Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco made it official on Tuesday, launching his campaign for the California Assembly.
Pacheco, a Democrat, is running for the open 27th District 27, which will be vacated by Asm. Esmeralda (D–Fresno) as she runs for State Senate.
Driving the news: A dairy farmer by trade, Pacheco was first elected to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors in 2014, where he has represented northwestern Fresno county.
He enters the race with the support of Soria, who announced that she is endorsing him as her successor.
State of the race: Pacheco faces a singularly-declared opponent for the 27th District race: former Merced Mayor Mike Murphy
Over the summer, Merced City school board member Priya Lakireddy, a fellow Democrat, suspended her bid for the seat.
That decision gave way for Madera County Supervisor Leticia Gonzalez to enter the race for the seat. She dropped her bid on Monday.
What they’re saying: “Throughout my time as County Supervisor, I’ve worked every day to make life easier and more affordable for the people I serve,” Pacheco said. “I’m ready to bring that on-the-ground experience to the State Assembly to deliver affordability, public safety, clean reliable water and healthcare access for families in Fresno, Madera and Merced counties.”
Soria said, “Brian’s deep roots as a 4th generation dairy farmer mean he understands our community and the unique challenges we face. He is ready on day one to effectively serve the Central Valley in the Assembly.
Pacheco also has the support of Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D–Hollister), who called Pacheco a tested and proven leader.
“His energy, experience and pragmatism will serve AD 27 incredibly well and I’m proud to endorse him for Assembly,” Rivas said.