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California's 4th Congressional District election, 2026
← 2024
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California's 4th Congressional District |
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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. |
Race ratings |
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 |
1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 15th • 16th • 17th • 18th • 19th • 20th • 21st • 22nd • 23rd • 24th • 25th • 26th • 27th • 28th • 29th • 30th • 31st • 32nd • 33rd • 34th • 35th • 36th • 37th • 38th • 39th • 40th • 41st • 42nd • 43rd • 44th • 45th • 46th • 47th • 48th • 49th • 50th • 51st • 52nd California elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 |
All U.S. House districts, including the 4th Congressional District of California, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.
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
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) | ||
Sharon Brown (R) | ||
Heath Fulkerson (R) | ||
Laurie MacKenzie (R) | ||
Mandy Ghusar (Peace and Freedom Party) | ||
![]() | John Wesley Tyler (Independent) ![]() |
![]() | ||||
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. |
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.
Party: Independent
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
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."
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.
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John Wesley Tyler (Independent)
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.

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)
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.
John Wesley Tyler (Independent)
For its science, I love the book "Irreducible" by Frederico Faggin.
For its optimism, I always recommend the movie "Interstellar" by Christopher Nolan.
John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)
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.
John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)
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.
John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)
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.
John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)

John Wesley Tyler (Independent)
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.
John Wesley Tyler (Independent)
Campaign finance
Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Thompson | Democratic Party | $688,003 | $607,229 | $1,290,262 | As of June 30, 2025 |
Sharon Brown | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
Heath Fulkerson | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
Laurie MacKenzie | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
Mandy Ghusar | Peace and Freedom Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
John Wesley Tyler | Independent | $1,290 | $1,246 | $44 | As of June 30, 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." |
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.[1]
- 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.[2][3][4]
Race ratings: California's 4th Congressional District election, 2026 | |||||||||
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Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
9/9/2025 | 9/2/2025 | 8/26/2025 | 8/19/2025 | ||||||
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
This section will contain information on ballot access related to this state's elections when it is available.
District history
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.
2024
See also: California's 4th Congressional District election, 2024
California's 4th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 4
Incumbent Mike Thompson defeated John Munn 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 |
Total votes: 342,680 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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 election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 4
Incumbent Mike Thompson and John Munn defeated Andrew Engdahl and Niket Patwardhan 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 |
Total votes: 193,131 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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)
2022
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 4
Incumbent Mike Thompson defeated Matt Brock 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 |
Total votes: 260,907 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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 election
Nonpartisan primary 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 | |
Jimih Jones (R) | 1.4 | 2,363 | ||
Seth Newman (No party preference) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 15 |
Total votes: 173,704 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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. |
2020
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 4
Incumbent Tom McClintock defeated Brynne Kennedy 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 |
Total votes: 442,022 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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 election
Nonpartisan primary 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 |
Total votes: 278,350 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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
District analysis
This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.
See also
California | 2026 primaries | 2026 U.S. Congress elections |
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Voting in California California elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 |
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. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018