David Binder Research
40%30%20%10%0%
30%
Republican
Trump Endorsed
Trump EndorsedJames Gallagher
RepublicanTrump Endorsed
Trump EndorsedJames Gallagher
CA-01 primary: first place
$4.8K
JUN 6, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer Commissioner
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age45 years old (Mar 4, 1981)
GenderMale
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LocationCalifornia
BackgroundAttorney
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA, Political Science)
Notable personal detailsJames M. Gallagher is a Republican politician and attorney from Yuba City, California. He has represented California's 3rd State Assembly district since 2014 and previously served on the Sutter County Board of Supervisors (2009–2014), including as an aide to then-Assemblymember Doug LaMalfa earlier in his career. Gallagher served as Assembly Republican Leader/Minority Leader from 2022 to 2025. In 2026, he filed as a Republican candidate for U.S. House in California’s 1st congressional district.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govdocquery.fec.govassembly.ca.govlaw.ucdavis.edujoincalifornia.comen.wikipedia.orgthecandidate.comreference.orggridleyherald.comcookpolitical.comspectrumnews1.comellisinsight.comlines.comkalshi.comcalnonprofits.orgelections.cdn.sos.ca.govelectjamesgallagher.comad03.asmrc.orgapnews.comsierradailynews.comasmrc.orgturn0news12justfacts.votesmart.orgreproductivefreedomforall.orgnhpr.orgcaliforniaglobe.comad47.asmrc.orgijpr.orgfirearmspolicy.orglassennews.comsierrabooster.compolitico.comfoxnews.comcbsnews.comvotesmart.orglatimes.comwashingtonpost.comcdn.ballotpedia.orgwikidata.orgcongress.govballotready.orglankford.senate.govdocuments.ncsl.orgcha.house.govgovinfo.govwhitehouse.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports lower taxes, fewer regulations, and protections for existing taxpayer limits (including Proposition 13); has advocated suspending the gas tax, cutting utility rates, and opposing new state or local tax increases. Backed a Taxpayer Protection Act that would require voter approval for state and local taxes and has filed legal/legislative actions to defend taxpayer protections. Policy priorities emphasize tax relief for families and small businesses and reducing government-imposed costs.
Healthcare
Supports tightening and auditing California’s Medicaid program (Medi‑Cal), opposes expansion of benefits to undocumented immigrants, and has pushed fiscal accountability measures and enrollment limits to curb program costs.
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Immigration & Border
Supports tougher border security and stronger enforcement while opposing public-benefit expansions for undocumented immigrants. Has criticized state policies that extend Medi‑Cal or housing subsidies to undocumented immigrants and has called the southern border a crisis requiring stronger action to address fentanyl and human trafficking.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate opposes broad, unrestricted access to abortion and has voted against multiple California bills expanding abortion protections or access. He is rated poorly by reproductive-rights advocacy groups and has publicly expressed concern about removing gestational limits on abortion.
Climate & Energy
Supports prioritizing affordability and energy infrastructure over aggressive renewable mandates, advocates using biomass and forest fuels removal to reduce wildfire risk, and opposes California fuel and low‑carbon regulations that he says raise costs for consumers.
Public Safety & Guns
James Gallagher has a voting record opposing many California gun-control bills and has received high ratings from pro-gun organizations. He frames his positions in defense of lawful gun ownership and has been graded highly by gun-rights groups.
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Who will win the CA-01 special election?
Endorsers of James Gallagher for Who will win the CA-01 special election?
Donald Trump
Public figure
Donald Trump endorsed James Gallagher in the California 1st Congressional District primary.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$1.0M
$785.4K
$523.6K
$261.8K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$1.0M
$479.6K
$567.7K
$33.4K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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