Politics & Government
Nestande Defeats Orozco in Assembly Race to Represent Yucaipa, Calimesa
Nestande has represented the 64th Assembly District and he ran for re-election in the redrawn 42nd.
State Assemblyman Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert held off Democratic challenger Mark Orozco, D-Beaumont, to win re-election in the 42nd Assembly District that includes Yucaipa, Calimesa and Oak Glen.
Nestande's early lead on Tuesday night was a bright spot at the Republican party held at Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage. The presidential race got called earlier than expected and Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, was in a race too close to call past midnight.
Nestande spoke to Patch when the party was winding down and he seemed to be on the path to victory.
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"I'm glad that I have a comfortable lead at this point but we'll wait for the final results. But it seems as if I have a good lead right now," Nestande said.
Nestande lamented Mitt Romney's losing bid at the presidency but thanked his supporters who showed up at Rancho Las Palmas.
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"We had a great turnout," he added. "It was nice of folks that support me to come out here."
Nestande, who will be serving his third term, defeated Orozco, an educator from Beaumont, 53.94 percent to 46.06 percent, according to the registrar's preliminary results.
Nestande has represented the 64th Assembly District and he ran for re-election in the redrawn 42nd.
The new 42nd District includes the communities of Banning, Beaumont, Cherry Valley, Calimesa, Cabazon, Whitewater, San Jacinto, Hemet, Palm Springs and Palm Desert in Riverside County, and Yucaipa, Oak Glen, Yucca Valley, Morongo Valley and Twentynine Palms in San Bernardino County.
A pdf map of District 42 is attached to this report.
This is the final term Nestande can serve in the Assembly.
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