Newcomer Eric Jones Ousts 14-Term Democrat Mike Thompson in California

Political newcomer Eric Jones has defeated longtime Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson in the race for Northern California’s 4th Congressional District, according to KQED and the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Associated Press called the Democrat-versus-Democrat race on Friday, 10 days after the Nov. 3 election, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. With most votes counted, Jones had 52.5% of the vote to Thompson’s 47.5%, according to the Chronicle.

Mike Thompson loses seat to fellow Democrat, upending House tax-writing panel https://t.co/ZZJTP5gvS0

— POLITICO (@politico) November 14, 2026

Thompson, 75, was seeking his 15th term in the House and is a senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, KQED reported. Politico said in a post on X that the loss upends the House tax-writing panel.

A record self-funded campaign

Jones, a 35-year-old former venture capitalist, put $14.8 million of his own money into the race, a record for self-funding by a congressional candidate in California history, according to Sonoma State University political science professor David McCuan, as cited by KQED.

Thompson raised about $5.5 million, none of it his own money, KQED reported. Jones pledged not to accept corporate PAC money, while Thompson painted Jones as an outsider trying to buy the seat, according to KQED.

KQED reported that Jones narrowly squeezed into second place in the state’s top-two primary and then erased a nearly 19-point gap by the general election.

Establishment backing wasn’t enough

Thompson, a moderate Democrat and Vietnam War veteran from St. Helena, was backed by establishment figures including Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Gavin Newsom, according to KQED.

The newly redrawn district stretches from the Napa Valley to the Sacramento suburbs and rural areas to the north, KQED reported. The two candidates did not diverge significantly on policy, and the race was defined by money, identity and attack ads, according to KQED.

“This country is ready for a new generation of leadership; it’s ready for a new way of doing politics,” Jones told reporters on Election Day, according to KQED.

KQED reported that attendees at a Jones campaign event included Democratic socialists, Democrats, Republicans and independent voters. One independent voter from Napa told KQED he had voted for Thompson “religiously” until this year.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that it had become increasingly clear during the week that Thompson would need a significant stroke of luck to overcome Jones’ lead of more than 10,000 votes.

Sources

• Politico on X
• KQED: Eric Jones Unseats Longtime Napa Valley Rep. Mike Thompson in Democratic Shakeup
• San Francisco Chronicle: Eric Jones defeats veteran Rep. Mike Thompson

Reporting by Daily Beltway.