Democrat and GOP Candidates Join 33rd Assembly District Race Following Asm. Devon Mathis Announcing his Last Term

The race for the 33rd Assembly District, which covers much of the lower central Central Valley, heated up this week with both prominent Republicans and Democrats joining in the race for the highly contested seat.

The 33rd district race has only officially been going on since Monday when incumbent Assemblyman Devon Mathis (R-Porterville) announced that this will be his last term after a decade in office.

“Out of all of the decisions I’ve had to make since joining the Assembly, my decision to retire is probably the hardest one,” said Mathis in an announcement on Monday. “Even as a kid, I knew that I wanted to engage in public service but was unsure about how exactly to do so. After serving 12 years in the Army National Guard, where I was wounded by an IED in Iraq, I knew that I still wanted to give back to the community that has given me so much. This led me to run for public office, where I was able to win a seat in the Assembly despite having all the odds stacked against a guy like me. For almost a decade, I have had the distinct honor of serving the Central Valley as the Assemblyman for the 26th District, and then for the 33rd District.

“As I retire from the Assembly, I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family, who have always been supportive of me. Despite my time in the Legislature coming to a close, my involvement with public service will continue. Once my term ends, I look forward to working with District Stakeholders on projects that will benefit the Valley. I will release more information as time progresses.

“I want to thank the people of the Valley for continuously placing their trust and support in me over my tenure. I also want to thank everyone who worked with me and my team over these years. The Valley is a better place because of your hard work and dedication. It has been the honor of a lifetime to have been able to serve you all these years. I look forward to continuing to serve the Valley and our Communities in a different capacity in the years to come.”

An open 33rd Assembly District

With Mathis’s announcement, candidates from both political parties began mulling races for the suddenly open seat. While Democrats have been seeing an increasing presence in the district, which covers Kings County, Tulare County, and part of Fresno County, Republicans, and conservative voters in general, still hold a majority. Tellingly, Mathis has always managed convincing victories each time he has run, with Donald Trump receiving 54% of the vote in the past two elections, and Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden getting 40% and 43% respectively.

Angel Ruiz, a community organizer who began his career with the Dolores Huerta Foundation and labor rights activism, announced a run shortly following Mathis’ announcement on Monday. Ruiz stated on Monday that “As we move into a new chapter for Assembly District 33, it’s vital to embrace innovative solutions that address our community’s unique needs. I am committed to dynamic and thoughtful leadership that ensures our district’s continued growth and success.”

However, all eyes were on who Mathis would back to succeed him. After only a few days, Alexandra Macedo, a lawyer and president of Macedo Environmental Consulting, announced her run for the Assembly seat.

“I am running for State Assembly to be a voice for the farmers, families, and small businesses of the Central Valley,” said Macedo, who comes from an agricultural family. “It’s time we change the direction of our state by suspending the gas tax, passing policies that support our farmers, and creating more opportunities for hardworking people to get ahead.”

Mathis then quickly backed Macedo, adding in a post on X that “For nearly a decade, many of you have trusted my leadership and insight. I humbly ask you all to support Alexandra Macedo. She has my full support.”

For nearly a decade, many of you have trusted my leadership and insight. I humbly ask you all to support @Macedo4Assembly she has my full support. https://t.co/DTKNPj0Ooq

— Devon J. Mathis (@devonjmathis) November 28, 2023

While other candidates can possibly enter the race soon, Mathis’ backing of Macedo, as well as a weaker Democratic Party in the region, means that a Macedo-Ruiz election will be the likely battle for the district next year.

“Neither have elected experience, but both have been around politics for a long time,” explained Gus Ward, a political event organizer in Southeastern California, to the Globe. “Unless Ruiz and the Democrats can really give a compelling reason to vote for him, Macedo is likely to be elected to the Assembly. A lot of Republicans will be coming out in the district to vote for President, and that boost will trickle down to other GOP candidates. Plus Macedo will likely speak to the many farmers in the area. They are a very crucial core of voters in the district. If she adds in something about wanting to preserve the Mojave Desert and wilderness area, she is golden.”

An initial poll between the two candidates is likely to come out in the coming months.