Lopez overtakes Penaloza in close race for OC Assembly seat

Santa Ana Councilwoman Jessie Lopez moved ahead of Councilman David Penaloza by 1,105 votes in Saturday evening’s count for California’s 68th Assembly District, according to Voice of OC. No final winner had been reported.

The contest will determine who represents a north-central portion of Orange County in the state Assembly. It comes as separate races could change Santa Ana’s council majority and mayoral leadership, Voice of OC reported.

Lopez held 50.6% of the vote to Penaloza’s 49.4%, with more than 92,000 votes counted, according to Voice of OC. The updated tally erased Penaloza’s roughly 8% election-night lead.

Outside committees had spent more than $8.3 million supporting Penaloza as of Oct. 27, compared with nearly $2.3 million supporting Lopez, the publication reported. Penaloza’s endorsements include the OC Register and the California Democratic Party.

A committee backed by SEIU spent more than $1.3 million opposing Penaloza. Groups including those backed by oil, technology and real estate interests spent more than $4.1 million opposing Lopez, according to Voice of OC.

Lopez survived a police union-backed recall effort three years earlier and won reelection in 2024 against a candidate backed by the union. Penaloza has police union support in the Assembly contest, the publication reported.

In Santa Ana’s municipal races, three progressive candidates were on track to flip the council majority. Attorney Dan Shimell also moved ahead of incumbent Mayor Valerie Amezcua on Saturday, according to Voice of OC.

The Assembly rivals backed different candidates for Penaloza’s Ward 6 council seat. Penaloza endorsed Gio Chavez, while Lopez supported Isuri Ramos, who was on track to win, the publication reported.

For the Assembly seat, Saturday’s count put Lopez in front but left the outcome unresolved, with the candidates separated by 1,105 votes.