Chris Shoults, an educator, local union leader, and small business owner, officially launched his campaign for California’s 63rd Assembly District special election, an open seat due to the departure of Bill Essayli.
Shoults, a Democrat, is a public school teacher and advocate for working families and small businesses. He says he is committed to putting people first and bringing responsible, solutions-driven leadership to Sacramento.
“For too long, Bill Essayli has put his own political ambitions ahead of the people he was elected to serve—stirring up division, chasing headlines, and failing to deliver for our communities,” Shoults said. “We now have a great opportunity to change that. Our district deserves a leader who will focus on real issues like lowering the cost of living, improving education, and making our communities safer—not fueling partisan chaos.”
Shoults has spent his career in the classroom and his time at the bargaining table fighting for students and working families, while also operating a small business.
“I don’t care who gets the credit—I care about getting results,” Shoults said. “I will work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, to make life better for the people of our district. We need real leadership that puts people first, not political theater.”
Shoults is gaining support from across the district, including the endorsement of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12, Morgan Singleton of the Menifee Union School District, and Riverside County Board of Education Trustee Jamie Azpeitia-Sachs.
Shoults is a lifelong educator, father, and husband who was raised in a working-class Republican household on a working farm in Wyoming. He moved to southwest Riverside County, where he has taught high school and college courses. Shoults earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wyoming and holds a master’s degree in English as well.
The 63rd Assembly District is based in Riverside County, including Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Norco, and parts of Corona, Eastvale, and Riverside.
To learn more about Chris Shoults and his campaign, visit Shoults4Assembly.com.
