Steven Cuevas / KPCC

41st Congressional District candidate Mark Takano speaks to news media at Riverside Community College

Tavaglione for Congress 2012

41st Congressional District candidate John Tavaglione speaks to seniors in this campaign ad.

Two Riverside natives are competing to become the first representative of the newly drawn 41st Congressional District.  It covers a big part of the Inland Empire including Riverside and Moreno Valley. 

The Republican is a veteran county leader who moonlights in a garage band. The Democrat is an openly gay Asian American teacher. 

KPCC's Steven Cuevas reports that the race is getting lots of attention.