A veteran Riverside County prosecutor just picked up a high-profile endorsement as she heads into the final stretch of a Superior Court race that will put voters' choice of judge on the Nov. 3 ballot. Michelle Paradise, who led a three-candidate primary field in June, is now facing off one-on-one against Andrea Garcia, a San Bernardino County deputy public defender, for the open seat.
According to NBC Palm Springs, Paradise has drawn support in the race from law enforcement circles, with the station reporting that investigative journalist Chris Hansen and Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin have backed her campaign. Hansen reportedly said Paradise's “commitment to prosecuting those who seek to exploit our children has always impressed him,” and also encouraged voters to carefully research candidates in judicial races, per the same outlet's account.
Paradise brings more than two decades of prosecutorial experience to her campaign. She spent more than 25 years in the Riverside County District Attorney's Office handling felony cases, including child abuse, sex crimes and medically complex homicide cases, according to The Press-Enterprise. She has said she conducted more than 100 jury trials during her time as a prosecutor, the paper reports.
From the Courtroom to County Government
Paradise's resume extends beyond the courtroom. Since 2023, she has served as Riverside County's assistant county executive officer overseeing public safety, according to NBC Palm Springs' earlier coverage of the race. Her background includes direct experience prosecuting cases involving the exploitation of children, a focus Hansen pointed to in his remarks.
Garcia, her opponent, has built her career on the other side of the courtroom. She is a deputy public defender in San Bernardino County and an immigration law specialist who serves as an in-house advisor, per the Press-Enterprise. Viewpoints, Riverside City College's student news outlet, reports that Garcia created Riverside County's first in-house immigration unit and later litigated post-conviction relief cases in San Bernardino.
Garcia has also picked up her own notable endorsement. Former primary candidate Jennifer Loflin, who placed third in June, has thrown her support behind Garcia, according to IE Law News. In the June 2 primary, Paradise received 207,973 votes, Garcia received 183,386 votes and Loflin received 80,833 votes, the outlet reports, with the top two finishers advancing to the general election since no candidate won a majority outright.
Candidates Faced Off at a Campus Town Hall
The two finalists have already shared a stage this fall. Paradise and Garcia debated each other before a live audience in the Bradshaw Student Center at Riverside City College on Sept. 21, according to Viewpoints. When students asked how to decide between them, both candidates gave the same advice: do research on all the candidates running, the outlet reports.
The seat itself is open because Judge Harold Hopp is retiring, per NBC Palm Springs' June coverage. California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero has said Riverside County needs more judges, the Press-Enterprise reports.
The Press-Enterprise and NBC Palm Springs both identify the contest as Judicial Seat No. 10. Voters will settle the race itself on Nov. 3, when Paradise and Garcia appear together on the ballot for the final time this election cycle.
