Sara
Jacobs
Democratic U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs seeks her fourth term representing California's 51st District in 2026.
- sources
- 20
- positions
- 12
- endorsements
- 14
Background
Sara Jacobs is a Democratic U.S. representative serving California's 51st Congressional District. A third-generation San Diegan, she was born and raised in San Diego and attended Torrey Pines High School before earning a B.A. in political science (2011) and a Master of International Affairs in international security policy and conflict resolution (2012) from Columbia University. 1/)23
Before entering elected office, Jacobs held positions at the United Nations, UNICEF, and the U.S. State Department, and served as a foreign-policy adviser on Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. She also founded and led Project Connect as its CEO, served as a scholar in residence at the University of San Diego's Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, and founded the San Diego for Every Child coalition in 2018. 2
Jacobs made an unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination in California's 49th District in 2018 before winning election to Congress in 2020, taking office on January 3, 2021, initially representing the 53rd District. Following redistricting, she has represented the 51st District. 1/)8
In November 2026, Jacobs is seeking her fourth term in Congress, running as the Democratic incumbent in California's 51st District against a Republican challenger. 12
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic · Incumbent
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 51, California
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- U.S. Representative for California's 51st Congressional District
- Website
- sarajacobsforca.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Voting record
How Sara Jacobs voted in Congress: 118th Congress (2023–24) and 119th Congress (2025–26), Jan 3, 2023 to Sep 16, 2026. From the official House and Senate roll call records.
- roll call votes
- 1,909
- missed
- 1.8%
- with their party’s majority
- 97%
Recent key votes
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · S2403 · Economy & jobsRetire through Ownership ActOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)Yes
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · HR9497 · Climate & energyWater Resources Development ActOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)Yes
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · HR9340 · Climate & energyRatepayer Protection ActOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)Yes
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · HJRES213 · Climate & energyProviding for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the “California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision”On Passage · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)Did not vote
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · HR10326 · Crime & public safetyPROOF ActOn Passage · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)No
- Sep 16, 2026 · House · HR9576 · Crime & public safetyNational Fraud Enforcement Division ActOn Passage · Passed · against their party's majorityOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)No
- Sep 15, 2026 · House · HJRES210 · Climate & energyProviding for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Ocean-Going Vessels At-Berth; Notice of Decision”On Passage · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)No
- Sep 15, 2026 · House · HR9500 · Taxes & budgetTax Relief for Fraud Victims ActOn Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended · PassedOfficial roll call ↗(opens in a new tab)Yes
Key votes are final decisions on bills and joint resolutions, and top nominations. Software sorts each into an issue from its official title, so check the roll call. All 1,909 votes →
Timeline
- Oct 11newsSan Diego Union-Tribune profiles Jacobs seeking fourth term, facing little-known Republican challenger
The Union-Tribune published a joint candidate profile covering Jacobs's positions on Iran (opposes U.S. military action), housing (tax credits to spur homebuilding), and homelessness (supports housing-first and treatment-first approaches). The profile notes Cabrera is a little-known Republican challenger.
Democrat Sara Jacobs seeks fourth term in Congress, faces challenge by little-known Republican · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6newsJacobs responds to Trump comments on San Diego in press release
Rep. Jacobs issued a public response to comments made by President Trump regarding San Diego, as noted in a press release covered by Quiver Quantitative.
Press Release: Rep. Sara Jacobs Responds to Trump Comments on San Diego | Stock News · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29newsJacobs reported with ~$270K cash on hand and $1.45M spent in 2026
KPBS reported Jacobs had approximately $270,000 cash on hand and had spent $1.45 million that year, with a $373,000 transfer to the DCCC. A separate FEC-based tracker put cycle fundraising at about $1.64 million.
Meet the candidates for US House of Representatives · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29endorsementKPBS lists Jacobs's endorsers and top priorities ahead of November election
KPBS's candidate guide listed the San Diego County Democratic Party and California Democratic Party among Jacobs's endorsers, and identified her priorities as reducing the cost of living, humane immigration policies, and ending the Iran war.
Meet the candidates for US House of Representatives · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 28newsJacobs conducts oversight visit aboard USS Abraham Lincoln
Rep. Sara Jacobs conducted an oversight visit aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, as described in a press release covered by Quiver Quantitative.
Press Release: Sara Jacobs Conducts Oversight Visit Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln | Stock News · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 26newsAnalysis examines what Cabrera would need to defeat Jacobs in CA-51
The Political Group published an analysis of the underdog path for Republican Ricardo Cabrera, noting Jacobs's significant fundraising and primary vote advantage.
What It Would Take for Ricardo Cabrera to Win CA-51 in 2026 · Sep 26, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24newsCandidate profiles for Jacobs and Cabrera published ahead of November general
Political Media Monitor published 2026 profiles for both Sara Jacobs (D) and Ricardo Cabrera (R) in the CA-51 race.
Sara Jacobs (D) — U.S. Representative, CA-51 | 2026 profile · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 17newsSara Jacobs profiled as incumbent Congresswoman seeking fourth term in CA-51
A DC Insiders profile described Jacobs as the Democratic incumbent representing California's 51st District.
Sara Jacobs — Congresswoman (D-CA) · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 27filingCalifornia Secretary of State certifies CA-51 general election candidate list
The Secretary of State's certified candidate list for the November general election was issued on August 27, confirming Jacobs and Cabrera as the two candidates.
Sara Jacobs (D) — U.S. Representative, CA-51 | 2026 profile · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 2newsJacobs wins CA-51 primary with 57.7%, advancing to general election against Cabrera
Sara Jacobs received 111,765 votes (about 57.7%) in California's top-two primary; Ricardo Cabrera received 71,692 (37.0%). Both advanced to the November 3 general election.
Sara Jacobs (D) — U.S. Representative, CA-51 | 2026 profile · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Human Rights Campaign PAC organizationListed in a separate iVoterGuide general-election profile; note that starred endorsements were received after the site's deadline and were not considered in panel evaluations. No specific endorsement date provided. ivoterguide.com
- San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council unionListed among Jacobs' top endorsements by KPBS (Sept. 29, 2026). kpbs.org
- Council for a Livable World organizationListed in a separate iVoterGuide general-election profile; note that starred endorsements were received after the site's deadline and were not considered in panel evaluations. No specific endorsement date provided. ivoterguide.com
- JStreetPAC organizationListed in iVoterGuide endorsement profile for the 2026 general election (updated Oct. 12, 2026); no specific endorsement date provided. ivoterguide.com
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund organizationListed in iVoterGuide endorsement profile for the 2026 general election (updated Oct. 12, 2026); no specific endorsement date provided. ivoterguide.com
- National Women's Political Caucus organizationListed in iVoterGuide endorsement profile (updated Oct. 12, 2026) and separately confirmed on NWPC's endorsed-candidates page (updated Oct. 2, 2026); no specific endorsement date provided. nwpc.org
- NARAL Pro-Choice America organizationListed in a separate iVoterGuide general-election profile; note that starred endorsements were received after the site's deadline and were not considered in panel evaluations. No specific endorsement date provided. ivoterguide.com
- United Auto Workers unionListed in a separate iVoterGuide general-election profile; note that starred endorsements were received after the site's deadline and were not considered in panel evaluations. No specific endorsement date provided. ivoterguide.com
- San Diego County Democratic Party officialListed among Jacobs' top endorsements by KPBS (Sept. 29, 2026); also listed on the party's own 2026 general-election candidate page (updated Oct. 6, 2026). kpbs.org
- End Citizens United organizationListed in iVoterGuide endorsement profile for the 2026 general election (updated Oct. 12, 2026); no specific endorsement date provided. ivoterguide.com
- California Democratic Party officialListed among Jacobs' top endorsements by KPBS (Sept. 29, 2026); also listed in the California Democratic Party 2026 general-election endorsements PDF (posted Aug. 8, 2026). cadem.org
- Sierra Club organizationListed in a separate iVoterGuide general-election profile; note that starred endorsements were received after the site's deadline and were not considered in panel evaluations. No specific endorsement date provided. ivoterguide.com
- Equality California organizationListed in iVoterGuide endorsement profile for the 2026 general election (updated Oct. 12, 2026); no specific endorsement date provided. ivoterguide.com
- California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO unionListed as '51 — Sara Jacobs (D)' in the federation's 2026 general-election COPE recommendations PDF, dated Aug. 4, 2026. calaborfed.org · Aug 4, 2026
Past elections
General election results for federal office, from the Federal Election Commission.
| Year | Seat | Result | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | U.S. House CA-51 · D | Won | 144,186 | 61.9% |
| 2018 | U.S. House CA-49 · D | Lost |
Covers the 2016 to 2022 general elections. The FEC has not yet published 2024 congressional results.
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $1.64M
- Spent
- $1.45M
- Cash on hand
- $269K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H8CA49074(opens in a new tab)
Sources 20
- [1] Democrat Sara Jacobs seeks fourth term in Congress, faces challenge by little-known Republican(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] Voter Guide Profile for CA U.S. Rep., Dist. 51 candidate(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] Voter Guide Profile for CA U.S. Rep., Dist. 51 candidate - Sara Jacobs(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [4] Press Release: Rep. Sara Jacobs Responds to Trump Comments on San Diego | Stock News(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [5] Sara Jacobs | Congress.gov(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [6] Meet the candidates for US House of Representatives(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [7] Press Release: Sara Jacobs Conducts Oversight Visit Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln | Stock News(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [8] What It Would Take for Ricardo Cabrera to Win CA-51 in 2026(opens in a new tab) Sep 26, 2026
- [9] Sara Jacobs (D) — U.S. Representative, CA-51 | 2026 profile(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [10] Sara Jacobs — Congresswoman (D-CA)(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [11] Endorsed Candidates - National Women's Political Caucus(opens in a new tab) Aug 25, 2026
- [12] [PDF] 2026 General Election Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Aug 8, 2026
- [13] California Federation of Labor Unions(opens in a new tab) Aug 5, 2026
- [14] Q&A: Meet Sara Jacobs, candidate for California's 51st ...(opens in a new tab) May 7, 2026
- [15] Rep. Sara Jacobs Urges Colleagues to Vote YES on Iran ...(opens in a new tab) Mar 4, 2026
- [16] Rep. Sara Jacobs Votes Against NDAA Due to Lack of Constraints on Military’s Role in Domestic Law Enforcement | U.S. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Of California's 51st District(opens in a new tab) Jul 15, 2025
- [17] Rep. Sara Jacobs Introduces the Delete DOGE Act(opens in a new tab) Apr 3, 2025
- [18] Rep. Sara Jacobs Votes Against Massive Giveaway to ...(opens in a new tab) Mar 30, 2023
- [19] Rep. Sara Jacobs Calls for Free and Fair Election in Brazil | U.S. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Of California's 51st District(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2022
- [20] Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Votes to Pass Assault Weapons Ban | U.S. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs Of California's 51st District(opens in a new tab) Jul 29, 2022