Campaigning is in full swing as the November election approaches, but candidates for the 25th Congressional District don’t seem to be making Simi Valley much of a priority. With less than three weeks to go before the vote-by-mail ballots go out, many Simi Valley residents have yet to personally see the two candidates who are running to represent them in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Rep. Steve Knight, the district’s Republican incumbent, is running against Democratic challenger Katie Hill, yet the only local campaigning for the two appears to be coming from their supporters.

Knight is a retired Los Angeles Police Department officer and Palmdale resident who was elected to the 25th District in 2014 and 2016. Hill, an Agua Dulce resident and executive director of the nonprofit People Assisting the Homeless, is a political newcomer who edged out four other Democratic challengers to face off against Knight on Nov. 6.

Nearly 381,200 registered voters make up the 25th Congressional District, which encompasses Simi Valley, Santa Clarita, the Antelope Valley and a portion of the San Fernando Valley, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office. Simi comprises about 65,500 of those votes, about 17 percent.

While historically a Republican stronghold, the 25th District has been turning into more of a purple district, with changing demographics that include younger residents and a more ethnically diverse population, said Herb Gooch, a retired political science professor who taught at Cal Lutheran University.

The traditionally more conservative area isn’t one that should be overlooked, he said.

“I would think that Katie Hill, in particular, would want to be all over Simi Valley, but we’ve not really seen her here except for some low-key fundraising events,” Gooch told the Simi Valley Acorn.

“To be fair, we haven’t seen much of Steve Knight either, and it just strikes me as strange that neither candidate is out there because Simi is a nice pocket of votes.”

Knight made an appearance at last weekend’s Simi Valley Days parade, and Hill, whose candidacy has garnered national attention, plans to attend a field office grand opening on Sept. 27, according to her campaign website calendar.

In recent years, contenders vying for the 25th District seat have been reluctant to do debates or forums locally due to the time it takes to prepare for such an event, said David Maron, spokesperson for the League of Women Voters. They may not feel a forum is beneficial and instead prefer campaigning through fundraisers, TV ads or mailers, he said.

“Forums are a way for the public to see candidates unvarnished— no slick mailers or TV ads, and no polished meet-and greets,” Maron said.

“Candidates are asked questions on the spot. They have to respond, and it’s a way to see how someone works in action,” he said. “I think that’s a valuable service that helps the voters make their decision.”

Most political reports indicate the 25th Congressional

District is one to watch, as it could flip from red to blue.

Maron said Simi was pivotal in Knight’s 2014 win over fellow Republican Tony Strickland, for example. And the congressman beat out Democrat Bryan Caforio, a consumer rights attorney from Santa Clarita, by 6 percent in 2016 to maintain his seat.

“Every community is important, but there’s a fair number of votes in Simi Valley, so for either candidate to take it for granted is a big mistake,” he said.

At this point in the election, Gooch said, the contenders should be sending out tons of mailers and be out walking door to door. Simi, he believes, should definitely be on their list of places to visit.

“I know (Knight and Hill) have more than enough to do, but I think they really are neglecting an interesting battlefield,” the retired professor said.

“The election is so close that an awful lot is going to be decided on the ground, and they both need to have more of a presence, maybe do some campaign rallies, because in a race like this that’s in a dead-heat, the number of voters in Simi could swing a win.”

To date, Hill and Knight have no forums scheduled locally, although they have both been invited to attend a meet-and-greet Oct. 2 hosted by the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The congressional candidates have been unable to agree on a date and time for a local debate hosted by the League of Women Voters, and therefore one isn’t scheduled at this time, Maron said. The two candidates, however, have faced off in forums in Palmdale and Lancaster.