City of Cypress
Not in City of Cypress? Find your state's guide.
Ballot Drop Boxes
RETURN YOUR BALLOT BY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25
Welcome to the Courage California Progressive Voters Guide! We compile the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. Please share this guide with your friends and family!
Voting has changed in Orange County this year. The Voter’s Choice Act was enacted in the county to make voting more convenient. Changes include an expanded period of in-person early voting, every registered voter in the county will receive a vote-by-mail ballot, and every registered voter in the county is able to vote in-person at any Vote Center in their county. Have questions about the changes to voting in Orange County? Find out how to vote in Orange County.
State Senator, 36th District
Elect Jimmy Pham for State Senate to put SD-36 on the right track for progress.
Jimmy Pham’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a representative voice for the constituents of SD-36 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Pham has the endorsement of a few groups, including Newport Beach Women’s Democratic Club and Hubert Humphrey Democratic Club. He also has the endorsement of many local leaders, including Rep. Dave Min, State Sen. Tom Umberg, Artesia Mayor Ali Taj, and several local school trustees.
Electoral history: Pham has run for office previously, and lost his 2024 bid for AD-70 to a Republican challenger by 11 points. Prior to this run, he lost his 2022 race for Westminster City Council.
Top issues: Climate action and environmental protection, homelessness and housing, public safety, education, and wildfire preparedness and prevention.
Governance and community leadership experience: Pham is an immigration attorney. He has been a longtime supporter of immigration reform, and has advocated to improve conditions in immigration detention centers. While campaigning for Assembly in 2024, he has also called for increased funding for public safety, including for the police. He is an engaged member of his community and has been involved with many local organizations, including serving as the chair of the City of Westminster Traffic Commission, board secretary of the Vietnamese American Democratic Club, and member of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce.
Other background: Pham is a lifelong resident of Orange County and a first-generation American.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the February 25 primary, including Jimmy Pham (D), Julie Diep (D), John Briscoe (R), and Tony Strickland (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on April 29 if no candidate receives a majority of the votes. This seat was held by former Sen. Janet Nguyen until November 2024, when she was elected to serve on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Pham’s campaign has raised $300 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Julie Diep
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Diep’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the secretary of state as of January 2025.
Opposing candidate: Republican John Briscoe
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Briscoe’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the secretary of state as of January 2025.
Opposing candidate: Republican Tony Strickland
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Strickland’s campaign has raised $61,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 36th State Senate District includes parts of Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
Voter registration: 34% Democrat, 37% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.
District demographics: 17% Latino, 26% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: SD-36 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2024 by 4 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 8 points.
The Position
State senators 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 Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. 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 two-thirds supermajority of 30 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats and one seat is vacant.
Elect Jimmy Pham for State Senate to put SD-36 on the right track for progress.
Jimmy Pham’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a representative voice for the constituents of SD-36 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Pham has the endorsement of a few groups, including Newport Beach Women’s Democratic Club and Hubert Humphrey Democratic Club. He also has the endorsement of many local leaders, including Rep. Dave Min, State Sen. Tom Umberg, Artesia Mayor Ali Taj, and several local school trustees.
Electoral history: Pham has run for office previously, and lost his 2024 bid for AD-70 to a Republican challenger by 11 points. Prior to this run, he lost his 2022 race for Westminster City Council.
Top issues: Climate action and environmental protection, homelessness and housing, public safety, education, and wildfire preparedness and prevention.
Governance and community leadership experience: Pham is an immigration attorney. He has been a longtime supporter of immigration reform, and has advocated to improve conditions in immigration detention centers. While campaigning for Assembly in 2024, he has also called for increased funding for public safety, including for the police. He is an engaged member of his community and has been involved with many local organizations, including serving as the chair of the City of Westminster Traffic Commission, board secretary of the Vietnamese American Democratic Club, and member of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce.
Other background: Pham is a lifelong resident of Orange County and a first-generation American.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the February 25 primary, including Jimmy Pham (D), Julie Diep (D), John Briscoe (R), and Tony Strickland (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on April 29 if no candidate receives a majority of the votes. This seat was held by former Sen. Janet Nguyen until November 2024, when she was elected to serve on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Pham’s campaign has raised $300 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Julie Diep
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Diep’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the secretary of state as of January 2025.
Opposing candidate: Republican John Briscoe
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Briscoe’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the secretary of state as of January 2025.
Opposing candidate: Republican Tony Strickland
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Strickland’s campaign has raised $61,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 36th State Senate District includes parts of Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
Voter registration: 34% Democrat, 37% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.
District demographics: 17% Latino, 26% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: SD-36 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2024 by 4 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 8 points.
The Position
State senators 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 Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. 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 two-thirds supermajority of 30 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats and one seat is vacant.
Elect Jimmy Pham for State Senate to put SD-36 on the right track for progress.
Jimmy Pham’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a representative voice for the constituents of SD-36 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Pham has the endorsement of a few groups, including Newport Beach Women’s Democratic Club and Hubert Humphrey Democratic Club. He also has the endorsement of many local leaders, including Rep. Dave Min, State Sen. Tom Umberg, Artesia Mayor Ali Taj, and several local school trustees.
Electoral history: Pham has run for office previously, and lost his 2024 bid for AD-70 to a Republican challenger by 11 points. Prior to this run, he lost his 2022 race for Westminster City Council.
Top issues: Climate action and environmental protection, homelessness and housing, public safety, education, and wildfire preparedness and prevention.
Governance and community leadership experience: Pham is an immigration attorney. He has been a longtime supporter of immigration reform, and has advocated to improve conditions in immigration detention centers. While campaigning for Assembly in 2024, he has also called for increased funding for public safety, including for the police. He is an engaged member of his community and has been involved with many local organizations, including serving as the chair of the City of Westminster Traffic Commission, board secretary of the Vietnamese American Democratic Club, and member of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce.
Other background: Pham is a lifelong resident of Orange County and a first-generation American.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the February 25 primary, including Jimmy Pham (D), Julie Diep (D), John Briscoe (R), and Tony Strickland (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on April 29 if no candidate receives a majority of the votes. This seat was held by former Sen. Janet Nguyen until November 2024, when she was elected to serve on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Pham’s campaign has raised $300 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Julie Diep
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Diep’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the secretary of state as of January 2025.
Opposing candidate: Republican John Briscoe
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Briscoe’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the secretary of state as of January 2025.
Opposing candidate: Republican Tony Strickland
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Strickland’s campaign has raised $61,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 36th State Senate District includes parts of Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
Voter registration: 34% Democrat, 37% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.
District demographics: 17% Latino, 26% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: SD-36 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2024 by 4 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 8 points.
The Position
State senators 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 Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. 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 two-thirds supermajority of 30 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats and one seat is vacant.