California's 4th Congressional District election, 2026

The boundaries of this district will change as a result of California Proposition 50, which voters approved on November 5, 2025. Click here to read more about the mid-decade redistricting effort in California and other states.

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California's 4th Congressional District
Top-two primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 6, 2026
Primary: June 2, 2026 General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in California
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
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All U.S. House districts, including the 4th Congressional District of California, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. The primary is June 2, 2026. The filing deadline is March 6, 2026. For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

• California's 4th Congressional District election, 2026 (June 2 top-two primary)

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

• Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
• Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House California District 4

The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 4 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Mike Thompson (D)
		Eric Jones (D)
	Submit photo	Trevor Merrell (D)
	Submit photo	Sharon Brown (R)
		Heath Fulkerson (R)
	Submit photo	Mandy Ghusar (R)
	Submit photo	Laurie MacKenzie (R)
		John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Trevor Merrell

Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

---

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Time is running out for us to protect our water, our workers, and our way of life from the effects of AI. In a district like ours, we need to act immediately. We will establish a national moratorium on these data centers to protect our communities from unparalleled job losses, the depletion of our natural resources, and the untold risks that AI poses to our culture and our children. These massive complexes generate billions of dollars in profits for Silicon Valley billionaires and the politicians they have paid off. In exchange, they offer us tap water filled with toxic chemicals, power bills dramatically higher than the already-absurd ones we currently pay, and the rapid automation of our jobs. I will refuse that offer on your behalf.

---

As both a former nursing assistant and a Case Manager for adults with disabilities, I have worked many long nights on hospital floors. I’ve watched our broken healthcare system reduce human beings to numbers on a balance sheet in the most vulnerable moments of their entire lives. We need to move to a single-payer system where patients and providers come first, not shareholders. I strongly support Medicare for All, including coverage for dental, hearing, vision, mental health, and in-home care. Our seniors deserve to retire in dignity, and in the company of the people they love. Lastly, I support a national mobilization to combat chronic disease by investing in preventative care and banning toxic chemicals from our food.

---

I have lived here my entire life. I know the pain of fleeing your home in the middle of the night to escape a fire caused by PG&E. I know the fear that grips you when you step outside and smell smoke in the air. It is unacceptable to me that our current leaders have taken their bribes and allowed their executives to get away with paying fines and settlements instead of serving time behind bars. We need to criminally charge PG&E executives and bring their infrastructure into public ownership. I will also demand that the next governor of our state appoints members to the CPUC who will freeze utility rates and return them to pre-2020 levels.

John Wesley Tyler

Party: Independent

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I was born in 1966 in rural Sutter County north of Sacramento. I had a middle-class childhood, grew up on farms usually near the river. Here I learned to swim, to fish, to hunt and survive. I worked hard as a child every summer. I was picking corn and peaches when I was twelve and was a full ranch hand by sixteen. I graduated high school near the top of my class in 1983. After a failed attempt at college, I joined the working class and landed on Custom Car Stereo and Cell Phone Installations. I returned to college in 1998, studying Communication and Philosophy at Fresno State. Joining the FSU debate team brought me to a career in local government as an Administrative Analyst for the City of Lemoore, in Kings County, CA. For seven years, I was in charge of multiple top-level projects and city management responsibilities. I drafted legislation, wrote millions of dollars' worth of grants, administered large public construction projects, managed the human resources department and oversaw the health care benefits for nearly 200 employees. I learned government from the inside out. I also taught night classes then in Argumentation & Debate and Public Speaking at the local junior college. In 2009 I decided to change careers once more to become a teacher full time. After Credentialing in Sacramento, I landed a job teaching 6th grade math and science in Clearlake. In 2017, I left grammar school and became the Automotive Instructor at Lower Lake High School for the same district."

---

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

---

The only way to fix the two-party system is to toss aside party affiliation and vote for the best person, period. Professional politicians on both sides of the aisle, out of fear of losing power, have brought Congress to a standstill, creating for the first time a true NPC (#NonPlayerCongress). Lack of leadership, lack of imagination, and a severe lack of energy has paralyzed the Legislative Branch. We need REAL CHANGE. I am that agent of change that will vow to shake things up in Washington and get the work done.

---

I hold out great hope for a peaceful world. Wars are not inevitable; they are manufactured by those who would profit from them. We can bring down spending in government by limiting the manufacture, purchase and use of military weapons around the world. We can better solve for the real problems that face our planet by refocusing our resources where they will do the most good. Money spent on changing the health care system, changing the way we educate our kids, changing the way we deal with corporations, changing the way we pay taxes, changing the way we feed the hungry and house the poor...these are monies well spent.

---

We have to come together as a human race to balance out the power structure that is growing ever larger and becoming ever more entrenched as we speak. If we do not come together as one people and put aside our differences for the good of all of humanity, then the machine world and those who control the AI will take our humanity from us.

Voting information

See also: Voting in California

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Trevor Merrell (D)

Time is running out for us to protect our water, our workers, and our way of life from the effects of AI. In a district like ours, we need to act immediately. We will establish a national moratorium on these data centers to protect our communities from unparalleled job losses, the depletion of our natural resources, and the untold risks that AI poses to our culture and our children.

These massive complexes generate billions of dollars in profits for Silicon Valley billionaires and the politicians they have paid off. In exchange, they offer us tap water filled with toxic chemicals, power bills dramatically higher than the already-absurd ones we currently pay, and the rapid automation of our jobs.

I will refuse that offer on your behalf.

As both a former nursing assistant and a Case Manager for adults with disabilities, I have worked many long nights on hospital floors. I’ve watched our broken healthcare system reduce human beings to numbers on a balance sheet in the most vulnerable moments of their entire lives. We need to move to a single-payer system where patients and providers come first, not shareholders.

I strongly support Medicare for All, including coverage for dental, hearing, vision, mental health, and in-home care. Our seniors deserve to retire in dignity, and in the company of the people they love.

Lastly, I support a national mobilization to combat chronic disease by investing in preventative care and banning toxic chemicals from our food.

I have lived here my entire life. I know the pain of fleeing your home in the middle of the night to escape a fire caused by PG&E. I know the fear that grips you when you step outside and smell smoke in the air. It is unacceptable to me that our current leaders have taken their bribes and allowed their executives to get away with paying fines and settlements instead of serving time behind bars. We need to criminally charge PG&E executives and bring their infrastructure into public ownership.

I will also demand that the next governor of our state appoints members to the CPUC who will freeze utility rates and return them to pre-2020 levels.

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

The only way to fix the two-party system is to toss aside party affiliation and vote for the best person, period. Professional politicians on both sides of the aisle, out of fear of losing power, have brought Congress to a standstill, creating for the first time a true NPC (#NonPlayerCongress). Lack of leadership, lack of imagination, and a severe lack of energy has paralyzed the Legislative Branch. We need REAL CHANGE. I am that agent of change that will vow to shake things up in Washington and get the work done.

I hold out great hope for a peaceful world. Wars are not inevitable; they are manufactured by those who would profit from them. We can bring down spending in government by limiting the manufacture, purchase and use of military weapons around the world. We can better solve for the real problems that face our planet by refocusing our resources where they will do the most good. Money spent on changing the health care system, changing the way we educate our kids, changing the way we deal with corporations, changing the way we pay taxes, changing the way we feed the hungry and house the poor...these are monies well spent.

We have to come together as a human race to balance out the power structure that is growing ever larger and becoming ever more entrenched as we speak. If we do not come together as one people and put aside our differences for the good of all of humanity, then the machine world and those who control the AI will take our humanity from us.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Trevor Merrell (D)

I served in the Marine Corps. I love our country and the people who live here. I believe it’s hard to enjoy the freedoms our country offers when corruption and the cost of living are constantly in your way. I am most passionate about making life affordable again and combatting corruption in our government.

If you elect me to Congress, I will fight to:

1. Ban Wall Street investors from buying up single-family homes. 2. Cap credit card interest rates at 10%. 3. Ban members of Congress and their families from trading stocks and crypto for life. 4. Repeal Citizens United and create a public campaign finance system. 5. Cap overdraft fees at $3.

6. Implement paid family and medical leave nationwide.

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

Artificial Intelligence, Education, Social Safety Net, War

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

I look up to a number of major scientists and philosophers of our time. One of my personal favorites is Carl Sagan, for a number of reasons. First, through the TV program COSMOS, this revolutionary Teacher and Scientist brought the wonders of the Universe right into my living room. I learned to love nature and astronomy, and this is probably one of the reasons that I became a science teacher myself. To me, Dr. Sagan made the most difficult concepts accessible to everyone and I still strive to do that every day for my students.

Not only was Carl Sagan a renowned scientist and professor, but a lover of nature and conservationist as well; two traits that I greatly admire and try to have within myself. Sagan was also, from very early on, sounding the alarm on Climate Change. Even in the 70's, his programs were geared toward the idea that the problems associated with a quickly changing climate were due, in fact, to the destructive human behaviors of the last full century. He was not afraid to stand up to the government or the fossil fuel industry and insist that they change their practices or risk destroying what is left of a environmentally balanced system.

Sagan was a pioneer, a visionary, and he didn't allow his own insecurities to stop him from achieving his goals and dreams. He was able to do the work that he loved, educating people about the wonders of the Universe and advocating for the Planet, right up until he died. For those reasons, Carl Sagan is an inspiration to me as an educator and as a human being. I look forward to putting into practice the guiding principles I learned from his work.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

For its relevance, I would suggest the book "1984" by George Orwell.

For its science, I love the book "Irreducible" by Frederico Faggin.

For its optimism, I always recommend the movie "Interstellar" by Christopher Nolan.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

HONESTY has to be at the core of a Representative, they are being trusted with our lives. INTEGRITY is the exact element missing from American Politics today. People need to practice what they preach. PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES are often overlooked when electing an official but they shouldn't be. We expect our congressional representatives to be logical and intelligent and to come up with new and creative ways to solve our most difficult problems. PASSION cannot be made light of or forgotten when picking a Congressional Representative. When we lose our passion, it's time to find a new job. INSIGHT into human behavior and communication is valuable for diplomacy and for establishing a cooperative environment. Finally, EMPATHY is the ability to feel another person's joy and suffering and is absolutely necessary for crafting public policy that is good for the people. Empathy comes from being in another person's shoes. Having been very poor, for example, allows me to understand the problems associated with poverty better than someone who's never experienced the condition.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

I have the ability to relate to many people from different backgrounds and upbringings. People tend to gravitate towards me and engage in discussion or friendly conversation, because I am approachable and kind. I can be a dogged debate participant, having participated in political debate across the nation during my time as a member and coach of the Fresno State Debate Team and having been the lead union negotiator for the City of Lemoore from 2001 to 2008. After 2008, I left City employment and was hired by the Union to represent them in later negotiations, which were mutually rewarding and successful. Finally, I have a thick skin when I comes to the public's ability to harass its lawmakers and other lawmakers' ability to harass their colleagues. This could be due to my time as a public high school teacher. In any case, I look forward to the debate. They're not ready for me in Washington.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

1) To honor, defend and protect the Constitution of the United States.

2) To problem solve and legislate with integrity, to seek out common ground for the good of the many.

3) To be vigilant in resisting the influence of the lobbyist, the corporate donor, the oligarch, the technocrat & the authoritarian.

What legacy would you like to leave?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

Legacy's get written after you're dead. I work for the living, in the present moment. Worrying about "legacy" is one of the big problems with American governmental systems in the modern era.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

I remember the Gas Crisis of 1973 and the lines. I was seven years old then. I also remember the Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1979 that wrecked Jimmy Carter's presidency when I was 13. My family, other than my maternal grandmother, was mainly conservative at that time and so I heard a lot of complaining against President Carter and shouts of joy when Ronald Reagan was elected President.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

I used to harvest walnuts off the ground for a local farmer for 25 cents per 5-gallon bucket. This was the summer of my 8th year in 1974. I picked corn and peaches in the following summers. I was a full-fledged ranch hand by the age of 16. I remember I used to change sprinkler pipes through dirt clod fields of walnut and almond trees. You couldn't wear any shoes or boots because the pipes would be sitting in muddy areas waiting to be moved to the dry areas. The mud was so deep, it would suck the shoes right off your feet, so you had to do it barefooted. But then when you came out of the mud into the dry tilled ground made of dirt clods, carrying a 16 ft aluminum tube of water, you'd have to endure that uncomfortable walk across the clods with no shoes to set the pipes in the dry areas, and this was absolutely no fun. But I will tell you, it taught me the value of hard work and I never forgot it. And I learned to be rewarded every time I drove that tractor through the beautiful rows in the early morning sun with the rays beaming through the branches and the and the sweet aroma of a California peach orchard all around.

What is your favorite book? Why?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien was always my favorite book as a kid. I used to love to get caught up in the fantasy. As an adult, however, my tastes have turned to non-fiction science. Authors like Carl Sagan, my personal favorite. I've read many of his books, including: "The Pale Blue Dot," "Billions and Billions," and "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark."

I appreciate Sagan for a number of reasons. First, through the TV program COSMOS, this revolutionary Teacher and Scientist brought the wonders of the Universe right into my living room. I learned to love nature and astronomy, and this is probably one of the reasons that I became a science teacher myself. To me, Dr. Sagan made the most difficult concepts accessible to everyone and I still strive to do that every day for my students.

Not only was Carl Sagan a renowned scientist and professor, but a lover of nature and conservationist as well; two traits that I greatly admire and try to have within myself. Sagan was also, from very early on, sounding the alarm on Climate Change. Even in the 70's, his programs were geared toward the idea that the problems associated with a quickly changing climate were due, in fact, to the destructive human behaviors of the last full century. He was not afraid to stand up to the government or the fossil fuel industry and insist that they change their practices or risk destroying what is left of an environmentally balanced system.

Sagan was a pioneer, a visionary, and he didn't allow his own insecurities to stop him from achieving his goals and dreams. He was able to do the work that he loved, educating people about the wonders of the Universe and advocating for the Planet, right up until he died. For those reasons, Carl Sagan is an inspiration to me as an educator and as a human being. I look forward to putting into practice the guiding principles I learned from his work.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

Bilbo Baggins or Joseph Cooper from "Interstellar" played by Matthew McConaughey. Falling into a black hole or fighting dragons, both would almost surely ready you for a career in politics.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

Sugar Magnolia by the Grateful Dead. I was singing karaoke, lol.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

It has been a struggle for me personally, being so interested in and concerned with the American experiment, to watch our wonderful country sink into the tarpit of problems that we find ourselves in currently. It has been a struggle to watch children's minds be wrecked by social media. It has been a struggle to pay the bills and still get a child through college. It has been a struggle to work with kids all day and see the negative effects of poverty, drugs and crime all day. It has been a struggle to be bombarded with endless wars and atrocities from around the globe and powerless to do anything about it. It has been a struggle to watch Authoritarianism bubble up from the ground and take over. But now I'm at a point where I've absorbed all the struggle and the strife, and I've endured and find myself stronger still because of it and realizing that I have the experience, the focus, the energy and the passion necessary to go after such big goals. It is time to cure the major struggles that are endured on a daily basis by so many well-meaning, good people that just want the chance to grow their own lives in their own way in a community that they love.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

Yes. I do believe that when we are voting for someone to represent us at the federal level, it is important for them to have a certain amount of experience working in government institutions. There is a steep learning curve for this position and a candidate with prior government knowledge would have an advantage when it came to tackling the job.

However, that does not mean that a professional politician incumbent is automatically a better choice. There are a number of brand new, politically inexperienced voices in Washington right now doing a great job representing their constituents. The best candidate is not the complete novice, nor the entrenched career politician. The ideal candidate has a blend of public service in the highest levels of local government and the real-world experience that is gained only by being a life-long part of the working class and small business community.

Fortunately, I have that exact blend of public service and experience that will allow me to represent all the people of the 4th District in a way that no other candidate in the race can do.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

Standing up to the Authoritarian principles and leaders that are prevailing in many parts of the world, including right here in the United States is going to be very difficult, but not impossible. We will have to do this while simultaneously trying to affect the advancement of climate change and feed a hungry world while watching over our shoulders for the negative potentialities of Artificial Intelligence.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

I think it would be better to have a four-year term with a max of three terms.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

I think US Representatives and Senators should both be limited to 12 years.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

Growing up as a kid in Sutter County, Wally Herger was our District's Representative, a Republican. Even though I was young, Congressman Herger stood out to me as a man of character and decency. He was never a "party-only" type of representative. He was able to be there for everyone because he embodied that "every man" characteristic that made him approachable, kind and trustworthy.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

Yes, it is what allows governance to happen. Without compromise, there is no hope for our future.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

I would seek to bring down overall funding for weapons manufacture and increase funding for health care. I would also seek to reduce corporate welfare and increase the Social Safety Net for children and elderly Americans. Ultimately, I would strive to institute a National Health Care System that would provide paid health assistance to every citizen.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

The House should only investigate true instances of maleficence or unethical or criminal behavior. Investigations should not be a political tool used against your adversaries.

What committees interest you?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

1. Education and Labor: As a teacher, a union leader and a working-class American, this is the perfect fit for my expertise. I believe that teachers should have a higher value in our society and paid accordingly. I believe that schools have a lot of room for improvement and that public college should be tuition-free. I believe that employee groups should have the right to establish and maintain strong unions to ensure the best compensation and benefits packages and worker safety for all Americans.

2. Science, Space and Technology: I'm a Science Teacher and someone that loves the study of the Universe. There is no question that I would ask to serve on this committee. Space science and the exploration of the Universe will undoubtedly reveal undiscovered secrets that will help bring us into the future. I would always be ready to ensure that NASA and NOAA were fully funded and that the United States was consistently involved in cooperative efforts with other space exploring nations of the world to make our planet a less mysterious place and to create a common goal that would work to reduce Geo-political tensions around the world. Space cannot be made into the next war-making frontier. I will work to make sure that does not happen.

3. Transportation and Infrastructure: I also see the world through the eyes of an Auto Shop teacher. Therefore, the field of transportation, with the onset of electric cars, as well as the distribution of renewable electricity to every person in this nation are both areas that interest me greatly, especially because of our potential for advancement and the positive benefits for the planet. I would make sure that High Speed Internet was available across the nation and in rural areas. I would fight for a Renewable-Based Infrastructure to supply the entire nation with clean energy for little or no cost and I would promote the remake of our automotive and trucking industries into fully electric derivatives.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

As we have witnessed first-hand over the last few years, government accountability has gone out the window. While I do not agree with the current administration regarding the methods they've decided to use to remake the government, I do agree that a lot of remaking is necessary. It just needs to be done with everyone's buy-in and in a way that benefits everyone, not just a handful of oligarchs. No President can unilaterally undermine and disassemble the government, sell us out to our antagonists and profit from the whole process. This is exactly the monarchal behavior we fought so hard to free ourselves from. We need the watchdog agencies, the ethics committees and the rule of law. Transparency and Accountability in Washington do not come voluntarily; they must have oversight.

You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:

• Eric Jones
• Laurie MacKenzie
• Mandy Ghusar
• Sharon Brown

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Mike Thompson	Democratic Party	$1,300,339	$987,485	$1,522,343	As of September 30, 2025
Eric Jones	Democratic Party	$1,545,635	$221,702	$1,323,933	As of September 30, 2025
Trevor Merrell	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Sharon Brown	Republican Party	$7,000	$1,530	$5,470	As of September 30, 2025
Heath Fulkerson	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Mandy Ghusar	Republican Party	$7,000	$2,780	$4,220	As of September 30, 2025
Laurie MacKenzie	Republican Party	$7,000	$2,780	$4,220	As of September 30, 2025
John Wesley Tyler	Independent	$1,385	$1,337	$48	As of December 31, 2025
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: California's 4th Congressional District election, 2026
Race tracker	Race ratings
	1/20/2026	1/13/2026	1/6/2026	12/23/2025
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Pending	Pending	Pending	Pending
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic	Solid Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Democratic	Safe Democratic	Safe Democratic	Safe Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in California in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in California, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
California	U.S. House	All candidates	40-60	$1,740	3/6/2026	Source

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.

• 2024
• 2022
• 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 4

Incumbent Mike Thompson (D) defeated John Munn (R) in the general election for U.S. House California District 4 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Thompson (D)	66.5	227,730
		John Munn (R)	33.5	114,950

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 342,680
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary

Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 4

Incumbent Mike Thompson (D) and John Munn (R) defeated Andrew Engdahl (D) and Niket Patwardhan (No party preference) in the primary for U.S. House California District 4 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Thompson (D)	62.5	120,736
✔		John Munn (R)	30.4	58,787
		Andrew Engdahl (D)	6.0	11,492
		Niket Patwardhan (No party preference)	1.1	2,116

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 193,131
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Matt Brock (R)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 4

Incumbent Mike Thompson (D) defeated Matt Brock (R) in the general election for U.S. House California District 4 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Thompson (D)	67.8	176,900
		Matt Brock (R)	32.2	84,007

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 260,907
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 4

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 4 on June 7, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Thompson (D)	66.2	115,041
✔		Matt Brock (R)	16.3	28,260
		Scott Giblin (R)	9.7	16,914
		Andrew Engdahl (D)	5.0	8,634
		Jason Kishineff (Independent)	1.4	2,477
	Submit photo	Jimih Jones (R)	1.4	2,363
	Submit photo	Seth Newman (No party preference) (Write-in)	0.0	15

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 173,704
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 4

Incumbent Tom McClintock (R) defeated Brynne Kennedy (D) in the general election for U.S. House California District 4 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom McClintock (R)	55.9	247,291
		Brynne Kennedy (D)	44.1	194,731

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 442,022
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary

Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 4

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 4 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom McClintock (R)	50.7	141,244
✔		Brynne Kennedy (D)	39.8	110,771
		Julianne Benzel (R)	4.4	12,138
		Robert Lawton (Independent)	1.7	4,848
		Jamie Byers (R)	1.7	4,822
		Jacob Thomas (R)	1.6	4,527

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 278,350
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Sean Frame (D)
• Mario Christopher Wilson (R)

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

• District map - A map of the district before and after redistricting ahead of the 2026 election.
• Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
• State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

Below is the district map used in the 2024 election next to the map in place for the 2026 election. Click on a map below to enlarge it.

2024

2026

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026

Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is D+17. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 17 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made California's 4th the 84th most Democratic district nationally.

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in California's 4th Congressional District

Kamala Harris	Donald Trump
55.8%	41.2%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in California, 2024

California presidential election results (1900-2024)

• 16 Democratic wins
• 15 Republican wins
• 1 other win

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020	2024
Winning Party	R	R	R	P	D	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

See also: Party control of California state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of California's congressional delegation as of January 2026.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from California
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	2	43	45
Republican	0	8	8
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	1	1
Total	2	52	54

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in California's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in California, October 2025

Office	Officeholder
Governor	Gavin Newsom
Lieutenant Governor	Eleni Kounalakis
Secretary of State	Shirley Weber
Attorney General	Rob Bonta

State legislature

California State Senate

Party		As of October 2025
	Democratic Party	30
	Republican Party	10
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		40

California State Assembly

Party		As of October 2025
	Democratic Party	60
	Republican Party	20
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		80

Trifecta control

California Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty years with Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Assembly	D	D	D	S	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

See also

California	2026 primaries	2026 U.S. Congress elections
California congressional delegation Voting in California California elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Alex Padilla (D)

Adam Schiff (D)

Representatives

District 1

Vacant

District 2

Jared Huffman (D)

District 3

Kevin Kiley (R)

District 4

Mike Thompson (D)

District 5

Tom McClintock (R)

District 6

Ami Bera (D)

District 7

Doris Matsui (D)

District 8

John Garamendi (D)

District 9

Josh Harder (D)

District 10

Mark DeSaulnier (D)

District 11

Nancy Pelosi (D)

District 12

Lateefah Simon (D)

District 13

Adam Gray (D)

District 14

Eric Swalwell (D)

District 15

Kevin Mullin (D)

District 16

Sam Liccardo (D)

District 17

Ro Khanna (D)

District 18

Zoe Lofgren (D)

District 19

Jimmy Panetta (D)

District 20

Vince Fong (R)

District 21

Jim Costa (D)

District 22

David Valadao (R)

District 23

Jay Obernolte (R)

District 24

Salud Carbajal (D)

District 25

Raul Ruiz (D)

District 26

Julia Brownley (D)

District 27

George Whitesides (D)

District 28

Judy Chu (D)

District 29

Luz Rivas (D)

District 30

Laura Friedman (D)

District 31

Gil Cisneros (D)

District 32

Brad Sherman (D)

District 33

Pete Aguilar (D)

District 34

Jimmy Gomez (D)

District 35

Norma Torres (D)

District 36

Ted Lieu (D)

District 37

Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)

District 38

Linda Sánchez (D)

District 39

Mark Takano (D)

District 40

Young Kim (R)

District 41

Ken Calvert (R)

District 42

Robert Garcia (D)

District 43

Maxine Waters (D)

District 44

Nanette Barragán (D)

District 45

Derek Tran (D)

District 46

Lou Correa (D)

District 47

Dave Min (D)

District 48

Darrell Issa (R)

District 49

Mike Levin (D)

District 50

Scott Peters (D)

District 51

Sara Jacobs (D)

District 52

Juan Vargas (D)

Democratic Party (45)

Republican Party (8)

Vacancies (1)

2025-2026 Elections to the United States Congress

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