Juan Vargas — Democrat Candidate for U.S. House in California, 2026

Representative Juan Vargas voted against the FY2026 NDAA due to concerns about anti-immigrant provisions and opposed appropriations funding for ICE, advocating for its replacement with a different enforcement agency. He supports the American Dream and Promise Act, which provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, and leads efforts to fund the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for humanitarian protection. Vargas also co-introduced a bill to ensure experienced immigration judges hear deportation cases, supporting due process rights.

“"I do want to get rid of ICE altogether, but replace it with something else. I mean, we do need enforcement... The truth is, we do need enforcement. It's not the case that we need ICE. I mean, again, we have so many different agencies that do enforcement. We do need some enforcement, and no doubt about it. I'm in favor of that. When I was on the San Diego City Council, I supported the police. I still support the police. Law enforcement is good, but we have to have good law [...]" - Rep. Juan Vargas, Politically Speaking, NBC 7 San Diego, February 25, 2026.”

Juan Vargas voted against the Republican spending bill, H.R. 6703, in 2025, to prevent millions from losing health insurance coverage and facing increased premiums as ACA tax credits expire. He criticized the bill for not addressing the healthcare crisis and also reportedly opposed a Republican budget proposal to cut Medicaid. Vargas advocates for healthcare protections and renewing ACA tax credits.

““I just voted NO on the Republican spending bill. In 2026, millions are going to lose their health care coverage and millions more will see their premiums rise as the ACA tax credits expire. Trump and Republicans created this health care crisis, and they haven’t shown any interest in solving it. In fact, they’ve used it to make things worse by trying to weaponize hunger and take food away from families. I will not support a bill that fails to address the Republicans' health care crisis and the skyrocketing premiums that millions of families are facing.” — Rep. Juan Vargas, http://vargas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-juan-vargas-votes-no-on-republican-spending-bill”

Juan Vargas advocates for climate action, exemplified by his support for EPA funding for climate-resilient projects in San Diego to improve air quality and expand green spaces. He also supported the SEC's climate disclosure rule and sponsored H.R. 1187, which aims to improve corporate transparency on climate risks and ESG metrics for investor protection. As co-chair of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, he thanked President Biden for leadership on climate priorities.

“Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary public servant, Ally Castaneda, who is departing my office and Washington, D.C. for a new role. Ally has been an outstanding member of my team since 2022. She began her work as a Legislative Correspondent before becoming a Legislative Assistant, and then a Senior Legislative Assistant. In every role, Ally was the ultimate professional and went above and beyond. This job gives us all an incredible opportunity to better people's lives, and Ally embraced this ideal, She worked hard every day to serve the people of California's 52nd Congressional District. Ally led critical pieces of legislation, including the Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act, and helped secure essential funding for our district.”

Juan Vargas has consistently voted against legislative measures that restrict abortion access. He voted "Nay" on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 21) as recorded by the House Clerk. Additionally, his voting record includes "No" votes on the Pregnant Students' Rights Act and the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act.

Juan Vargas voted against the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, stating concerns that the bill contained provisions which could allow the military to be used for anti-immigrant policies and weaken collective bargaining rights. He believes the legislation prioritized "culture war issues" over the needs of soldiers. Additionally, Vargas has expressed a desire to dismantle U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and replace it with an alternative enforcement agency, stating that ICE has "done a terrible job."

““Our troops deserve an NDAA that strengthens our military and supports families. My Democratic colleagues worked hard to remove some of the worst Republican poison pills, and I’m grateful for their efforts. But unfortunately, the final bill still includes dangerous provisions that would let the Trump Administration weaponize the military to carry out its inhumane anti-immigrant agenda, weaken collective bargaining rights, and put culture war issues over the actual needs of our soldiers.” — Rep. Juan Vargas, press release from his office, vargas.house.gov, on his vote against the FY2026 NDAA.”

Representative Juan Vargas co-introduced the Language Access for All Act of 2026, aiming to codify federal language access requirements to ensure individuals with limited English proficiency can access critical services. He stated this legislation is vital for communities. His office also hosts a Youth Policy Council, enabling high school students to learn about the legislative process and discuss community issues. Additionally, he made a statement in 2025 honoring Alicia Eugenia White Bell for her contributions as an educator.

“No one should be locked out of federal programs because of the language they speak. This legislation is critical as we fight to push back on Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda and keep in place the services our communities rely on." - Rep. Juan Vargas, in a press release dated January 23, 2026, regarding the Language Access for All Act of 2026.”

Juan Vargas voted in favor of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, a law that supports red flag provisions, enhances background checks, and includes investments in mental health care. He also voted to pass legislation aimed at reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban (H.R. 1808) to prohibit the sale and possession of certain semiautomatic assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He supports requiring individuals to be 21 to purchase semi-automatic centerfire rifles and efforts to ban bump stocks, citing the goal of preventing gun violence and saving lives.

“I was proud to vote to support this historic law, which was the first major gun violence prevention package in nearly three decades. This law not only supports the implementation of red flag laws and enhances background checks, it also includes historic investments in mental health care across the country. While we must keep pushing to keep our communities safe from gun violence, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act includes critical provisions advanced by House Democrats that will help save lives. - Juan Vargas, http://vargas.house.gov/issues/gun-violence-prevention”