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As California’s March 2024 Primary Election draws near, six candidates competing for Jim Wood’s 2nd District seat in the State Assembly are preparing to square off in a local debate. The nonpartisan forum, hosted by True North Organizing Network in partnership with the California Native Vote Project and Cal Poly Humboldt, will take place this Friday in Blue Lake.

California’s 2nd Assembly District encompasses Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity and northern Sonoma County, including most of Santa Rosa. Wood has represented the district since 2014. 

Seven candidates qualified for the primary election ballot, though Mendocino County resident Cynthia Click recently announced her decision to suspend her campaign. The six candidates still in the race are as follows:

• Michael Greer – Del Norte Unified School District trustee, Republican
• Rusty Hicks – Chair of California’s Democratic Party
• Ariel Kelley – Mayor of Healdsburg
• Franklin “Frankie” Myers – Vice-Chairman of the Yurok Tribe
• Chris Rogers – Santa Rosa city councilmember
• Ted Williams – Mendocino County’s Fifth District supervisor

True North’s Community Organizer Evan Morden confirmed that all six candidates are expected to attend the upcoming debate, which will be hosted by Terry Supahan, executive director of True North, and Calvin Hedrick, an organizer with the California Native Vote Project.

“We’re excited that this is going to be the first [forum] hosted on tribal lands for the assembly race,” Morden told the Outpost. “The debate is definitely going to focus on tribal sovereignty, working with tribes, water issues, as well as housing. We haven’t finalized our questions just yet, but those will be the primary topics.”

The debate will kick off at 5:30 p.m. at the Sapphire Palace Event Center, located in the Blue Lake Casino and Hotel, in Blue. The event is free and open to the public. 

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY RACE:

• In Surprise Announcement, Jim Wood Says He Will Not Seek Re-election to California Assembly
• California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks, Now an Arcata Resident, Launches Run for State Assembly Seat Being Vacated by Jim Wood
• Santa Rosa Councilmember Chris Rogers Announces Campaign for State Assembly Seat
• Yurok Tribe Vice Chairman Frankie Myers Declares Candidacy for State Assembly District 2 Seat
• INTERVIEW: Rusty Hicks, California Democratic Party Chair, on How He ‘Fell in Love’ With the North Coast and Decided to Run for State Assembly
• Yurok Vice Chair Frankie Myers Discusses His Assembly Campaign, the Power of Representation and the Unique Voice He’d Bring to Sacramento
• Assemblymember Jim Wood Endorses Rusty Hicks in Crowded Race to Be His Successor
• Michael Greer Touts Political Experience, Background in Public Education As Assets in Assembly Race