VOTER GUIDE
Click here to read Voice of OC’s guide to all races on the March 2020 ballot.
A host of high-profile congressional seats in Orange County are up for grabs in the upcoming March primary, along with two key local races for county supervisor and a host of other local offices.
And once again, Orange County will be a central battleground for control of Congress, as Republicans seek to win back the seats they lost last year to Democrats.
Below is a full list of candidates running for local, state, and Congressional seats in Orange County. (The deadline to officially file as a candidate was Dec. 6.)
City elections for mayors and City Council members aren’t scheduled until the November 2020 general election.
Mail-in ballots for the March 3 are scheduled to be sent out a month before, starting Feb. 3. Voters will be able to cast ballots in person up to 10 days before the election, starting Saturday, Feb. 22. The official voting location list is expected to be released around Jan. 1.
[Click here to quickly go to the Voice of OC election guide on this page.]
[Click here for our overview of the final candidates, published Dec. 16.]
[Click here to view the final candidates list as a printable PDF.]
Note: The candidate’s titles below are what they chose as their official description on ballots. They are subject to court challenges, and could be changed by a judge before ballots are printed.
U.S. House of Representatives, 39th District
*Additional candidates who file in Los Angeles County may not be known until January 2020.
Gil Cisneros, Education/Veterans Advocate and Congressman, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Young Kim, Small Business Owner, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Steve Cox, None Listed, voteforcox.com
U.S. House of Representatives, 45th District
Katie Porter, U.S. Representative, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Greg Raths, Retired Marine Colonel, Campaign Website
Don Sedgewick, Mayor/Small Businessman, Campaign Website
Lisa Sparks, University Dean/Educator, Campaign Website
Rhonda Furin, Retired Teacher, Campaign Website
Christopher J. Gonzales, Businessman/Attorney, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Peggy Huang, Deputy Attorney General, Campaign Website
U.S. House of Representatives, 46th District
Lou Correa, United States Congressmember, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Will Johnson, Caregiver/Driver, Campaign Website
Pablo Mendoiolea, Businessman, Campaign Website
Ed Rushman, IT Project Manager, Campaign Website
James S. Waters, Retired Postal Worker, Campaign Website
U.S. House of Representatives, 47th District
*Additional candidates who file in Los Angeles County may not be known until January 2020.
John Briscoe, Governing Board Member on the Ocean View School District Of Orange County, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Sou Moua, Planning Commissioner, No Campaign Website Listed
Amy Phan West, Entrepreneur/Mother, Campaign Website
Alan Lowenthal, U.S. Representative, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Peter Matthews, Professor of Political Science, Campaign Website
Jalen Dupree McLeod, Teacher’s Assistant, Campaign Website
Shawn Roshan, None Listed, No Campaign Website Listed
Julian Soto, Nonprofit Worker, No Campaign Website Listed
U.S. House of Representatives, 48th District
Harley Rouda, Businessman/U.S. Representative, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
John Thomas Scuhesler, Finance CEO/Filmmaker, Campaign Website
Michelle Steel, County Supervisor, Orange County Board of Supervisors, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Brian Burley, Business Owner, Campaign Website
James Brian Griffin, Real Estate Broker, Campaign Website
Richard Mata, Retired Educator, No Campaign Website Listed
U.S. House of Representatives, 49th District
Mike Levin, U.S. Representative 49th District, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Brian Maryott, Mayor/Financial Planner, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
California State Assembly, 55th District
*Additional candidates who file in Los Angeles County may not be known until January 2020.
Andrew E. Rodriguez, Mayor/County Commissioner, Campaign Website
Phillip Chen, Assemblyman/Educator/Businessman, Campaign Website
California State Assembly, 65th District
Sharon Quirk-Silva, California Assemblymember, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Cynthia Thacker, Small Businesswoman, No Campaign Website Listed
California State Assembly, 68th District
Steven Choi, Assemblyman/Businessman/Educator, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Eugene Fields, Non-profit Businessman/Educator, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Melissa Fox, Irvine Councilmember/Businesswoman, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Benjamin Yu, Businessman/City Commissioner, Campaign Website
California State Assembly, 69th District
Tom Daly, State Assemblymember, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Jon Paul White, None Listed, No Campaign Website Listed
California State Assembly, 72nd District
Tyler Diep, State Assemblyman/Businessman, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Bijan Mohseni, Civil Rights Advocate, Campaign Website
Diedre Nguyen, Cancer Scientist/Councilmember, Campaign Website
Janet Nguyen, Orange County Foundation Boardmember, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
California State Assembly, 73rd District
William Brough, Businessman/State Assemblyman, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Laurie Davies, Laguna Niguel Mayor/Businesswoman, Campaign Website
Chris Duncan, Homeland Security Attorney, Campaign Website
Scott Rhinehart, Business Services Director, Campaign Website
Ed Sachs, Mission Viejo Councilman/Businessman, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
California State Assembly, 74th District
Cottie Petrie-Norris, California State Assemblymember, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Diane Dixon, Mayor/Orange County Businesswoman, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Kelly Ernby, Deputy District Attorney, Campaign Website
California State Senate, 29th District
*Additional candidates who file in Los Angeles County may not be known until January 2020.
Ling Ling Chang, Senator/Business Owner, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Joseph J. Cho, Journalist/Nonprofit Founder, No Campaign Website Listed
George C. Shen, Small Businessman, No Campaign Website Listed
Josh Newman, Veterans’ Advocate, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
California State Senate, 37th District
John M. W. Moorlach, California State Senator, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Katrina Foley, Mayor/Consumer Attorney, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Dave Min, Irvine Law Professor, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
OC Supervisor, 1st District
Andrew Do, Orange County Supervisor District 1, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Kim Bernice Nguyen, Garden Grove City Councilwoman, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Miguel A. Pulido, Mayor of Santa Ana, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Sergio Contreras, Westminster City Councilmember, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
OC Supervisor, 3rd District
Donald P. Wagner, Orange County Supervisor, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Ashleigh Aitken, Consumer Advocate/Businesswoman, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
OC Board of Education, Trustee Area 1
Rebecca “Beckie” Gomez, Member of County Board of Education Trustee Area 1, Campaign Website, –
Jim Palmer, Non-Profit Director, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Steve Rocco, Retired Educator/Writer, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
OC Board of Education, Trustee Area 3
Ken L. Williams Jr., Member of Orange County Board of Education, Trustee Area 3, Campaign Website
Andy Thorburn, Educator/Nonprofit Director, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
OC Board of Education, Trustee Area 4
Vicki Calhoun, At-Risk Youth Counselor, No Campaign Website Listed
Paulette Chaffee, Educator/Attorney, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Tim Shaw, Professor/Councilmember, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Jordan Brandman, Educator/Anaheim Councilmember, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Democratic Party of OC Central Committee, 55th District
Cynthia Aguirre, Appointed Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Lourdes Cruz, Appointed Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Jeffery B. Letourneau, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Molly A. Muro, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Isabella Rubio, Legislative Field Representative, No Campaign Website Listed
Sean Thomas, Small Business Owner, No Campaign Website Listed
Natalie Estrada, Special Education Teacher, No Campaign Website Listed
Gail C. Cain, Small Business Owner, No Campaign Website Listed
Democratic Party of OC Central Committee, 65th District
Ed Lopez, Governing Board Member of North Orange County Community College District Area 2, No Campaign Website Listed
Arnel Dino, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Mirvette Judeh, Appointed Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
John Vassiliades, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Andy J. Lewandowski, Business Owner, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Bruce W. Johnson, Nonprofit Director/Accountant, No Campaign Website Listed
Jose Paolo Magcalas, School Boardmember/Teacher, No Campaign Website Listed
Marisol Ramirez, City Council Aide, No Campaign Website Listed
Mike Rodriguez, Teacher, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Patricia Tutor, Retired, No Campaign Website Listed
Eric Barlow, Community Volunteer, No Campaign Website Listed
Ada Briceño, Labor Organizer, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Jose Trinidad Castaneda, Climate Community Organizer, jose4fullerton.com
Democratic Party of OC Central Committee, 68th District
Ted Perle, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
David R. Sonneborn, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Florice Orea Hoffman, Workers Rights Attorney, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Ken Wyant, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Melissa Fox, Irvine Councilmember/Businesswoman, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Naz Hamid, Mother/Automation Director, No Campaign Website Listed
Bill Honigman, Retired Emergency Physician, No Campaign Website Listed
Mani Kang, Writer, No Campaign Website Listed
Tammy Kim, Non-profit Director/Educator, Campaign Website
Meredith Marquis, Business Owner, No Campaign Website Listed
Bridget R. McConaughy, Campaign Field Organizer, No Campaign Website Listed
Joe McLaughlin, Data Consultant, No Campaign Website Listed
Tina Arias Miller, Community College Director, No Campaign Website Listed
Beatriz “Betty” Valencia, Businesswoman, No Campaign Website Listed
Laura Villa, Businesswoman, No Campaign Website Listed
Monica Barranco-Leon, Community Volunteer, No Campaign Website Listed
Nathaniel Fernandez Epstein, Healthcare Attorney, No Campaign Website Listed
Eugene W. Fields, Non-profit Businessman/Educator, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Democratic Party of OC Central Committee, 69th District
Avelino Valencia III, Principal District Representative, No Campaign Website Listed
Jannelle M. Welker, County Policy Advisor, No Campaign Website Listed
Luis Aleman, Labor Organizer, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Juan Gabriel Alvarez, Teacher/Parent, No Campaign Website Listed
Ariana Arestegui, Legal Clerk, No Campaign Website Listed
Giovanni Chavez, Tenants’ Rights Advocate, No Campaign Website Listed
Veronica Chavez, Labor Organizer, No Campaign Website Listed
Manny Escamilla, Urban Planner, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Jessie Lopez, Diversity Development Coordinator, No Campaign Website Listed
Martin Lopez, Labor Recording Secretary, No Campaign Website Listed
Jose F. Moreno, University Professor, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Thai Viet Phan, Local Government Attorney, No Campaign Website Listed
Isuri S. Ramos, Policy Analyst, No Campaign Website Listed
Democratic Party of OC Central Committee, 72nd District
Michelle “Misha” Houser, STEM Education Director, No Campaign Website Listed
Mark Anthony Paredes, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Victor Valladares, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Oscar D. Rodriguez, Operations Finance Manager, No Campaign Website Listed
Mary Tromp, Retired Computer Programmer, No Campaign Website Listed
Jaci Iannello, Financial Planner, No Campaign Website Listed
Louise Larsen, Communications Director, No Campaign Website Listed
Shayna Lathus, Teacher, Campaign Website
Kathia Canlas, Labor Organizer, No Campaign Website Listed
Sergio Escobar, Voter Outreach Coordinator, No Campaign Website Listed
Libby Frolichman, Community Volunteer, No Campaign Website Listed
Karen A. Hinks, Political Consultant, No Campaign Website Listed
Democratic Party of OC Central Committee, 73rd District
Anita Narayana, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Denise Penn, Nonprofit Executive Director, No Campaign Website Listed
Anne Cameron, Psychotherapist, No Campaign Website Listed
Deborah Cunningham-Skurnik, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Sudi Farokhnia, Risk Professional, No Campaign Website Listed
Alan Fenning, Retired Attorney, No Campaign Website Listed
Lulu Hammad, Legal Translator, No Campaign Website Listed
Lara Horgan, Community Volunteer, No Campaign Website Listed
Emma Jenson, None Listed, No Campaign Website Listed
Danna Lewis, Mental Health Professional, No Campaign Website Listed
Jenna Beck, Senior Proposal Writer, No Campaign Website Listed
Democratic Party of OC Central Committee, 74th District
Janice I. Burstin, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Jonathan Adler, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Jill Nelke, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Jane Stoever, Appointed Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Dean Inada, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Marleen Gillespie, Retired Mathematics Teacher, No Campaign Website Listed
Boris Gresely, Public Affairs Representative, No Campaign Website Listed
Lauren Johnson-Norris, City Commissioner/Attorney, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Aarti Kaushal, Education Consultant, No Campaign Website Listed
Anne Mohr, Small Business Owner, No Campaign Website Listed
Becky Visconti, Community Volunteer, No Campaign Website Listed
Bethany Webb, Parent/Realtor, No Campaign Website Listed
Iyad Afalqa, College Professor/Educator, No Campaign Website Listed
Kalvin Alvarez, Student/Campaign Coordinator, No Campaign Website Listed
Samila Amanyraoufpoor, College Professor/Educator, No Campaign Website Listed
Mary Carter, Community Volunteer, No Campaign Website Listed
Andrew Gallagher, Filmmaker, No Campaign Website Listed
Republican Party of OC Central Committee, 55th District
Brett R. Barbre, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Gene Hernandez, Incumbent, Campaign Website
Tim Shaw, Professor/Councilmember, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Craig Young, Attorney/Investor/Pastor, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Anthony Johnson, Legislative Field Representative, No Campaign Website Listed
Elvira Moreno, None Listed, No Campaign Website Listed
Michael Navarro, Life Skills Coach, No Campaign Website Listed
Melissa A. Salinas, Governing Board Member of Lowell Joint School District Area 1, No Campaign Website Listed
Rhonda Shader, Mayor/Orange County Businesswoman, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Republican Party of OC Central Committee, 65th District
Leroy Mills, Retired US Air Force Officer, No Campaign Website Listed
Baron Night, Incumbent, Campaign Website
Steve Sarkis, Appointed Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
David John Shawver, Incumbent, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Cynthia Thacker, Appointed Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
James S. Waters, Retired Postal Worker, Campaign Website
Dewayne Allen Normand, Small Business Owner, Campaign Website
Nicholas Dunlap, Orange County Businessman/Parent, No Campaign Website Listed
Bobby Florentz, Handyman, No Campaign Website Listed
Amy Fremen, Rehabilitation Healthcare Professional, No Campaign Website Listed
Republican Party of OC Central Committee, 68th District
Mark William Bucher, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Austin Lumbard, Appointed Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Deborah Pauly, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Fred M. Whitaker, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Todd Spitzer, District Attorney of Orange County, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Scott “Rolling Thunder” Voigts, Lake Forest Councilmember, No Campaign Website Listed
Robert Walters, Businessman, No Campaign Website Listed
Benjamin Yu, Businessman/City Commissioner, No Campaign Website Listed
Deepak Singh Sahni, Small Business Owner, No Campaign Website Listed
Trevor O’Neil, Councilman/Orange County Businessowner, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
John Park, Entrepreneur/Company President, No Campaign Website Listed
Ray Gennawey, Orange County Gang Prosecutor, No Campaign Website Listed
Esther Koh, Businesswoman, No Campaign Website Listed
Denis Bilodeau, Director of Orange County Water District, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Republican Party of OC Central, 69th District
Alberta Christy, Appointed Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Thomas Anthony Gordon, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias, Councilmember for City of Santa Ana, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Timothy ‘Tim’ Ryan Whitacre, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Jon Paul White, None Listed, No Campaign Website Listed
Karina Onofre, Small Business Owner, No Campaign Website Listed
Brian Harrington, Marketing Consultant, Campaign Website
Gisela Contreras, Businesswoman/Parent, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Lewis Adame, Retail Manager/Father, No Campaign Website Listed
Republican Party of OC Central Committee, 72nd District
Jeffery Barke, Appointed Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Andrew Do, Orange County Supervisor, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Kermit Marsh, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed
Zack McCready, Business Owner/Attorney, No Campaign Website Listed
Russ Neal, Consulting Electrical Engineer, No Campaign Website Listed
Gracey Van Der Mark, Parent, No Campaign Website Listed
Eva Weisz, Community Volunteer, No Campaign Website Listed
Amy Phan West, Entrepreneur/Mother, No Campaign Website Listed
Austin J. Edsell, Orange County Small Businessman, Campaign Website
Patrick Harper, Council Member for City of Fountain Valley, No Campaign Website Listed
Ryan Billings, Legislative Aide, No Campaign Website Listed
Brian Burley, Business Owner, Campaign Website
Peter Amundson, Small Businessman, No Campaign Website Listed
Republican Party of OC Central Committee, 73rd District
Lisa A. Bartlett, Incumbent, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Mike Munzing, Mayor of Aliso Viejo, No Campaign Website Listed
Laurie Davies, Mayor of Laguna Niguel/Businessowner, Campaign Website
Ed Sachs, Incumbent, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Art Sanchez, Realtor, No Campaign Website Listed
Jake Vollebregt, Marine/Businessman/Parent, No Campaign Website Listed
Nick Wilson, Property Manager, No Campaign Website Listed
DD Dominguez, Business Development Manager, No Campaign Website Listed
Elaine Gennawey, City Councilmember, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Shawn M. Gordon, Computer Consultant/Businessowner, No Campaign Website Listed
Diane L. Harkey, Businesswoman, No Campaign Website Listed, VOC News Coverage
Linda Kight, Commercial Property Manager, No Campaign Website Listed
Greg Raths, Mayor of Mission Viejo, Campaign Website
Candice Burroughs, Small Business Owner, No Campaign Website Listed
Republican Party of OC Central Committee, 74th District
Thomas A. “T.J.” Fuentes, Incumbent, No Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Beth Johns Holder, Executive Manager, No Campaign Website
Will O’Neill, Newport Beach City Councilmember, No Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Erik K. Weigand, Incumbent, No Campaign Website
Scott Peotter, Architect, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Mike Posey, City Councilman/Businessman, No Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Emily Sanford, Retired Navy Nurse, No Campaign Website
Jennifer Sterling, Small Business Owner, No Campaign Website
Mike Gasca, Businessman/Restaurateur, No Campaign Website
Barbara George, Business Owner, No Campaign Website
Mike Glenn, Small Business Owner, No Campaign Website
Alison Burchette, Software Sales Executive, No Campaign Website
Ben Chapman, Entrepreneur, No Campaign Website
Katherine Daigle, Small Business Woman, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Diane Dixon, Mayor/Orange County Businesswoman, Campaign Website, VOC News Coverage
Kelly Ernby, Deputy District Attorney, Campaign Website
CORRECTION: Michelle Denise Hamilton was listed as a candidate for the California State Assembly, 55th District seat. She did pull papers for the office, but did not complete her registration for the election.
Noah Biesiada is a reporting intern at Voice of OC. He can be reached at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.
Sonya Quick is Voice of OC’s digital editor. She can be reached at squick@voiceofoc.org.
Nick Gerda covers local government for Voice of OC and can be reached at ngerda@voiceofoc.org.