Special Election For Former Assemblyman Bill Essayli’s Seat Announced for August 26th

Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that a special election to fill the seat of former Assemblyman Bill Essayli will be held on August 26, 2025, giving candidates just over four months to declare for the race and mount campaigns for the seat.

An Assemblyman since 2022 for the Riverside County-centric 63rd Assembly District, Essayli was appointed by President Donald Trump to be the new U.S. Attorney for the Los Angeles-based Central District of California earlier this month. He accepted and shortly afterwards resigned from the Assembly.

This led to Newsom’s special proclamation on Monday.

“I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim and order the following that a special election shall beheld on the 26th day of August 2025, within the 63rd Assembly District of the State, to fill the vacancy in the office of State Assembly Member from that district resulting from the resignation of Assembly Member Bill Essayli,” said Newsom in an announcement on Monday.

“IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 14th day of April 2025.”

The western Riverside County district is widely believed to be a near lock for the GOP. In 2022, Essayli won the district with 58.6% of the vote, and in 2024, was reelected with 57.3% of the vote. As a whole, the GOP has about a 6 point lead over the Democrats. Top Republicans in the state have shown to not be too worried about the district, as shown by the 2022 results where the non-incumbent Essayli won by a near-landslide.

“I’m confident that Essayli will be succeeded by another Republican,” said Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) earlier this month. “Californians know that the crime, homelessness, and high cost of living plaguing our state are a direct result of Gavin Newsom and his Democrat enablers in the Legislature.”

Natasha Johnson, Chris Shoults enter race

One Republican has entered the race so far: Lake Elsinore City Councilwoman and former Mayor of Lake Elsinore Natasha Johnson, who entered the race less than 48 hours after Essayli resigned.

“I will be a fearless advocate for our region and fight to restore common sense in Sacramento,” said Johnson. “I’m running for State Assembly because California needs leaders who understand the struggles of everyday families, small business owners, and hard-working people.”

She has also received endorsements, with high profile names including Riverside County Sheriff and 2026 Gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco and Essayli himself.

“I’ve selected Natasha because I know that she is a fighter and she will carry on my message and the battles that we’ve had in Sacramento whether that’s on public safety or parental rights,” said Essayli earlier this month.

On the Democratic side, public school teacher and local teacher union leader Chris Shoults has already announced his candidacy, running for the second time in a row following his November loss to Essayli.

“For too long, Bill Essayli has put his own political ambitions ahead of the people he was elected to serve — stirring up division, chasing headlines and failing to deliver for our communities,” said Shoults last week on X. “We now have a great opportunity to change that. Our district deserves a leader who will focus on real issues like lowering the cost of living, improving education, and making our communities safer — not fueling partisan chaos.

“I’m running to represent Assembly District 63—because it’s time Southwestern Riverside County had a voice in Sacramento that actually delivers for working families, small businesses, the our next generation. In 2024, we proved what’s possible when people come together—building a grassroots movement that earned the largest increase in vote share from 2022 of any Democratic legislative candidate in Riverside County. Now, we have a rare and urgent opportunity to finish what we started. This special election isn’t just about one seat—it’s about building a better future for all of us. One that’s rooted in solutions, not partisanship.”

While other candidates entering the race are likely, the fact that Johnson and Shoults have received significant backing early on have made them their respective parties favorites. Should no candidate get at least 50% of the vote in August, a run-off between the top two candidates is to occur a few months later.