Candidate

Jessie Lopez

State HouseDemocrat

CA-AD68 State House

Salvadoran·Santa Ana City Councilmember Ward 3 (2020-present)

Why This Race Matters

Jessie Lopez is running against David Penaloza (D, Santa Ana Councilmember); Jonathan Hernandez (D, Santa Ana Councilmember).

Three-way Democratic primary in heavily Latino district (Santa Ana, Anaheim, Orange). Incumbent Avelino Valencia is running for State Senate, leaving the seat open. Test of progressive grassroots vs establishment—Lopez was endorsed by OC Action while Penaloza received 91% at the CA Dem pre-endorsing conference and Valencia's endorsement.

Lopez trails in fundraising ($73,737 vs Penaloza's $142,897) but brings name recognition from surviving a $700,000 police union recall in 2023. Her progressive stance on rent control and police accountability distinguishes her from opponents. Third candidate Jonathan Hernandez could split the vote.

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

About

Jessie Lopez is a Santa Ana City Councilmember representing Ward 3, first elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024. The daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, she grew up in a single-parent household watching her mother work two jobs—including cleaning hotel rooms in Anaheim—to provide for the family. Despite facing housing and food insecurity while working two jobs herself, she became the first in her family to graduate college. A community health worker at Latino Health Access, she focuses on improving quality of life for low-income, uninsured, and underserved communities regardless of immigration status.

Family & Heritage

Daughter of Salvadoran immigrants who came to the United States seeking safety and opportunity. Raised in a single-parent household in Santa Ana's working-class neighborhoods, watching her father wake at 4 a.m. and her mother work two jobs including cleaning hotel rooms in Anaheim. Her mother's work with UNITE HERE connected Lopez to the labor movement early. First-generation college graduate who experienced housing and food insecurity while working two jobs through school.

Political Career

Before Politics

Community Health Worker at Latino Health Access; Worked at law firms through Project Self program; Tutored students at Boys and Girls Club; Volunteered at local food bank; Student activist organizing campaigns on sexual assault and educational access at CSULB

Education

B.A. in Sociology, California State University Long Beach; A.A., Santa Ana College; Santa Ana High School, Willard Intermediate, Hoover Elementary (SAUSD)

Awards & Recognition

Survived police union-backed recall attempt; Led effort to cap rent at 3% in Santa Ana

Key Issues & Priorities

*Affordable housing and addressing homelessness

*Tenant protections and 3% rent control

*Police accountability and department audits

*Clean air, water, and green space investments

*Fully funding public schools

*Holding corporations accountable for price gouging

*Protecting immigrant families and abortion access

*Workers' rights and fair wages

Notable Legislation

Endorsements

Working Families Party of CaliforniaPolitical

SEIU Local 721Labor

UFCW Local 324Labor

Planned Parenthood Action FundAdvocacy

Orange County Labor FederationLabor

LiUNA Local 652Labor

Sheet Metal Workers 105Labor

National Union of Healthcare WorkersLabor

SEIU-UHWWLabor

Democratic Party of Orange CountyPolitical

Orange County Young DemocratsPolitical

Orange County Lavender DemocratsPolitical

Sierra ClubEnvironmental

Orange County Firefighters AssociationLabor

MOMS Demand ActionAdvocacy

Women in LeadershipAdvocacy

State Senator UmbergPolitical

State Senator NewmanPolitical

Orange County Supervisor Vicente SarmientoPolitical