The Ballot Brief
Orange County, California

California Assembly District 59

Chen and Hernandez are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Orange County election filings.

About this race

Phillip Chen (Republican) and Victor Hernandez (Green) meet on the November 3 ballot; Phillip Chen is the incumbent, per the Secretary of State's list. June 2 top-two primary result: Phillip Chen (REP) 66.3 percent and Victor Hernandez (GRN) 33.7 percent advanced, per the Secretary of State's Statement of Vote. California's top-two primary decides who prints in November; the field is the Secretary of State's Certified List of Candidates for the General Election (August 27, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Phillip Chen, is on the ballot.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

California › Orange County › California Assembly District 59

Phillip Chen

Phillip Chen

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • Banking and financial services policy, per Assembly committee roster
  • Legislative ethics oversight, per Assembly committee roster
  • Asia-California trade relations, per Assembly committee roster
Biography

Phillip Chen is a business owner and educator first elected to the Assembly in 2016 and re-elected in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024, per Chen's campaign site. Chen won Chen's first elected office in 2011 as a Walnut Valley Unified School District board member, where Chen helped turn a budget deficit into a surplus, per the same source. Chen earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton and a master's degree in public administration and a doctorate in educational psychology from USC, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Victor Hernandez

Victor Hernandez

Green

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Affordable housing
  • Expanding healthcare access
  • Protecting immigrant communities
Biography

Victor Hernandez is the Green Party candidate for California's 59th Assembly District in northern Orange County. He serves on the Central Committee for the Green Party of Orange County and has been active in local community mutual-aid events, per his campaign website.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Next on your ballotCalifornia Assembly District 64

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for California Assembly District 59 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for California Assembly District 59 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Phillip Chen and Victor Hernandez. Candidate information follows official Orange County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the California Assembly District 59 election in California?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for California are on the California election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Orange County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Orange County and state election office filings, last verified October 14, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official California election office, or see the full Orange County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Orange County ballot

15 tracked races in Orange County, California. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
California Assembly District 67California Assembly District 68California Assembly District 70See all 15 Orange County races
Candidate profiles
Phillip Chen, full profileVictor Hernandez, full profileOfficial California election office