The race for California’s Assembly District 47 is shaping up to be a pivotal contest in the Inland Empire, where the incumbent, Republican Greg Wallis, faces a strong challenge from Democrat Christy Holstege.

This district, which covers parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, has become a political battleground in recent years, reflecting broader trends in the region.

It includes a significant portion of the Coachella Valley and features the Joshua Tree National Park, a tourism-based economy, rapid population growth, and infrastructure and transportation issues.

A former Palm Springs city councilmember, Wallis won his Assembly seat in 2022. He is running for re-election in a district that has seen significant demographic and political changes.

Wallis earned 48.5 percent of the vote in the primary; Holstege, an attorney and current member of the Palm Springs City Council, has mounted a strong campaign. She earned 46.3 percent of the vote in the primary.

This is expected to be a close race, therefore both candidates are working to appeal to NPP voters. Registered Republican voters account for 34 percent of the electorate, compared to 40 percent for Democrats, and NPPs account for 18 percent.

Greg Wallis: One of California’s “Most Moderate” Republican 

With a background in local government, Wallis has focused his campaign on reducing the cost of living, education, homelessness, and public safety. 

Wallis is one of California's most moderate Republican state lawmakers, according to CalMatters' legislative tracker, which labels him as "Moderate Right" based on how he has voted relative to colleagues since taking office in Sacramento.

He even supported a measure to include the right to gay marriage in the California constitution -- a position that might have hurt his campaign significantly in a closed, low-turnout Republican primary.

Wallis, who was first elected to the Assembly in November 2022, advanced to the general election that year under California's nonpartisan Top 2 primary. He was in a candidate field that included two Democrats and two Republicans.

He beat Holstege in the 2022 general election, despite the Democrat's advantage in party registration. AD47 became significantly more competitive following redistricting in 2021.

Wallis’s campaign has received support from business groups, and law enforcement organizations, as well as the Western States Carpenters union. 

Christy Holstege: The Attorney and Community Organizer

A civil litigation attorney and community organizer, Holstege has deep experience as a community leader, including serving on the board of directors for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and Eastern Coachella Valley (ECV) for Change.

She also served on the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission and the City of Palm Springs Homelessness Task Force.

Holstege’s campaign has drawn support from the Democratic Party, several labor unions, as well as healthcare organizations and progressive advocacy groups. 

What’s at Stake?

The AD47 race is critical for both parties as they seek to secure key legislative seats in the Inland Empire.

For Democrats, flipping this seat is crucial to maintaining their majority in the Assembly. For Republicans, maintaining AD47 would represent a significant victory in a region that has seen increasing Democratic influence.

As the general election approaches, both Wallis and Holstege are expected to intensify their efforts to win over NPPs and undecided voters, particularly those in suburban and rural areas. 

The question for this race is whether independent voters in San Bernardino and Riverside will stick with a Republican known to be one of the most moderate in the state, or if Democrats can turn another red seat blue.