Rep. Mike Thompson Faces $15M Challenge From Eric Jones in Napa

With one week remaining before the Nov. 3 election, 28-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson met with voters at McPherson Elementary School in Napa as he faces a $15 million self-funded general election challenge from 35-year-old fellow Democrat Eric Jones, while Napa Valley horticulture, arboriculture, and fitness specialists shared seasonal guidance for local residents, according to Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 reports from KTVU FOX 2 and the Napa Valley Register (UC Master Gardener column by Cindy Watter, arborist column by Bill Pramuk, fitness column by Sean McCawley, and wine country column by Richard A. Moran).

Generational Clash in the North Bay: Thompson’s 28-Year Record vs. Jones’ $15M Push

The contest between Thompson and Jones pits two Democrats separated by a 40-year age gap in one of the nation’s safest Democratic districts, according to KTVU reporter Tom Vacar. During Thompson’s recent town hall at McPherson Elementary School in Napa, undecided and decided voters alike weighed in on the race and state propositions.

“This is my first town hall meeting I’ve ever gone to and my ballot is completely filled out except for this one race and, I mean, there are pros and cons to both,” attendee Karen Stratvert said. Retiree Michael Bell pressed for changes to stop means-testing seniors on fixed incomes after a one-time tax return increase, while supporters Francie Winnem and former staffer Christopher Bennett praised Thompson’s record and community support.

Although recent polls show Thompson well ahead—with two new polls slated for release Thursday—the incumbent said he is campaigning at full speed through Tuesday. “My theory has always been there’s only two ways to run, either unopposed or you’re 10 points down,” Thompson said. “I’m not gonna rest on my laurels because I did so well in the primary. I’m gonna run right through the tape on Tuesday.”

Jones, 35, who grew up in poverty relying on public assistance and food stamps before building his business, has invested $15 million of his personal fortune into the campaign. “It’s not just about this campaign. It’s about the moment we’re in. And it’s a realization of the system. It’s not working. It’s not working in Sacramento. It’s not working in Washington, D.C. And we need to get back to politics in a country that we can believe in again,” Jones told KTVU.

UC Master Gardeners Detail Napa Butterfly Habitats and Upcoming Workshops

In the Napa Valley Register, UC Master Gardener Cindy Watter outlined how Napa County residents can turn their yards into pesticide-free habitats for Western Tiger Swallowtails, Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, Cabbage Whites, and Fiery Skippers. Inspired by the Janchu “Secret Garden” near Coombsville and mentored by former Master Gardener Coordinator John Kabashima, Watter emphasized pairing caterpillar host plants—such as narrow-leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) and showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) for monarchs (planting at least six plants while avoiding tropical milkweed), plus willow, passion vine, hollyhock, lupine, parsley, dill, and fennel—with flat-topped nectar flowers like yarrow,lantana, coreopsis, coneflower, lavender, cosmos, zinnias, and native asters, along with shallow “puddling” dishes of wet sand and pebbles.

The UC Master Gardeners of Napa County also announced upcoming programs:

• Saturday, Nov. 1 (2–4 p.m.): Free “Kids Event: Art in the Library” drop-in workshop at the Napa County Library, 580 Coombs St., Napa.
• Thursday, Nov. 6 (7–8 p.m.): Free Zoom library talk on storing dahlias, growing amaryllis, and forcing paperwhites.
• Saturday, Nov. 8 (10 a.m.–noon): “Tree Walk in Upper Park” in St. Helena ($15 admission; free for Friends of the Master Gardeners).
• Sunday, Nov. 16 (1–3 p.m.): Wreath-Making Workshop at table classrooms at 1710 Soscol Ave., Napa ($50 registration).
• 2026 Homegrown Gardening Calendar: Available now for $15 (or $12 each for three or more).

Arborist Bill Pramuk on Tree Failures and Napa Outdoor Notes

Certified arborist Bill Pramuk warned Napa Valley property owners to inspect heritage trees ahead of winter storms after diagnosing two local failures: a valley oak on eastern hillside land whose trunk had been girdled five feet above the ground decades earlier by wrapped steel wire and metal stakes, and a 75-foot giant sequoia planted in the 1970s that failed during its third summer of unwatered drought stress alongside bark beetle activity. Pramuk urged residents to remove nursery stakes at planting, deep-water mature specimen trees twice a summer during droughts, and watch for root rot, fungal conks, leans, or V-shaped codominant stems with included bark.

Elsewhere in the Register, Napa corrective exercise specialist Sean McCawley recommended core planks, bodyweight squats, and farmers’ carries to keep dog walkers balanced against sudden leash pulls on uneven paths, while St. Helena columnist Richard A. Moran recounted an evening vineyard walk interrupted when a herd of 500-pound black cows knocked down a farm fence and trotted after his family before being corralled back into their pasture.