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Federal · Statewide General Election

United States Representative, District 8

Draft candidate list — early preview until the state’s official list publishes on August 27, 2026.

This is one contest. Enter your address to see every race on your November ballot, and keep track of your picks.

On the ballot

This person holds your district's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (2-year term).

Representative John Garamendi took 54.4% of the June 2 vote and Republican Rudy Recile took 27.8% to claim the second slot. The district covers part of Solano and Contra Costa counties and the Sacramento River delta.

The winner holds one of 435 seats in the U.S. House for a two-year term. A member introduces bills, sits on committees that shape federal legislation, votes on the federal budget and on war powers, and handles casework between constituents and federal agencies. Seniority governs committee standing, so a longer-serving member carries influence a newcomer cannot.

The incumbent raised less than most members in the delegation and drew the majority of it from committees, while taking 54.4% in his own primary — a modest showing for seventeen years of tenure. His opponent raised under $9,000. Weigh seniority against that combination.

John Garamendi

Democrat, the sitting Representative for this district since 2009. He has sponsored 13 bills in the 119th Congress, and 1 of his career bills has become law. He raised $489,135, of which $334,500 came from PACs and committees.

Strengths

Seventeen years of federal seniority and the committee standing that comes with it.

Trade-offs

His 13 sponsored bills is a low count for the delegation, and 54.4% is a modest primary for a member of his tenure.

Keep in mind

He raised less than almost any other incumbent in the delegation, which can indicate either a safe seat or a quiet campaign.

Rudy Recile

Republican, who advanced with 27.8% of the June vote. He raised $8,576, effectively all from individuals. He has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress.

Strengths

He took more than a quarter of the vote on under $9,000.

Trade-offs

That is effectively no campaign in resource terms, and he has no record in office to be judged on.

Keep in mind

Coverage surfaced little detail about his platform. That gap is what was available to us on 2026-08-10, not a comment on his candidacy.

Record in office

John Garamendi (Democratic) has served in the U.S. House since 2009 and has sponsored 13 bills in the 119th Congress; 1 of their career bills have become law. Rudy Recile has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress; these records cover only those offices. Per Congress.gov and the public-domain congress-legislators roster, retrieved 2026-08-10.

Record details

Garamendi — Committees: Armed Services; Transportation and Infrastructure Garamendi — HR 5671 (2020): Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020 Committee assignments and the most recently signed-into-law bills each record-holder lead-authored, from the official legislative record.

Financial info

Rudy Recile

$8,576raised
  • Individuals$8,551100%
  • Self-funding$25<1%

John Garamendi

$489,135raised
  • Individuals$154,59332%
  • PACs & committees$334,50068%

Total raised is all receipts for the 2026 cycle; the breakdown lists direct contributions, so the pieces can sum below the total. Figures are FEC filings through June 30, 2026, per the FEC bulk campaign-finance summaries, retrieved 2026-08-22.

June 2 primary — how they advanced

John Garamendi (Democratic)54.4% · 97,155 votes
Rudy Recile (Republican)27.8% · 49,599 votes
Nicolas Carjuzaa (Democratic)12.6% · 22,587 votes
Aaron Rowden (Democratic)5.2% · 9,220 votes
Source review: Very strong (95/100) · 5 cited sources

Official records anchor this contest, with multiple sources checked.

Last updated August 11, 2026.