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State Rep. Josephine Garcia will challenge incumbent Sen. Glen Vilhauer for the Republican nomination for the District 5 State Senate.
Garcia’s nominating petitions were confirmed by the Secretary of State’s office on March 11.
Garcia was elected to the State House of Representatives in 2024, representing District 5, which encompasses the city of Watertown. She was elected along with Matt Roby in a four-person race. Vote totals were 8,314 for Roby (45 percent), 5,892 for Garcia (32 percent), 2,308 for Democrat Diane Drake (12 percent), and 1,953 for Democrat Amy Rambow (11 percent).
Garcia is a member of the Freedom Caucus and sits on the Education and Health and Human Services committees. She owns and operates the Garcia Family Clinic in Watertown and Hayti.
Currently, no Democrat has filed to run for the District 5 Senate seat. The Republican primary is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2.
