One-term Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Norco, saw his lead grow Wednesday over Democratic challenger Christopher Shoults in the battle for the 63rd District seat.
With more than 40% of votes tabulated from Tuesday’s election, the spread between the incumbent and Shoults widened to 15%, though Essayli had not yet declared victory. There was also no comment from the challenger’s camp.
Essayli, a former federal and state prosecutor, was first elected in 2022 and has established himself since then as a firebrand on the conservative side. Shoults has cast himself as a moderate Democrat willing to “work with anyone in either party to get things done.”…