Residents in California’s 74th Assembly District are on track to have new representation after Assemblymember Laurie Davies, R-Laguna Niguel, conceded Thursday, Nov. 12. Sergio Farias, a San Juan Capistrano councilmember, appeared on track to win the seat.
Davies, who was first elected to the California legislature in 2020, thanked voters “for allowing me the privilege to stand up for you in Sacramento.”
“It has been the absolute honor of my lifetime to represent and serve you as your Assemblywoman over the last six years,” Davies said. “Every vote I cast, every bill I championed, and every community event I attended was driven by a deep dedication to making our district an even better to live, work, and raise a family.
“While my time as your Assemblymember may be ending, my commitment to our community remains as strong as ever,” Davies said in a statement.
As of Thursday 5 p.m., Davies trailed Farias by 5,372 votes. Farias received 51.4% of the votes counted so far to Davies 48.6%, according to the latest unofficial results by the California secretary of state’s office.
The district spans Orange and San Diego counties and includes Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.
Farias, on Tuesday evening, thanked Davies for her service to the district. On Wednesday, Farias said Davies congratulated him on a phone call.
“Despite our differences, I want to recognize her for her public service,” Farias said. “It’s an honor of a lifetime to serve. … Now it’s time to deliver for the people. I look forward to passing legislation that will benefit the people of (the 74th District).”
Over her tenure, Davies was the author of 36 bills signed into law and served as a co-author of 707 more bills enacted, according to her office. Davies this year served as vice chair on the Assembly’s Governmental Organization and Transportation committees, in addition to serving on the Military and Veteran Affairs and Utilities and Energy committees. She is also a member of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Assembly Legislative Ethics special committee.
Davies is now the third Republican incumbent representing Orange County in the California Legislature to concede to their Democratic challenger this week. Assemblymember Tri Ta, R-Westminster, conceded Monday, while Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, conceded Tuesday.
Jessie Lopez appears on track to represent AD-68
In Assembly District 68, Jessie Lopez appears set to represent the seat after David Penaloza conceded Wednesday afternoon.
Lopez has so far received 52.3% of the vote, a lead of 5,176, while Penaloza has received 47.7% as of Thursday evening, according to unofficial results released by the California secretary of state’s office, for the district that includes Anaheim, Orange and Santa Ana.
The Democrat-on-Democrat battle pitted the two Santa Ana City Council members against one another to fill the seat held by Avelino Valencia, who appeared on track to fill the Senate District 34 seat.
Lopez said her win “was powered by people who believe that working families deserve a government that works for them.”
“I carry this responsibility with immense gratitude and a commitment to fight for the communities that brought me here,” she said. “This victory is bigger than one campaign. It’s a reminder of what we can accomplish when we organize, stand together, and fight for a better future.
“This milestone belongs to our entire community, and I look forward to making sure the next generation sees that there is a place for them at every level of government,” Lopez said.
Penaloza said he is rooting for Lopez to be successful “because her success in the legislature means more state re
“I am proud of the positive campaign we ran, the issues we elevated, and the people who stood alongside us,” Penaloza said. “We gave it everything we had, and although we didn’t cross the finish line the way we hoped, I am humbled by all the support we received.”
The race became one of the most expensive legislative contests in Orange County this year, with the campaigns raising over $1.6 million combined. Meanwhile, outside groups spent more than $14 million supporting or opposing the two candidates.
Both candidates acknowledged the oodles of money in their respective statements.
“Over the last year, an unprecedented amount of outside money poured into our district. Millions of dollars from competing interests and independent expenditure committees, spending that NEITHER candidate controlled, unfortunately overshadowed and drowned what this campaign was always about,” Penaloza said.
Lopez, in her own statement, said the district’s communities “demonstrated that no amount of corporate spending or wealthy special interests can replace the power of people coming together to make their voices heard.”
“This victory is a powerful reminder that our democracy belongs to Californians, not the corporations and wealthy interests that often dictate our political future,” she said.
Chris Kluwe now ahead in AD-72
In the race for Assembly District 72, Democrat Chris Kluwe edged ahead of Republican Gracey Van Der Mark according to the latest unofficial results from the secretary of state’s office.
Kluwe, an ex-NFL player turned small business owner and author, had a 726-vote lead as of Thursday afternoon, receiving 50.2% of the vote to Van Der Mark’s 49.8%, according to the secretary of state’s office.
The two candidates are vying to replace Republican Diane Dixon as the representative for the district that includes Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods and Lake Forest. Voters in the district have consistently tapped Republicans over the years to represent them.
