James Gallagher (California politician)

James M. "Jamie" Gallagher (born March 7, 1981) is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. He represents the 3rd Assembly district, located in the northern Sacramento Valley. As of February 8, 2022, he was voted by the Assembly Republican Caucus as the Minority Leader of the California State Assembly.^[1]

Jamie Gallagher
Minority Leader of the California Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office February 8, 2022
Preceded by	Marie Waldron
Succeeded by	Heath Flora (designate)
Member of the California State Assembly from the 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 1, 2014
Preceded by	Dan Logue
Personal details
Born	(1981-03-04) March 4, 1981 (age 44) Yuba City, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Janna
Children	5
Education	University of California, Berkeley (BA) University of California, Davis (JD)

Background

Gallagher is the descendant of Irish immigrants who settled northern California in the early 1800s. His paternal grandfather, Robert Gallagher, served four years (1985–89) on the Sutter County Board of Supervisors.^[2]

Education

After graduating from East Nicolaus High School, Gallagher earned a bachelor's degree in political science from UC Berkeley. ^[3] Gallagher earned a JD degree from UC Davis.^[4]

Career

Gallagher's political career began when he worked for state Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa as a fellow in a Fellowship Program.^[3]

Since 2007, Gallagher has been practicing law.^[3][5] He is a partner in his family's fifth generation rice and walnut farming operation.^[6] In 2008, Gallagher was elected to the Sutter County Board of Supervisors, where he served until his election to the state Assembly.

On November 4, 2014, Gallagher won the election and succeeded fellow Republican Dan Logue, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress that year. Gallagher is a Republican representing the California's 3rd State Assembly district, encompassing western parts of the Sacramento Valley.^[4][7] In 2017, Gallagher became the Republican Caucus Chairman of the California General Assembly.^[4]

2014 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014

California's 3rd State Assembly district election, 2014

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Gallagher	34,744	44.4
	Democratic	Jim Reed	26,557	34.0
	Republican	Ryan Schohr	16,906	21.6
Total votes			78,207	100.0
General election
	Republican	James Gallagher	69,552	63.1
	Democratic	Jim Reed	40,736	36.9
Total votes			104,288	100.0
	Republican hold

2016 California State Assembly candidacy

See also: California State Assembly election, 2016

California's 3rd State Assembly district election, 2016

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Gallagher (incumbent)	66,686	61.0
	Democratic	Edward Ritchie	42,700	39.0
	Democratic	Bryce Corron (write-in)	12	0.0
Total votes			109,398	100.0
General election
	Republican	James Gallagher (incumbent)	108,910	63.0
	Democratic	Edward Ritchie	63,867	37.0
Total votes			172,777	100.0
	Republican hold

2018 California State Assembly candidacy

See also: California State Assembly election, 2018

California's 3rd State Assembly district election, 2018

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Gallagher (incumbent)	64,975	65.0
	Democratic	Sonia Aery	34,941	35.0
Total votes			99,916	100.0
General election
	Republican	James Gallagher (incumbent)	95,786	60.2
	Democratic	Sonia Aery	63,445	39.8
Total votes			159,231	100.0
	Republican hold

2020 California State Assembly candidacy

See also: 2020 California State Assembly election

California's 3rd State Assembly district election, 2020

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Gallagher (incumbent)	66,378	65.5%
	Democratic	James R. Henson	35,002	34.5%
Total votes

2022 California State Assembly election

2022 California's 3rd State Assembly district election^[8][9]

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Gallagher (incumbent)	65,115	66.0
	Democratic	David Leon Zink	33,513	34.0
	Democratic	Jeanenne H. Hoston (write-in)	41	0.0
Total votes			98,669	100%
General election
	Republican	James Gallagher (incumbent)	98,475	65.4
	Democratic	David Leon Zink	52,198	34.6
Total votes			150,673	100%
	Republican hold

Personal life

Gallagher's wife is Janna; they met in kindergarten while attending Browns School in Rio Oso, California. They have five children.^[4]

See also

• Doug LaMalfa
• Jim Nielsen