No Recommendation
AD8 - No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, this district will be a safe Republican seat in the 2024 election cycle. While a Democratic candidate is unlikely to win, we recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
Governance, community leadership experience, and background: Caleb Helsel has not run for public office before.
Helsel has worked as a law clerk and a job coach, and is currently a substitute teacher with Clovis Unified School District. As a member of the education community, he has spoken out against school districts outting transgender students to their parents. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from California State University Fresno.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Caleb Helsel (D), Michael Matheson (NPP), George Radanovich (R), and David Tangipa (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Helsel’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate: David Tangipa
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tangipa’s campaign has raised $305,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police and real estate interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 8th Assembly District includes parts of Fresno, Tuolumne, Madera, Calaveras, Mariposa, Inyo, and Mono Counties.
Voter registration: 30% Democrat, 44% Republican, and 18% No Party Preference. Democrats held this seat until 2020, when it was redistricted and flipped from blue to red.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 7% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: AD-8 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 13 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 26 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
AD8 - No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, this district will be a safe Republican seat in the 2024 election cycle. While a Democratic candidate is unlikely to win, we recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
Governance, community leadership experience, and background: Caleb Helsel has not run for public office before.
Helsel has worked as a law clerk and a job coach, and is currently a substitute teacher with Clovis Unified School District. As a member of the education community, he has spoken out against school districts outting transgender students to their parents. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from California State University Fresno.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Caleb Helsel (D), Michael Matheson (NPP), George Radanovich (R), and David Tangipa (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Helsel’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate: David Tangipa
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tangipa’s campaign has raised $305,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police and real estate interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 8th Assembly District includes parts of Fresno, Tuolumne, Madera, Calaveras, Mariposa, Inyo, and Mono Counties.
Voter registration: 30% Democrat, 44% Republican, and 18% No Party Preference. Democrats held this seat until 2020, when it was redistricted and flipped from blue to red.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 7% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: AD-8 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 13 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 26 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.