Imperial Valley Republican Party releases list of endorsements of local candidates

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) - The Imperial Valley Republican Party has released its list of endorsements of local candidates.

The committee is backing three of the following candidates they say will fight for the region's priorities in Sacramento:

• Art Hodges for State Senate District 18
• Denis Bilodeau for California State Board of Equalization District 4
• Jeff Gonzalez, who is running for re-election for Assembly District 36.

For these candidates, priorities for this election cycle includes agriculture, border security, economic development and healthcare access.

"What we're really excited about with our three Republican candidates that we've endorsed so far, is that they are the common sense, solution oriented folks that can represent everyone in Imperial Valley," said Sayrs Morris, Secretary of California GOP.

The party says the endorsements are meant to help voters better understand where local candidates stand as election season ramps up.

"This is you know an important area for California and I think it's important that these candidates that are running for statewide office, they do their due diligence, they find out what the needs our for our community, and they come down here and they campaign and they get in front of our residents and they talk about what their plans are for the state," Jason Jackson, a member of the central committee for the republican party told KYMA.

Taxes are also a key talking point on the campaign trail in Imperial County, with many decisions being made at the state level impacting Valley resident and businesses.

Morris said she hopes to see more seats flip red during the election.

""We are ready to flip our senate seat, and Board of Equalization, folks, that is so important for the state. They set so many standards that have to do with taxes and Denis Bilodeau has the experience to make common sense reform for all of us," she said.