State senator to seek supervisor seat

Richard Roth plans 2024 run as term limits end his time in Sacramento

Two years before he’s termed out of Sacramento, state Sen. Richard Roth is planning the next chapter of his political career.

Roth, D-riverside, announced Thursday that he plans to run for Riverside County supervisor in 2024.

He will seek the First District seat, which was redrawn in late 2021 to represent Riverside, Perris and part of Jurupa Valley along with March Air Reserve Base, Good Hope, Highgrove, Mead Valley and Meadowbrook.

Kevin Jeffries, the district’s current supervisor, won’t run for re-election when his term ends in two years.

“I am running for Supervisor to build upon the tremendous successes we have delivered to Inland Southern California over the last 10 years,” Roth, who was first elected to the Senate in 2012, said in a news release.

“From expanding access to quality, affordable health care, to delivering funding for our local governments and transportation infrastructure, and bringing high-quality jobs to this region, it has been an honor to serve our region in the state Senate and bring home victories for all Inland Southern Californians.”

Roth, who chairs the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee and the Select Committee on Career Technology and the New Economy, said he wants to “build upon” his Senate experience “to deliver even more for Inland Southern California.”

“I believe it is critical that we get our fair share of funding for transportation, mental health services, and health care,” he said. “On the Board of Supervisors, I will never stop fighting for our fair share.”

A 32-year Air Force veteran who retired as a major general in 2007, Roth represents a state Senate district that includes Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Norco, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley and Perris. His Senate term expires in 2024 and he can’t run for re-election due to term limits.

Roth, who had been pondering a run for state insurance commissioner, set up a supervisor campaign committee in December and said he already has raised $380,000. He has the endorsement of Assembly Member Sabrina Cervantes, D-riverside, who was just elected chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

Roth, whose wife is Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce President/ceo Cindy Roth, also has enjoyed bipartisan support. District Attorney Mike Hestrin and then-supervisors Marion Ashley, John Benoit and John Tavaglione — all Republicans — endorsed Roth in 2016.

That said, open supervisor seats typically attract multiple candidates. By announcing this early, Roth might be seeking to deter any challengers as he gets a head start on fundraising.