Member of the State Assembly, District 79

LaShae Sharp-Collins earned a doctorate in educational leadership from San Diego State University. She was elected to the Assembly in 2024. Before that, she worked for the San Diego County Office of Education. She helped 42 school districts offer health screenings, career training and family support. In her first term, Assembly leaders picked her as Assistant Majority Leader for Policy and Research. She also serves on seven policy committees.

She says she understands the district's cost of living because she lives it too. She is raising her kids there. Her parents live there too. She says a dollar does not go as far as it used to. This year she authored a bill to ban police and ICE agents from using electric shock gloves. She acted after a Kentucky man died from repeated shocks from one. The bill passed the Legislature in August 2026. It now awaits the governor's signature.

She promises to keep California's protections for reproductive health care. She wants to close the education gap so every child gets a good school. She promises more help so families and veterans keep their homes. She wants truly affordable housing at every income level. She also promises cleaner energy and more access to health care and child care. She promises to keep pushing to get illegal guns off the streets.

Andrew Lawson is a Republican and an accountant. He grew up in Spring Valley, part of the district he wants to represent. He has not held elected office before. He describes his campaign as being about average people running for office, not career politicians.

He told the San Diego Union-Tribune he is running because he does not want to make politics a career. He says he would stay only if voters wanted him to. He has not served in the Assembly or in Congress. So there is no voting record to check.

He promises to focus on public safety and homelessness. He also wants lower taxes and a lower cost of living. He wants better basic skills taught in schools. If elected, he says he would push to suspend the state gas tax. He would also push to ban registered sex offenders from holding office. And he wants the Legislature to approve appointments to state commissions.