Congress.”
Her campaign said a February fundraising effort exceeded internal targets, signaling early momentum.
Her platform centers on healthcare access and affordability, citing rising insurance premiums and limited access despite healthcare accounting for a significant share of the U.S. economy.
“As both a frontline physician and small business owner, I see firsthand how federal decisions affect healthcare access, insurance costs, workforce sustainability, and the viability of local clinics,” she said.
She also identified wildfire recovery and disaster preparedness as key priorities, particularly for Ventura County communities affected by recurring fires.
“Federal disaster relief must be timely, transparent, and focused on rebuilding communities — not delayed by bureaucracy,” she said.
On the economic front, Devgan-Kacker highlighted challenges facing the district’s agricultural sector, including labor shortages, water access, and trade barriers, and called for federal action to support growers producing crops such as strawberries, avocados, and citrus.
She also pointed to the region’s aerospace and unmanned systems industry, emphasizing the need for federal investment to sustain innovation, national security, and local employment.
Devgan-Kacker underscored support for medical research funding, particularly through the National Institutes of Health, linking federal investment to advancements in patient care and the biotechnology sector.
Her campaign platform also includes support for small businesses, evidence-based policymaking, and bipartisan cooperation.
“District 26 is diverse in its voices, professions, and priorities,” she said. “In medicine, you don’t treat half the patient — you treat the whole person. That’s how I will serve this district.”
Devgan-Kacker completed her undergraduate studies at Stanford University and earned her medical degree from the University of California, Irvine. She is affiliated with academic institutions including UCLA and USC and has been involved in clinical education and workforce training through her practice.
California’s 26th Congressional District has leaned Democratic in recent election cycles, with Brownley winning reelection in 2024 with about 56 percent of the vote.
The district spans much of Ventura County—including Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Agoura Hills, and Westlake Village—as well as parts of Los Angeles County such as Calabasas. It is considered an economically active and diverse region with strong agriculture, healthcare, small business, and aerospace sectors.
The 2026 race is expected to be closely watched, with multiple candidates already declared. The primary is scheduled for June 2, followed by the general election on November 3.
Devgan-Kacker is among several Democrats in the race, alongside Chris Espinosa and Jacqui Irwin. Republicans including Samuel Gallucci and Michael Koslow have also entered the contest.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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