| President '12 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Barack Obama* (D-Inc) | 84,553 | 66.99% |
| Mitt Romney (R) | 38,951 | 30.86% |
| President '16 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hillary Clinton (D) | 95,060 | 66.69% |
| Donald J. Trump (R) | 38,962 | 27.33% |
| President '20 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Joe Biden (D) | 124,595 | 68.08% |
| Donald Trump* (R-Inc) | 54,429 | 29.74% |
| Assembly '12 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Luis Alejo* (D-Inc) | 79,141 | 65.37% |
| Rob Bernosky (R) | 41,932 | 34.63% |
| Assembly '14 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Luis Alejo* (D-Inc) | 43,431 | 59.81% |
| Mark Starritt (R) | 29,187 | 40.19% |
| Assembly '16 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Anna Caballero (D) | 79,885 | 62.47% |
| Karina Cervantez Alejo (D) | 47,998 | 37.53% |
| Assembly '18 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Robert Rivas (D) | 83,162 | 68.23% |
| Neil G. Kitchens (R) | 38,719 | 31.77% |
| Assembly '20 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Robert Rivas* (D-Inc) | 123,617 | 69.63% |
| Gregory Swett (R) | 53,928 | 30.37% |
| Governor '14 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Edmund G. Brown (D) | 49,991 | 67.16% |
| Neel Kashkari (R) | 24,444 | 32.84% |
| Governor '18 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gavin Newsom (D) | 80,028 | 64.46% |
| John H. Cox (R) | 44,118 | 35.54% |
| Prop 6 '18 (Gas Tax) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No | 75,349 | 61.88% |
| Yes | 46,410 | 38.12% |
| Prop 15 '20 (Split Roll) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 90,484 | 50.32% |
| No | 89,323 | 49.68% |
Map
Location
Hwy 101 runs right up the middle of this coastal district, which encompasses the counties of Monterey (46% of district voters), Santa Clara (27%), San Benito (15%) and Santa Cruz (12.5%). Largest city: Salinas.
Overlaps
Monterey County (45.52%) San Benito County (14.13%) Santa Clara County (28.66%) Santa Cruz County (11.70%)
AD30 (100.00%)
BOE2 (100.00%)Registration
View Registration History ReportREGISTRATION REPORT DATE: February 10, 2025
TOTAL VOTERS: 306,672
D +17.77%
DEM: 45.40% (139,237) -- REP: 27.63% (84,729) -- NPP: 19.06% (58,447) -- OTH: 0.63% (1,933)
Ethnic voter registration: Latino 47.57%, Asian: 5.01%
Permanent vote-by-mail voters: 72.50%
Robert Rivas (D)
Born: 1980-01-02
Term 2030
ROBERT RIVAS (D) (b.1/2/80) was elected to the Assembly in 2018 and sworn in as Speaker of the Assembly on June 30th, 2023. At the time of his election, he was serving his second term on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, first winning office in 2010. He began his career as a district representative for Asm. Simon Salinas, and later worked for Asm. Anna Caballero, who endorsed Rivas in the 2018 election to succeed her. Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors, he was a senior clerk for Monterey County. A one-time on-call Hollister firefighter, he served as a career/job training coordinator at San Benito High School and as an adjunct professor at Gavilan College. He attended Gavilan and holds a bachelor's in public policy from CSU-Sacramento and a master’s in public administration from San Jose State University. He resides in Hollister with his wife, Christen, and their young daughter.
| Organization | Year | Score |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU | 2023 | 100% |
| AFSCME | 2021 | 93% |
| Alliance for Retired Americans | 2023 | 100% |
| American Conservative Union | 2020 | 6% |
| American Conservative Union (Lifetime) | 2020 | 5% |
| CA Chamber of Commerce | 2023 | 0% |
| CA Labor Federation | 2023 | 100% |
| CA Labor Federation (Lifetime) | 2023 | 95% |
| CA Teachers Assn | 2021 | 99% |
| California Environmental Justice Alliance | 2023 | 76% |
| California Federation of Teachers | 2019 | 100% |
| California League of Conservation Voters | 2023 | 96% |
| California League of Conservation Voters (Lifetime) | 2023 | 98% |
| California Pro-Life Council | 2021 | 0% |
| Courage Campaign | 2019 | 88% |
| Equality California | 2023 | 100% |
| Health Access | 2020 | 100% |
| Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn | 2021 | 36% |
| NARAL Pro-Choice | 2023 | 90% |
| National Federation of Independent Business | 2022 | 18% |
| National Rifle Association | 2024 | 0% |
| NORML | 2024 | 92% |
| Planned Parenthood | 2021 | 100% |
| Planned Parenthood of CA | 2023 | 100% |
| Sierra Club CA | 2023 | 100% |
| UFCW | 2023 | 100% |
| United Domestic Workers | 2020 | 100% |
REGISTRATION REPORT DATE: February 10, 2025
TOTAL VOTERS: 306,672
D +17.77%
DEM: 45.40% (139,237) -- REP: 27.63% (84,729) -- NPP: 19.06% (58,447) -- OTH: 0.63% (1,933)
Past Registration/Turnout
| p12: | D +28.87% | DEM: 86,855 (53.49%) | REP: 39,980 (24.62%) | NPP: 29,936 (18.44%) | TOTAL - 162,380 | - TURNOUT: 32.10% |
| g12: | D +28.74% | DEM: 89,146 (52.97%) | REP: 40,772 (24.23%) | NPP: 32,421 (19.27%) | TOTAL - 168,280 | - TURNOUT: 70.89% |
| p14: | D +27.36% | DEM: 87,506 (51.69%) | REP: 41,190 (24.33%) | NPP: 34,452 (20.35%) | TOTAL - 169,300 | - TURNOUT: 26.82% |
| g14: | D +27.35% | DEM: 87,493 (51.11%) | REP: 40,684 (23.76%) | NPP: 36,459 (21.30%) | TOTAL - 171,198 | - TURNOUT: 43.90% |
| p16: | D +28.22% | DEM: 92,016 (51.40%) | REP: 41,501 (23.18%) | NPP: 39,053 (21.82%) | TOTAL - 179,011 | - TURNOUT: 48.00% |
| g16: | D +28.81% | DEM: 99,935 (51.23%) | REP: 43,735 (22.42%) | NPP: 43,961 (22.54%) | TOTAL - 195,072 | - TURNOUT: 74.51% |
| p18: | D +29.81% | DEM: 99,189 (50.95%) | REP: 41,159 (21.14%) | NPP: 46,612 (23.94%) | TOTAL - 194,697 | - TURNOUT: 35.60% |
| g18: | D +29.30% | DEM: 100,008 (49.63%) | REP: 40,972 (20.33%) | NPP: 52,568 (26.09%) | TOTAL - 201,520 | - TURNOUT: 60.52% |
| p20: | D +30.44% | DEM: 109,787 (50.58%) | REP: 43,712 (20.14%) | NPP: 52,957 (24.40%) | TOTAL - 217,068 | - TURNOUT: 44.18% |
| g20: | D +31.36% | DEM: 120,751 (51.62%) | REP: 47,390 (20.26%) | NPP: 53,932 (23.05%) | TOTAL - 233,994 | - TURNOUT: 79.22% |
Census Data (2019 ACS 5-Year Estimate)
Population & Ethnic Statistics
Total Population: 497,807
White: 115,045 (23.10%)
Latino: 339,009 (68.10%)
Black: 7,574 (1.50%)
Asian: 25,287 (5.10%)
Household Income
Total Households: 134,673
Family Households: 76,728 (57.00%),
Non-Family Households: 57,945 (43%)
Median Household Income: $74,451
Mean Household Income: $99,399
Per-Capita Income: $28,253
Housing
Owner Occupied: 75,041 (55.70%)
Median Value: $523,600
Renter Occupied: 59,632 (44.30%)
Median Rent: $1,453
Education
Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 58,434 (19.10%)
Graduate Degree: 18,755 (6.10%)
Poverty Level
Population Below Poverty Level: 12.60%
Population Without Health Insurance: 45,366 (9.30%)
District Profile
Between California’s magnificent coastline and the great Central Valley are the agricultural valleys of San Benito and Monterey Counties. The combination of California’s sun-drenched summer climate and coastal breezes meandering through the mountain ridges provide an ideal climate for crops of fruits and vegetables that are shipped throughout the country.
John Steinbeck, a Salinas native, made this region famous as ‘Steinbeck Country.’ San Benito County is also known as the bellwether county of California politics. It votes for the winner in most elections. Since 1952, the county has voted for the same presidential candidate as the state as a whole.
This district has historically been landlocked, while the adjacent, more affluent Assembly district in Santa Cruz and Monterey followed the coastline. But now the district extends west from the heavily Latino agricultural valleys to include part of the majestic Big Sur coastline.
This district is solidly Democratic and routinely elects a Latino to the State Assembly. Two decades ago in 1994, the Republican Revolution sent GOP candidate Peter Frusetta to the Assembly. Democrats targeted him, but he routinely beat back challengers. When Frusetta was termed out in 2000, Democrats put the district back in their column where it has remained ever since.
CountiesMonterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz
CitiesGilroy, Gonzales, Greenfield, Hollister, King City, Morgan Hill, Salinas, San Juan Bautista, Soledad, Watsonville
Campaign 2022
Analysis
New district lines are expected in early 2022. Under the boundaries that went into effect in 2012, this is a safe Democratic district. Incumbent Democrat Robert Rivas is up for re-election. At the present time, no challenger has filed.
Democratic Party Pre-Endorsement Conference Endorsement (Primary): GOES TO CAUCUS (Addis 68%)
Democratic Party Primary Endorsement: Addis, Dawn
Republican Party Primary Endorsement: Nohrden, Vicki
Financials
| CMTE | RAISED LAST | SINCE | LIFETIME RAISED | SPENT LAST | LIFETIME SPENT | CASH ON HAND | PERIOD ENDING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIVAS FOR ASSEMBLY 2022; ROBERT | $0 | $0 | $1,780,750 | $413,980 | $1,853,488 | $0 | 2023-03-10 |
Candidates
FPPC STATEMENTS OF INTENTION
| CANDIDATE | PARTY | FPPC ID | MORE | DATE LOGGED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADDIS, DAWN J. | DEMOCRATIC | 1422315 | Info | 2021-11-20 |
| CARTER, ZOE | DEMOCRATIC | 1443824 | Info | 2022-01-21 |
| DRAKE, JOHN R. | DEMOCRATIC | 1438550 | Info | 2022-02-09 |
| WIZARD, JON | DEMOCRATIC | 1442930 | Info | 2022-01-12 |
| NOHRDEN, VICKI L. | REPUBLICAN | 1402147 | Info | 2022-01-14 |
ROBERT RIVAS (D) (b.1/2/80) was elected to the Assembly in 2018 and sworn in as Speaker of the Assembly on June 30th, 2023. At the time of his election, he was serving his second term on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, first winning office in 2010. He began his career as a district representative for Asm. Simon Salinas, and later worked for Asm. Anna Caballero, who endorsed Rivas in the 2018 election to succeed her. Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors, he was a senior clerk for Monterey County. A one-time on-call Hollister firefighter, he served as a career/job training coordinator at San Benito High School and as an adjunct professor at Gavilan College. He attended Gavilan and holds a bachelor's in public policy from CSU-Sacramento and a master’s in public administration from San Jose State University. He resides in Hollister with his wife, Christen, and their young daughter.
Campaign 2020
Election Results
March Top-Two Primary
Robert Rivas
D
64,086
69.36%
✔
Gregory G Swett
R
28,308
30.64%
✔
November General Election
Robert Rivas
D
123,617
69.63%
✔
Gregory G Swett
R
53,928
30.37%
| March Top-Two Primary | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Robert Rivas | D | 64,086 | 69.36% | ✔ |
|
Gregory G Swett | R | 28,308 | 30.64% | ✔ |
| November General Election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Robert Rivas | D | 123,617 | 69.63% | ✔ |
|
Gregory G Swett | R | 53,928 | 30.37% | |
Analysis
This is a safe Democratic district. Incumbent Democrat Robert Rivas was the top vote-getter in the primary, receiving 69.4%. Republican Gregory Swett, a walnut farmer and president of the Willow Grove school board, received 30.6%.
Swett’s campaign committee raised and spent just $1,034 over the entire election, and Rivas was re-elected 68.6%/30.4% in November.
Democratic Party Pre-Endorsement Conference Endorsement (Primary): Rivas, Robert
Democratic Party Primary Endorsement: Rivas, Robert
Financials
| CMTE | RAISED LAST | SINCE | LIFETIME RAISED | SPENT LAST | LIFETIME SPENT | CASH ON HAND | PERIOD ENDING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIVAS FOR ASSEMBLY 2020; ROBERT | $2,039 | $0 | $852,014 | $46,250 | $895,668 | $0 | 2021-06-30 |
| SWETT FOR ASSEMBLY 2020 | $-66 | $0 | $1,034 | $22 | $1,034 | $0 | 2020-11-17 |
Candidate Filing Status
| NAME | PARTY | SIL ISSUE | SIL FILE | NOM ISSUE | NOM FILE | COUNTY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Rivas | D | 2019-11-12 | 2019-12-02 | SAN BENITO | ||
| David Clink | R | 2019-11-27 | SANTA CRUZ | |||
| Gregory Swett | R | 2019-11-19 | 2019-12-06 | SAN BENITO |
Primary Election - March 3, 2020
| CANDIDATE NAME | PARTY | BALLOT DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Rivas | D | State Assemblymember |
| Gregory Swett | R | Walnut Grower/Trustee |
November 3rd General Election Results
AD30
233,945 Registered Voters (2020-10-19)
D: 120,751 (51.62%) | R: 47,390 (20.26%) | NPP: 53,932 (23.05%)
D +31.36%
245 of 245 precincts in (0 added)
177,545 votes cast (74 added)
75.89% Voter Turnout
| NAME | PARTY | VOTES | Δ | % | Rank | Last | Votes Behind | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Robert Rivas State Assemblymember |
DEM | 123,617 | +56 | 69.63% | 1 | 1 | |
| Gregory Swett Walnut Grower/Trustee |
REP | 53,928 | +18 | 30.37% | 2 | 2 | -69,689 |
Candidates
ROBERT RIVAS (D) (b.1/2/80) was elected to the Assembly in 2018 and sworn in as Speaker of the Assembly on June 30th, 2023. At the time of his election, he was serving his second term on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, first winning office in 2010. He began his career as a district representative for Asm. Simon Salinas, and later worked for Asm. Anna Caballero, who endorsed Rivas in the 2018 election to succeed her. Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors, he was a senior clerk for Monterey County. A one-time on-call Hollister firefighter, he served as a career/job training coordinator at San Benito High School and as an adjunct professor at Gavilan College. He attended Gavilan and holds a bachelor's in public policy from CSU-Sacramento and a master’s in public administration from San Jose State University. He resides in Hollister with his wife, Christen, and their young daughter.
GREGORY GORDON SWETT (R), 66, owns and operates Swett Orchards, a 336-acre walnut farming business, and currently serves as president of the Walnut Grove school board in San Benito County. He earned his bachelor's in business from UC-Berkeley in 1975 and resides in Paicines.
| AMOUNT | COMMITTEE | FPPC ID |
|---|
Campaign 2018
Election Results
June Top-Two Primary
Robert Rivas
D
30,379
45.48%
✔
Neil Kitchens
R
20,099
30.09%
✔
Peter Leroe-Munoz
D
7,099
10.63%
Trina Coffman-Gomez
D
5,003
7.49%
Bill Lipe
D
4,217
6.31%
November General Election
Robert Rivas
D
83,162
68.23%
✔
Neil Kitchens
R
38,719
31.77%
| June Top-Two Primary | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Robert Rivas | D | 30,379 | 45.48% | ✔ |
|
Neil Kitchens | R | 20,099 | 30.09% | ✔ |
|
Peter Leroe-Munoz | D | 7,099 | 10.63% | |
|
Trina Coffman-Gomez | D | 5,003 | 7.49% | |
|
Bill Lipe | D | 4,217 | 6.31% | |
| November General Election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Robert Rivas | D | 83,162 | 68.23% | ✔ |
|
Neil Kitchens | R | 38,719 | 31.77% | |
Analysis
Anna Caballero was first elected under the pre-2012 term limits rules, and 2017-2018 marked her third and final term permitted in the lower chamber. She successfully ran for the SD12 seat Republican Anthony Cannella vacated due to term limits.
Four Democrats and one Republican ran in the primary to succeed her. The top vote-getter in the primary was San Benito County Supervisor Robert Rivas, a Democrat who previously worked as a field representative for Caballero. Rivas was endorsed by the CA Democratic Party and raised over $500,000 ahead of the primary, finishing first with 45.48% of the vote. Two independent expenditure groups that usually find themselves backing the same candidate were at odds here, with education reform group EdVoice spending $323,000 to support Rivas, while Coalition to Restore California’s Middle Class, an IE funded by the petroleum industry, spent about the same amount opposing him. Rivas was instrumental in the passage of San Benito’s Measure J, which banned fracking in the county in 2014. Rivas drew additional support from several labor-backed IEs that collectively spent another $300,000 supporting him. Republican Neil Kitchens, despite raising and spending no money, outpolled the other three Democrats by virtue of being the sole GOP candidate on the ballot, winning 30.09%.
Gilroy Councilman Peter Leroe-Munoz raised and spent $130,000 and came in 3rd with 10.63% of the vote, Watsonville City Council member Trina Coffman-Gomez reported raising no money and finished fourth with 7.49%, and Monterey Farm Bureau member Bill Lipe, who raised $155,000 (including $50,000 from his own pocket), came in 5th with 6.31% of the vote.
With Kitchens continuing to report no financial activity after the primary, Rivas coasted to an easy 68.2%/31.8% win in November.
Democratic Party Pre-Endorsement Conference Endorsement (Primary): Rivas, Robert
Democratic Party Primary Endorsement: Rivas, Robert
Financials
| CMTE | RAISED LAST | SINCE | LIFETIME RAISED | SPENT LAST | LIFETIME SPENT | CASH ON HAND | PERIOD ENDING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CERVANTEZ ALEJO FOR ASSEMBLY 2018; KARINA | $0 | $0 | $2,500 | $0 | $2,393 | $7,536 | 2019-12-31 |
| COFFMAN-GOMEZ FOR ASSEMBLY 2018; TRINA | $0 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| KITCHENS FOR ASSEMBLY 2018; COMMITTEE TO ELECT NEIL | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| LEROE-MUNOZ FOR ASSEMBLY 2018; PETER | $-377 | $0 | $167,171 | $2,122 | $242,271 | $0 | 2019-12-31 |
| LIPE FOR ASSEMBLY 2018; BILL | $0 | $0 | $521,766 | $879 | $313,350 | $0 | 2022-12-31 |
| MALLAMACE FOR ASSEMBLY 2018, FRIENDS OF NATHAN | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| RIVAS FOR ASSEMBLY 2018; ROBERT | $16,013 | $0 | $905,204 | $-31,192 | $1,113,341 | $0 | 2021-06-30 |
Candidate Filing Status
| NAME | PARTY | SIL ISSUE | SIL FILE | NOM ISSUE | NOM FILE | COUNTY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trina Coffman-Gomez | D | 2017-12-01 | 2017-12-15 | 2018-02-12 | 2018-03-05 | SANTA CRUZ |
| Peter Leroe-Munoz | D | 2018-02-23 | 2018-03-07 | SANTA CLARA | ||
| Bill Lipe | D | 2018-03-05 | 2018-03-08 | MONTEREY | ||
| Robert Rivas | D | 2018-01-11 | 2018-02-07 | 2018-03-09 | 2018-03-09 | SAN BENITO |
| Neil Gerald Kitchens | R | 2018-03-05 | 2018-03-08 | MONTEREY | ||
| Nathan Mallamace | R | 2018-01-22 | 2018-02-06 | SANTA CLARA |
Primary Election - June 5, 2018
| CANDIDATE NAME | PARTY | BALLOT DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| Trina Coffman-Gomez | D | Councilmember/Independent Businesswoman |
| Peter Leroe-Munoz | D | Councilman/Legal Officer |
| Bill Lipe | D | Policy Manager |
| Robert Rivas | D | County Supervisor/Educator |
| Neil G Kitchens | R | Businessman/Rancher |
November 6th General Election Results
AD30
203,190 Registered Voters (2018-10-22)
D: 100,631 (49.53%) | R: 41,081 (20.22%) | NPP: 53,394 (26.28%)
D +29.31%
260 of 260 precincts in (0 added)
121,881 votes cast (14 added)
59.98% Voter Turnout
| NAME | PARTY | VOTES | Δ | % | Rank | Last | Votes Behind | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Robert Rivas County Supervisor/Educator |
DEM | 83,162 | +9 | 68.23% | 1 | 1 | |
|
Neil G. Kitchens Businessman/Rancher |
REP | 38,719 | +5 | 31.77% | 2 | 2 | -44,443 |
Candidates
PETER LEROE-MUÑOZ is an attorney and member of the Gilroy City Council (first elected Nov. 2010). He filed to run for this seat in 2016, but dropped out and endorsed Anna Caballero shortly after she entered the race. Prior to his election to the council, he served five years as a San Benito County deputy district attorney before moving to a San Francisco-based finance firm. A Bay Area native, he received a bachelor's in Political Science from UC Berkeley and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
| AMOUNT | COMMITTEE | FPPC ID |
|---|---|---|
| $42,412 | Peter Leroe-Munoz for Assembly 2016 | 1377750 |
| $2,662 | Cmte to Elect Woodward Mayor | 1375172 |
| $2,500 | CAPG Physician Group PAC | 990463 |
| $1,300 | Peace Officers Research Assn of CA (PORAC) PAC | 810830 |
| $500 | Dale Scott & Co., Inc. | 1231929 |
| $350 | Recology Inc. Political Action Cmte | 921099 |
TRINA COFFMAN-GOMEZ (D), 53, was elected to Watsonville's City Council in 2012, running unopposed for the vacant 6th Council District seat created when Emilio Martinez declined to seek re-election. (Her husband, Tony, had run for the same seat in 2008, finishing 3rd.) She was re-elected by 19 votes in a close 49.9%/49% contest. Prior to her election, she served on the city's planning commission for two years and as the president of Freedom Rotary. A licensed real estate broker with Integrity Lending since 1993, she holds a bachelor's in business from CSU-Monterey Bar. A life-long resident of the Pajaro Valley, she serves on the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust Board of Directors and resides in Watsonville with her husband. They have two grown children.
| AMOUNT | COMMITTEE | FPPC ID |
|---|
ROBERT RIVAS (D) (b.1/2/80) was elected to the Assembly in 2018 and sworn in as Speaker of the Assembly on June 30th, 2023. At the time of his election, he was serving his second term on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, first winning office in 2010. He began his career as a district representative for Asm. Simon Salinas, and later worked for Asm. Anna Caballero, who endorsed Rivas in the 2018 election to succeed her. Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors, he was a senior clerk for Monterey County. A one-time on-call Hollister firefighter, he served as a career/job training coordinator at San Benito High School and as an adjunct professor at Gavilan College. He attended Gavilan and holds a bachelor's in public policy from CSU-Sacramento and a master’s in public administration from San Jose State University. He resides in Hollister with his wife, Christen, and their young daughter.
BILL LIPE (D) serves on the Board of the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, on the Monterey County Farm Bureau, and was appointed to the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County in 2017. Prior to its acquisition by Pinnacle Agriculture Holdings, Lipe was a partner and CFO for NH3 Service Company, which specialized in agricultural inputs for fresh fruits and vegetables. He is currently an Operations Lead for the company. The author of a 2015 op-ed defending energy production in California, he resides in Salinas.
| AMOUNT | COMMITTEE | FPPC ID |
|---|
NEIL KITCHENS (R) is the CEO of TNK Properties and the principal of the NGK Group. He previously ran in 2018 for AD30, reporting no campaign finance activity, and received 31.8% in the November election. A Republican activist involved in the Latinos for Trump Coalition and CD20 Republican Casey Lucius' unsuccessful 2016 campaign, he operates a real estate investment company with residential and commercial interests. Born in Mount Ida, Arkansas, he graduated from Redan High School in Stone Mountain Georgia. He holds an associate's in Criminal Justice from Hartnell College and a JD from Monterey College of Law. He resides in Prunedale.
| AMOUNT | COMMITTEE | FPPC ID |
|---|
Campaign 2016
Election Results
June Top-Two Primary
Anna Caballero
D
37,505
46.15%
✔
Karina Cervantez Alejo
D
21,158
26.03%
✔
Georgia Acosta
R
12,662
15.58%
John M. Nevill
R
9,949
12.24%
November General Election
Anna Caballero
D
79,885
62.47%
✔
Karina Cervantez Alejo
D
47,998
37.53%
| June Top-Two Primary | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Anna Caballero | D | 37,505 | 46.15% | ✔ |
|
Karina Cervantez Alejo | D | 21,158 | 26.03% | ✔ |
|
Georgia Acosta | R | 12,662 | 15.58% | |
|
John M. Nevill | R | 9,949 | 12.24% | |
| November General Election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Anna Caballero | D | 79,885 | 62.47% | ✔ |
|
Karina Cervantez Alejo | D | 47,998 | 37.53% | |
Analysis
Incumbent Democrat Luis Alejo was termed out and successfully ran for Monterey County Supervisor, opening up a seat in a safe Democratic district. Karina Cervantez Alejo, the wife of the incumbent and a member of the Watsonville City Council, entered the race early on, collecting the endorsements of most of the California Democratic Party establishment and presiding over a sizable fundraising haul. Following the retirement of Democratic Rep. Sam Farr in CD20 in the late fall of 2015, there was speculation that Anna Caballero, a moderate Democratic former 2-term member of the Assembly and member of Gov. Brown's administration, would run for his seat. To the surprise of many observers, she instead decided to seek a 3rd and final term here. Her fundraising got off to an inauspicious start, raising only $24,000 by the end of 2015 compared to the $237,000 Cervantez Alejo had banked.
The New Year brought with it a change of fortune, however, and Cervantez Alejo's fundraising dropped off while Caballero's surged. With the primary approaching, Cervantez Alejo had burned through her reserves, and her war chest dwindled to $152,000 while Caballero's climbed to $94,000. Polling released by Caballero's campaign reflected the turnaround, with the results placing her squarely in the lead. In early April, the Parent Teacher Alliance, an independent expenditure group sponsored by the California Charter Schools Association Advocates, began a steady parallel campaign to support Caballero, spending over $900,000 over the next two months. Equality California spent another $70,000 supporting her. As the money flooded into the race, Cervantez Alejo's labor allies made a late mobilization effort in the final two weeks, launching an IE that spent $59,000 supporting her and spending another $78,000 opposing Caballero. By the time the polls opened, close to $1.2 million in independent expenditures had been deployed. While there were also two Republicans in the race, neither reported raising any significant funds, and the two cannibalized one another's votes. Once the results were in, Caballero came out on top by a comfortable margin, raising $339,000 and winning 46.15%. Cervantez Alejo trailed far behind, raising $368,000 and finishing with 26.03%. Republicans Georgia Acosta, an agriculture business owner who raised $15,000, finished 3rd with 15.58%, while Republican rancher John Nevill, who raised nothing, finished with 12.24%.
After Caballero's strong performance in the primary, spending in the general election tapered off, with the Parent Teacher Alliance IE responsible for $616,000 of the $705,000 in total independent expenditures, and Cervantez Alejo receiving just $10,000 in supporting spending from the Peace Officers Research Association of California. In the end, Caballero defeated Cervantez Alejo by a decisive 62.47%/37.53% margin in the general election.
With Caballero termed out in two years, Cervantez Alejo has filed a statement of intention to seek this seat again in 2018. Final turnout in the primary was 48.72%, while 65.43% of the district's registered voters cast a ballot for this race in November.
Financials
| CMTE | RAISED LAST | SINCE | LIFETIME RAISED | SPENT LAST | LIFETIME SPENT | CASH ON HAND | PERIOD ENDING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CERVANTEZ ALEJO FOR ASSEMBLY 2016; KARINA | $0 | $0 | $465,810 | $715 | $469,655 | $0 | 2017-10-15 |
| NEVILL 4 ASSEMBLY 2016 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
| CABALLERO FOR ASSEMBLY 2016; ANNA | $14,631 | $0 | $657,571 | $4,641 | $671,908 | $0 | 2017-05-30 |
| ACOSTA FOR ASSEMBLY 2016 | $850 | $0 | $16,273 | $2,196 | $16,273 | $0 | 2016-06-30 |
Candidates
ANNA CABALLERO previously served two terms in the Assembly from 2006 until 2010. In 2010, Caballero gave up her Assembly seat to run for State Senate, but ultimately lost to Anthony Cannella (see SD12). After her defeat, she sought a job with Governor Brown's administration and was appointed secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency in 2011 until she stepped down in November 2015. Caballero moved to the Salinas Valley in 1979 and worked as a lawyer representing farm workers at California Rural Legal Assistance for three years before she and two of her colleagues formed the law firm of Caballero, Matcham & McCarthy. In 1986, she was appointed to the Salinas Planning Commission and served there for five years before being elected to the Salinas City Council in 1991. In 1998, she was elected Mayor of Salinas, and served in that capacity until her election to the Assembly. She holds a bachelor's in Sociology from UC-San Diego and a JD from UCLA. Her husband, Juan Uranga, is the director for Community Advocacy in Salinas. They have three grown children.
KARINA CERVANTEZ ALEJO (D) (b. 3/8/1980), the daughter of field workers, is the wife of the incumbent, Luis Alejo, and a first term member of the Watsonville City Council. She served on the city Planning Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission before being elected to the council. Born in Tulare County, she received her bachelor's and master's in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz. She is currently completing her PhD in Psychology from UCSC. She teaches at Cabrillo College.
JOHN M. NEVILL (D) is a former Director of Cardiopulmonary Services at Monterey County's Natividad Medical Center and the owner of the Triple L Sheep Ranch in King City. He previously mounted an unsuccessful run for Jeff Denham's SD12 seat during the failed recall election in 2008, but failed to make the ballot. He ran in 2016 for AD30 as a Republican, raising and spending no money and finishing 4th out of 4 candidates in the June top two primary with 12.2% of the vote. He resides in King City with his wife, Ellen.
| AMOUNT | COMMITTEE | FPPC ID |
|---|
GEORGIA LYNN ACOSTA (R) previously ran in 2004 for a seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board, finishing a close 2nd. She previously chaired the governing Board of the Pacific Coast Charter School, and previously worked as an Associate of Kane-Hall-Palmtag Real Estate. She resides in Watsonville and has three children. Political Consultant: In Support Campaign Consultive Services
| AMOUNT | COMMITTEE | FPPC ID |
|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | San Benito County Republican Central Cmte | 743460 |
| $1,150 | Watsonville Regional Airport Promotion | 1222091 |
| $500 | South County Airport Promotion PAC | 1305559 |
Campaign 2014
Election Results
June Top-Two Primary
Luis Alejo
D-Inc
25,441
58.93%
✔
Mark Starritt
R
17,730
41.07%
✔
November General Election
Luis Alejo
D-Inc
43,431
59.81%
✔
Mark Starritt
R
29,187
40.19%
| June Top-Two Primary | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Luis Alejo | D-Inc | 25,441 | 58.93% | ✔ |
|
Mark Starritt | R | 17,730 | 41.07% | ✔ |
| November General Election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Luis Alejo | D-Inc | 43,431 | 59.81% | ✔ |
|
Mark Starritt | R | 29,187 | 40.19% | |
Analysis
Asm. Luis Alejo and Republican Mark Starritt, a commercial pilot/builder, were the only candidates in the June Primary. In 2012, Starritt lost a close race for a seat on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. However, in this race Starritt made no more than a token effort and Alejo easily outpolled Starritt 59% to 41% in the Primary and by a similar margin in the November runoff election.
Financials
| CMTE | RAISED LAST | SINCE | LIFETIME RAISED | SPENT LAST | LIFETIME SPENT | CASH ON HAND | PERIOD ENDING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALEJO FOR ASSEMBLY 2014 | $700 | $0 | $613,797 | $3,168 | $626,009 | $0 | 2017-02-09 |
| STARRITT FOR STATE ASSEMBLY 2014, MARK | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Candidates
LUIS ALEJO (D) (b. 3/27/74) was elected to the Assembly in 2010, serving on the Watsonville City Council at the time. After being termed out in 2016, he successfully ran for the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, unseating incumbent Fernando Armenta. The son of migrant farm workers, Alejo received dual bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Chicano Studies from UC Berkeley, a master's in Education from Harvard University, and a law degree from UC-Davis. From 2007 until his election to the Assembly, the former high school teacher served as a staff attorney for the Monterey County Superior Court where he assisted those who could not afford an attorney. He is married to Watsonville City Council member and Assembly candidate Karina Cervantez-Alejo.
MARK STARRITT is a commercial pilot/builder. In 2012, he lost a close race for a seat on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors.
| AMOUNT | COMMITTEE | FPPC ID |
|---|
Campaign 2012
Election Results
June Top-Two Primary
Luis Alejo
D-Inc
29,136
58.74%
✔
Rob Bernosky
R
20,462
41.26%
✔
November General Election
Luis Alejo
D-Inc
79,141
65.37%
✔
Rob Bernosky
R
41,932
34.63%
| June Top-Two Primary | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Luis Alejo | D-Inc | 29,136 | 58.74% | ✔ |
|
Rob Bernosky | R | 20,462 | 41.26% | ✔ |
| November General Election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Luis Alejo | D-Inc | 79,141 | 65.37% | ✔ |
|
Rob Bernosky | R | 41,932 | 34.63% | |
Analysis
Incumbent Democrat Luis Alejo easily outpolled (59% - 41%) his June Primary opponent, Rob Bernosky, a businessman and GOP political activist, then proceeded to an easy November win. Bernosky ran against Alejo in 2010 (old AD28) and received 37% of the vote.
Financials
| CMTE | RAISED LAST | SINCE | LIFETIME RAISED | SPENT LAST | LIFETIME SPENT | CASH ON HAND | PERIOD ENDING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALEJO FOR ASSEMBLY 2012 | $0 | $0 | $414,306 | $124 | $458,713 | $0 | 2013-12-31 |
| BERNOSKY FOR ASSEMBLY 2012 | $8,399 | $0 | $69,922 | $14,278 | $71,287 | $466 | 2012-12-31 |
Candidates
LUIS ALEJO (D) (b. 3/27/74) was elected to the Assembly in 2010, serving on the Watsonville City Council at the time. After being termed out in 2016, he successfully ran for the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, unseating incumbent Fernando Armenta. The son of migrant farm workers, Alejo received dual bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Chicano Studies from UC Berkeley, a master's in Education from Harvard University, and a law degree from UC-Davis. From 2007 until his election to the Assembly, the former high school teacher served as a staff attorney for the Monterey County Superior Court where he assisted those who could not afford an attorney. He is married to Watsonville City Council member and Assembly candidate Karina Cervantez-Alejo.
ROB BERONSKY (R) is a businessman, former school board member, and perennial candidate. He successfully ran for North County Joint Union School Board in 2004, and was an unsuccessful candidate for San Benito High School Board in 2006, for state assembly in 2010 and 2012, for Hollister Elementary school board in 2016 and 2020, and for San Benito supervisor in 2018. He resides in Hollister.
| AMOUNT | COMMITTEE | FPPC ID |
|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | SAN BENITO COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY | 743460 |
| $750 | PACIFIC ASSOC OF DOMESTIC INSURANCE | 1350983 |
| $250 | BRIAN JONES FOR STATE ASSEMBLY | 1346029 |
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