California state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil accuses rival campaign of dirty tricks
The race has begun for California’s state Senate District 4 seat, and already things are getting heated.
Incumbent Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil accused challenger Alexandra Duarte’s campaign manager of taking photos or video of her private phone conversations at a Republican women’s event Tuesday.
“I was communicating with my campaign team through my cell phone, through text message, and I was made aware by several attendees that the campaign manager for my opponent, Alexandra Duarte, was recording my messages without my consent,” Alvarado-Gil said.
A photo obtained by The Bee shows Eric Sheetz, Duarte’s campaign manager, holding a phone with his left hand in the crook of his right arm while the screen is focused on Alvarado-Gil’s device. He also appears to be looking in the same direction.
Sheetz told The Modesto Bee he did not want to comment.
The luncheon Tuesday was closed to the public and attended by members and guests of the Modesto Republican Women’s Federated group.
California is an all-party or “two-party” consent state, meaning that in cases where there is reasonable expectation of privacy, all parties should consent to recording.
Alvarado-Gil said that after she was made aware of the alleged breach of her privacy, she confronted Sheetz, who denied recording her communications. Later, she said she was told he recorded her again.
Duane Dichiara, vice president of Axiom Solutions and political consultant for Duarte, said he thought the whole thing was silly. “If I were Sen. [Alvarado]-Gil, I would try to change the topic any way I could from having switched parties, being a [Kamala] Harris supporter and Gavin Newsom supporter,” Dichiara said.
“I would not want to talk about her accusations of sexual impropriety in her own office involving her – so I would try to lean into talk about campaign high jinks.”
Alvarado-Gil switched her party affiliation in August 2024 and was accused of sexual harassment in September 2024 by former chief of staff Chad Condit. The California Legislature reprimanded her for retaliating against Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit, Chad Condit’s son, but did not substantiate the harassment claims.
In response to the alleged recording, Alvarado-Gil said she brought it to the attention of Duarte, who said she would deal with it internally, which the senator read as dismissive.
“I asked directly for an apology and did not receive it, that really heightened my concern that this candidate would be employing dirty tricks and I’m opposed to that,” Alvarado-Gil said.
Duarte announced her candidacy in late August as an advocate for police officers, farmers and parental rights. Her husband, John Duarte, is the former House representative for District 13.
In what has become a crowded field, Alvarado-Gil’s seat is being challenged by Republicans Duarte and former mayor of Hughson Jeramy Young. The sole Democratic candidate is Jaron Brandon, a Tuolumne County District 5 representative.
Duarte did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.
This story was originally published November 15, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
