Overview

• Jake Rakov, a former deputy communications director for Rep. Brad Sherman, announced his campaign to unseat his former boss in the 2026 primary election.
• Rakov’s campaign emphasizes term limits, rejecting corporate PAC funding, and holding monthly town halls to increase accountability to constituents.
• He criticized Sherman for being out of touch, citing the congressman’s move to a $2 million home in D.C. and a lack of town halls in the district over the past five years.
• Sherman defended his record, highlighting his seniority in Congress as critical for securing appropriations, committee assignments, and legislative influence.
• This challenge reflects a broader generational shift within the Democratic Party, as younger candidates push for new leadership and strategies to counter Republican dominance under Trump’s administration.