We cap off this election cycle's comprehensive rundown with the California State Assembly. For a refresher on the other election races in California, click here for Part 1 (Congress) and here for Part 2 (State Executive and State Senate).
In 2012, Democrats in the state assembly surprisingly won a two-thirds supermajority and reduced Sacramento Republicans to complete irrelevance. This cycle, unlike their colleagues in the state senate, assembly Democrats look poised to cement their supermajority and maintain their iron grip on the chamber. Republicans will try to strike at some shaky Dem holds, but they are mostly playing on turf that should have been theirs in the first place.
Without further ado, join me below for Round 3!
For the geographically engaged, click here for an interactive map!
| 2*, 4*, 7*†, 8, 9*†, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15*†, 16*, 17*†, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25*, 27, 28*, 29, 30, 31, 37, 39†, 41, 43, 45, 46, 47†, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53*†, 54, 56*, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62*, 63, 64*†, 66, 69, 70*, 78, 79, 80 | 32 | 44* | 36, 40*, 65 | 1, 3*, 5, 6, 12, 23, 26*†, 33*, 34, 35, 38, 42*, 55*, 60, 67, 68, 71†, 72, 73*, 74*†, 75, 76†, 77 | ||
Parts of this district were won by Jimmy Carter in 1976. Now it's rock-ribbed Republican and full of secessionist fervor, because California takes away money from the Bay Area and SoCal rich and gives it to these poverty-stricken hinterlands. How dare those Sacramento commies!
AD-02 - North Coast: Eureka, Ukiah, Santa Rosa Incumbent: Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) 08/12 PVI: D+16 2012 PVI: D+17 2012 pres results: 64.7% Obama, 30.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 63.1% Wesley Chesbro (D), 36.9% Tom Lynch (D) Candidates: Jim Wood (D), Matt Heath (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Chesbro, the dean of the legislature, is termed out of the assembly (he termed out of the state senate in 2008). Wood, a Healdsburg city councilman, will now step up to the plate and into the state assembly.
AD-03 - Sacramento Valley: Red Bluff, Chico, Yuba City Incumbent: Dan Logue (R-Marysville) 08/12 PVI: R+8 2012 PVI: R+7 2012 pres results: 42.4% Obama, 54.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 55.6% Dan Logue (R), 44.4% Charles Rouse (D) Candidates: James Gallagher (R), Jim Reed (D) Rating: Safe Republican
For some reason, Logue always underperformed in this district. Gallagher, a Sutter County supervisor, should not face the same problem and lock down this seat.
AD-04 - Wine Country: Rohnert Park, Napa, Davis Incumbent: Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) 08/12 PVI: D+14 2012 PVI: D+14 2012 pres results: 63.2% Obama, 33.9% Romney 2012 asm results: 62.5% Mariko Yamada (D), 37.5% John Munn (R) Candidates: Bill Dodd (D), Charlie Schaupp (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Two progressive Davis city councilmen, Dan Wolk and Joe Krovoza, made the very wise decision to run in the same race and attack each other, shockingly handing the Democratic nomination to Dodd, a Republican-turned-Democrat (in 2012!) and Napa County supervisor. Dodd will now be the first Napa County resident in the state assembly since 1980.
AD-05 - Gold Country: Auburn, South Lake Tahoe, Madera Incumbent: Frank Bigelow (R-O'Neals) 08/12 PVI: R+9 2012 PVI: R+9 2012 pres results: 41.3% Obama, 55.9% Romney 2012 asm results: 52.3% Frank Bigelow (R), 47.7% Rico Oller (R) Candidates: Frank Bigelow (R), Patrick Hogan (L) Rating: Safe Republican
Democrats didn't bother fielding a candidate here, handing the Libertarians the second-place spot and Bigelow a second term in office.
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This area has become Orange County 2.0 without the beaches and wealth. Heavily suburban, heavily white, heavily conservative, and heavily Republican.
AD-07 - Capital region: Sacramento, West Sacramento, Antelope Incumbent: Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) 08/12 PVI: D+17 2012 PVI: D+18 2012 pres results: 67.5% Obama, 29.6% Romney 2012 asm results: 69.8% Roger Dickinson (D), 30.2% Jonathan Zachariou (R) Candidates: Steve Cohn (D), Kevin McCarty (D) Rating: Safe Democratic, Tossup Cohn/McCarty
This race has an interesting split between the two Sacramento city councilmen: many state-level organizations and the California Democratic Party have gone for McCarty, while the Sacramento-area politicians and local organizations have gone for Cohn. The Sacramento arena issue may come up here: Cohn supported it while McCarty opposed it. McCarty came out ahead 35-29 in June, but the third Democrat in the race, West Sacramento city councilman Mark Johannessen, has endorsed Cohn.
AD-08 - Capital suburbs: Citrus Heights, Arden-Arcade, Rancho Cordova Incumbent: Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) 08/12 PVI: D+1 2012 PVI: D+2 2012 pres results: 51.6% Obama, 45.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 54.3% Ken Cooley (D), 45.7% Peter Tateishi (R) Candidates: Ken Cooley (D), Doug Haaland (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
The safe Dem rating may throw some people off here, given how close the numbers are (and will be in November). However, Cooley's chances of winning are very high, low 50s notwithstanding. If he managed to get almost 52% in the June primary, he should easily pull out a majority in the general.
AD-09 - Capital south: Sacramento, Elk Grove, Lodi Incumbent: Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) 08/12 PVI: D+9 2012 PVI: D+11 2012 pres results: 60.5% Obama, 37.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 58.9% Richard Pan (D), 41.1% Antonio "Tony" Amador (R) Candidates: Jim Cooper (D), Darrell Fong (D) Rating: Safe Democratic, Tossup Cooper/Fong
This is mainly a Sacramento-Elk Grove battle, with Fong being on the Sacramento City Council and Cooper being on the Elk Grove City Council. They both come from similar backgrounds: Cooper was a Sacramento county sheriff's deputy, while Fong was a Sacramento city police officer. Cooper nudged ahead in June 31-29, but anything goes in November.
AD-10 - North Bay: San Rafael, Petaluma, Santa Rosa Incumbent: Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) 08/12 PVI: D+25 2012 PVI: D+25 2012 pres results: 73.8% Obama, 23.3% Romney 2012 asm results: 51.2% Marc Levine (D), 48.8% Michael Allen (D) Candidates: Marc Levine (D), Gregory Allen (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Progressives were fed up with Levine's pro-business tack that they ran two progressives, Diane Conti and Erin Carlstrom in the primary. Just like AD-04 next door, they were very surprised when they split the progressive vote just enough to let a Republican slip through. Levine can now coast for another two years.
AD-11 - Western Delta: Vacaville, Fairfield, Antioch Incumbent: Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) 08/12 PVI: D+10 2012 PVI: D+11 2012 pres results: 60.9% Obama, 36.8% Romney 2012 asm results: 62.0% Jim Frazier (D), 38.0% Mike Hudson (R) Candidates: Jim Frazier (D), Alex Henthorn (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Nothing interesting here in the land of rivers, levees, dirt-cheap houses, and Bay Area transplants.
AD-12 - Central Valley: Manteca, Modesto, Turlock Incumbent: Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto) 08/12 PVI: R+6 2012 PVI: R+5 2012 pres results: 45.1% Obama, 52.4% Romney 2012 asm results: 60.6% Kristin Olsen (R), 39.4% Christopher Mateo (R) Candidates: Kristin Olsen (R), Harinder Grewal (D) Rating: Safe Republican
The incoming assembly Republican leader has no need to sweat over this seat, even though it's slowly slipping away from the GOP column as time goes on.
AD-13 - San Joaquin: Stockton, French Camp, Tracy Incumbent: Susan Eggman (D-Stockton) 08/12 PVI: D+12 2012 PVI: D+14 2012 pres results: 64.2% Obama, 33.9% Romney 2012 asm results: 65.4% Susan Eggman (D), 34.6% K. "Jeffrey" Jafri (R) Candidates: Susan Eggman (D), Sol Jobrack (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Her brother Michael is running into a lot of trouble in his congressional run further south, but Eggman herself will not have to worry here.
AD-14 - Carquinez Strait: Vallejo, Pittsburg, Concord Incumbent: Susan Bonilla (D-Concord) 08/12 PVI: D+18 2012 PVI: D+19 2012 pres results: 68.7% Obama, 28.7% Romney 2012 asm results: 100% Susan Bonilla (D) Candidates: Susan Bonilla (D), Joy Delepine (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Bonilla is believed to be angling for congressional candidate Mark DeSaulnier's state senate seat, so any noise that may come from this race should be viewed in that lens.
AD-15 - East Bay: Richmond, Berkeley, Oakland Incumbent: Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) 08/12 PVI: D+38 2012 PVI: D+39 2012 pres results: 86.8% Obama, 9.6% Romney 2012 asm results: 86.8% Nancy Skinner (D), 13.2% Eugene Ruyle (PF) Candidates: Elizabeth Echols (D), Tony Thurmond (D) Rating: Safe Democratic, Lean Echols
This district, like the two East Bay districts to the south in 2012, will play host to an ultracompetitive intraparty race that will see an extraordinarily close margin. Given Echols's backing by the state party, Skinner, and other major organizations, she should come out ahead. However, Thurmond has hefty endorsements and help on his side and will make this race a barnburner.
AD-16 - Tri-Valley: Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Livermore Incumbent: Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) 08/12 PVI: D+8 2012 PVI: D+8 2012 pres results: 57.7% Obama, 40.1% Romney 2012 asm results: 59.2% Joan Buchanan (D), 40.8% Al Phillips (R) Candidates: Tim Sbranti (D), Catherine Baker (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Meanwhile, across the Caldecott Tunnel, the excitement was fully contained in the primary. Sbranti decisively knocked off Jerry Brown advisor and moderate Democrat Steve Glazer in the June primary, leaving him to fend off a moderate Republican in the reddest district in the Bay Area. Which isn't saying much, since the tilt is such that Sbranti will win anyway.
AD-17 - Eastern San Francisco Incumbent: Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) 08/12 PVI: D+38 2012 PVI: D+39 2012 pres results: 87.0% Obama, 9.3% Romney 2012 asm results: 86.2% Tom Ammiano (D), 13.8% Jason Clark (R) Candidates: David Campos (D), David Chiu (D) Rating: Safe Democratic, Lean Chiu
The two candidates have uncanny similarities: two men, born a few months apart in 1970, graduated from Harvard Law, elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2008 as progressives, and married a few months apart last year. Chiu is the more moderate (by San Francisco standards) straight Asian candidate, while Campos is the more progressive (even by San Francisco standards) gay Latino candidate. The LGBT community has split right down the middle and the race has gone far beyond nasty. Chiu came out ahead 48-44 with a token Republican taking 8%, and since the city's electorate gets more moderate as turnout increases, Chiu should have the edge. Hold on to your hats though: since San Francisco politics is personal and bare-knuckled, the mud doesn't fly here; it teleports to your doorstep, phone, and mailbox.
Note: I have volunteered for David Chiu's campaign.
Bonta is apparently the first Filipino American in the California State Legislature. He also represents one of the most ethnically diverse in the district, with whites, African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans each constituting roughly a quarter of the population here.
AD-19 - Western San Francisco, Daly City, Colma Incumbent: Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) 08/12 PVI: D+28 2012 PVI: D+30 2012 pres results: 78.8% Obama, 18.4% Romney 2012 asm results: 58.4% Phil Ting (D), 41.6% Michael Breyer (D) Candidates: Phil Ting (D), Rene Pineda (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Unlike the district on the other side of town, things are more sedate here. Ting, the Democratic caucus chair, will keep his job here.
AD-20 - East Bay: Hayward, Union City, Fremont Incumbent: Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) 08/12 PVI: D+24 2012 PVI: D+26 2012 pres results: 75.7% Obama, 22.2% Romney 2012 asm results: 50.3% Bill Quirk (D), 49.7% Jennifer Ong (D) Candidates: Bill Quirk (D), Jaime Patino (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
After an extremely close shave two years ago, Quirk has locked up the district and will keep his job here for the next ten years.
AD-21 - Central Valley: Modesto, Ceres, Merced Incumbent: Adam Gray (D-Merced) 08/12 PVI: D+4 2012 PVI: D+6 2012 pres results: 55.6% Obama, 42.0% Romney 2012 asm results: 58.2% Adam Gray (D), 41.8% Jack Mobley (R) Candidates: Adam Gray (D), Jack Mobley (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
This rematch will not be interesting, even if Gray's margins will go down somewhat given midterm turnout in this Latino- and college student-heavy district.
AD-22 - San Francisco Peninsula: San Bruno, San Mateo, Redwood City Incumbent: Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) 08/12 PVI: D+21 2012 PVI: D+22 2012 pres results: 71.4% Obama, 26.3% Romney 2012 asm results: 71.4% Kevin Mullin (D), 28.6% Mark Gilham (R) Candidates: Kevin Mullin (D), Mark Gilham (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Nothing to say really. The candidates are the same, the results will be the same.
AD-23 - Central Valley: Fresno, Clovis, Three Rivers Incumbent: Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) 08/12 PVI: R+7 2012 PVI: R+7 2012 pres results: 43.5% Obama, 54.7% Romney 2012 asm results: 54.7% Jim Patterson (R), 45.3% Bob Whalen (R) Candidates: Jim Patterson (R) Rating: Safe Republican
The first of several uncontested races in the state assembly. Patterson, a former mayor of Fresno, will skate by here.
AD-24 - Silicon Valley: Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale Incumbent: Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park) 08/12 PVI: D+23 2012 PVI: D+23 2012 pres results: 72.2% Obama, 25.0% Romney 2012 asm results: 70.4% Rich Gordon (D), 29.6% Chengzhi "George" Yang (R) Candidates: Rich Gordon (D), Diane Gabl (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Gordon, chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, will serve one more term here before being termed out.
AD-25 - Silicon Valley: Fremont, Milpitas, Santa Clara Incumbent: Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) 08/12 PVI: D+20 2012 PVI: D+23 2012 pres results: 72.4% Obama, 25.3% Romney 2012 asm results: 70.5% Bob Wieckowski (D), 29.5% ArLyne Diamond (R) Candidates: Kansen Chu (D), Bob Brunton (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
What was supposed to be an extremely competitive primary for the Democrats ended in a whimper with Chu, San Jose city councilman and the most progressive candidate of a four-Democrat field, walking away as the victor. Trivia: Chu is a former IBM programmer who immigrated from Taiwan in the 1970s when he was 24. What was that canard about Asian immigrants being predisposed to be conservative?
AD-26 - Southern Sierras: Visalia, Tulare, Bishop Incumbent: Connie Conway (R-Tulare) 08/12 PVI: R+10 2012 PVI: R+9 2012 pres results: 41.2% Obama, 56.7% Romney 2012 asm results: 66.5% Connie Conway (R), 33.5% Jonathan Louis Sosa (R) Candidates: Rudy Mendoza (R), Devon Mathis (R) Rating: Safe Republican, Likely Mendoza
Conway, the current assembly Republican leader, is termed out and planning a run for the state senate in 2018. Meanwhile, she has consolidated Republican support behind Mendoza, mayor of Woodlake. However, Democrats were boxed out of the election and another Republican is now in Mendoza's way, which complicates things. Mendoza should easily fend Mathis off, but weirder things have happened in open-seat intraparty battles.
AD-27 - Central San Jose Incumbent: Nora Campos (D-San Jose) 08/12 PVI: D+23 2012 PVI: D+27 2012 pres results: 76.4% Obama, 21.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 77.6% Nora Campos (R), 22.4% Roger Lasson (R) Candidates: Nora Campos (D), G. "Burt" Lancaster (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Campos's younger brother Xavier lost his reelection battle to the San Jose city council in June, leaving big sister Nora on shaky political ground. She's also termed out of the state assembly in 2016.
AD-28 - Silicon Valley: Cupertino, San Jose, Saratoga Incumbent: Paul Fong (D-San Jose) 08/12 PVI: D+16 2012 PVI: D+17 2012 pres results: 66.6% Obama, 30.8% Romney 2012 asm results: 62.0% Paul Fong (D), 38.0% Chad Walsh (NPP) Candidates: Evan Low (D), Chuck Page (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Fong is running for San Jose City Council, leaving his protégé Low, a Campbell city councilmember, youngest gay and Asian American mayor in American history, and K-popfan, to succeed him. Page, a Saratoga city councilmember, will try to give Low a run for his money, but the days of moderate Republicans are long gone here.
Stone, one of the most progressive members of the state assembly (and the entire legislature), is firmly entrenched in this seat.
AD-30 - Salinas Valley: Gilroy, Watsonville, Salinas Incumbent: Luis Alejo (D-Watsonville) 08/12 PVI: D+16 2012 PVI: D+17 2012 pres results: 67.0% Obama, 30.9% Romney 2012 asm results: 65.4% Luis Alejo (D), 34.6% Rob Bernosky (R) Candidates: Luis Alejo (D), Mark Starritt (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
The land of Steinbeck has begotten the legislator that authored AB 10, the $10 minimum wage, and AB 60, the bill allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver's licenses.
AD-31 - Central Valley: Fresno, Sanger, Reedley Incumbent: Henry Perea (D-Fresno) 08/12 PVI: D+10 2012 PVI: D+12 2012 pres results: 62.0% Obama, 36.2% Romney 2012 asm results: 64.0% Henry Perea (D), 36.0% James (JD) Bennett (R) Candidates: Henry Perea (D), Walter O. Villarreal (NPP) Rating: Safe Democratic
Perea passed up on an opportunity to move up to the state senate in contentious SD-14 (Vidak), leaving him with one more term in the lower house. He is also one of the more prominent members of the Mod Squad, a group of moderate Democratic legislators.
AD-32 - Central Valley: Hanford, Delano, Bakersfield Incumbent: Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) 08/12 PVI: D+3 2012 PVI: D+6 2012 pres results: 56.2% Obama, 41.8% Romney 2012 asm results: 52.9% Rudy Salas (D), 47.1% Pedro Rios (R) Candidates: Rudy Salas (D), Pedro Rios (R) Rating: Likely Democratic
Salas pulled out a relatively comfortable victory in 2012 due to soaring Latino turnout. He has sunk some roots outside of his Bakersfield base since then, but the drought and midterm turnout may make life harder for him this time around. He also has to contend with the overlapping competition in CD-21 (Valadao vs. Renteria) and SD-14 (Vidak vs. Chavez), but the thumb on the scales is decisively in Salas's favor.
AD-33 - High Desert: Victorville, Hesperia, Barstow Incumbent: Tim Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks) 08/12 PVI: R+9 2012 PVI: R+8 2012 pres results: 41.8% Obama, 55.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 59.0% Tim Donnelly (R), 41.0% John Coffey (D) Candidates: Jay Obernolte (R), John Coffey (D) Rating: Safe Republican
Donnelly left his assembly seat for a failed gubernatorial bid, leaving behind Obernolte, mayor of Big Bear Lake and a saner Republican, to take his place. While still quite conservative, maybe there will be less Tea Party bombast in the assembly chambers now.
AD-34 - Central Valley: Bakersfield, Tehachapi, Ridgecrest Incumbent: Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) 08/12 PVI: R+17 2012 PVI: R+16 2012 pres results: 34.0% Obama, 63.0% Romney 2012 asm results: 69.2% Shannon Grove (R), 30.8% Virginia "Mari" Goodman (D) Candidates: Shannon Grove (R), Virginia "Mari" Goodman (D) Rating: Safe Republican
This district is as close to Texas as you will probably get. Oil, country music, conservatism, and some windswept plains. Well, maybe other than that Okie heritage part...
AD-35 - Central Coast: San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Santa Maria Incumbent: Katcho Achadjian (R-San Luis Obispo) 08/12 PVI: R+2 2012 PVI: R+2 2012 pres results: 47.6% Obama, 49.2% Romney 2012 asm results: 61.3% Katcho Achadjian (R), 38.7% Gerald "Gerry" Manata (D) Candidates: Katcho Achadjian (R), Heidi Harmon (D) Rating: Safe Republican
Despite the high Obama numbers, Achadjian has been able to mold himself into such a moderate Republican that the majority Democrats gave him a committee chairmanship. He will be termed out in 2016, when the competition for his seat will be in earnest. Trivia: Achadjian speaks five languages (Armenian, Lebanese Arabic, Turkish, French, and English), probably the most of any state legislator in California history. He was born in Lebanon to Armenian parents.
AD-36 - Antelope Valley: Lancaster, Palmdale, California City Incumbent: Steve Fox (D-Palmdale) 08/12 PVI: R+3 2012 PVI: R+1 2012 pres results: 48.8% Obama, 48.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 50.1% Steve Fox (D), 49.9% Ron Smith (R) Candidates: Steve Fox (D), Tom Lackey (R) Rating: Tossup
Fox wasn't projected to win last time, and he will have an uphill climb this cycle too. Democratic turnout here is volatile, and his June primary performance was dismal. Assembly Democrats have bent over backwards to boost his reelection prospects, and LA County Democrats will go all out on saving him. Since CD-25 (Knight vs. Strickland) has no Democratic candidate to generate enthusiasm, it falls on Fox to pull this one out all by himself.
Williams is one of the few American politicians of Indo (Dutch Indonesian) descent. He will have one more term to serve in this Santa Barbara-based district.
AD-38 - LA North: Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Castaic Incumbent: Scott Wilk (D-Santa Clarita) 08/12 PVI: R+3 2012 PVI: R+3 2012 pres results: 46.7% Obama, 50.8% Romney 2012 asm results: 56.9% Scott Wilk (R), 43.1% Edward Headington (D) Candidates: Scott Wilk (R), Jorge Fuentes (D) Rating: Safe Republican
This district is the last refuge for northern LA-area Republicans, but even this place is slowly slipping away as Democratic growth spills out of the San Fernando Valley into areas beyond. For the time being though, Wilk is safe.
AD-39 - San Fernando Valley: Pacoima, San Fernando, North Hollywood Incumbent: Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) 08/12 PVI: D+22 2012 PVI: D+25 2012 pres results: 73.7% Obama, 23.7% Romney 2012 asm results: 58.4% Raul Bocanegra (D), 41.6% Richard Alarcón (D) Candidates: Raul Bocanegra (D), Patty Lopez (D) Rating: Safe Democratic, Safe Bocanegra
This district has an interesting tendency of electing Latino Democrats that are far more moderate and business-friendly than its PVI will suggest. Bocanegra will carry on this legacy.
AD-40 - Inland Empire: Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Redlands Incumbent: vacant (previously Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga)) 08/12 PVI: D+2 2012 PVI: D+3 2012 pres results: 53.1% Obama, 44.7% Romney 2012 asm results: 50.4% Mike Morrell (R), 49.6% Russ Warner (D) Candidates: Kathleen Henry (D), Marc Steinorth (R) Rating: Tossup
Given Morrell's last performance, this district's tilt, and the Democratic campaign machine going strong in overlapping CD-31 (Aguilar vs. Chabot), Democrats should be gunning full throttle for this seat. The main problem for them here is that they have a third-tier candidate in Henry, a community college trustee with little money and who beat the state-party endorsed candidate. Steinorth, a Rancho Cucamonga city councilman, didn't perform too well in the June primary though, but Henry needs to ramp up her campaign and grab this seat to offset Democratic losses elsewhere and pad the supermajority.
AD-41 - San Gabriel Foothills: Pasadena, Monrovia, Upland Incumbent: Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) 08/12 PVI: D+9 2012 PVI: D+10 2012 pres results: 59.7% Obama, 37.7% Romney 2012 asm results: 57.7% Chris Holden (D), 42.3% Donna Lowe (R) Candidates: Chris Holden (D), Nathaniel Tsai (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Pasadena singlehandedly swamps out any potential Republican emergence in the other swingy foothill communities, and Holden will continue to tower over any opposition.
AD-42 - Desert Cities: Yucca Valley, Yucaipa, Palm Springs Incumbent: Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert) 08/12 PVI: R+6 2012 PVI: R+5 2012 pres results: 45.0% Obama, 52.9% Romney 2012 asm results: 54.7% Brian Nestande (R), 45.3% Mark Anthony Orozco (D) Candidates: Chris Mayes (R), Karalee Hargrove (D) Rating: Safe Republican
Nestande is termed out and floundering about in his congressional race in CD-36 (Ruiz), but his successor is guaranteed to be a Republican. Like other parts of Southern California, this area is slowly turning blue as the Latino population grows astronomically.
AD-43 - Eastern Hollywood: Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge Incumbent: Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) 08/12 PVI: D+17 2012 PVI: D+18 2012 pres results: 67.3% Obama, 29.6% Romney 2012 asm results: 60.2% Mike Gatto (D), 39.8% Greg Krikorian (R) Candidates: Mike Gatto (D), Todd Royal (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Gatto massively underperformed the last time around against a longtime Glendale school board member, but he has reverted to form in the latest June primary. Because he was first elected in a 2010 special election, he will become one of the most senior members of the state assembly in the upcoming session.
AD-44 - Coastal Ventura: Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks Incumbent: Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) 08/12 PVI: D+2 2012 PVI: D+2 2012 pres results: 52.4% Obama, 45.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 52.9% Jeff Gorell (R), 47.1% Eileen MacEnery (D) Candidates: Jacqui Irwin (D), Rob McCoy (R) Rating: Lean Democratic
Gorell bailed on his Democratic-tilting district for a congressional run in CD-26 (Brownley), leaving Ventura County Republicans behind to be consumed by the inevitable Democratic tide. Irwin, a Thousand Oaks city councilwoman, is the Democrat's star candidate to take this seat away from the GOP for good, while McCoy, a preacher, is showing himself as a mismatched, strongly conservative candidate in a moderate law-and-order district. While a district on the red-to-blue cusp is always competitive, Irwin has the advantage here, and Democrats will not pass up an opportunity to get Irwin elected and to defend Brownley in CD-26.
After a close call in the 2013 special election, Dababneh should be sweating less in the November general. However, he will still need to work this otherwise safe district given the deep Democratic divisions from the Berman-Sherman CD-30 race in 2012 (Dababneh was a former district director for Sherman).
AD-46 - San Fernando Valley: Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Studio City Incumbent: Adrin Nazarian (D-Sherman Oaks) 08/12 PVI: D+23 2012 PVI: D+25 2012 pres results: 73.7% Obama, 23.6% Romney 2012 asm results: 71.0% Adrin Nazarian (D), 29.0% Jay Stern (R) Candidates: Adrin Nazarian (D), Zachary Taylor (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Nazarian is the resident Armenian American assemblymember, representing the huge Armenian diaspora community in the LA area (Achadjian in AD-35 is also Armenian, but has few Armenian constituents). He will be safe for several cycles to come.
AD-47 - Inland Empire: Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino Incumbent: Cheryl Brown (D-Rialto) 08/12 PVI: D+19 2012 PVI: D+22 2012 pres results: 71.5% Obama, 26.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 55.7% Cheryl Brown (D), 44.3% Joe Baca, Jr. (D) Candidates: Cheryl Brown (D), Gil Navarro (D) Rating: Safe Democratic, Safe Brown
While AD-39 (Bocanegra) likes to churn out pro-business Latino Democrats, AD-47 has a penchant for generating moderate African American Democrats. Brown, a former newspaper publisher, has been hewing a staunchly moderate line, which is surprising given the district's PVI but understandable given the area's history and the record of its past legislators.
AD-48 - San Gabriel Valley: Baldwin Park, West Covina, Glendora Incumbent: Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina) 08/12 PVI: D+12 2012 PVI: D+15 2012 pres results: 64.1% Obama, 33.4% Romney 2012 asm results: 59.4% Roger Hernandez (D), 40.6% Joe Gardner (R) Candidates: Roger Hernandez (D), Joe Gardner (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Hernandez was once a promising leadership candidate, serving as majority whip in his first term. However, he was arrested for drunk driving in 2012, and while he fought off the charges, his assembly career has been in tatters ever since. He now quietly serves in the backbenches with few opportunities to move up the political ladder.
AD-49 - San Gabriel Valley: Alhambra, Monterey Park, Arcadia Incumbent: Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park) 08/12 PVI: D+12 2012 PVI: D+15 2012 pres results: 64.7% Obama, 33.3% Romney 2012 asm results: 56.4% Ed Chau (D), 43.6% Matthew Lin (R) Candidates: Ed Chau (D), Esthela Torres Siegrist (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
After a spirited campaign against a San Marino city councilman in 2012, Chau will now coast to reelection in the first Asian-majority state legislative district in the continental United States.
AD-50 - West LA: Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Incumbent: Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) 08/12 PVI: D+22 2012 PVI: D+22 2012 pres results: 70.8% Obama, 26.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 50.5% Richard Bloom (D), 49.5% Betsy Butler (D) Candidates: Richard Bloom (D), Bradley Torgan (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Bloom defied the assembly Democratic leadership and narrowly defeated their star candidate in 2012, but has apparently made amends with the establishment. He faces no electoral danger this time around, be it from the Democratic leadership or from Republicans.
AD-51 - Northeast Los Angeles: Eagle Rock, Echo Park, East Los Angeles Incumbent: Jimmy Gomez (D-Echo Park) 08/12 PVI: D+32 2012 PVI: D+35 2012 pres results: 83.5% Obama, 13.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 59.8% Jimmy Gomez (D), 40.2% Luis Lopez (D) Candidates: Jimmy Gomez (D), Stephen Smith (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Gomez, a progressive stalwart, is said to be a speakership candidate to succeed current speaker Toni Atkins after she is termed out. Since 1997, every other assembly speaker has been Latino, so Gomez might have a good shot.
AD-52 - Inland Empire: Pomona, Chino, Ontario Incumbent: Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) 08/12 PVI: D+13 2012 PVI: D+15 2012 pres results: 65.0% Obama, 32.9% Romney 2012 asm results: 66.0% Norma Torres (D), 34.0% Kenny Coble (R) 2013 special election results: 51.3% Freddie Rodriguez (D), 48.7% Paul Leon (NPP) Candidates: Freddie Rodriguez (D), Dorothy Pineda (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Like Dababneh in AD-45, Rodriguez has a close shave with defeat in his special election. With higher turnout in the June primary and the November general, Rodriguez should be on much safer ground.
AD-53 - Downtown LA: Koreatown, Boyle Heights, Huntington Park Incumbent: John Pérez (D-Los Angeles) 08/12 PVI: D+32 2012 PVI: D+36 2012 pres results: 84.6% Obama, 12.6% Romney 2012 asm results: 82.8% John Pérez (D), 17.2% Jose Trinidad Aguilar (R) Candidates: Miguel Santiago (D), Sandra Mendoza (D) Rating: Safe Democratic, Safe Santiago
Pérez is termed out and lost a run for state controller, but has managed to push forward Santiago, a community college board member, to succeed him. Santiago managed to get 56% of the vote in the June primary, making him the prohibitive favorite in this to replace the former speaker.
AD-54 - West LA: UCLA, Culver City, Crenshaw Incumbent: Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) 08/12 PVI: D+33 2012 PVI: D+35 2012 pres results: 83.6% Obama, 12.6% Romney 2012 asm results: 83.3% Holly Mitchell (D), 16.7% Keith Brandon McCowen (R) 2013 special election results: 60.2% Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D), 35.6% Christopher Armenta (D) Candidates: Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D), Glen Ratcliff (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
The Ridley-Thomas political dynasty is created with Sebastian winning a seat in the state assembly and following in the footsteps of his father Mark, currently on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The younger Ridley-Thomas is only 26, so he will have a bright political future ahead.
AD-55 - Chino Hills: Diamond Bar, Chino Hills, Yorba Linda Incumbent: Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills) 08/12 PVI: R+5 2012 PVI: R+4 2012 pres results: 45.8% Obama, 52.2% Romney 2012 asm results: 59.7% Curt Hagman (R), 40.3% Gregg Fritchie (D) Candidates: Ling-Ling Chang (R), Gregg Fritchie (D) Rating: Safe Republican
Hagman, the assistant Republican floor leader (aka the second-in-command), is termed out and running for San Bernardino County supervisor against retiring congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod. In his place will be Chang, a Diamond Bar city councilwoman. Interestingly, Chang was not Hagman's chosen successor; school board member Phillip Chen, who got third place, was his endorsed candidate. Instead, Chang was state senator Bob Huff's candidate. In any case, Republicans will continue to dominate this district even as the PVI moves slowly away from them due to their downballot strength here; this is classic Nixon Country, after all.
AD-56 - Salton Sea: Cathedral City, Indio, El Centro Incumbent: V. Manuel Perez (D-Coachella) 08/12 PVI: D+10 2012 PVI: D+12 2012 pres results: 62.1% Obama, 36.3% Romney 2012 asm results: 66.1% V. Manuel Perez (D), 33.9% Corky Reynaga-Emett (R) Candidates: Eduardo Garcia (D), Charles Bennet, Jr. (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Perez is termed out and his bid for Riverside County supervisor went down in flames in June. Succeeding him is Garcia, the mayor of Coachella. Republicans, who held this seat for well over a decade before 2008, are not making a comeback here anytime soon.
AD-57 - Gateway Cities: Hacienda Heights, Whittier, Norwalk Incumbent: Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) 08/12 PVI: D+11 2012 PVI: D+14 2012 pres results: 63.7% Obama, 34.0% Romney 2012 asm results: 63.5% Ian Calderon (D), 36.5% Noel Jaimes (R) Candidates: Ian Calderon (D), Rita Topalian (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
The Calderon name is now worth around the same as recycled concrete: useful for decoration but otherwise useless for building things. Ian, son of his immediate predecessor Charles and nephew of the disgraced state senator Ron, is now left to take all the harsh blowback despite not being implicated in any shady dealing. Topalian got over 52% in the June primary, but this race is still safe Democratic: think of Massachusetts's John Tierney and transplant those dynamics here. Ian will hang on, but the electoral waves are going to get very rough for this former surfing champion.
Next door to the once-mighty Calderons, Garcia has been taking this great opportunity to poke at their misery. Having defeated Tom Calderon herself two years ago, she has lambasted Ron Calderon in the press, and she was rewarded for her efforts with the post of assistant majority whip and an uncontested reelection.
AD-59 - South Central: USC, South Los Angeles, Florence-Graham Incumbent: Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) 08/12 PVI: D+41 2012 PVI: D+44 2012 pres results: 93.2% Obama, 5.2% Romney 2012 asm results: 52.3% Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D), 47.7% Rodney Robinson (D) Candidates: Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D) Rating: Safe Democratic
Jones-Sawyer, former secretary of the California Democratic Party, is comfortably seated in the bluest legislative district in California.
AD-60 - Inland Empire: Corona, Jurupa Valley, Riverside Incumbent: Eric Linder (R-Corona) 08/12 PVI: EVEN 2012 PVI: D+2 2012 pres results: 51.3% Obama, 46.3% Romney 2012 asm results: 51.8% Eric Linder (R), 48.2% Jose Luis Perez (D) Candidates: Eric Linder (R), Ken Park (D) Rating: Safe Republican
For some reason, Democrats have pretty much given up here this cylce. Despite the Democratic-friendly PVI, Eric Linder ran virtually unopposed in the June primary, and his general election opponent made it through via a write-in campaign. Perhaps Democrats are waiting for a more favorable political climate in 2016?
AD-61 - Inland Empire: Riverside, Moreno Valley, Perris Incumbent: Jose Medina (D-Riverside) 08/12 PVI: D+11 2012 PVI: D+14 2012 pres results: 63.4% Obama, 34.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 61.0% Jose Medina (D), 39.0% Bill Batey (R) Candidates: Jose Medina (D), Rudy Aranda (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
What was supposed to be a competitive election in 2012 turned out to be a landslide for Medina. The results will be no different this time around.
AD-62 - South Bay: Westchester, Inglewood, Hawthorne Incumbent: Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) 08/12 PVI: D+30 2012 PVI: D+32 2012 pres results: 80.8% Obama, 17.0% Romney 2012 asm results: 72.1% Steven Bradford (D), 27.9% Mervin Evans (D) Candidates: Autumn Burke (D), Ted Grose (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Burke, daughter of former congresswoman and Los Angeles county supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, will now begin her political career 46 years after her mother first stepped foot in the California State Assembly.
AD-63 - Gateway Cities: South Gate, Lynwood, Lakewood Incumbent: Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) 08/12 PVI: D+24 2012 PVI: D+27 2012 pres results: 76.1% Obama, 21.7% Romney 2012 asm results: 74.5% Anthony Rendon (D), 25.5% Jack Guerrero (R) Candidates: Anthony Rendon (D), Adam Miller (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Rendon, a former political science professor, is often rumored to be a speakership candidate. Given that he's currently not in the top Democratic leadership, he might have a harder time than Gomez in fighting for the top spot.
AD-64 - Harbor Gateway: Compton, Carson, Wilmington Incumbent: Isadore Hall, III (D-Compton) 08/12 PVI: D+36 2012 PVI: D+39 2012 pres results: 88.7% Obama, 10.0% Romney 2012 asm results: 100% Isadore Hall, III (D) Candidates: Mike Gipson (D), Prophet Walker (D) Rating: Safe Democratic, Likely Gipson
Gipson, a Carson city councilmember, got the state Democratic Party endorsement and won over half the vote in the June primary in an all-Democratic field, leaving him the prohibitive favorite. Walker, an engineer, has an impressive personal story as a reformed ex-convict from the projects in South Central LA, but he will have an uphill climb against the establishment favorite.
AD-65 - North OC: Fullerton, Buena Park, Anaheim Incumbent: Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) 08/12 PVI: EVEN 2012 PVI: D+2 2012 pres results: 51.9% Obama, 45.7% Romney 2012 asm results: 52.0% Sharon Quirk-Silva (D), 48.0% Chris Norby (R) Candidates: Sharon Quirk-Silva (D), Young Kim (R) Rating: Tossup
Quirk-Silva pulled out an improbable victory in 2012 and secured a two-thirds supermajority for assembly Democrats. Assembly leadership has lavished all sorts of benefits on her and will pull out all the stops to ensure her reelection. Kim, a former staffer for congressman Ed Royce, carpetbagged into the district and came out ahead 55-45 in the June primary, not bad but not good enough in a district with dismal Latino turnout and where 2012 Democratic performance improved by 11 points from June to November. If I have to tilt the race, it would be towards Quirk-Silva.
Like AD-08 and AD-57, this rating might seem incredulous given that Hadley beat Muratsuchi in the June primary, but inevitably improved Democratic performance in the November general will mean that Muratsuchi will come out ahead even if the numbers will be close.
AD-67 - Inland Empire: Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Murrieta Incumbent: Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) 08/12 PVI: R+11 2012 PVI: R+11 2012 pres results: 39.6% Obama, 58.3% Romney 2012 asm results: 52.3% Melissa Melendez (R), 47.7% Phil Paule (R) Candidates: Melissa Melendez (R), Conrad Melton (D) Rating: Safe Republican
This district, specifically Murrieta, has been the flashpoint of the immigration debate when protestors blocked convoys of buses carrying undocumented immigrants from Texas from being processed at the Murrieta Border Patrol station (Border Patrol has stations within 100 miles of the border to catch things missed at border checkpoints). Given that this area and other parts of the desert have become California's Tea Party central, Melendez is not leaving anytime soon.
AD-68 - OC Foothills: Orange, Irvine, Lake Forest Incumbent: Don Wagner (R-Irvine) 08/12 PVI: R+8 2012 PVI: R+7 2012 pres results: 42.6% Obama, 55.1% Romney 2012 asm results: 60.8% Don Wagner (R), 39.2% Christina Avalos (D) Candidates: Don Wagner (R), Anne Cameron (D) Rating: Safe Republican
There is little doubt that Wagner wants to move over to the state senate in SD-37 after incumbent state senator Mimi Walters wins her congressional race in CD-45, but first he will have to go through the motions of winning his third and final assembly term.
AD-69 - North OC: Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana Incumbent: Tom Daly (D-Anaheim) 08/12 PVI: D+15 2012 PVI: D+18 2012 pres results: 67.4% Obama, 30.3% Romney 2012 asm results: 67.6% Tom Daly (D), 32.4% Jose "Joe" Moreno (R) Candidates: Tom Daly (D), Sherry Walker (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
This is the most Latino legislative district (clocking in at 76.14% Latino) in California, but is represented by an extremely moderate white Democrat. Unfortunately for progressives, there's no way to dislodge him because he has the backing of the establishment.
AD-70 - Harbor: Long Beach, San Pedro, Signal Hill Incumbent: Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Anaheim) 08/12 PVI: D+17 2012 PVI: D+18 2012 pres results: 67.4% Obama, 30.0% Romney 2012 asm results: 65.8% Bonnie Lowenthal (D), 34.2% Martha Flores Gibson (R) Candidates: Patrick O'Donnell (D), John Goya (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Lowenthal really had some beef with Suja Lowenthal, her ex-daughter-in-law and Long Beach city councilwoman, such that Bonnie endorsed O'Donnell to succeed her. Suja got third place in the June primary.
AD-71 - East County: Santee, El Cajon, La Presa Incumbent: Brian Jones (R-Santee) 08/12 PVI: R+12 2012 PVI: R+12 2012 pres results: 38.7% Obama, 59.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 63.1% Brian Jones (R), 36.9% Patrick Hurley (D) Candidates: Brian Jones (R), Tony Teora (R) Rating: Safe Republican, Safe Jones
Parts of this district can get pretty wingnutty, but it is mostly dominated by the saner suburban conservative crowd near San Diego. Jones is safe.
AD-72 - Little Saigon: Garden Grove, Westminster, Fountain Valley Incumbent: Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) 08/12 PVI: R+6 2012 PVI: R+3 2012 pres results: 46.7% Obama, 51.1% Romney 2012 asm results: 55.7% Travis Allen (R), 44.3% Troy Edgar (R) Candidates: Travis Allen (R), Joel Block (D) Rating: Safe Republican
The dramatic leftward shift comes mainly from newly engaged Latinos and second- and third-generation Vietnamese Americans, who are much less reflexively Republican than their immigrant parents and grandparents. This district may come into play by the end of the decade, but until then, Allen is good to go.
AD-73 - South OC: Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente Incumbent: Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point) 08/12 PVI: R+10 2012 PVI: R+11 2012 pres results: 38.7% Obama, 59.4% Romney 2012 asm results: 64.3% Diane Harkey (R), 35.7% James Corbett (D) Candidates: Bill Brough (R), Wendy Gabriella (D) Rating: Safe Republican
This district is hardcore suburban Republican, the stereotype of Orange County conservatism. It is rich, it is white, it is sunny, and it is red.
AD-74 - Coastal OC: Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach Incumbent: Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) 08/12 PVI: R+3 2012 PVI: R+5 2012 pres results: 45.1% Obama, 52.4% Romney 2012 asm results: 56.6% Allan Mansoor (R), 43.4% Robert Rush (D) Candidates: Keith Curry (R), Matthew Harper (R) Rating: Safe Republican, Tossup Curry/Harper
The fight has now boiled down to two candidates from rival cities Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. Curry, former mayor of Newport Beach, came out ahead 28-25 against Harper, mayor of Huntington Beach. Neither city is big enough to dominate the district, so both candidates will have to appeal to other, more liberal areas such as Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Laguna Beach. Both candidates have serious disagreements (beach bonfire pits being the most prominent one), so anything goes in this intraparty slugfest.
AD-75 - North County: Temecula, San Marcos, Escondido Incumbent: Marie Waldron (R-Escondido) 08/12 PVI: R+11 2012 PVI: R+11 2012 pres results: 39.4% Obama, 58.5% Romney 2012 asm results: 62.7% Marie Waldron (R), 37.3% Matthew Herold (D) Candidates: Marie Waldron (R), Nicholas Shestople (D) Rating: Safe Republican
Like the surrounding inland districts, this one is beyond Democratic salvation. Waldron will easily steamroll over any opposition.
AD-76 - North County: Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad Incumbent: Rocky Chávez (R-Oceanside) 08/12 PVI: R+1 2012 PVI: R+1 2012 pres results: 48.8% Obama, 49.0% Romney 2012 asm results: 58.2% Rocky Chavez (R), 41.8% Sherry Hodges (R) Candidates: Rocky Chávez (R), Thomas Krouse (R) Rating: Safe Republican, Safe Chávez
I'm not sure whether it's lack of trying or a simple lack of willing candidates, but this is the second consecutive cycle in which Democrats have not put up a candidate in this swingy-on-paper district. Chávez has also been pretty moderate and has played up military issues (he is a former Marine colonel and this district is home to Camp Pendleton), so it would be very hard to beat him regardless.
AD-77 - Northern San Diego: Kearny Mesa, Miramar, Poway Incumbent: Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego) 08/12 PVI: R+2 2012 PVI: R+2 2012 pres results: 48.2% Obama, 49.8% Romney 2012 asm results: 60.1% Brian Maienschein (R), 39.9% Ruben "RJ" Hernandez (D) Candidates: Brian Maienschein (R), Ruben "RJ" Hernandez (D) Rating: Safe Republican
Like AD-76 above, Democrats are unable to gain traction here and boost their downballot numbers. Instead, they are relegated to failed retreads.
AD-78 - Coastal San Diego: La Jolla, Balboa Park, Coronado Incumbent: Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) 08/12 PVI: D+14 2012 PVI: D+14 2012 pres results: 63.1% Obama, 34.1% Romney 2012 asm results: 62.4% Toni Atkins (D), 37.6% Ralph Denney (R) Candidates: Toni Atkins (D), Barbara Decker (R) Rating: Safe Democratic
Assembly Speaker Atkins will have an easy time this election as she wins her final term in the lower house. She has bigger things to worry about, like expanding her caucus.
There is a little irony that Weber, a former African Studies professor and board member of the NAACP, has her opponent from the far-right American Independent Party (California's version of the Constitution Party). Weber has nothing to worry about, at least electorally.
AD-80 - Southern San Diego: Logan Heights, National City, Chula Vista Incumbent: Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) 08/12 PVI: D+17 2012 PVI: D+20 2012 pres results: 69.5% Obama, 28.7% Romney 2012 asm results: 69.6% Ben Hueso (D), 30.4% Derrick Roach (R) 2013 special election results: 71.2% Lorena Gonzalez (D), 26.1% Steve Castaneda (D) Candidates: Lorena Gonzalez (D) Rating: Safe Democratic
This three-part series on California's 2014 elections ends on an uncontested note, with Gonzalez, former head of the San Diego-Imperial Labor Council, getting a free ride back to Sacramento in this Latino-majority district.
