Paul Nguyen

Draft. Last updated 2026-10-17. This contest is still being reviewed.

Member of the State Assembly, 59

State 1 seat 2026-11-03

Fullerton voters whose address is in the 59th Assembly District. The district covers portions of Orange and San Bernardino counties. The Orange County Registrar of Voters records the contest as shared with San Bernardino County. The Assembly office for the district says it includes all or parts of Anaheim Hills, Brea, Chino, Chino Hills, Fullerton, North Tustin, Orange, Placentia, Villa Park and Yorba Linda. The Orange County Register's voter guide names Brea, Placentia, Villa Park, Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills and Chino Hills, and the Register's July 2026 legislative roundup names Anaheim Hills, Brea, Placentia, Villa Park and Yorba Linda. LAist's guide names Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills and Chino Hills. The contest is on the Orange County ballot for voters in the county and on the San Bernardino County ballot for voters there. Fullerton is split between Assembly districts, so a Fullerton voter sees this contest only if their address is in District 59. This file records the city lists from the sources named here and does not record which Fullerton precincts fall inside the district.

What this office does

A California Assembly member is one of 80 members who make up one half of the state Legislature. LAist's guide for this election says the Assembly is half of the Legislature and California's equivalent of Congress, that each district holds more than 400,000 constituents, and that members serve two-year terms.

The Orange County Register's voter guide says members are elected to two-year terms, serve in Sacramento, and that a person can serve 12 years in the Legislature across both houses. LAist says voters in 2026 will choose representatives for the entire state Assembly, that many members will be new because of retirements and term limits, and that its guide is watching how many challengers oust incumbents and how many seats flip between parties.

Because the Assembly and the Senate together pass the state budget and state law, a member votes on the spending plan, on taxes and fees that come before the Legislature, and on statewide rules that reach households directly, including housing law, insurance regulation, energy and utility policy, health programs and school funding.

The incumbent in this contest sits on six Assembly committees for the 2025-2026 session according to Ballotpedia: Banking and Finance, where it lists him as vice-chair; Business and Professions; Health, where it also lists him as vice-chair; Insurance; Labor and Employment; and Utilities and Energy.

Those assignments are the committees that handle insurance rules, utility and energy policy, health programs and employment law, which are the areas most likely to reach household costs. Ballotpedia lists the base salary for the office at $132,703 with $236 per day in expenses. The November general election for this seat is decided by a simple majority.

An Assembly member does not set local property tax rates, run city departments or run school districts; those are city, county and school district decisions.S5S8S22

Contest context

  • Two candidates qualified for this contest. The Secretary of State's certified list of candidates for the November 3, 2026 general election names Phillip Chen, Republican, ballot designation Assemblyman/Business Owner, marked as the incumbent, and Victor Hernandez, Green, ballot designation Account Sales Manager, as the 59th Assembly District candidates, in that order. The Orange County Registrar of Voters contest and candidate proof list for the same election shows the same two candidates, the same party preferences and the same ballot designations, records that the office goes to the winner of one seat with two candidates qualified, marks Phillip Chen as the elected incumbent, and notes the contest is shared with San Bernardino County. CalMatters' 2026 voter guide lists the same two candidates for District 59 with the same ballot designations and marks Chen as the incumbent. This file lists the candidates in the order used by the certified list and the index, which is Chen first.S1S3S4
  • Only two candidates filed, so both advanced to November without a contested primary field. Official results in the Secretary of State's Statement of Vote covering the June 2, 2026 primary record Phillip Chen, Republican, 83,929 votes, 66.3 percent, and Victor Hernandez, Green, 42,685 votes, 33.7 percent, for the 59th Assembly District, counted from 71,341 votes in Orange County and 12,588 in San Bernardino County for Chen and 35,557 in Orange County and 7,128 in San Bernardino County for Hernandez. Ballot Access News reported in March 2026 that only two candidates had filed for this seat and that Hernandez was the only minor party member in California that year in a two-person primary race. The Green Party of the United States reported that Hernandez finished second and advanced, and its elections database records his certified total as 42,685 votes and 33.7 percent. The Green Party's report describes him and one other Green Assembly candidate as only the sixth and seventh California Greens to reach a November state or federal legislative ballot since California's top-two primary took effect in 2012, which is that party's own statement. Ballotpedia's election page for this district shows an earlier partial count of 61,414 votes for Chen and 27,698 for Hernandez, totals it lists as subject to change until results are certified; this file uses the certified Statement of Vote figures.S2S27S26S28S23
  • The district runs across two counties and leans Republican in registration. LAist's guide describes the district as having parts of Orange and San Bernardino counties and including Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills and Chino Hills, and gives voter registration as 39.4 percent Republican, 32.3 percent Democrat and 22.1 percent no party preference. The Orange County Register's voter guide gives the same picture for the district, listing Brea, Placentia, Villa Park, Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills and Chino Hills and reporting registration as of September 4, 2026 as 32.35 percent Democrat, 39.14 percent Republican and 22.17 percent no party preference. The Assembly office for the district lists the cities it covers as Anaheim Hills, Brea, Chino, Chino Hills, Fullerton, North Tustin, Orange, Placentia, Villa Park and Yorba Linda, and the Register's July 2026 roundup of Orange County legislative races lists Anaheim Hills, Brea, Placentia, Villa Park and Yorba Linda. Hernandez's campaign site names Brea, Placentia, Chino Hills, Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, parts of Orange, Villa Park, Chino and Fullerton. Fullerton is split among Assembly districts, so the city appears in more than one district's city list.S5S8S12S9S14
  • Money in the race is concentrated on one side. Phillip Chen's candidate committee reported $578,807.25 in contributions and $280,233.99 in expenditures for January 1 through September 19, 2026 and $1,921,489.14 in ending cash, in a filing whose last report date is September 23, 2026. The campaign finance panel published with LAist's guide, which credits CalMatters and the Secretary of State's data, shows Chen with $1.28 million raised from large donors and Victor Hernandez with no reported contributors, and shows no independent expenditures reported for either candidate as of data last updated October 9, 2026. California Files, which aggregates the same filings, reports no raised or spent amounts for Hernandez. IJ Action's primary voter guide, published in May 2026, recorded that Hernandez had not raised any campaign funds as of April 16, 2026. Hernandez's campaign says it accepts no corporate, lobbyist or super PAC money and links to a public donation page instead. Chen's itemized donor list is drawn mostly from unions, corporations and Indian tribes, and the amounts recorded in this file are the amounts shown on the Cal-Access page retrieved for this run.S18S5S21S24S17S19
  • The Southern California News Group, which publishes the Orange County Register, put the same general election questionnaire to both candidates, and both answered it. The questionnaire was published October 5, 2026 and asks about gas prices and what policy would ease them, barriers to homeownership and rental costs, homelessness and keeping people in their homes, grocery prices, the $300 million the state budget put toward health care costs after federal subsidies expired and access to health care, high speed rail, data centers, Proposition 40 and the one-time 5 percent tax on net worth over $1 billion, refinery closures and gas prices, federal expansion of offshore oil drilling, the 2024 state law setting standards for large warehouses, a time each candidate changed a political position, and a bonus question about the best book each read this year. Both candidates answered every question. In addition, Hernandez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, in which he gave his three key campaign messages, the policy areas he is most passionate about, the qualities he looks for in an elected official and the organizations he says have endorsed him. Ballotpedia records that Chen has not completed its 2026 Candidate Connection survey.S6S7S23S22
  • No general election candidate forum or debate between these two candidates was found in the sources reviewed for this file, and no news report about the general election matchup beyond the questionnaire and roundup articles was located. The July 2026 Orange County Register roundup describes Chen as first elected to the Assembly in 2016 after serving on the Walnut Valley Unified School District board and as a former health policy advisor for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and describes Hernandez as born in Santa Ana, working as an account sales manager, a volunteer at community mutual aid events according to his campaign website, and an activist who participates in local demonstrations. LAist's guide entry for the district lists a campaign website for each candidate and states for Chen that endorsements were not available on his website at the time of publication, while pointing to the endorsement list published by Hernandez.S9S5
  • There is no statewide voter guide statement for this contest. The Secretary of State's Official Voter Information Guide covers statewide offices and the ballot measures, and the Orange County Registrar of Voters directs voters to its own voter information guide, which it says includes all candidates and measures that will appear on a voter's ballot. The county's candidate filing log, which is the page that carries filed candidate statements, loads its contest list through a selection control that did not return statement text in a fetchable form during this run, and no printed statement text for either candidate in this contest was located elsewhere. The statement summary recorded for both candidates in this file is therefore null.S29S3S4

Candidates

Listed in ballot order. Candidates are described with the same sections and level of detail; no ranking or endorsement is implied.

Phillip Chen

Republican Assemblyman/Business Owner Incumbent

Bio

  • The Secretary of State's certified list prints his party preference as Republican and his ballot designation as Assemblyman/Business Owner and marks him as the incumbent. The Orange County Registrar of Voters proof list prints PHILLIP CHEN, Republican, Assemblyman/Business Owner and records him as the elected incumbent of the seat.S1S3
  • In the October 5, 2026 questionnaire he gave his age as 48, his current job title as California State Assemblyman, his party affiliation as Republican, marked the incumbent question yes, listed his other political positions as school board member, Walnut Valley Unified, said he lives in Yorba Linda, and gave phillipchen.org as his campaign website.S6
  • The Assembly office for the district says he is a business owner and a member of the California State Assembly representing the 59th District, that he graduated from Servite High School in Anaheim and earned a bachelor's degree in communications from California State University, Fullerton as well as a master's degree in public administration and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Southern California, that he served as an adjunct faculty professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, that he was elected to the Assembly in November 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024, that he won his first elected office in November 2011 as a school board member for the Walnut Valley Unified School District where he helped turn the district's budget deficit into a surplus and established a rainy day fund, that he worked as a health policy advisor for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and that he is a former Los Angeles County reserve sheriff's deputy who was recognized in 2009 as the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff's Station Reserve Deputy of the Year. It says he calls Yorba Linda home.S13
  • His campaign website describes him as a business owner, educator and public servant representing the 59th Assembly District, says he was first elected to the Assembly in 2016 and re-elected in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024, and says he has built a record of fiscal responsibility, public safety and education reform, including turning a school district deficit into a surplus. Those are the campaign's own descriptions.S10S11
  • Ballotpedia records that he has been in the Assembly since 2016 and that his current term ends December 7, 2026, that he previously served on the Walnut Valley Unified School District board from 2012 to 2016, that his education is a bachelor's degree from California State University, Fullerton and a master's degree and a doctorate from the University of Southern California, and that his career experience includes work as a health deputy to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and as a Los Angeles County reserve sheriff's deputy. It adds that he served on the board of the California Physical Therapy Board and in the Governor's Office of Criminal Justice Planning, and lists the base salary for the office at $132,703 with $236 per day in expenses.S22
  • The Orange County Register described him in July 2026 as first elected to the Assembly in 2016, after serving as a school board member for the Walnut Valley Unified School District, and as a former health policy advisor for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.S9

Record in office

  • He has held the 59th Assembly District seat since 2016 and was re-elected in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024, according to the Assembly office for the district, his campaign website and Ballotpedia. The Orange County Registrar of Voters records him as the elected incumbent for the November 3, 2026 election.S13S10S22S3
  • Ballotpedia lists his 2025-2026 Assembly committee assignments as Banking and Finance, where it lists him as vice-chair, Business and Professions, Health, where it also lists him as vice-chair, Insurance, Labor and Employment, and Utilities and Energy. For 2023-2024 it lists Banking and Finance as vice-chair along with Business and Professions, Insurance, Labor and Employment and Utilities and Energy. Those assignments come from Ballotpedia's compilation of Assembly committee rosters.S22
  • Ballotpedia's page for him carries a list of bills it says he sponsored, drawn from BillTrack50 and sorted by the date of last action. Among the entries whose last action dates are September 2026: AB2061 on California FAIR Plan Association data, listed as chaptered on September 30, 2026 as Chapter 918 of the 2026 statutes; AB2437 on impounded vehicles, chaptered September 30, 2026 as Chapter 942; AB2009 on blood banks and plasma centers, chaptered September 27, 2026 as Chapter 570; AB2028 on deferred deposit transactions assessments, chaptered September 27, 2026 as Chapter 573; AB1619 on public employees' retirement administration, chaptered September 27, 2026 as Chapter 533; AB1828 on county recorder and county clerk bonds, chaptered September 18, 2026 as Chapter 275; and AB2477 on structural pest control, chaptered September 18, 2026 as Chapter 303. Two entries are recorded as vetoed by the Governor: AB760, which would have excluded from income certain amounts related to the 2026 Garden Grove chemical leak, vetoed September 27, 2026, and AB1383 on public employees' retirement benefits, vetoed September 20, 2026. Ballotpedia notes that the list may not be comprehensive.S22
  • He finished first in the June 2, 2026 primary with 83,929 votes, 66.3 percent, and advanced to the November general election, according to the Secretary of State's certified Statement of Vote.S2
  • Initiate Justice Action, an advocacy organization that publishes a legislative scorecard, writes that he has not supported the justice reform measures it tracks and that he earned an F on its scorecard in each of the three years it has published one, and describes his platform as strongly aligned with law enforcement. That organization also lists law enforcement related committees among his campaign contributors, including the Peace Officers Research Association of California PAC, the San Bernardino County Professional Firefighters Local 935 State PAC Fund, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association PAC, the Huntington Beach Police Officers Association PAC, the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs PAC, and the National Peace Officers and Firefighters Benefit Association Trust. Those characterizations, the grade and the contributor list are that organization's own publication, and at least two of the listed committees also appear on his Cal-Access itemized contribution list retrieved for this run.S24S19
  • California Files records a 2025 annual Statement of Economic Interests for him that lists one business or trust, one real property holding, two gifts and one travel payment, and records a finding on his page. That site's findings and the underlying Form 700 are that site's and the filing office's records rather than the campaign's or this file's characterization.S21

Positions

Taxes
  • He says no to Proposition 40, the one-time 5 percent tax on net worth above $1 billion, and says the state should address waste, fraud and abuse in state government before looking at new revenue streams or imposing additional taxes on Californians. Asked what alternative he proposes if he does not support the measure, he did not name a specific revenue source in his answer. He also says he would suspend the gas tax indefinitely, which is his answer to the question about fuel costs. He sets out no position in the materials reviewed on income tax rates, the corporate tax or property tax rules.S6
Cost of living
  • He identifies fuel and transportation costs as the main lever he would use on prices. On gas prices he says the state should suspend the gas tax indefinitely. On grocery prices he says the state should work to bring down the cost of fuel used to transport food and other goods across California and that lower transportation costs can help reduce the costs passed on to consumers. Asked how to ease barriers to homeownership and rental costs, he answered that the state should work with local governments and the private sector to responsibly increase housing inventory. He does not set out positions in the materials reviewed on grocery pricing rules, utility rate setting or insurance prices.S6
Housing
  • He says the way to ease barriers for buyers and renters is to work with local governments and the private sector to responsibly increase housing inventory. That is his full answer to the questionnaire question about homeownership barriers and rental costs. He did not set out a position in the questionnaire on specific state housing laws, on rent control, on density rules or on state mandates for local zoning. On land use generally he says he supports local decision makers making data driven decisions that are best for their communities and that Sacramento should respect local communities and the people who understand their land use needs better than state bureaucrats, which is his answer to the questions about data centers and about the 2024 state warehouse standards.S6
Homelessness
  • He says homelessness cannot be solved through housing alone and that the state also has to address mental health, writing that many of the chronically homeless in California are suffering from serious mental illness and that treatment needs to be part of the solution. He did not set out a position in the questionnaire on state funding for shelters, rental assistance, treatment beds or behavioral health programs, or on specific homelessness programs.S6
Public safety
  • His campaign says he is fighting for safer neighborhoods and lists public safety as part of his record. Initiate Justice Action describes his platform as strongly aligned with law enforcement and lists law enforcement organizations among his contributors, and says he is endorsed by the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association. His October 2026 questionnaire did not include a public safety question, so he states no position there on policing policy, criminal sentencing, Proposition 36 or specific public safety funding proposals. His background includes service as a Los Angeles County reserve sheriff's deputy, according to the Assembly office for his district and Ballotpedia.S10S24S13S22
Health care
  • Asked about the $300 million the state budget put toward health care costs expected after federal subsidies expire, and about protecting access to care as federal changes restrict benefits, he answered that all Californians deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare. He did not say in that answer whether he supports the $300 million allocation or how he would protect access. His committee assignments for 2025-2026 include the Health Committee, where Ballotpedia lists him as vice-chair, and he worked as a health policy advisor for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors according to his official biography. He sets out no position in the materials reviewed on expanding state health programs, on Medi-Cal enrollment rules or on prescription drug pricing.S6S22S13
Transportation
  • Asked whether the state should continue with the high speed rail project, he answered that California is a driver's state and that the state needs to focus its resources on maintaining and improving the roads and highways Californians use every day. He did not say in that answer whether he would end the project, and he did not propose how the state would pay for it if it continued. On fuel he says the gas tax should be suspended indefinitely. On electric vehicles and transit he sets out no position in the questionnaire, and he records no position in the materials reviewed on the gas tax rate beyond the suspension, on road funding formulas or on transit funding.S6
Environment and energy
  • He says the state needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes conventional energy, nuclear power, natural gas and renewable energy, and that California can pursue cleaner energy while ensuring families have access to reliable and affordable energy. Asked about refinery closures and gas prices, he gave that same all-of-the-above answer. Asked about the federal push to expand offshore oil drilling and production in California, he answered again that an all-of-the-above energy strategy is what California needs and that energy policy should balance environmental protection with reliability, affordability and the energy needs of California families and businesses; his answer does not state whether he supports the federal expansion or whether he believes the state can restrict it. In the questionnaire's reflection question he says that when he entered the Legislature he supported only conventional energy sources and that his energy policy is now an all-of-the-above approach. He sets out no position in the materials reviewed on cap and trade, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, utility rates or water policy.S6
Local services
  • He consistently says land use decisions belong with local government. Asked how he would balance concerns about data centers with the goal of keeping California a leader in innovation, he answered that the state should trust local jurisdictions rather than impose a top-down approach from Sacramento and that local officials and residents are in the best position to balance economic development and innovation with concerns about water, energy, noise and land use. Asked about the 2024 state law setting standards for large warehouses, he answered that he supports local decision makers making data driven decisions that are best for their communities and that Sacramento should respect local communities and the people who understand their land use needs better than state bureaucrats, and he did not propose additional state regulation of warehouses. He also says the state should work with local governments and the private sector to increase housing inventory.S6
Economy and jobs
  • His economic answer is built on state spending. He says the state should address waste, fraud and abuse in state government before looking at new revenue streams or imposing additional taxes, and he identifies fuel and transportation costs as the cost driver he would act on for food and other goods. He describes himself as a business owner in his ballot designation and on his campaign site, and he says he would work with local governments and the private sector on housing inventory. He sets out no position in the materials reviewed on the minimum wage, on hiring or workplace rules, or on particular business taxes.S6S10
Education
  • His October 2026 questionnaire did not include an education question, so he states no position there on school funding, curriculum or school choice. His public record in education is from before the Assembly: his official biography says he served on the Walnut Valley Unified School District board from 2011 and helped turn the district's budget deficit into a surplus and establish a rainy day fund, and his campaign site lists stronger schools and education reform as part of his record. Ballotpedia records his prior office as the Walnut Valley Unified school board for 2012 to 2016. The office matters to schools because an Assembly member votes on the state budget that funds schools, but no current stated position from this candidate on school funding formulas was found in the materials reviewed.S13S10S22
Immigration
  • He sets out no immigration position in his October 2026 questionnaire answers, on his campaign website or in the news coverage reviewed for this file. The office matters to immigration policy because an Assembly member votes on state laws and the state budget that fund programs serving immigrants, but no stated position from this candidate was found.S6S10S9
Water
  • He sets out no water supply, water rate or groundwater position in his questionnaire answers, on his campaign website or in the news coverage reviewed for this file. His only answer touching water is on data centers, where he says local officials and residents are in the best position to balance development concerns about water, energy, noise and land use. The office matters to water because an Assembly member votes on water policy, water bonds and the state budget that funds water programs, but no stated position from this candidate on water supply was found.S6S10S9
Other
  • Change of position: he says that when he entered the Legislature he supported only conventional energy sources and that his energy policy is now an all-of-the-above approach, which is his answer to the question about a time he changed his mind. Book: he says he is currently re-reading A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. On data centers and warehouses his answers are recorded under local services, and on offshore drilling under environment and energy. He records no position in the questionnaire on gun policy, on reproductive health or on labor law.S6

Endorsements

  • Ballotpedia records the Republican Party of California, the California Federation of Labor Unions AFL-CIO, the National Union of Healthcare Workers, Reform California and The Morning Answer with Jennifer Horn among his endorsements and voter guide recommendations, together with four voter guide listings it attributes to voting groups. Ballotpedia's list is its own compilation of endorsements reported to it.S22
  • Initiate Justice Action describes him as a former reserve sheriff's deputy endorsed by the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, and its guide lists law enforcement organizations among his campaign contributors. Those statements are that organization's own, and the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association does appear on his Cal-Access itemized contributions list retrieved for this run.S24S19
  • LAist's guide entry for this district states that endorsements were not available on his website at the time of its publication, and no endorsements page on his campaign site was found or linked in the sources reviewed for this file.S5S10

Funding

Total raised: $578,807 S18S19S20S5S21

Cash on hand: $1,921,489

As of: September 19, 2026

Top funders

  • Laborers International Union of North America, Laborers Local 652 $17,700 Cycle total of the itemized monetary contributions to the committee listed on Cal-Access, dated April 8, 2025 and February 2, 2026
  • Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 PAC $14,300 Cycle total of the itemized monetary contributions to the committee listed on Cal-Access, dated April 14, 2025 and June 30, 2025
  • United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices Local 250 $11,800 Itemized monetary contribution to the committee listed on Cal-Access, dated April 14, 2025
  • BNSF Railway Company $11,800 Cycle total of the itemized monetary contributions to the committee listed on Cal-Access, dated April 18, 2025 and September 2, 2026
  • Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians $11,800 Cycle total of the itemized monetary contributions to the committee listed on Cal-Access, dated April 30, 2025 and December 18, 2025
  • Fresenius Medical Care $11,800 Cycle total of the itemized monetary contributions to the committee listed on Cal-Access, dated May 5, 2025 and April 22, 2026
  • Edison International and Affiliated Entities $11,800 Cycle total of the itemized monetary contributions to the committee listed on Cal-Access, dated May 6, 2025 and March 6, 2026
  • California New Car Dealers Association PAC $11,800 Cycle total of the itemized monetary contributions to the committee listed on Cal-Access, dated May 6, 2025 and July 7, 2026
  • Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1309 $11,800 Cycle total of the itemized monetary contributions to the committee listed on Cal-Access, dated May 9, 2025 and February 2, 2026
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation $11,800 Cycle total of the itemized monetary contributions to the committee listed on Cal-Access, dated June 9, 2025 and July 25, 2025

The total raised and the cash on hand here are what the candidate's own committee, CHEN FOR ASSEMBLY 2026; PHILLIP (Cal-Access filer ID 1476729, listed as officeholder for Assembly District 59), reported for January 1 through September 19, 2026, in a filing whose last report date is September 23, 2026: $578,807.25 in total contributions for that period, $280,233.99 in total expenditures for that period, $140,995.00 in contributions and $51,825.16 in expenditures in the July 1 to September 19, 2026 quarter, and $1,921,489.14 in ending cash. The donor entries above come from the committee's Cal-Access itemized contributions received page sorted by amount, which displays in segments of 250 contributions across two pages; both pages were retrieved for this run. Page one holds the largest entries and page two the smaller ones, and the two pages together cover the 2025-2026 cycle while the reported contribution total covers only the 2026 portion, so the two figures are not directly comparable and the donor amounts should be read as the largest disclosed contributions rather than as a complete picture of the committee's money. Page two entries in the retrieved list are smaller, including $1,500 contributions from entities such as Centene and its affiliate Health Net, the California Hotel and Lodging Association PAC, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and Blue Diamond Growers. The campaign finance panel published with LAist's guide reports a higher large donor total for this committee, $1.28 million, and lists Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 at $18,800, which is more than the $14,300 recorded on the Cal-Access page retrieved for this run; that panel credits CalMatters and Secretary of State data with a last update of October 9, 2026, and the difference is likely because it includes contributions filed later than the page retrieved here. California Files, which aggregates the same filings, reports $2,374,469 raised and $1,577,869 spent for this candidate for the 2025-2026 cycle using the latest amendments, and records that he reported one business or trust, one real property holding, two gifts and one travel payment on his 2025 annual Statement of Economic Interests; that site's figures are its own aggregation of the filings and are stated here as its report. Spending by separate committees that support or oppose candidates is reported on a different schedule and is not included in the committee totals or the itemized list above. The campaign finance panel published with LAist's guide shows no independent expenditures reported for this candidate as of its last data update.

What this could mean for your household

  • Households paying fuel and transportation costs: he says the gas tax should be suspended indefinitely, and he says bringing down the cost of fuel used to move food and other goods would lower the costs passed on to consumers, which is his answer on grocery prices. Those are the two specific price relief actions he names in the questionnaire.S6
  • Homeowners and renters: he says the state should work with local governments and the private sector to responsibly increase housing inventory, and he says land use decisions should stay with local government rather than Sacramento. In the Assembly he carried AB2061 on California FAIR Plan Association data, which was chaptered on September 30, 2026; the FAIR Plan is the state's insurer of last resort for homeowners who cannot get coverage in the private market, so that bill touches property insurance. He did not set out positions on rent control, state housing mandates or density rules in the materials reviewed.S6S22
  • Households concerned about state taxes: he says no to Proposition 40, the one-time 5 percent tax on net worth above $1 billion, and says the state should address waste, fraud and abuse before looking at new revenue streams or imposing additional taxes on Californians. He did not name an alternative revenue source or a specific tax he would change beyond suspending the gas tax.S6
  • Households paying electricity and gas bills: he says the state needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes conventional energy, nuclear power, natural gas and renewable energy, and that California can pursue cleaner energy while ensuring families have access to reliable and affordable energy. He sets out no position on electricity rates, on utility regulation or on the state's climate programs in the materials reviewed. His committee assignments include Utilities and Energy and his committee's itemized donors include Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation, Edison International and Sempra Energy, which Ballotpedia and the campaign finance panel published with LAist's guide also record among his largest contributors.S6S22S5
  • Households that use state funded health coverage: he says all Californians deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare, and he did not say whether he supports the $300 million the state budget put toward costs expected after federal subsidies expire or how he would protect access to care. He also sat on the Assembly Health Committee as vice-chair for the 2025-2026 session according to Ballotpedia.S6S22
  • Small business owners and homeowners near warehouses or data centers: he says land use decisions should be made locally and that the state should trust local jurisdictions rather than impose a top-down approach from Sacramento, which is his answer on both data centers and the 2024 state warehouse standards. He says he is a business owner in his ballot designation and on his campaign site, and he proposes reducing transport fuel costs and suspending the gas tax, both of which he frames as cost relief for businesses and consumers. He states no position on the minimum wage, workplace rules or permit requirements.S6S10S1

Campaign website

Victor Hernandez

Green Account Sales Manager

Bio

  • The Secretary of State's certified list prints his party preference as Green and his ballot designation as Account Sales Manager and does not mark him as an incumbent. The Orange County Registrar of Voters proof list prints VICTOR HERNANDEZ, Green, Account Sales Manager.S1S3
  • In the October 5, 2026 questionnaire he gave his age as 34, his current job title as Husband, Father, and Account Sales Manager, his party affiliation as Green Party, marked the incumbent question no, answered Not applicable for other political positions held, said he lives in Brea, and gave victorforassembly.com as his campaign website.S7
  • His campaign's about page says he is a lifelong Orange County resident, that he was born in Santa Ana and now lives in Brea, that he is the son of immigrants, and that he co-developed a low-cost mobile healthcare service with his wife to support underserved children and adults. It says he has coordinated with the Peace and Freedom Party and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, that he served on the board of California United for Single Payer, which advocates for CalCare, that he coordinates with Tenants United, that he volunteers with Food Not Bombs, and that he advocates housing first policies, ranked choice voting, single payer healthcare and support for vulnerable immigrant populations. It lists his interests outside activism as hiking canyon trails, collecting vintage Hot Wheels and soccer. These are the campaign's own descriptions.S16
  • In Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey he wrote that he was born and raised in Orange County, that he lives in Brea, that his life began in Santa Ana, that he has two children, Avery and Anniston, that he is married to his wife Heaven, and that he enjoys watching and playing soccer and volunteers with and donates to organizations that provide resources to families in need. Those are his own survey answers as published by Ballotpedia.S23
  • The Orange County Register described him in July 2026 as born in Santa Ana, working as an account sales manager, a volunteer at community mutual aid events according to his campaign website, and an activist who participates in local demonstrations.S9
  • Initiate Justice Action describes him as a Green Party candidate and community advocate who has engaged in state level policymaking, including testifying on legislation, and says his campaign reflects a grassroots, people powered approach aligned with Green Party organizing. That is that organization's description.S24

Record in office

  • He has not held elected or appointed public office. In the October 2026 questionnaire he answered Not applicable to the question about other political positions held, and the certified list and the Orange County Registrar of Voters proof list do not mark him as an incumbent.S7S1S3
  • His campaign describes his public work as advocacy and mutual aid rather than office holding: service on the board of California United for Single Payer, which it says advocates for CalCare, coordination with Tenants United and with the Peace and Freedom Party and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and volunteering with Food Not Bombs. His issues page sets out a platform rather than a record of votes.S16S15
  • He finished second in the June 2, 2026 primary with 42,685 votes, 33.7 percent, and advanced to the November general election with the incumbent, according to the Secretary of State's certified Statement of Vote. The Green Party of the United States reported that he advanced and described him and one other Green Assembly candidate as only the sixth and seventh California Greens to reach a November state or federal legislative ballot since California's top-two primary took effect in 2012, which is that party's statement.S2S26
  • Initiate Justice Action's May 2026 primary guide recorded that he had not raised any campaign funds as of April 16, 2026, and that he does not present a detailed public safety platform in traditional policy terms, describing his campaign as emphasizing systemic reform, reducing corporate influence and investing in communities. Those are that organization's observations.S24
  • California Files records a 2026 candidate Statement of Economic Interests for him filed March 5, 2026 that lists two businesses or trusts, and records no findings for him. That is that site's reading of the filing.S21

Positions

Housing
  • He says renters need a statewide rent control that goes beyond apartment style living and that the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, AB 1482, should be amended. In his questionnaire answer he wrote that the state renter's credit is $60 for an individual and $120 for a head of household, that renters effectively pay their landlord's property taxes with little benefit and no tax write off, and that about 30 percent of the single family houses in his district are rentals. He wrote that AB 1482 assumed most single family homes are owned by mom and pop landlords while many such landlords own multiple properties, that the determining factor for rent control should be the ability to afford shelter rather than the type of housing structure, and that small property owners can still be protected by allowing increases beyond a set rate when inflation exceeds healthy economic metrics. He adds that both property owners and renters deserve protection for their property and their residence. His issues page lists implement statewide rent control, build social housing, enact a vacancy tax, support community land trusts and curb real estate speculation.S7S15
Cost of living
  • On grocery prices he wrote that food prices will get worse if the state depletes its soil, that urban planners have planted only male trees for more than 75 years, and that the state needs more than one plan, including organic community gardens with incentives for volunteers and planting female trees again. On gas prices he wrote that CARBOB gasoline costs more and that scientific data and visible evidence show the smog is better with the mandate despite population growth, that Californians cannot trade their lungs for money, and that more research is needed on alternatives; he wrote that he does not run his campaign on false promises. On vehicle costs he proposes reopening the MyFirstEV rebate with income guidelines and coverage of both electric and hybrid vehicles, rebates for slightly used electric vehicles for people who have not used the rebate within seven years, and sliding scale repair vouchers for employed people, people with disabilities and community volunteers who own a single car. He sets out no position in the materials reviewed on grocery pricing rules, on utility rates or on insurance costs beyond the housing and vehicle items above.S7
Health care
  • He says he supports a state financial offset of federal health subsidies but that more needs to be done, and that access to health benefits benefits workers, employers and taxpayers and that ignoring health concerns burdens taxpayers more than a proactive system. His issues page lists four steps: enact the CalCare bill, the single payer proposal he advocated for while on the board of California United for Single Payer, introduce statewide free clinics, offer prescription drug and medical debt relief, and fund mental health resources. He did not describe in the questionnaire how a state single payer system would be funded. His campaign says he and his wife co-developed a low-cost mobile healthcare service for underserved children and adults.S7S15S16
Homelessness
  • He wrote that sudden illness, an accident, a layoff or an unexpected car repair bill can lead to unpaid rent and eviction and cited CalMatters on that point. He argues that work injuries allow workers compensation regardless of savings while disability from most non-work accidents goes through welfare systems that require people to spend much or all of their savings first, and that where an injury happens should not determine whether someone starts from zero. He proposes direct pay housing vouchers so residents can stay in their homes rather than relocating to Section 8 housing, and sliding scale vehicle repair vouchers and rebates to buy environmentally friendly vehicles for employed people, people with disabilities and community volunteers who own one car, which he frames as helping workers stay able to work. His issues page lists funding mutual aid and defending human rights under its community heading.S7S15
Taxes
  • He says he supports Proposition 40, the one-time 5 percent tax on net worth above $1 billion, writing that billionaires have made money off workers who receive disproportionately small benefits and that billionaires have made money polluting the planet and need to pay reparations, and referring readers to the Green Party of California website. His issues page lists banning corporate donations, supporting publicly funded elections, enacting ranked choice voting and proportional representation and opening public candidate debates. He sets out no position in the materials reviewed on income tax rates, property tax rules or business taxes.S7S15
Transportation
  • On high speed rail he wrote that the decision should not be made now and should wait until there is more budget information, and he did not state whether he supports or opposes the project. On vehicles he proposes reopening the MyFirstEV rebate with income guidelines covering both electric and hybrid vehicles, says the country is behind on infrastructure for fully electric vehicles and that California still has dead zones for them, says residents should be free to travel outside the state rather than be limited by their vehicle, and proposes rebates for slightly used electric vehicles for people who have not used the rebate within seven years. He sets out no position in the materials reviewed on road funding, transit funding or the gas tax rate.S7
Environment and energy
  • He says he is against allowing a corporation that disobeys cease and desist orders from the California Coastal Commission to expand offshore oil drilling and production in California, writing that he cannot support corporations, especially out of state ones, that ignore commissioners and violate the Coastal Act; he does not directly address whether the state has legal authority to stop a federal expansion. On refineries and gas prices he says the CARBOB fuel mandate produces cleaner air at a higher price, that about 60 percent of Californians live in Southern California so the more expensive fuel is necessary, and that consumer relief should come through the electric vehicle rebate changes described under transportation. On data centers he says big business does not supersede the need for water or the rights of everyday residents, cites citizens reporting water depletion and electricity consumption, and proposes a moratorium on data centers with conditional automatic renewal if conditions are not met, with the moratorium period used to set guidelines and standards. His issues page lists make polluters pay, convert public lands to parks, fund wildfire mitigation, limit pesticide use in public spaces and place a moratorium on hyperscale data centers, and his campaign slogan summarizes the goal as protecting natural resources.S7S15
Water
  • His water related answers are about data centers. He writes that all over the country it is not just environmentalists but everyday citizens giving firsthand testimony and video evidence of water depletion by data centers, that we have lived for millennia without data centers but cannot live for millennia without clean water, and that he proposes a moratorium with conditional automatic renewal on all data centers if conditions are not met or adequate evidence is not provided. He sets out no separate position in the materials reviewed on water supply, water rates, groundwater management or the state water project.S7S15
Local services
  • On the 2024 state law setting standards for large warehouses, he wrote that large warehouses are being built in Chino and in Brea and are affecting wildlife, that eminent domain has been raised though not enacted, and that he values people over profit and community over corporations. He wrote that warehouses that pose a health threat, work with dangerous chemicals or pull resources from residents should have state regulations because the issue is safety and potentially human rights rather than only zoning, and that Sacramento should get involved in zoning for large warehouses that pose safety risks, citing an event in Garden Grove over the summer. That position is the opposite direction from the incumbent's answer to the same question, which favored leaving those decisions to local government.S7
Immigration
  • His issues page lists protect immigrants against ICE, uphold sanctuary principles, defend human rights and provide student debt relief under its community heading, and his campaign says he fights for vulnerable immigrant populations. In the October 2026 questionnaire he was not asked the immigration questions that appear in the Southern California News Group's primary questionnaires, so no direct answer from him on state limits on federal immigration enforcement was recorded for the general election. His campaign describes his family background as the son of immigrants.S15S16
Public safety
  • Initiate Justice Action writes that he does not present a detailed public safety platform in traditional policy terms and that his campaign emphasizes systemic reform, reducing corporate influence and investing in communities, which it describes as consistent with Green Party priorities for alternatives to incarceration, police accountability and community based safety. His campaign's endorsement page features a 2026 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate designation and says he advocates for gun safety, and features an Organize for Peace candidate designation with the statement that he fights to end wars and genocides. His issues page does not list a public safety plank. He sets out no position in the materials reviewed on Proposition 36, on policing budgets or on sentencing.S24S17S15
Economy and jobs
  • His economic framing is about who influences state government. He writes that our voice is our power, that the top two primary and first past the post voting system limits voters' choices and excludes third party and independent candidates, and that ranked choice voting and proportional representation are steps toward a more robust democracy, with issues page planks for banning corporate donations, publicly funded elections and open public candidate debates. In his Ballotpedia survey he said he is most passionate about ranked choice voting, single payer healthcare like CalCare, housing for all, rent control and securing more funds to keep parks and streets clean, and that an elected official's job is to listen to constituents and find solutions and to represent people rather than corporations or other countries. He says the campaign accepts no corporate, lobbyist or super PAC money. He sets out no position in the materials reviewed on the minimum wage, business taxes or permit rules.S7S15S23S14
Education
  • His issues page lists student debt relief under its community heading, which is his only education item found in the materials reviewed, and his Ballotpedia survey answer about keeping parks and streets clean is a different subject. He sets out no position in the materials reviewed on K-12 school funding, curriculum, school facilities, school choice or special education. The office matters to schools because an Assembly member votes on the state budget that funds them.S15S23
Other
  • Change of position: he wrote that he formerly cast his ballot for candidates of the two major parties but learned that the two party system is corrupt, researched whether any party does not accept PAC money, found that the Green Party of the United States is the only national party that does not accept PAC money, and agrees with its ten key values. Book: he named Chicano Movement for Beginners by Maceo Montoya, saying he learned about Hispanic leaders who are not regularly discussed, including Reies Lopez Tijerina. His Ballotpedia survey lists his three key messages as community over corporations, protecting the planet and our voice is our power. He records no position in the questionnaire on reproductive health or on labor law.S7S23

Endorsements

  • His campaign's endorsement page lists two organizations, the Green Party of California and the Peace and Freedom Party, and features two designations: a 2026 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate designation with the statement that he advocates for gun safety, and an Organize for Peace candidate designation with the statement that he fights to end wars and genocides and that money should benefit the people. These are the endorsements and designations the campaign itself publishes.S17
  • In his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey he wrote that he has been endorsed by the Peace and Freedom Party, the Green Party of California and the Green Party of Orange County.S23
  • The Green Party of California's list of Green candidates in the November 2026 election includes him for Assembly District 59. That page states that inclusion on the list does not imply endorsement, which it says is determined by the relevant county Green Parties, and that candidates endorsed by their county Green Party are marked with an asterisk. His entry on the list carries no asterisk. The list is that party's own publication, and it does not match the candidate's own statement that the Green Party of Orange County has endorsed him.S25S23
  • Ballotpedia records four voter guide recommendations for him: the CrowdSourceCarrie Voting Guide, Greens for US, Reject AIPAC from City Council to Congress, and Stop arming Israel. Ballotpedia's list is its own compilation.S23
  • Initiate Justice Action recommends him for this district, writing that given the voting record of the incumbent it recommends voters support him, that he is a Green Party candidate and community advocate who has testified on legislation, and that the incumbent earned an F on its scorecard. That recommendation and its reasoning are that organization's own publication.S24
  • LAist's guide entry for this district points voters to his campaign's endorsement list as his published endorsements, and lists no endorsements for him beyond that link.S5

Funding

No campaign finance filing found.

S5S21S24S14S2

No campaign committee money was found reported for this candidate. The campaign finance panel published with LAist's guide, which credits CalMatters and the Secretary of State's data with a last update of October 9, 2026, shows no reported contributors and no reported independent expenditures for him. California Files, which aggregates Cal-Access filings for this race, shows no raised and no spent amounts for him. Initiate Justice Action's May 2026 primary guide recorded that he had not raised any campaign funds as of April 16, 2026. His campaign site says the campaign is people funded with no corporations, no lobbyists and no super PACs, and links to a public donation page instead of a committee report. The Secretary of State's certified primary results show he received 42,685 votes, which is more than any reported contribution total would suggest for a funded campaign. Because no committee totals were found, the total raised and cash on hand fields are null rather than estimated.

What this could mean for your household

  • Renters: he proposes statewide rent control beyond apartment style housing, an amendment to the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 so it covers renters of single family homes, a vacancy tax, social housing, community land trusts and curbs on real estate speculation. He says the state renter's credit of $60 for an individual and $120 for a head of household is too small, that about 30 percent of the single family houses in his district are rentals, and that the test for rent control should be whether a household can afford shelter rather than the type of structure.S7S15
  • Homeowners and small property owners: he says both property owners and renters deserve protection for their property and their residence, and that small landlords can still be protected by allowing increases beyond a set rate when inflation, which he defines using real GDP, exceeds healthy economic metrics. He does not set out a position on property taxes or on state homebuyer programs.S7
  • Households paying fuel, utility and vehicle costs: he says CARBOB, the state's cleaner and more expensive gasoline blend, should be kept because of its air quality benefits, and that relief for drivers should come from reopening the MyFirstEV rebate with income guidelines for electric and hybrid vehicles, rebates for slightly used electric vehicles for people who have not used the rebate in seven years, and sliding scale repair vouchers for employed people, people with disabilities and community volunteers who own a single car. He sets out no position on electricity or water rates or on insurance costs.S7
  • Households concerned about state taxes: he supports Proposition 40, the one-time 5 percent tax on net worth above $1 billion, and his platform calls for banning corporate donations, publicly funded elections and ranked choice voting. He does not set out positions on income, sales, property or business tax rates.S7S15
  • Households that use state funded health coverage: he supports a state financial offset of expiring federal health subsidies, wants the state single payer bill CalCare enacted, and proposes statewide free clinics, prescription drug and medical debt relief, and funding for mental health resources. He did not describe how the state would pay for a single payer system.S7S15
  • Households living near warehouses or data centers, and small businesses that depend on either: he says large warehouses are being built in Chino and Brea, that warehouses posing health threats, handling dangerous chemicals or pulling resources from residents should face state regulation, and that Sacramento should get involved in zoning for warehouses that pose safety risks. He proposes a moratorium with conditional automatic renewal on data centers, citing water and electricity consumption, and says big business does not supersede the need for water or the rights of residents. He sets out no specific position on business taxes, permit fees or the minimum wage.S7S15

Campaign website

Sources

  1. Certified List of Candidates, November 3, 2026, General Election, State Assembly Member District 59 California Secretary of State Accessed 2026-10-17
  2. Statement of Vote, June 2, 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election, State Assemblymember 59th Assembly District page California Secretary of State Accessed 2026-10-17
  3. Contest/Candidate Proof List, Qualified Candidates, November 3, 2026 General Election, State Assembly 59th District Orange County Registrar of Voters Accessed 2026-10-17
  4. 2026 California Voter Guide: State Assembly, including the District 59 candidate list CalMatters Accessed 2026-10-17
  5. California State Assembly: Who's running Nov. 3 and why it matters, including the District 59 panel and the campaign finance figures published with the guide LAist, with CalMatters Accessed 2026-10-17
  6. Phillip Chen, Assembly District 59 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire (published October 5, 2026) Orange County Register, Southern California News Group Accessed 2026-10-17
  7. Victor Hernandez, Assembly District 59 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire (published October 5, 2026) Orange County Register, Southern California News Group Accessed 2026-10-17
  8. Orange County Register's November 3, 2026 General Election Voter Guide, Assembly District 59 entry and voter registration figures Orange County Register, Southern California News Group Accessed 2026-10-17
  9. Election 2026: Orange County's legislative races take shape ahead of November (July 7, 2026) Orange County Register, Southern California News Group Accessed 2026-10-17
  10. Home page, including biography summary and record (campaign website) Phillip Chen for Assembly 2026 Accessed 2026-10-17
  11. Meet Phillip, including biography, education and career history (campaign website) Phillip Chen for Assembly 2026 Accessed 2026-10-17
  12. District home page listing the cities in the 59th Assembly District California State Assembly, District 59 office Accessed 2026-10-17
  13. Biography of Assemblyman Phillip Chen, including education, elections and career history California State Assembly, District 59 office Accessed 2026-10-17
  14. Home page, including priorities and the district city list (campaign website) Victor Hernandez for State Assembly District 59 Accessed 2026-10-17
  15. Issues, including the campaign's five priority areas and their planks (campaign website) Victor Hernandez for State Assembly District 59 Accessed 2026-10-17
  16. Meet Victor, including biography, advocacy work and campaign statement (campaign website) Victor Hernandez for State Assembly District 59 Accessed 2026-10-17
  17. Endorsements, including organization listings and candidate designations (campaign website) Victor Hernandez for State Assembly District 59 Accessed 2026-10-17
  18. CHEN FOR ASSEMBLY 2026; PHILLIP, committee summary, Cal-Access filer ID 1476729, reporting period 07/01/2026 to 09/19/2026 California Secretary of State, Cal-Access Accessed 2026-10-17
  19. CHEN FOR ASSEMBLY 2026; PHILLIP, contributions received, itemized contributions for the 2025-2026 session sorted by amount, page 1 of 2 California Secretary of State, Cal-Access Accessed 2026-10-17
  20. CHEN FOR ASSEMBLY 2026; PHILLIP, contributions received, itemized contributions for the 2025-2026 session sorted by amount, page 2 of 2 California Secretary of State, Cal-Access Accessed 2026-10-17
  21. State Assembly Member District 59, November 3, 2026 general, including candidate committee totals and Statements of Economic Interests California Files Accessed 2026-10-17
  22. Phillip Chen (California), candidate page including committee assignments, sponsored legislation, campaign finance summary, endorsements and note that he has not completed the 2026 Candidate Connection survey Ballotpedia Accessed 2026-10-17
  23. Victor Hernandez (California), candidate page including the Candidate Connection survey answers, endorsements and the primary result as published before certification Ballotpedia Accessed 2026-10-17
  24. Assembly District 59, 2026 primary voter guide page with the organization's recommendation, scorecard grade and description of each candidate Initiate Justice Action Accessed 2026-10-17
  25. Greens in Nov. 2026 Elections, list of Green candidates including the Assembly District 59 entry and the note on county endorsements Green Party of California Accessed 2026-10-17
  26. Greens in June 2, 2026 elections in California, including the Assembly District 59 result and the party's account of Greens advancing to November Green Party of the United States Accessed 2026-10-17
  27. One Minor Party Member is Virtually Certain to Qualify for California General Election (March 29, 2026) Ballot Access News Accessed 2026-10-17
  28. Victor Hernandez Runs for State Assembly, 2026, race page recording the certified primary total GPUS Elections Database Accessed 2026-10-17
  29. Voter Resources, directing voters to the county voter information guide that lists the candidates and measures on their ballot Orange County Registrar of Voters Accessed 2026-10-17