CA-06 Candidate Comparison Matrix

2026 General Election · California's 6th Congressional District

Kevin Kiley (I — Incumbent) vs. Richard Pan (D — Challenger)

November 3, 2026

Presented by Indivisible El Dorado · Prepared: June 25, 2026, 10:30 AM PDT

Sources: FEC, CalMatters, ABC10, GovTrack, Wikipedia, 314 Action, Progressive Voters Guide, Elk Grove Daily News

District Context

The redrawn CA-6 (Prop. 50) covers West Sacramento, Natomas, northern Sacramento, and sections of Roseville, Rocklin, and Citrus Heights across Sacramento, Yolo, and Placer counties. Democrats hold a narrow registration advantage. Kiley, stripped of his former CA-3 by redistricting, switched to Independent and moved to this seat. Pan, termed out of the CA Senate, is his top Democratic challenger. Race rating: Competitive / Lean Democratic.

Kevin Kiley (Independent · Incumbent) · kiley.house.gov · Richard Pan (Democrat · Challenger) · drpanforcongress.com

Background
Kevin KileyIndependent · Incumbent	Richard PanDemocrat · Challenger
Born in Roseville, CA; Harvard B.A. 2007; M.A. Secondary Education, Loyola Marymount 2009; Yale Law J.D. 2012 Former teacher; lawyer; California Deputy Attorney General; adjunct professor California State Assembly (6th District), 2016–2022; two-term U.S. House (CA-3), 2023–present Registered Republican 2022–2026; switched to No Party Preference March 2026, citing frustration with “hyper-partisanship” Prop. 50 made his former CA-3 solidly Democratic; chose to run in new CA-6 (Sacramento/Placer/Yolo) rather than primary incumbent McClintock in CA-5 Known for NYT profile and “The Daily” interview for attending Congress during 43-day government shutdown Missed only 0.8% of roll-call votes — well below the median	Born October 28, 1965; Taiwanese American immigrant family; raised in Pittsburgh, PA B.S. Biophysics, Johns Hopkins; M.D., University of Pittsburgh; M.P.H., Harvard; pediatric residency at Massachusetts General Hospital (Chief Resident) Fellowship, Children’s Hospital Boston (child advocacy & primary care research) Practicing pediatrician and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, UC Davis Children’s Hospital California State Assembly (9th District), 2010–2014; California State Senate (6th District), 2014–2022 (termed out) Chaired the CA Senate Health Committee; led state implementation of the ACA Ran for Mayor of Sacramento in 2024; did not win; pivoted to CA-6 congressional race after Prop. 50 redrew the district Married to Wen Li-Wang (dentist); first announced congressional run October 14, 2025

Key Priorities
Kevin KileyIndependent · Incumbent	Richard PanDemocrat · Challenger
Lower cost of living: introduced legislation to compel California to reduce its gas tax (highest in nation) Bipartisan infrastructure: secured $22.5M grant for Hwy 65 / I-80 improvements in Placer County Anti-gerrymandering: introduced House bill to ban mid-decade redistricting; called on Speaker Johnson repeatedly to bring it to a vote Fiscal responsibility: opposes wasteful spending; voted against Trump’s emergency tariffs on Canada Government accountability: one of few Republicans who showed up during the government shutdown Education reform; veterans’ services Positions himself as independent problem-solver above partisan fray	Healthcare access: authored $11 insulin legislation in CA Senate; championed ACA implementation; cut the uninsured rate by two-thirds in California Oppose Trump and RFK Jr.’s attacks on public health, vaccines, and science Housing: passed legislation to help families with housing costs Prescription drug pricing: fight greedy pharmaceutical corporations Gun safety: common-sense laws including universal background checks and assault weapons ban Public safety investment: secured millions in new funding for firefighters and emergency responders Community-based violence prevention; mental health grants Student loan relief; roll back Trump tariff taxes Food security: ensured families in need can afford groceries

Key Endorsements
Kevin KileyIndependent · Incumbent	Richard PanDemocrat · Challenger
Previously endorsed by President Trump (as a Republican in CA-3); no new endorsements announced as of publication Campaigns as independent appealing to both Republican and swing voters Republican Governance Group (caucus membership) Note: Lost formal GOP endorsement network by switching parties; NRCC unlikely to support an independent	California Federation of Labor Unions (SEIU anchor) California Teachers Association (CTA) California Labor Federation 314 Action Fund — invested $1.5M in primary to boost Pan as a science-credentialed candidate against RFK Jr. ideology Emergency responders, nurses, and local leaders per campaign website California Democratic Party (no formal endorsement — party declined to endorse in the multi-candidate primary)

Advantages
Kevin KileyIndependent · Incumbent	Richard PanDemocrat · Challenger
Incumbent: 3 years in Congress, name recognition, casework record ($22.5M infrastructure grant) Independent label appeals to swing voters in a district where Democrats hold a narrow registration edge but many independents exist High-profile media presence: NYT profile, The Daily podcast; known as a principled maverick Low missed-vote rate signals work ethic and reliability Fundraising likely superior to Pan given incumbency and prior GOP donor base District includes Roseville/Placer County — his home territory of 20+ years	District’s Democratic registration advantage benefits a strong Democrat 314 Action Fund’s $1.5M primary investment signals major national progressive infrastructure support in the general Highly credentialed: MD, MPH, Harvard, Johns Hopkins — uniquely positioned on healthcare in anti-RFK Jr. moment Authored CA’s $11 insulin law — concrete, tangible policy achievement that resonates with district voters Strong labor endorsements: SEIU, CTA, California Labor Federation amplify grassroots organizing capacity Pan finished second in the primary — advancing despite a crowded Democrat field validates his general-election viability

Vulnerabilities
Kevin KileyIndependent · Incumbent	Richard PanDemocrat · Challenger
Party switch to independent widely seen as cynical political maneuvering after Prop. 50 made his old district unwinnable Voting record is predominantly Republican — Democrats will attack him as a Republican in disguise Lost formal NRCC/GOP infrastructure by switching parties; has no natural party institutional base for the general The new CA-6 leans Democratic — his independent label may not compensate for structural disadvantage Only one bill enacted in three years (naming a VA clinic); legislative thin gruel Moderate Republicans he counted on may not follow him to an independent race	Vaccine mandate champion: SB 277 and related bills made him a lightning rod for anti-vaccine activists — a potential drag with independent voters Lost Sacramento mayoral race in 2024 — prior electoral defeat signals he is not invincible outside legislative settings No federal legislative experience; first-time congressional candidate California Democratic Party offered no endorsement — intraparty competition fragmented Democratic consolidation in the primary Kiley’s incumbency and local roots give him a strong base in Placer County and Roseville that Pan must overcome

Campaign & Major Donors
Kevin KileyIndependent · Incumbent	Richard PanDemocrat · Challenger
Fundraising details for 2026 cycle not fully public as of publication; incumbency advantage implies superior cash-on-hand Prior Republican donor network now complicated by party switch — some major donors may sit out WinRed (prior Trump-era small-dollar machine) unlikely to remain active post-party change Independent expenditure committee support uncertain — NRCC will not back him; no equivalent IE infrastructure on the independent side Likely to rely on moderate/business donor base and personal networks from Placer County	314 Action Fund: $1.5M investment in primary campaign including six-figure TV ad campaign California Labor Federation, SEIU, and CTA PAC contributions Grassroots fundraising from progressive healthcare donor network nationally DCCC and House Majority PAC likely to invest in the general if Pan leads polling Pro-science / pro-public health donor networks activated by RFK Jr. threat nationally

Foreign Policy
Kevin KileyIndependent · Incumbent	Richard PanDemocrat · Challenger
Voted with Republicans on defense and military posture generally Voted with Democrats against Trump’s emergency tariffs on Canada — signals willingness to cross party lines on trade/foreign economic policy Introduced anti-mid-decade gerrymandering bill as a democratic norms issue — frames domestic governance as foundational No stated public positions on Israel-Gaza, Iran war, or U.S. military aid as of publication As a former Republican, previously caucused with members supportive of U.S.-Israel alliance and hawkish Iran posture	Framed congressional campaign explicitly around stopping RFK Jr. and Trump’s “attacks on health care and science” — positions domestic science policy as a national security issue Supports Taiwan — consistent with his Taiwanese American identity and anti-authoritarian values No public statements on the Iran war or Gaza conflict as of publication Public health lens on foreign policy: authored legislation to counter CCP-related health disinformation (implied from committee focus) 314 Action Fund alignment suggests support for science-based foreign policy and opposition to unilateral military action without evidence

Presented by Indivisible El Dorado. For informational purposes only. Data drawn from public FEC filings, candidate websites, and reported news sources as of June 25, 2026. This document does not constitute an official endorsement.