“This victory does not belong to me,” said Eric Jones, a 36-year-old political newcomer.
“It belongs to every family that opened their door, every volunteer who made one more call, and every voter across all nine counties who decided that government has to work for them.”
Jones unseated longtime U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson in California’s 4th Congressional District. The Associated Press called the race on Friday, November 13, 2026. This came ten days after the November 3 election.
“We all know we're entering a special moment,” Eric Jones, a 36-year-old political newcomer, told The Press Democrat said.
Ballot counts showed a lead for the former venture capitalist. Jones secured 52.5% of the vote. Thompson, a 14-term incumbent first elected in 1998, finished with 47.5%.
Read my full statement in response to the final election results for California’s Fourth Congressional District. pic.twitter.com/P1BAnLoOnr
The contest was one of several Democrat-on-Democrat runoffs across the country this election cycle. These races featured different generations of leadership.
The candidates used very different campaign strategies. Jones built his wealth in the private sector. He put $14.8 million of his own money into his campaign.
Jones became the fifth-highest spender among all congressional campaigns this cycle. He had over $18 million in receipts. Thompson reported about $5.4 million in contributions and more than $5.3 million in expenses.
Jones also hired a Sacramento-based Republican strategist. Former Republican opponents endorsed him.
Thompson focused on his legislative record. He said he secured $99 million for wildfire recovery. He also said he secured $500 million in tax relief for wildfire survivors.
Thompson led the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He also helped preserve more than 273,000 acres of Northern California wilderness. He expanded protections for the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.
The race included sharp attacks on immigration and corporate influence. Jones’ campaign ran ads criticizing Thompson for funding federal immigration enforcement agencies.
The super PAC New Leadership Now also ran ads. This group was founded in March 2025. It received large donations from Jones’ venture capital associates. The PAC accused Thompson of not doing enough to crack down on immigrants with criminal records.
Thompson denied the accusations regarding his voting record. He said the outcome was not what his team had hoped for.
It’s been the honor of my life to serve the community where I was born, grew up, and still live today. I look forward to continuing to serve our community through the end of my term and beyond.
Mike Thompson, U.S. Representative
Geography helped decide the final tally. Thompson maintained strong leads in his home base of Napa County. He also led in Sonoma and Yolo counties.
Jones joined other new members of the 120th Congress for photos at the Capitol in Washington. The five counties in the 4th District must finalize vote certifications by December 3, 2026. They will submit these to the California Secretary of State.
