Lynette Niebla
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – While California’s primary contests are firmly in the rearview mirror, the race for the State Assembly District 36 seat is heating up on a much smaller, more intimate stage.
Instead of crowded town halls and podiums, Republican incumbent Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez and Democratic challenger Dr. Ida Obeso-Martinez are choosing to meet voters where they are: At local coffee shops.
Over the weekend, both campaigns poured their energy into community meet-ups across the Imperial Valley, serving up casual conversation alongside morning brews.
The events are part of ongoing, district-wide listening tours designed to stir up relaxed dialogue with constituents while simultaneously highlighting and supporting small businesses in the region.
For Assemblyman Gonzalez, stepping away from the formal campaign trail allows for a more authentic connection with the community.
“We can just be ourselves and just talk and find out how we can work together as a community, how we can be united as a community,” Gonzalez said during a stop at 3:16 Café in Imperial. “And sometimes it takes a cup of coffee.”
Both campaigns view the approach as an opportunity to “pour into the cup” of local residents. By taking the time to listen face-to-face, they hope to ensure voters feel heard, valued, and empowered ahead of the general election.
Dr. Obeso-Martinez, who met with constituents at Vintage and Coffee in El Centro, agreed that the relaxed setting provides the fuel needed for deeper, more meaningful discussions.
“Cup of coffee, hang out. It’s important because just having those one-on-one conversations, being able to hear what’s important, what’s going on with them and their lives,” Obeso-Martinez said.
While the atmosphere at these local shops remains laid back, the topics brought to the table by local residents are anything but light.
According to Obeso-Martinez, regular valley concerns quickly give way to serious legislative discussions when voters get face-to-face time with the candidates.
“The overall theme is regarding healthcare, affordability, job creation,” Obeso-Martinez noted. “But then there’s little nuances, right? Where maybe it’s a bridge that needs to be worked on, or streets, or public schools.”
Gonzalez echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that uncovering these community-specific issues is precisely how future state laws are born. He recalled a specific interaction over the weekend regarding an overlooked gap in medical coverage.
“I said, ‘Hey, here’s my email. Let’s talk so we can actually write legislation,'” Gonzalez shared. “And she was like, ‘Wait, I’m gonna be a part of that?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, you’re the one who knows it, so if you know it, let’s write it.'”
Both candidates are hitting the trail hard with distinct objectives heading into November. Gonzalez is focused on keeping his campaign momentum hot by prioritizing visits to rural or marginalized areas that rarely see state leadership.
“There are places in our district that when we go there, they say, ‘You’re the only person in the state or federal that’s ever come to even see us or hear us,'” Gonzalez said.
Meanwhile, Obeso-Martinez is aiming for a historic blend of representation if she secures the seat in November.
“If elected, we would be the first person from Imperial County in more than 50 years, and the first woman in more than 30 years to be elected to the State Assembly, so we’re really excited,” she said.
Neither campaign shows signs of slowing down, with both candidates planning to keep the caffeine and conversations flowing at future stops across the district.
Voters looking to join an upcoming listening session can find complete schedules by visiting the official campaign websites and following the social media pages for both Gonzalez and Obeso-Martinez.
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