Tony StricklandIncumbent
Candidate for State Senate District 36
Tony Strickland is the incumbent Republican member of the California State Senate, District 36. He won a February 2025 special election outright, He took office on March 11, 2025. He advanced to the November 2026 general election against Democrat Chris Duncan. He placed first in the June 2, 2026 primary with 145,638 votes (53.4%). Strickland earlier served in the California State Assembly, District 37, from 1998 to 2004. He also served an earlier term in the State Senate, District 19, from 2008 to 2012. He ran unsuccessfully for State Controller in 2006 and 2010. He also ran for Congress in 2012 and 2014. More recently, he served on the Huntington Beach City Council from 2022 to 2025. He was also Mayor of Huntington Beach from 2022 to 2023. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Whittier College. He has worked as a political and business consultant. He is Vice President of Green Wave Energy Solutions LLC. He is also President and CEO of the political action committee Strong America. Home: Huntington Beach, California. Occupation: State Senator; Vice President, Green Wave Energy Solutions LLC. Prior office: Incumbent since March 11, 2025, after the Feb. 25, 2025 special election. He earlier served in the CA Assembly from 1998 to 2004. He served CA Senate District 19 from 2008 to 2012. He served on the Huntington Beach City Council and as mayor from 2022 to 2025.
On the issues
- Taxes & Cost of Living
Strickland supports reducing state taxes and government spending, citing his authorship of a bill to eliminate California's gas tax and other tax-relief measures.
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
As Huntington Beach mayor, Strickland opposed increased housing supply mandates from the state, arguing the city is already largely built out, while saying he supports affordable housing in principle.
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Strickland supports full funding for Proposition 36's public-safety enforcement provisions and has co-authored legislation targeting online child exploitation.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
Strickland supports full implementation and funding of Proposition 36, the 2024 voter-approved measure that increased penalties for certain drug and theft offenses.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Strickland has supported tax incentives for residential solar energy adoption; he also works professionally for a renewable/clean-energy company.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Strickland supports stricter voter ID requirements for mail-in ballots as part of an "election integrity" platform.
Source →
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