Indian-born Dr. Sonia Devgan-Kacker, a board-certified family physician and local small business owner, is making a bid for Democratic nomination for California’s 26th Congressional District. The seat, which encompasses most of Ventura County, became an open race following the retirement announcement of longtime incumbent Rep. Julia Brownley.
Devgan-Kacker enters the political arena with a background deeply rooted in the Indian American experience. Born in India before moving to the United States, her journey reflects a narrative of academic excellence and service common to the diaspora.
She completed her undergraduate studies at Stanford University before earning her medical degree from the University of California, Irvine. For more than 26 years, she has operated Westlake Village Urgent Care and Occupational & Family Medical Clinic, a practice that has overseen more than 200,000 patient visits.
“After 26 years serving this community, it’s time for this doctor to make a ‘House Call’ to Washington,” Devgan-Kacker stated. Her platform emphasizes the intersection of healthcare and economic policy, drawing directly from her dual perspective as a frontline clinician and an employer.
The 26th District is a vital economic hub, featuring a mix of agricultural land, aerospace innovation, and technology sectors. Devgan-Kacker argues that her experience running a small business gives her a unique understanding of the regulatory hurdles and rising costs that local entrepreneurs face.
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She has also identified wildfire preparedness as a personal and political priority, noting that as a Ventura County resident, she keeps an evacuation bag packed a reality for many of her potential constituents.
“When Congress writes healthcare laws, physicians should have a seat at the table to ensure policies work for patients and communities in the real world,” Devgan-Kacker said, criticizing the influence of private equity and corporate bureaucracy on medical affordability.
Devgan-Kacker raised her two children in Thousand Oaks, where they attended local public schools. Beyond her clinic, she maintains academic ties as a clinical teacher with institutions such as UCLA and USC.
The race for the 26th District is expected to be highly competitive. As an open seat in a presidential election cycle, it has already drawn interest from a wide field of candidates.
Devgan-Kacker joins a Democratic primary that includes several local figures, while Republicans aim to flip a seat that has remained in Democratic hands for over a decade. The primary is scheduled for June 2.