Assembly District 26 includes the city of Santa Clara. Its Nov. 3 race puts Democratic incumbent Patrick Ahrens, listed on the certified ballot as "State Assemblymember," against Republican Tim Gorsulowsky, a "Small Business Owner." Silicon Valley Voice put the same four questions to both men and printed their answers verbatim. Here is where they split. (The paper noted that Ahrens turned in his answers late.)

1. Should the state regulate data centers?

Ahrens: Yes. He says he voted for bills signed this year that make data centers pay the full cost of the electricity they use, including transmission and distribution upgrades. He lists AB 2383, SB 886 and SB 1168, along with disclosure and review measures including SB 887 and AB 1577, and water-planning bills AB 2469 and AB 2619.

Gorsulowsky: No, leave it to the counties. He says Santa Clara County "has always regulated the High-Tech industry" and argues that state regulations have driven businesses away, "to Texas."

2. Are state housing laws too complex?

Gorsulowsky blames most of the housing crisis on undocumented immigration and "overbuilt condensed housing" that has worsened traffic. He says the current building laws need to be reversed.

Ahrens says "what works in San Francisco or San Diego may not work in Santa Clara." He cites his work on AB 1674 (grocery store access during redevelopment) and AB 2005 (lot splits), along with laws he wrote on mobile home park residents and on housing for foster youth.

3. State rules that raise residents' costs

Gorsulowsky answered "NO" to whether the Legislature should step in. He called such rules a sign of "socialist/communist rule." Ahrens pointed to utility bill credits, his tax-credit bills AB 398 and AB 1690, and a push to raise the Personal Needs Allowance for nursing home residents. He blamed high fuel prices on federal tariff and foreign policy.

4. Showing up

Gorsulowsky says he "would actually show up and vote on every bill." He claims the current Assemblyman "is either not on-site or does not vote." Ahrens says he has had 13 bills signed into law in two years and sits on the Assembly Budget Committee.

The numbers

In the June 2 primary, Ahrens took 75.4% (60,368 votes) and Gorsulowsky took 24.6% (19,664), according to Ballotpedia. Ahrens won the seat in 2024. He finished first in a four-way primary with 34.4% and then beat fellow Democrat Tara Sreekrishnan in November. This isn't Gorsulowsky's first run for the seat. He lost the 2022 general election to Democrat Evan Low.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.

More races and measures: our 2026 election hub.