A recent article by Jeff Horseman about poor election turnout in the Inland Empire got the numbers right, but those of us who’ve lived here know the values behind those numbers have always been a part of our story.
The Inland Empire is changing—and fast. New voter registration data shows Republican registration outpacing Democrats in over 30 local cities since 2020, with Perris reporting a 49% GOP surge as of June 2025. Meanwhile, San Bernardino and Riverside counties flipped in the recent presidential contest. The numbers are clear—but more than data, they reflect a community seeking stability, good-paying jobs, quality schools, and safer neighborhoods.
Growing up poor on the reservation, I built my life on the same values that bind Inland Empire families: faith, hard work, and community. As a conservative Democrat known for putting family first, I’ve spent three decades delivering on what truly matters: recruiting good jobs, strengthening schools, and working alongside law enforcement to keep our neighborhoods safe. I walk the walk—earned an MBA from the University of Redlands, worked in the private sector, and built a record of getting things done, often running unopposed because my constituents trust that I stand for them.
Our region’s shifting registration isn’t a political swing—it’s the statistics finally catching up to what people here have known all along. In the Inland Empire, the values of faith, family, safety, education, and opportunity have never changed. As the backbone of California, it is time for our views to be heard—loud and clear. What’s different now is that more people are paying attention—and choosing leaders who reflect those priorities. People here want to work hard, raise their children with dignity, and build a better life for their loved ones. They’re not asking for handouts—they’re asking for a fair chance, and for government to do its part with clarity, compassion, and accountability.
It doesn’t matter where you come from or what party you belong to—if you believe in building strong families, safe communities, and a better tomorrow, you’re part of the Inland Empire’s story.
It also means tackling the issues that touch every family—whether they speak openly about them or not. That includes the growing crisis of homelessness, and the deepening challenges of mental health. These are not fringe issues. They are central to family development, community stability, and building a future where everyone has a fair shot. We need real solutions that treat people with dignity while restoring neighborhoods and public trust.
Whether it was helping fund regional mental health programs, bringing job training to underserved communities, expanding access to education, or supporting local law enforcement, my focus has always been action.
I’m proud that my ability to work across party lines, think like a businessperson, and legislate like a neighbor has kept me in office—and kept me in tune with the people—regardless of trends. My focus isn’t on tracking party shifts; it’s on meeting needs: fixing potholes, building schools, funding community centers, and delivering public safety through boots-on-the-ground and meaningful prevention programs.
This moment isn’t a call to abandon what we stand for—it’s a call to honor it. We must listen to why people are registering differently. We must answer with programs that help people rise, heal, learn, and thrive. That hasn’t changed—and we must prove it with action every day.
The Inland Empire deserves leadership that reflects both its past and its promise. I’ve always believed that leadership is less about labels and more about lifts—lifts in opportunity, lifts in safety, lifts in hope. This change in registration isn’t about who wins—it’s about who listens, who delivers, and who leads by example.
The values we fight for in the Inland Empire are the values Californians across this state are calling for. And I intend to keep answering that call—wherever it leads.
That’s my commitment. Because leadership here isn’t something you take—it’s something you earn every day.
James Ramos represents California’s 45th Assembly District.
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