Tessa Lynn Hodge, a Democrat and clinical social worker, faces Republican incumbent Jay Obernolte in the 2026 general election for California's 23rd congressional district after placing second in the top-two primary.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Tessa Lynn Hodge.
Biography & Campaign Analysis
2026 race
Tessa Lynn Hodge, a clinical social worker, is the Democratic candidate in the 2026 election for California's 23rd congressional district, where Republican Jay Obernolte is the incumbent after being reelected with 60.1% of the vote in 2024.
In the top-two primary Hodge finished second with 30,292 votes, or 21.25%, while Obernolte led the field with 57.08%. She placed ahead of fellow Democrats Pat Wallis, a software developer, with 13.29% and Karsten Scott Nicholson with 3.09%, as well as two candidates with no party preference.
Hodge faces Obernolte in the general election on November 3, 2026.