The Desert Trumpet: 2026 Election Coverage

RECAP: California Primary Election, June 2, 2026

Eleanor Whitney — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:35:48 GMT

The primary election in California took place on June 2, 2026 for governor, state assembly and senate, other statewide offices, and U.S. House. You can see full election results on the California Secretary of State election results page and the Cal Matters website. Below we highlight results from races impacting the Morongo Basin: U.S. House Districts 23 and 25 and State Assembly Districts 34 and 47. These results are as of 2pm on Wednesday, June 3.

The California Secretary of State reports 178,082 votes for governor out of a pool of 437,299 registered voters or turnout of 40.7%. This is a very big improvement over the June 2022 primary, the last nonpresidential primary year, when the turnout was just 22.6%. Vote counts are partial and will be certified by July 10, 2026. As of this morning, in San Bernardino County, the vote for governor broke down as:

Source: California Secretary of State, 3 June 2026

In California’s open primary, in all races listed here, the top two vote getters, regardless of party preference, move on to the general election, which will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Congressional District 23 results

U.S. House District 23 covers a large part of San Bernardino county, as well as parts of Riverside, Los Angeles, and Kern counties. The district boundaries changed with the 2026 redistricting.1 In the Morongo Basin it includes Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Landers, and parts of Twentynine Palms. District 23 is currently represented by Republican Jay Obernolte, who is based in Big Bear.

District 23 candidates: Jay Obernolte, Tessa Lynn Hodge, Pat Wallis, Karen Lee Matthews, and Eli C. Owens from photos on their campaign websites. At the time of publication Karsten Nicholson did not include a photo.

The Republican incumbent faced five challengers, including three Democrats and two with no party preference. Two of the Democratic candidates answered our questions about issues impacting the Morongo Basin in our election preview. Results are drawn from the California Secretary of State website and are partial results. We will update the final results when they are available.

Jay Obernolte (Republican) 58.6%
Tessa Lynn Hodge (Democrat) 18.7%
Pat Wallis (Democrat) 14.3%
Karen Leigh Matthew (No Party Preference) 4.1%
Karsten Scott Nicholson (Democrat) 3.4%
Eli C. Owens (No Party Preference) 0.8%

Most likely, Tessa Lynn Hodge will be the Democratic challenger aiming to flip the district and unseat Republican Incumbent Jay Obernolte.

Of the 437,299 registered voters in San Bernardino County, 75,114 people turned out to vote for candidates in this district, which does not cover the entire county.

Congressional District 25 results

U.S. House District 25 covers Imperial county, a large part of Riverside county, as well as part of San Bernardino, including part of Twentynine Palms. The district boundaries changed with the 2026 redistricting. District 25 is represented by Democrat Dr. Raul Ruiz, who is based in Indio. He has represented the 25th district since redistricting in 2022. He was first elected to office in 2012, after unseating Mary Bono Mack in the 36th district.

Dr. Raul Ruiz, Ronald Huffman, Joe Males, and Ceci Andrade Truman from photos on their election websites.

We previewed the candidates here. Results are drawn from the California Secretary of State website and are partial results. We will update the final results when they are available.

Dr. Raul Ruiz (Democrat) 58%
Joe Males (Republican) 20.3%
Ceci Andrade Truman (Republican) 12.8%
Ronald Huffman (Republican) 8.9%

While the results are still partial, Ruiz coasted to the top spot, and it’s likely that Joe Males, a Marine Veteran, small business-owner, Hemet city council member, will be his Republican challenger in November.

Note that San Bernardino County makes up only a small slice of this district — the vast majority of votes come from Riverside and Imperial counties (districtwide total: 80,890); 1,600 votes came from San Bernardino County.

Assembly District 34 results

District 34 covers a large, wide-ranging area in Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties. In the Morongo Basin, it includes Twentynine Palms and Landers. Incumbent Tom Lackey, a Republican who has represented the district since 2016, is term-limited and did not run in 2026.

Four candidates were running to replace him (they answered our questions here). As of 4 a.m. on June 3rd, all polls in the district had partially reported, per the California Secretary of State. As ballots are still being counted they may not represent the final results. We will update the final results when they are available.

Charles Frederick Hughes (Republican) 37.9%
Randall Putz (Democrat) 36.9%
Steve Fox (Republican) 20%
Manny Lin (Republican) 5.2%

The top two, which in this case appears to be Charles Hughes and Randall Putz, will be running in what looks like a competitive election for the seat in November. As of this writing, the percentages in San Bernardino County closely mirror the district-wide results. Of the 437,299 registered voters in San Bernardino County, 37,928 turned out to vote for candidates in this district, which does not cover the entire county.

Assembly District 47 results

District 47 covers Yucaipa, Banning, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Yucca Valley, Desert Hot Springs, and surrounding communities. Republican Greg Wallis has held the seat since narrowly defeating Democrat Christy Holstege in 2022 by just 85 votes, then winning a rematch in 2024.

District 47 candidates Jason Byors, Leila Namvar, and Greg Wallis.

Two candidates are challenging him for the seat in 2026; (they answered our questions here). As of 4 a.m. on June 3rd, all polls in the district had partially reported, per the California Secretary of State. These results are partial and may not represent the final results. We will update the final results when they are available.

Greg Wallis (Republican) 49.5%
Leila Namvar (Democrat) 29.5%
Jason Byors (Democrat) 21.0%

The top two appear to be Greg Wallis and Leila Namvar. As of this writing, Greg Wallis was far ahead of any Democratic challenger in San Bernardino County, with 67%. Of the 437,299 registered voters in San Bernardino County, 18,615 turned out to vote for candidates in this district, which does not cover the entire county.

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To see how U.S. House Districts 23 and 25 changed in the Prop 50 mandated redistricting, see Cal Matters’ election district look up map.

California State Assembly Districts 34 and 47 Primary Preview 2026

Kat Talley-Jones — Thu, 21 May 2026 13:03:39 GMT

Last week, the Desert Trumpet covered the U.S. congressional races, which we reported on here. Now it’s time to look at the State assembly races. The Morongo Basin is divided into two districts. District 34 covers Twentynine Palms and Landers. District 47 covers Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley. You can look up which district you are in using the CalMatters website. The site is dated 2022 but don’t worry, scroll down the page and you’ll see updated information.

State Assembly is one of two chambers in the California legislature; the Morongo Basin’s State Senate representative is Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and there is no race taking place for this seat this year. Assembly members take part in creating laws and establishing the state budget, introducing, debating, and voting on bills that become law if approved by the legislature and signed by the governor. Residents in the Morongo Basin depend on state funding for schools, roads, healthcare access, and emergency preparedness.

Voting Information and Resources

You should have already received your voter guides and mail ballot. To check your voter registration status, register to vote, find your polling place and other election information, use the following links:

Check if you’re registered to vote, find your polling place, and get election information on the California Secretary of State’s website.
Voter registration closed on May 18. If you miss the deadline, you must complete same day voter registration when you go vote.
For more detailed information, CalMatters also produced a comprehensive guide of voting FAQs and resources.

California holds an open primary, meaning that you can vote for a candidate of any party, and the top two candidates receiving the most votes will move on to the general election.

Voting deadlines

The following deadlines apply to the primary election, which takes place on June 2:

May 4: Mail ballots were sent. Voters may pick up a ballot or vote early at an early voting site.
May 5: Secure ballot boxes opened. Here is a link to ballot box locations.
May 18: Last day to register to vote online. After that, you must complete same day voter registration.
May 28: Vote centers open for early in-person voting. The County Registrar lists these locations here. The closest location is 6171 Sunburst St. in Joshua Tree. Voting takes place in this location from May 28 to June 2, 10 am to 6 pm.
June 2: Primary Election, mail-in-ballots must be postmarked on or before election day.

District 34 Candidates

Charles Hughes (Republican) Navy veteran, retired law enforcement lieutenant, and small business owner. Currently serves as Antelope Valley Union High School District board trustee and has served two terms as Board President. Active with Antelope Valley Boosters and hosts a weekly Coffee4Vets breakfast for veterans. His campaign priorities center on reducing regulations, cutting taxes for the middle class, supporting law enforcement, expanding school choice, and protecting parental rights in education.

Randall Putz (Democrat) Small business owner and longtime Big Bear Lake official who has called the region home for 25 years. Served nearly two decades as a school board trustee for Big Bear Lake, fire authority director, city council member, and three-time Mayor of Big Bear Lake. His campaign focuses on affordable housing, healthcare access, stronger schools, and good local jobs, with an emphasis on working across party lines.

Steve Fox and Manny Lin (Republicans) did not respond to our questionnaire.

District 47 Candidates

Greg Wallis (Republican, Incumbent) Did not respond to our questionnaire.

Jason Byors (Democrat) Jason Byors grew up in a working-class family, where his mother worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. That experience drives his lifelong advocacy for working families and the underserved. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Babson College, in Wellesley, MA, Jason moved to southern California and built a career in software engineering with Fortune 500 companies including Sony Pictures, Toyota, and Twentieth Century Fox, and with the cities of Los Angeles and Santa Monica. He now runs his own software consulting business. He and his partner JR live in Palm Springs.

Leila Namvar (Democrat) Working mom, labor leader, and public servant based in Indio. Born in Iran, she has worked since 2005 for the City of Indio, rising from Planning Technician to Public Arts Program Analyst. She previously served as Chapter President of SEIU 721 at the City of Indio, leading contract negotiations three times. Her campaign focuses on working families, affordable housing, good-paying jobs, and expanded access to education and healthcare.

CANDIDATE RESPONSES ON ISSUES AFFECTING THE MORONGO BASIN

All candidates regardless of party were sent a questionnaire with the same questions pertaining to how they would approach issues impacting Morongo Basin residents. We received responses from Charles Hughes (Republican) and Randall Putz (Democrat), running in District 34, and from Leila Namvar and Jason Byors, both Democrats running in District 47. Incumbent Greg Wallis (Republican) did not respond. We are publishing the answers as we received them, with edits to spelling or grammar as needed. If we receive additional responses, we will include them here. Election coverage is produced independently without candidate review or editorial endorsement.

Assembly District 34: Candidate Responses

1. Quality of Life. Twentynine Palms and much of the Morongo Basin rank in the bottom quartile of California’s Healthy Places Index. California has tools — funding, grants, and legislation — to help struggling communities. What specific state programs or bills would you pursue or recommend to local governments to improve quality of life here?

Charles Hughes (R) Twentynine Palms and the Morongo Basin need state government to pay attention to communities that are too often overlooked. I would work with local leaders to pursue funding through programs focused on infrastructure, public safety, parks, broadband, water, and community health.

That includes making sure rural desert communities are competitive for state grants, not pushed aside by larger cities with bigger staff and more resources. I would also support legislation that cuts red tape and gives local governments more flexibility to address their own needs.

Randall Putz (D) People in the Morongo Basin know what it feels like to be overlooked. We pay taxes like everyone else, but too often our communities are at the back of the line when it comes to infrastructure, healthcare, economic investment, and basic services. I think the state needs to do a much better job recognizing the unique challenges rural desert communities face.

One thing I would push for is more direct technical and grant-writing support for smaller communities that don’t always have the staffing to chase complicated state funding opportunities. Whether it’s broadband, parks, roads, healthcare facilities, or economic development, there are programs out there, but too many rural communities struggle to access them. I also think state funding formulas should better account for places facing persistent health and economic disparities so we’re not constantly competing at a disadvantage.

2. Affordable Housing. California’s housing crisis hits rural desert communities hard. Residents and local politicians feel that red tape, high permit costs, and lack of funding slow construction in places like Twentynine Palms. What state-level reforms such as streamlining permitting, expanding tax credits, or increasing affordable housing funds would you champion to get more homes built here?

Charles Hughes (R) California needs more housing, but Sacramento’s one-size-fits-all mandates are not working for rural communities. I would support reforms that reduce permitting delays, lower fees, expand infrastructure funding, and make it easier to build housing that actually fits the needs of communities like Twentynine Palms.

I would also support expanding access to affordable housing funds, tax credits, and workforce housing programs for rural areas, while protecting local control so communities can grow responsibly.

Randall Putz (D) Housing is one of the biggest issues facing our region. Teachers, healthcare workers, young families, service workers, and seniors are all struggling to find housing they can afford. I support reducing unnecessary red tape, speeding up permitting where it makes sense, and expanding funding for workforce and affordable housing.

At the same time, I’ve spent years on the front lines where state mandates collide with local realities, and I think both sides sometimes get it wrong. Sacramento can be too rigid, but some local governments also resist any responsibility to help solve the housing crisis. I believe in a balanced approach that combines flexibility, incentives, and accountability. Rural communities should have a voice in shaping growth, but we also have to recognize that doing nothing is not a solution either.

3. Healthcare & Mental Health Access. Many Morongo Basin residents lack nearby medical and mental health services and depend on Medi-Cal. California has invested billions in mental health reform. How would you work to expand access to physical and behavioral healthcare in rural, underserved communities like ours?

Charles Hughes (R) Rural communities need better access to doctors, mental health providers, and emergency care. I would work to expand telehealth, support mobile clinics, recruit providers to underserved areas, and ensure Medi-Cal patients can actually access care close to home.

Proposition 1 created the Behavioral Health Services Act and a $6.4 billion bond for behavioral health treatment and housing infrastructure, and rural communities should receive their fair share of those resources.

Randall Putz (D) Healthcare access is one of the biggest quality-of-life issues in the Morongo Basin. Too many people are driving long distances just to see a doctor or get mental health support, and for many families that delay in care becomes a much bigger problem later.

I support expanding rural healthcare infrastructure, strengthening telehealth, and creating stronger incentives for doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals to work in underserved communities. We also need more local behavioral health services and crisis response resources. People should be able to get help close to home before situations spiral into emergencies. In rural communities especially, healthcare access can’t depend on your zip code.

Assembly District 34 (Source: Assemblymember Tom Lackey)

4. Road Safety & Transportation. Highways 62 and 247 — two main arteries through the Morongo Basin — have been cited as three times more deadly than the average California road. Residents also lack reliable public transit. What will you do at the state level to make these highways safer and improve transportation options in our region?

Charles Hughes (R) Highways 62 and 247 need serious attention from the state. I would push Caltrans to prioritize safety improvements such as better lighting, turn lanes, signage, shoulder improvements, passing lanes where appropriate, and targeted enforcement in dangerous corridors.

I would also support local efforts to compete for Highway Safety Improvement Program funding, which is designed to reduce fatalities and serious injuries through data-driven road safety projects.

Randall Putz (D) Anyone who regularly drives Highways 62 or 247 knows how dangerous they can be. We’ve all seen too many serious accidents and too many lives lost. Improving safety on those roads needs to be a much bigger priority for the state. That means practical investments like safer intersections, better lighting, passing lanes, shoulder improvements, and stronger coordination between Caltrans and local communities.

But transportation is also about mobility and access. Seniors, workers, students, and veterans in the Morongo Basin often have very limited transportation options. We need more creative rural transit solutions that actually fit the realities of large desert communities.

5. Renewable Energy & Neighborhoods. California is pushing hard for renewable energy, but large solar projects are proposed on desert land adjacent to existing neighborhoods and wildlife habitat in Twentynine Palms and in adjacent unincorporated areas. How do you balance the state’s clean energy goals with protecting desert communities, ecosystems, and the economic value of residential parcels from industrial projects?

Charles Hughes (R) I support energy reliability and responsible renewable energy development, but desert communities should not be treated like dumping grounds for industrial projects.

Large solar projects must be reviewed carefully to protect neighborhoods, property values, wildlife habitat, and the character of the desert. Local residents deserve a real voice in these decisions, and projects should be placed where they make sense, not forced next to existing homes.

Randall Putz (D) I support renewable energy, but I also believe desert communities should not be treated as sacrifice zones. The desert is not empty land. It’s home to people, wildlife, recreation, cultural resources, and entire neighborhoods whose quality of life matters. I think California needs a more thoughtful approach that prioritizes already disturbed lands and involves communities earlier in the process. Projects should provide real local benefits and avoid unnecessary impacts on residents and habitat whenever possible. We can move toward clean energy without steamrolling the people and places that make the desert special.

6. Climate & Extreme Weather. California faces more frequent extreme weather — including the severe flash floods that damaged homes and closed Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms. What state investments in flood control, emergency preparedness, and climate resilience would you prioritize for the Hi-Desert?

Charles Hughes (R) The Hi-Desert needs stronger investment in flood control, drainage, emergency response, and road resilience. The flash flooding that damaged homes and closed Adobe Road showed how vulnerable rural communities can be when infrastructure is not prepared for extreme weather.

I would prioritize funding for stormwater systems, road repairs, emergency communications, evacuation planning, and local disaster preparedness so communities are not left waiting after damage is already done.

Randall Putz (D) The flooding that damaged Adobe Road and impacted homes in Twentynine Palms was a reminder that extreme weather is becoming more common and more disruptive. Rural desert communities need more support before disasters happen, not just after. I’d push for more investment in flood control, drainage systems, emergency communications, road resilience, and wildfire mitigation. Smaller communities often struggle to compete for state funding even when the needs are obvious. Climate resilience planning also has to reflect the realities of desert communities, where infrastructure is spread out and resources are more limited.

7. Education & Youth Opportunity. Twentynine Palms is an economically disadvantaged community with limited local job prospects. California contributes to school funding and workforce training programs. How will you ensure that Morongo Basin students have access to quality education, vocational training, and career pathways that allow them to build a future here?

Charles Hughes (R) Students in the Morongo Basin deserve the same opportunities as students anywhere else in California. I would support stronger career and technical education, partnerships with local employers, apprenticeship programs, and workforce training tied to real jobs in the region.

That includes pathways in public safety, healthcare, construction, skilled trades, aviation, logistics, tourism, and military-adjacent careers connected to the Marine base.

Randall Putz (D) As a former school board member, I care deeply about making sure young people in the Morongo Basin have real opportunity. Too often students feel like they have to leave the area to build a future, and I think we can do better than that. I support expanding career technical education, apprenticeships, dual-enrollment opportunities, and partnerships with community colleges, healthcare providers, local businesses, skilled trades, and the Marine base. We should be creating stronger pathways into good-paying careers right here in the region. I also think we need continued investment in counselors, support staff, and broadband access so students are fully supported both academically and personally.

8. Jobs & Economic Development. The Morongo Basin’s economy depends heavily on tourism and the Marine base, leaving it vulnerable. California has economic development tools — grants, small business support, and workforce programs — that many rural areas never see. What concrete steps would you take to bring stable, well-paying jobs to our region?

Charles Hughes (R) The Morongo Basin needs a broader economic base. Tourism and the Marine base are important, but families also need stable, good-paying jobs outside of those sectors.

I would work to bring state economic development tools to rural communities, including small business grants, workforce programs, infrastructure investment, and incentives for employers to locate or expand in the region. The goal should be simple: help local businesses grow, attract new employers, and make sure people can build a future here without having to leave.

Randall Putz (D) The Morongo Basin has incredible potential, but the economy needs to become more diversified and resilient. Tourism and the Marine base are important anchors, but we also need to grow opportunities in healthcare, construction trades, clean energy, outdoor recreation, remote work infrastructure, and small business development.

One thing I’ve seen over the years is that many state economic development programs are designed with large urban areas in mind. Rural communities often don’t have the same capacity to compete for grants or attract investment. I want to make sure desert communities are not overlooked and that we’re bringing resources here that help create stable, year-round jobs people can actually build a life around.

Assembly District 47: Candidate Responses

Jason Byors (D) First, I will prioritize improving access to healthcare. That means making sure seniors, veterans, Medi-Cal recipients, and working families can get timely, affordable care without unnecessary barriers. I will work to sponsor and pass CalCare, which will make healthcare a human right in California.

Secondly, I will focus on affordability and building an economy that works for everyone. Too many people are struggling with the rising cost of living and are worried about whether they can afford to stay in their communities. I will support policies that create good-paying jobs, encourage responsible economic growth, and ease the financial burden on working families. This includes small business grants, tax cuts for small businesses, and helping push investment by sustainable industries to the region.

Additionally, I will be bringing back funding from the state to the region. Our incumbent Republican Assemblymember has brought no resources back to our region. Democratic Assemblymembers have supported my campaign because they want to work with me to bring resources back to our communities. Local mayors and city council members have also endorsed me because they trust me to bring funding back locally.

Leila Namvar (D) California already has tools to address health and quality-of-life disparities like those seen in Twentynine Palms and much of the Morongo Basin, but rural and frontier communities often struggle to access them. The challenge is not a lack of funding or policy; it is ensuring these resources consistently reach the communities with the greatest need, as identified by the Healthy Places Index.

Health care is a human right and non-negotiable. In a state that is the fourth largest economy in the world, California has both the capacity and responsibility to ensure that access to care is not determined by geography or income. That means fully funding and prioritizing systems that expand mental health care, substance use treatment, primary care, and emergency services in underserved rural regions, including through stronger incentives for providers to work and remain in high-need desert communities.

We also need better support for rural health infrastructure and workforce development, including expanding telehealth capacity, stabilizing small clinics and hospitals, and creating long-term pipelines to recruit and retain medical professionals in places like the Morongo Basin.

At the same time, quality of life depends on basic infrastructure. Safe water systems, reliable wastewater services, and stable housing are essential public health foundations, and state investments must be better coordinated to ensure these needs are met in disadvantaged rural communities.

Finally, I support strengthening the role of the Healthy Places Index so that it is not just advisory but directly guides how housing, health, and infrastructure dollars are allocated, so that communities like Twentynine Palms consistently receive their fair share of investment.

Jason Byors (D) We have to address the housing shortage that continues to drive costs up. I support policies that streamline the approval process, establish clear timelines for permitting, and hold agencies accountable. Delays and uncertainty increase costs and discourage development. The state should create stronger incentives for cities to produce housing, especially near jobs and transit, and tie funding to meeting those goals. Encouraging a mix of housing types at different income levels is also critical so communities can grow without pushing current residents out.

Additionally, we must make sure we keep current homeowners in their homes. We should look at targeted relief programs that help people stay current on mortgages and property taxes, especially during periods of economic uncertainty.

Leila Namvar (D) California’s housing crisis shows up differently in rural desert communities, but the impact is just as severe — high costs, limited supply, and a permitting system that often assumes more staffing and administrative capacity than small jurisdictions actually have.

California’s housing shortage is at the root of both the affordability crisis and the homelessness crisis. We need to build more housing, but we need to build it faster, smarter, and with accountability. First, I would streamline the approval process. Too many projects are delayed for years due to bureaucracy and litigation. We can maintain environmental protections while cutting unnecessary red tape that slows housing production, especially for projects that already comply with zoning and planning standards.

Second, we need to take Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) targets seriously. Too often, cities and counties treat them as advisory rather than binding. I would support stronger accountability so jurisdictions that fail to meet their obligations face real consequences, while those that meet them are supported and rewarded.

Third, I support increasing density in appropriate areas, especially near existing infrastructure, services, and employment centers. Fourth, we need to better align state housing incentives and funding with rural construction realities. Many programs are designed around urban development models and do not adequately account for higher per-unit costs or limited local financing capacity in places like the Morongo Basin.

We also need to expand incentives that make it financially viable to build affordable housing, including public-private partnerships and tax tools that support mixed-income developments. In addition, we must invest in workforce housing — the “missing middle” — for teachers, healthcare workers, and essential employees who are increasingly priced out of the communities they serve. Finally, local governments should be given not just housing goals, but also the technical assistance and tools needed to meet them.

Jason Byors (D) I stand with the 86% of Californians surveyed in a recent poll that support CalCare, a system of universal healthcare here in California. 42 percent of voters surveyed say it’s gotten harder to afford health care in the past several years, and 33 percent have skipped or delayed care due to cost. That is unacceptable. We must move to a system where all Californians who want healthcare can receive healthcare, while those who want to remain with their private insurance can choose to do so. Healthcare is a human right, and universal healthcare would allow healthcare access to all Californians, regardless of economic status.

We must additionally address access to healthcare in rural, underserved communities. I will sponsor legislation that will financially incentivize healthcare workers to work and live in underserved areas. Additionally, I will help create funding specifically for healthcare providers that serve rural areas so that they don’t go out of business.

Leila Namvar (D) Access to both physical and mental health care in rural communities like the Morongo Basin is a basic equity issue. Distance, provider shortages, and limited transportation mean that even residents with Medi-Cal coverage can struggle to actually use the care they are entitled to. Expanding access requires not just more funding, but better distribution of services and stronger incentives for providers to practice in underserved areas.

First, I would prioritize expanding community-based care in rural regions: smaller clinics, mobile health units, and integrated care models that combine primary care, behavioral health, and substance use treatment in one setting. In places where population density does not support large facilities, care has to come to the patient rather than the other way around.

Second, we need to fully leverage and expand telehealth as a permanent part of the health system, not just a supplement. That means investing in broadband reliability, ensuring parity in reimbursement for virtual visits, and supporting providers who build long-term telehealth capacity for rural patients.

Third, workforce shortages are one of the biggest barriers. I would support stronger incentives, loan forgiveness, housing assistance, and targeted recruitment to attract and retain doctors, nurses, therapists, and psychiatric providers in rural and frontier communities. Without a stable workforce, funding alone will not translate into access.

Fourth, behavioral health must be treated as core health care, not a separate system. That includes expanding crisis response services, outpatient treatment, and early intervention programs so that people are not forced into emergency rooms or jail systems when they are in crisis. Finally, Medi-Cal should function as a true access guarantee, not just coverage on paper. That means improving provider participation, reducing administrative barriers, and ensuring reimbursement rates are sufficient to make rural participation viable.

District 47 (Source: CalMatters)

Jason Byors (D) We need targeted safety upgrades through Caltrans and the State Highway Safety Improvement Program. I will work on adding proven, life-saving infrastructure: centerline rumble strips to prevent head-on collisions, better lighting in high-risk segments, more passing lanes to reduce dangerous overtaking, and protected left-turn pockets.

To protect pedestrians, I’d advocate for a “Complete Streets” approach on state highways that pass through communities. We should add safe pedestrian crossings, shoulders for cyclists, and traffic-calming measures in town centers like Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms so people aren’t risking their lives just to cross the street.

I also highly value public transit. We have to expand transportation options — because safety improves when people have alternatives to driving long distances. I’d fight to bring more state funding to expand regional transit connections, including partnerships with agencies like SunLine Transit Agency to extend service into the Morongo Basin.

Leila Namvar (D) Highways 62 and 247 are essential lifelines for the Morongo Basin, but the high fatality rates reflect a serious mismatch between road design, traffic volume, and regional need. Improving safety and mobility requires both immediate engineering fixes and longer-term investment in transportation alternatives.

First, I would prioritize state funding for targeted safety improvements on these corridors: improved lighting, rumble strips, wider shoulders, passing lanes where appropriate, and clearer signage. In higher-risk intersections, we should also evaluate replacing stop-controlled intersections with traffic signal lights or other controlled signal systems where traffic volumes and crash patterns justify it. In some locations, roundabouts or redesigned intersections may also significantly reduce severe collisions.

Second, we need a stronger focus on enforcement and technology in high-risk stretches, including enhanced patrol presence, speed management strategies, and data-driven identification of crash hotspots so resources are deployed where they will have the greatest impact.

Third, long-term safety depends on reducing dependence on high-speed highway travel for everyday needs. That means expanding regional public transit options, including more frequent and reliable bus service connecting towns within the Morongo Basin and linking residents to job centers, schools, and healthcare services.

Fourth, I would support state investment in rural mobility solutions beyond traditional transit, such as on-demand shuttle services, rideshare subsidies for low-income residents, and coordinated transportation for medical and essential trips, especially for seniors and people with disabilities.

Jason Byors (D) This is a complicated issue that involves many moving parts, but I will work on three major avenues.

First, we must avoid intact habitat and neighborhood edges. The state should steer projects away from sensitive desert ecosystems and homes from the outset. Second, we should prioritize disturbed land — brownfields, retired ag land, landfills, and highway corridors — using tools like the California Energy Commission Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan to pre-screen low-conflict zones. Third, let’s expand the use of distributed solar: rooftops, warehouses, and parking canopies. This reduces pressure to industrialize open desert while delivering power closer to where it’s used.

Leila Namvar (D) California absolutely needs to meet its clean energy goals, but how we build matters just as much as how much we build. In the Mojave Desert, including areas around Twentynine Palms, we are already seeing the tension between utility-scale renewable projects, sensitive ecosystems, and nearby residential communities.

First, I support a clear “right project, right place” approach. That means prioritizing renewable development on already-disturbed lands — such as brownfields, former agricultural sites, degraded lands, and existing transmission corridors — before moving into intact desert habitat or areas adjacent to established neighborhoods.

Second, we need stronger early-stage community input that actually shapes siting decisions, not just comments after projects are largely defined. Third, cumulative impact analysis needs to be taken more seriously. It is not enough to evaluate projects one at a time when multiple large-scale developments can collectively transform landscapes, strain infrastructure, and affect property values. Fourth, we should encourage a more diversified clean energy strategy, including rooftop solar, community solar, and distributed storage.

Finally, we need to ensure that communities hosting energy infrastructure see real benefits — whether through local investment, infrastructure improvements, or long-term community compensation agreements — so that rural regions are partners in the transition, not just the footprint for it.

Jason Byors (D) First, we must make sure that homeowners insurance providers serve our area in case there is an emergency. We currently have a homeowners insurance crisis, and I will work to make sure these insurance companies work with Californians.

To help prevent flooding, culverts, washes, and bridges need to be upgraded and expanded so we can deal with extreme weather conditions. Additionally, I will fight for state funding for communities like Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms to install green infrastructure to help mitigate runoff.

Leila Namvar (D) The Hi-Desert is increasingly experiencing extreme weather events — flash flooding, heat waves, and wind-driven storms — that strain infrastructure that was never designed for this level of climate volatility. The Adobe Road flooding is a clear example of how vulnerable rural desert communities are when drainage systems, road design, and emergency response capacity are not built for modern climate conditions.

First, I would prioritize state investment in regional flood control and stormwater infrastructure. That includes upgrading and expanding drainage systems along key corridors like Adobe Road and other wash-prone areas, improving culverts and channels, and ensuring road designs account for the intensity of modern storm events rather than historical rainfall patterns.

Second, we need better early warning systems and local emergency preparedness capacity. That means improving real-time weather monitoring, evacuation communication systems, and ensuring that rural fire and emergency services have the staffing, equipment, and coordination support they need during fast-moving events.

Third, I would support investments in “climate-resilient infrastructure standards” for rural counties, so roads, drainage, and public facilities are built or retrofitted with future climate conditions in mind. Fourth, wildfire and post-fire flood risk must be addressed together. Burn scars and surrounding desert terrain can dramatically increase runoff risk, so mitigation planning should integrate vegetation management, watershed stabilization, and erosion control as part of a unified strategy.

Finally, resilience planning must include funding flexibility for small and rural jurisdictions. Many local governments simply do not have the engineering staff or capital reserves to design and build these upgrades without sustained state partnership.

Jason Byors (D) Again, this is a funding issue that our incumbent Republican Assemblymember isn’t addressing. Local school board members have endorsed me because they know I will fight to bring back funding for our school districts from the state. I will ensure there is funding set aside for rural communities so that all students can thrive.

Additionally, I will work with our labor union leaders to make sure there is vocation training and apprenticeship programs locally. Labor union workers have endorsed my campaign because they trust me to get this job done.

Leila Namvar (D) Twentynine Palms and the broader Morongo Basin face a dual challenge: schools are asked to serve high-need student populations while local economies offer relatively limited pathways for young people to stay, work, and build a future. Education policy has to connect directly to opportunity, or we continue losing talent to larger metropolitan areas.

First, I would support strengthening funding formulas so that high-poverty and rural districts receive stable, predictable resources that reflect real student needs, especially for counseling, special education, and English learner support.

Second, we need to expand career technical education (CTE) and vocational training that is actually tied to regional workforce demand. That includes healthcare, emergency services, renewable energy, skilled trades, logistics, and public sector careers. These programs should not be add-ons; they should be fully integrated pathways that allow students to graduate with both a diploma and a marketable credential.

Third, I would prioritize stronger partnerships between schools, community colleges, local employers, and state agencies to create clear “pipeline” programs. Students should be able to see a direct line from classroom to apprenticeship, internship, or job placement without leaving the region.

Fourth, we need to invest in broadband access and digital learning infrastructure so rural students are not at a structural disadvantage when it comes to advanced coursework, college preparation, or remote career opportunities.

Fifth, teacher recruitment and retention in rural areas must be addressed more aggressively, including housing support, incentive programs, and professional development pathways that make it sustainable for educators to stay in communities like the Morongo Basin long-term.

Jason Byors (D) As previously stated, I will support policies that create good-paying jobs, encourage responsible economic growth, and ease the financial burden on working families. This includes small business grants, tax cuts for small businesses, and helping push investment by sustainable industries to the region.

But more directly, we need a fighter for our rural communities. I don’t just talk the talk; I walk the talk. Even though myself and all three candidates for this seat live in the Palm Springs/Cathedral City area, I have personally been out to the Morongo Basin, Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms, and other rural communities in the area dozens of times on the campaign trail. I’ve listened to community members’ needs. And I promise you — I will fight for you in Sacramento.

Leila Namvar (D) The Morongo Basin’s economy is resilient, but it is also overexposed to a narrow set of drivers — tourism and the Marine Corps base — both of which are outside local control. Long-term stability requires deliberately diversifying the economic base so that residents have multiple pathways to stable, well-paying work without leaving the region.

First, I would focus on expanding targeted small business development support for rural communities. That includes simplifying access to state grants and technical assistance, reducing administrative barriers, and helping local entrepreneurs navigate permitting, financing, and procurement systems that are often designed for larger urban firms.

Second, workforce development should be tightly aligned with industries that can realistically grow in the Hi-Desert: healthcare, behavioral health services, renewable energy construction and maintenance, logistics, public safety, and skilled trades. Training programs should not be abstract; they should connect directly to apprenticeships, certifications, and local hiring commitments.

Third, I would prioritize attracting state-supported investment in infrastructure that enables job growth, especially broadband expansion and transportation improvements. Reliable internet access is now foundational for remote work, small business growth, and modern education and training programs.

Fourth, we should actively leverage state and federal incentives to encourage clean energy manufacturing, maintenance, and supply-chain activity to locate in suitable areas of the inland desert region, while ensuring siting respects environmental and community boundaries.

Fifth, I support stronger regional economic planning that treats rural areas as intentional investment zones rather than afterthoughts. Finally, public-private partnerships can play a larger role in creating stable employment pipelines, especially in sectors like healthcare systems, renewable energy operators, and infrastructure maintenance, where long-term contracts can anchor good jobs in the region.

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California District 23 and District 25 Congressional Primary Election Preview 2026

Eleanor Whitney — Thu, 14 May 2026 13:02:11 GMT

Scorpius Arch in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Natalie Zuk

The 2026 California Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 2. Mail ballots were delivered to the U.S. Post Office on May 4 and early voting began the same day.

Due to California’s redistricting with the passage of Prop 50 last fall, the Morongo Basin now falls into two congressional districts for the US House of Representatives. The majority of the Morongo Basin is in District 23, currently represented by Republican Jay Obernolte. A slice of Twentynine Palms, along with much of the low desert, is now located in District 25, represented by Democrat Raul Ruiz. To see how your district changed, you can use Cal Matter’s election district look up map.

California Congressional District 23 and District 25.

Below we’ll share basic voting information, brief background on the candidates for the US House in both District 23 and 25, and responses from Tessa Lynn Hodge and Pat Wallis, both Democrats running in District 23, to a questionnaire sent to all candidates about issues affecting the Morongo Basin.

Voting information and resources

Check if you’re registered to vote, find your polling place, and get election information on the California Secretary of State’s website.
Register to vote by May 18. If you miss the deadline, you must complete same day voter registration.
For more detailed information, CalMatters also produced a comprehensive guide of voting FAQs and resources.

California holds an open primary, meaning that you can vote for a candidate of any party, and the top two candidates receiving the most votes will move on to the general election.

Voting deadlines

The following deadlines apply to the primary election, which takes place on June 2:

May 4: Mail ballots are sent, voters may pick up a ballot or vote early at an early voting site.
May 5: Secure ballot boxes open. Here is a link to ballot box locations.
May 18: Last day to register to vote online. After you must complete same day voter registration.
May 28: Vote centers open for early in-person voting. The County Registrar lists these locations here. The closest location is 6171 Sunburst St. in Joshua Tree. Voting takes place in this location from May 28 to June 2, 10 am to 6 pm.
June 2: Primary Election, mail-in-ballots must be postmarked on or before election day.

District 23 Candidates

Since 2021, District 23 has been represented in Congress by Jay Obernolte, who lives in Big Bear. Obernolte is a Republican who often sides with President Trump on issues including immigration, environmental regulation, and defense. His 2025 Town Hall in Yucca Valley drew more than 200 people, many who came to express their dissatisfaction with his policies and approach to governance.

Including Obernolte, there are six candidates running to represent District 23:

Jay Obernolte (Republican, Incumbent) Owner of Farsight Studios, a software development company and resident of Big Bear. Former mayor of Big Bear and representative to the California State Assembly. Endorsements include the Police Officers’ Defense Coalition, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association, and the United States Chamber of Commerce.
Tessa Lynn Hodge (Democrat) Clinical social worker and business owner and lifelong district resident. Endorsements include the California Democratic Party, Teamsters 1932, California Young Democrats, San Bernardino County Young Democrats, United Food and Commercial Workers 1167, and many local mayors.
Karsten Nicholson (Democrat) Freelance journalist based in Crestline. No endorsements listed on his website.
Pat Wallis (Democrat) Army veteran and software developer based in Yucca Valley. Endorsed by Denise Davis, City Council Member, Redlands, California and Paul Dulisse, Captain, NYFD LTC, US Army (Ret.).
Karen Lee Matthews (No Party Preference) Navy veteran, doctor, and small business owner. Endorsed by the Forward Party, Former Republican California State Senator William Emmerson, and Independent Candidates Action.
Eli C. Owens (No Party Preference) Tech industry leader and early leader of California’s cannabis economy. No endorsements listed.1

District 25 Candidates

Democrat Dr. Raul Ruiz, who is based in Indio, has represented the 25th district since redistricting in 2022. He has been in office since 2012, when he beat Mary Bono Mack in the 36th district in a highly competitive race. In the 2024 primary he received 82% of the vote.

Dr. Raul Ruiz, Ronald Huffman, Joe Males, and Ceci Andrade Truman from photos on their election websites.

Including Ruiz, there are five candidates running in the 25th district:

Dr. Raul Ruiz (Democrat, Incumbent) Emergency physician, founder and director of the Coachella Valley Healthcare Initiative, serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
Ronald Huffman (Republican) Journeyman Electrical Worker and Control Operator, as well as a union steward.
Joe Males (Republican) Marine Veteran, small business-owner, Hemet city council member. Endorsements include the Republican Party of Riverside County and the San Bernardino Republican Party.
Ceci Andrade Truman (Republican) No profession or endorsements listed.

All candidates regardless of party were sent a questionnaire with the same eight questions pertaining to how they would approach issues impacting Morongo Basin residents. We received responses from two Democratic candidates in the 23rd District, Tessa Lynn Hodge and Pat Wallis. We are publishing the answers as we received them, with edits to spelling or grammar as needed. If we receive more responses, we will include them here.

Candidate responses on issues impacting the Morongo Basin: Tessa Lynn Hodge and Pat Wallis, Democratic Candidates, District 23

1. Jobs and the Local Economy

The Morongo Basin economy depends heavily on Joshua Tree National Park, and on the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. Federal workforce reductions and shutdowns are already affecting both. In addition, the changing economy has caused slowdowns and softening in the tourist economy the Morongo Basin depends on. What concrete steps would you take to protect and diversify the economic base of communities like Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, and other Morongo Basin communities?

Tess Lynn Hodge: As a lifelong resident of the district and small business owner I know how difficult it can be to make ends meet in a rural community. What we have seen under this administration and others is Congress governing through crisis. Instead of working collaboratively, negotiating in good faith, and passing budgets that fund our schools, healthcare, and needed services, members in both parties are using budgets, and the American people, as bargaining chips.

While I can’t guarantee that I can get all 435 members of the House to play nice, what I can do is introduce legislation that protects national park workers and the surrounding communities during a government shutdown. This legislation would include funding to keep our beloved national parks, like Joshua Tree, open, and federal employees like our national park workers paid when a shutdown happens. The legislation would also include that no member of Congress shall be paid if a shutdown occurs. I’ve yet to hold a position where I get paid to not do my job and I don’t intend for my position as your representative to work that way either.

We also need stronger programs to help small businesses. Small businesses are more likely to reinvest into their own communities, provide entry-level employment opportunities, and create around two-thirds of all new jobs. Ensuring small business owners have access to SBA microloans, grants specifically targeted to small businesses, and programs to help build technical skills is vital to ensuring that the Morongo Basin has a robust economy.

We should also seek to create additional partnerships with the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. By creating new partnerships and programs we can help veterans start small businesses after leaving the military and encourage them to stay local, and create training and apprenticeship programs for veterans and their family members in healthcare, clean energy, or the trades.

Pat Wallis: The economy of the Morongo Basin must diversify if we are to create the types of jobs families can build a future on. A strong regional economy can’t be built around a single pillar, whether that’s federal payrolls, defense contractors, or tourism. When any one of those softens, families here feel it immediately. Rising to the challenge of building a future where our kids can imagine living and thriving here means doing something we haven’t actually done, and that is to deliberately build a regional economic development plan.

Community colleges like Copper Mountain exemplify excellence. The rub is that they are training people for the economy we have today. That’s necessary and hard work, but it’s not enough. As a former city planner [in the town of Moraga, CA] and military master planner, I understand what it takes to build the future our region deserves. Together, we must design an economy to sustain our shared vision for the future of our region — and work backward from there. That’s planning 101.

Where do we want the Morongo Basin and the wider Hi-Desert to be in 20 years? Once we can answer those questions honestly, the obstacles to reaching our shared future become clear.

What types of high-tech jobs in engineering and science do we need to support to realize this future?
Do we need a four-year higher education presence to train and educate the workforce we need?
What anchor institutions (hospitals, universities, government centers, …) do we need to seed?
What modes of regional manufacturing make sense given our water, land, and workforce?
How many mouths can regional agriculture realistically feed?
What kinds of light manufacturing and high-skilled jobs can we genuinely attract?

Finding answers to these questions changes the game in how we talk about jobs here. Without a map, we drift and lose our way. This is exactly how our region became a dumping ground for warehouse sprawl, data centers, logistics hubs, solar farms, and other extractive industries that don’t serve our desert communities and don’t pay a living wage.

My vision is for a regional economy that’s self-reliant and self-resilient.

I’m fighting for a future where our kids can afford to live here because the jobs are good, where wealth circulates locally instead of being siphoned away by absentee investors.

I’m fighting for a future where the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Training Center and Joshua Tree National Park are pillars of a diversified economy — not its entirety.

As your US Representative, I’ll propose laws and policies that build toward that shared future, with the planning rigor it deserves.

2. Affordable Housing

What federal funding or policies would you support to bring more affordable housing to the Hi-Desert communities like Yucca Valley, and Joshua Tree?

Tessa Lynn Hodge: The housing issue is multi-layered with several factors affecting the rising costs of both rent and home ownership. What we all know is that many of us are being priced out of the communities we love, and members of our community entering adulthood after graduating high school and college are increasingly unable to move out of the family home.

A significant issue in the Morongo Basin is the high number of homes that have been turned into short term vacation rentals. We must protect housing for actual residents by working across local, state, and federal jurisdictions to place limits on short term vacation homes and corporations who buy up homes as investments.

An issue I believe we all know all too well is the red tape and bureaucracy that exists when trying to build. There is a big difference between protecting our environment with smart policy and the bureaucratic nightmare that currently exists. It’s interesting that across the country AI Data Centers have been able to go up in the blink of an eye, but affordable diverse housing seems to be at a standstill. Again, at the local, state, and federal level elected officials must work together to address bureaucratic barriers to building the housing we need. I will work with our local and state officials to identify those barriers and identify federal assistance to streamline building processes.

At the federal level I would support and expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit which incentivizes the development of affordable rental housing. I would also support rural housing grants which provide low interest loans and grants for those in rural areas looking to buy or even repair their homes. I also support the expansion of first time home buyer assistance programs and low interest loan programs.

Pat Wallis: Housing in the Morongo Basin is broken. In some communities, a third to half of residential homes have been pulled off the long-term market by hedge funds, speculators, and short-term rental operators. I’ve seen the aerial maps of the homes yanked from the market, and it paints a devastating picture. Don’t believe the lies that we can just build our way out of the problem when investors are buying faster than we build.

This leads to another critical point. We need to build housing that the people of our district can afford. The core to any solution for our housing affordability and availability crisis is to return existing homes to the people who live and work here. I’ll push to eliminate the “active income” tax loophole that rewards investors for turning homes into hotels, and I’ll support the End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act with amendments that would cap how many housing units corporations could own in any zip code. This includes an exemption for portfolios of 10 homes or fewer to protect local mom-and-pop landlords. Our goal should be for local families to build generational wealth. It should be to support Wall Street in building ever-larger monopolies.

I’ll also support federal legislation to encourage investment in shared-equity homeownership models like the Champlain Housing Trust (Burlington, VT), which, when founded with seed money from the City of Burlington, was then led by Mayor Bernie Sanders. In 1984, it was the largest community land trust in the U.S. In 2008, it won the UN World Habitat Award. This is a model for affordable housing we should replicate far and wide.

Other measures include first-time homebuyer assistance and zoning that allows multigenerational housing, so seniors can age in place near family. For renters, I support rental-market standards that prevent predatory increases and federal matching grants to expand affordable student and workforce housing partnerships.

But none of this works if the communities most affected have no formal voice in their own future. The Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council was dissolved in 2021 and never reconstituted, and that’s not a great outcome for hearing people’s voices. No community should ever be surprised by major development or infrastructure decisions in its own backyard.

Federal economic development law already requires regional planning that engages community leaders, residents, and stakeholders — through the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS, process administered by the Economic Development Administration. I’ll fight to amend the federal CEDS regulations so unincorporated communities can elect their own representatives to the planning process — directly. Federal infrastructure and housing dollars shouldn’t flow through plans that don’t give residents of the Morongo Basin a voice.

3. Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid

Many residents here depend on Social Security, Medicare, and Medi-Cal to survive. Recent federal budget proposals threaten to cut these programs. Will you commit to protecting them — and how will you use your seat in Congress to do so?

Tessa Lynn Hodge: Unequivocally, yes. We are all just one bad day away from needing social supports like Medicare, Medi-Cal, and Social Security. In my time as a social worker in this community I have met far too many residents who did “everything right”; they worked hard, got a good job, saved, and because of one bad day like an accident at work, a car accident, a severe medical diagnosis, a job loss, etc. they lost everything. We must protect these safety nets for all of us, because goodness forbid it’s the day you need them but don’t qualify because of some “T” that isn’t crossed or “I” that isn’t dotted, or because someone judged you as “undeserving”. Matthew 25:40 says “The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”.

In Congress I will fight to ensure that Social Security remains solvent, and that benefits are not cut and the retirement age is not raised. We must do away with the Social Security Tax cap. Currently the cap sits at $185,500 which means that the working and middle class are disproportionately propping up the Social Security system, and it is not sustainable. For Medicare and Medicaid I will never vote for a budget that cuts these programs. In our rural areas our hospitals depend on Medicaid and Medicare funds to survive and stay open.

I will also fight for a single payer healthcare system like Medicare for all. The fact of the matter is that when people have stable access to preventative healthcare, dental care, and mental health services, they are more successful, miss less work, are able to spend more in the economy, and our hospitals have less emergency room visits, and are able to focus on treatment instead of fighting with insurance companies. Ensuring that people have affordable access to healthcare is a rising tide that lifts all boats, especially economically.

Pat Wallis: I will protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid without qualification.

Social Security and Medicare are earned benefits. Working Americans pay into them their entire careers, and the deal is simple: contribute now, draw on it later. Cutting them to finance tax cuts for the wealthiest is a betrayal of that compact. Medicaid is different — it’s not something workers pay into and earn back. It’s a commitment we make as a society to make sure people who can’t afford care still get it. In a working-class district like ours, it’s not just a solemn commitment to one another; it’s a lifeline.

In CA-23, 48% of residents depend on Medicaid, and roughly 20% of families rely on SNAP. Yet Jay Obernolte voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) — the largest Medicaid cut in the program’s 60-year history at $900+ billion, including the most severe SNAP cuts on record. He didn’t just vote for it; he called it a “generational opportunity.” In a working-class district where the median income is just $77,000, his betrayal is a direct hit on those who can least afford it.

In Congress, I will vote against any budget that cuts Medicare, Social Security, or Medicaid benefits, eligibility, or provider reimbursements that keep rural hospitals open. I’ll fight to roll back the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP from the OBBBA, and I’ll fight to lower drug prices through direct Medicare negotiation.

I’ll also use the seat itself to push for change and hold our government to account. This includes committee testimony, floor speeches, and public hearings in the district. It’s vital to express the human cost of these cuts on the record.

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4. Veterans’ Services

Many veterans live throughout the Morongo Basin, yet veterans here have lost their local VA representative and must drive over an hour for help. What will you do to restore in-person VA services and fully staff the Veterans Crisis Line in our district?

Tessa Lynn Hodge: This is a topic that hit close to home as my grandfather, father, and two of my uncles are veterans, and I have two cousins who are active duty. Too many politicians like to pay lip service to veterans, but their votes in Congress speak for themselves. In Congress I would fight to ensure that the VA is properly funded and staffed. Recruitment and retention within the VA system needs to be improved to ensure veterans have access to the care they need.

This will be especially important in the coming years as the current administration has cut the VA workforce by huge amounts. A recent ProPublica report found that the VA had lost approximately 500 psychologists and psychiatrists, and about 700 social workers. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker myself I can tell you that these social workers were crucial to supporting veterans in connecting to local services, finding and connecting to supports, providing direct mental health services, running groups, planning medical discharges and aftercare, navigating crises, etc. Additionally, 90% of VA facilities are reporting severe shortages of doctors and 80% are reporting a severe shortage of nurses. Is this how we treat those who served our country?

At the federal level we must also expand mobile VA clinics and increase the VA’s partnerships with local healthcare providers, especially in rural areas. Simplifying access to services should also be a priority to reduce the barriers veterans face when trying to access the support they need.

Pat Wallis: As a disabled veteran who hurt my back in a training accident, this is personal. We are being failed twice—once by the bureaucracy, and again by the representative who’s supposed to fight for them. With over 41,000 veterans in CA-23, roughly double the national concentration, not having a dedicated veteran’s representative and forcing veterans to drive over an hour for help is unconscionable.

The 2024 Inland Empire State of Veterans Report called accessing benefits in our region “taxing if not intimidating.” That was before DOGE tried to fire 83,000 VA employees, totaling 17% of the workforce serving our veterans. Using flawed AI tools, they tried to gut cancer programs, burial services, and the contracts implementing the PACT Act before public outrage forced them to scale back. Still, almost 600 contracts were canceled. Throughout the entire DOGE debacle, Obernolte was a consistent cheerleader of the same reckless cuts that I will fight to reverse.

Specifically, I will fight to rebuild VA staffing and infrastructure, for in-person VA representation in the Morongo Basin, and to fully staff the Veterans Crisis Line in our district. While we’ve gained presumptive coverage for burn pit and Agent Orange exposures, it means nothing if there isn’t anyone left at the VA to process the claims or deliver the care. Another problem in the Morongo Basin is access to care. While the VA’s “Community Care Network” carve-outs may work in urban areas, we’re already in a healthcare ‘desert.’ So, rather than pointing our veterans towards privatized care that doesn’t exist in our rural communities, I will fight for VA facilities closer to where our veterans live.

I’ll also push for integrated wrap-around care. Right now, if a veteran walks in for PTSD treatment, other needs go ignored. We need a system that screens simultaneously for housing, employment, and other health needs and connects veterans without requiring them to navigate a labyrinth of agencies.

And here in CA-23, I’ll work with veteran service organizations to host an annual veterans’ assistance event at different sites in the district, where veterans can navigate benefits, claims, and care without doing it alone.

5. Healthcare & Food Access

Parts of the Morongo Basin are a food desert, and our region ranks among the lowest in California for health outcomes. Many residents rely on SNAP food benefits and need better access to mental health care. How will you protect these programs and improve healthcare access for rural communities to ensure food security?

Tessa Lynn Hodge: As a Licensed Clinician Social Worker I’ve spent my career serving our rural and underserved communities. I’ve worked in community based mental health, school based mental health, and in medical social work in our hospitals and I know the challenges families in our areas face when it comes to both food and mental health. When I first decided to run for Congress in February 2025 I was working for SAC Health, a non profit that provides medical and mental health care in rural and underserved areas. I was hired for their Barstow office, and I was the first clinician hired after they had been attempting to fill the spot for a year. They were unable to find anyone who lived local to Barstow, or who was willing to make the drive. This is the same issue most rural communities, including the Morongo Basin face. A manageable client load for a mental health provider to ensure quality client care is approximately 20-30 (there’s quite a bit of paperwork on the back end to account for outside of client sessions). In community based mental health I had a client load of anywhere from 40-70.

In private practice my client load is lower, but all of the paperwork on the backend is done on unpaid time. The system is set up for provider burnout, not just for mental health providers, but for nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers as well. In an already underserved area, provider burnout is just one more factor leading to poor access in our rural communities. So how do we address this?

Rural healthcare is increasingly becoming its own speciality. At the federal level increase funding to medical schools like Loma Linda to expand training opportunities into rural communities. This includes lifting the federal funding cap on residency slots.
Create programs beginning in middle and high school and expanding to community colleges to create a pipeline into the medical profession, especially focused on rural and underserved areas. Recruiting people to fill positions in their home communities increases long term buy-in and the likelihood they will stay in their communities past mandatory pay back timelines.

I want to reiterate that I am a strong proponent of a single payer healthcare system like Medicare for all. The United States is in a healthcare crisis and we are quite literally on the verge of healthcare collapse. We must take forceful action to ensure our healthcare system doesn’t just remain in palace, but is improved for all of us.

In Congress I will never vote for a bill that cuts SNAP benefits. Many in our rural communities rely on these benefits including veterans. Again, we are all one bad day away from needing these social security nets.

Pat Wallis: Rural communities like the Morongo Basin face a compounding problem: fewer providers, longer distances, lower incomes, and worse health outcomes — and recent federal cuts are making all of it worse. Almost 20% of district families rely on SNAP. Almost half are on Medicaid. For the people of our district, access to food and healthcare aren’t separate issues.

I will fight to reverse the OBBBA’s SNAP cuts, which are projected to strip CalFresh benefits from almost 400,000 Californians. SNAP is one of the most effective anti-hunger programs we have. Obernolte calls it fiscal responsibility, but cutting it in a food desert is just callous, it’s irresponsible.

Real food security requires planning, and as part of the planned district-wide economic development plan, I support investment in local food economies — regional processing, cold storage, and farm-to-table distribution — so producers aren’t shipping food hundreds of miles only to ship it back.

On healthcare, I support Medicare for All. In the US, we pay ~$14,000 per person for healthcare. In other developed democracies, the totals are half that. To justify these outrageous costs, we’re told we’re getting the best healthcare in the world. If that’s so, why is our average lifespan just 79 years compared to the 83 years in these other countries?

I know firsthand the peace of mind that comes with knowing I will always receive the medical care I need from the Veterans Administration. Every American should have the same access to affordable healthcare that I do.

My other priority is keeping rural hospitals open. They’re already operating at a deficit, and the Medicaid cuts will accelerate closures. I’ll push for federal stabilization funding for rural hospitals and for protected reimbursement rates so providers can continue serving patients here.

As we know, access to healthcare is often an infrastructure problem out here. We hear of telehealth as the rural answer, but that only works if we have reliable broadband and cellular coverage. We are all aware that getting to and from a physical clinic can mean driving on unpaved roads in poor condition. I’ll fight for federal investment in rural broadband, cellular buildout, and road infrastructure as the actual prerequisites for healthcare access here. Without that backbone, every other healthcare promise is just words.

6. Climate & Extreme Weather

The Morongo Basin has seen severe flash floods that damaged homes and roads in recent years. What will you do to help desert communities prepare for and recover from extreme weather?

Tessa Lynn Hodge: First and foremost, protecting our environment and addressing climate change has to be a priority. Investing in new green technologies, shifting away from fossil fuels, and going after corporate polluters will be a priority for me in Congress. Change is hard, and it can be uncomfortable, but we must adapt and embrace new technologies that lessen carbon emissions and truly create energy independence.

To address the immediate need of the severe flash floods in the Morongo Basin the federal government needs to treat disaster preparedness as the priority it should be. I’ve spoken with those who work in the disaster preparedness space and the general consensus is that research is funded, reports are submitted, and the reports with recommendations go into a filing cabinet never to be seen again.

We must start listening to our experts and following the recommendations to avoid loss of life and damage to property. Investing in infrastructure to improve drainage and reinforce vulnerable roads, and having responsible land management can help reduce the impact of extreme weather.

Pat Wallis: Our desert communities face wildfire, high winds and wind damage, earthquakes, and flooding. But our infrastructure and insurance systems weren’t built for any of it at the intensity we’ve seen over recent years.

On preparation, I support significant federal investment in pre-disaster mitigation across all these threats. This includes hardened infrastructure, improved flood control and drainage, defensible space programs, seismic retrofits, wind-resistant building standards, and home hardening grants for the highest-risk properties.

No surprise here, but it’s way cheaper to harden and prepare a home than to rebuild one. The January 2025 LA fires caused tens of billions in damage. The cost of hardening those 13,000 homes would have been a fraction of that. The same logic applies to all the hazards we face in the basin, including flood, wind, and seismic mitigation.

It’s clear the private market is breaking down across CA-23. Personally, my insurer of choice, USAA, quit covering homes in California. My homeowner’s insurance has more than tripled since 2020. Insurers are pulling out, premiums are exploding, and families are being forced from homes they’ve held for generations.

I support a public option for catastrophic disaster coverage backed by a federal reinsurance backstop, with premiums capped so working families and seniors aren’t priced out. Under this proposal, routine home coverage would stay in the private market while catastrophic regional risk would be shared.

During recovery, FEMA and SBA disaster assistance must reach our rural communities. I’ll push for streamlined disaster declarations, faster individual assistance, and federal support for the nonprofits and mutual-aid networks that are usually first on the ground here. Another topic is demanding transparency in insurance risk modeling so homeowners and communities that invest in mitigation see savings on their premiums.

7. Renewable Energy & the Desert Environment

Large-scale solar projects are proposed on desert land near throughout the Morongo Basin. Residents are concerned about grading, dust, and harm to wildlife like the newly endangered Mojave desert tortoise, in addition to the loss of value of their homes. How do you balance the need for renewable energy with protecting desert ecosystems and local communities?

Tessa Lynn Hodge: Too often we have seen large scale projects pushed onto rural communities despite the objections of the residents. The people who live in the Morongo Basin deserve to be heard and respected in these processes. As a born and raised resident of the 23rd who spent the majority of my childhood in the rural community of Phelan, I know why we love our big open desert. The night sky, the quiet, the staring out and being able to see for miles, the seemingly inhospitable desert that we know is full of life. That life, the life of the Mojave Desert Tortoise, the jackrabbits, coyotes, chuckwallas, and so many others deserves to be protected. Protecting them means balancing the need for renewable energy with the need for protecting their habitat.

I support prioritizing renewable energy projects on land that has already been developed or is going to be developed, such as on roof tops, parking structures, or abandoned and idled commercial properties. Additionally, such projects should come with community benefit agreements to ensure that the community is benefitting from these projects. Community benefit agreements would ensure local hiring, investment in infrastructure, and increased protections for homeowners, residents, and small businesses.

Pat Wallis: While I support the transition to clean energy, I will never support turning the Morongo Basin into a sacrifice zone to power someone else’s city.

Renewable projects that fragment the habitats of endangered species, generate dust storms, drain aquifers, and reduce nearby property values aren’t the climate solutions any of us want here. Proposals like this just cost-shift from the urban elite onto rural communities just trying to survive. Moreover, they generate backlash that just delays the broader clean-energy transition we all want.

Any large-scale solar project on desert land must be properly sited, community-informed, and environmentally responsible. It must consider the project’s cumulative environmental impact. This means real local consultation with community representatives. And it means maintaining a preference for using sites on already-disturbed land, like on rooftops, parking lots, brownfields, and degraded sites.

But there’s also a smarter path, one that I’ve personally been researching in my professional work for two decades. Buildings and transportation account for roughly 60% of global carbon emissions. Energy efficiency, passive energy design in buildings, building electrification, and distributed solar on existing structures deliver enormous emission reductions without razing a single acre. It’s our duty to exhaust these paths before sacrificing our desert ecosystems and the home values of the families living here.

8. Public Lands

A Senate budget bill proposes auctioning tens of thousands of acres of BLM public land in and around the Morongo Basin and hi-desert. Public lands are vital to our economy, environment, and way of life. Do you support or oppose these sales, and why?

Tessa Lynn Hodge: I do not support the sale of large amounts of BLM public land in the Morongo Basin and High Desert. Especially when it is done hastily and without the input of local communities. Our desert ecosystem is fragile and is worth protecting, and in our desert environment water conservation must always be a priority.

Selling tens of thousands of acres of BLM land in and around the Morongo Basin could be catastrophic for local water sources which have already experienced overdraft. As climate change continues to become more severe, we are seeing conflicts and disputes over water in many parts of the world, including here in the US. Selling off protected land for development in a water scarce area is not responsible governing.

Pat Wallis: I oppose the proposed sales of BLM public lands in and around the Morongo Basin. However, the auction proposal is just the visible piece of a much larger problem that can’t be understood before we understand where we live.

Roughly 65% of the geographic area of CA-23 is public land — National Park, U.S. Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife, and BLM. That’s not incidental to the 23rd District. It is our district. Over the last 15 years, the budgets for the agencies that manage those lands have been cut by up to 70%. Guess what? The current administration is proposing to slash what remains by another half. That’s problematic for us. The consequences are everywhere we look. We’re seeing more wildfires, and our homeowner’s insurance costs are skyrocketing. On top of that, we’re seeing the abuse of the BLM permitting process and visible degradation of service across the board.

This malign neglect only benefits the deep-pocketed donors who’d like to turn our communities into extraction sites for more solar farms, mining pits, and industrial yards. I’ve been to Keys Ranch in the National Park, and I’ll pass on doing that to the rest of our desert. Selling this land, which is our birthright, is the next step in the same project.

Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding BLM lands are the engine that drives our local economies. The case for keeping these lands public is obvious. There’s no way to replace that with a one-time auction payment.

On top of that, the excuse for these proposed sales as a housing-affordability fix is a sham. We absolutely do not have a land shortage. If anything, we have a glut of hedge funds, speculators, and short-term rental operators converting existing homes into investment properties.

As your US Representative, I’ll vote against any bill or reconciliation language authorizing these sales. Further, I’ll fight to restore full funding for the agencies that manage our public lands and to require genuine local consent for any BLM disposal in CA-23.

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On May 22, 2026 Eli C. Owen’s name was updated to include the middle initial “C.” At the time of publication his election website listed the 25th district, but he officially appears on the ballot in the 23rd and we updated our coverage to reflect this.

HOW TO RUN FOR CITY AND TOWN COUNCIL (2026)

Cindy Bernard — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:03:21 GMT

Photo and logo by Natalie Zuk

Note: This is an update of an article originally written for the 2022 and 2024 elections and the current installment in “Running for Council,” demystifying the process of running for City Council and Town Council. Council seats in Districts 3, 4, and 5 are up for election in November 2026 in Twentynine Palms, and Districts 1, 3, and 5 are up for election in Yucca Valley. Specific deadlines are not yet posted — we will update this article once they are.

Other articles in the series:
ON RUNNING FOR COUNCIL: STEVEN BILDERAIN (2022)
ON RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL: Octavious Scott (2024)

Thinking of running for City Council in Twentynine Palms or Town Council in Yucca Valley? Getting ready to knock on doors, hang out at the farmer’s market, speak to service clubs and work on your Facebook page and Instagram account? In addition to the public aspects of campaigning for office, there is a series of documents that all candidates are required to file with the City Clerk. In the interest of encouraging everyday citizens to run for office, we’re offering potential candidates a heads-up on what to expect. The Nomination period for candidates begins July 13, 2026 and ends on August 6, 2026.1

Multiple candidates running for City Council and Town Council are a sign of engaged communities in a vibrant democracy. However, citizen engagement took a back seat in the Morongo Basin in 2022 when in Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley, six incumbents ran for office and five of them ran unopposed. The only incumbent facing opposition lost.

In 2024, competitive races returned to Twentynine Palms, with contested elections in both Districts 1 and 2. In Yucca Valley, incumbents Jeff Drozd (District 2) and Robert Lombardo (District 4) both ran unopposed. Elections are YOUR chance to take an active role in the future of your city and town.

Twentynine Palms

Edit of Twentynine Palms City Council District Map.

In Twentynine Palms, there are three Council seats on the ballot and three Planning Commission seats appointed after the election, constituting majorities in both bodies. The districts up for election in 2026 are 3, 4, and 5. District 3 is held by Mayor Daniel Mintz, who has served on the Council since 2010 and is now in his fourth term. District 5 is held by McArthur Wright, who has served since 2014. Both Mintz and Wright ran unopposed in 2022.

District 4 is held by Mayor Pro Tem Octavious Scott, who first won his seat in 2022 by unseating incumbent Mayor Karmolette O'Gilvie by just eight votes — the only competitive race in these three districts in recent memory, and a vivid reminder that every vote counts. No formal re-election announcements have been made by any of the three sitting councilmembers.

Thinking about running? As of March 30, District 3 has 1,867 registered voters, District 4 has 1,704, and District 5 has 1,491 — these are the residents you'll need to reach to be successful. District boundaries were updated in 2022, so be sure to double check your district. You may want to use this tool to look up your district.

Yucca Valley

Edit of Yucca Valley Town Council District Map

In Yucca Valley, there are three Council seats on the ballot and three Planning Commission seats appointed after the election. Similar to Twentynine Palms, these seats constitute the majority. The districts up for election in 2026 are 1, 3, and 5. District 1 is currently held by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Schooler, who was first elected in 2018 when Yucca Valley adopted its district-based election system. District 3 is held by Mayor Merl Abel and District 5 is held by Rick Denison, both of whom have served since 2014 — before the town was divided into districts.

None of these three seats has faced a challenger since the district system was adopted in 2018. The last time voters had a competitive choice in what are now Districts 3 and 5 was 2014, when nine candidates ran in a town-wide at-large race. As of March 30, District 1 has 2,540 registered voters, District 3 has 2,790, and District 5 has 2,631 — these are the residents you'll need to reach to win.

You may want to use this tool to look up which which district you reside in. Let’s hope 2026 will see democracy at work with competitive races in Yucca Valley in 2026.

Forms and Dates

Keep in mind that this is a general guide only. We highly recommend contacting your City or Town Clerk for an appointment if you are planning to run. The Clerk will provide you with the documents for 2026 and make the time to review the requirements with you.

Twentynine Palms: Cindy Villescas, (760) 367-6799, cvillescas@29palms.org
Yucca Valley: Brooke Dudra2, (760) 369-7209, townclerk@yucca-valley.org

Basics to know before you run:

Your first question might be “Who’s eligible?” To run for Council you must meet the following requirements:

Citizen of the United States
Registered voter and resident of Twentynine Palms or Yucca Valley
18 years or older
Resident of the district in which you plan to run

In Twentynine Palms, City Council members will be paid $700 per month once newly elected Councilmembers are seated in December. In Yucca Valley, Town Council members are paid $950 per month. Council members also have the option of participating in the City and Town benefit packages. Regular meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month in Twentynine Palms; in Yucca Valley the Town Council meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Additional meetings may be held as needed. The term of office for both Councils is four years.

Required Candidacy Materials

Declaration of Candidacy The required form on which the candidate declares what office they are running for, how their name appears on the ballot, and whether or not they want a short three-word description or short phrase to follow their name. The Nomination period for candidates begins July 13, 2026.
Nomination Papers Signatures are due on August 6, 2026. Candidates need to collect at least 20 to 30 signatures of registered voters residing in the district in which they are running to support their candidacy - check this number with the clerk. These signatures must be collected using forms supplied to the candidate by the City or Town Clerk. Once turned in, the signatures are compared with voter registration lists to determine validity. It is likely that some of the collected signatures will be deemed invalid. Some people think they’ve registered to vote, but haven’t, others have moved and failed to update their address, and in some cases, signatures simply don’t match. Therefore, it’s always best to collect more than the minimum number of signatures required.
Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501, Fair Political Practices Commission, FPPC) Outlines rules for soliciting and receiving donations and for expending personal funds in support of your candidacy. Required to be filed prior to soliciting any contributions or spending any funds.
Statement of Economic Interest (FPPC Form 700) Generally, candidates are required to declare investments, interests in real property, and business positions held on the date of filing the declaration of candidacy. In addition, certain types of income received in the year prior to filing the declaration of candidacy must be reported. This declaration of personal financial interests is necessary to ensure candidates are acting in the public’s interest and not their own. Going through this process also serves as a reminder of potential conflicts of interest. The City or Town Clerk will review the exact reporting requirements with you.
Candidate Statement Form and Candidate Statement This is the written statement supplied by the candidate that is printed in the Voter Information Guide and the form that accompanies it. Candidate statements for local office are 200 words or fewer and must follow strict content guidelines. Statements are limited to the candidate’s own background, qualifications, and platform. The candidate is prohibited from mentioning other candidates in their statement. Candidates are required to cover the costs of printing and translating their statement, usually around $150 but confirm with the clerk. Candidate statements are optional.

Overall, City and Town Council candidates can expect to pay approximately $200 to $400 in filing fees and associated costs. This is in addition to expenditures on materials promoting their candidacy.

If you do decide to run, be sure to contact editor@deserttrumpet.org so we can interview you and include you in our candidate forum — watch this space for the date!

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Updated for nomination period dates on June 4.

Corrected after publication April 5th, the prior City Clerk was Lesley Copeland.

Morongo Basin Elections 2026

Natalie Zuk — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:03:14 GMT

Scorpius Arch in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Natalie Zuk

It’s that time again—election season. The California Primary is fast approaching. Here is the timeline:

May 4: County election officials will be mailing ballots to registered voters for the June Primary
May 18: The last day to register to vote
June 2: Primary Election; Californians will decide the top contenders for Governor, Congress, State Assembly, and a handful of other elected offices. The June primary will determine which top two governor and congressional candidates will proceed to the November general election.
November 3: General Election; the top two candidates from the primary races will face off and Californians will get to cast their votes for governor, Congress, and local elected offices such as city council, school board, and water district.

Typically, voter turnout during non-presidential elections is lower than usual. In 2024, despite it being a presidential election, voter turnout was unexpectedly low. For the first time in many election cycles, San Bernardino County formally flipped from blue to red with Republican Donald Trump winning over the majority of county voters against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Many voters cited rising costs and the economy as their reasons for supporting Republican candidates.

Now, two years into Trump’s second presidential term, with gas prices higher than average, continued inflationary concerns, and military conflicts in the Middle East between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, some are experiencing voter’s remorse.

Currently, Republicans hold 53 seats in the U.S. Senate with Democrats holding 47 seats. In the House of Representatives, Republicans hold a slim 217 seat majority, with Democrats occupying 214 seats out of the 435 with three vacancies.

Preliminary elections in historically Republican states such as Texas have shown both parties will have highly competitive races as November approaches. Citing the Republican presidential administration’s poor track record involving human rights violations with ICE, mass deportations among immigrant communities, war in the Middle East, and continued economic woes, many Democratic contenders are hoping—and banking—on this year’s midterm elections to flip some districts.

State of California

Gubernatorial Race

The State of California has a two-term limit on governors. Gavin Newsom will term out in 2027, making 2026 a contentious election for leader of the world’s fifth largest economy. Per a March 23rd poll conducted by Evitarus, the top two emerging front runners are both members of the California Republican Party— Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco. The last Republican to be elected governor of California was Arnold Schwarzenegger who served from 2003 to 2011.

Given the state’s top-two primary system, meaning the top two candidates in the primary will advance to a run off race in the general election regardless of party affiliation, this means that California voters could be left with two Republican candidate options for the November ticket.

One name in particular has sparked more headlines—and controversy— than others. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announced his candidacy for the Republican ticket in early 2025. Bianco made headlines in March 2026 when, using his role as Sheriff of Riverside County, he seized approximately 650,000 ballots as part of an investigation into what he alleged was voter fraud regarding California’s Proposition 50 election, which was a successful redistricting measure proposed by the California Democratic Party that sought to offset Republican gerrymandering in Texas. Prop 50 passed in November 2025 by nearly two-to-one margins, winning over 64% of voters.

As for Democratic candidates, the California Secretary of State website lists 24 individuals seeking the governor’s position with no sign of backing down despite calls from Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks for candidates to drop or risk forfeiting the November ticket to two Republicans.

Out of those, recent polling shows three candidates are emerging frontrunners for the Democratic ticket— Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter, and Tom Steyer. The question remains if the California Democratic Party can rally behind a single candidate in time for the June primary.

House of Representatives— Prop 50 Divides the Morongo Basin

Updated maps of Congressional Districts 23 and 25 show areas south of the Twentynine Palms Marine Base now fall under District 25. Image source.

Following publication of U.S. Census results, most states redraw their election districts every ten years. In California, this decade-long map process is conducted via an independent redistricting commission. In response to mid-decade redistricting efforts in Texas, California’s Prop 50, known as the “Election Rigging Response Act,” passed in November 2025. Prop 50 temporarily suspended that tradition, triggering a mid-decade redraw of California’s Congressional maps.

Prior to Prop 50’s passage, the Morongo Basin fell under Congressional District 23, currently represented by Congressman Jay Obernolte. Prop 50’s new map redraws local Congressional districts for the 2027 session and splits the Morongo Basin between District 23 and 25, meaning Obernolte will not be on the upcoming ballot for the majority of Twentynine Palms or Wonder Valley residents.

Areas east of Joshua Tree, including Twentynine Palms and Wonder Valley, now fall under District 25 which is currently represented by Congressman Raul Ruiz. Residents in Desert Heights and Joshua Tree still fall within District 23 under Obernolte.

Candidates vying for District 23 include Republican incumbent Jay Obernolte, of Big Bear, and three Democratic candidates— Tessa Lynn Hodge of Apple Valley, Karsten Nicholson of Crestline, and Pat Wallis of Yucca Valley. One independent candidate is also running in District 23— Dr. Karen Leigh Matthews of Loma Linda.

The District 25 map encompasses areas such as Twentynine Palms, Wonder Valley, Banning, and as south as the U.S.-Mexico border.

District 25 candidates include Democrat incumbent, Dr. Raul Ruiz of Coachella, and three Republicans— Ceci Truman of Menifee, Ronald Huffman of Beaumont, and Joe Males of Hemet.

State Assembly District 34

Assembly District 34 is currently represented by Republican Tom Lackey. AD34 covers Twentynine Palms, portions of Big Bear Lake, Johnson Valley, Lucerne Valley, Barstow, and part of Lancaster. A current map of AD34 is available here.

Vying for Assembly District 34 is Republican Charles Hughes of Antelope Valley and Democrat Randall Putz of Big Bear Lake.

State Assembly District 47

A current map of California Assembly District 47 is linked here, which covers large portions of the Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs, Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley.

Running against Republican and incumbent Greg Wallis in Assembly District 47 is Democrat Leila Namvar of La Quinta, and Democrat Jason Byors of Palm Springs.

Previous Desert Trumpet coverage of Assembly Districts 34 and 47 is linked here.

Morongo Basin Elections

Twentynine Palms City Council

Daniel Mintz, Octavious Scott, and McArthur Wright at a recent Twentynine Palms City Council meeting. Photo by Natalie Zuk

The City of Twentynine Palms will have three City Council seats up for election in November—Districts 3, 4, and 5. District 3 is currently represented by Mayor Daniel Mintz, District 4 is represented by Mayor Pro Tem Octavious Scott, and District 5 is represented by McArthur Wright. Councilmembers serve four-year terms and meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. The City has yet to post this year’s election information.

Yucca Valley Town Council

From left to right, Yucca Valley Town Council members Jim Schooler, Robert Lombardo, Rick Denison, Merl Abel, and Jeff Drozd. Photo Source: Town of Yucca Valley

Yucca Valley Town Council will have three seats featured on the November ballot. Those are Districts 1, 3, and 5. District 1 is currently represented by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Schooler, District 3 represented by Mayor Merl Abel, and District 5 is represented by Rick Denison. Members of the YVTC meet every first and third Tuesday of the month at 5 pm. A district map of Yucca Valley is available here. In 2024 Jeff Drozd and Robert Lombardo ran unopposed.

School Boards

Morongo Basin Unified School District Board of Education

Three seats out of five will be represented on the November ballot, with terms set to expire in December 2026 in Trustee Areas 1, 4, and 5.

Trustee Area 1 is currently represented by Missy Bond, who was appointed to District 1 in June 2025 following the resignation of Board of Trustee member Karalee Hargrove. Area 1 generally covers Twentynine Palms. Trustee Area 4, which represents the areas of Yucca Valley east of Kickapoo Trail and west of La Contenta, is represented by Board President Christopher Claire. Area 5, which covers Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, Desert Heights, and areas east of Airway Drive and as north as Giant Rock Road, is represented by Board Clerk Roberta Myers.

A district look-up tool is available here to see which Trustee Area you live in.

Copper Mountain College

A map of the Copper Mountain College Board of Trustee areas is available on the CMC website, linked here.

At Copper Mountain College, Areas 4 and 5 have terms set to expire in 2026. Representatives on the 5-member Board of Trustees serve two-year terms. Area 4 is currently represented by Chuck Uyeda and Area 5 is represented by Anna Stump.

Screenshot from Copper Mountain College website.

Local Water Districts

Joshua Basin Water District

Division Map of the Joshua Basin Water District. Source.

At the Joshua Basin Water District, two of five divisions will be on the November ballot— Division 1 is currently represented by Tyler Short, and David Fick, Director of JBWD is representative of Division 2 with both terms set to expire in 2026. A map of JBWD is available here, and a link on “How To Become A Board Member” with pertinent Registrar of Voter information can be found on the JBWD website.

Twentynine Palms Water District

Three members of the Twentynine Palms Water District have terms expiring in December 2026—President Bob Coghill Jr., Vice President Randy Leazer, and Director Amy Woods. These are open seats, which means TPWD board members are not divided by area with the only requirement to run being residency within the district lines. Board members meet every 4th Wednesday of the month. A map of TPWD is available here, with pertinent election information available here.

Hi-Desert Water District

Hi-Desert Water District Board of Directors, from left to right, Roger Mayes, Sheldon Hough, Sue Tsuda, Scot McKone, and Bob Stadum. Photo source: Hi-Desert Water District.

Three of five Board of Director seats will be up for election at the Hi-Desert Water District—District 1, currently represented by President Sue Tsuda, District 3, represented by Roger Mayes, and District 5, represented by Sheldon Hough. The district transitioned from open seats to districts in 2022—a district map is available here.

San Bernardino County Supervisor

The 5-member County Board of Supervisors will have two seats up for election this cycle. District 2, currently represented by Republican Jesse Armendarez III of Fontana, and District 4, represented by Republican Curtis Hagman of Chino Hills, will be featured on November ballots. Running against Armendarez is Democrat Jesus “Jesse” Sandoval, Fontana City Councilmember, and running against Hagman is Democrat Christina Gagnier. District 3, which covers the Morongo Basin, is currently represented by Dawn Rowe.

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