CalOES leader challenges Josh Hoover for eastern Sac County Assembly seat

A longtime leader at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services plans to challenge Assemblymember Josh Hoover, R-Folsom, for his legislative seat next year.

Luis “Vance” Taylor, 47, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a child and has used a wheelchair for most of his life. That, he says, has informed his work as chief of the Office of Access and Functional Needs at CalOES, where he’s “responsible for ensuring that our emergency management system works for everyone.”

In that role, Taylor said he has pushed successfully for American Sign Language interpreters at emergency press conferences and briefings, accessible websites and evacuation vehicles that can accommodate people with disabilities. He was appointed in 2015 by former Gov. Jerry Brown.

“I’m really proud of the work that we’ve been able to do, and I’m looking to be able to do that on a larger scale,” Taylor, a Democrat, told The Bee in an interview. “I think people just want someone that shows good leadership, and that means taking ideas from both sides.”

He said his Assembly bid is “less about Josh (Hoover) and more about what I bring to the table.” Hoover was first elected to the Assembly in 2022 and last year beat another Democratic challenger, Citrus Heights Councilmember Porsche Middleton, 53% to 46%.

In addition to continuing his work on emergency response and disability advocacy, Taylor said if elected he would focus on transportation, affordability and “supporting law enforcement while at the same time making sure that we’re investing in prevention and safeguarding civil liberties.”

“The reality is, you’ve got to deliver results,” he said. “I’ve got a really proven track record of doing that in a bipartisan way.”

Taylor was raised by a single mother from El Salvador and grew up in the Bay Area. He earned a master’s degree in homeland security from the University of Connecticut and spent several years working in Washington, D.C. – including for Reps. Zoe Lofgren and Mike Thompson – before taking the CalOES job and moving back to California.

He lives in Rancho Cordova with his wife. They have two daughters in college.

This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM.