U.S. House · California's 35th District
Mike Cargile
CandidateR
- Race
- U.S. House · California's 35th District
- Result
- Norma Torres, projected winner
- Opponent
- Norma Torres (D)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did4 statements · 0 votes
I promise to protect the gas in your stoves, the gas in your cars, the price of food on your table and the safety of your family.
Faster transition away from fossil fuels
Compare statements with votes ›Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
I promise to protect the gas in your stoves, the gas in your cars, the price of food on your table and the safety of your family.
Promises to 'protect the gas in your stoves, the gas in your cars,' and lists energy independence and alternatives to wind and solar as a policy focus.[3]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
except in the case of rape, incest or the life of the mother, I will never support abortion.
Says life begins at conception and that he would not support abortion except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.[4]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Any restriction, registration or regulation of that right, is by definition, an "infringement" and is unconstitutional.
Says any restriction, registration or regulation of the right to keep and bear arms is an infringement and unconstitutional.[5]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Mike wholeheartedly stands against boys in girls’ sports
Says he opposes transgender girls competing in girls' sports.[5]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Biography
Mike Cargile, a Republican, lost the November 3, 2026 election for the U.S. House seat in California's 35th District to Norma Torres, the incumbent he had also faced in the general election in 2020, 2022 and 2024. Born in Fort Hood, Texas, he served briefly as an Army officer and later worked in film and entertainment in Southern California. He described himself as a 'Reagan Republican, a Constitutional Conservative and America First.'[1][2]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Mike Cargile was born in Fort Hood, Texas, and earned a bachelor's degree in business from Columbus State University in 1987.[1] He says he served as a Quartermaster Army officer before going into the Individual Ready Reserve after the Gulf War, and Ballotpedia lists his Army service as 1990 to 1991.[1] Cargile says he moved to California in 1991, helped run a small independent music label, and handled private-label manufacturing for Power Rangers food products.[1] He says he worked in Hollywood as a writer, actor, director, producer, editor and marketing director, and Ballotpedia lists his career experience as including president of Big Event Pictures and filmmaker.[1] He also says he has been a coach, crossing guard, booster club president, Ways and Means chairman and church deacon, and that he lives in Southern California with his wife and two children.[1]
Cargile advanced from the top-two primary and lost to Torres in the 2020 general election (30.7% to her 69.3%), the 2022 general election (42.6% to 57.4%) and the 2024 general election (41.6% to 58.4%).[1] He placed second in the June 2, 2026 primary with 40.4% of the vote (51,641 votes), setting up a fourth general-election contest against Torres.[1] He has completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in multiple cycles, including 2020, 2022 and 2024.[1] He received 33.0% of the vote to Norma Torres's 67.0%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[2]
In their own words
Priorities
- In his 2024 survey, listed border security, opposition to transgender participation in girls' sports and to 'the sexualization of our children,' and protecting gas stoves, gas-powered cars, food prices, and family safety as key campaign messages.[3]
- Says he is passionate about international relations with the Latino community, veterans and the military, energy independence, and domestic manufacturing.[3]
Campaign money$4,759 raised · 100% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $4,759
Largest committee contributions
No direct contributions from PACs or other committees in the FEC’s bulk data.
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/mike-cargile
Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Mike Cargile · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 2.U.S. House · California's 35th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 3.Mike Cargile · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 4.Life · Cargile for Congress Candidate's own words
- 5.Issues · Cargile for Congress Candidate's own words