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Ballot Explained

U.S. House · November 3, 2026

Who's running in California's 9th 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
Josh Harder
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 · Josh Harder 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.

  • Lowering costs for Valley households, which he names as the top issue in the district.
  • Lowering PG&E rates.
  • Stopping construction of the Delta Tunnel.
  • Protecting health care access.
  • Federal investment in Valley jobs and in water infrastructure.
  • Government accountability, including what he calls corruption in the current administration.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • U.S. Representative since January 2019; has represented the 9th District since 2023 and the 10th before that.
  • Member of the House Appropriations Committee.
  • Re-elected in 2024 by 3.6 points over then-Stockton mayor Kevin Lincoln, after winning by about 10 points in 2022.
  • Describes himself as one of the most independent members of Congress and says he is not afraid to call out his own party.
  • Named a target by the National Republican Congressional Committee for 2026.
  • Led the June 2, 2026 primary field.

Arguments in favor

  • He sits on the Appropriations Committee and has used it on the Valley's own problems — PG&E rates, water infrastructure and stopping the Delta Tunnel — rather than on national fights.

    — Josh Harder's campaign

  • He calls himself one of the most independent members of Congress and says he is not afraid to call out his own party, which is how he has held a seat that has moved toward Republicans.

    — Josh Harder, in an interview with Stocktonia

Arguments against

  • He voted against the rural health fund that has since sent California more than $233 million: "Josh Harder did everything he could to prevent healthcare improvements for working families in California."

    — National Republican Congressional Committee

  • His campaign is built on opposing the president rather than on the district: "When your whole motivation to run is Trump bad and not really offering any ideas" to improve the community — and California's gas prices come from state policy, not from Washington.

    — John McBride, his opponent, in an interview with Stocktonia

What we couldn’t verify

  • His position on the SAVE Act voter identification proposal his opponent supports, beyond the votes the NRCC cites.
  • His response to the rural health fund vote characterisation has not been published in the material found.
  • His explanation of how the Appropriations seat has translated into specific district funding was not set out in the coverage available.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:harderforcongress.comstocktonia.orgharder.house.govsjvsun.comballotpedia.orgnrcc.orgnrcc.orgdccc.org

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Agriculture and support for small farms, including reducing federal regulation of them.
  • Lower gas prices and energy costs, which he attributes to state rather than federal policy.
  • Reducing the federal debt and cutting spending he considers unnecessary; supports tariffs where properly applied.
  • The SAVE Act, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
  • Removing what he describes as dangerous chemicals from food and water, and medical freedom.
  • Stronger southern border enforcement, alongside legal immigration.
  • Investment in the Port of Stockton, crime prevention, mental health and support for local law enforcement.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • Athletic performance consultant and bodybuilding coach.
  • First strength and conditioning coach at the University of the Pacific, a post he held for twelve years from 1989.
  • Thirteen years coaching at St. Mary's High School in Stockton.
  • Has run for this seat before and has not held elected office.
  • Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary ahead of three other Republicans.

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 McBride by name could be found from his opponent, from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee or from news coverage, after searching his name against each of those and against his stated positions. 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 campaign finance position relative to the incumbent's was not reported in material available.
  • His position on the Delta Tunnel, the district's most contested water question.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:johnmcbrideforcongress.orgstocktonia.orgwtop.comfec.govballotpedia.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 Josh Harder and Republican John McBride to the November ballot; three other Republicans were eliminated and the Associated Press called McBride's second-place finish. This San Joaquin Valley seat is one of the closest in the state — Harder won it by 3.6 points in 2024 — and it is on both parties' target lists: the Democratic committee lists Harder as a frontline incumbent and the National Republican Congressional Committee is running paid advertising against him. Arguments for and against are shown for Harder, who has organised critics on both sides. McBride, a repeat candidate without institutional backing, has drawn no published criticism by name from his opponent, from the Democratic congressional committee or from news coverage, so no case against him exists to set beside his own; his positions and record are set out in his profile instead.

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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