Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Thai Fighter Jet Bombs Cambodian Targets as Border Battle Escalates

6 hours ago

California Cannot Require Background Checks to Buy Ammunition, US Appeals Court Rules

8 hours ago

Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan Dies at 71, TMZ Reports

9 hours ago

TikTok Will Go Dark in US Without Chinese Approval of Sale Deal, Lutnick Says

9 hours ago

Meme Stock Surge Underlines Market Froth, Mostly Centered on Retail Investors

10 hours ago

Fresno County Authorities Still Searching for Missing Mother and Infant

10 hours ago

California Releases Teacher Data. It Shows Big Rise in Hispanic Teachers

10 hours ago

Biting a Bat and 5 Other Wild Moments From Ozzy Osbourne’s Life

11 hours ago

Henry Thompson Did Wonders for Fresno Airport, Leaves ‘Incredibly Big Shoes to Fill’

1 day ago
Soria: Why I'm Taking on Fellow Democrat Costa for Congress
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
July 13, 2019

Share

It doesn’t matter to Esmeralda Soria that she is running for a House seat against a fellow Democrat, and an eight-term incumbent at that.
“My goal is to convince every single person in our community, beyond our Democratic party, that I am the candidate that will best represent them in Congress,” said Soria, who on Thursday officially announced her bid to win the job held by Rep. Jim Costa. The 16th District seat goes to the voters in 2020.
On Friday, Soria expressed some of the arguments against Costa that can be found in the graveyards of campaigns run against the congressman by Republicans Andy Vidak, Johnny Tacherra, and Elizabeth Heng.

‘This is Not Personal’

A crucial difference is that Soria is a Democrat, and one with a track record. She has served the last four-plus years as a Fresno council member, representing District 1 on the city’s west side.
“This is not personal,” Soria said of running against a fellow Democrat. “This campaign is about my family, families like mine that continue to struggle.”
Costa said Thursday he was “disappointed” that Soria had chosen to oppose him. “She has been a longtime ally and she’s endorsed me before. I’ve met with her a number of times since November and never once did she indicate she regretted that endorsement or question my efforts on the issues I’ve been fighting for.”
By challenging an established Democratic lawmaker — Costa was first elected to Congress in 2005 — Soria risks not getting party support on a national level. Not so, she said.
“I believe that my team will work so hard that we will get the party support. Because we’ve been there,” Soria said. “We’ve represented our community and we’ll work hard to do that.”

VIDEO: Esmeralda Soria talks about immigration reform and ICE

Working to Win Support of Local Democrats

Costa already has endorsements from California’s two U.S. senators — Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris — along with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
Soria said she has endorsements of her own, in Fresno and beyond, that will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, she will work to win the support of local Democrats.
“I’m stepping up for my family and my community,” Soria said. “There are too many working families in our Valley that have played by the rules, that have worked hard, are trying to send their kids to college and they are barely struggling to get by. I want to make sure in Congress they have a voice that understands their trials and tribulations.”
Soria said Costa isn’t doing enough. “We are not getting our fair share,” she said. “We need to make sure that we do get our fair share so that we are building our middle class.”

Says She Won’t Accept Corporate Donations

Asked what sets her apart, Soria said she is “someone that will work hard, that is results-oriented. And I’ve proven that in the last five years, locally, not only to the District 1 residents, but throughout the citizens of Fresno,” Soria said.
“My campaign is about the working families in the Valley that need a voice.”
Soria vows to not accept corporate PAC money in her congressional campaign. That would be a departure from her council campaign in 2018, when she took donations from the likes of Union Pacific Railroad, Pacific Gas & Electric, and the California Independent Petroleum Association PAC.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

The Entz Era Begins at Fresno State With QB Job Up for Grabs

DON'T MISS

Hoover High School Coach Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

DON'T MISS

Hulk Hogan Is Gone, but Hulkamania Rolls On in Fresno and Around the Globe

DON'T MISS

Fresno Brewery Teams With Japanese Sister City on Rice Lager Release

DON'T MISS

US Justice Department Official Meets Epstein Associate Maxwell

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Arrest Two in Mail Theft During Organized Retail Crime Detail

DON'T MISS

California Political Lobbying Firm Agrees to Settle Federal Fraud Allegations

DON'T MISS

Lara Trump Skips North Carolina US Senate Race, Clears Way for Cooper Versus Whatley

DON'T MISS

Madera County Authorities Dismantle Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation

DON'T MISS

Israel and US Recall Teams From Gaza Truce Talks, US Says Hamas Not Showing Good Faith

UP NEXT

Hoover High School Coach Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

UP NEXT

Fresno Brewery Teams With Japanese Sister City on Rice Lager Release

UP NEXT

Tulare County Judge Reduces Sentence for Teen Convicted in Killing Orosi Teacher

UP NEXT

West Coast Rapper YG to Perform at 2025 Big Fresno Fair

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Cesar Fernandez

UP NEXT

Video-Sharing App Vine Is Returning ‘in AI Form’, Musk Says

UP NEXT

CBS News Taps Tanya Simon as New Boss of ’60 Minutes’ After Trump Lawsuit

UP NEXT

Tulare County Gang Member Booked in Attempted Murder of Two Teens

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Still Searching for Missing Mother and Infant

UP NEXT

Protesters in Tel Aviv Call for Israel to End Hunger and Gaza War

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Fresno Brewery Teams With Japanese Sister City on Rice Lager Release

3 hours ago

US Justice Department Official Meets Epstein Associate Maxwell

3 hours ago

Clovis Police Arrest Two in Mail Theft During Organized Retail Crime Detail

4 hours ago

California Political Lobbying Firm Agrees to Settle Federal Fraud Allegations

4 hours ago

Lara Trump Skips North Carolina US Senate Race, Clears Way for Cooper Versus Whatley

4 hours ago

Madera County Authorities Dismantle Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation

4 hours ago

Israel and US Recall Teams From Gaza Truce Talks, US Says Hamas Not Showing Good Faith

5 hours ago

How Long Will Fresno’s Resort-Like Summer Weather Continue?

5 hours ago

Tulare County Judge Reduces Sentence for Teen Convicted in Killing Orosi Teacher

6 hours ago

Thai Fighter Jet Bombs Cambodian Targets as Border Battle Escalates

6 hours ago

The Entz Era Begins at Fresno State With QB Job Up for Grabs

Fresno State’s first football practice of 2025 began with a flyover. While the military jet’s path may have been coincidental, t...

24 minutes ago

24 minutes ago

The Entz Era Begins at Fresno State With QB Job Up for Grabs

Miguel Lara, a Hoover High School soccer coach, was arrested Thursday for possessing child sexual abuse material, authorities said.
40 minutes ago

Hoover High School Coach Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

45 minutes ago

Hulk Hogan Is Gone, but Hulkamania Rolls On in Fresno and Around the Globe

3 hours ago

Fresno Brewery Teams With Japanese Sister City on Rice Lager Release

Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell stands at the podium to address Judge Alison Nathan during her sentencing in a courtroom sketch in New York City, U.S. June 28, 2022. (Reuters File)
3 hours ago

US Justice Department Official Meets Epstein Associate Maxwell

4 hours ago

Clovis Police Arrest Two in Mail Theft During Organized Retail Crime Detail

4 hours ago

California Political Lobbying Firm Agrees to Settle Federal Fraud Allegations

Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, looks on, before President Trump signs the "Genius Act", which will develop regulatory framework for stablecoin cryptocurrencies and expand oversight of the industry, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 18, 2025. (Reuters File)
4 hours ago

Lara Trump Skips North Carolina US Senate Race, Clears Way for Cooper Versus Whatley

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend