Rudy Melendez

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Rudy Melendez

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 2, 2026

Education

High school

Plano East Senior High School

Bachelor's

University of Texas at Austin, 1996

Personal

Profession

Laborer

Contact

Campaign Instagram

Rudy Melendez (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 29th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 2, 2026.

Melendez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Rudy Melendez earned a high school diploma from Plano East Senior High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1996. His career experience includes working as a laborer.

Elections

2026

See also: California's 29th Congressional District election, 2026

California's 29th Congressional District election, 2026 (June 2 top-two primary)

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House California District 29

Incumbent Luz Maria Rivas (D) and Angélica María Dueñas (D) are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 29 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Luz Maria Rivas (D)
		Angélica María Dueñas (D)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary

Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 29

Incumbent Luz Maria Rivas (D) and Angélica María Dueñas (D) defeated Rudy Melendez (R) in the primary for U.S. House California District 29 on June 2, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Luz Maria Rivas (D)	51.0	62,385
✔		Angélica María Dueñas (D)	24.9	30,469
	Submit photo	Rudy Melendez  (R)	24.0	29,362

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 122,216
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Margarita Maria Carranza (R)
• Steven Sparrow (R)

Endorsements

See also: Our approach to covering endorsements

Rudy Melendez received the following endorsements and voter guide recommendations. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

• Republican Party of California
• April's Common Sense Cali Voters (Sway voting group by April Silverman 🇺🇸💕 (Cali MAGA Barbie))
• Based in Malibu (Sway voting group by Based in Malibu)
• Elizabeth Barcohana's Lady with a Brain Voter Guide (Sway voting group by Elizabeth Barcohana)
• The Morning Answer with Jennifer Horn

2024

See also: City elections in Los Angeles, California (2024)

General election

General election for Los Angeles City Council District 2

Adrin Nazarian defeated Jillian Burgos in the general election for Los Angeles City Council District 2 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrin Nazarian (Nonpartisan)	53.8	44,538
		Jillian Burgos (Nonpartisan)	46.2	38,185

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 82,723
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Los Angeles City Council District 2

The following candidates ran in the primary for Los Angeles City Council District 2 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adrin Nazarian (Nonpartisan)	37.2	14,033
✔		Jillian Burgos (Nonpartisan)	22.3	8,430
		Sam Kbushyan (Nonpartisan)	14.7	5,561
	Submit photo	Manny Gonez (Nonpartisan)	12.2	4,613
		Jon-Paul Bird (Nonpartisan)	7.1	2,685
	Submit photo	Rudy Melendez (Nonpartisan)	3.7	1,406
	Submit photo	Marin Ghandilyan (Nonpartisan)	2.7	1,012

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 37,740
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

See also: Our approach to covering endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements or voter guide recommendations for Melendez in this election.

2022

See also: California's 29th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 29

Incumbent Tony Cárdenas defeated Angélica María Dueñas in the general election for U.S. House California District 29 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Cárdenas (D)	58.5	69,915
		Angélica María Dueñas (D)	41.5	49,520

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 119,435
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 29

Incumbent Tony Cárdenas and Angélica María Dueñas defeated Margarita Maria Carranza, Andy Miranda, and Rudy Melendez in the primary for U.S. House California District 29 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Cárdenas (D)	56.7	47,941
✔		Angélica María Dueñas (D)	22.8	19,321
		Margarita Maria Carranza (R)	8.4	7,079
		Andy Miranda (R)	6.1	5,167
	Submit photo	Rudy Melendez (R)	6.0	5,057

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 84,565
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: City elections in Los Angeles, California (2020)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Los Angeles City Council District 2

Incumbent Paul Krekorian won election outright against Rudy Melendez and Ayinde Jones in the primary for Los Angeles City Council District 2 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Paul Krekorian (Nonpartisan)	66.7	30,844
	Submit photo	Rudy Melendez (Nonpartisan)	19.8	9,166
	Submit photo	Ayinde Jones (Nonpartisan)	13.5	6,248

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 46,258
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: California State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for California State Senate District 18

Incumbent Robert Hertzberg defeated Rudy Melendez in the general election for California State Senate District 18 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert Hertzberg (D)	78.1	195,623
	Submit photo	Rudy Melendez (R)	21.9	54,888

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 250,511 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Senate District 18

Incumbent Robert Hertzberg and Rudy Melendez defeated Roger James Sayegh and Brandon Saario in the primary for California State Senate District 18 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Robert Hertzberg (D)	66.3	72,462
✔	Submit photo	Rudy Melendez (R)	11.5	12,564
		Roger James Sayegh (D)	11.2	12,238
		Brandon Saario (R)	11.0	12,048

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 109,312
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Rudy Melendez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Melendez's responses.

Expand All

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

California Native Conservationist American Labor Leader Born In LA

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Easing the Cost of Living in California
• Promoting Economic Prosperity and Housing Affordability in California
• Protecting Parental Rights for Their Children’s Education and Healthcare Decisions in California

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Supporting United States Based Visual Art, Music Production and Motion Picture Industry Film and Tax Credit Incentives in California

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My Parents are My Role Models

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Accountability, Clarity and Transparency

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To Support and Defend The Constitution of The United States

What legacy would you like to leave?

I Would Like to Leave The World a Better Place

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I Had a Paper Route Delivering The Los Angeles Herald Examiner

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Accepting The Lack of Resolutions In Certain Situations to Find Peace

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

California Parents Union (CPU)

California Rifle Pistol Association (CRPA) California Republican Assembly (CRA) California Republican Party (CAGOP) GOP Union Caucus (GOPUC) Los Angeles Hispanic Republican Club (LAHRC)

Reform CA

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

Apollo 17

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Rudy Melendez did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Rudy Melendez did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Rudy Melendez did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Rudy Melendez campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2018	California State Senate District 18	Lost general	$0	N/A**
Grand total			$0	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also

2026 Elections

What's on the ballot? California U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. CongressState executivesState legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal governmentList of school districts in California

Newsletters

The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

U.S. House California District 29

Instagram

Footnotes

[show]

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Alex Padilla (D)

Adam Schiff (D)

Representatives

District 1

James Gallagher (R)

District 2

Jared Huffman (D)

District 3

Kevin Kiley (I)

District 4

Mike Thompson (D)

District 5

Tom McClintock (R)

District 6

Ami Bera (D)

District 7

Doris Matsui (D)

District 8

John Garamendi (D)

District 9

Josh Harder (D)

District 10

Mark DeSaulnier (D)

District 11

Nancy Pelosi (D)

District 12

Lateefah Simon (D)

District 13

Adam Gray (D)

District 14

Aisha Wahab (D)

District 15

Kevin Mullin (D)

District 16

Sam Liccardo (D)

District 17

Ro Khanna (D)

District 18

Zoe Lofgren (D)

District 19

Jimmy Panetta (D)

District 20

Vince Fong (R)

District 21

Jim Costa (D)

District 22

David Valadao (R)

District 23

Jay Obernolte (R)

District 24

Salud Carbajal (D)

District 25

Raul Ruiz (D)

District 26

Julia Brownley (D)

District 27

George Whitesides (D)

District 28

Judy Chu (D)

District 29

Luz Rivas (D)

District 30

Laura Friedman (D)

District 31

Gil Cisneros (D)

District 32

Brad Sherman (D)

District 33

Pete Aguilar (D)

District 34

Jimmy Gomez (D)

District 35

Norma Torres (D)

District 36

Ted Lieu (D)

District 37

Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)

District 38

Linda Sánchez (D)

District 39

Mark Takano (D)

District 40

Young Kim (R)

District 41

Ken Calvert (R)

District 42

Robert Garcia (D)

District 43

Maxine Waters (D)

District 44

Nanette Barragán (D)

District 45

Derek Tran (D)

District 46

Lou Correa (D)

District 47

Dave Min (D)

District 48

Darrell Issa (R)

District 49

Mike Levin (D)

District 50

Scott Peters (D)

District 51

Sara Jacobs (D)

District 52

Juan Vargas (D)

Democratic Party (45)

Republican Party (8)

Independent (1)

Capital: Sacramento

California

Elections

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