Eric Jones Defeats 28-Year Incumbent Mike Thompson in California

Political newcomer Eric Jones defeated 28-year incumbent Representative Mike Thompson in the race for California's 4th Congressional District. The Associated Press officially called the race on Friday, November 14, 2026, with Jones holding approximately 52.5% of the vote to Thompson's 47.5% with 95% of ballots counted.

Jones, a 35-year-old former venture capitalist, spent $15 million of his own money on a progressive campaign focused on the affordability crisis and political corruption. He performed strongly across Lake, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Placer, and Sacramento counties. Jones attributed his victory to a lack of trust in government and economic hardship, pledging to accept no corporate PAC, special interest, or foreign money as he enters the 120th Congress.

Representative Mike Thompson conceded the race in a press release, noting that the results were not what his team had hoped for. He highlighted his legislative record, including leadership of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, the creation of renewable energy jobs, and efforts to restore water flows in the Klamath River. The race was influenced by redistricting via Proposition 50 and aggressive advertising from the New Leadership Now PAC, which accused Thompson of being soft on illegal immigration.