No Recommendation
AD71 - No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, this district will be a safe Republican seat in the 2024 election cycle. While a Democratic candidate is unlikely to win, we recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
Governance, community leadership experience, and background: Gary Kephart has run for both the Assembly and the state Senate previously. In 2010, he lost his bid for AD-71 by 32 points. In 2014, he lost his bid for SD-36 by 32 points.
Kephart is a software engineer. He served for six years on the Ladera Ranch Civic Council, which is a locally created organization that liaises with the county on public safety, public services, and business development.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Gary Kephart (D), incumbent Assm. Kate Sanchez (R), and Babar Khan (PAF). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Kephart’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate: Assm. Kate Sanchez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Assm. Sanchez’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 71st Assembly District includes parts of Riverside and Orange Counties.
Voter registration: 31% Democrat, 40% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 11% Asian, and 4% Black.
Recent election results: AD-71 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 7 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 20 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.
AD71 - No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, this district will be a safe Republican seat in the 2024 election cycle. While a Democratic candidate is unlikely to win, we recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
Governance, community leadership experience, and background: Gary Kephart has run for both the Assembly and the state Senate previously. In 2010, he lost his bid for AD-71 by 32 points. In 2014, he lost his bid for SD-36 by 32 points.
Kephart is a software engineer. He served for six years on the Ladera Ranch Civic Council, which is a locally created organization that liaises with the county on public safety, public services, and business development.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Gary Kephart (D), incumbent Assm. Kate Sanchez (R), and Babar Khan (PAF). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Kephart’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate: Assm. Kate Sanchez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Assm. Sanchez’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 71st Assembly District includes parts of Riverside and Orange Counties.
Voter registration: 31% Democrat, 40% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 11% Asian, and 4% Black.
Recent election results: AD-71 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 7 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 20 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.