Republican voters are leading Democrats in ballot returns for California’s 1st Congressional District primary.
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — Republican voters continued to outpace Democrats in ballot returns for California’s 1st Congressional District primary, according to an updated Political Data, Inc. ballot tracker.
The updated data covered votes cast from May 4 through May 22, 2026. Political Data, Inc. reported 53,576 ballots had been returned out of 458,102 ballots tracked in the district, or about 12% turnout.
Republicans accounted for 42% of returned ballots, with 22,668 ballots returned during the reporting period. Democrats made up 38% of returned ballots with 20,549 returns, while voters with no party preference or other affiliations accounted for 19% of returned ballots with 10,359 returns.
Older voters continued to account for the majority of early ballot returns in the district.
Political Data, Inc. reported voters 65 and older accounted for 61% of returned ballots during the reporting window, with 32,480 ballots returned. Voters ages 50 to 64 made up 20% of returned ballots with 10,678 returns, while voters ages 35 to 49 accounted for 12% with 6,534 ballots returned. Voters ages 18 to 34 represented 7% of returned ballots with 3,884 returns.
Notably, California’s 1st Congressional District was among the districts most affected by redistricting under Proposition 50. According to Ballotpedia, candidates in the race include:
- Audrey Denny (D)
- James Gallagher (R)
- Janice Karrman (D)
- Timothy Kelly (NPP)
- Mike McGuire (D)
- Richard Minner (NPP)
The Cook Political Report rates the District 1 race as “Solid” Democratic.
District 1 was previously represented by late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who died following a medical emergency in January.
A map of the redrawn district is included below.
