Hughson ex-mayor drops out of CA Senate race against Alvarado-Gil, endorses Duarte
Former Hughson Mayor Jeramy Young has dropped out of the 4th state Senate district race and endorsed Alexandra Duarte to unseat incumbent and fellow Republican Marie Alvarado-Gil.
The state Senate seat covers parts of Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced, Calaveras, Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada and Placer counties.
Young, the Livermore police chief, said in a statement that Republicans should not run against each other and should unite on a shared mission.
“I believe one of the best measures of any candidate is their actions, not their words, and a voting record matters because it shows who can be trusted to consistently support conservative values when it counts,” reads the statement. “That is why my focus will be on helping Alexandra Duarte win this election so we have a conservative voice we can trust in Sacramento.”
Duarte said in a statement issued by her campaign that she welcomed Young’s endorsement. “Jeramy Young is a man of immense integrity, and I am honored to have his support. I know Jeramy has a bright future ahead,” said Duarte.
During a public meeting of the Stanislaus GOP on Monday before an endorsement vote, Young announced he would be suspending his campaign.
Joel Campos, head of the Stanislaus County Republican Party, said a narrowing of the field to just two Republicans will be good for the race.
“We don’t want another incident like in 2022,” Campos said, referencing the six Republican candidates vying for the seat at that time. “This is a very safe red seat, so that shouldn’t have happened.”
Campos said neither Alvarado-Gil nor Duarte received the 75% majority to reach an endorsement at Monday night’s meeting, though Duarte did have more support.
Jaron Brandon, the sole Democrat candidate in the race, said he was sad to see Young leave the race because he is a great local leader. As far as his own campaign, he’s optimistic.
“I’m up against two candidates who are really trying to run for this party fight and not about the district issues we’re seeing,” Brandon said. “So I’m feeling like we are in a pretty good spot.”
Duarte characterized Alvarado-Gil’s record as “far-leftist” in a statement announcing Young’s endorsement. In 2024, Alvarado-Gil switched parties from Democrat to Republican.
Duarte, who has been partially funded by husband John Duarte’s former campaign money, has taken a further rightward stance than her husband, who, in his 2024 bid to maintain his CA-13 seat toed a centrist line.
Duane Dichiara, vice president of Axiom Solutions and political consultant for Alexandra Duarte, said at this point it’s a head-to-head between Duarte and Alvarado-Gil.
“Normally, the incumbent would get the endorsement, but she didn’t, she failed,” Dichiara said. “It’s a humiliation to Alvarado-Gil.”
Alvarado-Gil responded in an email statement to The Bee that she is proud to be endorsed by local leaders, including Assemblymember Juan Alanis.
“Their confidence in my record and my work is more important than any political games,“ she said. “I remain the clear frontrunner in this race, and my focus is on delivering results for Senate District 4, including the people of Stanislaus County. I am focused on fighting for public safety, protecting taxpayers, and improving the quality of life for everyone.”
This story was originally published February 4, 2026 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Hughson ex-mayor drops out of CA Senate race against Alvarado-Gil, endorses Duarte."
