A Pivotal Race in Shasta County

Here are the morning’s top stories on Tuesday, April 21, 2026:

• A man shot by Immigration Agents  in Patterson, California earlier this month will remain in custody over concerns that he could be a flight risk.
• Former State Controller Betty Yee is ending her campaign for California governor, citing flagging poll numbers and a shrinking donor base.
• Normally, county clerk races don’t get that much attention. But in Shasta County, two candidates are fighting for the future of elections in a place that’s garnered national attention for years now.

Judge Denies Bail For Man Shot By ICE

At a hearing in Sacramento County on Monday, a judge ordered Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez to remain in custody, over concerns that he could be a flight risk.

Earlier this month, Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez was charged with assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon after he allegedly hit an ICE agent with his car during a traffic stop in which he was shot at multiple times.

Patrick Kolasinski, an attorney representing Mendoza Hernandez and his family, says the judge’s decision came down to the direction of Mendoza Hernandez’s tires when federal agents fired shots. “In his (the judge) view, it appeared that Carlos was potentially trying to flee before the shooting started,” Kolasinski says, explaining the judge’s decision. Kolasinski says the order is, “fair,” but believes gunshots were fired before any movement of Mendoza Hernandez’s vehicle. A preliminary hearing is set for May 5th.

California Governors Race Narrows

The field of candidate for California Governor just got smaller. Former state controller Betty Yee has officially dropped out of the state’s gubernatorial race, citing flagging poll numbers and a shrinking donor base.

Yee spent months polling in the single digits, struggling to gain traction in a crowded Democratic contest. Yee says she will assess the remaining field and announce her choice for endorsement in the next few days. Because ballots have already been printed, her name will still be on the ballot.

Her exit comes roughly a week after the leading Democratic candidate, East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell, dropped out of the race and resigned his House seat following accusations of sexual assault and misconduct from former staffers.

The Future of Elections in Shasta County

A county clerk race in Northern California could shape the future of how elections are conducted in the county. In Shasta County, the former assistant county clerk, Joanna Francescut, is facing her former boss/the appointed county clerk, Clint Curtis.

Curtis was appointed to change the way elections are conducted.   He’s calling for more transparency when it comes to elections. And one way he aims to achieve that goal is through setting up cameras to record everything. Prior to this appointment, he had never ran an election.

His opponent, Francescut, has 17 years of experience with elections. She claims that Curtis has been able to improve transparency and election observation because of the work she was doing before Curtis took over.

Despite her then role as assistant county clerk, The Shasta County Board of Supervisors decided not to appoint Francescut, when longtime clerk  Cathy Darling Allen, stepped down. And when clerk Tom Toller stepped down, the conservative majority chose Curtis over Francescut to hold the position. Curtis later fired Francescut from her role as assistant county clerk.

Curtis has claimed that Francescut, “has no concern for the public at all,”. Francescut denies that claim, while acknowledging the county clerk office has had a negative reputation in the past.

Ballots will be mailed to voters by May 4th, and must be turned in by June 2nd. The winner of the election will be decided in June.