Voters across Orange County chose representatives for nine Assembly districts and five state Senate seats.
And while voting has ended, it will be a bit before ballots are counted and results are clear. Still, there will be a handful of new faces representing Orange County in the California Legislature, as one Senate seat and three Assembly seats are open.
Members of the Assembly are elected to two-year terms while state senators are elected to four-year terms, both serving in Sacramento. A person can only serve a total of 12 years in the legislature, across both houses.
California Assembly
Assembly District 59
Phillip Chen continued to hold a strong lead over Victor Hernandez as of about 10:30 p.m., early returns released Tuesday night by the California secretary of state’s office show.
Chen, R-Yorba Linda, is seeking his sixth term in the Assembly. He was first elected to represent the 59th Assembly District in 2022. Beginning in 2016, Chen represented the 55th Assembly District for three consecutive terms.
Republican Assemblymember Phillip Chen, left, and Green Party candidate Victor Hernandez, right, are vying for the Assembly District 59 seat in the Nov. 3 election. (Courtesy photos)
Hernandez, the Green Party challenger from Brea, is an account sales manager. He co-developed a low-cost mobile healthcare service with his wife and has served on the board of California United for Single Payer, advocating for CalCare, according to his campaign website.
The district, which spans Orange and San Bernardino counties, includes Brea, Placentia, Villa Park, Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills and Chino Hills.
Assembly District 64
Blanca Pacheco holds a big lead over Raul Ortiz, Jr. as of about 10:30 p.m., according to early returns released Tuesday night by the California secretary of state’s office.
Pacheco, D-Downey, is seeking a third term representing Assembly District 64. She was first elected to the post in 2022. Pacheco previously served on the Downey City Council.
Ortiz, the Republican challenger from La Mirada, is a pest control manager, according to his candidate filing with the registrar’s office. Ortiz has also served as a minister for 41 years, according to his campaign website.
Raul Ortiz Jr. and Blanca Pacheco are candidates for the 64th Assembly District in southern Los Angeles County plus La Habra in Orange County. (Courtesy of candidates)
The district, which spans Los Angeles and Orange counties, includes Bell, Downey, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier, La Mirada and La Habra.
Assembly District 67
Mark Pulido maintained a big lead over Paulo Morales as of about 10:30 p.m., early returns released Tuesday night by the California secretary of state’s office showed.
Morales, a Republican, and Democrat Pulido are vying for the seat left open by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, who is termed out of office.
Republican Paulo Morales (left) and Democrat Mark Pulido (right) are vying for the Assembly District 67 seat in the Nov. 3 general election. (Courtesy photos)
The race for Assembly District 67 — which spans Los Angeles and Orange counties, and includes Artesia, Cerritos, Cypress, Buena Park, Fullerton and West Anaheim — has become one of the most expensive races in Orange County. Pulido’s campaign has pulled in more than $1.1 million this election cycle, outraising Morales’ campaign almost 20-to-1. Meanwhile, outside groups have spent more than $6 million in support of Pulido.
Assembly District 68
David Penaloza maintained his lead over Jessie Lopez as of about 10:30 p.m., early returns released Tuesday night by the Orange County registrar’s office showed.
Lopez and Penaloza, both Democrats, also serve on the Santa Ana City Council together. The two Democrats are vying for the Assembly seat left open by Avelino Valencia, who is running for Senate District 34 this election.
David Penaloza and Jessie Lopez are two candidates running for the 68th Assembly District in 2026. (Courtesy photos)
Like in the 67th, the Democrat-on-Democrat race in Assembly District 68 has seen oodles of money poured into it. Lopez’s campaign has raised more than $687,000, while Penaloza’s campaign has pulled in more than $1.1 million. Additionally, outside groups have spent more than $6.4 million to support or oppose Lopez. And more than $9.6 million has been spent on supporting or opposing Penaloza by outside groups.
The Orange County district includes Anaheim, Orange and Santa Ana.
Lopez has campaigned on fighting for affordable housing, increasing public education spending, defending Orange County communities “from federal overreach that threatens immigrant families,” raising wages and lowering healthcare costs. Penaloza has said that, if elected, he will fight rising costs, prioritize public safety, protect good-paying jobs, ensure quality healthcare access, among other priorities.
Assembly District 70
Tri Ta’s slim lead over Paula Swift narrowed as of about 10:30 p.m., according to early returns released Tuesday night by the Orange County registrar’s office.
Ta, R-Westminster, is seeking his third term in the Assembly after first being elected in 2022. Swift, the Democratic challenger, is a small business owner from Seal Beach.
Democrat Paula Swift, left, and Republican Assemblymember Tri Ta, right, are vying for the Assembly District 70 seat in the Nov. 3 general election. (Courtesy photos)
The Orange County district includes Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Garden Grove, Westminster and Fountain Valley.
Assembly District 71
Kate Sanchez maintained a slim lead over JJ Galvez as of about 10:30 p.m., according to early returns released Tuesday night by the California secretary of state’s office.
Sanchez, R-Rancho Santa Margarita, is seeking a third term representing the district after first being elected in 2022. Galvez, a Democrat from Silverado, is a strategy and operations manager.
Democrat JJ Galvez, left, and Republican Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, right, are vying for the Assembly District 71 seat in the Nov. 3 general election. (Courtesy photos)
Assembly District 71 spans Orange and Riverside counties, including Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita, Murrieta and Temecula.
Assembly District 72
Chris Kluwe continued to hold a small lead over Gracey Van Der Mark as of about 10:30 p.m., according to early returns released Tuesday night by the Orange County registrar’s office.
Kluwe, a Democrat, and Van Der Mark, a Republican, are vying to replace Assemblymember Diane Dixon, a Republican, who is running for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
Democrat Chris Kluwe (left) and Republican Gracey Van Der Mark (right) are vying for the 72nd Assembly District seat in the Nov. 3 general election. (Courtesy photos)
Kluwe is an ex-NFL player turned small business owner and author. Van Der Mark serves on the Huntington Beach City Council.
The race for Assembly District 72 — which includes Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods and Lake Forest — has also seen large sums of money poured into it. Kluwe’s campaign has raised more than $2.3 million while Van Der Mark’s has raised over $773,000. Additionally, outside groups have spent more than $1.4 million to either support or oppose Kluwe and Van Der Mark in their race.
Kluwe says in the Assembly, he will strengthen public education in California, lower costs for essentials and protect residents “from politicians and government overreach” if elected, among other priorities. Van Der Mark says her top priority is to keep communities safe and that she will also fight to lower the cost of living and curb homelessness.
Assembly District 73
Cottie Petrie-Norris maintained a sizeable lead over Urson Russell as of about 10:30 p.m., according to preliminary returns released Tuesday night by the Orange County registrar’s office.
Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine, is running for a third term representing the Orange County district that includes Costa Mesa, Irvine and Tustin. Russell, a Republican, is a business owner from Costa Mesa.
Democratic Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, left, and Republican Urson Russell, right, are vying for the Assembly District 73 seat in the Nov. 3 general election. (Courtesy photos)
Assembly District 74
Sergio Farias continues to hold a slim lead over Laurie Davies as of about 10:30 p.m., preliminary returns released Tuesday night by the California secretary of state’s office showed.
Davies, R-Laguna Niguel, is seeking a fourth term in the Assembly. Farias, the Democratic challenger, serves on the San Juan Capistrano City Council.
Laurie Davies, left, and Sergio Farias are vying to represent Assembly District 74. (Courtesy Davies, Farias campaigns)
Assembly District 74, which spans Orange and San Diego counties, includes Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.
California Senate
Senate District 30
Bob Archuleta maintained a big lead over Araceli Martinez as of about 10:30 p.m., according to early returns released Tuesday night by the California secretary of state’s office.
Archuleta, D-Pico Rivera, is seeking a third term representing Senate District 30 after first being elected in 2018. Martinez, the Republican challenger, is a small business owner.
Sen. Bob Archuleta (D), Araceli Martinez (R)
Senate District 30 spans Los Angeles and Orange counties, including Montebello, Downey, Norwalk, Whittier, La Habra Heights and Brea.
Senate District 32
Kelly Seyarto held onto his early lead over Tiffanie Tate as of about 10:30 p.m., according to preliminary returns from the California secretary of state’s office.
Seyarto, R-Murrieta, was first elected to represent Senate District 30 in 2022. He faces Tate, the Democratic challenger, a retired doctor and U.S. Navy veteran.
Republican Sen. Kelly Seyarto, left, and Democrat Tiffanie Tate, right, are vying for the Senate District 32 seat in the Nov. 3 election. (Courtesy photos)
The district spans Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. It includes Chino Hills, Yorba Linda, Norco, Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula and Idyllwild.
Senate District 34
Avelino Valencia maintained a big lead against Rhonda Shader as of about 10:30 p.m., according to preliminary returns released by the California secretary of state’s office Tuesday night.
Shader, a Republican, is an insurance agency owner and the former mayor of Placentia. Valencia is finishing up a second term representing Assembly District 68. The seat is open because Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, is termed out of office and running for a Board of Equalization seat.
Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D), Rhonda Shader (R)
Senate District 34 represents parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties, including South Whittier, La Habra, Buena Park, Fullerton, Anaheim and Santa Ana.
Valencia says that, if elected, he will push to build more housing and help first-time homebuyers, lower the cost of college, focus on mental health and addiction to reduce homelessness, protect the environment, help Orange County businesses create good-paying jobs and “combat political corruption.” Shader says she will prioritize bringing down the cost of living, championing small businesses, rooting out the “waste, fraud and abuse” of tax dollars and keeping Orange County neighborhoods safe, if elected.
Senate District 36
Chris Duncan held his lead over Tony Strickland as of 10:30 p.m., according to the first batch of preliminary results released Tuesday night by the California secretary of state’s office.
Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, is seeking a full term after being tapped by voters in a 2025 special election to represent the district. Duncan, a Democrat, is a former city councilmember and mayor of San Clemente.
Sen. Tony Strickland (R) , Chris Duncan (D)
Senate District 36 spans Orange and Los Angeles counties. It includes Cerritos, Garden Grove, Westminster, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and San Clemente.
Senate District 38
Catherine Blakespear held her lead over Laura Bassett as of about 10:30 p.m., preliminary returns released Tuesday night by the California secretary of state’s office showed.
Blakespear, D-Encinitas, was first elected in 2022. Bassett, a Republican, is a small business owner from Oceanside.
Senate District 38 spans Orange and San Diego counties and includes Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and San Juan Capistrano.