David
Pan
Republican David Pan, UCI professor, challenges incumbent Rep. Lou Correa in California's 46th Congressional District
- sources
- 11
- positions
- 10
- endorsements
- 32
Background
David Pan is a Republican candidate challenging incumbent Democrat Lou Correa in California's 46th Congressional District in the November 2026 general election. Pan is a professor of German at the University of California, Irvine, where he has taught since 2006, and previously held academic positions at Washington University in St. Louis, Stanford, and Penn State. 11112
Before his academic career, Pan worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in Los Angeles from 2001 to 2003, and has done editorial work at Telos. He holds a B.A. in English and German from Stanford University (1986) and an M.A. (1990) and Ph.D. (1995) in Germanic Languages from Columbia University. 1112
Pan was born and raised in the Chicago area and attended public schools in Chicago and Mount Prospect, Illinois. He currently resides in Irvine, California. He served as a commissioner on the U.S. State Department's Commission on Unalienable Rights from 2019 to 2020, though that was an appointed rather than elected role. 112
Pan has no prior elected office. He advanced past the June 2026 primary alongside incumbent Lou Correa and is competing in the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026. 1722
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 46, California
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Professor of German, University of California, Irvine
- Website
- davidpan4congress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 11endorsementRepublican Party of Orange County endorses David Pan for CA-46
The Republican Party of Orange County's voting recommendations list Pan as endorsed for the CA-46 race against Democratic incumbent J. Luis Correa in the November 3 general election.
Republican Party of Orange County's Voting Group recommendations · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsPan answers Orange County Register policy questionnaire on CA-46 race
Pan identified affordability as the district's top issue and proposed phasing out welfare and entitlement programs to fund a $16,000 annual universal basic income for people 21 and older (including $4,000 for a health savings account). He also said he would privatize Medicare and Medicaid, support offshore oil drilling with environmental safeguards, and require data centers to mitigate noise, water, and energy impacts.
David Pan, CA-46 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsCalifornia early in-person voting opens; Pan and Correa listed as CA-46 general-election candidates
Statewide early in-person voting opened October 5. Pan and incumbent Democrat J. Luis Correa are the two candidates in the CA-46 general election. California's voter registration deadline is October 19, with same-day registration available afterward.
California's 46th District Race 2026: Who's Running (CA-46) · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 30filingPan's campaign reports ~$80,726 raised, $77,368 spent, $6,238 cash on hand (through June 30)
FEC-based summaries show Pan's campaign committee raised approximately $80,726, spent $77,368, and held $6,238 in cash at the end of the June 30 reporting period. These figures do not cover the most recent months and exclude outside spending.
California's 46th District Race 2026: Who's Running (CA-46) · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jan 1, 2023newsDavid Pan switches party registration from Democrat to Republican
Pan stated in an Orange County Register questionnaire that he switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in 2023. The article does not present this as a controversy.
David Pan, CA-46 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Former Orange County Board of Education President Linda Lindholm officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- State Assembly Member Phillip Chen officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Stanton City Council Member John Warren officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Former State Senator Gloria Romero officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- American Independent Party of California organizationEndorsement reported in campaign news listings. davidpan4congress.com
- State Assembly Member Tri Ta officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- San Clemente City Council Member Zhen Wu officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Reform California organizationListed as endorser on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- State Senator Tony Strickland officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Garden Grove Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Orange City Council Member Kathy Tavoularis officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Newport Beach Mayor Will O'Neill officialEndorsement reported in campaign news listings; no date provided. davidpan4congress.com
- State Assembly Member Diane Dixon officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Stanton City Council Member Victor Barrios officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Former State Senator Dick Ackerman officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Orange County Republican Party AAPI Engagement Committee and James Mai organizationCampaign news item reports endorsement by James Mai and the AAPI Engagement Committee. davidpan4congress.com
- Orange County Assessor Claude Parrish officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- San Clemente City Council Member Victor Cabral officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Orange County Employees Retirement System Board Member Wayne Lindholm officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- California Congress of Republicans organizationListed on CCR 2026 endorsements page for District 46. ccr-gop.com
- State Senator Steven Choi officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Stanton Mayor Dave Shawver officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Yorba Linda City Council Member Janet Lim officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Former U.S. Representative Michelle Steel officialEndorsement reported in campaign news listings; no date provided. davidpan4congress.com
- Orange County Republican Party organizationListed as endorser on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Yorba Linda City Council Member Shivinder Singh officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- Bill Evers (former U.S. Department of Education official) officialListed on Pan's campaign endorsement page. davidpan4congress.com
- U.S. Representative Ken Calvert officialAnnounced July 16, 2026; endorsement given July 10, 2026. natlawreview.com · Jul 10, 2026
- California Republican Assembly organizationListed in CRA's July 3, 2026 announcement and August 26 update for District 46. cragop.org · Jul 3, 2026
- California Republican Party organizationListed on CAGOP endorsements page for U.S. House District 46. cagop.org · Apr 29, 2026
- The New Majority of Orange County organizationBoard voted unanimously on April 27 to endorse Pan; reported in May 6, 2026 announcement. natlawreview.com · Apr 27, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $81K
- Spent
- $77K
- Cash on hand
- $6,238
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H4CA46137(opens in a new tab)
Sources 11
- [1] Republican Party of Orange County's Voting Group recommendations(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] Endorsements — David Pan for Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [3] David Pan, CA-46 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [4] California's 46th District Race 2026: Who's Running (CA-46)(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [5] Issues - David Pan for Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [6] Congressman Ken Calvert Endorses David Pan for Congress(opens in a new tab) Jul 16, 2026
- [7] California Republican Assembly November 2026 General Election ...(opens in a new tab) Jul 3, 2026
- [8] Republican David Pan Accelerates Drive for Congress in CA 46 | Th(opens in a new tab) Jun 5, 2026
- [9] CCR Endorsements 2026 - California Congress of Republicans(opens in a new tab) May 6, 2026
- [10] CAGOP Endorsements - California Republican Party(opens in a new tab) Apr 29, 2026
- [11] News — David Pan for Congress(opens in a new tab) Feb 9, 2024