David Penaloza
Democratic · CA · Santa Ana City Councilmember, Ward 6 (Mayor Pro Tem)
David Penaloza is a Democratic candidate for California's 68th State Assembly District (Santa Ana) in the 2026 general election, an open-seat top-two contest against fellow Democrat Jessie Lopez. He has served on the Santa Ana City Council (Ward 6) since 2018 and was selected Mayor Pro Tem in 2026.
Campaign Finance Information — Member of the State Assembly, District 68
Campaign Finance Information · Member of the State Assembly, District 68 · November 3, 2026
Data last updated July 24, 2026
- Raised
- $565,665
Top disclosed occupations of direct donors
- Attorney$13,250
- Retired$13,225
- Assemblymember$8,000
- CEO$7,500
Show 1 more
- President$7,250
Spending by outside groups
Money spent on this race by outside groups — such as PACs and super PACs — not by the candidate's own campaign. This spending is not coordinated with the candidate's campaign and does not go directly to the candidate.
Outside money spent supporting this candidate: $3,426,765
Industries funding these supporting groups
- Technology$45,000,000
Groups that spent money supporting this candidate (5)
- California Leads$1,216,962
Big Tech money: funded almost entirely by Meta and Google. · transparencyusa.org
- GROW CALIFORNIA$916,932
Crypto money: funded almost entirely by two billionaires, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen and investor Tim Draper. · transparencyusa.org · sfexaminer.com
- Focused on Affordability, supporting David Penaloza for Assembly 2026 Fighting for Lower Prices, a coalition of California employers, insurance, energy and health care providers$239,450
Employer money: funded by business groups, mainly the state Chamber of Commerce's campaign fund. · transparencyusa.org
- Advance California, Sponsored by California Apartment Association$185,563
Landlord money: funded almost entirely by the California Apartment Association, the state's biggest landlord group. · transparencyusa.org
- JOBSPAC, A BI-PARTISAN COALITION OF CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS, SPONSORED BY THE CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE$114,708
The campaign fund of the California Chamber of Commerce — employer money. · calchamber.com
Outside money spent opposing this candidate: $539,787
Groups that spent money opposing this candidate (1)
- Working People United sponsored by SEIU California State Council$539,787
Union money: sponsored by SEIU's California council and paid for by SEIU locals and the California Nurses Association. · transparencyusa.org
Industry amounts are contributions to these groups, not amounts necessarily spent on this candidate.
Source: California Secretary of State · 2026 cycle · campaignfinance.cdn.sos.ca.gov
Track record
General
· 1 record
Has served on the Santa Ana City Council representing Ward 6 since being elected in 2018 (re-elected 2022) and was selected as Mayor Pro Tem in January 2026.
November 6, 2018
Source: santa-ana.gov · researched July 17, 2026
Elections
- Member of the State Assembly, District 68 · November 3, 2026 · Assembly District 68; California
Profile last researched July 17, 2026.