Joe PattersonIncumbent
Candidate for Assembly District 5
Joe Patterson is the Republican incumbent for California's 5th Assembly District. It covers parts of Placer and El Dorado counties. That includes Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn, Placerville, and El Dorado Hills. He was born in Napa, California. He went to Napa High School. He then earned a B.A. in government, from Sacramento State. He was picked for the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship. That began his work in the state Legislature. Patterson served on the Rocklin City Council, from 2016 to 2022. He became mayor of Rocklin in 2019. He has also worked as executive director of the California Gaming Association. He was also treasurer of the Rocklin Public Safety Foundation. He was first elected to the Assembly in November 2022. He beat Democrat Rebecca Chenoweth, with about 60% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2024, against Democrat Neva Parker, with about 62% of the vote. He lives in Rocklin's Whitney Ranch area, with his wife Colleen and their four kids. Campaign materials say his kids' schools and his community drew him into local office. He is running for re-election to a third full term, in the November 2026 election. Home: Rocklin, California, in the Whitney Ranch area of Placer County. Occupation: California State Assemblymember, the incumbent. His background is in public policy and government affairs. He was earlier executive director of the California Gaming Association. Prior office: Incumbent since December 5, 2022, in Assembly District 5. He earlier served on the Rocklin City Council, from 2016 to 2022. He was Rocklin mayor in 2019.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Supports reducing business regulation and government mandates that he says burden employers and workers.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Opposes new taxes and government spending increases, supports protecting Prop 13 property tax limits, and has introduced legislation aimed at controlling state-driven cost-of-living increases such as gas and utility prices.
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Supports strong backing for law enforcement and increased criminal accountability, including for domestic abusers, as a way to reduce violent crime and mass shootings.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
Supports tougher sentencing and closing perceived early-release loopholes, including for DUI deaths, domestic violence, and human trafficking offenses.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Has focused health-related legislative efforts on expanding specific insurance coverage requirements and patient privacy protections rather than broad Medi-Cal or drug-pricing reform.
Source → - Education & Schools
Supports keeping schools open (in the context of pandemic-era closures), local control of school decisions, and parental rights against state intervention in family/school matters.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Supports greater transparency and legislative oversight over environmental and energy regulations he says are driving up utility and gas costs, while not directly opposing environmental goals.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Supports increased government transparency and restrictions on legislators using confidentiality tools to hide information about legislative decisions and taxpayer fund use.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.