The June 2 primary election for California’s 4th Congressional District looks radically different from years past. That's because of Proposition 50. The voter-approved measure has completely redrawn California's congressional map, injecting nearly 50% of brand-new territory into District 4.
The district now includes all or parts of Napa, Sonoma, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba, Lake, Colusa and Placer Counties. Before it was centered mainly in the North Bay stretching past Clear Lake.
Here are the candidates running for CA-04:
Photo of California's 4th Congressional DistrictCourtesy of Ballotpedia
Notable Endorsements: Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff
Mike Thompson has been in Congress since 1999. In his campaign this year, he’s emphasized his experience, constituent services, and agriculture-focused policy. He said he’s represented parts of the district in the past, so he isn’t treating potential constituents as strangers.
Thompson framed his campaign around continuity in a closely divided Congress.
“This is not a time for on-the-job training. We need someone who’s battle tested, someone who is able to stand up against this president and his MAGA enablers, and someone who is able to deliver for our district and for our country,” Thompson said.
A major focus of his work is agriculture, water, and infrastructure in his district. He cited efforts to secure disaster relief for farmers, improve agricultural policy through the farm bill, and reduce regulatory burdens on farmers.
Thompson has called for ending the Iran war, citing its role in raising prices.. He voted for a war powers-related measure backed by congressional Democrats aimed at limiting presidential war authority. He urged the Trump administration to stop the “unprovoked” war.
“The American people are getting nothing out of the war,” Thompson said. “We've lost U.S. service members. We've had over 300 U.S. service members who have been wounded. Thousands of non-combatant civilians have been killed. We've depleted our military resources. Gas prices are off the charts…It has to stop.”
On immigration enforcement, Thompson said he’s spoken out about protecting those in the agricultural and business communities by holding “Know Your Rights” seminars.
Thompson has also supported stronger oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating ICE has been running a “rogue operation.” He’s called for reforms such as warrants and body cameras.
“I don't think that it's mutually exclusive to say we want to have sound border protection and
we want to have an immigration system that works and works well,” Thompson said.
Thompson is seeking his 15th term in office.
Photo of Eric JonesCourtesy of Eric JonesNotable Endorsements: Our Revolution, Indivisible Yolo
Eric Jones is a former Bay Area venture capitalist, a healthcare entrepreneur, and nonprofit founder running on a message that Congress needs a new generation of leadership.
Jones has built a well-funded campaign, outraising Thompson in donations this election cycle and even injecting over $5 million from his own pocket, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Jones helped build major women’s health and virtual mental health services, and worked on senior care initiatives with public partners, according to his campaign website. He also founded the American Dream Institute, which he describes as focused on civic engagement and expanding underrepresented voices. It aims to be “an antidote” to extremist rhetoric on the internet.
Jones said he was motivated to run for Congress after the birth of his daughter and his son’s early health challenges, which reshaped his priorities. He also points to growing up in a working-class household that relied on public assistance.
Jones supports Medicare for All and expanded coverage for dental, vision, hearing, and in-home senior care, arguing that the system leaves major gaps in basic care.
Jones supports the building of two million homes in California to lower costs and address shortages. He also supports housing reforms including first-time homebuyer assistance, expanded public financing for construction, and banning “large-scale” corporate ownership of single-family homes.
On Iran, Jones has strongly opposed the war and voiced his displeasure of Congress for not passing a war powers measure, a move he sees as “ceding power to Trump.” He argued the Washington establishment has done so “intentionally.”
“The oil and gas industry and the defense industry are very happy to send us to war,” Jones said. “Spend $2 billion a day fighting this war. To put that in perspective, you could give every single American in this country free prescription generic drugs for about $20 to $30 billion. That's 10 to 15 days of war.”
On immigration, Jones supports comprehensive immigration reform and stronger border enforcement, while calling for restructuring ICE under the Department of Justice to increase accountability.
“Immigrants are core to the idea of the American dream,” Jones said. “We're a multicultural, multiracial democracy built on the idea of the American dream,”
Jones said his priorities are affordability, reducing corporate influence in politics, restoring public trust in government.
“We have to fight for a better tomorrow,” he added.
Photo of Raymond RiehleCourtesy of Raymond Riehle
Notable Endorsements: California Assemblymember Josh Hoover, California State Senator Roger Niello, Reform California.
Raymond Riehle is a longtime business owner, and a member of the Citrus Heights Water District board of directors.
Riehle said he is running to bring a long-term perspective to public policy, with a focus on planning for future generations rather than short-term political cycles.
“I don't see that in Mike Thompson,” he said. “I don't see that generally in electeds in California and across the country. Everybody is looking for short-term answers for long-term problems."
Riehle has been a critic of California’s redistricting system and the state’s top-two primary structure. He said voters should have more meaningful ideological choices.
His campaign centers on infrastructure priorities, including water storage and delivery systems, energy reliability, and transportation projects such as roads, bridges, and rail. He supports investments like the Sites Reservoir as part of a broader effort to strengthen California’s long-term water supply.
On Iran, Riehle said he backs much of what the Trump administration has done so far."I'm willing to let this ride out,” he said. “I think a nuclear-armed Iran is a greater danger than a temporary rise in gas prices. I would not take away the ability for the United States military to wage war in Iran.
On energy and economic policy, Riehle supports an “all-of-the-above” approach that includes renewables alongside expanded nuclear power. While supportive of renewables where it is cost-effective, he said policymakers should carefully evaluate long-term costs and benefits.
Riehle supports stronger border security and backs ICE, arguing that cooperation between local and federal authorities is necessary for effective enforcement. He blamed the tensions and chaos of ICE operations like those in Minneapolis on Democratic sanctuary policies.
“I think it's ridiculous that the state would say, we’re not going to allow [ICE] to arrest people who are criminals because [the state] believes they're really not criminals,” Riehle said.
Riehle said he has the vision that goes beyond the next election cycle to bring smaller government and more freedom.
“I've had a great life. I've had great opportunities,” Riehle said. “I think that the country, the district is not effectively looking forward to giving the next generation the same kinds of opportunities that I've had."
Charles “Chuck” Uribe Jr. (Republican)
Photo of Charles “Chuck” Uribe Jr.Courtesy of Charles Uribe Jr.
No notable endorsements.
Chuck Uribe is a Northern California educator, U.S. Air Force veteran, and Center Joint Unified School District board member in Antelope, Sacramento County.
After 40 years in public education and service on a local school board, Uribe said he entered the race out of frustration with political dysfunction and concerns from residents who feel disconnected from the political process.
Uribe’s platform focuses heavily on issues affecting the district's agricultural and rural communities. Uribe said he supports expanding federal investment in water infrastructure, including retrofitting flood-control dams to increase water storage capacity during drought cycles.
As an educator, Uribe has made school funding a central issue. He supports increasing federal funding for special education and rural schools, arguing that existing funding levels do not adequately meet local needs.
On housing affordability, Uribe favors restrictions on large corporations purchasing single-family homes, saying such practices make homeownership more difficult for first-time buyers.
Regarding Iran, Uribe said he is concerned about the country obtaining a nuclear weapon, but said the Trump administration may have underestimated Iran's capabilities and warned about risks to U.S. interests in the region.
“We're getting our butts kicked,” Uribe said, “I just really would think that these folks were more on the ball as far as planning than a high school teacher, but it is what it is.”
Uribe was less inclined to support a war powers measure saying he isn't privy to details about operations in Iran to make an informed decision.
On immigration, Uribe described the current system as deeply flawed and in need of reform. While stating that "illegal is illegal," he criticized the public perception of some immigration enforcement operations.
Uribe is campaigning as an independent-minded outsider having operated with minimal funding and no major endorsements, but said he is the change candidate.
“If you want change in the way the government is run, the way politics, the business of the people is being conducted in Washington D.C., I'm your guy," Uribe said.
Other candidates on the ballot that didn’t respond to requests for interviews or couldn’t be reached:
- Jimih Jones (R)
- L. John MacKenzie (R)
- Sharon Brown (R)
- Mandy Ghusar (R)
- Thomas Roach (No party preference)
The top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November.
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