Zoe LofgrenIncumbent
Candidate for U.S. Representative, Congressional District 18
Zoe Lofgren is a Democrat in the U.S. House. She is the incumbent for California's 18th Congressional District. The district covers most of Santa Clara County. It includes San Jose, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy. She was born December 21, 1947, in San Mateo, California. She graduated from Gunn High School in Palo Alto. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University in 1970. She earned a J.D. in 1975. It came from Santa Clara University School of Law. Before electoral politics, she was a congressional staffer. She worked for Rep. Don Edwards. She also practiced as an immigration attorney. She served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She served there from 1981 to 1993/1994. She was elected to Congress in November 1994. She took office in January 1995. She is now serving her 16th term. She chaired the House Administration Committee (2019-2023). She chaired the House Ethics Committee (2009-2011). She is now the Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. She also sits on the House Judiciary Committee. She is running for another term in CA-18 in the November 2026 general election. Born December 21, 1947. Home: San Jose, California (Santa Clara County). Occupation: U.S. Representative (incumbent). Her background is as an immigration attorney. Prior office: incumbent since 1995, first elected 1994. She served before on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (1981-1994).
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Supports stronger consumer and worker protections and has criticized what she calls excessive Wall Street influence over the economy, while also backing bipartisan agricultural workforce/labor legislation.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Supports expanding government-guaranteed health coverage, including membership in the Medicare for All Caucus and co-sponsorship of Medicare for All legislation and a bill to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60.
Source → - Immigration & Border
Supports comprehensive, practical immigration reform and stronger due-process protections for immigrants, including legislation ensuring legal representation for unaccompanied migrant children in immigration proceedings, and has criticized aggressive deportation enforcement programs.
Source → - Reproductive & Social Issues
Supports abortion rights and has opposed federal restrictions on abortion, describing the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a serious setback.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Supports expanding renewable energy and aggressive federal climate action, while also backing some nuclear energy research funding.
Source → - Foreign Policy & Defense
Supports continued U.S. engagement with and support for Taiwan.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Describes herself as a longtime advocate for pro-democracy reforms such as voting rights and election security, and has a record of involvement in congressional ethics enforcement.
Source → - Technology & Privacy
Supports net neutrality and digital civil-liberties protections (e.g., opposing SOPA and authoring Aaron's Law to reform the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act), but has generally opposed stronger antitrust regulation of major technology companies.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.