North Bay Voters Set Up 2 High-Profile November Contests

NORTH BAY, CA — Voters pushed Democrat Mike McGuire and Republican James Gallagher into a November general election showdown Tuesday in California's newly configured Congressional District 1, setting up one of Northern California's most closely watched races.

With ballots still being counted, results showed McGuire and Gallagher leading the field in the top-two primary, positioning them to advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

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The contest follows significant changes to the district's boundaries. District 1 now stretches from Sonoma and Mendocino counties east to the Nevada border, combining coastal communities with inland rural regions and creating a politically competitive landscape.

The seat became vacant after the death of longtime Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Voters faced an unusual Election Day, casting ballots in both a special election to fill the remainder of LaMalfa's term, which expires Jan. 3, and a primary election to determine who would compete for a full term in the newly drawn district.

Gallagher won the special election to fill LaMalfa's District 1 seat, capturing more than 62 percent of the vote.

In the separate primary race for the newly redrawn District 1 congressional seat, Gallagher had 47 percent of the vote after polls closed. McGuire followed with 37 percent, and Democrat Audrey Denney had 13 percent.

That means Gallagher and McGuire will compete in the November general election.

As results rolled in Tuesday night, Gallagher thanked supporters.

"This was only one vote, but it is perhaps the most important one," he said about filling the seat left open by LaMalfa, a mentor.

Gallagher then turned to the November general election, signaling a heated campaign ahead.

"In November, we will be running in a new district, drawn not by an independent citizens commission, but in a backroom by my opponent, Mike McGuire, and other Sacramento politicians," Gallagher said.

McGuire also chimed in on social media after polls closed. "Today, the people of Northern California reminded us what democracy looks like," he wrote. "When good people come together, they can accomplish extraordinary things — and today we're on the road to take America back."

California Senate District 2

McGuire opened up another race when he reached his term limit for California's 2nd Senate District.

Based on current results, voters appear poised to put Democrat Damon Connolly and Republican Tief Gibbs on the November ballot — setting up another Democrat-Republican race for the North Bay.

The sprawling district includes Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity counties.

Connolly, a current state assemblymember, held a commanding lead with roughly 67 percent of votes counted Wednesday morning.

Connolly entered the race with a lengthy list of endorsements, including McGuire, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Congressman Jared Huffman, and four of Humboldt County's five supervisors.

Gibbs, a Novato businessman and co-owner of a vintage car company, secured second place with 20.1 percent of the vote. He previously ran for Congress in 2024 but did not advance from the Republican primary.

Sonoma County Republican Aaron Smith finished third with 12.7 percent.

Under California's top-two primary system, the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.

The November contests will give voters across Northern California an opportunity to shape the region's representation in both Washington, D.C., and Sacramento during a period of significant political change.