State of California

Member of the State Assembly, District 36

This person holds your district's seat in the California State Assembly (2-year term).

Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez took 44.6% of the June 2 vote. Democrat Ida S. Obeso-Martinez took 24.1% and claimed the second slot. At 44.6%, the incumbent fell short of a majority in his own primary. The district covers Imperial County and part of Riverside County.

The winner holds one of 80 Assembly seats for a two-year term, inside a 12-year lifetime cap on service in Sacramento. An Assemblymember authors bills, sits on the policy committees that decide which bills advance, and argues for the district's share of the annual state budget. This district's member sits in the minority caucus, where enacting legislation requires majority-party agreement.

The incumbent took under 45% against a divided field, which is a weaker primary showing than most members managed and worth reading as a signal about the district. His campaign also carries $143,000 in party money, one of the few on this ballot where a state party is a major direct funder rather than a marginal one. Weigh a minority-caucus record against a challenger running on a fraction of the resources.

Jeff Gonzalez

Jeff Gonzalez is a Republican and the sitting Assemblymember for this district. He served 21 years in the Marine Corps. He deployed to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan and later became a pastor. He now runs three small businesses. In the Assembly, he has authored bills covering a range of issues facing the district.

He said his military and business background could help find practical solutions. That is why he ran. In 2026 he voted yes on a bill making Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha state holidays.

He promises to keep working on affordability and public safety. He also lists schools, farming and small business support as priorities. He has called In-Home Supportive Services not a luxury but a lifeline.

Ida S. Obeso-Martinez

Ida Obeso-Martinez is the mayor of Imperial. She is also a cardiovascular nurse practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in the Imperial Valley. She holds a doctorate in nursing practice. She has not served in the state Legislature or Congress.

She says her patients tell her they worry about health coverage. They also worry about the cost of living and their children's future. She was elected to the Imperial City Council in 2022. Her colleagues later chose her for leadership roles, and she became mayor.

She promises to focus on health care access and affordability. Her priorities include education, jobs for local youth and housing costs. She also wants public safety that combines prevention, law enforcement and mental health care.

Record in office

Ida S. Obeso-Martinez has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress; these records cover only those offices. Jeff Gonzalez (Republican) is the sitting Assemblymember for this district and is lead author of 35 bills in the 2025–2026 session, 5 of them signed into law. Per the California Legislature's public bill data (leginfo bulk download), retrieved 2026-09-21.

Financial info

Small donors
Individuals
PACs & committees
Party
Businesses & other orgs
Self-funding

Ida S. Obeso-Martinez

Primary — $195,802

Small donors$2,0231%
Individuals$47,54724%
PACs & committees$120,49160%
Businesses & other orgs$25,10013%
Self-funding$5,0002%

November — $11,900

Individuals$1001%
PACs & committees$11,80099%

Jeff Gonzalez

Primary — $1,059,004

Small donors$993<1%
Individuals$67,7256%
PACs & committees$497,60247%
Party$143,00014%
Businesses & other orgs$344,15033%

November — $68,575

Individuals$6,3759%
PACs & committees$36,90054%
Businesses & other orgs$25,30037%

Figures are CA Form 460 filings through June 30, 2026 by committees controlled by each candidate, and can include transfers from a candidate's earlier committees. Semi-annual reports covering January–June 2026 were due July 31, 2026, so some totals lag a period behind. Per the California Secretary of State's Cal-Access raw data export, retrieved 2026-09-21.

Total is itemized (Schedule A) contributions and self-funding loans dated after the June 2, 2026 primary, through June 29, 2026 — small-dollar unitemized (under $100) contributions aren't independently dated in Cal-Access's raw export, so they aren't reflected here and this may undercount true small-donor activity since the primary. This also doesn't include money reported only on 24-hour late-contribution reports (Form 497) that haven't yet appeared in a periodic Form 460 filing. Per the California Secretary of State's Cal-Access raw data export, retrieved 2026-08-30.

Your pick

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