Joe
Males
Republican candidate for California's 25th Congressional District and Hemet Mayor Pro Tem
- sources
- 7
- positions
- 9
- endorsements
- 18
Background
Joe Males is a Republican politician from Hemet, California, currently serving as Mayor Pro Tem and District 4 City Council Member for the City of Hemet. He and his wife moved to Hemet in 2005, and he previously served as Mayor of Hemet from December 2023 to November 2024. 1012
Males is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having been discharged at the rank of sergeant. After his military service, he pursued a career in computer networking and technology support, including roles at Gateway Communications (1986–1988) and Williams Automated Management Services (1988–1995), before founding JM Consulting in 1996. 10912
In the November 3, 2026 general election, Males is the Republican candidate for California's 25th Congressional District, challenging for a seat he does not currently hold. He advanced from the June 2, 2026 primary and faces opponent Ruiz in the general election. 3514
Males holds Microsoft certifications (MCSE and MCP) and a VMware certificate. The available sources do not identify a college degree. 1217
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 25, California
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Mayor Pro Tem, Hemet City Council (District 4)
- Website
- joemalesforca.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 6newsBallots arrive in Coachella Valley; Males identified as Ruiz's Republican challenger
Local reporting noted ballots for the November 3 election began arriving in the Coachella Valley during the week of October 5. Coverage identified Males as Ruiz's Republican opponent but reported no new Males campaign announcement.
Voting for or against? Valley voters pick sides as ballots ... · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsMales publishes detailed policy positions in Southern California News Group questionnaire
Males identified cost of living as the district's top issue and called for limiting federal taxes, spending, and regulation. He proposed cutting permitting delays, tying federal funds to housing approvals, opposed cutting Medicare/Medicaid benefits, supported expanding California offshore energy production, and favored congressional restrictions on stock trading by members.
Joe Males, CA-25 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22newsMales votes against Stephens' kangaroo-rat fee ordinance at Hemet City Council
In his role as Hemet mayor pro tem, Males cast the sole dissenting vote against a city ordinance setting Stephens' kangaroo-rat habitat mitigation fees. The ordinance passed 4–1.
How They Voted: Hemet adopts SKR fees 4-1; Males no; cannabis and Measure U items 5-0 · Sep 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 27filingCalifornia certifies Joe Males as Republican candidate for U.S. Representative, CA-25
California's certified candidate list officially named Males as the Republican nominee for U.S. Representative, District 25, with the ballot designation 'Mayor Pro Tem.' His opponent is incumbent Democrat Raul Ruiz.
Joe Males (R) — U.S. Representative, CA-25 | 2026 profile · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 30filingMales campaign finance report: ~$936K raised, $14.8K cash on hand through June 30
FEC July quarterly report showed Males raised $936,496 (including $880,028 from individuals and $450 from PACs), spent $921,649, held $14,847 cash on hand, and carried $24,964 in debt through the June 30 reporting period.
Joe Males (R) — U.S. Representative, CA-25 | 2026 profile · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 2newsJoe Males finishes second in CA-25 top-two primary, advancing to general election
Males received 27,927 votes (18.9%) in the June primary, behind incumbent Democrat Raul Ruiz (88,699 votes). He advanced to the November general election; other Republican candidates did not.
Joe Males (R) — U.S. Representative, CA-25 | 2026 profile · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- California Republican Party organizationListed on campaign website and in a secondary election profile; no endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- Jackie Peterson (Hemet Council Member) officialListed on campaign website as council member; The Sun article listed her as Hemet Mayor. No endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- Greg Wallis (CA State Assemblymember) officialListed on campaign website and reported in The Sun article. joemalesforca.com
- Alonso Ledezma (San Jacinto Council Member) officialListed on campaign website; no endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- San Bernardino County Republican Party organizationListed on campaign website as 'The San Bernardino Republican Party'; also listed in a secondary profile. No date provided. joemalesforca.com
- Jeff Gonzalez (CA State Assemblymember) officialListed on campaign website and reported in The Sun article. joemalesforca.com
- Valerie Vandever (San Jacinto Council Member) officialListed on campaign website as council member; The Sun article listed her as San Jacinto Mayor. No endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- Republican Party of Riverside County organizationListed on campaign website as an endorser. The party's official endorsements page lists Males but under Hemet City Council District 4, not the congressional race, so that page alone does not confirm a congressional endorsement. joemalesforca.com
- Crystal Ruiz (San Jacinto Mayor) officialListed on campaign website; no endorsement date given. The Sun article listed her as San Jacinto City Councilmember. joemalesforca.com
- Kenneth Prado (Hemet Unified School District board member) officialListed on campaign website; no endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- Janet Jernigan (Needles Mayor) officialListed on campaign website; no endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- Phil Paule (Eastern Municipal Water District board member) officialListed on campaign website; no endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- Jessica Alexander (Temecula Mayor) officialListed on campaign website; no endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- Joe Grindstaff (Eastern Municipal Water District board member) officialListed on campaign website; no endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- Linda Krupa (Hemet Mayor) officialListed on campaign website; no endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- Glenn Miller (Indio City Councilmember) officialListed on campaign website; no endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- Clarisa Sanchez (San Jacinto Mayor Pro Tem) officialListed on campaign website; no endorsement date given. joemalesforca.com
- California Republican Assembly organizationEndorsed Males for U.S. House District 25. Endorsement page dated March 21, 2026, updated June 1, 2026; no separate endorsement date specified. cragop.org · Mar 21, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $936K
- Spent
- $922K
- Cash on hand
- $15K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6CA25219(opens in a new tab)
Sources 7
- [1] Voting for or against? Valley voters pick sides as ballots ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [2] Joe Males, CA-25 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [3] Joe Males (R) — U.S. Representative, CA-25 | 2026 profile(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [4] How They Voted: Hemet adopts SKR fees 4-1; Males no; cannabis and Measure U items 5-0(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [5] Joe Males, CA-25 candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire(opens in a new tab) May 5, 2026
- [6] California Republican Assembly June 2026 Primary Election ...(opens in a new tab) Mar 21, 2026
- [7] Joe Males for U.S. Congress(opens in a new tab) Mar 31, 2025