Thousand Oaks resident Jacqui Irwin is headed to Washington after a decisive victory in the November 3 election for California’s 26th Congressional District. Irwin, a longtime local elected official and former state assemblymember, defeated Republican Oxnard pastor Sam Gallucci by a margin of 62% to 38%, according to results with 71% of precincts reported.

Local roots, statewide experience

Irwin’s political career began on the Thousand Oaks City Council in 2004, where she later served two terms as mayor. In 2014 she won a seat in the California State Assembly and, following redistricting, represented the 42nd District from 2022 until reaching the six‑term limit. Her background includes engineering work at Teledyne Systems and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from UC San Diego.

Campaign focus and priorities

During the campaign, Irwin emphasized expanding affordable housing, lowering energy costs, reducing prescription‑drug and child‑care expenses, and creating jobs. She also called for greater investment in wildfire prevention and comprehensive immigration reform. In a victory‑night interview with The Acorn, Irwin said her “day one” priorities in Congress would be pursuing accountability for corruption in the federal government and addressing the high cost of living for her constituents.

District profile

The 26th District covers most of Ventura County—including Oak Park, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Camarillo—as well as parts of Los Angeles County such as Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and Westlake Village. The district has been held by Democrats for the past 14 years, with retiring Rep. Julia Brownley endorsing Irwin as her successor.

Legislative background

In the Assembly, Irwin chaired committees on Military and Veterans Affairs and Revenue and Taxation, and currently chairs the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies and the Assembly Select Committee on Cybersecurity. Her experience in these policy areas is expected to inform her work on the House Committee assignments she will receive.

Community perspective

At an election‑night celebration in Thousand Oaks, Irwin told local residents she entered public service not for power but to solve problems for the community. She recalled her early work with former councilmember Andy Fox to secure grant funding for the Titans youth football team, describing it as the spark that led to a lifelong dedication to public service.

What’s next

Irwin will be sworn in with the new Congress in January 2027. She plans to maintain a strong presence in her district, continuing to provide resources and advocacy for the families and businesses that make the 26th District vibrant. Her election adds another Democratic voice from California to the House, reinforcing the state’s influence on national policy debates.

Original reporting: Thousand Oaks Acorn — read the source article.