Trisha Paytas’ potential run for Congress in 2026 is gaining attention, highlighting California’s crowded political landscape, where celebrity aspirations meet established incumbents and a recent vacancy in the state.
YouTuber Trisha Paytas said in a recent TikTok post that she is considering running for the U.S. House of Representatives in California in 2026, saying she wants to “truly make a difference” amid what she described as worsening conditions in the state.
Paytas, a YouTuber and singer with millions of followers across platforms, made the remarks in a video titled “2026 MANIFESTATIONS,” later elaborating in TikTok posts that she was “currently Googling” the process of running for Congress. She did not specify which congressional district she might seek or whether she would affiliate with a political party.
“I know, it sounds so crazy to me, too,” Paytas said in a posted video. “I really want to be able to truly make a difference because I see so much horrible stuff happening in the world — and happening right here in California as well.”
Public records reviewed in the LexisNexis database list Paytas as living in Thousand Oaks, California, which falls within the district represented by Democratic Rep. Julia Brownley. Brownley has held the seat for more than a decade after a long career in state and local office.
Commenters responding to Paytas’ announcement have also speculated that she could attempt a run in the neighboring San Fernando Valley-based district represented by Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman, another long-serving incumbent with decades in elected office.
Both districts would likely present steep challenges for a first-time candidate, particularly one without an established political organization or declared party affiliation.
Paytas’ comments came on the same day that Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican representing a rural Northern California district, died at age 65, according to statements from GOP officials reported by The Dallas Express. His death triggered a vacancy and the prospect of a special election, though the district is located hundreds of miles from Paytas’ home and has little geographic or political overlap with her Southern California base.
In 2012, Paytas reportedly supported Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, calling him “super hot,” and she later supported Donald Trump in 2016, before later walking her support back, admitting she had “never voted” and knew “literally nothing” about politics, per People.
The outlet also reported that Paytas once said she had voted for Joe Biden in 2020 because he had “quoted Hamilton,” mistakenly believing that a snippet of the Declaration of Independence had originated from the famous Broadway musical.
Paytas has had a complex and publicized journey with “gender identity,” beginning in 2019 when she posted a YouTube video titled “I AM TRANSGENDER (FEMALE TO MALE),” where she described “identifying” as a gay man and a drag queen, leading to widespread criticism for perceived insensitivity toward the “transgender” community.
In 2021, Paytas clarified that she “identifies” as “non-binary,” explaining that her earlier statements stemmed from a lack of proper vocabulary at the time, and she began using she/her and they/them pronouns.
Paytas said her motivation for considering the office came after becoming a mother in 2022 and concerns about the future facing her children. If elected, she said her primary policy goal would be raising the minimum age for participating in adult entertainment to 25.
She floated a potential campaign slogan as “California could be good,” adding, “Just need to figure out a better system for everyone and everything,” according to her posts.
It remains unclear whether Paytas will take formal steps toward candidacy, which would require filing paperwork, gathering signatures, or paying a filing fee, and meeting California’s election deadlines, according to state election rules reported elsewhere.
