$110K raised through 2026-06-30
Full profileRace at a glance
California’s 18th Congressional District has a contested U.S. House race in the 2026 general election. Three candidates are running: Luis Antonio Acevedo-arreguin, a Democrat; Christopher Demers, who has no party affiliation; and Uloma Ekpete, a Democrat.
The field gives voters a choice between two candidates using the Democratic Party label and one candidate running without a party affiliation. Acevedo-arreguin and Ekpete remain separate choices even though they share the same party identification. Demers is the only candidate in the field who is not affiliated with a political party.
In this race, “contested” means more than one candidate is seeking the office. It does not indicate how close the election may be or which candidate has an advantage.
The candidates
Luis Antonio Acevedo-arreguin is running as a Democrat. He is one of the two Democratic candidates in the three-person field. His campaign has raised $18,368.65 and spent $15,792.59. Acevedo-arreguin will appear before voters as his own candidate, separate from the other Democrat in the race.
Christopher Demers is running with no party affiliation. He is the only candidate in the race without a Democratic Party label. His campaign has raised $109,850.41 and spent $80,593.76. Demers gives voters an option outside the party affiliation used by the other two candidates.
Uloma Ekpete is running as a Democrat. She is one of the two Democratic candidates in the three-person field. Her campaign has raised $0 and spent $0. Like Acevedo-arreguin, Ekpete is an individual candidate on the ballot rather than part of a combined Democratic choice.
Campaign money
The fundraising figures show different levels of financial activity among the three campaigns. Demers has raised $109,850.41 and spent $80,593.76. Acevedo-arreguin has raised $18,368.65 and spent $15,792.59. Ekpete has raised and spent $0.
Money raised measures the funds brought into a campaign, while money spent reflects campaign expenditures. Those figures do not measure votes and do not determine the election’s outcome. Campaign finance totals can also change as candidates continue raising and spending money during the election cycle.
The spending totals should not be treated as cash-on-hand figures. The amount raised minus the amount spent does not necessarily show what a campaign currently has available because campaign accounts can include other financial activity.
What voters are deciding
The general election asks voters to select one candidate to represent California’s 18th District in the U.S. House. Party identification distinguishes the field at a basic level: Acevedo-arreguin and Ekpete are Democrats, while Demers has no party affiliation.
Because two candidates share the Democratic label, voters choosing between them will be selecting an individual candidate, not simply a party. Demers’ no-party-affiliation designation identifies him as running without a political party label. Fundraising and spending provide another point of comparison, but they do not explain the full choice before voters.
Election date and next steps
The California general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. As the election approaches, voters can watch for the finalized ballot lineup, updated campaign finance totals and information the candidates release about their priorities.
The three candidates enter the election cycle with different party identifications and different levels of campaign financial activity. The result will be decided by voters in the district at the general election.
