Biography
Jessie Lopez is a Democratic member of the Santa Ana City Council running for California State Assembly District 68 in the November 3, 2026 general election, where she faces fellow Democrat David Penaloza.[1][2] She has represented Ward 3 since December 2020.[2]
Jessie Lopez was born in Santa Ana, California, and earned a high school diploma from Santa Ana High School, an associate degree from Santa Ana College and a bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach.[2] In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey, she described herself as the daughter of working-class immigrants who worked two jobs to put herself through college.[3]
Lopez assumed office on the Santa Ana City Council on December 8, 2020, and her current term ends in 2028.[2] She said in the survey that she led efforts to cap excessive rent increases and protect seniors from eviction and passed a lobbyist transparency law.[3] Her stated priorities for the Assembly include Medicare for All, affordable housing, stopping corporations from buying single-family homes, action on wage theft and full funding for public education.[3]
- 1.California State Assembly elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Jessie Lopez · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Jessie Lopez — 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 68
Jessie Lopez is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for California Assembly District 68 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.