Battle for Imperial County District 5: Patricia Lizarraga sets sights on November runoff
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) - The field has officially narrowed, and the battle lines are drawn for the future of Imperial County's largest voting district.
Following the June primary election, the race for the District 5 Board of Supervisors seat is officially down to a head-to-head showdown this November between incumbent John Hawk and challenger Patricia Lizarraga.
As the general election approaches, Lizarraga is launching the next phase of her campaign with a message of deep gratitude for the voters who advanced her past the primaries.
"I want to say thank you to District 5 for their trust, their support, and believing in my vision," Lizarraga said.
Representing District 5 is no easy feat. It is geographically the largest district in Imperial County, stretching across a massive footprint from Calexico and Brawley all the way to Palo Verde and Winterhaven.
Despite the vast distances between these communities, Lizarraga emphasizes that understanding the unique, yet deeply connected struggles of these cities and towns is what propelled her campaign forward.
"Every single city is unique. They have their own needs and wants," Lizarraga explained. "However, there is a common denominator among all of them, which is safety, access to healthcare, and the economy."
Lizarraga's platform stands on core pillars aimed at shaking up county leadership, focusing heavily on enhancing public safety, improving family services, expanding regional healthcare options, and maintaining an outright opposition to current incoming data center plans.
For Lizarraga, the driving force behind her campaign has been traditional, face-to-face community outreach, an experience she describes as life-changing.
"Many [voters] mentioned that nobody has ever walked [their neighborhoods]. Nobody has ever shown up at the doors,""Lizarraga shared, noting how rewarding it has been to connect directly with residents on their doorsteps.
To unlock the full potential of the Imperial Valley, she argues that the county board needs a heavy dose of transparency, accountability, and unified teamwork.
"Our community has suffered so many things, but they are resilient," Lizarraga said. "There's a lot of potential, we just need to work together, and we have to believe in each other."
While unseating an incumbent in a massive district is a steep hill to climb, Lizarraga believes the single biggest challenge left to overcome before November is inspiring the community to show up at the polls.
"To me, the more challenging is the voters. We need to go out and vote," she urged. "We want our voices to be heard and we have power, but we don't use it. I really would like to encourage everyone to go out and vote, participate. Your voice matters."
The general election will take place on Tuesday, November 3. For a complete list of other candidates running in different races, click here.
