Candidates apply
Any candidate in a race within our scope can request consideration. The board announces the procedure and the deadline in advance.
Endorsements
Our members endorsed 38 candidates for the November 3, 2026 election, from Congress to the city council, school board and water board races closest to home.
November 3, 2026 general election
Our November slate
Every candidate below was voted on by our members at an open meeting, from the races closest to home up to the top of the ticket.
The 2026 voter guide
Swipe through it here or on Instagram. Tap any slide to open it full size and save it.
Local races
City councils, school boards and water: endorsed September 23, 2026.
City councils
Steven Von der Porten
Aliso Viejo City Council · District 2
Endorsed Sept 23
Marie Tsaasan
Aliso Viejo City Council · District 3
Endorsed Sept 23
Sue Kempf
Laguna Beach City Council
Endorsed Sept 23
Alex Rounaghi
Laguna Beach City Council
Endorsed Sept 23
Annie McCary
Laguna Woods City Council
Endorsed Sept 23
Sue Quam
Laguna Woods City Council
Endorsed Sept 23
Becky Keene
Lake Forest City Council · District 2
Endorsed Sept 23
Amy Stevens
Lake Forest City Council · District 4
Endorsed Sept 23
Cynthia Vasquez
Mission Viejo City Council · District 3
Endorsed Sept 23
Laura Lacko
Mission Viejo City Council · District 4
Endorsed Sept 23
Dr. Natalie Guse
Rancho Santa Margarita City Council · District 2
Endorsed Sept 23
Shane Hirschman
Mayor of San Clemente
Endorsed Sept 23
Donna Vidrine
San Clemente City Council · District 1
Endorsed Sept 23
Mark Enmeier
San Clemente City Council · District 2
Endorsed Sept 23
School boards
Melissa Caldwell
Capistrano Unified · Area 4
Endorsed Sept 23
Jeanna Emmons
Capistrano Unified · Area 6
Endorsed Sept 23
Ron Ruef
Capistrano Unified · Area 7
Endorsed Sept 23
Dr. Edgar Montes
Saddleback Valley Unified · Area 5
Endorsed Sept 23
Joan Malczewski
Laguna Beach Unified
Endorsed Sept 23
Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal
Laguna Beach Unified
Endorsed Sept 23
Water
Jennifer Engle
Moulton Niguel Water District · Full term
Endorsed Sept 23
David Petty
Moulton Niguel Water District · Short term
Endorsed Sept 23
Congress, Legislature & County
Endorsed May 13, 2026, and all on the November ballot.
Federal
Mike Levin
U.S. House of Representatives · CA-49
Endorsed May 13
Dave Min
U.S. House of Representatives · CA-47
Endorsed May 13
State Senate
Catherine Blakespear
California State Senate · SD-38
Endorsed May 13
Chris Duncan
California State Senate · SD-36
Endorsed May 13
State Assembly
JJ Galvez
California State Assembly · AD-71
Endorsed May 13
Chris Kluwe
California State Assembly · AD-72
Endorsed May 13
Sergio Farias
California State Assembly · AD-74
Endorsed May 13
Orange County
Katrina Foley
OC Board of Supervisors · District 5
Endorsed May 13
Statewide
Governor
Xavier Becerra
Lieutenant Governor
Fiona Ma
Secretary of State
Shirley Weber
Controller
Malia Cohen
Treasurer
Eleni Kounalakis
Attorney General
Rob Bonta
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Richard Barrera
Board of Equalization · District 4
Tom Umberg
Between now and November 3
Where we're organizing
Our field focus this fall is Supervisor Katrina Foley and Assembly candidates Chris Kluwe (AD-72) and JJ Galvez (AD-71). Foley's District 5 seat was decided by a narrow margin in the primary, and it's the closest race on our map.
Endorsements
How our process works
It's written into our bylaws.
Equal time
At the endorsement meeting every eligible candidate gets the same speaking time and the same access to member questions.
Members vote
Members vote, and an endorsement needs three-fifths of the members present. "No endorsement" is always an option.
Conflicts step aside
No board member who works for or with a campaign may preside over that race. Our president has stepped aside from a race for exactly this reason.
Running for something?
Our endorsements for November 2026 are set. If you're thinking about running in a South Orange County race in the future, get in touch. We'd love to meet you early.
Want the full record — motions, seconds, and vote counts? It's all in the published minutes.