Josh Hoover Keeps Winning Where Democrats Have the Edge. Can He Do It Again?

Assembly District 7 has swung back and forth between the two major parties for more than a decade, and this November it is again one of California's most closely watched legislative races.

Two-term Republican Assemblymember Joshua Hoover, recently named Assembly Republican Minority Floor Leader, faces Democrat Amy Slavensky, a school administrator, on November 3 after the two finished first and second in the June Top Two primary.

With more than 21% of the district's voters registered No Party Preference, independents will likely decide the race.

A Sacramento County Swing District

The American River connects Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and Citrus Heights, the cities at the core of the 7th Assembly District. The district lies entirely within Sacramento County and also takes in the unincorporated communities of McClellan Park, North Highlands, Foothill Farms, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Gold River, Rosemont, Mather, and most of Carmichael.

According to the Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey, the district has 496,790 residents. The population is 57.7% White, 19.2% Latino, 10% Asian, and 6.1% Black. About 18.7% of residents were born outside the United States, and 6.5% are veterans.

The median household income is $90,390, and the median home value approaches $500,000. Renters make up nearly 40% of households and pay an average of $1,760 a month.

California homes cost about twice as much as the typical U.S. home, and in Sacramento County the monthly payment on a newly purchased "bottom-tier" home has risen 74% since January 2020. Rising insurance, food, and utility costs have further tightened budgets, especially in the newer suburban neighborhoods of Folsom and Rancho Cordova.

As of September 4, 2026, AD 7 had 299,480 registered voters: 37.1% Democratic, 32.5% Republican, and 21.4% No Party Preference. Democrats hold a 4.6-point registration edge, but voters who belong to neither major party dwarf that gap.

Elections here have been consistently close. Barack Obama carried the area by 0.54 points in 2008, Mitt Romney by 1.88 points in 2012, Hillary Clinton by 2.97 points in 2016, Joe Biden by 5.92 points in 2020, and Kamala Harris by 4 points in 2024.

Joshua Hoover (R)

Hoover, 38, of Folsom, flipped the seat in 2022 and is seeking a third term. He was recently appointed Assembly Minority Floor Leader and joined the leadership team of newly selected Assembly Republican Leader Alexandra "Ali" Macedo.

He serves as vice chair of the Education Committee and the Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, where he has worked to support small businesses and bring jobs to the region. He serves on the Select Committee on Serving Students with Disabilities and is a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus agree, in writing, not to actively work against one another's bills, no matter what political party they are in.

Someone in Sacramento Is Actually Trying to Solve Problems

California’s Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of 26 lawmakers, is quietly working to solve real problems like housing costs and energy by passing bills without partisan conflict.

Independent Voter NewsDan Schnur

Hoover’s campaign website calls him "a passionate advocate for California families" whose priorities include keeping the community "a great place to live, work, and go to school."

Public Safety

Most recently, Hoover has pushed for funding to implement Proposition 36, the 2024 ballot measure that increased penalties for repeat theft and certain drug crimes, and has discussed it on his podcast.

Hoover called for the removal of every state parole board member who voted to release convicted child molesters. Two of those members have since lost their positions after the State Senate refused to confirm their appointments. Hoover called it "a critical first step" and said "more must be done to remove the remaining members and pass reforms to stop the early release of criminals serving life sentences."

He discussed the parole board fights on a recent episode of his Point of Order podcast.

In July, Hoover joined John McGinness to discuss what he called the "concerning rise of socialism in the United States" and why it threatens American values. "Freedom is never guaranteed," Hoover wrote. "Liberty, free markets, and the rule of law must be actively defended and preserved every single generation."

"I oppose the soft-on-crime policies coming out of the State Capitol that have made our neighborhoods less safe," Hoover said. "It is past time to restore accountability in our criminal justice system by reforming laws that have led to rampant retail theft and the early release of dangerous criminals."

Hoover has pushed to add school police officers and introduced "Ryla's Law" to close loopholes that allow child abusers to be released from jail early.

Schools and Kids

Hoover joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers this year behind 13 bills to keep children safe online, all signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

"Protecting kids should never be a partisan issue," Hoover wrote in a September 24 post on X, describing the package as common sense legislation "that will help put an end to the screen-based childhood."

Hoover authored one of those bills, AB 2071, which directs California public schools to develop Digital Wellness Instruction so students learn to use technology in ways that support their physical and mental health.

Hoover was also a joint author of AB 1709, a bipartisan bill restricting users under 16 from social media platforms with "addictive features."

"This is not a Republican or a Democrat issue. This is a parent issue. This is a kid issue," Hoover said of the bill. The new laws build on the Phone-Free Schools Act, which Hoover passed in 2024.

On September 27, he appeared on California Politics 360 with Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi to discuss how the law is working.

Hoover has also revisited the pandemic school closures he fought as a school board member. After Newsom said in September that closing beaches was "insane, in hindsight," Hoover reposted the quote with "in hindsight" removed.

"For those of us with basic common sense, hindsight was not required to do the right thing during COVID," Hoover wrote, adding that those who pushed to reopen schools "were demonized and told to 'follow the science.'"

On education, Hoover authored AB 2316, which Newsom signed into law. Sponsored by the California Charter Schools Association, the bill gives eligible charter public schools facing significant facilities costs access to financial hardship relief comparable to what school districts receive. The association called it a major step forward for equity in public education and thanked Hoover for championing it.

"Proud to author legislation supporting charter schools and school choice for California students," Hoover wrote on X. "Thank you to Governor Newsom for signing this important bill that will ensure families continue to have options when it comes to their child's education."

Cost of Living and the Campaign

On September 17, Hoover's campaign launched its first TV ad focused on the cost of living.

"During my time in the Assembly, I have fought back against harmful policies that are increasing the cost of everything we buy," Hoover wrote in announcing it. "California families have had enough."

A second, positive ad promoting Hoover is also running.

Hoover has targeted the troubled Highway 50 rebuild through Sacramento, known as Fix50. The Sacramento Bee reported in September that he may request an audit of the project, which he called "an unmitigated disaster," citing years of delays, faulty concrete, and deadly crashes. "The public deserves a full accounting of what went wrong," he said, "and most importantly, Caltrans must do better moving forward."

Hoover's 2026 endorsements include the California Professional Firefighters, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the American Independent Party. Law enforcement groups backing him also include the California Police Chiefs Association, the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association, the Folsom Police Officers Association, and the Sacramento Police Officers Association. The California Republican Party endorsed him.

Hoover Wants To Take Partisanship Out of Elections

Hoover has taken up nonpartisan election reform. In August, he joined Assemblywoman Natasha Johnson, the lead author, in introducing ACA 23.

The constitutional amendment would make Secretary of State a nonpartisan office, with candidates running without a party label, as candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction already do.

"The individual administering our election system should be a referee ensuring a fair contest, not a political actor wearing a specific team's jersey," Hoover wrote.

On August 13, Hoover joined colleagues at the State Capitol to push ACA 23 alongside SCA 3, by Senator Roger Niello.

SCA 3 would move the job of writing ballot titles and summaries from the Attorney General to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office, which Hoover said would ensure "accurate and unbiased descriptions for every proposition on the ballot."

Together, Hoover said, the measures would "give voters the opportunity to restore trust in elections by taking partisan politics out of the equation."

Hoover pointed to the fight over the ballot title for Proposition 39, the voter ID initiative. In July, Republicans sued Attorney General Rob Bonta after new wording described the measure as “prohibiting citizens from voting” without government ID.

He has also used his podcast to explore these issues, including a conversation with Macedo and a July episode asking whether California's independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is done for good.

Hoover's Background

Before joining the Assembly, Hoover served as chief of staff to then-Assemblymember Kevin Kiley, whose office he joined in 2016, and as an elected trustee of the Folsom-Cordova Unified School District. On the school board, he led the push to reopen schools during the pandemic, and FCUSD became the first district in Sacramento County to return students to in-person instruction. He also worked to balance the district budget, protect taxpayers, expand mental health services, support school police officers, and improve student achievement. In 2020, Folsom named him its Young Professional of the Year for his advocacy on behalf of students.

Earlier in his career, he worked with Senator Mimi Walters, Assemblymember Melissa Melendez, and Assemblymember Jay Obernolte. He earned an associate degree from American River College, a bachelor's in political science from UCLA in 2011, and a master's in public administration from USC in 2015.

Hoover lives in Folsom with his wife, Nicole, and their three children. The parent of a child on the autism spectrum, he has served on the Folsom Cordova Special Education Community Advisory Committee and in local PTA leadership.

Hoover's Record of Winning Close Races

Hoover first won the seat in 2022, campaigning on homelessness and crime prevention. He unseated Democratic incumbent Ken Cooley 50.4% to 49.6%, a margin of about 1,400 votes.

In 2024, he faced Citrus Heights City Councilmember Porsche Middleton. Hoover beat Middleton 53.64% to 46.36%, a margin of more than 15,000 votes. Hoover ran ahead of the top of the Democratic ticket. Kamala Harris carried the district by 4.5 points, and Adam Schiff won it in the U.S. Senate race by 0.2 points. The district's 1.46-point shift to the right from 2020 to 2024 was the smallest of any California legislative seat.

The June 2026 Primary

Hoover narrowly cleared 50% in the June 2 Top Two primary, finishing 4,766 votes ahead of Slavensky. American Independent Party candidate Sanaz Motamedi, a licensed realtor, finished a distant third. Turnout was 42.85%, with 128,341 votes cast.

Amy Slavensky (D)

Amy Slavensky, 63, is an educational coach and consultant who was born and raised in Fair Oaks and Carmichael. She left home at 17 and paid her own way through college, earning a bachelor's in liberal studies from Point Loma Nazarene University in 1984, a master's in education from Azusa Pacific University in 1987, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Claremont Graduate University in 2003.

She began her four decades in education in 1984 at Clairemont Christian, followed by 11 years in the Baldwin Park Unified School District. She served as principal in Glendora Unified from 1995 to 1999 and in Walnut Valley Unified from 1999 to 2007. She then served as director of curriculum and instruction in Upland Unified, a middle school principal in Sacramento City Unified, and K-8 director in San Juan Unified from 2011 to 2016.

Slavensky was superintendent of the Amador County Unified School District from 2016 to 2021. In mid-2019, during that tenure, she drew controversy when a well-liked high school principal was fired after a negative performance review. She returned to San Juan Unified in 2022 as a leadership coach and interim deputy superintendent, serving until June 2025, and now works for herself in Sacramento.

Where Slavensky Stands

Slavensky's campaign pitch draws on her own life. She grew up in a family that struggled after her parents' divorce, which she says taught her early "what it feels like when systems don't support families in crisis." She says she stands for "dignity, fairness, and opportunity for every person in our community."

She and her husband, Mike, have five children and three grandchildren. "I am, at my core, a mom, a wife, an educator, and a neighbor who believes in showing up for people with compassion and integrity," she said.

Saying she knows firsthand how hard it can be to secure stable housing, she wants to increase affordability, expand pathways to renting and owning a home, and "prioritize people over bureaucracy."

"Having lost my brother after years of homelessness, I believe we must treat people experiencing mental illness, trauma, and housing instability with humanity, while expanding mental health care, diverse housing options, and pathways to stability," she said.

Education remains her anchor issue. "I stand for strong, well-resourced public schools because I have witnessed for decades how education transforms lives," she said. She argues that every child should have access to world-class learning, regardless of race, income, language, disability, or background.

She is also running on women's rights, citing her own experiences with sexism, limited maternity protections, and pay inequity. Her platform calls for reproductive freedom and fair workplaces "where women can grow and lead without barriers."

Slavensky says California must address systemic racism, improve bias training, and ensure accountability in systems that hold power. She also supports environmental protection and sustainable agriculture and calls for acknowledging how climate change affects families and workers.

Her campaign sums up the pitch this way: "After 40 years of service in our public schools, I've seen our community's challenges, and I know we can do better."

Two new positive ads about Slavensky began circulating this month.

Two negative ads targeting Slavensky are also running.

Her Case Against Hoover

The campaign casts Hoover as "a true Sacramento insider" and targets his moderate image. The site says Hoover "calls himself a moderate but his voting record shows otherwise," linking to joshhoovervotes.com.

Slavensky's campaign has also launched a negative ad against Hoover.

SEIU California, the California Labor Federation, the California Teachers Association, and the California Women's List have endorsed Slavensky, as have Porsche Middleton, Hoover's 2024 opponent, and other local leaders. The California Democratic Party gave her both its Pre-Endorsement Conference endorsement and its primary endorsement.

The Money Race

Hoover entered 2026 with a commanding financial edge, but the California Democratic Party has gone all in on Slavensky.

The CDP has given Slavensky’s campaign $1.6 million so far, including two large late contributions: $251,336 on September 24 and $552,913 on October 8. Those two checks alone total $804,249, more than Hoover has reported having in the bank at any point this year.

Hoover raised $1.08 million in the first half of the year and had $712,465 on hand at the end of June. By the September 19 filing, his campaign had raised $1,388,190, spent $804,908, and held $567,893 cash on hand.

According to the California Target Book, independent expenditure committees have spent $2 million in AD 7 this cycle, with every dollar going toward supporting Hoover or opposing Slavensky. More than $1.1 million of that, about 61%, was reported in the first six days of October.

Three committees have spent $646,441 against Slavensky. Legislative Action Victory PAC has put $352,528 into literature, polling, research, and digital ads. PACSA PAC, sponsored by Parents Against Child Sexual Abuse, has spent $225,039, mostly on digital advertising. Keeping Californians Working has spent $68,874 on campaign literature.

Slavensky is leaning on the Democratic Party, while Hoover benefits from outside groups that can spend without limit but cannot coordinate with him.

Source Notes

This article draws on publicly available information from the California Secretary of State, CalMatters, the California Target Book, Ballotpedia, California FPPC campaign finance and independent expenditure filings, candidate websites and social media accounts, and reporting from local and regional newspapers and television stations.