Both Santa Ana Mayoral Candidate Dan Shimell and 68th State Assembly District candidate Jessie Lopez, two progressive backed politicians, widened their leads in their respective races in Monday’s election results update.
Shimell, a first time candidate and attorney, had about 46% of the vote – up by over 3,200 votes while police union-backed four year incumbent Valerie Amezcua trailed with nearly 41% of the vote in Santa Ana’s Mayoral race. There were over 63,100 votes counted so far in the race.
After publication of this article, Amezcua issued a statement conceding from the race on social media thanking residents, supporters and city staff and congratulating Shimell.
In the 68th State Assembly District Race, Lopez had about 51% of the vote – up by 2,583 votes Monday while police union-backed Santa Ana City Councilman David Penaloza trailed with about 49% of the vote. There were over 100,000 votes counted so far in the race.
Both candidates are expanding on the leads they took on Saturday, after Amezcua’s initial roughly 13% lead on Election Night disappeared and flipped in Shimell’s favor and Penaloza initial roughly 8% lead on Election Night vanished and flipped in Lopez’s favor.
Now, Shimell has a roughly 5% lead while Lopez has a roughly 2.6% lead.
Their leads are growing as three police union-backed council candidates are on track to lose their election to three progressive candidates in the city council races.
Both Shimell and Lopez lead their races despite large outside spending supporting the campaigns of their opponents.
The police union spent over $110,000 to support Amezcua’s 2026 campaign while Shimell did not receive independent expenditure support.
Meanwhile, a host of committees, including spending groups funded by big tech companies like Google and Meta, have spent over $8.3 million in support of Penaloza, while other groups, including committees funded by labor unions, spent nearly $2.3 million supporting Lopez, as of Oct. 27.
A committee backed by Service Employees International Union spent over $1.3 million to oppose Penaloza’s campaign, while a host of groups including ones backed by oil companies, big tech and real estate interests spent over $4.1 million against Lopez, as of Oct. 27.
Lopez & Shimell
Lopez was first elected to the city council in 2020, beat a police union-backed recall against her in 2023 and won reelection in 2024.
In the primary race for the assembly seat, Lopez had trailed in third place behind Republican candidate Mayra Ruiz and Penaloza in the initial election result updates but ultimately ended up securing her place on the November ballot against her fellow council member.
Jorge Contreras, state director of the California Working Families Party which backed Lopez, said she is benefitting from the incredible work her campaign has done this year to connect with voters in North Central OC by knocking on doors and canvasing
“The organizing machine that she has is just unprecedented,” Contreras said in a Monday phone interview. “She made so many people believe in her message, and I think that’s why we’re starting to see the votes come in and it looks like she’s going to be our next assembly member in Orange County.”
Santa Ana Police Officer Association President John Kachirisky said in a Monday email statement to the Voice of OC before the update they will look to work with whoever is elected to the State Assembly and whoever is elected as mayor.
Shimell moved to Santa Ana in 2020 and ran on a platform of accountability, affordability and standing up to immigration enforcement. He has also vocally supported a free press in a city where many officials including Amezcua refuse or ignore reporters’ inquiries.
He has received support from progressive backed politicians in Santa Ana, OC Action and Chispa.
Contreras said Amezcua has become unpopular with voters.
“Mayor Valerie is super unpopular and is basically bought by the police union,” he said.
“She’s been very anti-progressive, very anti-WFP, very pro-police, and I think people saw that and wanted change. That’s why there’s a sweeping progressive movement in Orange County that’s happening, and we’re very happy that its a new day Santa Ana.”
Recent Scrutiny of City Hall
The results update comes amid city officials facing recent scrutiny for refusing to answer questions about why they held a ribbon cutting for a new aquatic center in the Ward Penaloza currently represents, featuring the entire city council weeks before the election when the pools were not open.
Beyond the pool debacle, Santa Ana officials have also faced demands for police accountability over the viral violent arrest of resident Florentino Lopez and scrutiny over police arresting two immigrant advocates that were observing ICE agents last month, after the federal officers called for help.
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him athelattar@voiceofoc.org.
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