Neva Parker

Neva Parker is the Democratic candidate for California State Assembly District 5 in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing incumbent Joe Patterson (R).[1][2] A former Senate Journal Clerk with a 26-year career as nonpartisan legislative staff, she lives in Roseville and also ran for the seat in 2024.[3]

Neva Parker was born in Richmond, California, and earned a high school diploma from Pinole Valley High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis in 1999 and a graduate degree from Saint Mary's College of California in 2013.[1] In a 2024 Ballotpedia survey, she said she began as an intern with the Office of the Chief Clerk at the state capitol while at UC Davis and turned that opportunity into a 26-year career in nonpartisan legislative roles, most notably as the Senate Journal Clerk.[3]

Parker said she and her husband have lived in Roseville for 22 years and have owned small businesses, including Max Muscle of Reno, Max Muscle of Folsom and Maximum Nutrition of Folsom.[3] She said she serves as vice chair of the Roseville Grants Advisory Commission and volunteers with the Placer Food Bank and the Assistance League of Greater Placer.[3]

Parker listed women's health care, support for seniors, and forest management and support for rural communities as her key campaign messages in the 2024 survey.[3] She advanced from the June 2, 2026 primary for Assembly District 5 with 39.9 percent of the vote, behind Patterson's 60.1 percent.[1]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.