There’s an old saying that politics isn’t for the faint of heart. After running for state Assembly in 2024, I can honestly say that statement is absolutely true.

As most of you know, I ran for California’s 40th Assembly District seat against Pilar Schiavo. I was the only Republican in the race. We came within roughly five percentage points of winning. Close enough to see the finish line, but not close enough to cross it.

Losing an election is a humbling experience. There’s no other way to put it. You spend months pouring every ounce of energy into a campaign. You shake hands until your arm feels like it’s going to fall off. You attend forums, community events, debates and late-night meetings. You talk to voters at stores, parks, restaurants and neighborhood gatherings. You sacrifice time with your family. You spend sleepless nights thinking about strategy, messaging, fundraising and whether people hear what you are trying to say.

Then Election Day comes, and regardless of the outcome, reality hits hard.

Did I make mistakes? Absolutely. Anyone who says otherwise after running for office is probably fooling themselves. Campaigning taught me lessons you simply cannot learn from watching politics on TV or arguing online. Politics is personal. Politics is emotional. Politics is strategic. Sometimes politics can be downright ugly.

I........

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