Valley voters on Nov. 5 will choose between Democratic incumbent Esmeralda Soria or Republican challenger Joanna Garcia Rose to represent California’s 27th Assembly district, which includes parts of Merced, Madera and Fresno counties.

Merced Focus Staff

Those interested in learning more about the candidates will have a chance to see where they stand on key issues during a forum from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. this Friday (Oct. 18)

Fresnoland and its partners The Merced FOCUS and KVPR, along with The Maddy Institute and the League of Women Voters Fresno, will host the forum at CMAC in downtown Fresno.

The event will also be livestreamed on the CMAC and Fresnoland Facebook pages. Reserve a spot to attend in person at the CMAC studio.

What’s at Stake in the Race?

A victory would give Soria a second term in the state Assembly, and take her into a second decade of service as a politician serving the Central Valley. Her first term in the Assembly began after a victory over Republican and former Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin in November 2022.

Though an early-career politician, Republican challenger Joanna Garcia Rose has run for public office before. In 2014, Rose ran unsuccessfully for the state’s 16th Congressional District seat.

Read more about the candidates and the issues in the district in Fresnoland’s election guide.