Eloise Gomez Reyes hits mailboxes first in Inland Empire race

Colton attorney Eloise Gomez Reyes has become the first candidate to send campaign mailers in the seven-way race for an open Inland Empire congressional seat.

Over the weekend, Reyes, one of four Democrats vying to replacing retiring Rep. Gary Miller (R-Rancho Cucamonga), sent a mailer to likely voters detailing her childhood in the Inland Empire. It features what she describes as her close-knit, working-class family and describes how she worked to put herself through college and law school.

The second mailer, describing her working with her family in the onion fields at age 12, is scheduled to begin arriving in mailboxes Wednesday, according to campaign manager Mark Warren.

“It’s important for voters to know that Eloise has spent her life here in the Inland Empire, standing up to powerful interests on behalf of working families and that she’s deeply involved in the fabric of this community,” Warren said in a statement announcing the mail campaign.

He declined to say what the mailers cost and how many households they were sent to.

Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar, one of Reyes’ Democratic rivals, has the backing of the California Democratic Party and has received fundraising and other help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee but has not received its endorsement.

Other Democrats in the race are former congressman Joe Baca and Danny Tillman, a member of the San Bernardino city schools board.

Three Republicans also are running, including Lesli Gooch, a lobbyist and longtime policy aide to Miller, who has endorsed her. Others are Paul Chabot, a businessman and military veteran whose backers include former Republican Rep. Jerry Lewis, and political consultant/businessman Ryan Downing.

The 31st Congressional District, once a Republican stronghold, has been growing increasingly Democratic in voting patterns and registration.

jean.merl@latimes.com

Twitter: @jeanmerl