Upset Brief · CA-35 · Mike Cargile (R) vs. Norma J. Torres (D), incumbent
A long shot on the math: it takes a 5.7-point national wave.
16%
odds today
21%
odds with the plan
10,568
net votes to find
37
days left; voting starts October 5
Where
- 01+637NorcoStarting line Cargile +47. 1.7% split their ticket. About 3,401 more ballots in 2024 than in 2022 (estimate).
- 02+352Chino HillsStarting line Cargile +8. 2.4% split their ticket.
- 03+187ClaremontStarting line Torres +33. 2.3% split their ticket.
- 04+146OntarioStarting line Torres +11. 0.6% split their ticket.
- 05+122FontanaStarting line Torres +20. 1.4% split their ticket.
- 06+109EastvaleStarting line Cargile +6. 0.9% split their ticket.
The top 12 cities and unincorporated areas carry 100% of the plan.
How
- P+955Persuade955 voters who split their ticket in recent elections and lean Torres today.
- M+548MobilizeAt least 3,404 people who voted in 2024 but not in 2022, in cities and unincorporated areas where Cargile's side wins at least 55 percent.
- C+302ConsolidateVoters who went third party in recent races, in the cities and unincorporated areas that lean Cargile's way.
Plus a national shift of 5.7 points of margin (8,763 votes) that no campaign controls.
What has to be true
- Cargile wins 50 percent of the ticket splitters now leaning Torres.
- In Norco, 35 percent of the people who voted in 2024 but skipped 2022 come back and vote.
- The national environment moves about 5.7 points toward Cargile's side between now and November 3.
- No 2026 public poll exists for this race, so the starting line is a weighted blend of official recent results; the first real poll will move it.
The numbers behind it
- 01Crossover regression350 precincts, R² 0.969, 69 crossover precincts identified
- 02Monte Carlo20,000 seeded simulated elections with a 7-point baseline error. 90% range of the final margin with the plan: -26,479 to 9,049 votes.
- 03Money, FEC candidate totals through June 30Cargile $2,873 cash on hand; Torres $339,247.
- 04Call program for this list4,263 households, 12,788 dials, about 670 live conversations: an estimated $2,432 at published rates.
Independent analysis by The Political Group from official California Secretary of State precinct returns (2022 and 2024), FEC filings and published polls, as of September 26, 2026. Not affiliated with any candidate or party.