PAT WALLIS is a candidate for Congress, District 23. Scroll down for more information.

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Meetings start at 12:15 PM at Juan Pollo Restaurant, 1258 W 5th St, San Bernardino, CA 

San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club Official Do-Not-Support Position

The San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club UNANIMOUSLY opposes Benito Barrios for City Council, Ward 2. Do-Not-Support declarations have been rare in our club’s history. However, Barrios’ record is so disturbing, so unethical, and so incompatible with Democratic values that we feel compelled to advise fellow Democrats.

Abuse of Power: As a councilman, Barrios was caught by the media calling the police chief in the middle of the night seeking special treatment after being stopped for driving on a suspended license, while he was actively a fugitive from the law. He has been a fugitive twice. This is not leadership; it’s entitlement.”

Pro-Trump Actions and Endorsing Trump: Barrios signed a pro-Trump letter praising Donald Trump and inviting his federal law enforcement into San Bernardino despite Trump conditioning it on extra ICE and immigration enforcement, even as Trump attacked immigrants, destroyed unions, arrested union leaders, and targeted working families. The San Bernardino County Young Democrats and immigrant-rights groups condemned the letter and him at the time. We condemn Benito Barrios now. Benito Barrios also outright endorsed Donald Trump for President in 2016.

Toxic MAGA Alliances: He is a close ally of disgraced MAGA mayor John Valdivia, who was censured and embroiled in corruption and sexual harassment scandals. Barrios publicly endorsed him and benefited from that political machine. Dangerous Judgment: Barrios attempted to sell guns from the dais during a council meeting in a city struggling with some of California’s worst gun-violence rates. Rejected by Voters: He is now on his fifth run for office. He lost re-election in his primary with only 29.7% of the vote, failed to qualify a write-in attempt, and failed to qualify for the ballot again when he ran against Jan 6 hero Representative Pete Aguilar. Democrats must ask themselves: Why would any Democratic leader in San Bernardino or beyond support a failed councilman with a pro-Trump record, a history of abusing power, and ties to MAGA corruption within the city? Ward 2 deserves stability, competence, and real Democratic values, not a return to the chaos of Barrios, Valdivia, Elliot and Ibarra. The City of San Bernardino and Ward 2 cannot have our heart broken again in a city that has run out of hearts to give.

We urge all Democrats: DO NOT SUPPORT Benito Barrios for City Council, Ward 2 and join us in actively campaigning against him with time and money. UNANIMOUSLY resolved by the San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club on December 5, 2025.

Sources, References, and Quotes can be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bR5xi7Js9iGiQvLcxmLGvo9Htcmjxtfl/view?usp=sharing  (Copy and paste this link into your browser.)

Meetings are Fridays at 12:15 PM at Juan Pollo Restaurant, 1258 West 5th Street, San Bernardino, California.

MARCH 20 – PAT WALLIS, Candidate for Congress, District 23.

A Life of Service. A Mind for Solutions.

Pat’s not a politician. He’s a husband, a father, an Army veteran, a software developer, and a community builder.

He attended Tulane University on an ROTC scholarship before being commissioned into the Army. While deployed to Germany during the Kosovo War, he learned two lessons that still guide him today: when Americans come together around a shared mission, there’s nothing they can’t solve—and we never leave anyone behind.

After 9/11, Pat continued serving, managing bases for the Coast Guard and keeping critical systems running. In 2011, he joined Esri, the world leader in mapping technology, where he founded and runs the Esri Innovation Lab.

But Pat knows technology alone isn’t the answer—community is. Since 2015, he and his wife, Danielle, have worked with Mil-Tree, a high desert nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans reconnect and rebuild community after service. For the past five years, Pat has served as Board President, rolling up his sleeves to build real solutions instead of waiting for government to act.

That’s what Pat will bring to Congress — practical leadership built on service.

Pat and Danielle live in Yucca Valley. He’s a Democrat fighting for a New American Way—working together to ensure no one is left behind.

MARCH 27 – TESSA HODGE, Candidate for Congress, District 23

I am Tessa Lynn Hodge, and I’m running for Congress to represent California’s 23rd Congressional District in the 2026 election.  As a born and raised lifelong resident of this district, I’m deeply connected to its values and its people.

My roots in this district run deep. My grandfather served in the Air Force for 22 years before retiring to the High Desert and later ran a small print shop in Victorville. My grandmother worked as an RN for over 30 years with the majority of them being at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Apple Valley. The legacy of service in my family has shaped me in so many ways. I have also been shaped by the community itself and by the opportunities and challenges that this vast district offers.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with almost a decade of experience working with vulnerable populations, from children in foster care to students in need of mental health services in our school districts. I’ve also worked in San Bernardino County incorporating state and federal legislation into county policy and guidelines for county workers. I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact of legislation and policies on real lives, and I know that now is the time to advocate for meaningful change. After years of serving my community as a social worker, I’m running for office because I believe that to create lasting change, we need to address the root causes of inequality, injustice, addiction, poor mental health and poverty at the policy level.

The current representative, Jay Obernolte, is out of touch with the needs of the 23rd District. His focus on partisan politics is a disservice to the hardworking families in our community. I’m running to be a voice for my community, to ensure that every person, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive.