David Tangipa may be a political newcomer, but he is not new to pressure situations.

Tangipa, R-Clovis, leads in his race for state Assembly against political veteran George Radanovich, 53% to 47%, with all precincts reporting, the Secretary of State reports as of Tuesday morning.

The former Fresno State tight end compared his campaign to his football playing career.

“I don’t know which is scarier — opening … at Alabama or right now? But I feel good. I leave it up to God with everything that we’ve done. We’ve put in a lot of work,” Tangipa said from his election night party at The Field House in Fresno.

Radanovich, R-Mariposa, is a former U.S. congressmember from 1995 through 2011. He has run in several races during his career. Tangipa is a field representative for Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig.

“If I could be a strong voice for the Valley and make sure that we’re also representing the mountain community, it’s something that I’ve done with Supervisor Nathan Magsig, something that I want to carry — I think we’ve been the embodiment of what it means to be public servants again, as long as I can be a servant to the public, that’s what we want to work on,” Tangipa said.

Magsig, as well as the man Tangipa could succeed, Assemblymember Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, attended the party.

The district includes all or parts of seven counties — Fresno, Calaveras, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Mono and Tuolumne. A majority — 62% — reside in Fresno County, including Clovis and most of north Fresno.

Tangipa outraised Radanovich. From Jan. 1 through Oct. 19, 2024, Tangipa raised $550,714 — 1.7 times more than his opponent.

Patterson, R-Fresno, who is termed out after 12 years in Sacramento, endorsed Tangipa. The new legislative term starts Dec. 2.

Soria, Arambula Set for Re-Election

Esmeralda Soria held a strong showing against challenger and farmer and tax auditor Joanna Garcia Rose for the Assembly District 27 seat.

With all precincts in, Soria, D-Fresno, leads 52% to 48%, according to the Secretary of State.

This will be Soria’s first reelection campaign for the district stretching from northwest Fresno to Merced.

Soria prided herself on bringing the Madera Community Hospital back to life. Garcia Rose, R-Atwater, accused the state’s Democratic supermajority of increasing crime, homelessness, and gas prices.

Garcia Rose spent just over $1 million in the period January 2023 to Oct. 19, 2024, compared to Soria’s $5 million in the same time period, according to Ballotpedia.

Joaquin Arambula also appears to return to Sacramento for his fifth full term, and sixth overall.

First elected in 2016, the Fresno Democrat leads challenger Solomon Verduzco, R-Fresno, 58% to 42%, with all precincts reporting for Assembly District 31.

The district lies entirely within Fresno County, including much of the southern half of the city of Fresno.

Arambula held the spending advantage — nearly $276,000 to Verduzco’s $3,037, from Jan. 1 through Oct. 19. 

South Valley Appears Ready to Approve Macedo

In the race to replace outgoing Assemblymember Devon Mathis, R-Porterville, Republican frontrunner Alexandra Macedo has taken a commanding lead in early voting against her opponent, Xavier Avila, R-Tulare.

Macedo, R-Tulare, holds a 63% to 37% edge, with all precincts reporting.

Macedo spent around $725,000, compared to Avila’s near $117,000, from Jan. 1 through Oct. 19. 

Fong Wins Double

Vince Fong resigned from the state Assembly in May after he won a special election to Congress. However, his name remained on the ballot for the general election, and Fong won.

With all precincts reporting, Fong, R-Bakersfield, defeated Ken Weir, R-Bakersfield, 59% to 41%.

Fong did not campaign for the Assembly seat, and urged voters to support Weir, a Bakersfield city councilmember.

The District 32 seat — covering Kern and Tulare counties — has been vacant since May, and will likely remain unfilled until the spring.

Fong intends to remain in Congress, meaning the Assembly seat will stay vacant. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to call for a special election by the spring.

When Kevin McCarthy declined to run for Congressional District 20 re-election last year, Fong filed to run. However, he already filed to run to keep his Assembly seat.

State law at the time did not allow for one candidate to run for more than one position on the same ballot. Sec. of State Shirley Weber sued, but Fong won in court.

A new state law will allow a candidate to withdraw from a race prior to the end of the filing period.

Edward Smith contributed to this story.