Republicans appears likely to flip majority-Latino California state assembly seat

Republicans successful a majority-Latino territory in California that includes Indio and Coachella are connected people to flip a Democratic authorities Assembly spot red.

Jeff Gonzalez, an Iraq and Afghanistan warfare veteran, is acceptable to beat retired Democrat Joey Acuña, a schoolhouse committee member, for the 36th Assembly District.

Gonzalez is up by an insurmountable 4,362 votes, oregon 3.1%, arsenic of Friday, per authoritative number numbers. 

If Gonzalez gets implicit the line, it volition beryllium the archetypal clip since 1992 that Republicans successful California person picked up a spot successful the authorities legislature during a statesmanlike cycle, according to California authorities Assembly subordinate Bill Essayli.

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Jeff Gonzalez, an Iraq and Afghanistan warfare veteran, is acceptable to beat retired Democrat Joey Acuña, a schoolhouse committee member, for the 36th Assembly District. (© Richard Lui/The Desert Sun)

If elected, Gonzalez volition regenerate longtime Democratic legislator Eduardo Garcia arsenic the adjacent authorities assembly subordinate successful a sprawling district. Garcia, from Coachella, decided not to question re-election this twelvemonth and alternatively endorsed Acuña, the Coachella Valley Unified School District committee president, per the Desert Sun.

The soon-to-be stunning spot triumph is underlined by the information that Democrats make up astir 42.3% of the 245,500 radical registered to ballot successful the district, portion Republicans relationship for 28.7%. Voters with nary enactment affiliation were 21.6% of the total, according to the Desert Sun.

In the March primary, Gonzalez received astir 21,000 votes compared to astir 12,000 for Acuña. However, Democratic candidates wide earned astir 4,500 much votes than Republicans.

California, a heavy bluish state, was easy won by Vice President Harris, who is presently starring President-elect Trump by 58.8% to 38% with 92.85% of the votes counted. 

Gonzalez is simply a 21-year seasoned of the Marine Corps who besides served connected embassy extortion missions successful Honduras and the Czech Republic, moving intimately with erstwhile Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, according to his run website.

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Jeff Gonzalez speaks with voters during an predetermination just and elector registration thrust astatine College of the Desert successful Palm Desert, Calif., Oct. 21, 2024. (Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

He is besides a pastor and the proprietor of 3 tiny businesses, per his website. He is joined with 4 sons, 1 of whom is physically and mentally challenged and lives with helium and his woman for caregiver support.

Gonzalez ran connected a level of cutting reddish tape, lowering taxes and fees connected groceries and state and "reviving the California Dream."

He besides wants to address ostentation by passing "the largest middle-class taxation chopped successful California history."

Gonzalez is besides vowing to improve education, saying helium is acrophobic astir falling trial scores and graduation rates. He wants to prosecute much teachers and much schoolhouse information to make a safer learning situation arsenic good arsenic beforehand bipartisanship by supporting bully ideas from some parties.

Acuña ran connected tackling affordability, lodging and nationalist safety.

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California, a heavy bluish state, was easy won by Vice President Harris, who is presently starring President-elect Trump by 58.8% to 38% with 92.85% of the votes counted.  (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

"I privation to marque definite the kids who turn up successful our territory person entree to good-paying jobs, harmless neighborhoods, world-class schools, and clean air and water," helium states connected his website. 

Acuña is serving his 5th word connected the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees. In this role, helium said helium has worked to amended graduation rates, heighten after-school programs, and grow the district’s assemblage and vocation pathway programs, according to his website.

He works professionally arsenic improvement manager for wellness clinics and a assistance writer for a section tribe.