I’m a veteran, a working father, and a Santa Ana neighbor. I’m running because the status quo is failing our children—from the cost of living to the safety of our schools. It’s time to send a fighter, not a career politician, to Washington.
Frank Bahena is a military veteran and working-class father running for Congress in CA-46 to fight for affordable housing, universal healthcare, and gun safety.
Meet Frank
I didn’t grow up in a boardroom; I grew up right here in Orange County. My roots run deep in this soil—from childhood trips to Santa Ana for the best food and movies, to buying my first home here with my wife in 2014. My twin daughters are in 3rd grade right here in our district.
My resume looks like yours, not like the lobbyists in DC. I’ve served in the military, waited tables, worked retail, and now I’m self-employed. I know the anxiety of watching gas prices, grocery bills, and rent climb while your paycheck stays the same.
The Breaking Point
For years, I watched politicians offer “thoughts and prayers” while our country crumbled. But my breaking point was Uvalde, Texas. Watching the failed response to that tragedy, I looked at my own daughters and felt a terrifying powerlessness. I realized that if we want a future where our kids are safe from school shootings and can afford a good life, we can’t keep waiting for the “status quo” to fix it.
Overcoming the Odds
I am no stranger to a fight. My biggest personal battle was overcoming childhood trauma that dictated my life for too long. Breaking those cycles made me stronger, more empathetic, and more determined to build a world where everyone has the mental health support they need to thrive.
Why I’m Running
I’m running because I’m tired of “do-nothing” politicians who take corporate money and ignore our pain. I’m running to protect my daughters and yours. Whether it’s enjoying a torta at El Gallo Giro or gardening in my backyard, I love this community. It’s time we had a Representative who actually lives like us and fights for us.
The Issues
Safety Means Thriving, Not Just Surviving.
Gun Safety: As a father, I refuse to let the gun lobby write our laws. I demand common-sense gun reform to stop the next Uvalde.
True Safety: You can’t have a safe community if people are hungry, homeless, or untreated.
The Approach: Safety comes from funding our schools, ensuring quality jobs, and providing mental healthcare—not just militarizing our streets.
Healthcare is a Human Right. Period.
Homes for People, Not Corporate Profit.
The Crisis: Corporate landlords are buying up Orange County, hiking rents, and pricing out the families who built this community.
The Bahena Plan:
Stop Corporate Buyers: Ban massive private equity firms from buying up single-family homes in CA-46.
Rent Control: Champion national rent stabilization to stop predatory hikes.
Worker Power: Standing up to giants like Disney. We need stronger unions, higher wages, and an end to union-busting. No one working full-time should struggle to survive.
Investing in America, Not Forever Wars.
Money Out of Politics: I refuse Corporate PAC money and AIPAC money. I answer to you, not billionaires.
End Forever Wars: I would have voted NO on sending billions in military funding overseas while our bridges crumble and our veterans sleep on the street. We need to invest that tax money in Santa Ana, not the military-industrial complex.
Immigration Justice: I will speak out against ICE tearing apart our families and the fear gripping our neighborhoods. We need protection and reform, not criminalization.
The Contrast
Get Involved
The corporate landlords and big pharma lobbyists have the money. We have the people. Frank is refusing big corporate checks to stay loyal to you. That means we need your help to print flyers, knock on doors, and get the truth out.
Make a contribution today to elect a working-class father who fights for us.
Join us to knock doors in Santa Ana, phone bank, or host a meetup.
Ending the Cycle of Absentee Leadership
A Representative You Can Actually Find. We all know the routine: election season starts, and suddenly Lou Correa is everywhere—shaking hands and making promises. But where is he the rest of the time? My promise to you is simple: I will be a 365-day representative. No disappearing acts, no closed doors, and no waiting for an election cycle to hear your voice. When you send me to Washington, you aren’t just electing a voice; you’re hiring a partner who will answer the phone, show up to the community meetings, and listen to you when it matters most: always.
I will champion the Federal Renter’s Tax Credit that provides a monthly rebate to any family paying more than 30% of their income on rent, putting cash directly back into the pockets of our working families immediately.
I want to bring more federal ‘Apprenticeship Building America’ money home to Orange County. These grants encourage local businesses to team up with our schools. This creates guaranteed jobs for our graduates in the trades—like electricians, plumbers, and HVAC—as well as in new tech industries.
ICE is out of control! I stand with the Santa Ana City Council’s work to provide emergency help for families facing raids. In Congress, I will fight to make sure that cities like ours—which choose to keep families together—aren’t bullied or punished by politicians in DC who try to cut our funding.
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