Mike McGuire, the Democratic President pro tem of the California State Senate, has officially launched a campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in the newly-mapped California’s 1st Congressional District.
The reconfigured district now encompasses much of the North Bay area including parts of Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties, marking a major shift in the political landscape. Under the new lines, the district goes from a substantial Republican registration advantage to being tilted toward Democrats.
McGuire, who’s wrapping up his term in the State Senate in 2026, said the region “is big, it’s rural – and now, more than ever, it needs a fighter.” He pledged to focus on affordability, modernizing schools, maintaining rural health-care access and holding back the policies of Donald Trump.
McGuire’s entrance into the race presents a formidable challenge to the incumbent, Doug LaMalfa (R), who has represented the district since 2013 and previously enjoyed a strong Republican margin. With the new map favoring Democrats, LaMalfa faces an uphill climb for reelection.
The campaign is now gearing up for what could be one of the key battlegrounds in California’s 2026 House elections – a test of whether Democrats can translate these redrawn lines into a flip of the seat.