Jessie Lopez
Candidate for Assembly District 68
Jessie Lopez was born and raised in Santa Ana, California. She is the daughter of immigrant parents. She went to Santa Ana High School. She earned an associate's degree from Santa Ana College. She then earned a degree from Cal State Long Beach. Before public office, she worked at corporate law firms. She has volunteered as a Spanish interpreter for the Public Law Center. Lopez has sat on the Santa Ana council for Ward 3 since December 8, 2020. She won re-election in 2024. She beat back a recall vote in 2023. She is running for the open Assembly District 68 seat in 2026. Incumbent Avelino Valencia is giving up that seat. Lopez won 31.4% of the vote in the June 2, 2026 primary. She came in second to fellow Democrat David Penaloza, who got 32.5%. She faces him again on November 3, 2026. No Republican is on the ballot in that race. Home: Santa Ana, California. Occupation: Santa Ana council member for Ward 3, her current post. She has a background in corporate law. Prior office: she has held the Ward 3 council seat since 2020. That is not the Assembly seat, which is open this year.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Lopez supports holding corporations accountable for wage theft as part of protecting working-class residents.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
On the city council, Lopez has emphasized fiscal restraint, saying the city needs to cut spending and live within its means amid a projected budget shortfall.
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Lopez supports capping rent increases, tenant/senior eviction protections, building more affordable housing, and restricting corporate purchases of single-family homes.
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Lopez points to crime-reduction results during her council tenure and favors continued investment in after-school and gang-prevention programs as a public safety strategy, rather than emphasizing police funding increases specifically.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
Lopez supports CARE Court and backed Proposition 1's funding for mental health services as part of a treatment-oriented approach paired with accountability, particularly regarding homelessness.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Lopez supports implementing Medicare for All / universal healthcare to prevent medical debt.
Source → - Reproductive & Social Issues
Lopez is endorsed by Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties' Community Action Fund, indicating support for reproductive rights, though she has not been found to make a direct personal statement on abortion policy.
Source → - Education & Schools
Lopez supports fully funding public K-12 schools and investing in youth programs.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Lopez broadly supports environmental protection and is endorsed by environmental organizations, but has not stated specific positions on oil/gas policy, renewables, or air/water quality.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Lopez emphasizes government transparency and ethics, citing a lobbyist transparency law she passed as a councilmember and her lack of corporate campaign backing; no specific position found on voting access, election administration, or redistricting.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.