Outside groups spend millions in race for 68th Assembly District

Outside committees have spent more than $8.2 million backing David Penaloza and nearly $2.3 million supporting Jessie Lopez in the race for California’s 68th Assembly District, according to Voice of OC. Both candidates are Democratic members of the Santa Ana City Council seeking election Nov. 3.

The election will determine who succeeds Assemblyman Avelino Valencia in a district serving Orange, Anaheim and Santa Ana. Technology, oil and real estate interests are among the sources of committee funding, while labor-backed groups are also spending to influence the contest.

Groups opposing Lopez have spent more than $4 million, Voice of OC reported. A committee backed by the Service Employees International Union has spent more than $1.3 million opposing Penaloza. The reported spending figures reflect different cutoff dates in October.

A committee funded largely by Christian Larsen and Timothy Draper spent $1.3 million against Lopez through Oct. 21 and more than $2.8 million supporting Penaloza through Oct. 26, according to Voice of OC. A separate committee heavily financed by Google and Meta spent nearly $2.8 million backing Penaloza through Oct. 23.

An oil-funded political action committee spent nearly $980,000 opposing Lopez from May through Oct. 23. At least two committees financed by real estate and development interests together spent nearly $820,000 against her through Oct. 20 and more than $475,000 supporting Penaloza through Oct. 19, the publication reported.

On Lopez’s side, a group funded mainly by labor unions spent more than $1.3 million supporting her and roughly $1.25 million opposing Penaloza through Oct. 26. Another committee, financed primarily by labor and progressive organizations including OC Action and the California Working Families Party, spent more than $800,000 backing Lopez, according to Voice of OC.

The candidates also have overlapping sources of endorsements. Voice of OC reported that Penaloza has support from law enforcement and public safety unions, other labor unions, the OC Register and the California Democratic Party. Lopez’s endorsers include the Service Employees International Union, progressive groups, Chispa and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Voice of OC’s report details the committees’ financial backing but does not identify the specific policy goals behind their spending.