CA-42 primary: first place
Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleSchool Board Member
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationCalifornia
Show moreShow less
BackgroundHigher education IT administrator (USC Online learning management systems)
EducationUniversity of Southern California — B.A. in Political Economy
Notable personal detailsBrian J. Burley is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in California’s 42nd Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. He serves as a trustee (Area 1) on the Huntington Beach City School District Board of Trustees, elected in 2024. He works at the University of Southern California, supporting USC Online learning management systems and overseeing a virtual server environment for the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Burley has also owned a small business in Huntington Beach.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports tax relief for families and business owners and opposes taxpayer-funded health care programs; emphasizes lower taxes and reduced government spending. Positions emphasize pro-tax-cut, pro-free-market approaches rather than expanding taxes on high earners or new wealth-redistribution measures.
Immigration & Border
The candidate emphasizes opposing illegal immigration and prioritizes stronger enforcement and border control. Campaign materials state he will "take a stand against illegal immigration" and list immigration enforcement as a core part of his platform. Past campaign biography notes endorsement from an organization that supports stricter immigration enforcement.
Show moreShow less
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate describes himself as pro-life and supports defending the right to life. His campaign materials and candidate questionnaires identify opposition to abortion and frame abortion as a major human-rights issue.
Climate & Energy
The candidate’s public materials emphasize general conservative priorities and do not present a detailed climate or energy policy. A 2020 local candidate profile includes a comment that planting trees can address carbon, but no comprehensive positions on emissions targets, fossil fuels, or clean-energy policy are provided. Public campaign pages list platform themes but do not specify climate or energy policies.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supports strong Second Amendment rights and questions the effectiveness of further assault-weapon restrictions, while emphasizing law-and-order approaches to crime. Public materials and ratings indicate a pro-gun-rights stance rather than support for expanded gun-control measures.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262022
2024
2026
LatestCycle 2022
Cycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- News
- Polls
- Endorsements



