A contentious race for the California State Assembly in Riverside County is unfolding with both major candidates facing scrutiny over their past actions. Republican incumbent Leticia Castillo is confronting revelations about adult entertainment websites she operated decades ago, while her Democratic challenger, Clarissa Cervantes, is defending her record against two driving under the influence (DUI) arrests.
Castillo, a 55-year-old legislator who has championed legislation aimed at restricting transgender rights and parental notification in schools, operated under stage names such as “Silky Santana” and “Silky Smooth” in the 2000s. The websites advertised sexual entertainment services. Castillo, who has portrayed herself as a defender of traditional family values under the banner “Faith, Family, Freedom,” acknowledged her past in a statement, calling it a difficult chapter she moved past through her Christian faith. She stated she was an adult making her own choices and that her past does not reflect her current self.
"I'm never going to claim to be a victim of anything," Castillo said. "I was an adult and, unfortunately, thought I wanted to start an adult entertainment business with a friend’s encouragement." She explained that she was grieving her father's death at the time and later found solace in her faith, realizing "I'm better than that."
Castillo, who previously worked in various fields before becoming a licensed therapist in 2016, did not specify how long she ran the websites. She asserted that her constituents deserve honesty and that she would answer any questions they have about her past.
Cervantes, a Riverside City Council member, is facing her own challenges related to her past. She received a DUI conviction in 2014, which was later dismissed, but was arrested again for drunken driving approximately six weeks after her first conviction was resolved. Cervantes pleaded guilty to the second DUI in August 2023 and was sentenced to probation and a sheriff's work release program. Her campaign stated that she has taken accountability, completed recovery programs, and has been open about her sobriety. The campaign also addressed allegations of past drug use made by her daughter's father in a 2013 court dispute, with the father issuing a statement through Cervantes' campaign saying he fabricated those claims.
The race is a rematch for Castillo and Cervantes. In 2024, Castillo narrowly defeated Cervantes by 596 votes. This election cycle is particularly significant for Republicans in California, following a controversy in August where Assembly Minority Leader Heath Flora was removed from his leadership position amid ethics investigations and reports of misusing campaign funds. Flora was also found to have engaged in extramarital affairs.
Castillo first ran for the Assembly in 2022 but did not advance past the primary. She later ran in 2024 to succeed then-Democratic Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes, who is Clarissa Cervantes' sister and now serves in the state Senate. The outcome of this election in the Inland Empire region is anticipated to be closely contested.