Bogh, Benoit Engaged In Political Battle For Senate Seat

Assemblyman John J. Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, and former Assemblyman Russ Bogh lead the three-candidate field in today’s primary election race for the Republican nomination in the 37th Senate District.

David Peters, 41, of Hemet, a math teacher at Perris High School, is also seeking the Republican nomination to succeed Sen. Jim Battin, R-Palm Desert, who is barred from running for re-election because of term limits.

With Republicans holding a 43 percent-36 percent registration lead over Democrats, winning the Republican primary is considered tantamount to being elected.

Arthur Bravo Guerrero, 46, of Beaumont, a computer systems analyst, is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Benoit, 56, a former California Highway Patrol commander and member of the Desert Sands Unified School District board, has several key endorsements, including Riverside County Supervisor Roy Wilson and the majority of local elected officials from Coachella Valley cities including Indian Wells, Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage.

Bogh, 38, who owns a school construction business, also has major endorsements from elected officials including Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco, Sheriff Stanley Sniff, Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen and Battin.

Battin has said he endorsed Bogh because he was a “rock solid conservative leader.”