Josh Hoover vs. Porsche Middleton for CA Assembly: Candidates answer key questions
One of the most closely watched races in California this November will be close to home, as freshman Republican Assemblyman Josh Hoover of Folsom seeks reelection against Democratic challenger Porsche Middleton, who serves on the Citrus Heights City Council.
Hoover, a former legislative staffer and Folsom Cordova Unified School District board member who defeated Democratic incumbent Ken Cooley in a close race in 2022, is looking for a second term of office in Assembly District 7.
The purple district could be one of the closest races of 2024. The 2022 race was decided by 1,383 votes.
In the March primary, Hoover received 52.7% of the vote, while Middleton received 29.3%. A third candidate, Democratic Folsom City Councilmember YK Chalamcherla, received 18%.
Josh Hoover
Hoover serves on a number of Assembly committees, and is vice chair on two of them: The Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee and the Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy Committee.
A member of the bipartisan California Problem Solvers Caucus, Hoover said he has embraced working across the aisle to get work done on behalf of his district, no small challenge given the Democratic supermajority hold on the California Legislature.
“We have navigated that challenge very well,” Hoover said, pointing to legislation that he successfully sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk on key issues facing his constituency, including homelessness and education.
On homelessness, Hoover’s Assembly Bill 2903 would require state agencies dealing with the homeless to develop data collection and reporting procedures to report annually the cost and outcome data for each program. That bill passed with strong bipartisan support.
“The key point there is we got unanimous bipartisan support on increasing accountability in California,” Hoover said.
On education, Hoover pointed to his Assembly Bill 3216, which would restrict students at California K-12 schools from using smartphones during the school day. Newsom championed that bill while it was still in the Legislature, and it passed with near-unanimous bipartisan support.
“It’s really important to work across the aisle to the greatest extent you can,” Hoover said.
If reelected, Hoover said he would continue to focus on the issue of homelessness.
“I’ve said from the very beginning that I think accountability is only the first step in solving this crisis,” he said.
The assemblyman said he would also continue to support public safety bills, such as an effort to close what he called a loophole through which convicted child killers can obtain early release.
Name: Josh Hoover
Political Party: Republican
Age: 35
Birthplace: Fresno
Current Town of Residence: Folsom
Current Occupation: California assemblyman
Education: Master’s degree in Public Administration from USC; Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from UCLA
Offices Held: California Assembly, 2022 to present; Folsom Cordova School Board, 2018 to 2022
Campaign Website Address: hooverforassembly.com
What would be your budget priorities for the upcoming budget year?
Due to fiscal mismanagement, California’s budget is in crisis. A multi-billion-dollar surplus has turned into a $47 billion deficit, and next year’s deficit will likely be in the tens of billions again. Despite the budget growing from $214 billion in 2019 to $292 billion today, many believe our schools, roads, homeless services, and public safety are underfunded. We need more accountability and oversight, reduced one-time gimmicks, and smarter spending to ensure funds go to vital services.
What do you think the Legislature should do to address the state’s ongoing homelessness crisis?
Despite billions in state spending, California’s homeless population has increased by 53% in the last 10 years. One of my first actions was to form a bipartisan group to audit state homelessness spending. The findings were shocking: most funds were unaccounted for, with no verification of failures or successes. Any plan to address homelessness must start with accountability and transparency, focusing on root causes and getting people off the streets. The governor’s recent call to action was long overdue.
How should the Legislature respond to concerns about retail theft and fentanyl and drug overdoses?
Fentanyl overdoses are rising, and we must act swiftly. We need to hold criminal dealers accountable — this has been a priority for me. I’ve supported AB 2336 (2024) and will work with local law enforcement to find new solutions. This is why I’m endorsed by the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs. We must make naloxone more available on school campuses and to the public and improve education for young adults on the dangers of this epidemic and how to respond to an overdose.
Porsche Middleton
Middleton first was elected to the Citrus Heights City Council in 2018. She went on to become the city’s first Black mayor.
Now, she’s looking to make the jump from city hall to the state Capitol, where she said she will spend time “working on the real issues that are in our district.”
Middleton has her own list of accolades that she cites from her time with the city.
She touted her role in leading the $1.2 billion Sunrise Mall revitalization project and also pointed to efforts to bring home money for transportation, as well as fighting for affordable housing, something that she said she would continue to do if elected to the Assembly.
Middleton said another key focus would be health care. She cited her aging grandfather in Oakland and said that California needs to make sure that there is a steady pipeline of health care workers to tend to aging residents’ needs.
“We’ve got to take care of the folks who take care of us,” she said.
Asked what committees she would want to serve on if elected, Middleton said that her “dream committee” would be the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, but she added that she also would like to serve on the Assembly housing and transportation committees as well. Committee seats are determined by the Assembly Speaker, Robert Rivas, who is a Democrat.
Asked how Middleton would avoid disappearing in the crowd of Democrats in the Assembly, she said that her focus would always be on her district.
“My north star is the constituents right here in district 7,” she said.
Middleton added that while she doesn’t expect to get along with everyone in Sacramento, she said she’s more than happy to work across the aisle to tackle issues facing the state.
“I’m ready to get to work day one,” Middleton said.
Name: Porsche Middleton
Political Party: Democratic
Age: 40
Birthplace: Texas
Current Town of Residence: Citrus Heights
Current Occupation: Citrus Heights City Council member
Education: Master’s degree in Project Management from DeVry University; Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Louisville
Offices Held: Citrus Heights City Council, 2018 to present; Citrus Heights Planning Commissioner, 2017 to 2018
Campaign Website Address: https://www.porsche4assembly.com/
What would be your budget priorities for the upcoming budget year?
People in our community are struggling to get by, making choices between putting food on the table, filling the gas tank, and housing costs. It doesn’t need to be this way. Our budget priorities should focus on helping working families, including reducing the cost of living, creating more housing that’s affordable, investing in small businesses, and ensuring everyone can access the health care — including reproductive health care and mental health care — they need.
What do you think the Legislature should do to address the state’s ongoing homelessness crisis?
Our homelessness crisis needs an approach focused on both solutions to homelessness and housing affordability. To increase housing production, I’d advocate for streamlining the permitting process, incentivizing development of housing that’s affordable, and exploring innovative housing solutions. To advance affordability, I’d reform zoning laws to allow for higher-density housing near transit hubs and work to expand tax incentives for affordable housing projects. To reduce homelessness, I’d prioritize funding for supportive services, mental health resources, and temporary housing options.
How should the Legislature respond to concerns about retail theft and fentanyl and drug overdoses?
People in our community do not feel safe — that is unacceptable and must change. It requires an all-of-the-above approach so small businesses can thrive and people are no longer scared. I support the recent retail theft bills signed by the Governor, in partnership with the Realtors Association, which will go a long way to deterring and decreasing retail theft incidents. I also support harsher penalties for fentanyl and other drug dealers, which is one of the reasons I support Prop 36. It is long past time to take needed steps to keep our communities safe.