Huntington Beach Councilman Tony Strickland has picked up a raft of law enforcement endorsements for his bid to win the 36th Senate District special election. Police associations representing the major departments in the SD36, as well as the county-wide and state public safety groups, have swung behind Strickland.
Their endorsements come on the heels of Strickland’s endorsement by Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.
“Tony Strickland has proven himself as a leader who puts public safety first,” said Barnes in a release issued by the Strickland campaign.. “I am proud to support Tony for Senate.”
In addition to Barnes, law enforcement groups backing Strickland include:
- Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs
- Huntington Beach Police Officers Association
- Newport Beach Police Officers Association
- Garden Grove Police Officers Association
- Westminster Police Officers Association
- California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations
“Tony has proven that he stands for public safety, that’s why we are proud to stand with him. We know Tony Strickland will fight to protect Orange County communities,” said Juan Viramontes, president of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, in the release.
“California needs Tony Strickland back in the State Senate. Tony Strickland has the experience and the ability to work with all – he will be effective starting day one,” said Mark Wershing, the president of the Huntington Beach Police Officers Association, in the release. “Tony will fight to make our state and local communities safer, solving huge state issues and working on our economy. We urge everyone to vote now, early or on Special Election Day February 25. Elect Tony Strickland our next State Senator.”
“I am honored to have the support of the men and women who, every day, put their lives on the line to keep us safe in our homes and in our neighborhoods,” said Strickland. “Government has no higher duty than ensuring the safety of its citizens.”
The 36th Senate District special election was triggered when the incumbent, Janet Nguyen, was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
The special election primary is scheduled for February 25, 2025. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, there will be an April 29 run-off between the top two vote-getters.
Strickland, a Republican, is widely considered the front-runner in the race. The other candidates are Democrats Jimmy Pham and Julie Diep, and Republican John Briscoe.
Last November, Pham ran against Assemblyman Tri Ta and lost, 54.7% to 45.3%. That same month, Julie Diep was elected to an open seat on the Anaheim Elementary School District Board of Education, defeating an under-funded twenty-something opponent.
Briscoe used to be a member of the Ocean View School District Board of Education, where he was a strange ally to Trustee Gina Clayton-Tarvin, a partisan Democrat and prominent antagonist of Huntington Beach’s conservative city council. Last November, Briscoe tried to reclaim a seat on the Ocean View School District board but finished dead last with only 7.26% of the vote.
The 36th Senate District includes the communities of Cerritos, Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens, La Palma, Buena Park, Cypress, Stanton, Los Alamitos, Garden Grove, Westminster, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and San Clemente.
Republicans have a nearly 4-point voter registration edge in SD36. That advantage grows to more than 10 points among high-propensity voters – who will have a disproportionate impact in low-turnout special election.
SD 36 went GOP across the board in 2024. Trump won the district 49.7% versus 45.7% for Kamala Harris. Steve Garvey beat out Adam Schiff 53.2% to 46.8%.
In 2022, Janet Nguyen won SD36 over Huntington Beach Councilwoman Kim Carr, 56.9% to 43.1%
Tony Strickland was elected to the Huntington Beach City Council in 2022, leading a four-candidate slate that swept the council elections. As mayor and councilman, he has led the fight for public safety and quality of life, and against Governor Gavin Newsom’s efforts to usurp local control.
He served in the state Assembly from 1998 to 2004, and in the state Senate from 2008 to 2012.
