Young Kim
Young Kim, a Republican who has represented California's 40th congressional district since 2023, faces fellow Republican incumbent Ken Calvert in the redrawn 40th district in 2026 after both advanced from the top-two primary.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
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- Born
- October 18, 1962
- Birthplace
- Incheon, South Korea
- Education
- University of Southern California (bachelor's degree in business administration)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Young Kim was born on October 18, 1962, in Incheon, South Korea, and spent her childhood in Seoul. Her family left South Korea in 1975, living first in Guam, where she finished junior high school, and then in Hawaii, where she attended high school.
She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California. After graduating, Kim worked as a financial analyst for First Interstate Bank and then as a controller for JK Sportswear Manufacturing, and she also started her own business in the clothing industry.
She is married to Charles Kim, a nonprofit administrator and philanthropist, and they have four children.
Career
Young Kim worked for Ed Royce for 21 years as his community liaison and director of Asian affairs after he was elected to the U.S. House, and during much of that time she hosted the television show "LA Seoul with Young Kim" and the radio show "Radio Seoul".
She was elected to the California State Assembly from the 65th district in 2014, defeating Democratic incumbent Sharon Quirk-Silva, who won the seat back in a 2016 rematch. Kim was the first South Korean-born Republican woman elected to the California State Legislature.
When Royce retired, Kim ran to succeed him in California's 39th congressional district in 2018 and lost to Democrat Gil Cisneros, 51.6% to 48.4%. She defeated Cisneros in a 2020 rematch, and she, Michelle Steel and Marilyn Strickland became the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.
Due to redistricting she sought reelection in the 40th district in 2022, which she has represented since 2023, and in 2024 she was reelected there over Democrat Joe Kerr.
For the 118th Congress she served on the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, where she chaired the Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific.
2026 race
Redistricting for 2026 drew Young Kim and fellow Republican incumbent Ken Calvert, who previously ran in the 41st district, into California's 40th congressional district.
Kim was re-elected with 55.3% of the vote in 2024, and in the 2026 top-two primary she finished second with 20.63%, behind Calvert's 34.89%.
The two Republicans advanced past six other candidates, including Democrats Esther Kim Varet and Lisa Ramirez, setting up a contest between two sitting members of the House. Kim and Calvert face each other in the general election on November 3, 2026.