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

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 ↗
By mail Anyone can vote by mail; return it by Tue, Nov 3 (Postmarked by Nov 3 and received by Nov 10; drop-off by 8 p.m. Nov 3) (passed)Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov ↗Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
Election Day Tue, Nov 3. Polls: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. (passed)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
ID at the polls Generally no ID required; some first-time voters who registered by mail/online without ID may be askedSource: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov ↗

Checked October 8, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.

Something wrong or out of date? Tell us

A person reads every report and fixes errors the same day.

Got a political text?

Paste a campaign text message you’ve received. Semblen marks the persuasion techniques in its wording and lists the factual claims it makes. Take your name out first: what you paste is analyzed and kept like any text.

Semblen is free to read and has no ads. If this page was useful, you can support it.

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 2026-10-14 individuals $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
  • GALLAGHER FOR CONGRESS $44K
  • HOUSE CONSERVATIVE FUND $2,000
  • IMPACT COMMITTEE $3,500
  • JIM JORDAN FOR CONGRESS $4,000
  • MVL PAC $2,500
  • ON WISCONSIN PAC, INC. $1,000
  • QUANTA SERVICES, INC. PAC $3,000
  • RAPTOR PAC $2,000
  • REPUBLICAN MAINSTREET PARTNERSHIP PAC $5,000
  • VINCE FONG FOR CONGRESS $2,000
  • VITORIA PAC $5,000

All filings at the FEC ↗

Mike McGuire (DEM)

Raised
$2.3M through 2026-10-14 individuals $1.9M · PACs $400K · cash on hand $154K
Outside spending
$671K supporting McGuire · latest reported 2026-10-02
Largest outside spenders
PROTECT PROGRESS — $372K supporting McGuire Largest 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 McGuire Largest donors: NATIONAL NURSES UNITED $2.5M (100%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC) HEALTH CARE SAVES LIVES — $143K supporting McGuire Largest 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 McGuire SIERRA CLUB INDEPENDENT ACTION — $10 supporting McGuire
Bundled through PACs
$8,000 through 1 PAC · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01 JSTREETPAC — $8,000 from 4 gifts Lobbyist/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
  • WINE INSTITUTE PAC $10K
  • YOLO COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE $500

All filings at the FEC ↗

No campaign ads analyzed for this race yet.

What this page is

  • 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.
  • Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
  • A technique is a specific rhetorical move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
  • Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. Running a check and seeing its verdicts are part of Semblen Pro, because each check costs money to run; anyone can see which claims an ad makes. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
  • Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
  • Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.

Try Pro free for 14 days, no card. Claim checks on every article, and an email when the stories you follow change.