63rd Assembly District Race
RIVERSIDE – As the vote tabulating continues from Tuesday’s special election to fill the empty seat in the 63rd Assembly District, Republican candidate, Lake Elsinore Councilmember Natasha Johnson’s lead narrowed slightly, but was still a healthy 7% over Democrat Chris Stouts.
As of Friday morning, Johnson had received 34,738 votes to 30,181 for Shoults.
Though the victor is undeclared as of press time, Johnson declared victory election night. “We ran a positive campaign, and it’s clear voters have spoken, they want balance in Sacramento where one party rule has prevailed for far too long,” she issued in a statement posted on social media.
All 150 precincts had reported results by early Wednesday, though vote- by-mail, provisional and other ballots will continue to be processed and counted, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office. Results will be certified by Oct. 3.
Of the votes counted, the vast majority were cast by mail, 62,598 of 60,783, for a voter turnout of just 19.9%.
Johnson has been a Lake Elsinore City Council member since 2012. She said her entire orientation is “good government” by staying focused on policies that 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.
Johnson has worked in personal finance and business for nearly three decades.
Shoults lost to then-Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Norco, 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.
“My top priority will be to deliver resources and common sense 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.”
The 63rd Assembly District consists of Norco, West Corona, Temescal Valley, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Woodcrest, south and east Riverside, Mead Valley, Meadowbrook and several surrounding communities.
The special election was necessitated by President Donald Trump’s appointment of Essayli as U.S. attorney for the Central District of California.
Johnson topped the field of five candidates, including American Independent Party write-in Maricar Payad, in the June 24 primary with 46.2% of the vote, but fell short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff.
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