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Ballot Explained

U.S. House · November 3, 2026

Who's running in California's 35th congressional district

2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.

Candidates
2
Incumbent
Norma Torres
Parties
Republican · Democratic
State primary
Jun 2

Candidates appear in ballot order. We do not rank them, score them, or recommend one — here is how this is put together, and here is what the office actually does.

2 candidates · ballot order · Norma Torres currently holds this seat

Low confidenceLow confidenceOnly one weak source, dated material, or indirect evidence. Treat specifics with caution.What would raise it: An official filing record and at least one independent report about this candidate would raise this.

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Downsizing the federal government and eliminating federal agencies that duplicate state ones.
  • Ending what he calls subsidies to countries hostile to the United States.
  • Constitutional conservatism, which he describes as his governing philosophy.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • Independent filmmaker; served in the U.S. Army from 1990 to 1991.
  • Business degree from Columbus State University, 1987.
  • Republican candidate against Norma Torres in 2020, 2022 and 2024; lost each time, most recently 58.4% to 41.6%.
  • Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary.
  • Has not held elected office.

Arguments in favor

We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.

Arguments against

We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.

What we couldn’t verify

  • No published criticism of Cargile by name could be found: not from Norma Torres or her campaign, not from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and not from Inland Empire news coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either, rather than showing his own campaign's case unanswered.
  • He has run for this seat in previous cycles; his positions and fundraising were not reported in material available.
Sources:ballotpedia.orgballotpedia.orgnbcnews.com

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Federal appropriations for Inland Empire communities.
  • Central American policy and anti-corruption work, an area she has legislated in.
  • Public safety and emergency communications, drawing on her work as a 911 dispatcher.
  • Immigration policy.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • U.S. Representative since January 2015; re-elected in 2024 with 58.4%.
  • Member of the House Appropriations Committee.
  • Mayor of Pomona, and a member of the California State Assembly and State Senate before Congress.
  • Worked as a 911 dispatcher.
  • Led the June 2, 2026 primary field.

Arguments in favor

  • She is the only member of Congress born in Guatemala and has made Central American corruption her subject, leading colleagues in calling for targeted sanctions against those undermining Guatemalan democracy and pressing the State Department to act.

    — Office of Rep. Norma Torres

  • As ranking member on an Oversight subcommittee she led the questioning on January 6 security, an event she lived through in the chamber.

    — Office of Rep. Norma Torres and The 19th

Arguments against

  • During a House debate on abortion she called her Republican colleagues "sex-starved males" — remarks that broke House rules, which bar members from personally impugning colleagues on the floor.

    — California Globe

What we couldn’t verify

  • Whether Torres withdrew or apologised for the remarks was not established from the sources found.
  • No criticism of her by name from Mike Cargile's campaign or from the National Republican Congressional Committee was found.
  • The district's boundaries changed under Proposition 50, approved in November 2025; how that changes her position was not established from the sources found.
Sources:ballotpedia.orgtorres.house.govballotpedia.orgnbcnews.comtorres.house.govcaliforniaglobe.com19thnews.org

Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.

California's June 2, 2026 top-two primary sent Republican Mike Cargile and Democratic incumbent Norma Torres to the November ballot; a second Democrat and a second Republican were eliminated. This is the fourth consecutive general election between these two candidates; Torres won the last three. The district covers Inland Empire communities including Ontario, Pomona, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Chino and Upland. Neither candidate is listed with arguments for or against here: no published criticism of either candidate by name from someone opposing them in this cycle could be found, and setting out a case against one and not the other would tilt the page.

This is one contest on a longer ballot

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