Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Close Battle for Tulare Assembly Seat. GOP's Mathis Reclaims Lead Over Dem Phelps.
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
November 4, 2020

Share

Incumbent Devon Mathis (R) is battling Drew Phelps (D) for the California State Assembly District 26 seat.

District 26 Map

The district straddles the southern Sierra Nevada. It encompasses part of the southeastern Central Valley, where most of its population resides, and nearly all of the Owens Valley.

District 26 includes: Inyo County – Bishop, Kern County – Lake Isabella, Tulare County – Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, Woodlake

Candidate Backgrounds

Devon Mathis has represented California’s 26th Assembly District since 2014. Before joining the Assembly, Devon served his country for 10 years as a Sergeant in the Army National Guard, including two tours in Iraq. During his second tour in Iraq, Devon was severely injured in a roadside bomb attack, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Fresno State, and an associate degree in social sciences from Porterville College. Devon and his wife, Aubrey live in Visalia with their five children.

Drew Phelps was born and raised in the 26th District, attending St. Aloysius in Tulare for K-8. From his childhood, Drew engaged with the community around him, participating in youth programs and sports, academic competitions, and volunteering with local nonprofits and his church. In high school, Drew maintained his commitment to serving others, winning the City of Tulare’s “Volunteer of the Year” award for his work with the Tulare Senior Center and Meals on Wheels, among other organizations. (Disclosure: Drew Phelps works in land use and project management for Granville Homes.)

Phelps, who held a slim lead early before falling behind late in the evening, said he’s watching the numbers intently.

“I would say it’s really too early to call,” says Phelps. “It’s a good feeling to be in a good position and within striking distance. It does confirm that we ran the campaign that we had hoped to run, a really solid grass roots campaign.”

GV Wire℠ was not able to reach Mathis for an interview Tuesday night.

Election Results

According to the California Secretary of State office – with 93.1% of the precincts reporting:

Phelps has 43,032 votes, representing 48% of the vote total.

Mathis has 46,628 votes, representing 52% of the vote total.

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

Sinner Bids for His First French Open Title Against Defending Champion Alcaraz

DON'T MISS

Coco Gauff Defeats Top-Ranked Aryna Sabalenka in 3 Sets to Win Her First French Open Title

DON'T MISS

Texas Beats Texas Tech in 3rd Game of WCWS to Win Its 1st National Championship

DON'T MISS

Conforto Comes Through, Dodgers Rally in 8th for Victory Abetted by Mets Mishap

DON'T MISS

Giants Beat the Slumping Braves in 10 Innings on a Wild Pitch

DON'T MISS

Trans Troops, Facing a Deadline, Opt to Stay and Fight the Ban

DON'T MISS

Can This 14-Year-Old Football Star Become a High School Millionaire?

DON'T MISS

Trump EPA Moves to Roll Back Rules Projected to Save Billions of Dollars and Thousands of Lives

DON'T MISS

Valley Foster Care Agencies Are Facing an Insurance Crisis and Possible Closure

DON'T MISS

World’s Largest Almond Processor Will Shutter Sacramento Plant. 600 Workers Impacted

UP NEXT

World’s Largest Almond Processor Will Shutter Sacramento Plant. 600 Workers Impacted

UP NEXT

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

UP NEXT

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

UP NEXT

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

UP NEXT

Doctors Were Preparing to Remove Their Organs. Then They Woke Up.

UP NEXT

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

UP NEXT

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

UP NEXT

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

UP NEXT

Documentary Series Goes Inside Trump’s Bubble

UP NEXT

Newsom Promises Funding to Jump-Start ‘Science of Reading’

Conforto Comes Through, Dodgers Rally in 8th for Victory Abetted by Mets Mishap

6 hours ago

Giants Beat the Slumping Braves in 10 Innings on a Wild Pitch

6 hours ago

Trans Troops, Facing a Deadline, Opt to Stay and Fight the Ban

7 hours ago

Can This 14-Year-Old Football Star Become a High School Millionaire?

8 hours ago

Trump EPA Moves to Roll Back Rules Projected to Save Billions of Dollars and Thousands of Lives

8 hours ago

Valley Foster Care Agencies Are Facing an Insurance Crisis and Possible Closure

8 hours ago

World’s Largest Almond Processor Will Shutter Sacramento Plant. 600 Workers Impacted

22 hours ago

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

23 hours ago

Farming Regulation Costs Rise 1,300% Since 2006: Cal Poly

23 hours ago

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

24 hours ago

Sinner Bids for His First French Open Title Against Defending Champion Alcaraz

PARIS — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner has not yet dropped a set in his bid to win the French Open for the first time. Defending champion Carlos A...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Sinner Bids for His First French Open Title Against Defending Champion Alcaraz

6 hours ago

Coco Gauff Defeats Top-Ranked Aryna Sabalenka in 3 Sets to Win Her First French Open Title

6 hours ago

Texas Beats Texas Tech in 3rd Game of WCWS to Win Its 1st National Championship

6 hours ago

Conforto Comes Through, Dodgers Rally in 8th for Victory Abetted by Mets Mishap

6 hours ago

Giants Beat the Slumping Braves in 10 Innings on a Wild Pitch

8 hours ago

Trans Troops, Facing a Deadline, Opt to Stay and Fight the Ban

9 hours ago

Can This 14-Year-Old Football Star Become a High School Millionaire?

9 hours ago

Trump EPA Moves to Roll Back Rules Projected to Save Billions of Dollars and Thousands of Lives

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

Search

Send this to a friend