Central Valley Daily

Oct. 23: State Board Of Equalization Race Features Two Central Valley Candidates

By Soreath Hok,

Published October 23, 2026 at 4:45 AM PDT

Ways To Subscribe

The District 1 seat on the California Board Of Equalization is up for grabs this November with two Central Valley candidates competing for it. The politicians are making a name for themselves in a region that extends far beyond the San Joaquin Valley. We speak to KVPR reporter Samantha Rangel about the race and the role of the Board Of Equalization.

Plus, the latest news headlines: Fresno leaders vote to create “defense fund” for immigrants; and recent crime surge leads to changes in a Fresno neighborhood. Today’s episode is hosted by Soreath Hok and produced by Jonathan Linden.

Central Valley Daily

Soreath Hok

Soreath Hok is a multimedia journalist with experience in radio, television and digital production. She is a 2022 National Edward R. Murrow Award winner. At KVPR, she is currently the local host of KVPR's Central Valley Daily podcast.

See stories by Soreath Hok

Samantha Rangel

Samantha Rangel reports on stories for KVPR in the Fresno and Clovis areas. After growing up in the town of Firebaugh, Samantha earned her B.A. in Media, Communications, and Journalism from California State University, Fresno. Her previous work can also be found in The Westside Express, her college paper, The Collegian, NPR, and The California Report.

The best way to reach her is at srangel@kvpr.org or 559-862-2397.

See stories by Samantha Rangel

Jonathan Linden

Jonathan Linden is a podcast producer at KVPR. Born and raised in Riverside, he's a Southern California native. Jonathan's passion for public radio began at a young age when his brother would play NPR while driving him home from middle school. He earned his B.A. in journalism from Biola University in 2019.

See stories by Jonathan Linden