In reprise of primary, Arámbula and Verduzco vie to represent the 31st Assembly District
Dr. Joaquín Arámbula, a Fresno Democrat, has represented the Fresno-Clovis area in the state Assembly since winning a special election in 2016.
He's seeking re-election to the 31st Assembly District seat again on the November ballot, facing Republican challenger Solomon Verduzco. The pair first faced off in the March 5 primary to earn a place in the Nov. 5 general election.
The 31st Assembly District sits entirely within Fresno County and includes much of Fresno and Clovis, as well as the communities of Sanger, Selma, Fowler, Parlier and Orange Cove to the south and southeast of Fresno. The district's population is more than two-thirds Latino, and almost half of the registered voters are Democrats – about 47%, compared to 26.7% Republican and 21.3% with no party preference.
Arámbula, 46, a medical doctor, had never received less than 60% of the vote in the district in previous elections. In the primary, he outpolled Verduzco by a margin of 59.97% to 40.03%. In addition to serving on the Assembly's Appropriations, Health, Higher Education committees and other legislative committees, Arámbula is the Assembly's ex officio, non-voting representative on the California High-Speed Rail Authority board of directors.
Verduzco, a 21-year-old student who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in justice studies with a goal of attending law school, describes himself as a political commentator and community volunteer with "years of dedicated study in public policy."
