Progressive-backed Santa Ana City Councilwoman Jessie Lopez took the lead from Police union-backed Councilman David Penaloza as of Saturday evening’s election results to represent the 68th State Assembly district.
The latest count showed Lopez in the lead with 50.6% of the vote after Penaloza roughly 8% lead at the start of election night diminished Saturday despite millions of dollars pouring in from special interests like big tech to support his campaign.
Penaloza trailed behind with 49.4% – a difference of over 1,105 votes. Over 92,000 votes have been counted in the race so far.
Lopez is ahead in the state race to represent a North Central portion of the county as three progressive candidates are on track to flip Santa Ana’s ruling council majority – most of whom were backed by the city’s police union.
At the same time, first time candidate and Attorney Dan Shimell took the lead against police union-backed four year incumbent Valerie Amezcua in the city’s mayoral race on Saturday.
Three years ago, the police union unsuccessfully tried recalling Lopez from her city council seat. A year later, she won her reelection bid in 2024 by 400 votes against a police union-backed candidate.
In the primary race for the assembly seat, Lopez had trailed in third place behind Republican candidate Mayra Ruiz Penaloza in the initial election result updates but ultimately ended up securing her place on the November ballot against her fellow council member.
Penaloza was first elected to the Santa Ana City Council in 2018 and won his reelection bid for Ward 6 in 2022 by about 500 votes with his term ending this year.
He endorsed police union-backed candidate and attorney Gio Chavez to be his successor in Ward 6 while Lopez backed Progressive Planning Commission and Chispa Executive Director Isuri Ramos in that race. Ramos is on track to win the election.
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.
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.
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.
Penaloza is endorsed by a host of law enforcement and public safety unions, labor unions, the OC Register and the California Democratic Party.
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org.
