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Ballot Explained

U.S. House · November 3, 2026

Who's running in California's 8th 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
John Garamendi
Parties
Democratic · Republican
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 · John Garamendi currently holds this seat

Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Bringing union shipbuilding and ship repair jobs to the district through his SHIPS Act, which he calls one of the most transformative economic bills in a generation.
  • Increased federal investment in infrastructure.
  • Access to affordable health care.
  • Investment in education.
  • Good-paying jobs in Contra Costa and Solano counties.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • U.S. Representative since 2009.
  • Lieutenant Governor of California, 2007–2009.
  • California Insurance Commissioner, elected twice.
  • Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior under President Bill Clinton.
  • Served in both the California State Assembly and State Senate.
  • Author of the SHIPS Act on shipbuilding and ship repair.
  • Announced his re-election bid in the redrawn district after Proposition 50 passed, and led the June 2, 2026 primary.

Arguments in favor

  • He votes against his own party's leadership when he thinks the money is wrong: he opposed the FY26 Homeland Security appropriations bill because of the additional funding it gave ICE, citing the agency's "use of excessive force and militarized deportations".

    — Office of Rep. John Garamendi

  • He has pressed the administration on foreign policy in writing rather than only in public, joining 24 California Democrats demanding the release of U.S. citizens detained on the Gaza flotilla and leading 29 colleagues in demanding an end to ambiguity over Israel's nuclear capabilities.

    — Office of Rep. John Garamendi

Arguments against

  • He misses far more votes than his colleagues: 496 of 9,981 roll calls between November 2009 and July 2026 — 5.0%, described as much worse than the 2.0% median for sitting members.

    — GovTrack

What we couldn’t verify

  • Garamendi's own explanation for his missed-vote record was not established from the sources found; GovTrack notes such absences are often due to medical reasons, major life events or campaigns for other office.
  • No National Republican Congressional Committee page about him by name was found, and no criticism of him from his general election opponent or from a primary opponent.
  • The district's boundaries changed under Proposition 50, approved in November 2025; how that changes his position was not established from the sources found.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:garamendi.orgrichmondside.orglassennews.comgovtrack.usballotpedia.orgquiverquant.comgaramendi.house.gov

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Protecting California's water supply and environment.
  • Improving support and services for veterans.
  • Energy independence.
  • Curtailing federal government spending.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • Businessman based in Vallejo.
  • Republican nominee against Garamendi in the 2022 and 2024 general elections; lost both.
  • Has not held elected office.
  • Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary as the only Republican in the field.

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 Recile by name could be found: not from John Garamendi or his campaign, not from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and not from Solano or Contra Costa county 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.
  • His positions and record were not stated in material available.
  • His fundraising totals were not reported in material available.
Sources:ballotpedia.orglodinews.comrichmondside.orgballotpedia.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 Democratic incumbent John Garamendi and Republican Rudy Recile to the November ballot; two other first-time Democratic candidates were eliminated. The district was redrawn under Proposition 50 and covers Contra Costa and Solano counties. This is the third consecutive general election between these two candidates. Neither is listed with arguments for or against: no published criticism of either candidate by name from someone opposing them could be found in this race, and setting out a case against one and not the other would tilt the page. Roster confirmed against the Associated Press call reported by Richmondside and Ballotpedia.

This is one contest on a longer ballot

A California ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.

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