Member of the State Assembly, District 68

David Penaloza is the Santa Ana mayor pro tem and a director of regulatory affairs. They have lived in Orange County their whole life. They are a husband and father raising their family in the district they want to represent.

Penaloza says they grew up relying on public schools, libraries and basic health care. On the council they voted against a proposed 60 percent water rate increase, a 600 percent raise for council members, and a new fee on landlords and renters. They say they want to bring the same scrutiny to state spending.

Penaloza promises to keep costs down, make neighborhoods safer and create economic opportunity. They also promise to push back against federal overreach by funding the state attorney general's legal fights. They say a non-starter for them is any cut to public education, health care or public safety.

Jessie Lopez is a Santa Ana city councilwoman representing Ward 3. She is the daughter of immigrants who worked multiple jobs, and she put herself through college. On the council she has pushed for renter protections and audited the city's surveillance camera program.

She says she is running to lower costs, protect communities and build a California where everyone can thrive. In 2023 the local police union funded an effort to recall her after she voted against its pay raise demands. Santa Ana voters rejected the recall by several hundred votes.

She promises to lower the statewide rent cap and limit corporate purchases of single-family homes. She also promises to expand affordable child care and to keep opposing what she calls mass surveillance in the district.