David PeñalozaCandidate

David Peñaloza

State HouseDemocrat

CA-AD68 State House

Mexican·Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem (January 2026-present)

Why This Race Matters

David Peñaloza is running against Johnathan Ryan Hernandez (D), Jessie Lopez (D).

Open seat race after incumbent Avelino Valencia launched a 2026 bid for State Senate. Three Santa Ana City Council members -- all Latino Democrats -- are competing in the June primary. Penaloza secured the California Democratic Party endorsement with 91% of delegate votes and has backing from Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Valencia, law enforcement unions, and major labor organizations.

AD-68 covers Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Orange in central Orange County. Penaloza was appointed Mayor Pro Tem in January 2026. He won his 2022 re-election to the City Council with 54.8% of the vote. His opponents are fellow councilmembers Johnathan Ryan Hernandez (Ward 5) and Jessie Lopez (Ward 3). The race has drawn attention as an intra-party contest between three Latino councilmembers from the same city vying for the same open seat.

Key dates to watch: Primary on June 2, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

David Peñaloza is a proud native of Santa Ana and lifelong Orange County resident. The youngest of three children born to Mexican immigrant parents, he was raised by his mother in the Memorial Park neighborhood after the tragic loss of his father in a 1991 car accident. Growing up playing baseball and swimming at Memorial Park Community Pool, he competed in water polo and swimming for Saddleback High School. While working his way through college and supporting his mother financially, he earned his degree from Cal State LA and went on to build a career as a Senior Regulatory Engineer. In 2018, he knocked on over 6,000 doors to win a seat on the Santa Ana City Council.

Family & Heritage

Latino heritage. Son of Mexican immigrant parents. Youngest of three children. Raised by his mother in Santa Ana's Memorial Park neighborhood after losing his father in a 1991 car accident. First-generation college student who worked through school while supporting his family. Married to former Garden Grove Councilwoman Kim Nguyen-Peñaloza in 2023. Father to Penelope and Lucas. Dog dad to Ein and Jax.

Political Career

Before Politics

Part-time Office Clerk, Color Science, Inc. (2008); Key contributor to company's ISO accreditation; Senior Regulatory Engineer, Color Science, Inc.; SAG-AFTRA member (appeared in national commercials)

Education

Washington Elementary (1999); MacArthur Fundamental (2002); Saddleback High School (2006); Santa Ana College; Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University, Los Angeles (2011)

Awards & Recognition

First-generation college graduate; Elected to Santa Ana City Council at age 30; Re-elected with nearly 10-point margin in 2022

Key Issues & Priorities

*Housing affordability
*Public safety
*Economic opportunity
*911 response times
*Job creation
*Park development

Endorsements

Assembly SpeakerPolitical

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