LOS ANGELES — Two candidates, both Democrats from the San Fernando Valley, are in the race to represent California’s newly drawn state Senate District 20.

Both Caroline Menjivar and Daniel Hertzberg bring their own unique experience to the race. Menjivar, who grew up in Reseda and is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, works for a nonprofit that helps connect people to social services.

“My story reflects the story of so many people in this community,” said Menjivar while at a fundraiser, where her family and friends were making pupusas to raise money for her campaign. “It’s a working-class district. It's people who come together in informal ways.”

That’s why Menjivar says the fundraiser was also the perfect way to get to know voters.

Daniel Hertzberg, son of California state Sen. Robert Hertzberg, says he experienced the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic firsthand because he was working in the hospitality industry and was furloughed. He was the front-runner in the primary but says he isn’t taking anything for granted.

“We’re reaching out to folks,” said Hertzberg as he was calling voters inside his campaign office. “We’re talking to everybody we can. We’re talking about the priorities, we’re talking about our policies, we’re talking about the community.”

The environment is an issue both candidates are concerned about.

“The district that has one of the poorest air qualities is experiencing extreme heat, is always on fire,” Menjivar said.

Both candidates say affordable housing and mental health are also priorities.  

Nick Schultz is a voting member of the Burbank Democrats, one of the few groups that didn’t endorse either of the candidates.

“We have two very qualified candidates,” he said. “Both Democrats, both offer a very great vision for our district. And our club was divided. It wasn’t necessarily that we found anything wrong with any of the candidates, but there was truly a division of opinion as to which candidate and vision was best for our district.”

Schultz, who is also on the Burbank City Council, says races between two Democrats are especially hard because of the similarities. While there are also differences, one thing is for sure: They’re both passionate.

“We need to make it so the government is here to help in times of inflation, in times where everything is becoming less and less affordable,” Hertzberg said.

Menjivar noted that this is her community and that “it’s important for us to elect people who look like the district who speak the language of the majority of the district and who can go and start on day one.”