The campaign for California’s state Senate District 4 seat is underway and has already seen accusations of misconduct. Incumbent Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil has alleged that Eric Sheetz, the campaign manager for her challenger Alexandra Duarte, recorded her private phone conversations without consent during a Republican women’s event on 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 photograph obtained by The Bee reportedly shows Sheetz holding his phone in a way that its screen is focused on Alvarado-Gil’s device while appearing to look in her direction. When asked about the incident by The Modesto Bee, Sheetz declined to comment.
The luncheon where the alleged incident took place was closed to the public and attended only by members and guests of the Modesto Republican Women’s Federated group. Under California law, all parties must give consent before any recording can take place when there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Alvarado-Gil stated that after being informed about the possible privacy breach, she confronted Sheetz, who denied recording her communications. She later claimed to have been told he recorded her again.
Duane Dichiara, vice president of Axiom Solutions and political consultant for Duarte, dismissed the accusation as trivial. “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 changed party affiliation in August 2024 and faced allegations of sexual harassment from former chief of staff Chad Condit in September 2024. The California Legislature reprimanded Alvarado-Gil for retaliating against Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit but did not substantiate the harassment claims.
After reporting the alleged recording incident to Duarte directly, Alvarado-Gil said she received no apology or clear response: “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 previously served as House representative for District 13. Other candidates challenging Alvarado-Gil include Republicans Jeramy Young, former mayor of Hughson; and Democrat Jaron Brandon, Tuolumne County District 5 representative.
Duarte did not respond to requests for comment before publication.
