Yucca Valley business owner to run against Obernolte
YUCCA VALLEY — Paul Chakalian, founder of Joshua Tree Distilling Company, has announced his campaign to unseat Congressman Jay Obernolte in California’s 23rd Congressional District.
The election will be held in 2026. Obernolte has also declared his intent to run.
Chakalian, who will run on the Democratic ticket, announced his candidacy Thursday.
“I’m a small business owner in Yucca Valley with two kids under 2. Every day, I see the impact of rising costs for housing, groceries and child care for me and my neighbors. I know how hard it is to get ahead: navigating high prices, few options and a government that makes things harder not easier,” he said.
“Instead of supporting small businesses and working families in our district, Jay Obernolte has consistently voted to protect big corporations that take advantage of hard working Americans — while pushing for more tax cuts for millionaires like himself.”
Chakalian said he would work with Democrats, Republicans and independents to “crack dow…