SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Three candidates are challenging Democrat Salud Carbajal for his place in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Candidates Sarah Bacon, Helena Pasquarella and Bob Smith are hoping to unseat Carbajal — who’s held the seat for the past decade — and lead California’s 24th Congressional District.

San Luis Obispo County is split between two congressional districts — Districts 19 and 24, currently represented by Democrats Jimmy Panetta and Carbajal, respectively.

SLO County’s districts were unaffected by the redrawing of the state’s congressional districts after the passing of Prop. 50.

The primary election will be held on June 2. The top two vote-getters will make it onto the November ballot.

Here’s what to know about the congressional race:

Where is the district?

California’s 24th Congressional District extends from Cayucos down through southern San Luis Obispo County and all of Santa Barbara County, as well as the northern tip of Ventura County.

The district includes Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Los Osos, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Nipomo in SLO County.

Who are the candidates?

Carbajal took office in 2017 and currently resides on several House committees, including Armed Services, Agriculture and Transportation and Infrastructure.

He emigrated from Mexico when he was 5 years old and spent several summers working as a farmworker. Carbajal attended UC Santa Barbara and served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He was also on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for 12 years before being elected to Congress.

Democrat Sarah Bacon is a Santa Barbara resident and a former tech executive. Currently, she’s enrolled in a religious studies graduate program at UC Santa Barbara, where she also serves as the vice president of external affairs for the university’s Graduate Student Association.

Ojai resident Helena Pasquarella is running as a Peace and Freedom candidate. She previously ran as a Democrat for the same seat in 2024 but failed to make it to the general election after landing only 9% of the vote.

In the past, she worked as a photojournalist covering Ventura County for the Los Angeles Times, taught at Santa Ana High School and Ojai Valley School, and owned a photography business for a decade, according to her website. She does not have any formal political experience.

Republican Bob Smith is also a political newcomer. The Carpinteria resident spent 26 years as an active duty Navy commander. He now works as a senior systems engineer for a defense contractor after retiring from the Navy in 2024.

Who is funding the race?

Carbajal raised more than $1.1 million in campaign contributions throughout 2025, according to the Federal Election Commission’s website.

A few of his largest donors included nearly $50,000 from ActBlue, a Democratic Party PAC, $10,000 from the American Crystal Sugar Company’s Political Action Committee and $7,000 from both the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians.

Smith has received just over $65,000 in campaign donations, mostly individual donors, according to the most recent campaign finance reports.

No recent campaign finance data was available for Pasquarella or Bacon.

Who else is supporting the candidates?

Carbajal has nabbed a number of endorsements from local and statewide organizations, including the United Farm Workers, the California Teachers Association, the SLO County and Santa Barbara County Democratic Parties and the Central Coast Labor Council.

Smith has received endorsements from the Republican Parties of Santa Barbara County and SLO County.

Meanwhile, Pasquarella earned an endorsement from the Santa Barbara County Green Party.

Bacon has not publicized any endorsements as of March 30.

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