PALM SPRINGS – A second Republican, Erin Cruz, has designs on the 36th Congressional seat now occupied by Democratic Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D., who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.

Erin Cruz and Raul Matthew Ruiz, 57, of Perris are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House California District 36 on March 3, 2020.

On her LinkedIn page, Cruz says, “I am now a candidate for US Congress, CA district 36, moving to run against Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate 2022.”

Cruz was also a 2018 Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. She was looking to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Cruz lost the primary on June 5, 2018.

During the past month, at least a half dozen voicemail messages and messages delivered through her campaign website have not been returned.

Her LinkedIn page identifies her from Palm Springs.

According to her website, Cruz is a mother of two and the widow of internationally renowned scientist, Rene Cruz. Cruz is a native Californian.She is author of Revolution America: Communication Toolbox for the Modern Conservative American Woman. She is also producer and host of The Erin Cruz Show.

Cruz is a Tea Party Republican.

According to her LinkedIn profile, she is self-employed and self-educated.

Joy Miedecke, president of East Valley Republican Women Federated, said the group will not be endorsing in this primary. The group energetically endorsed Kimberlin Brown Pelzer in her 2018 bid for Congress.

Elections for all 435 U.S. House seats will take place in 2020. Ballotpedia has identified 71 of the 435 House races (16.3%) as battlegrounds. The 36th Congressional District, contrary to some reports, is not one of them. Of the 71 seats, 42 are held by Democrats and 29 are held by Republicans heading into the election.

In addition to running for Congress, Cruz is behind one of two efforts to recall Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The Secretary of State approved her recall petition for circulation on Sept. 6, 2019. Supporters of that recall have until Feb. 13, 2020, to collect 1,495,709 signatures to force a recall election.

The recall petition alleges that Newsom mismanaged the state and caused poor schools, deteriorating infrastructure, high costs for gas and utilities, and increased homelessness and debt. Her recall petition also criticized Newsom’s support of certain policies, which included Medicare for all and laws that aid immigrants living in the country illegally.

James Veltmeyer submitted the second recall. The Secretary of State approved it for circulation on Sept. ember 27, 2019. Supporters of that recall have until March 5, 2020, to collect 1,495,709 signatures to force a recall election.

The recall petition criticizes Newsom due to tax increases, the rate of homelessness in major cities, sanctuary city policies, and his support for providing healthcare to immigrants living in the country illegally.[3]

In August 2019, Newsom issued a statement in response to both recall petitions.

Newsom was elected as California’s governor in 2018 with 61.9% of the vote. Prior to the 2018 election, Jerry Brown (D) served as governor from 2011 to 2019.

 

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Image Sources

  • Erin Cruz: Erin Cruz for Congress