Progressive-backed Santa Ana City Councilwoman Jessie Lopez continued to narrow Police union-backed Councilman David Penaloza’s lead as of Friday evening’s election results to represent the 68th State Assembly district in one of OC’s closest and most expensive races.
The latest count showed Penaloza in the lead with about 50.4% of the vote after his roughly 8% lead at the start of election night dwindled down to less than 1% Friday.
Lopez trailed behind with about 49.6% – a difference of over 700 votes.
Penaloza did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
Lopez said the tight race demonstrates the need to keep large corporations and special interests from buying political influence.
“This campaign has always really been about affordability, accountability, and believing that we can have a much better future for everybody, not just those at the top,” she said in a Friday phone interview.
“I think the vote count is really, really close because I think this election really demonstrated exactly why we need to confront the influence of big money in our politics.”
Lopez is narrowing the gap to represent Santa Ana, Anaheim and Orange at the State Assembly as progressive backed candidates are on track to flip the primarily police union backed city council majority.
“I’m ecstatic to see the voters of our community that are paying attention, that are sending a clear message to City Hall – to not just the electeds but to the administration at City Hall – that they expect more, that they want our families to be protected and that they’re not going to tolerate the status quo not delivering for them,” she said.
The race between Penaloza and Lopez remains close despite special interest groups including real estate interests, oil companies, big tech and labor unions have poured millions of dollars into the assembly race.
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.
It also comes amid recent scrutiny of city officials 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.
Penaloza is endorsed by a host of law enforcement and public safety unions, labor unions, the OC Register and the California Democratic Party.
Lopez is endorsed by a host of labor unions including Service Employees International Union, progressive groups, Chispa, Senator Bernie Sanders and the late Labor activist Dolores Huerta.
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org.
