2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

California Assembly District 21

2 candidates, listed alphabetically.

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California uses a top-two primary: the two candidates with the most votes in the June 2 primary advanced, regardless of party, so both finalists can be from the same party.

California uses a top-two primary for congressional, statewide and legislative offices: the two candidates with the most primary votes advance regardless of party, so both general-election candidates can be from the same party. Write-in candidates for these offices can run only in the primary. California Secretary of State

Candidates

Jabra J Muhawieh

Republican

Work: Enrolled agent (tax practitioner), real estate agent and entrepreneur

Ballot designation filed with the California Secretary of State: Enrolled Agent/Businessman.

Jabra J Muhawieh works as an enrolled agent, real estate agent and entrepreneur. He ran for the Hillsborough City Council in 2024.

Sources for Muhawieh

Certified List of Candidates for the November 3, 2026, General Election (California Secretary of State, Public record)
Jabra Muhawieh candidate profile (BallotReady, Facts summarized from a public page (not copied))

Diane Papan

DemocraticIncumbent

In office now: State Assembly Member, District 21
Work: State Assemblymember, 21st District; attorney; former San Mateo City Council member

Diane Papan is the sitting State Assembly Member for District 21 in the California State Legislature, a district that includes all or part of San Mateo County.

Diane Papan has served in the California Assembly since 2022 and was a San Mateo City Council member from 2015 to 2022. She is an attorney in her own practice after working at Sedgwick LLP, and is executive director of John's Closet.

Papan's committees

Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials
Judiciary
Transportation
Utilities and Energy
Water, Parks, and Wildlife (Chair)
Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation
Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology
Select Committee on California and Armenia Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural Exchange
Select Committee on Community Reinvestment (Chair)
Select Committee on Growing and Retaining the Creative Economy in California
Select Committee on Housing Construction Innovation
Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement
Select Committee on Youth Mental Health and Treatment Accessibility
Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (Vice Chair)

Sources for Papan

Diane Papan: official member information (California State Legislature (California State Senate; California State Assembly), Public record)
California State Legislature: current member roster (California State Legislature (California State Senate; California State Assembly), Public record)
Certified List of Candidates for the November 3, 2026, General Election (California Secretary of State, Public record)
Diane Papan: candidate profile (BallotReady, Facts summarized from a public page (not copied))
Diane Papan (Wikipedia, Facts summarized from a public page (not copied))

Sources

Candidate list and race details

Certified List of Candidates for the November 3, 2026, General Election (California Secretary of State, Public record)

What's included: U.S. Senate and House, statewide offices, every state legislative district on the ballot and statewide ballot measures.
Everything else: Local races (county, city, school board, judges) and anything else on your ballot are on your official sample ballot: voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
Candidate lists: As of Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

This is not an official ballot. Confirm your registration, polling place and ballot with your election office through vote.gov.