David Jariustokaeutulelei TangipaIncumbent
Candidate for Assembly District 8
David Tangipa is a Republican. He is the incumbent Assemblymember for California's 8th Assembly District. It covers Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Inyo, and Mono counties. He was elected in November 2024. He took office in December 2024. So the 2026 election is a re-election bid for him. He now serves as Assembly Budget Vice-Chair. He also sits on Budget, Appropriations, Higher Education, Housing, and Human Services. Tangipa was born in Sacramento. He was raised in North Highlands, California. His father is a disabled U.S. veteran. His mother is a Tongan immigrant. He has lived in Fresno since he went to Fresno State University. There he played tight end for the Bulldogs football team. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Criminology, from 2017. He holds an MBA with a marketing focus, from 2019. Both are from Fresno State. Before his election, he worked in home lending and real estate. That was at Modern Broker Inc. He also worked as a field rep for Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig. There he worked on COVID-19 response and wildfire recovery. He says his family lost a home in the 2020 Creek Fire. He says that shaped his focus on forest and wildfire policy. He held no elected office before his 2024 Assembly win. Age: About 29-30, reported as 28 in an early-2024 news profile. Home: Fresno, California, born in Sacramento, raised in North Highlands. Occupation: California State Assemblymember, District 8. His background is in real estate and home lending, at Modern Broker Inc. Prior office: Incumbent since December 2024, first elected November 2024. He held no elected office before that.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Supports lowering business costs by opposing tax increases and regulations, and has criticized wasteful state spending amid California's business/population exodus.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Opposes state tax increases and has authored bills creating targeted tax credits (for farming and first-time homebuyers) as cost-of-living relief.
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Has authored legislation on transit-oriented housing development and a first-time homebuyer tax credit; professionally works in real estate/home lending aimed at homeownership access.
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Supports increased law enforcement support and anti-crime legislation, and states strong support for Second Amendment gun rights.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
Supported making child sex trafficking a strikable offense and led a public pressure campaign backing that legislation (SB-14).
Source → - Health & Health Care
Has authored legislation to establish a rural medical services grant program aimed at improving health care access in rural areas of his district.
Source → - Reproductive & Social Issues
Identifies as pro-life on abortion.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Emphasizes wildfire prevention through active forest management ("Log it, Graze it, or Watch it Burn") and has authored legislation on building energy/solar standards.
Source → - Water & Natural Resources
Advocates for new water storage infrastructure in the Central Valley, including construction of dams such as Temperance Flat, framing water access as essential to the region's survival.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Opposed Proposition 50 (a 2025 statewide redistricting measure), arguing it would consolidate one-party power in Sacramento and lock in policies he views as harmful; also authored legislation requiring lobbyist certification.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.