California 20th District
Vince Fong (R) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Vince Fong
Republican · holds this seat today
ALiberty Score AOn the liberty side in 51 of 54 votes and bills.
Raised $2,407,334 since January 2025: 50% from PACs and other committees, 43% from people, 7% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Sandra Van Scotter
Democrat · disability support worker, former respiratory therapist, ridgecrest
FLiberty Score F11 out of 100 across 5 principles. Graded on what Scotter has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Scotter.
Raised $47,739 since January 2025: 60% from people, 37% the candidate’s own money, 3% from the party. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Vince Fong. Vince Fong: A, 94 out of 100 from recorded votes. Sandra Van Scotter: F, 11 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in California: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Sandra Van Scotter, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Scotter, so the grade above comes from this list: what Scotter has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Asked about Israel in a voter guide questionnaire, she said unconditional US support had enabled actions including the attack on Iran.
“unconditional support has enabled actions - including the attack on iran - that the u.s. would not tolerate from other allies.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Condemning a strike on the regime in Tehran is the against side of this measure.
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She called Israel a democratic ally in a volatile region and said the US has a blind spot about its human rights record in Gaza.
“yes - strategically, historically, and as a democratic ally in a volatile region. however, the u.s. has a documented blind spot regarding israel's human rights record in gaza and the occupied territories.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
She calls Israel an ally and asks for accountability but names no cutoff or condition on weapons, so this does not settle the measure.
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She chose the answer that the US has become too involved in others' affairs and should focus on its own sovereignty unless in imminent danger, counting strategic alliances as part of that danger.
“america has overextended itself in conflicts neither ours to resolve nor improved by our involvement. 'imminent danger' must be broadly defined - including direct attacks, economic threats, and strategic alliances.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
She names neither Ukraine, Taiwan nor NATO and counts alliances as a reason to act, so this does not settle the measure.
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Her campaign site says she supports Medicare for All and a constitutional amendment making Medicare a right.
“sandra supports medicare for all - not as a talking point, but as a lived conviction from twenty years in healthcare settings watching patients get denied, delayed, and bankrupted.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government-run health care for all is the against side of this measure.
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In a voter guide questionnaire she agreed that people who can afford to pay more taxes should, and said earners above a threshold should pay more.
“yes, individuals and corporations earning above a defined threshold should pay more.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Higher taxes are the against side of this measure.
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She strongly disagreed that biological males should be kept out of women's sports and women's spaces.
“biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison. strongly disagree i strongly disagree.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Opposing keeping women's sport female is the against side of this measure.
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She said separation of church and state means government cannot create a national religion or favor one faith over others.
“to me, "separation of church and state" means the government cannot create a national religion, interfere with how we worship, or favor one faith over others.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping religion out of government and treating all faiths the same is the with side of this measure.
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She said she would make sure the four military bases in the district get what they need, while talking to them rather than just throwing things at them.
“i would do pretty much everything i needed to do to make sure that they get what they need to protect the country”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Support for local bases with no view on the defence budget does not settle this measure.
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Her campaign site says she supports a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers, like the amnesty passed under Reagan.
“she supports a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers who have built their lives and livelihoods here, similar to the amnesty passed under the reagan administration.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Amnesty or a path to legal status for those here illegally is the against side of this measure.
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In a voter guide questionnaire she said she strongly supports sanctuary cities.
“i strongly support sanctuary cities - not just as protection, but as on-ramps to legal status.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Sanctuary policies are the against side of this measure.
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Her campaign site says border security and human dignity are not mutually exclusive.
“she believes border security and human dignity are not mutually exclusive.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Naming border security with no barrier, enforcement step or deportation policy does not settle this measure.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Discussion
California 20th District
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