Discovery Insights Elections Candidates Calendar

Republican

James Gallagher

Republican

James Gallagher

CA-01 primary: first place

$457.49

JUN 6, 2026

Primary Election

Party selects its nominee.

Overview

Current roleFormer Commissioner

PartyRepublican

Political ideologyConservative Republican

Age45 years old (Mar 7, 1981)

GenderMale

LocationCalifornia

BackgroundPolitician

EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA, Political Science)

Notable personal detailsJames M. Gallagher is a Republican member of the California State Assembly representing the 3rd Assembly District, first elected in 2014. He previously served for six years on the Sutter County Board of Supervisors and later became Assembly Republican Leader (Minority Leader) from 2022 to 2025. He has worked as an attorney and as a partner in his family farming operation. In 2026 he filed to run for U.S. House in California’s 1st Congressional District.

SourcesShow

ppic.org assembly.ca.gov en.wikipedia.org docquery.fec.gov law.ucdavis.edu joincalifornia.com territorialdispatch.com gallagher4supervisor.wordpress.com calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org kcra.com nationaltoday.com yahoo.com norcalwater.org business.paradisechamber.com crpa.org advocacy.calchamber.com secretary.senate.ca.gov electjamesgallagher.com ad03.asmrc.org apnews.com sierradailynews.com asmrc.org turn0news12 justfacts.votesmart.org reproductivefreedomforall.org nhpr.org californiaglobe.com ad47.asmrc.org ijpr.org firearmspolicy.org lassennews.com sierrabooster.com politico.com latimes.com cbsnews.com abcnews.go.com ballotready.org washingtonpost.com static.foxnews.com fec.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.

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.

News

AINews Summary

Last updatedMay 19, 2026

James Gallagher is in the news because he is running in California’s newly redrawn 1st Congressional District and took part in a recent candidate debate in Chico. The debate focused on energy costs, rural issues, infrastructure, trade, and executive power, giving voters a chance to compare the candidates ahead of the primary and special election contests. Recent coverage also notes that the new district now leans Democratic, which shapes the race he is competing in.

ppic.org+39

Articles

SRSanta Rosa Press Democrat8 days ago