The 2025 California Special Elections: Who are the Candidates?

In early 2025, California is going to see a larger than normal number of special elections. Multiple resignations because of moving up to higher office and a recall have opened up a number of high-elected positions across the state. The Globe will break down each race and who we know is running, or plans to run, so far. Starting with:

California Senate 36th District

The Senate 36th District, which stretches the coast from Southern Los Angeles County to near the San Diego County border and covers cities such as Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Garden Grove, Seal Beach, and Cerritos, sits in a mostly Republican District. While 2024 wasn’t an election year for Senator there, the seat became vacant last month following now former Senator Janet Nguyen being elected back to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Nguyen, who had originally not planned to run this year for Supervisor, only did so following the resignation of Supervisor Andrew Do.

As the race is essentially a GOP gimme, Republicans in the district are expected to come out and fill in for the rest of her term, which ends in 2026. For many, this is also an opportunity to get their foot in the door, as they can then enter the 2026 race as an incumbent. Democrats, meanwhile, are hoping to get a candidate that can take advantage of a likely split primary and make it in as one of the two candidates in the general special election.

So far only one candidate has entered the race: Tony Strickland. For many in Orange County, the name is familiar, as he has been a constant presence in politics dating back to the 90s. His career has included serving in the Assembly from 1998 to 2004, a previous Senate stint from 2008 to 2012, and his current position as a City Councilman of Huntington Beach since 2022. The last position also included a one-year term as Mayor.

While Strickland has also had several failed runs for Congress and other positions through the years, he is best known for his opposition to recent California housing laws, even suing the state over them and catching Attorney General Rob Bonta off guard.

Many are expected to join Strickland in the race soon, as deadlines are coming up. The Primary for the race will be held on February 25, 2025, with the election to be held on April 29, 2025.

California Assembly 32nd District

The Assembly 32nd district, which has a wide swath of both Visalia County and Kern County, having parts of the cities of Visalia and Bakersfield, and all the land between them. Like the Senate 36th District, the Assembly 32nd district is also majority Republican.

The Assembly race made headlines earlier this year when then Assemblyman Vince Fong was on the ballot for both the Assembly and House. Being on the ballot in both races was challenged in court. Fong managed to win the court battle and subsequently appeared on both ballots. Fong then won the Congressional seat special election in May, replacing the recently resigned Kevin McCarthy. Too late for the Assembly seat to go on the November ballot, the seat has remained vacant since June.

Another generally easy election for the GOP, it is also expected to draw in several GOP candidates looking to make it to Sacramento. Democrats are also expected to enter the race, but like with the 36th district, it will likely be little more than showing the flag in the general election and hoping that a scandal or something arises for a shock win.

And, like the 36th District above, there has been only one candidate so far: Businessman Stan Ellis. A longtime Bakersfield resident, Ellis owns companies that contract with the U.S. Government. While he has no previous elected experience, he does have the support of dozens of lawmakers off the bat, including Fong, Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), and Senator Sharon Grove (R-Bakersfield).

“Sacramento’s Democrats and Governor Newsom have consistently failed the Central Valley. While Californians struggle with skyrocketing gas prices and the highest cost of living, they’ve prioritized radical agendas over the needs of working families. Their approach is pushing our state in the wrong direction,” said Ellis during his candidacy announcement last week. “We need strong voices in Sacramento who will fight back against these destructive policies and stand up for our values and our communities. I’m running to defend our way of life and address the real issues facing our Valley—securing our borders, protecting our water and energy resources, improving rural healthcare, and investing in our children’s future.”

More candidates are to enter soon. Like the Senate District race, the Primary for the race is to be held on February 25, 2025, with the election to be held on April 29, 2025.

Oakland Mayoral

The Oakland Mayoral race is, by far, the craziest of the special elections California is to see next year. Mayor Sheng Thao, who was narrowly elected in 2022 over then-fellow City Councilmember Loren Taylor, met her Mayoral end last month when she was recalled from office. While the number of reasons can fit an entirely new article, basically it came down to Thao not doing enough on crime, not doing enough on public safety, not doing enough on homelessness, losing the Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas, controversially firing the Oakland police chief, having her house raided by the FBI, and having a disapproval rating scratching at 70%.

Unsurprisingly, over 60% of voters voted to recall her last month. But things proved tricky as, thanks to other elections, term ends, and other factors, Oakland is going to have to scramble through several interim Mayors in the coming months while the election is sorted out. Once the new Mayor is elected in April, Oakland will have gone through 4 Mayors in 2 years and 5 Mayors in 4 years.

Candidates have since come out of the woodwork for the special election, which will cover the rest of Thao’s term until 2026. The current frontrunner is Taylor, the very City Councilman who lost to Thao in 2022. Also declared are economist Mindy Pechenuk, lobbyist Isaac Kos-Read, and fellow 2022 candidate Derrick Soo. The number of potential candidates who have expressed interest can also make the race even crazier. Councilwoman Carroll Fife, soon-to-be-former Congresswoman and 2024 Senate primary candidate Barbara Lee, and former NFL star and Governor Gavin Newsom’s podcast co-host Marshawn Lynch are all possibly in the running as well. Should some of them get in, the race will get national coverage simply because of it turning into a bit of a circus.

The race will have no primary, with election day for the Mayoral race coming on April 16th.

Overall, the races amount to an important, and in the case of Oakland, outlandish special election season in April.

“Three special elections coming in this early in an odd number year doesn’t happen a lot,” Alameda County pollster Nathan Martin told the Globe Tuesday. “And even weirder is that, even if you don’t live in these areas, they are important. For the Senate and Assembly seats, GOP wins will help solidify a growing Republican presence in Sacramento. And for Oakland, it’s a major city that has been, let’s say, rocky for some time now and is in need of stability. Look at that race, there is a candidate still bitter about losing 2 years ago, as well as candidates that are extremely old guard and really close to Newsom.

“It’s going to be an unusually active April.”

More on the races, including more candidates declaring their candidacy, are expected soon.