Richard Pan (D) – CA-06 House 2026

About

Richard Pan is a Sacramento pediatrician, former UC Davis professor, and former California state senator who advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary to the general election for California's 6th Congressional District. His campaign emphasizes protecting healthcare access, countering the Trump administration's and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s public health policies, lowering costs for working families, and gun safety; he is endorsed by the California Democratic Party, major labor unions, and prominent figures including former Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Pan is running against independent incumbent Rep. Kevin Kiley in a race shaped by California's redrawn district map.

Biography sources 9

Positions on Key Issues

Positions of Richard Pan on key issues
Issue	Stance	Sources
Healthcare	Pan's campaign says he will protect health care, make health care more affordable, and require federal health-care and public-health policy to be guided by science and facts. The campaign highlights his prior work expanding children's coverage and protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and he has opposed political interference with federal vaccine guidance. In interviews he has endorsed expanding healthcare access and lowering prescription drug costs but stopped short of fully backing a single-payer system.	Dr. Richard Pan Issues Statement on CDC Vaccine Guidance and Public Misinformation Public health takes center stage in US midterm campaigns Dr. Richard Pan endorses expansion of healthcare access but won't fully back single-payer system
Economy	Pan says he would prioritize lowering costs for working families by making necessities more affordable, providing educational-debt relief, reducing taxes for working families and small businesses, and rolling back President Trump’s tariffs, which he says raise prices. He also supports small businesses through less unnecessary red tape, affordable capital, workforce training and apprenticeships, and opposition to corporate monopolies; in the CA-06 campaign, he has criticized Kevin Kiley’s support for Trump’s agenda as contributing to higher food and gas costs. Pan’s record also includes a 2017 vote for California SB 1, which increased fuel taxes and vehicle fees for transportation funding.	Dr. Pan for Congress \| Get Involved Today Meet the candidates in California's Congressional District 6 race California June 2 Primary Election: Congressional District 6 Candidates on the Issues
Climate/Energy	Pan’s campaign says science and facts should guide federal policy on the environment, but it does not publish detailed climate or energy proposals. He voted for California Senate Bill 1 (2017), which increased gasoline and diesel taxes and vehicle fees to fund transportation, and environmental organizations have endorsed him as a pro-environment candidate for the 2026 general election.	Who We're Endorsing in California's 2026 Election 2025-2026 Endorsements — League of Conservation Voters Action Fund Kevin Kiley challenges Richard Pan to debate series in D-6 race
Abortion & Reproductive Health	Pan's campaign says he protected abortion rights after Roe v. Wade was overturned, helped ensure coverage for abortion access and contraception, and would work in Congress to codify Roe. His campaign also reports a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California; Reproductive Freedom for All and Planned Parenthood Action Fund list him as an endorsed CA-06 candidate for 2026.	Dr. Pan for Congress — Issues 2026 Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorsed Candidates
Immigration	Pan's campaign says immigrants are vital to the U.S. economy and innovation, supports a path to citizenship, and highlights his prior work helping immigrants obtain legal assistance. It also says federal immigration agents must not threaten or attack citizens or legal immigrants, and calls for replacing ICE with an agency that enforces immigration law fairly, protects constitutional rights, and does not separate families.	Dr. Pan for Congress — Immigration
Firearms & Second Amendment	Pan supports comprehensive gun-safety measures. His campaign says he would support stronger and universal background checks, secure firearm storage, community-violence prevention, gun-violence research, and keeping weapons of war out of communities, including an assault-weapons ban. In a newer development, GIFFORDS endorsed Pan as a 2026 gun-safety champion and described him as a candidate who would support commonsense gun-safety laws.	Dr. Pan for Congress — Issues
Foreign Policy	Pan has criticized the Trump administration's military action against Iran, describing it as "an unconstitutional war" that drives up food and gas costs, and has said tariffs make it harder for American farmers to sell food abroad. In an August 2026 debate, he said Israel has a right to exist and defend itself, characterized the situation as an attack on Israeli civilians alongside a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and called for peace in the Middle East; he did not characterize Israel's conduct as genocide. His campaign platform does not detail broader foreign-policy positions on other regions or alliances.	California June 2 Primary Election: Congressional District 6 candidates on the issues Why Richard Pan wouldn’t say ‘genocide’ when Kevin Kiley pressed him on Israel \| Opinion Dr. Richard Pan for Congress
Civil Rights & Equality	Pan's campaign says he will defend the rule of law and equal justice for all Americans, support a path to citizenship, provide legal assistance to immigrants, and require immigration enforcement to protect people's constitutional rights. The campaign also states that everyone should be treated fairly by government. Equality California endorsed Pan in February 2026, citing his record of improving healthcare access for LGBTQ+ Californians.	Dr. Pan for Congress — campaign issues and platform Equality California Endorses Fiona Ma for Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Richard Pan for Congress
Education	Pan's campaign says he would make education more affordable and prioritize relief for educational debt, while supporting workforce training and apprenticeship programs. His campaign also emphasizes public education, student health, supported educators and classified staff, safe learning environments, and adequate school resources; the California Federation of Teachers, California Teachers Association, and California School Employees Association endorse him, citing his record on student health and public-school support.	Dr. Pan for Congress Endorsements \| Support Proven Leadership Today VIDEO: Dr. Richard Pan Releases New Ad Highlighting His Record
Election Policy	Pan’s campaign says he would hold the Trump administration accountable for actions it describes as endangering democracy, defend the rule of law and equal justice, and support civil servants serving the American people rather than partisan presidential agendas. The campaign materials collected do not specify detailed positions on voter ID, election administration, or other voting rules.	Dr. Pan for Congress \| Campaign Platform
Local Issues	Pan says he would make food, housing, education, and health care more affordable; support local communities through investments in emergency responders and community-based programs; and help small businesses. In a CA-06 voter guide, he attributed high food costs partly to tariffs and immigration operations, argued for lowering costs by reversing policies that raise them, and emphasized preserving the immigrant workforce that harvests food.	California June 2 Primary Election: Congressional District 6 candidates on the issues Dr. Pan for Congress — Issues

Review an issue

Healthcare

Pan's campaign says he will protect health care, make health care more affordable, and require federal health-care and public-health policy to be guided by science and facts. The campaign highlights his prior work expanding children's coverage and protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and he has opposed political interference with federal vaccine guidance. In interviews he has endorsed expanding healthcare access and lowering prescription drug costs but stopped short of fully backing a single-payer system.

Sources:

Dr. Richard Pan Issues Statement on CDC Vaccine Guidance and Public Misinformation

Public health takes center stage in US midterm campaigns

Dr. Richard Pan endorses expansion of healthcare access but won't fully back single-payer system

Choose another issue above to review the remaining researched positions.

No public position found: Tech & AI

Background

Career History

State Senator, District 6 2014 – 2022

California State Senate

Represented Sacramento, West Sacramento, Elk Grove and unincorporated Sacramento County. Authored landmark public health legislation including SB 277 (2015) eliminating personal-belief vaccine exemptions, SB 276 (2019) on medical exemptions, and SB 852 (2020) creating California's own insulin production. Chaired the Senate Health Committee.

State Assemblymember, 5th and 9th Districts 2010 – 2014

California State Assembly

Represented the 5th Assembly District (2010-2012) and, after redistricting, the 9th Assembly District (2012-2014). Chaired the Assembly Health Committee and authored AB 678 (2011) to bring federal funding to fire departments.

Pediatrician and Professor 1998 – Present

University of California, Davis

Practicing pediatrician and professor at UC Davis who directed the school's pediatric residency program and founded Communities and Physicians Together. Continues to treat low-income children at the Sacramento County Health Center.

Mayoral Candidate 2024 – 2024

City of Sacramento

Ran for mayor of Sacramento in the March 5, 2024 primary, finishing third, and dropped out of the race.

Education

Johns Hopkins University Bachelor of Arts in Biophysics (1987)

University of Pittsburgh Doctor of Medicine (1991)

Harvard University Master of Public Health (1998)

Top Donors

Raised approximately $1.1 million through June 30, 2026 FEC filings, with $769,476 from individual contributors and $307,996 from PAC/committee contributions. Named to the DCCC's Red to Blue program and endorsed by major labor organizations including the California Federation of Labor Unions, California Teachers Association, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. Full itemized data available via FEC.

Sources

PAN, RICHARD DR. - Candidate overview - FEC 2026 Red to Blue - DCCC PAN, RICHARD - FollowTheMoney.org Campaign cash keeps California Republicans competitive House Dems' midterm windfall

Voting Record

Served in the California State Assembly (2010-2014) and California State Senate (2014-2022), where he authored landmark public health legislation including SB 277 (2015) eliminating personal-belief vaccine exemptions, SB 276 (2019) cracking down on fraudulent medical exemptions, and SB 852 (2020) creating California's own insulin production. Voted for SB 1 (2017), the transportation funding package that raised the gas tax, a vote Kiley has highlighted in the campaign. Has no federal legislative voting record.

Sources

View full voting record Richard Pan - Wikipedia RFK Jr. has met his match in this California congressional hopeful - Mother Jones Richard Pan - D California, 6th, Candidate - Biography - LegiStorm Kevin Kiley challenges Richard Pan to debate series in D-6 race - CapRadio

About this research

Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated October 10, 2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.