Eric Jones Wins 4th District Race as Soul & Saffron Plans 2027 Debut

A generational political upset in California's 4th Congressional District—where newcomer Eric Jones unseated 14-term incumbent Rep. Mike Thompson—alongside contrasting West Coast restaurant openings and closures underscores a week of rapid transition in Napa Valley and beyond.

Eric Jones Unseats 14-Term Rep. Mike Thompson in 4th Congressional District

At 5:25 p.m. PST on Friday, the Associated Press declared 36-year-old former venture capitalist Eric Jones the winner of California's 4th Congressional District, unseating 75-year-old, 14-term incumbent Rep. Mike Thompson of St. Helena in an intra-party Democratic contest, according to the Napa Valley Register. With an estimated 91% of ballots counted after the Nov. 3 election, Jones led 52.5% to 47.5%. While Napa County voters favored Thompson by 58.2% to 41.8%—and Thompson also led in Sonoma and Yolo counties—Jones built decisive margins across Colusa, Yuba, Sutter, Sacramento, Lake, and Placer counties.

Jones, who owns a home near the city of Napa and put roughly $15 million of his own money into his campaign while refusing corporate PAC money, pledged to lower utility bills, expand Medicare, and build affordable housing, drawing endorsements from both Our Revolution and a former Republican primary opponent in what Sonoma State University political science professor David McCuan described as a volatile midterm electorate. Five minutes after the AP call, Thompson—a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla—thanked his wife, Jan, and supporters while highlighting his record securing $300 million for Napa and Sonoma flood control, creating the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, winning $500 million in wildfire tax relief, and obtaining $98 million in low-income tax credits to build 1,564 homes.

Soul & Saffron Targets January 2027 Debut at San Diego's Liberty Station

In Southern California's hospitality market, restaurateur Andrés Villasuso is preparing to open Soul & Saffron in January 2027 at 2820 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 009, inside San Diego's Liberty Station, according to Hoodline. While the specific menu for Suite 009 has not yet been unveiled, Villasuso is also developing Asado Gaucho at The Headquarters in downtown San Diego—an Argentine dining-experience concept that offers four prix-fixe menus featuring four to seven meat courses, two or three sides, and two desserts.

Taste & Best Schedules November 15 Closing After 3.5-Month Run

In the Pacific Northwest, Indian restaurant Taste & Best at 4752 California SW in the West Seattle Junction is scheduled to close on Sunday, November 15, 2026, after three and a half months of operation without ever installing a permanent exterior sign, according to Hoodline. Having opened in late July less than a month after Great American Diner and Bar vacated the corner in June (following Shelby's six-month tenure), the 4,634-square-foot space is listed for sale at an asking price of $99,000—reduced from an earlier $199,000 BizQuest listing—against monthly base rent and triple-net occupancy costs of $19,697.34, roughly five months of overhead.