Republican Josh Hoover surged to first place in California’s 7th Assembly District primary as more ballots were counted Wednesday, positioning him for a November general election matchup against Democrat Amy Slavensky.
Primary voters in Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and Citrus Heights cast ballots Tuesday to determine representation in the state assembly district. The race carries significant implications as Republicans work to maintain control of a seat they flipped from Democratic hands in 2022.
Primary Results Shift After Vote Count
Hoover, the Republican incumbent, held approximately 54% of the vote as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office. Slavensky, the Democratic candidate, received about 44% of the vote.
The Associated Press has called the race for both candidates, confirming they will advance to the November general election. Hoover, who lives in Folsom, previously served as chief of staff to former assemblyman Kevin Kiley and hosts the political podcast “Point of Order.”
Who The Candidates Are
Slavensky recently emerged from retirement to take the position of interim deputy superintendent for the San Juan Unified School District. She previously retired in 2021 after serving as superintendent of the Amador County Unified School District.
Hoover holds membership in the bipartisan California Problem Solvers Caucus and has focused his tenure on regional representation. The race represents one of several closely watched California elections held Tuesday night.
Broader Election Context
California faced criticism this week as multiple primary contests extended into the counting phase, with state Democratic leaders warning that final tallies could take weeks. The Assembly District 7 race mirrors dynamics playing out across the state in other competitive contests.
The state’s voting infrastructure has come under scrutiny as election officials continue processing ballots from Tuesday’s primary elections.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Elections Team contributed to this report.
