Who is running in California’s 5th Congressional District?
Rep. Tom McClintock is the frontrunner for California’s redrawn 5th Congressional District.
McClintock has represented the district since 2009. This year, he faces a familiar foe in Democrat Mike Barkley and a new Democratic challenger, Michael Masuda.
A wildcard could have been Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley, who had considered running in the 5th District before deciding on the 6th District. The 5th District, which now stretches from Alpine County to Inyo County along the Nevada border, is expected to remain solidly Republican.
Here are the most well-known candidates running in District 5.
Mike Barkley (D)
Barkley, 79, has experience as a lawyer, computer programmer, small business owner and rancher, according to his website. He also ran for the seat in 2022 and 2024. The Sacramento Bee has previously reported that Barkley has been elected a delegate to the California Democratic Party multiple times. His campaign website emphasizes strengthening federal wildfire suppression, adopting Medicare for All and fixing water shortages.
Michael Masuda (D)
Masuda is an engineer, “not a politician,” who grew up in a rural community of Amador County, according to his campaign website. He attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he pursued a degree in electrical engineering. His work experience ranges from a deliveryman for Amador Creamy to foreign affairs officer for the U.S. Department of State. If elected to Congress, Masuda plans to strengthen professional forest management, target profiteering from drug companies, expand rural housing programs and fund special education.
Tom McClintock (R)
McClintock, 69, joined Congress in 2009 after serving 22 years in the California Legislature. He is chairman of the House subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement and serves on several other committees including Budget and Federal Lands. McClintock is regarded as one of the most conservative members in the House and has supported the completion of the border wall and an end to sanctuary city policies. His campaign website says the “single great peril to our nation” is national debt and calls for the complete repeal of Obamacare.
This story was originally published February 14, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Who is running in California’s 5th Congressional District?."
