2025 California Senate District 36 special election

2025 California Senate District 36 special election

←  2022 (reg.) February 25, 2025 (primary) April 29, 2025 (runoff) 2026 (reg.) →
California State Senate District 36
Party Republican Democratic
Senator before election Vacant Janet Nguyen until November 30, 2024 Republican Elected Senator TBD

California's 36th State Senate district

A special election is scheduled to be held in the U.S. state of California to elect a new member for District 36 in the California State Senate, representing much of coastal Orange County. A primary is scheduled for February 25, 2025 with a runoff election if necessary on April 29, 2025. The election will fill a vacancy caused by the election of Republican senator Janet Nguyen to the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The election will take place concurrently with a special election in Assembly District 32. ^[1]

Background

Republican state assemblywoman Janet Nguyen won election to this district with 56.9 percent of the vote in 2022. In 2024, she was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, leaving her senate seat open. As of October 2024, the 36th Senate District leans Republican, with 236,668 registered Republican voters as opposed to 216,377 Democrats. ^[2]

Candidates

The following candidates were certified for the primary ballot: ^[3]

• John Briscoe, broker and business owner (Republican)
• Julie Diep, disability rights advocate (Democratic)
• Jimmy D. Pham, attorney and business owner (Democratic)
• Tony Strickland, Huntington Beach city councilman, former mayor, assemblyman, and state senator (Republican)

Endorsements

Jimmy D. Pham (D)

• Rob Bonta, 34th Attorney General of California (2021–present), member of the California State Assembly from the 18th district (2012–2021), member of the Alameda City Council (2010–2012) ^[4]
• Dave Min, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 47th congressional district (2025–present), member of the California Senate from the 37th district (2020–2024) ^[4]
• Stonewall Democratic Club ^[5]

Tony Strickland (R)

• California Republican Party ^[4]
• Orange County Register ^[6]

Declined to endorse

• Orange County Democratic Party ^[7]

Results

2025 California Assembly District 32 special election

Party		Candidate	Primary Feb. 25, 2025		Runoff Apr. 29, 2025
	Republican	John Briscoe
	Democratic	Julie Diep
	Democratic	Jimmy D. Pham
	Republican	Tony Strickland
Total

See also

• 2025 United States state legislative elections

External links

• Elections and Voter Information (California Secretary of State)

Official campaign websites

• Julie Diep (D)
• Jimmy D. Pham (D)
• Tony Strickland (R)

References

1. "Governor Newsom proclaims special election for Senate District 36, Assembly District 32". CA.gov. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
2. "Report of Registration as of October 21, 2024 Registration by State Senate District" (PDF). California SOS. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
3. "STATE SENATE DISTRICT 36 SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION" (PDF). Los Angeles Vote. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
4. Replogle, Jill (February 13, 2025). "Voter Game Plan: Get ready to vote in the 36th State Senate race". LAist. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
5. "Stonewall Democratic Club Proudly Endorses Jimmy Pham". Stonewall Democratic Club. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
6. "Endorsement: Tony Strickland in California's 36th Senate District". Orange County Register. February 12, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
7. "Special Election! State Senate District 36". Orange County Democrats. Retrieved February 14, 2025.