An Inland Empire school board member is joining the crowded field of those hoping to unseat Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, in 2026.
RELATED: Anuj Dixit plans to run against Inland Rep. Ken Calvert in 2026
Democrat Abel Chavez, a Nuevo resident who sits on the Nuview Union School District board, announced Tuesday, May 20, that he intends to run in California’s 41st Congressional District, which spans much of Riverside County.
“I am running because I want to be a voice for the people that live here, I believe I can truly make a difference for working families where change is needed,” Chavez, 33, said in a news release.
“Together, we can lift each other toward a more successful future. It’s not a pipe dream, we are doing it right now.”
According to the release, Chavez’s campaign will focus “on key issues that resonate with the constituents,” including economic growth, education, public safety, protecting Social Security and advocating for Medicare coverage for all Americans.
“My mission is clear: to fight for economic opportunity, education reform, and medical policies that truly serve the American people,” Chavez said.
Chavez is the latest Democrat to announce plans to enter the 2026 race for the 41st, joining Riverside lawyer Anuj Dixit, former OneRepublic bassist Tim Myers and Coachella Valley entrepreneur Brandon Riker.
All hope to do something that hasn’t been done in three decades — defeat Calvert, the Inland Empire’s longest-serving member of Congress. Well-funded challenges by Democrat Will Rollins, who isn’t running in 2026, came up short in 2022 and 2024.
Formed through 2021 political redistricting, the 41st includes cities in the Coachella Valley along with Calimesa, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Norco, Wildomar and parts of Corona, Eastvale and Riverside.
With a near-even split in voter registration between Republicans and Democrats, the district is seen as a key battleground in the fight to control the House of Representatives. Flipping a handful of seats could give Democrats control of the chamber and a strong check against President Donald Trump’s agenda.
The primary for the 41st will take place June 2, 2026. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
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