Bakersfield-Area Assembly District, SoCal Senate District Up For Special Elections Tuesday

Two California special elections will be held on Tuesday to fill vacancies caused by elections in November, with an Assembly District and Senate District at stake. Both seats are majority Republican, meaning that the elections are likely to bring in a few extra Republicans o Sacramento either on Tuesday or in the general election in April. Let’s take a look at the two…

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 including 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.

With Nguyen out, several candidates scrambled their way in. As the election is to fill out Nguyen’s term, many candidates see this as a way to enter the 2026 race as an incumbent and thus have a major advantage for reelection. Four candidates entered and are on the ballot on Tuesday – Huntington Beach City Councilman and former Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland (R), Attorney and 2024 Assembly candidate Jimmy Pham (D), Disability rights advocate Julie Diep (D), and broker and 2024 Congressional candidate John Briscoe (R).

Currently Strickland and Pham are out ahead, with both coming into Tuesday with impressive endorsements. Strickland has the backing of the CAGOP , while Attorney General Rob Bonta and Congressman Dave Min (D-CA) back Pham.

For many in Orange County, the name of Tony Strickland is familiar, as he has been a constant presence in politics dating back to the 1990s. 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 even included a one-year term as Mayor. While Strickland has also endeavored on several failed runs for Congress and other positions through the years, he is best known as Huntington Mayor for his opposition to recent California housing laws, even suing the state over them and catching Attorney General Rob Bonta off guard.

Meanwhile, Pham is still reeling from his 55%-45% loss to Assemblyman Tri Ta (R-Westminster) in November. Pham is banking on legal experience once again to at least try and make it to the General in April.

California Assembly 32nd District

The Assembly 32nd district, which has a wide swath of both Tulare 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 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 of 2024.

Like the 36th Senate race, the 32nd Assembly brought in 4 candidates: Businessman Stan Ellis (R), Bakersfield College Professor Chris Cruz-Boone (D), Social worker William Brown Jr. (L), and El Tejon School Board member Holli Willibey (R). However, unlike the Senate 36th race, there is a clear frontrunner: 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, including Fong, Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), and Senator Sharon Grove (R-Bakersfield).

As the only Democrat in the race and an educator, Cruz-Boone could have enough pull to spark a general election in April and keep Ellis from getting an outright win on Tuesday. The bases of support that Willibey has may likewise force Ellis to face someone in April.

Both Strickland and Ellis have been planning their candidacies for months, and it shows for each respective candidate. They entered early, garnered endorsements, got party support, and are both now major frontrunners thanks to their planning.

“There will likely not be any surprises [on Tuesday],” explained election advisor Sal Yount to the Globe on Monday. “Strickland has the slightly harder road. Briscoe and especially Pham can and will likely force a run-off. Pham is really hoping for Democratic turnout based on the reaction from Trump, but the District also seems to favor Strickland.

“Ellis seems to have everyone on his side. Cruz-Boone may face him in April if enough Democrats turn out, but either way, Ellis needs to play it cool and he’s in. Both races favor the GOP, and they could use those two seats up in Sacramento. If there are any close votes where the Democrats are torn on an issue, these could be deciding votes. At the very least, the party can count them and chalk them up to their regrowing presence in the Capitol.”