SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – CA-03 candidate Heidi Hall and State Senate District 4 candidate Jaron Brandon came to the South Lake Tahoe Democrats Club meeting on Wednesday to discuss their primary campaigns for historically Republican seats.
Heidi Hall
Hall began running for Congress last year, first declaring it in opposition to Rep. Kevin Kiley. Now, she’s running against several Democrats including current Rep. Ami Bera and newcomer Chris Bennett, as well as Republican Chris Bish. The current race has seven candidates.
“I got in this race when it was hard,” said Hall. “I stayed in this race because I am rooted here.” Hall is chair of the Nevada County Board of Supervisors, was a program manager at the California State Department of Water Resources and worked for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Hall is running as a Democrat, but has a progressive platform. Hall wants to abolish ICE, institute Medicare for All, a wealth tax and codifying reproductive health rights into law. She also has a gripe with current Democrats like Bera, criticizing him for endorsing Eric Swalwell in the governor race—who was accused of sexual misconduct, causing him to drop from the race earlier this month.
Lastly, Hall said, “It’s important that your representatives answer only to you, not to corporate interests.” She has pledged on No Fossil Fuel Money and Unrig Washington, and has also been recently endorsed by the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, Climate Hawks Vote, California Environmental Voters and Green New Deal Champions.
Attendees at the meeting asked her about rural healthcare (especially Barton Healthcare’s move to Nevada), how to work with other representatives in Congress and her interest in green energy. Hall said she would focus on rural healthcare and that Medicare for All would take care of many issues with rural healthcare, spoke about coalition building and committed to investing in green energy.
Jaron Brandon
Jaron Brandon is running for California’s state senate, having previously run and won a seat on the Tuolumne Board of Supervisors at 26 years old. There, Brandon prioritized public safety, housing, government efficiency and infrastructure. Currently, he is the only Democratic candidate for District 4, which is currently represented by Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, who swapped to the Republican party in late 2024.
“I’m running to unseat Alvarado-Gil, a flip-flopper who doesn’t deserve a second term,” said Brandon. “My background is 100% rural and there’s something intangible about being in a community you have roots in.”
Brandon said that he was mentored by Hall in his run for Board of Supervisors, where he said, “I listened to my community—I try to be accessible, honest and hard-working. I try to be an effective leader.”
His other opponent is Republican Alexandra Duarte, wife of John Duarte who represented the 13th Congressional District of California from 2023 to 2025. “She is someone who has never run for local office, but could buy a spot in,” said Brandon.
Brandon said he was humbled to be the Democratic party champion in a completely Republican race, and said he would prioritize climate resiliency, like resource management, disaster response and resilient infrastructure. He also said he would make fire insurance his number one priority. He is endorsed by State Treasurer Fiona Ma, labor unions, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte and District 5 Supervisor Brooke Laine.
Brandon addressed how he would work to address issues like the lack of money for teachers in South Lake Tahoe, saying that the state government could potentially provide sparsity bonuses, something the federal department of education offers and could be amended for state local control funding formulas. “State government is not above local governments. We have to work together,” he said.
Brandon said he represented the “ultimate contrast” to Alvarado-Gil, who only passed a single bill during her term. “I’m banking on my record of success and challenging the status quo. People want somebody who can get something done.”
Brandon and Hall will both be on the primary ballot in June. Ballots will start being distributed sometime in early May.
Editor’s note: The Tribune has reached out to these candidates’ opponents for separate articles.
