Skip to Content
Politics

Dem. Assembly Candidate Pilar Schiavo Beats Republican Incumbent in Historically Conservative Santa Clarita Valley

2:07 PM PST on November 21, 2022

Community organizer Pilar Schiavo declares victory over Republican Suzette Martinez Valladares in the State Assembly District 40 race after pulling ahead of the incumbent by a mere 511 votes.

If the results hold, Schiavo will be the only democratic candidate to flip an assembly seat this election cycle, and she'll go on to represent a historically conservative region.

Via Pilar for State Assembly Campaign

Schiavo entered the race as a mother "terrified" of giving up her job to run for elected office and overcame being outspent two-to-one by her opponent and special interest groups. 

Valladares has represented Assembly District 40 for the past two years and is known for introducing a state bill to ban homelessness around schools and daycares, as well as voting against bills that support women's reproductive freedom. 

On election night, Schiavo found herself down by nearly 8,000 votes, but updates since then have largely favored the former nurse advocate and small business owner. Over the weekend she took the lead with a few hundred votes. 

Schiavo's campaign described the pending victory as a "true testament to people-power" behind her campaign.

The campaign relied heavily on face-to-face interactions with community members rather than advertising. Notably, they spent zero dollars on yard signs. The decision disappointed some supporters, but the Schiavo campaign felt strongly that "yard signs don't win elections. Talking to voters does."

"Our whole campaign, we prioritized talking with voters, and it’s clear every conversation mattered—every door knocked, every phone call, and our secret weapon on a rainy Election Day, my mom’s warm homemade cookies to help keep volunteers going until polls closed," Schiavo said in a statement Monday.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

History for Guanajuato as LAFC Falls to León in the 2023 SCCL Final

LAFC came close to winning it in 2020. A victory would have made them just the fourth Major League Soccer team to win the title, an honor shared by DC United (1998), LA Galaxy (2000), and Seattle Sounders (2022). LAFC fans were left wondering if the third time would be the charm…

June 5, 2023

Photo Essay: Hundreds Gather in Little Tokyo to Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Zoot Suit Riots

Big hair and even bigger pride to be pachucos! Here is our photo essay capturing some of our favorite moments from the momentous gathering.

June 5, 2023

Headlines: SoFi Staffer Accused of Dumping Vendors’ Hot Dogs, Making Kids Cry

The owners' three children were left in tears after the SoFi worker targeted the business, while an activist claims one of the children was also physically assaulted by the guard.

June 5, 2023

A ‘Secret’ Thai Seafood Pop-Up With Bangkok-Style Drinking Food and Natural Wine in DTLA

The enticing dishes at the reservation-only pop-up at a food court in DTLA's Historic Core neighborhood include a whole, two-pound rock cod fried until a chicharrón-like crispness, basking in an addictively savory tamarind garlic sauce, curried crab, oysters, and more.

June 2, 2023

Headlines: Saticoy Elementary Parents Protest Assembly and Reading of ‘The Great Big Book of Families’ At Pride Month Event

Parents gathered outside of Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood this morning in protest of a Pride assembly at the school that includes the reading of a book called "The Great Big Book of Families."

June 2, 2023
See all posts