Rep. Ruiz, Sen. Stone To Face Off In November Runoff For 36th-District Congress Seat

PHOTOS from left: Congressman Raul Ruiz, MD, D- Palm Desert; Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Temecula.

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA --- Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, will square off with Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Temecula, in a November runoff in the 36th congressional district.

The pair finished atop a three-candidate field in Tuesday's primary election to advance to the general election.

Ruiz unseated longtime Rep. Mary Bono Mack in the 2012 election and successfully fended off a challenge from former Assemblyman Brian Nestande in November 2014. The district encompasses the entire Coachella Valley -- stretching east to Blythe and west to Hemet.

Stone was a three-term Riverside County supervisor before he was elected to the California Legislature in 2014.

In the 41st congressional district, Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, cruised to the November runoff, while Realtor Doug Shepherd held a narrow lead over Pastor Randy Fox in the fight for the second spot. The district includes Moreno Valley, Riverside, Jurupa Valley and neighboring communities.

Takano, a former educator, was elected in 2012 after the district had been redrawn. The openly gay lawmaker has been an unwavering supporter of President Barack Obama's agenda, defending the Iran nuclear deal, the Affordable Care Act and the admission of refugees from the Middle East.

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, advanced to the November runoff in the 42nd congressional district race, and he will face Democrat Tim Sheridan, a union negotiator.

Sheridan ran unsuccessfully against Calvert in November 2014. He has listed "climate change" as his top issue, as well as protecting Social Security and promoting development of "green technology."

The district encompasses Canyon Lake, Corona, Eastvale, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Murrieta, Norco, Wildomar and part of Temecula.

In the 50th congressional district, Rep. Duncan Hunter also easily advanced to the November runoff, during which he will be challenged by Democrat Patrick Malloy.

Hunter, a former U.S. Marine combat infantryman and son of a one-time congressman, is in his fourth term. In March, he signed on as a congressional liaison for the Donald Trump presidential campaign.

Most of the 50th district is concentrated in San Diego County, with the upper edge stretching into Temecula.

Also see:

• REAL-TIME RESULTS: Riverside County's 2016 Primary Election Races
• Homicide Prosecutor Secures RivCo Judicial Seat

--City News Service/Photos courtesy of Congressman Raul Ruiz, MD and Jeff Stone on Facebook