The state Assembly District 9 race has Democratic challenger Matthew Adams taking on Republican incumbent Heath Flora.
The district covers a large swatch of San Joaquin County, as well as parts of Stanislaus County including Oakdale, Riverbank, Salida, Waterford and Hughson. The district also goes into Amador County and parts of Sacramento and Calaveras counties.
Flora, who until August was the Assembly minority leader, did not respond to multiple requests from The Modesto Focus to participate in a debate.
Adams, an educator and community activist from Woodbridge north of Lodi, sat for an interview instead covering issues important to District 9.
