Clarissa Cervantes Dominates Primary With 9-Point Lead Over MAGA Assemblywoman Leticia Castillo In Top Targeted District
With a commanding margin and broad support across the Inland Empire, Democrat Cervantes is in a strong position to flip AD-58 from red to blue
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2026
Contact: Natalie@bergmannzwerdling.com
Riverside, CA – Riverside City Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes has solidified her position as the strongest candidate in the race for Assembly District 58 with a commanding lead of 7,527 votes, with the Secretary of State reporting a margin of 54.5% vs. 45.5% for incumbent MAGA Assemblywoman Leticia Castillo.
The strong electoral performance amid a turnout 4 points more Republican than the district's party registration reflects growing confidence in Cervantes’ people-powered campaign and her ability to win back AD-58. After running the closest legislative race in California in 2024, Cervantes has built strong momentum, broad grassroots support, and a clear path to victory in 2026.
Cervantes secured the California Democratic Party’s endorsement in addition to endorsements from Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limon. The result underscores growing confidence among grassroots Democrats that Cervantes is the best candidate to flip Assembly District 58 and represent its Inland Empire community.
“This campaign is powered by people who are ready for leadership that’s committed to lowering costs, delivering results, and standing up for working families,” stated Cervantes. “I am incredibly honored, and I want to thank every single voter who cast a ballot for me and all those who participated. The momentum we’re seeing shows that voters want proven leaders with a track record of getting things done. I’m proud to be the only Democrat in this race who is prepared to stand up for our working families and every person who calls Assembly District 58 home.”
The Trump administration has placed significant hardships on our communities,” continued Cervantes. “People should not have to choose between gas, groceries, medicine, or other essential goods. They should not have to live in fear of being taken from the streets by federal agents when trying to provide for their loved ones. We need a leader who knows what it takes to deliver for our communities and is prepared to fight back. As I have done on the City Council, I will put people ahead of politics in Sacramento and deliver lasting results for the Inland Empire.”
Cervantes’ vote share, fundraising strength, and support is matched by continued support from Labor Unions, educators, environmental advocates, civil rights leaders, such as Dolores Huerta, and local elected officials across the district. Her campaign continues to earn endorsements, including:
Organizational Endorsements
California Democratic Party
California Federation of Labor
California Environmental Voters
CA Legislative Latino Caucus
CA Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus
CA Legislative Progressive Caucus
CA Legislative Democratic Women’s Caucus
California Donor Table
California Faculty Association
California Federation of Teachers
California Nations Indian Gaming Association
California Nurses Association
California School Employees Association
California State Council of Laborers
California Teachers Association
California Working Families Party
Communications Workers of America
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1277
AFSCME CA People
AFSCME District Council 57
Association of California State Supervisors
CAIR Action California
Equality CA
Fund Her
Greater Democrats of Riverside
IE United
Inland Empire (IE) Votes
ILWU Local 13
ILWU Local 63
Ironworkers Local 416
Ironworkers Local 433
LiUNA Local 1184
Morongo Band of Mission Indians
National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW)
Operating Engineers Local 12
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest Action Fund
Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians
Riverside County Democratic Party
Riverside County Young Democrats
Saboba Band of Luiseno Indians
San Bernardino County Democratic Party
SEIU California
SEIU 121rn
SEIU 721
SEIU 1000
SEIU 2015
SEIU CIR
SEIU CSUEU
SEIU UHW
SMART Local 104
SMART Local 105
Teamsters Joint Council 42
Teamsters Local 1932
United Auto Workers, Region 6
UA Local 250
UA Local 364
UA Local 398
UDW AFSCME Local 3930
UFCW Western State Council
UFCW 1167
UFCW 1428
United Nurses Associations of California (UNAC)
UNITE HERE Local 11
Western States Regional Council of Carpenters
Women’s Political Committee
State Elected Leaders
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond
State Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas
State Senator Bob Archuleta
State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes
State Senator Jesse Arreguín
State Senator María Elena Durazo
State Senator Melissa Hurtado
State Senator Sabrina Cervantes
State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez
State Senator Susan Rubio
State Senator Tom Umberg
Assemblymember Alex Lee
Assemblymember Ash Kalra
Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías
Assemblymember Avelino Valencia
Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco
Assemblymember Catherine Stefani
Assemblymember Corey Jackson
Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Assemblymember Chris Ward
Assemblymember Chris Rogers
Assemblymember David Alvarez
Assemblymember Dawn Addis
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin
Assemblymember Gregg Hart
Assemblymember Issac Bryan
Assemblymember James Ramos
Assemblymember Jessica Caloza
Assemblymember John Harabedian
Assemblymember José Solache
Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal
Assemblymember Juan Carrillo
Assemblymember Lisa Calderon
Assemblymember Liz Ortega
Assemblymember Lori Wilson
Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez
Assemblymember Mia Bonta
Assemblymember Mike Fong
Assemblymember Mike Gipson
Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez
Assemblymember Nick Schultz
Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens
Assemblymember Rick Chavez-Zbur
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Assemblymember Robert Garcia
Assemblymember Sade Elhawary
Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor
Assemblymember Tasha Boerner
State Senator Martha Escutia (Ret.)
State Senator Richard Polanco (Ret.)
Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (Ret.)
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (Ret.)
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (Ret.)
Local Elected Officials
Riverside County Board Supervisor Manny Perez
Riverside County Board Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez
Riverside Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez
Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge (Ret.)
Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey (Ret.)
Moreno Valley Mayor Ulises Cabrera
Moreno Valley Councilmember Erlan Gonzalez
Riverside Councilmember Steve Hemenway
Riverside Councilmember Sean Mill
Riverside Councilmember Andy Melendrez (Ret.)
Banning Councilmember Colleen Wallace
Coachella Councilmember Stephanie Virgen
Hesperia Councilmember Chris Ochoa
Indio Councilmember Oscar Ortiz
Jurupa Valley Councilmember Chris Barajas
Jurupa Valley Councilmember Guillermo "Willy" Silva
Jurupa Valley Councilmember Leslie Altamirano (Ret.)
Lynwood Councilmember Juan Munoz-Guevara
Palm Springs Councilmember Grace Garner
Palm Springs Councilmember Lisa Middleton (Ret.)
Santa Ana Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez
Riverside Community College Trustee Keri Then
Riverside Community College Trustee Bill Hedrick
Riverside Community College Trustee Mary Figueroa
Riverside Community College District Trustee Jose Alcala
Riverside Unified School District Member Dale Kinnear
Riverside County Board of Education Jaime Azpeitia-Sachs
Moreno Valley Unified School District Trustee Sammie Luna
Moreno Valley Unified School District Trustee Brandy Clark
Pasadena Area Community College District Trustee Alton Wang
Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control Board President Nancy Jimenez-Hernandez
Western Municipal Water Board Director Fauzia Rizvi
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Clarissa Cervantes is a mom, businesswoman, and longtime community leader who currently represents Ward 2 on the Riverside City Council. She is the first woman to ever represent Ward 2, and she is the second Latina and the second LGBTQ+ person ever elected to the Riverside City Council. As a Councilmember, Clarissa has worked tirelessly to get things done for her community, securing funding to repair roads, standing up to warehouse overdevelopment and utility rate increases, and voting to expand housing and implement a five-year plan to reduce homelessness.
A veteran campaign organizer, Clarissa has worked on presidential, congressional, state legislative, county, and municipal campaigns throughout California. She also served as Chair of the Riverside Transit Agency’s Greater Riverside Transportation NOW Chapter and worked as a Legislative Field Representative to former Riverside Councilmember Andy Melendrez.
Clarissa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a concentration in Politics and Government from California State University, Northridge and a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning with an emphasis in Planning and Policy at California Polytechnic State University, Pomona. To learn more, visit ClarissaCervantes.com.