$8.2 Million Backs Santa Ana Councilman in Assembly Race

Santa Ana residents will choose their new state legislator on Nov. 3, a decision that pits two local council members against a backdrop of heavy outside spending. The race has attracted millions of dollars from special interests, with the largest chunks flowing to candidate David Penaloza from the technology and energy sectors.

The contest features two sitting members of the Santa Ana City Council: Jessie Lopez and David Penaloza. Both are Democrats running to replace Avelino Valencia, who represents the 68th district covering parts of Orange, Anaheim, and Santa Ana. While the candidates share a party label, the financial support for their campaigns reflects a clear split among national donors.

Committees funded by major tech companies, including Google and Meta, have spent over $8.2 million to support Penaloza. In contrast, groups backed by labor unions have poured nearly $2.3 million into Lopez’s campaign. The opposition spending mirrors this split, with a committee linked to the Service Employees International Union spending over $1.3 million against Penaloza. Meanwhile, a coalition of oil, tech, and real estate interests has spent over $4 million against Lopez.

The funding sources for these expenditures are specific. A political action committee financed by oil companies such as Chevron spent nearly $980,000 against Lopez as of Oct. 23. A separate committee backed by tech executives Christian Larsen of Ripple and Timothy Draper of Draper Associates spent $1.3 million against Lopez and over $2.8 million for Penaloza. Another group, heavily funded by Google and Meta, allocated nearly $2.8 million to Penaloza’s cause.

Real estate interests have also entered the fray. Two committees, including one from the California Association of Realtors, spent nearly $820,000 combined against Lopez and over $475,000 for Penaloza. On the other side of the aisle, a union-funded group spent over $1.3 million for Lopez and roughly $1.25 million against Penaloza. A committee supported by groups like OC Action and the California Working Families Party added over $800,000 to Lopez’s coffers.

Penaloza holds endorsements from public safety unions, the OC Register, and the California Democratic Party. Lopez has drawn support from the Service Employees International Union, progressive organizations, Chispa, and Senator Bernie Sanders. The late labor activist Dolores Huerta is also listed among her endorsers.