Sara Jacobs
DemocratU.S. Representative, CA-51| Age | 37 (b. 1989-02-01) |
| Gender | Female |
| In office since | 2021-01-03 (~5 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White/Jewish |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Education | Torrey Pines High School; BA in Political Science, Columbia University, 2011; Master of International Affairs in International Security Policy and Conflict Resolution, Columbia University, 2012 |
| Prior occupation | Policy advisor (U.S. State Department Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations); UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations staff; UNICEF Innovation Unit staff; foreign policy advisor to Hillary Clinton (2016 presidential campaign); Founding CEO of Project Connect (nonprofit); Founding Chair of San Diego for Every Child (nonprofit) |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Del Mar, California |
| Marital status | unmarried/domestic partner |
| Residence | San Diego, California |
| Notable relatives | Grandfather: Irwin M. Jacobs (co-founder, Qualcomm); Father: Gary E. Jacobs (philanthropist); Uncle: Paul E. Jacobs (former CEO/Chairman, Qualcomm) |
Pending research: languages · children · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2020 |
| Previous offices | U.S. Representative, California's 53rd Congressional District (2021–2023) |
| Committees | House Foreign Affairs Committee (Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Africa) · House Armed Services Committee |
| Caucuses | Congressional Progressive Caucus · New Democrat Coalition · Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Congressional Equality Caucus (Vice Chair; Co-Chair, Transgender Equality Task Force) · Protection of Civilians in Conflict (POCC) Caucus (Founding Co-Chair) |
| Leadership | Democratic Caucus Parliamentarian (House Democratic Caucus) |
| Ideology | Member of Congressional Progressive Caucus; original co-sponsor of Medicare for All; endorsed by Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, and progressive groups; GovTrack rates among more progressive Democrats |
| Signature legislation | IVF for Military Families Act (established TRICARE coverage of IVF for active-duty service members and dependents) · Locally Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act (passed House Foreign Affairs Committee) · My Body, My Data Act (national standard for reproductive and sexual health data privacy) · Sectoral AI Governance Act of 2026 |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $5,000,001–$55,000,000 (2024) · estimate
| SJJ Charitable Remainder Unitrust | other · $5,000,001–$25,000,000 · 2024 |
| Sara Jacobs Trust U/A DTD 09/01/2009 (includes Qualcomm stock and capital funds) | other · $1,000,001–$25,000,000 · 2024 |
| Essjane, LLC (investment property, New York) | real_estate · $1,000,001–$5,000,000 · 2024 |
Top donors: Qualcomm Inc ($199,400)
Top industries: Electronics/Semiconductors (Qualcomm) · International Affairs/Nonprofits · Defense/Armed Services
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — Arrest at Abortion Rights Protest Outside U.S. Supreme Court
On July 19, 2022, Jacobs was one of 17 members of Congress arrested by U.S. Capitol Police outside the U.S. Supreme Court building during an abortion rights demonstration following the Dobbs decision. All were charged under D.C. law with 'crowding, obstructing or incommoding,' a minor infraction for blocking a street. Each arrested member paid a $50 fine. On July 29, 2022, the House Committee on Ethics published H. Rept. 117-449 documenting the fine payments and declined to take any further action.