Last Friday, Feb. 20, State Sen. Mike McGuire announced his campaign to run for Congress in the upcoming special election for California’s 1st Congressional District to fill the remainder of Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s Congressional term.
LaMalfa died during emergency surgery on Jan. 6. He had represented California’s 1st Congressional District from 2013 until his death. That district was redrawn in a special election for Prop. 50 in November, creating a more Democratic-leaning district to counter Texas’ redrawn districts to create new Republican-leaning districts.
But the election to fill the remaining months of LaMalfa’s term will take place on Aug. 5, almost two months after the state primary for the “new” 1st District seat. Even if it goes to a Republican, that congressman will likely serve only two months, into January 2027.
In January, Republican James Gallagher announced his intention to run in the special election to take over the seat held by LaMalfa, his mentor. However no candidates have officially filed for the race, according to the California Secretary of State. The filing deadline is April 9.
McGuire’s entry into this special election was something of a surprise. He is a sitting State senator, representing his hometown of Healdsburg as well as south into Marin County and north along the Pacific coast to Del Norte. As he is terming out of that seat, he had already announced for the newly redrawn CA-01 District, which Prop. 50 made more likely to be a Democratic seat by including Sonoma County.
“The hardworking folks of the North State deserve representation that fights every day and delivers for good rural jobs, our hospitals and health centers, high quality public schools and the unique needs of rural communities,” McGuire said.
“We’re laser focused on flipping the First, flipping the House, and delivering for working families and rural communities,” he said.
Although the popular and energetic McGuire, who last year served as the president of the State Senate, is seen as a favorite in the newly redrawn 1st District, he faces opposition from seven other candidates—including five other Democrats. Audrey Denney has run against LaMalfa in previous elections, but has not been able to unseat him.
However, District CA-01 as currently drawn does not include Sonoma County, nor McGuire’s Geyserville residence. The new district boundaries will be reflected in the June primary and November general elections. But a candidate only has to be a resident of the state, not the district for which he or she is running, according to the U.S. Constitution.
McGuire is unhesitating in pursuing the interim as well as permanent seat in Congress. “We’re excited to be running in both elections, earning every vote, in every community, in every county throughout the North State.” He’s shown his commitment over the past 90 days with “28 town halls and community meetings in every county in the First Congressional District.”
Further, should McGuire win the Aug. 5 special election, he would need to resign his State Senate seat to take office, which might not make a significant difference statewide. But it would put another Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, which could be crucial in any congressional effort to limit or correct President Trump’s power at the national level during the remainder of 2026.
“The stakes for this country are too high and we can’t afford to sit on the sidelines,” he added. “I’m all in to deliver for the North State. Every damn day.”
