LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Rep. Ami Bera and Robb Tucker will face off for California’s remapped 3rd Congressional District in Tuesday’s election.
They are vying to replace Rep. Kevin Kiley after his conservative-leaning district was split up in Proposition 50’s temporary redistricting.
In the June primary, Bera, a Democrat, won the most votes with 34.3% and Tucker came in second with 29.9%. The redrawn 3rd district favors Democrats by 6%, according to a nonpartisan analysis.
Bera has been in Congress since 2013 representing California’s 6th district in Sacramento and is now running to flip the 3rd district seat. He worked as a doctor for 21 years before teaching at UC Davis’ medical school and then turning to politics. He lives in Elk Grove.
Tucker, a Republican, was elected to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors in 2024. Tucker was the President and CEO of a family business until he sold it in 2020. He lives in south Nevada County in the foothills.
Both candidates are well-aligned with their parties’ respective values. Bera’s platform prioritizes protecting the environment, sustaining Medicare and social security, protecting women’s healthcare and helping businesses grow to create local jobs, among other things.
Bera has touted bringing more than $22 million federal dollars to projects in Sacramento and positioned himself as the incumbent candidate, although he represented a different district, with the leadership necessary to thrive in Washington.
Tucker’s campaign emphasizes the need for local control and federal accountability. He has positioned himself as an advocate for rural communities, and he says that working in county government allowed him to see what federal programs actually help people on the ground.
“As a Supervisor, I have stood up for meaningful solutions to protect public safety, support small businesses and create jobs, and protect our quality of life through a responsible balance of growth, development, and agriculture,” Tucker says on his campaign website.
Both said they will prioritize wildfire prevention as well.
Tucker is endorsed by current 3rd district representative Kiley, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton and all the county Republican Party affiliates in the district.
Bera is endorsed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, both senators from California and a long list of Democratic members of Congress from California.
The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
