OneRepublic former bassist mounts Democratic challenge for Ken Calvert’s California seat – Washington Examiner
Tim Myers, the former bassist of OneRepublic, has announced his candidacy to challenge longtime Republican Representative Ken Calvert in California’s 41st congressional district for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Myers, who is a Grammy-nominated musician, positions himself as a fresh option to Calvert, who has served in Congress for 30 years. In his announcement, Myers criticized Calvert for enriching himself during his tenure and called for new leadership to address pressing local and national issues. he highlighted his background in the music industry to draw parallels with political exploitation and expressed concerns about issues such as healthcare and tax policies affecting ordinary citizens. The district, a mix of suburban areas and Palm Springs, is currently considered a “toss-up” following recent congressional redistricting, with a slight Republican advantage in voter registration. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has identified Calvert as a key target for the next election cycle.
OneRepublic former bassist mounts Democratic challenge for Ken Calvert’s California seat
A former member of the band OneRepublic announced he would run against longtime Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) in the 2026 midterm elections.
Tim Myers, a Grammy-nominated former bassist of the popular band, has positioned himself as a fresh candidate against one of the House’s most senior members.
“Ken Calvert has been in Washington for 30 years, and all he’s done is make himself millions,” Myers said in a video as a news headline reading “Ethics Complaints Filed Against California GOP Rep. Ken Calvert Over Real Estate Holdings” appeared.
“The status quo isn’t working,” Myers said. “It’s how we ended up here to begin with. We need leaders who are going to stand up and say ‘enough.’”
Myers grew up in Corona, California, which is partially in the district, but he now lives in neighboring Los Angeles County. He also pointed to his experience in the music industry in his announcement video.
“I saw how the music industry took advantage of people,” he said in the clip that appeared to be filmed in a recording studio. “So I built a business that puts artists first. It reminds me a lot of what we’re seeing now.”
In the video, Myers said, “The people in charge are screwing us over just to make a buck. Trump, Musk, and these clowns in Washington are cutting cancer research, veterans’ healthcare, and getting into trade wars, making everything we buy more expensive. All while giving billionaires another tax cut they don’t need.”
Calvert’s district, California’s 41st, which encompasses some inland suburbs of Los Angeles and Palm Springs, was labeled a “toss-up” in the 2024 general election by the Cook Political Report. Since congressional redistricting in 2020, the district has remained Republican.
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Republicans additionally hold a narrow registration advantage in the district, with fewer than 2% more voters registered with the Republican Party than with the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has named Calvert a top target for 2026. In the 2024 election, Democrats picked up three GOP-held House seats in California.
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