Houston Brignano, a Republican, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 36th Congressional District in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Ted W. Lieu, a Democrat.
Brignano said on his campaign website that he is running to bring "radical transparency to every dollar spent." The 36th District includes parts of the South Bay and the Westside of Los Angeles. The seat carries a vote in the U.S. House on federal legislation, spending and oversight.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: U.S. House of Representatives, California 36th Congressional District
- Residence: South Bay area. Brignano said he was born and raised in Southern California and is raising three daughters in the South Bay with his wife, according to his campaign website.
- Education: Not provided
- Endorsements: California Republican Party and California Republican Assembly, according to BallotReady profile data
Experience and public service
Brignano said he joined the Marine Corps after high school. BallotReady lists his service as a data network specialist in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007.
After the military, Brignano said he built a career in technology and helped transform a dirt parking lot in downtown Los Angeles into what is now L.A. Live. BallotReady lists him as a manager and architect at AEG from 2008 to 2021. He said he spent fifteen years working at venues and arenas across the country.
BallotReady lists his current position as vice president, manager of infrastructure architecture at City National Bank, a role he has held since 2021.
Brignano said he serves on the boards of a homeschool co-op in Redondo Beach and a church in Old Torrance. He and his wife homeschool their children, according to his campaign website.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Brignano's responses on his campaign website and his Ballotpedia questionnaire. They reflect the candidate's own statements.
Government transparency and spending: Brignano said Washington spent $6.75 trillion last year and that the country pays $882 billion annually in interest alone. He said he would publish every meeting, every donor and every vote explanation online. He pledged to accept no corporate PAC money.
Housing and economic development: Brignano called the housing crisis "a political failure" rather than a market failure. He said he would create innovation zones for technology, manufacturing and energy to generate jobs. He called for streamlining regulations he said have driven up costs and constrained opportunity in California.
Healthcare: Brignano said the current system is "designed by insurance companies and hospital monopolies to extract maximum profit." He proposed portable health savings accounts, cross-state insurance competition and pricing transparency. He said he wants to empower local institutions to provide services based on community needs.
Economy: Brignano said he wants to stop waste, fraud and abuse in government spending. He called for legislation requiring congressional approval of major federal regulations. He proposed more job training programs, fixes to the student loan crisis and tax breaks for home purchases and new businesses.
Immigration: Brignano said he supports a legal immigration system that prioritizes native-born citizens for jobs and opportunities. He called for strong borders, thorough vetting and removal of criminals. He opposed what he described as "back door deals or secret amnesty."
Candidate responses were submitted through BallotReady and the candidate's campaign website. The Platinum Tribune provides this profile to help voters understand the candidates on their ballot.
