No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, the two candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
Endorsements: Assm. Avelino Valencia has the endorsement of some groups, including Equality California, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, and AFSCME California.
Mike Tardif has not received the endorsement of any progressive groups. He is endorsed by the California Republican Party and the Orange County Republican Party.
Key initiatives: Assm. Valencia has passed legislation to modify continuing medical education for doctors and surgeons, require school district budget information to be published on their website, and establish a Citizens Redistricting Commission in Orange County. He scores a CS of 34 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has been designated as a member of the Hall of Shame. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Valencia has supported few progressive bills that made it to a vote, and frequently failed to cast any vote on significant legislation. This year, Assm. Valencia failed to support bills that would allow resentencing for individuals impacted by firearm enhancements, prohibit the use of facial-recognition software in police body cameras, and cap security deposit requirements for renters.
Tardif is a Republican and has called for increased funding for law enforcement, more charter schools and school choice for parents, and eliminating the gas tax. He has called for the repeal of two recent progressive criminal justice measures—Proposition 47, which reduced some low-level drug and property crimes to misdemeanors, and Proposition 57, which amended juvenile justice standards, allowed parole consideration for nonviolent offenders, and permitted sentence credits for good behavior.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Valencia has served in this assembly seat since 2020, when he was elected with 51% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 25 points.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Valencia was an Anaheim City Councilmember and district director for Assemblymember Tom Daly. Assm. Daly scored an all-time score of 32 out of 100 and was regularly in our Hall of Shame on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, for siding with big corporations over workers, the environment, and tenants. Assm. Valencia has received support from the same problematic stakeholders.
Tardif ran for this seat in 2022, and lost to Valencia by 24 points.
Tardif is a small business owner and contractor. He has served on the Santa Ana Community Development Commission, the Santa Ana Historic Resources Commission, and the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce. He has been a longtime supporter of charter schools and increasing funding to the police.
Other background: Assm. Valencia is from Anaheim. He briefly played football in the NFL.
Tardif is from Orange County.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary: incumbent Assm. Avelino Valencia (D) and Mike Tardif (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Valencia’s campaign has raised $800,000, and is funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, and corporate PAC interests.
Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tardif’s campaign has raised $2,000.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 68th Assembly District includes parts of Orange County.
Voter registration: 51% Democrat, 21% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 56% Latino, 12% Asian, and 2% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-68 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 36 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 22 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
AD68 - No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, the two candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
Endorsements: Assm. Avelino Valencia has the endorsement of some groups, including Equality California, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, and AFSCME California.
Mike Tardif has not received the endorsement of any progressive groups. He is endorsed by the California Republican Party and the Orange County Republican Party.
Key initiatives: Assm. Valencia has passed legislation to modify continuing medical education for doctors and surgeons, require school district budget information to be published on their website, and establish a Citizens Redistricting Commission in Orange County. He scores a CS of 34 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has been designated as a member of the Hall of Shame. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Valencia has supported few progressive bills that made it to a vote, and frequently failed to cast any vote on significant legislation. This year, Assm. Valencia failed to support bills that would allow resentencing for individuals impacted by firearm enhancements, prohibit the use of facial-recognition software in police body cameras, and cap security deposit requirements for renters.
Tardif is a Republican and has called for increased funding for law enforcement, more charter schools and school choice for parents, and eliminating the gas tax. He has called for the repeal of two recent progressive criminal justice measures—Proposition 47, which reduced some low-level drug and property crimes to misdemeanors, and Proposition 57, which amended juvenile justice standards, allowed parole consideration for nonviolent offenders, and permitted sentence credits for good behavior.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Valencia has served in this assembly seat since 2020, when he was elected with 51% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 25 points.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Valencia was an Anaheim City Councilmember and district director for Assemblymember Tom Daly. Assm. Daly scored an all-time score of 32 out of 100 and was regularly in our Hall of Shame on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, for siding with big corporations over workers, the environment, and tenants. Assm. Valencia has received support from the same problematic stakeholders.
Tardif ran for this seat in 2022, and lost to Valencia by 24 points.
Tardif is a small business owner and contractor. He has served on the Santa Ana Community Development Commission, the Santa Ana Historic Resources Commission, and the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce. He has been a longtime supporter of charter schools and increasing funding to the police.
Other background: Assm. Valencia is from Anaheim. He briefly played football in the NFL.
Tardif is from Orange County.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary: incumbent Assm. Avelino Valencia (D) and Mike Tardif (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Valencia’s campaign has raised $800,000, and is funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, and corporate PAC interests.
Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tardif’s campaign has raised $2,000.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 68th Assembly District includes parts of Orange County.
Voter registration: 51% Democrat, 21% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 56% Latino, 12% Asian, and 2% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-68 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 36 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 22 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.