Early returns in California’s 6th Congressional District race point to unexpected matchups

Early returns for California’s 6th Congressional District showed independent Kevin Kiley and Republican Michael Stansfield holding the top two spots Wednesday night, an unexpected development in a race that featured several prominent Democrats.Stansfield, a little-known candidate with limited resources and no traditional campaign operation, has been clinging to second place, just ahead of Democrat Dr. Richard Pan, a former state senator.The crowded race unfolded in a newly redrawn district that Democrats hoped would be more favorable to their party. Kiley, who previously identified as a Republican, changed both districts and his party affiliation to independent as he adjusted to the new political landscape. That left Stansfield as the only candidate on the ballot listed as a Republican.“I ran as a Republican because those are the people I wanted to reach,” Stansfield told KCRA 3.Stansfield said his campaign lacked the money and infrastructure of a typical congressional run.“I’m kind of excited because I really wanted to get a message out, and I did not buy — I couldn’t afford a single commercial. I couldn’t afford a single sign,” Stansfield told KCRA 3. “So I was kind of written off from the beginning. And I felt like I really had something to say.”| MORE | California 2026 Primary Full Election Results: Governor, US House and other statewide, local racesRather than run a conventional Republican campaign, Stansfield said he focused on what he described as a message of love in response to war and division in the Middle East.“I noticed that any time I had anything positive to say about Muslims or Arabs or Palestinians, you know, it was just like they’d usher you out the door. There was no debate,” Stansfield told KCRA 3.Another unusual detail of Stansfield’s campaign appeared on the California Secretary of State’s candidate contact list, which listed his contact address in Beaverton, Oregon. Stansfield said that was a mailing decision, not an indication of where he lives.“I had a choice of either getting a P.O. box, and I really don’t want to check it all the time, but I already have a mail slot at work in Oregon,” Stansfield told KCRA 3. “So I thought, ‘well, I’ll just send it over there.’”Stansfield also argued that the large Democratic field may have split the vote.“It was very difficult to distinguish between them because their views were so similar, and so they ended up dividing the vote among themselves,” Stansfield told KCRA 3.Pan, who was trailing closely behind Stansfield, said voters should choose a candidate with a proven record.“We need a representative in Congress who’s going to not only fight for the people but has a record of getting things done,” Pan told KCRA 3. “There are a lot of promises politicians make when they run. I’m running on things I actually accomplished when I represented this area in the state legislature, when I was a community leader.”Stansfield said he is now a registered Republican in California.With thousands of ballots still left to count, the race remained unsettled. Political analysts have noted that Democratic voters often make up a larger share of later-counted ballots in California, meaning the standings could still change as more results are reported.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

ROCKLIN, Calif. —

Early returns for California’s 6th Congressional District showed independent Kevin Kiley and Republican Michael Stansfield holding the top two spots Wednesday night, an unexpected development in a race that featured several prominent Democrats.

Stansfield, a little-known candidate with limited resources and no traditional campaign operation, has been clinging to second place, just ahead of Democrat Dr. Richard Pan, a former state senator.

The crowded race unfolded in a newly redrawn district that Democrats hoped would be more favorable to their party.

Kiley, who previously identified as a Republican, changed both districts and his party affiliation to independent as he adjusted to the new political landscape. That left Stansfield as the only candidate on the ballot listed as a Republican.

“I ran as a Republican because those are the people I wanted to reach,” Stansfield told KCRA 3.

Stansfield said his campaign lacked the money and infrastructure of a typical congressional run.

“I’m kind of excited because I really wanted to get a message out, and I did not buy — I couldn’t afford a single commercial. I couldn’t afford a single sign,” Stansfield told KCRA 3. “So I was kind of written off from the beginning. And I felt like I really had something to say.”

| MORE | California 2026 Primary Full Election Results: Governor, US House and other statewide, local races

Rather than run a conventional Republican campaign, Stansfield said he focused on what he described as a message of love in response to war and division in the Middle East.

“I noticed that any time I had anything positive to say about Muslims or Arabs or Palestinians, you know, it was just like they’d usher you out the door. There was no debate,” Stansfield told KCRA 3.

Another unusual detail of Stansfield’s campaign appeared on the California Secretary of State’s candidate contact list, which listed his contact address in Beaverton, Oregon. Stansfield said that was a mailing decision, not an indication of where he lives.

“I had a choice of either getting a P.O. box, and I really don’t want to check it all the time, but I already have a mail slot at work in Oregon,” Stansfield told KCRA 3. “So I thought, ‘well, I’ll just send it over there.’”

Stansfield also argued that the large Democratic field may have split the vote.

“It was very difficult to distinguish between them because their views were so similar, and so they ended up dividing the vote among themselves,” Stansfield told KCRA 3.

Pan, who was trailing closely behind Stansfield, said voters should choose a candidate with a proven record.

“We need a representative in Congress who’s going to not only fight for the people but has a record of getting things done,” Pan told KCRA 3. “There are a lot of promises politicians make when they run. I’m running on things I actually accomplished when I represented this area in the state legislature, when I was a community leader.”

Stansfield said he is now a registered Republican in California.

With thousands of ballots still left to count, the race remained unsettled. Political analysts have noted that Democratic voters often make up a larger share of later-counted ballots in California, meaning the standings could still change as more results are reported.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel