Esmeralda Soria plans to run for state Assembly.

GV Wire has learned the Democratic Fresno City Councilmember has talked with multiple people in the community about her possible run and is putting together a campaign team.

Soria is in her second and final term, set to expire in January 2023. She would run for in the redrawn Assembly district that includes much of the area currently represented by Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno.

Arambula, sources tell GV Wire, is considering a run for Congress. Although boundary lines are still being determined by the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission, the congressional seat will roughly cover south Fresno, and parts of Fresno and Tulare counties.

A final map is due by Dec. 27.

Soria would be the second Fresno councilmember expressing interest in the potentially open Assembly seat. Nelson Esparza is also considering, sources tell GV Wire.

Esparza is in his first council term, representing central Fresno. He can run for re-election in 2022.

Tulare Sheriff Considering Run

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreux, R-Springville, tells GV Wire he is also considering a run for Congress.

“I’m not saying yes, I’m not saying no,” Boudreaux said.

Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, announced he is leaving Congress at the end of the month, in the middle of his 10th term.

That would trigger a special election within the current district lines, which cover Visalia, Tulare, Clovis and north Fresno. The winner would hold the seat through January 2023.

Boudreaux called holding the seat for six months a “fruitless endeavor.”

The election for the full-term seat is set for a primary in June 2022 and a general election in November.

Boudreaux, first appointed sheriff in October 2013 and winning re-election in 2014 and 2018 said it would be hard to leave his job. If he runs for Congress, he would likely not be able to run for sheriff again.

“My love is for the sheriff’s office and who I serve,” he said.

Grove: Not Interested

Another south Valley politician says she is out.

“I’m not interested in Congress” state Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, told GV Wire. Grove, serving her first term, is eligible to run for re-election in 2022.

Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, says he will not run for Congress, opting instead to run for re-election to the Assembly.

Others Considering Run

Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, R-Clovis, declared his intention to run in the special election, as well as the regular election.

It is not known which congressional district he is targeting for the June regular election. The current CCRC lines have north Fresno and Clovis paired with a portion of Bakersfield — the latter represented by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield.

There is a seat designated “ECA” which would include several mountain counties and possibly Modesto. Magsig running in that area is a possibility.

State Sen. Andreas Borgeas, R-Fresno, has opened a congressional campaign finance committee. He stated he is strongly considering running.

Other names expressing interest include Fresno City Councilmember Garry Bredefeld, R-Fresno; Assemblyman Devon Mathis, R-Visalia; and Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau, R-Fresno.

Mathis says he is leaning toward a run for the full-term seat, depending on the lines.

Democrats already planning to run in the regular election — Phil Arballo, Lourin Hubbard and Eric Garcia — say they will run in the special election as well.