Tom McClintock
Tom McClintock, a Republican who has represented California in the U.S. House since 2009 after serving in both chambers of the state legislature, faces Democrat Michael Masuda in the 2026 race for California's 5th congressional district.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Tom McClintock.
- Born
- July 10, 1956
- Birthplace
- Westchester County, New York
- Education
- University of California, Los Angeles (degree in political science, 1978)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Tom McClintock was born on July 10, 1956, in Westchester County, New York, and his family moved to Thousand Oaks, California, in 1965. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1978 with a degree in political science.
At 23, McClintock was elected chair of the Ventura County Republican Party, a post he held until 1981, and from 1980 to 1982 he worked as chief of staff to State Senator Ed Davis. He later directed the Center for the California Taxpayer from 1992 to 1994.
Career
McClintock's legislative career began in 1982, when he won election to the California State Assembly from the 36th district, where he served until 1992.
After losing a 1992 U.S. House race to Anthony C. Beilenson and the 1994 race for state controller, he returned to the Assembly from the 38th district from 1996 to 2000. He then served in the California State Senate from 2000 to 2008.
During those years he also ran for controller in 2002, for governor in the 2003 recall election, in which he finished third with 14%, and for lieutenant governor in 2006, losing to John Garamendi.
In 2008, McClintock entered the race for California's 4th congressional district after nine-term incumbent John Doolittle retired, and he defeated retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charles D. Brown by a margin of 0.5%. He has represented the district since 2009; it was renumbered the 5th district in 2023 and stretches from the Sacramento suburbs to the outer suburbs of Fresno, including Yosemite National Park.
2026 race
In California's 5th congressional district, Tom McClintock is the Republican incumbent seeking another term after being re-elected with 61.8% of the vote in 2024. In the top-two primary he placed first with 61.29%, and Democrat Michael Masuda, an engineer, advanced in second place with 24.31%.
Two other Democrats were eliminated: attorney Michael Barkley, the district's runner-up in 2022 and 2024, and engineer and business owner Dan Stroud. McClintock faces Masuda in the general election on November 3, 2026.