Reform California Releases "26 for 2026" List of Target Seats

CA State Representative Carl DeMaio, who serves as Chairman of Reform California, recently announced his organization will wage a statewide campaign to recruit and support quality candidates to run in what he says are the top target seats in California.

The “26 in 2026” target list includes 4 congressional seats and 22 state legislative seats statewide. (See full list below)

“There’s no doubt that California has been a tough state for center-right candidates to compete in, and the rigged Prop 50 congressional map makes things even more difficult,” DeMaio noted.

“But as we showed with our wins in 2020, 2022 and 2024,  we have opportunities to turn the tide and make gains to end the Democrats’ extremist policies and one-party stranglehold on California,” said DeMaio.

“We absolutely must compete aggressively for these 26 seats — and we just need to net 7 state assembly seats to end the Democrats’ Super-Majority in Sacramento,” DeMaio notes.

Reform California’s 3-Point Campaign Strategy to Win Target Seats

DeMaio and his Reform California organization are building on their successful programs in the 2020-2024 cycles in pursuing a 3-pronged effort to win the 2026 elections:

1. FRAMING THE DEBATE: Reform California is shaping the midterm election with a bold “Contract to Reform California” for candidates to run on that unites the conservative base and wins over independent and some Democrats. To spike the turnout of Republican voters, Reform California’s volunteers have helped get 1 million signatures to put this game-changing ballot measure on the November 2026 ballot
2. PLAIN ENGLISH VOTER GUIDE: To help all candidates, Reform California will promote a slate in each target area with its highly popular voter guide.  2.6 million handwritten letters will be sent to low-propensity voters to boost turnout with the voter guide.
3. ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS: Reform California is recruiting 26,000 volunteers to make 26 personal contacts in the 26 target districts.

“We have a solid plan to win – but the only thing limiting us right now is lack of resources — so we’re urging all concerned Californians to join us in fighting for these 26 target seats by contributing whatever they can today to the campaign,” DeMaio concluded.

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The List of 26 Seats - Do You Live in One? Want to Run in One?

US CONGRESS – 4 Targets Will Be Selected

1. CD-3 (Sacramento) — Kevin Kiley (Defend)
2. CD-13 (Central Valley) – Kevin Lincoln (Pick Up)
3. CD-22 (Central Valley) — David Valadao (Defend)
4. CD-48 (Riverside/San Diego) – Darrell Issa (Defend)

On the Watch List (7 seats):‍

1. CD-1 (Northern CA) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
2. CD-2 (Northern CA) – Doug LaMalfa (Defend)
3. CD-21 (Central Valley) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
4. CD-25 (Riverside County) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
5. CD-45 (Orange County/Los Angeles County) — TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
6. CD-47 (Orange County) — TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
7. CD-49 (San Diego/Orange County) Jim Desmond (Pick Up)
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STATE SENATE – 5 Targets Will Be Selected

1. SD-14 (Central Valley) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
2. SD-16 (Central Valley) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
3. SD-36 (Orange County) – Tony Strickland (Defend)
4. SD-38 (Orange County/San Diego) – Laura Bassett (Pick Up)
5. SD-40 (San Diego) – Kristie Bruce-Lane (Defend)

On the Watch List (4 seats):

1. ‍SD-4 (Central Valley) – Marie Alvarado-Gil (Defend)
2. SD-6 (Sacramento) Roger Niello (Defend)
3. SD-18 (San Diego/Imperial/Riverside) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
4. SD-34 (Orange County) – Rhonda Shader (Pick Up)
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STATE ASSEMBLY – 17 Targets Will Be Selected

1. AD-7 (Sacramento) — Josh Hoover (Defend)
2. AD-22 (Central Valley) — Juan Alanis (Defend)
3. AD-27 (Central Valley) — Mike Murphy (Pick Up)
4. AD-31 (Central Valley) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
5. AD-35 (Central Valley) – Saul Ayon (Pick Up)
6. AD-36 (Riverside County) — Jeff Gonzalez (Defend)
7. AD-40 (Los Angeles County) — TBD (Pick Up)
8. AD-42 (Los Angeles/Ventura County) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
9. AD-47 (Riverside County) — Greg Wallis (Defend)
10. AD-58 (Riverside County) — Leticia Castillo (Defend)
11. AD-60 (Riverside County) — Ed Delgado (Pick Up)
12. AD-66 (Los Angeles) – Jessica Maldonado (Pick Up)
13. AD-67 (Orange County) — Paulo Morales (Pick Up)
14. AD-70 (Orange County) — Tri Ta (Defend)
15. AD-72 (Orange County – Gracey Van Der Mark (Defend)
16. AD-74 (Orange County/San Diego) — Laurie Davies (Defend)
17. AD-76 (San Diego) — TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)

On the Watch List (7 seats):

1. AD-13 (Central Valley) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
2. AD-16 (Bay Area) – TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
3. AD-39 (Los Angeles/San Bernardino) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
4. AD-50 (San Bernardino) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
5. AD-53 (Los Angeles County) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
6. AD-56 (Los Angeles County) - TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)
7. AD-73 (Orange County) — TBD Candidate Needed (Pick Up)