No Recommendation
AD76 - No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, 2 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: Joseph Rocha has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Reproductive Freedom for All, Safer CA, and Housing Action Coalition, as well as labor unions like SEIU, United Auto Workers Western States, Unite Here, United Food and Commercial Workers, and California Labor Federation. He has also been endorsed by elected officials and local leaders like Dolores Huerta, Nancy Pelosi, State Senators Caroline Menjivar, Susan Eggman, and Lena Gonzalez, and Assemblymembers Tina McKinnor and Eloise Gomez Reyes.
Darshana Patel has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, Reproductive Freedom for All California, Evolve California, and the Sierra Club, as well as labor unions like California Federation of Teachers, Laborers’ International Union of North America, and California Faculty Association. She has also been endorsed by elected officials like Congressmembers Katie Porter and Ro Khanna, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and State Senators Josh Becker and Dave Min.
Key initiatives: Joseph Rocha is a Navy veteran and former judge advocate. After serving in the Persian Gulf as a bomb-dog handler, he was dishonorably discharged under “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” Rocha became a strong proponent of the repeal while working to complete his undergraduate and law degrees, and spent time as a congressional intern during his time away from the military. After the archaic policy was repealed in 2011, Rocha rejoined the Marine Corps and served as a judge advocate until his retirement in 2021. In his youth, Rocha experienced economic insecurity and family addiction. After coming out as gay at 17, he experienced homelessness before pursuing his military career. He has made housing solutions and support for working families cornerstones of his platform.
Darshana Patel is an elected school board trustee and research scientist, which she does because she believes more needs to be done for those facing severe medical conditions, especially after losing her mother at a young age. As a Poway Unified School District Trustee, she helped restore the district to financial solvency and offered leadership to schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patel is heavily involved in education at both the local and state levels: she is president of the San Diego County School Boards Association, and also serves on the Legislative Committee of the California School Boards Association.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rocha ran for state Senate in District 40, and lost to incumbent Republican Brian Jones by 6 points.
Patel serves on the Poway Unified School District Board of Education. She was elected to the Board in 2016, finishing as the top vote-getter in a field of 9. She won reelection in 2020 by 22 points.
Other background: Joseph Rocha is from Riverside. He lives in Escondido.
Darshana Patel is from California. She lives in San Diego.
The Race
Primary election: There are 3 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Joseph Rocha (D), Kristie Bruce-Lane (R), and Darshana Patel (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rocha’s campaign has raised $260,668 and is not funded by corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or the police.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Patel’s campaign has raised $200,501 and is not funded by the fossil fuel industry or the police. She has accepted donations from corporate PACs and the real estate industry.
Opposing candidate: Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Bruce-Lane’s campaign has raised $250,698 and is funded by the real estate industry, the fossil fuel industry, and corporate PACs.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 76th Assembly District includes parts of San Diego County.
Voter registration: 38% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 22% Latino, 15% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: AD-76 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 16 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 3 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.
AD76 - No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, 2 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: Joseph Rocha has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Reproductive Freedom for All, Safer CA, and Housing Action Coalition, as well as labor unions like SEIU, United Auto Workers Western States, Unite Here, United Food and Commercial Workers, and California Labor Federation. He has also been endorsed by elected officials and local leaders like Dolores Huerta, Nancy Pelosi, State Senators Caroline Menjivar, Susan Eggman, and Lena Gonzalez, and Assemblymembers Tina McKinnor and Eloise Gomez Reyes.
Darshana Patel has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, Reproductive Freedom for All California, Evolve California, and the Sierra Club, as well as labor unions like California Federation of Teachers, Laborers’ International Union of North America, and California Faculty Association. She has also been endorsed by elected officials like Congressmembers Katie Porter and Ro Khanna, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and State Senators Josh Becker and Dave Min.
Key initiatives: Joseph Rocha is a Navy veteran and former judge advocate. After serving in the Persian Gulf as a bomb-dog handler, he was dishonorably discharged under “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” Rocha became a strong proponent of the repeal while working to complete his undergraduate and law degrees, and spent time as a congressional intern during his time away from the military. After the archaic policy was repealed in 2011, Rocha rejoined the Marine Corps and served as a judge advocate until his retirement in 2021. In his youth, Rocha experienced economic insecurity and family addiction. After coming out as gay at 17, he experienced homelessness before pursuing his military career. He has made housing solutions and support for working families cornerstones of his platform.
Darshana Patel is an elected school board trustee and research scientist, which she does because she believes more needs to be done for those facing severe medical conditions, especially after losing her mother at a young age. As a Poway Unified School District Trustee, she helped restore the district to financial solvency and offered leadership to schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patel is heavily involved in education at both the local and state levels: she is president of the San Diego County School Boards Association, and also serves on the Legislative Committee of the California School Boards Association.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rocha ran for state Senate in District 40, and lost to incumbent Republican Brian Jones by 6 points.
Patel serves on the Poway Unified School District Board of Education. She was elected to the Board in 2016, finishing as the top vote-getter in a field of 9. She won reelection in 2020 by 22 points.
Other background: Joseph Rocha is from Riverside. He lives in Escondido.
Darshana Patel is from California. She lives in San Diego.
The Race
Primary election: There are 3 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Joseph Rocha (D), Kristie Bruce-Lane (R), and Darshana Patel (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rocha’s campaign has raised $260,668 and is not funded by corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or the police.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Patel’s campaign has raised $200,501 and is not funded by the fossil fuel industry or the police. She has accepted donations from corporate PACs and the real estate industry.
Opposing candidate: Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Bruce-Lane’s campaign has raised $250,698 and is funded by the real estate industry, the fossil fuel industry, and corporate PACs.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 76th Assembly District includes parts of San Diego County.
Voter registration: 38% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 22% Latino, 15% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: AD-76 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 16 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 3 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.