Biography
Carolyn Essex is a Democratic candidate for California State Assembly District 69 in the November 3, 2026 general election, where she faces incumbent Josh Lowenthal.[1][2] In a Ballotpedia survey, she described herself as a retired City of Los Angeles policy analyst who lives in Long Beach.[3]
Carolyn Essex earned a high school diploma from Loma Linda Academy and attended California State University, Los Angeles.[2] In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey, she said she is a 12-year resident of Long Beach and a retired City of Los Angeles employee who spent 18 years as a policy analyst in the Community Development Department overseeing Community Development Block Grant funding.[3] She also said she worked four years in the hospitality industry, 22 years as a caregiver for seniors and children with developmental disabilities, and as a housing coordinator at the Hoffman House, a transitional home for formerly incarcerated women.[3]
Essex advanced from the June 2, 2026 primary.[2] In the survey, she said legislation should prioritize infrastructure and the daily lives of seniors, working families and K-12 students, and she named human and civil rights as her policy passion.[3]
- 1.California State Assembly elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Carolyn Essex · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Carolyn Essex — Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
California Assembly District 69
Carolyn Essex is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for California Assembly District 69 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
