Mendota Mayor Victor Martinez is leaving behind the Democratic Party, announcing Thursday that he is registering as a Republican.
Driving the news: Martinez works as the Chief Business Officer at Golden Plains Unified School District and was first elected to the Mendota City Council in 2016.
- He was appointed as mayor in 2022 by his fellow councilmembers.
- His move to the Republican Party does not come as a shock following the November election, where he supported Rep. John Duarte (R–Modesto) for Congress over former Asm. Adam Gray, (D–Merced), who ended up winning by a razor-thin margin.
What they’re saying: Martinez said his switch is because it is time for the Central Valley to have real representation.
- “Due to the extreme policies made by Sacramento politicians, such as CARB, families in Mendota are not getting a fair shot at the American Dream,” Martinez said. “This last election showed our Valley is tired of that. Our Latino community wants better-paying jobs, lower prices, and safe streets. I am proudly working to bring that change as a member of the Republican Party.”
- His reference to the California Air Resources Board regarded the recent vote on new fuel standards, which are projected to increase gas prices by around $0.65 per gallon in 2025.
- California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson celebrated Martinez joining the party, speaking to a broader view that the Latino community is displeased with the Democratic Party in Sacramento.
- “All across our state, local leaders, including those in the Latino community, are standing up and saying that Sacramento Democrats’ extreme policies are making life less affordable and less safe for all Californians,” Patterson said. “Republicans are offering commonsense solutions to California’s many problems, and I look forward to Mayor Martinez helping us move our state in the right direction.”
Zoom out: The California Republican Party said it has registered over 928,000 new Republicans since 2019.
- Since the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans have registered over 5.5 times as many new voters as Democrats have, the party said. Further, Republicans have picked up 9.5 times as many new voters as have registered as No Party Preference.
