Post-Prop 50: Bera With $2 Mln War Chest Jumps Into New CA-03 District Race

Photo: Facebook

India-West Staff Reporter

ELK GROVE, CA— U.S. Representative Ami Bera announced his decision to seek election in California’s newly configured 3rd Congressional District following the successful passage of Proposition 50. He belongs to the centrist New Democrat Coalition.

The move instantly positions Democrats for a potential pickup in a crucial race as the battle for control of the House of Representatives intensifies.

Bera enters the race with nearly $2 million in campaign funds, signaling his readiness to mount a formidable campaign. Nonpartisan analysis estimates the new CA-03 carries a favorable D+6 partisan tilt, a region Vice President Kamala Harris carried by approximately ten points in the 2024 presidential contest.

Bera is a seasoned figure in California politics and a physician by training, with a reputation for success in competitive districts. He has represented parts of the greater Sacramento region since 2013, first entering Congress after defeating a long-serving Republican incumbent. His political track record includes securing re-election in several tightly contested cycles—in 2014, 2016, and 2018—expanding his support base with each victory. In 2024, Bera demonstrated his appeal among moderates and independents by outperforming Vice President Harris by 2.4 percentage points in CA-06.

The Congressman is well-acquainted with the new district’s voters, as approximately 60 percent of the newly drawn area overlaps with communities he has previously represented. His office also notes he has helped over 34,000 residents and returned more than $22 million in federal benefits and reimbursements to constituents.

“The road to a Democratic majority runs straight through California,” Bera said in a campaign statement. “I’m stepping forward in CA-03 to fight for working families and to ensure that our values are represented in Congress.”

Before entering public office, Bera spent two decades practicing medicine, later serving as Sacramento County’s Chief Medical Officer and as Dean of Admissions and Clinical Professor at UC Davis School of Medicine. He has lived in Sacramento County for nearly 30 years with his wife, Dr. Janine Bera, also a physician. The couple’s daughter, Sydra, is their only child.

Bera concluded, emphasizing the national stakes: “With strong grassroots support, a clear plan to win, and the resources to execute it, our campaign is ready to help Democrats reclaim the House and provide a critical check on Donald Trump’s influence.”