California House District 1 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them
Mike McGuire won · 55.2% to 44.8%, with an estimated 61% of the vote counted · Called by AP on Nov 3
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James Gallagher (Republican) and Mike McGuire (Democrat) are the nominees for California's 1st congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. By their latest FEC reports, James Gallagher's campaign had raised $2.0 million (through October 14, 2026) and Mike McGuire's campaign $2.3 million (through October 14, 2026). Outside groups have reported $671,000 for Mike McGuire and $0 against.
James Gallagher (REP), Mike McGuire (DEM).
4 others filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 0 ads analyzed, 0 with at least one technique in the copy.
Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing.
Also on every California ballot: 14 statewide ballot measures →The ballot wording and the official arguments, read for rhetorical techniques.
How to vote in California
From California's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.
Registration
Register by Mon, Oct 19 (Conditional (same-day) registration Oct 20 - Nov 3). Same-day registration: Conditional registration, provisional ballot, Oct 20 - Nov 3 (passed)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
Early voting in person
Mon, Oct 5 to (Varies by county; VCA vote centers open Oct 24)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
Checked October 8, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.
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Money in this race
From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.
James Gallagher (REP)
Raised
$2.0M through 2026-10-14individuals $1.1M · PACs $397K · party $12K · from the candidate's other committees $473K · cash on hand $328K
Outside spending
none reported
Bundled through PACs
none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01
19 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election
ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTORS PAC $500
BLUEPAC - BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION PAC $5,000
BRINGING REPUBLICAN EXCELLENCE TO TOWN PAC (BRETT PAC) $5,000
BUCKEYE LIBERTY PAC $10K
CALIFORNIA WESTSIDE FARMERS PAC $2,500
CATERPILLAR INC. PAC (CATPAC) $2,500
DOUG LAMALFA COMMITTEE $4,000
FOR OUR NATION'S GREATNESS, RESILIENCE, EXCELLENCE, STRENGTH, AND SECURITY (FONGRESS) PAC $3,000
PROTECT PROGRESS— $372K supporting McGuireLargest donors:
FAIRSHAKE $33.0M (>99%) (its largest donors: RIPPLE LABS INC. $48.0M, an organization; COINBASE $25.0M, an organization; COINBASE COMMERCE (EXCHANGE) $8.2M, an organization); RIPPLE LABS INC. $250K (1%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC)NATIONAL NURSES UNITED FOR PATIENT PROTECTION— $154K supporting McGuireLargest donors:
NATIONAL NURSES UNITED $2.5M (100%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC)HEALTH CARE SAVES LIVES— $143K supporting McGuireLargest donors:
SEIU CALIFORNIA STATE COUNCIL FOR WORKING PEOPLE $590K (24%); DIGNITY CA SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION SEIU LOCAL 2015 $403K (17%); PACE OF CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION - LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL CANDIDATES $200K (8%); SUPPORTING CHAMBERS FOR SENATE 2024, SPONSORED BY LABOR AND NONPROFIT ENVIRONMENTAL AND HE $138K (6%); COMMITTEE FOR WORKING FAMILIES, SPONSORED BY LABOR ORGANIZATIONS $118K (5%)SONOMA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY— $1,568 supporting McGuireSIERRA CLUB INDEPENDENT ACTION— $10 supporting McGuire
Bundled through PACs
$8,000 through 1 PAC · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01JSTREETPAC— $8,000 from 4 giftsLobbyist/registrant PAC
71 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election
ADVANCING DEMOCRACY AND MOBILIZATION PAC $5,000
AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION - COPE $10K
AMERICA'S CREDIT UNIONS PAC OF CREDIT UNION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, INC. $5,000
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (AAJ PAC) $10K
AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY PAC $5,000
AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $5,000
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS AFL-CIO COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION (AFT COPE) $5,000
AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION PAC $5,000
AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION PAC $2,500
AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL ACTION $5,000
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS PAC (ASA PAC) $5,000
AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $1,000
BILL DODD FOR LT. GOV 2026 $850
BLUE WARRIORS $1,000
CARPENTERS LEGISLATIVE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF CARPENTERS AND JOINERS $20K
CHRIS ROGERS FOR ASSEMBLY $500
CLEAN PAC $2,500
CLEARWAY ENERGY INC PAC $1,500
COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA - COPE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE $5,000
COMPUTER & COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION PAC $500
CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS PAC $5,000
CONSTELLATION BRANDS INC PAC $1,000
D.R.I.V.E. - DEM, REP, IND VOTER ED (THE PAC OF THE INT'L BRHD OF TEAMSTERS) $5,000
DAMON CONNOLLY FOR SENATE, 2026 $1,000
DAVIS DEMOCRATIC CLUB $1,000
ELECT MORE DEMOCRATS PAC $500
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA FEDERAL PAC $500
FAIR SHOT PAC $2,000
FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL INC PAC 2001 $5,000
HUFFMAN FOR CONGRESS $2,000
INLAND MENDOCINO DEMOCRATIC CLUB $100
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS INTERESTED IN REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION PAC $5,000
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL AND TRANSPORTATION WORKERS POLITICAL ACTION LEAGUE $7,500
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE $10K
JUSTICE LEAGUE PAC $1,000
LABORERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA (LIUNA) PAC $2,500
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS ACTION FUND $2,600
LICCARDO FOR CONGRESS $2,000
LOLA SMALLWOOD-CUEVAS FOR SENATE, 2026 $1,000
LUCAS FRERICHS YOLO COUNTY SUPERVISOR, 2026 $1,000
MACHINIST'S NON-PARTISAN POLITICAL LEAGUE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINIST'S & AEROSPACE WORKERS $5,000
MAKE IT IN AMERICA PAC $2,000
MEDICARE FOR ALL $5,000
MENDOCINO COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY $770
MIKE FONG FOR ASSEMBLY 2026 $250
NANCY PELOSI FOR CONGRESS $2,000
NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALERS ASSOCIATION PAC $5,000
NATIONAL ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS PAC/ INTN'L UNION OF ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS (NEC PAC) $5,000
NATIONAL NURSES UNITED PAC - A FUND FOR A HEALTHY AMERICA $6,000
NATIONAL UNION OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS FEDERAL COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION $15K
NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION $5,000
OUR FIGHT OUR FUTURE $1,000
PAC TO THE FUTURE $5,000
PACE OF CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION $5,000
PETE AGUILAR FOR CONGRESS $2,000
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES $2,500
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT FEDERAL PAC (PECG FED-PAC) $2,500
RESOURCE CONSERVATION PAC $7,000
SAN FRANCISCO BAR PILOTS' PAC $5,000
SEIU COPE (SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUCATION) $10K
SMART TD PAC $2,500
STATE BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA FEDERAL PAC $5,000
SUPPORTERS OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL UNION #3 $10K
TIM GRAYSON FOR STATE CONTROLLER 2030 $500
UA UNION PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS VOTE PAC $5,000
UNITE HERE TIP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE $5,000
UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION ACTIVE BALLOT CLUB $4,000
UNITED PILOTS PAC/UNITED AIRLINES MASTER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL $15K
VALLEY FAMILIES FOR MELISSA HURTADO FOR SENATE 2026 $500
An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in CA; or it ran mostly in CA and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
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