Voters in California's 36th District might have a choice between Raul Ruiz Raul RuizHispanic caucus report takes stock of accomplishments with eye toward 2021 Jon Stewart urges Congress to help veterans exposed to burn pits House Democrat who's a physician calls on Trump to 'man up' and wear mask MORE and Raul Ruiz in the 2020 election for the contested seat.

A Republican Raul Ruiz announced Thursday that he was entering the race against incumbent Democratic Rep. Raul Ruiz.

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Ruiz, the Republican, said he is running because "he sees the big government policies that AOC [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline McCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid MORE (D-N.Y.)], Congressman Ruiz and the rest of the liberal partisans in Congress are pushing and knows that they are threatening what makes this country great — our ability to start and grow businesses, support our families, and improve our communities," according to his website.

He has enlisted Republican strategist Peter Towney, who used to work on campaigns for the National Republican Senate Committee, as a political consultant for his congressional bid, the Palm Springs Desert Sun reported.

Rep. Ruiz was first elected in 2012 and won reelection with 59 percent of the vote.

The district leans slightly Democratic, according to the Cook Political report, which gave it a D+2 rating.

According to the Desert Sun, the challenger lives in California's 41st Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. Mark Takano Mark Allan TakanoOvernight Defense: Nearly 500 former national security officials formally back Biden | 40 groups call on House panel to investigate Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds Congress missed the point when it came to helping veterans During Suicide Prevention Month, Trump needs to do more for troops' mental health MORE (D), and he pulled out of a City Council election in Perris, Calif., after he admitted that he misrepresented his address. The newspaper noted that congressional candidates don't have to live in the districts they represent.

This is not the first time two candidates with the same name have gone head to head. In 2018, Kansas Rep. Ron Estes Ronald (Ron) Gene EstesRestoring America's police force and taking back our cities Encouraging research and development can drive America's recovery House GOP lawmakers urge Senate to confirm Vought MORE (R) faced another Ron Estes in the Republican primary.