Riverside County Democratic Party

riversidecostg

Riverside County Democratic Party Demands Action on Oversight of Sheriff’s Department

· ·

Riverside County Democratic Party Demands Action on Oversight of Sheriff’s Department

The Riverside County Democratic Party (RCDP) strongly supports Supervisor Medina’s motion to establish civilian oversight of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, which will be brought before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, July 29. This is a long-overdue step toward transparency, accountability, and public trust.

The vote will take place during the Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting at 9:30 AM at the County Administrative Building, 4080 Lemon St, 1st Floor, Riverside, CA 92501. Residents are encouraged to attend in person, call in, or submit public comment online ahead of the meeting.

“We applaud Supervisor Medina’s leadership and stand firmly behind his motion for civilian oversight,” said Anyse Smith, Chair of the Assembly District 47 Caucus, Riverside County Democratic Party. “There is no justification for continuing to allow a law enforcement agency to operate without basic transparency. The numbers are staggering, and the time for excuses has long passed.”

The data speaks for itself:

  • 68 people have died in custody since 2019
     
  • 47 of those deaths occurred in just the past four years
     
  • Riverside County has the second highest in-custody death rate in the nation (The New York Times)
     
  • Six of those deaths were ruled homicides
     
  • A recent Grand Jury report found a lack of basic safeguards in the jails

These are not just statistics. They represent real lives lost under a system with no meaningful oversight.

This vote presents a critical opportunity for the Board of Supervisors to restore public trust. The residents of Riverside County are watching closely.

“We expect our Supervisors to take this vote seriously,” said Lou La Monte, Communications Chair of the Riverside County Democratic Party. “Their decision will send a clear message about their priorities. And we believe the public will remember who chose courage over complacency.”

Special Election Alert: June 24, 2025 — Assembly District 63

· ·

Special Election Alert: June 24, 2025 — Assembly District 63

This is our best chance to turn Riverside County blue. Let’s Go!

“No more self-serving political agendas and partisan games. It’s time for real leadership and representation that puts people first.”
Chris Shoults

Chris Shoults

Endorsed Candidate, State Assembly AD 63

About the Election

A Special Primary Election will be held on June 24, 2025 to fill the vacancy, prompted by the resignation of former Assemblymember Bill Essayli who departed to become a U.S. Attorney. The stakes couldn’t be higher — this seat will help determine the future of education, jobs, public safety, and the integrity of our democracy in Riverside County.

If any candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the race is over. That means we can win outright in June.

✔️ Check your voter registration
✔️ Make a plan to vote
✔️ Be a part of history

About Chris Shoults

Chris Shoults is the only Democrat in the race — and the only candidate with deep roots in the community and a record of getting things done.

  • Lifelong teacher
  • Union leader
  • Father and small business owner
  • Raised on a Wyoming farm, lives by grit, fairness, and hard work

Chris knows what families are facing because he lives it every day. He’s not in this for special interests — he’s in it for us.

🌐 Learn more at www.shoults4assembly.com

About Chad Bianco — and the Candidate He’s Backing

This election isn’t just local — it’s part of a much bigger fight.

Chris’s main opponent was hand-picked by Sheriff Chad Bianco, a former member of the extremist Oath Keepers, who’s now running for Governor of California. Bianco has:

  • Repeatedly aligned himself with far-right movements
  • Has overseen the most deadly jail in American
  • Been accused of corruption, abuse of power, and retaliation

We can’t allow Bianco to expand his influence by installing his chosen candidate in the State Assembly.

🔗 Read more at www.riversidecountydemocrats.org/stop-bianco

How You Can Help

This is a short, high-stakes campaign — and every hour counts.

🚪 Knock on doors – We have canvassing shifts across the district
📞 Make calls or send texts – Volunteer remotely from anywhere
💸 Chip in – Every dollar helps us reach more voters

📍 Sign up to volunteer at Chris’s Mobilize page
💖 Donate to Chris’s campaign

Why This Special Election Matters

This seat has been dominated for too long by leaders more focused on self-promotion than service. That ends now. With Chris in office, we can flip this district and start building toward a Democratic majority in CA-41.

False Accusations Make Headlines. Vindication Deserves the Same.  

· ·

False Accusations Make Headlines. Vindication Deserves the Same.

Senator Sabrina Cervantes Targeted, Cleared, and Still Standing

Riverside, CA – When strong, effective women in public office challenge the status quo, they are often met with resistance — not only in debate, but through tactics meant to discredit and diminish.

Recently, Senator Sabrina Cervantes was struck broadside by another vehicle while driving in downtown Sacramento. She went to a nearby hospital to seek medical care, where she was involuntarily detained by police and cited for suspicion of DUI. This week, toxicology and medical reports confirmed she had no alcohol or drugs in her system. The accusation was false. The record is now clear.

Riverside County Democratic Party Chair Joy Silver issued the following statement:

“Senator Cervantes is a leader who delivers for her constituents, and that makes her a threat to people who rely on fear and misinformation. She was accused, detained, and thrust into headlines before any facts had been confirmed. Now that the evidence has cleared her, the same attention should be paid.

This was not a routine encounter. It followed a violent collision and a hospital visit, yet she was treated as a suspect instead of a survivor. That choice reflects something deeper — a culture that punishes dissent and seeks to intimidate women in power.

The Riverside County Democratic Party stands with Senator Cervantes. We trust her leadership. We respect her integrity. And we will continue to call out the systems and individuals who distort the truth to score political points.”

###

After the Palm Springs Bombing, A Clear Call for Peace

· ·

After the Palm Springs Bombing, A Clear Call for Peace

After the Palm Springs Bombing, A Clear Call for Peace

The Riverside County Democratic Party Reaffirms Its Commitment to Safety and Democratic Values

Palm Springs, CA – On May 18, an explosion at a Palm Springs fertility clinic claimed one life and injured several others. Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this horrific act of violence.

At the time of the bombing, the Riverside County Democratic Party was holding a Congressional candidate forum just a few miles away. That proximity has sharpened a difficult truth: we are living in a time when violence and political intimidation are no longer condemned as outliers – they are increasingly tolerated, excused, even encouraged.

Unlike leaders who enable or incite these threats, the Riverside County Democratic Party believes that safety is not partisan, it is foundational. We believe in free and fair elections. We believe in the dignity of every family, the security of every clinic, and the power of organizing rooted in peace.

In moments like this, we urge every member of our community to stay alert, to look out for one another, and to remember: you are not alone.  

Our answer to hate is not fear, it is action, solidarity, and an unshakable commitment to each other. This is the time to show up, speak out, and organize for the safe, peaceful and prosperous future every American rightly deserves.

###

LET'S ELECT DEMOCRATS

This work requires grassroots supporters like you! We are committed to working year-round to foster trust, build relationships and organize Democrats across Riverside County!

$5 $25 $50 $100 $250 other