Stephanie
M. Vargas
Republican Stephanie M. Vargas challenges incumbent Pete Aguilar in California's 33rd Congressional District in 2026
- sources
- 9
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 8
Background
Stephanie M. Vargas is a Republican candidate running in the November 3, 2026 general election for California's 33rd Congressional District, challenging incumbent Democratic Representative Pete Aguilar. 47
Vargas was born and raised in San Bernardino and currently resides in Rosena Ranch, near San Bernardino, having lived within the district throughout her life. 24 She serves as Chief Deputy City Clerk for the City of Colton, also acting as the city's elections official. 28
Prior to her municipal clerk career, Vargas served as a Police Explorer and Police Cadet with the San Bernardino Police Department, worked as a General Manager at a Fontana business, and was an After School Teacher/Community Service Assistant for the City of Fontana. 89 She holds an associate degree in Business Administration from San Bernardino Valley Community College, a Certified Municipal Clerk credential, and a Certified Professional Municipal Clerk credential through UC Riverside Extension. 8
Vargas has served in board leadership roles at Empire Springs Charter School, part of Springs Charter Schools, including chair and vice-chair positions. 1213 The San Bernardino County questionnaire notes she has held no prior elected public offices. 4
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 33, California
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Chief Deputy City Clerk, City of Colton
- Website
- stephanievargas4congress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 5newsSouthern California News Group publishes candidate questionnaire for Vargas in CA-33
The SCNG/The Sun published a questionnaire identifying Vargas as a Republican challenger to Pete Aguilar in CA-33. It describes her as a former chief deputy city clerk/elections official. She outlined positions on cost of living, energy prices, EPA waivers on California gasoline mandates, offshore drilling, housing, permitting reform, grid modernization, Flock cameras, and election security, stating her experience as a local elections official led her to believe the system was 'not as secure as I once believed.'
Stephanie Vargas, CA-33 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 2newsVargas advances to general election in CA-33 primary with 17.51% of the vote
Primary results show Vargas received 20,952 votes (17.51%) in the CA-33 primary, advancing to the general election alongside Democratic incumbent Pete Aguilar, who received 64,068 votes (53.54%).
2026 United States House of Representatives elections in ... · Sep 20, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - May 13filingFEC snapshot shows Vargas with $0 raised, $0 spent, $0 cash on hand
A district results listing attributing its figures to the FEC reported that as of May 13, 2026, Stephanie M. Vargas had raised $0, spent $0, and held $0 cash on hand. This is an older snapshot and not a current fundraising total.
2026 United States House of Representatives elections in ... · Sep 20, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Craig Huey's California Voter Guide otherListed on the campaign homepage; no date given. stephanievargas4congress.com
- California College Republicans Voter Guide organizationListed on the campaign homepage; no separate dated endorsement announcement found. stephanievargas4congress.com
- California Republican Party (CAGOP) officialCAGOP endorsements page lists 'CD 33: Stephanie Vargas.' Page published April 29, 2026, updated October 7, 2026; no specific endorsement date stated. cagop.org
- Isaac T. Suchil otherListed by iVoterGuide under endorsements 'reported by candidate'; no endorsement date given. ivoterguide.com
- Jennifer Horn's Conservative Voter Guide otherListed on the campaign endorsements page; no date given. stephanievargas4congress.com
- San Bernardino County Republican Party organizationListed as an endorsement on Vargas's campaign endorsements page; no date given. stephanievargas4congress.com
- Redlands Tea Party Patriots organizationListed as an endorsement on the campaign endorsements page; no date given. stephanievargas4congress.com
- Reform California organizationVargas's campaign reported the endorsement on March 20, 2026. stephanievargas4congress.com · Mar 20, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $0
- Spent
- $0
- Cash on hand
- $0
Reporting date not available. ↳ FEC record H6CA33114(opens in a new tab)
Sources 9
- [1] Campagin Buzz (See More)(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] Meet Stephanie | Stephanie Vargas For Congress 2026(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [3] Stephanie Vargas, CA-33 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [4] Platform | Stephanie Vargas For Congress 2026(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [5] Stephanie M. Vargas - iVoterGuide(opens in a new tab) Sep 27, 2026
- [6] Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [7] 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 20, 2026
- [8] Friends of Stephanie Vargas | Stephanie Vargas for Congress | California's 33rd Congressional District, CA, USA(opens in a new tab) Jul 5, 2026
- [9] CAGOP Endorsements - California Republican Party(opens in a new tab) Apr 29, 2026