Inland Empire United Action Fund is backing Oscar Ortiz because he’s focused on the things that matter most to working families in this district: real local jobs in the clean energy economy, healthcare that’s actually affordable, and housing that working families can afford. He’s spent seven years in local government in Indio — he knows how to get things done, and we’ve seen his commitment to this community firsthand.
That is a massive issue right now, and it shows the clear choice in this election. The incumbent wants to give big tech companies a blank check to build massive data centers that hog our electricity and strain our local power grid. We are backing Oscar because he believes our community comes first. Oscar specifically supports small-scale, smart data centers that actually commit to a Community Benefit Agreement. That means if a tech company wants to build here, they have to legally guarantee good-paying union jobs for local residents, pay their fair share to support our schools, and strictly limit their energy footprint so our local families aren’t left holding the bag.
That’s a fair concern, and it’s one of the main reasons we’re supporting Oscar. The Salton Sea area sits on one of the largest lithium deposits in the world — that’s a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity for this region. We’re backing Oscar because he has made it clear he wants to partner with local unions so that those jobs go to workers from our communities, not just be imported from outside.
It’s a terrifying reality for families in this district who are already dealing with high asthma rates from toxic dust. The current MAGA incumbent has aligned with corporate interests that ignore our air quality. Inland Empire United Action Fund is standing with Oscar because he treats the Salton Sea like the public health emergency it is. With his background in environmental non-profit work, Oscar is pushing for strict Community Benefit Agreements on all new clean energy and lithium projects. He wants to make sure a portion of the billions generated from local lithium extraction is legally locked down to fund dust suppression and environmental cleanup at the Sea, ensuring our health isn’t sacrificed for corporate profits.
You’re absolutely not alone — nearly half of Inland Empire residents have had to move or downsize in the past five years. That’s exactly why Inland Empire United Action Fund is supporting Oscar. He has fought for affordable housing since his time on the Indio City Council, and we believe he’ll carry that fight to Sacramento. We need someone in the Assembly who has actually lived here and knows what this housing crisis feels like on the ground. Working families in the Imperial Valley and CV are being squeezed from every angle, and the corporate-backed incumbent isn’t helping. Oscar is focused on immediate, material relief for our community. In Sacramento, he will fight to expand state-level tax credits for working families, crack down on corporate price-gouging on gas and groceries, and lower utility costs by holding companies like Edison accountable. He knows that affordability isn’t just a talking point—it’s a crisis affecting whether our neighbors can afford to stay in their homes
Over 40% of people in this district rely on Medi-Cal, that’s a huge portion of our community. We back him because Oscar’s position is clear: healthcare dollars should go to doctors, nurses, and patients — not to insurance company profits. He also wants to expand mental health access, which nearly 90% of local voters say is a top priority.
We’re one of his supporters! His endorsers include the California Labor Federation, SEIU California, the four largest public education unions in the state, United Domestic Workers of America, and the Inland Empire Labor Council. He’s also endorsed by California Young Democrats. This is a grassroots coalition, not a corporate check.
Learn about other candidates like Oscar by visiting our Endorsements page here:
2026 Primary Election Endorsements