Tom McClintock, the Republican incumbent, is running for re-election to represent California’s 5th Congressional District in November 2026 against Democratic challenger Michael Masuda, seeking his tenth term. He has represented the district and its predecessor since 2009, following earlier service in the California State Assembly and State Senate, and the National Taxpayers Union has repeatedly ranked his voting record among the most fiscally conservative in the House. He has occasionally broken with his party on procedural votes, including being the only House Republican to vote for releasing the House Ethics Committee’s report on Matt Gaetz. Redistricting under Proposition 50, approved by California voters in November 2025, shifted the district’s lines in a more Democratic direction, making the race more competitive than in past cycles despite his incumbency. McClintock has been endorsed by President Trump and the Club for Growth, which has given him a 95% lifetime rating on its fiscal-conservative scorecard.
