Candidates for Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder

Background

Peter Aldana was elected Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder in June 2014 and has been re-elected without opposition in 2018 and 2022. He has spent his entire career — over 30 years — in the county's ACR office, working in appraisal, supervisory, and management roles before becoming assistant assessor and then taking the top job. He holds a BA from California State University Fullerton and an MA in Education from Azusa Pacific University. Lifelong Riverside County resident. Married to Lucy, two sons (Cristian and Alex). Serves on the California Assessors' Association, County Recorder's Association of California, California Association of Clerks and Election Officers, and International Association of Assessing Officers. Received the American Society for Public Administration's Outstanding Elected Official Award (2026).[2]

Strengths ▲

• 30+ years of experience in the office — knows the job inside and out
• No significant controversies or scandals in 12 years as department head
• Broad bipartisan support from county assessors across California and local law enforcement/labor
• Successfully modernized services (remote access, digital platforms) without drama
• Ran unopposed in two consecutive elections — suggests broad satisfaction with leadership

Weaknesses ▼

• Long tenure (12 years) makes him vulnerable to "career insider" attacks from McBride
• Not known for bold reform — incrementalist approach may not appeal to voters wanting change
• Low-profile office; may struggle to motivate voter interest in a contested race
• As a long-serving incumbent with no recent opponent, has not been tested in a campaign since 2014

Background

Jared McBride is a business owner and first-time candidate for countywide office. Born and raised in Riverside County. Holds a master's degree in management from the University of Chicago and Boston University. Served on the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) Board of Directors from December 2018 to June 2021, representing Division 3 (Lakeland Village, Wildomar, and surrounding unincorporated areas). Resigned from the water board after moving out of the district. Married, raising eight children. Lives in the Aguanga area. Endorsed by Reform California, the conservative taxpayer advocacy group founded by Carl DeMaio. Running as a political outsider promising to audit the assessor's office and cut waste.[5]

Strengths ▲

• Fresh outsider perspective — not part of the "entrenched bureaucracy" he criticizes
• Specific, measurable promises (25% appeal backlog reduction, annual audit report)
• Small government/anti-tax message may resonate in conservative areas of Riverside County
• Experience managing budgets on public boards (EVMWD)

Weaknesses ▼

• No experience in property assessment, appraisal, or county record-keeping
• Resigned from only prior elected position (EVMWD) mid-term due to moving — can be framed as not finishing what he started
• Limited endorsements compared to the incumbent's broad cross-county assessor support
• Low-name recognition countywide; first run for county office
• Platform focuses on criticism of incumbents rather than concrete operational plans for the office
• No campaign finance data publicly available — may be significantly outspent

This is a classic incumbent vs. challenger race in a low-turnout primary. Incumbent Peter Aldana has held the office since 2014 and has never faced a contested election — he ran unopposed in 2018 and 2022. Jared McBride is running as a conservative outsider promising to audit the office and cut property taxes.

• Aldana's advantage: 30+ years of experience in the office, a clean record, and endorsements from county assessors statewide. He has run the office without controversy and modernized services incrementally. In a low-information county race, the incumbent advantage is significant.
• McBride's opening: Property tax frustration is real — Riverside County has seen rapid home value increases. His message of stopping "property tax gouging" and cutting bureaucratic waste could resonate with conservative voters in the county's inland areas. Reform California's endorsement gives him some organizational backing.
• Turnout factor: In a June primary with no presidential race at the top of the ticket, turnout will be low and skew older and more partisan. Conservative voters energized by the top-of-ticket races may boost McBride's performance.
• Key question: Can McBride convince voters that the assessor's office is broken enough to replace a 12-year incumbent with no scandal? Or will Aldana's low-key competence and institutional support carry him to another term?

Likely outcome: Aldana starts as the clear favorite, but McBride could force a November runoff if he consolidates conservative support and Aldana fails to reach 50% + 1 in the primary.

Primary: June 2, 2026 — General: November 3, 2026