MARIPOSA, CA - - Today, former U.S. Representative George Radanovich announced his candidacy for the California Assembly in the open 8th District. He was immediately endorsed by former Assemblyman Frank Bigelow, who decided not to enter the race himself, and by cattle rancher John Harris, owner of Harris Farms in Fresno County.

“Crime, the cost of living, homelessness, failing schools and an infrastructure unable to meet our water and transportation needs are all the result of failed leadership in Sacramento,” said Radanovich. “This is the district where I was born, lived and farmed and where my family started a business in 1955. The people here don’t want to give up on California, they want representatives who will fight for them and for a brighter future for their children.”

George Radanovich is a native of a Mariposa County farm family and a former member of Congress representing Fresno County, Madera County, Mariposa County and Tuolumne County, all included in the 8th Assembly District. He is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In 1982 George began growing grapes in Mariposa County and in 1986 he opened the Radanovich Winery, the first winery in the region. He was the first winemaker to serve in Congress since Thomas Jefferson.

George served as a member of the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors from 1988 to 1992. In 1994 George ran for Congress, defeating entrenched Incumbent Democrat Richard Lehman by 17 points. Radanovich was elected President of the 74-member freshman class of Republicans. He was the top Republican vote-getter in the June 2022 primary in Senate District 8.

In Congress, George served as a key member of the Resources Committee, Chairman of the National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Subcommittee, Chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee, Chairman of the Western Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Water Caucus and Wine Caucus. He served in Congress from 1994 to 2010, becoming a leading advocate for California’s agricultural, resources and recreational communities. He voluntarily retired from Congress in 2010.

After leaving Congress, George served as Chairman of the Board of a small family retail business founded by his parents in 1955. In 2016 George become President of the California Fresh Fruit Association. He left that position in 2019.