Politics & Government
Aug. 26 Is Election Day In Lake Elsinore, Menifee
The general election for the 63rd Assembly District pits GOP Lake Elsinore City Councilwoman Natasha Johnson against Democrat Chris Shoults.
LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Riverside County voters will decide Tuesday which of two candidates will fill a state Assembly seat left vacant by a presidential appointment.
The general election for the 63rd Assembly District on Tuesday pits Republican Lake Elsinore City Councilwoman Natasha Johnson against Democrat Chris Shoults.
They received enough votes to survive the primary election in June that weeded out Libertarian candidate Vince Consalvo and the other Republican competitor, Vincent Romo.
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The race stems from the White House appointment earlier this year of then-Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Norco, to serve as U.S. attorney for the Central District of California. Essayli had just been elected to his second term when he was selected.
Shoults lost to Essayli in the November 2024 general election. The father of three is originally from Wyoming, where he farmed and taught school before relocating with his family to Riverside County, where he has been an English teacher at the high school and college levels.
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"My top priority will be to deliver resources and commonsense solutions," Shoults said in election literature. "We need to lower the cost of living, make housing affordable, create good paying jobs ... and protect our freedoms and our safety."
The union activist has said previously he's "fed up with Sacramento politicians" and would cross the aisle to end "partisan games (and) get results."
Johnson has been a Lake Elsinore City Council member since 2012. She said her entire orientation is "good government" by staying focused on what policies best "protect taxpayers."
"As an Assembly member, I will support law enforcement to keep our neighborhoods safe, fight Sacramento taxes and red tape to lower our cost of living and protect parental rights and put students and parents first," she said.
The candidate has worked in personal finance and business for nearly three decades.
The 63rd Assembly District encompasses Norco, west Corona, Temescal Valley, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Woodcrest, south and east Riverside, Mead Valley, Meadowbrook and several surrounding communities.
