In a presidential election year, it’s often the Congressional races – besides the race for the Oval Office – that gets the attention of voters.
But let’s not forget about California’s state legislative races. There are two dozen Assembly races on the Nov. 5 ballots in Los Angeles County and at least eight — one-third — of those seats will be won by non-incumbents because the current officeholders aren’t seeking reelection.
Below is a summary of these Assembly races.
Candidates for state Assembly District 34 are: Tom Lackey and Ricardo Ortega. (Courtesy Photo)
District 34: It’s a rematch between incumbent Republican Assemblymember Tom Lackey and Democratic challenger Ricardo Ortega, a peer advocate with the Children’s Law Center of California. The two previously went head-to-head during the primary election in what was a two-person race, with both then advancing to the general election. Whoever wins this November will get to represent communities like Barstow, Palmdale, Lancaster and Needles.
It’s a rematch for incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Juan Carrillo and Republican challenger Paul Marsh, who faced each other in another two-person race during the primary.
District 39: It’s also a rematch for incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Juan Carrillo and Republican challenger Paul Marsh, who faced each other in another two-person race during the primary, just like in District 34. A former Palmdale city councilmember, Carrillo was elected to the Assembly in 2022. Marsh, a member of the Victorville Planning Commission, previously served in the U.S. Army. The winner will represent constituents in Victorville and parts of Palmdale and Lancaster.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo is up against Republican challenger Patrick Gipson, a former L.A. County sheriff’s deputy.
District 40: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo is up against Republican challenger Patrick Gipson, a former L.A. County sheriff’s deputy. Schiavo was first elected to the Assembly in 2022. Gipson, now retired from the county Sheriff’s Department, previously worked as a lifeguard for both the city and county of Los Angeles. The winner will represent Santa Clarita Valley and northwestern San Fernando Valley.
Former Altadena City Councilmember Michelle Del Rosario Martinez, a Republican, is running against Democrat John Harabedian, former mayor of Sierra Madre.
District 41: Former Altadena City Councilmember Michelle Del Rosario Martinez, a Republican, is running against Democrat John Harabedian, former mayor of Sierra Madre. The winner will replace termed-out Democratic Assemblymember Chris Holden. This district represents voters in Pasadena, Altadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Monrovia and Sierra Madre in L.A. County and Rancho Cucamonga, Wrightwood and San Antonio Heights in San Bernardino County.
Incumbent Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, a Democrat, is up against Republican challenger Ted Nordblum.
District 42: Incumbent Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, a Democrat, is up against Republican challenger Ted Nordblum. Irwin was previously mayor of Thousand Oaks and was first elected to the Assembly in 2014. Nordblum is a businessman who started his own medical device business. The winner of this race will represent portions of Ventura and L.A. counties, including Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas and the Pacific Palisades.
San Fernando Mayor Celeste Rodriguez, a Democrat, is facing off against San Fernando City Councilmember Victoria Garcia, a Republican.
District 43: San Fernando Mayor Celeste Rodriguez, a Democrat, is facing off against San Fernando City Councilmember Victoria Garcia, a Republican. The current officeholder of this seat, Democratic Assemblymember Luz Rivas, is running for a U.S. House seat this November. Assembly District 43 represents residents in Pacoima, Mission Hills, Sylmar, Arleta, Sun Valley, Panorama City, Lake View Terrace, Valley Glen, Van Nuys and the city of San Fernando.
Burbank Mayor Nick Schultz, a Democrat, and Republican construction manager Tony Rodriguez
District 44: Burbank Mayor Nick Schultz, a Democrat, and Republican construction manager Tony Rodriguez were the two candidates to advance to the general election, among a crowded field of eight candidates in the primary. Whoever wins this race will represent eastern San Fernando Valley. The current officeholder of this seat, Democratic Assemblymember Laura Friedman, is running for Congress this year.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel is being challenged by teacher Tracey Schroeder, a Republican.
District 46: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel is being challenged by teacher Tracey Schroeder, a Republican. Gabriel was first elected to the Assembly in 2018. Schroeder ran for a seat on the Los Angeles Unified school board in 2022. The winner of the District 46 race will represent residents in western San Fernando Valley.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, first elected in 2016, is facing a challenge from Republican real estate business owner Dan Tran.
District 48: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, first elected in 2016, is facing a challenge from Republican real estate business owner Dan Tran. The winner will represent West Covina, Baldwin Park, Glendora, Covina, Azusa, Duarte and Monrovia.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Mike Fong is running against Republican attorney Long “David” Liu.
District 49: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Mike Fong is running against Republican attorney Long “David” Liu. The candidates are vying to represent communities including Alhambra, Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, South Pasadena and Temple City.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur is up against Republican entrepreneur Stephan Hohil.
District 51: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur is up against Republican entrepreneur Stephan Hohil. The winner will represent Hollywood, Franklin and Beachwood canyons, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.
There are two Democrats facing off in this race: women’s rights advocate Jessica Caloza versus justice advocate Franky Carrillo.
District 52: There are two Democrats facing off in this race: women’s rights advocate Jessica Caloza versus justice advocate Franky Carrillo. This seat is currently held by Democratic Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, who did not seek reelection. The winner of this race will represent East Los Angeles including the neighborhoods of Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Echo Park.
Republican law enforcement educator Nick Wilson and Democrat Michelle Rodriguez, a commissioner for the California Police Officer Standards and Training Commission, are going head-to-head after advancing out of a five-person race in the primary.
District 53: Republican law enforcement educator Nick Wilson and Democrat Michelle Rodriguez, a commissioner for the California Police Officer Standards and Training Commission, are going head-to-head after advancing out of a five-person race in the primary. The winner will represent Pomona, Ontario, Chino, Upland and Montclair. This Assembly seat is currently held by Democrat Freddie Rodriguez, who is termed out.
Mark Gonzalez, district director for Democratic Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, is facing off against nonprofit executive director John Yi.
District 54: Mark Gonzalez, district director for Democratic Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, is facing off against nonprofit executive director John Yi. Both candidates are Democrats seeking to replace Santiago, Gonzalez’s boss, who is termed out. The winner will represent Koreatown, Westlake, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Boyle Heights, Vernon and Montebello.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Isaac Bryan is facing off against Republican software developer Keith Cascio.
District 55: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Isaac Bryan is facing off against Republican software developer Keith Cascio. Before his election to state office in 2021, Bryan at one point had advised then-L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. Cascio is chair of the Republican Committee for the 55th District and treasurer of the L.A. County Republican Party. Whoever wins this race will represent residents in Crenshaw, Culver City, Ladera Heights, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms, Pico-Robertson, Beverly Grove and Mid-Wilshire.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, who was first elected in 2020, is running against former Whittier City Councilmember Jessica Martinez, a Republican.
District 56: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, who was first elected in 2020, is running against former Whittier City Councilmember Jessica Martinez, a Republican. Calderon was a legislative aide to then-Assembly Speaker Willie Brown early in her career, while Martinez’s time on the Whittier City Council included a stint as mayor pro tem. The winner of this race will represent southeastern portions of L.A. County and the San Gabriel Valley, including the communities of El Monte, Hacienda Heights, La Habra Heights, La Puente, Pico Rivera and Whittier.
Small business owner Efren Martinez and community organizer and educator Sade Elhawary, both Democrats, are facing off after advancing out of a five-person race in the primary.
District 57: Small business owner Efren Martinez and community organizer and educator Sade Elhawary, both Democrats, are facing off after advancing out of a five-person race in the primary. The winner will replace termed out Democratic Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer. This district represents South Central and Downtown Los Angeles.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Tina Simone McKinnor is being challenged by Republican restaurateur Alfonso Hernandez.
District 61: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Tina Simone McKinnor is being challenged by Republican restaurateur Alfonso Hernandez. The winner will represent Inglewood, Westchester, Lennox, Hawthorne, Westmont and Lawndale.
Democratic Lynwood Mayor Jose Luis Solache is running against Republican Paul Jones, a retired Marine.
District 62: Democratic Lynwood Mayor Jose Luis Solache is running against Republican Paul Jones, a retired Marine. The candidates are hoping to be the one to replace termed out Democratic Assemblymember Anthony Rendon. This district represents voters in Bellflower, Huntington Park, Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, South Gate and Walnut Park.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco is facing a challenge from Raul Ortiz Jr., a Republican minister and business leader.
District 64: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco is facing a challenge from Raul Ortiz Jr., a Republican minister and business leader. The two are battling it out to represent Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Downey, East Whittier, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier and La Habra.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Mike Gipson is up against teacher Lydia Gutiérrez, a Republican.
District 65: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Mike Gipson is up against teacher Lydia Gutiérrez, a Republican. Gipson. Before being elected to the Assembly in 2014, Gipson served on the Carson City Council. Gutiérrez has served on the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council. The winner will represent a district that stretches from the Port of Los Angeles up to Compton and includes portions of Carson and Long Beach.
It’s a rematch between incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and former Hermosa Beach Mayor George Barks, a Republican.
District 66: It’s a rematch between incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and former Hermosa Beach Mayor George Barks, a Republican. The two also ran against each other in 2022. Muratsuchi was first elected to the Assembly in 2012, lost his bid for reelection in 2014, but then was reelected in 2016. Barks, a small business owner, served on the Hermosa Beach City Council from 1974 to 1986. Whoever wins this race will represent most of the South Bay.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva is up against retired entrepreneur Beth Culver, a Republican.
District 67: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva is up against retired entrepreneur Beth Culver, a Republican. Whoever wins will represent Cerritos in L.A. County as well as the Orange County cities of Brea, Fullerton and Buena Park.
Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal is facing a challenge from Republican Joshua Rodriguez, a police officer.
District 69: Incumbent Democratic Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal is facing a challenge from Republican Joshua Rodriguez, a police officer. The winner will represent Avalon, Carson and Long Beach.
Related Articles
In San Fernando Valley’s 44th Assembly District, voters will choose between two newcomers