SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Residents in the 25th Congressional District were pounding the pavement and knocking on doors after Katie Hill resigned last November to inspire their neighbors to get out and vote for her replacement.

What You Need To Know


  • Special Election to fill Katie Hill’s Congressional Seat

  • All voters in the district receive a vote-by-mail ballot

  • Residents have been helping campaign efforts from home

  • Hill’s 2018 victory was part of California’s “blue wave”

But after COVID-19 restrictions prevented people from boots on the ground campaign efforts like canvassing, Heather Stephenson and fellow Democrats in Simi Valley had to revamp their campaign efforts for their chosen candidate Christy Smith.  

“We summoned the troops out and we have been text banking, we've been phone banking, we've been doing zoom rally with Christy Smith,” said Stephenson.

 

 

 

But supporters of Smith's opponent Republican candidate Mike Garcia are also hard at work.

“I think people are really excited about him as a candidate,” said Marian Salazar of Santa Clarita first met Garcia at an event in January and agreed with many of his ideas and priorities. “Pretty much everything he stands for as a conservative - lower taxes, strong military, conservative values, pro-life, family man. And I love that he is not a politician.”

 

 

 

Stephenson on the other hand appreciates Christy Smith’s emphasis on expanding public health care, environmental reforms, and her work in the state assembly.

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“She helped craft the California version of the Green New Deal which we all support. And she is a hard worker. She's a fighter for us. And she's very responsive,” said Stephenson.

L.A. County encouraged voters to stay at home and vote by mail, but on Election Day there will be 22 vote by mail drop box centers open and nine vote centers in areas that include Santa Clarita, Valencia, Palmdale, and Porter Ranch. In person voting will strictly follow public health and safety guidelines to ensure a safe voting environment.

 

 

 

Whichever candidate wins this special election will hold the congressional seat until the regular election on November 3. Salazar and Stephenson will continue to actively champion their chosen candidate until they run against each other again in that election.

Christy Smith counts the Los Angeles Times, Governor Gavin Newsom, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, and former President Barack Obama among her endorsements. Mike Garcia has the support of The Signal newspaper, former Governor Pete Wilson, Congressman Buck McKeon, and President Donald Trump.