Federal · Statewide General Election
United States Representative, District 9
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
- Josh Harder — Democratic
- John McBride — Republican
This person holds your district's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (2-year term).
Representative Josh Harder took 60.8% of the June 2 vote and Republican John McBride took 23.3% to claim the second slot. The district covers Stockton, Tracy and part of the northern San Joaquin Valley.
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 $4.08 million with 71% of it from named individuals and has one of the higher bill counts in the delegation. His challenger raised about $52,000. The practical question is what this district gets from a seat held comfortably, in a district that has been competitive in other cycles.
Josh Harder
Democrat, the sitting Representative for this district since 2019. He has sponsored 41 bills in the 119th Congress — among the higher counts in the delegation — and 2 of his career bills have become law. He raised $4,083,528, of which $2,899,433 came from individuals.
Strengths
A high legislative workload, seven years of committee seniority, and 71% of a large campaign from named individuals.
Trade-offs
$4.08 million is a large sum against an opponent with $52,178.
Keep in mind
A 61% primary is comfortable, though this district has been closely contested in past cycles.
John McBride
Republican, who advanced with 23.3% of the June vote. He raised $52,178, including $19,882 from PACs and committees. He has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress.
Strengths
He gave this district a contested November ballot rather than an uncontested one.
Trade-offs
That total is about one percent of the incumbent's, 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
Josh Harder (Democratic) has served in the U.S. House since 2019 and has sponsored 41 bills in the 119th Congress; 2 of their career bills have become law. John McBride 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
Harder — Committees: Appropriations Harder — HR 4356 (2021): Protecting Families of Fallen Servicemembers Act Harder — HR 3399 (2020): To amend the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003 to include California in the program, and for other purposes. Committee assignments and the most recently signed-into-law bills each record-holder lead-authored, from the official legislative record.
Financial info
- Individuals
- PACs & committees
- Party
Josh Harder
$4,083,528 raised
- Individuals$2,899,43385%
- PACs & committees$506,62215%
- Party$2,193<1%
John McBride
$52,178 raised
- Individuals$10,30934%
- PACs & committees$19,88266%
1Total 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
Source review: Very strong (95/100) · 5 cited sources
Official records anchor this contest, with multiple sources checked.
- sos.ca.gov (opens in a new tab)CA Secretary of State — Statement of Vote, June 2, 2026 primary (certified 2026-07-10)
- ballotpedia.org (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia — June 2026 California primary
- unitedstates.github.io (opens in a new tab)congress-legislators — current members of Congress (unitedstates project)
- api.congress.gov (opens in a new tab)Congress.gov — member sponsored legislation (Library of Congress)
- fec.gov (opens in a new tab)FEC — 2026 House & Senate current-campaign financial summaries (bulk data)
Last updated August 11, 2026.