At the November 2022 Elections, we will be voting for seven state propositions, elect federal, state, county, city and local government officers and impact our communities’ health, housing, environmental and other policies.
Voters in Orange County will elect the following positions:
- Federal Congressmembers
- California Governor and members of the Executive Branch: Lt. Gov, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Board of Equalization: Candidates
- State Senators and Assemblymembers
- Justices of California’s Supreme Court: Candidates
- Justices of California’s Courts of Appeals: Candidates
- Orange County Board of Supervisors
- City Council positions in all cities and Mayors in some cities
- School District Board Member positions
- Water Board, Community Services Board, Community College Board and other local positions
More Information
U.S. Congress
Senators approve international treaties, confirm appointments made by the President, and make laws.
Candidates:
– Mark P. Meuser (R)
– Alex Padilla (D)
Meuser and Padilla are running both for the remainder of the current term ending in January 3, 2023, and the following 2023-2028 term.
Representatives make laws and approve the federal budget.
California State Executive
The Governor oversees the state government, prepares the budget, and approves laws.
Candidates:
– Brian Dahle (R)
– Gavin Newsom (D)
The Lieutenant Governor works with the Governor and casts the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.
Candidates:
– Angela Underwood Jacobs (R)
– Eleni Kounalakis (D)
The Secretary of State oversees elections and keeps records of businesses.
Candidates:
– Rob Bernosky (R)
– Shirley N. Weber (D)
The Controller is the bookkeeper, tracks the money, and collects taxes.
Candidates:
– Lanhee Chen (R)
– Malia M. Cohen (D)
The Treasurer manages California’s investments and assets.
Candidates:
– Jack M. Guerrero (R)
– Fiona Ma (R)
The Attorney General oversees the enforcement of laws and the Department of Justice, and oversees sheriffs and district attorneys of each county.
Candidates:
– Rob Bonta (D)
– Nathan Hochman (R)
The Insurance Commissioner manages the Department of Insurance and regulates the insurance industry.
Candidates:
– Robert Howell (R)
– Ricardo Lara (D)
The Superintendent of Public Instruction manages the Department of Education and oversees all public schools.
Candidates:
– Lance Ray Christensen
– Tony K. Thurmond
* This is a nonpartisan position and no party affiliation is displayed.
California State Legislature
State Senators and Assembly Members introduce and vote on new laws, hold hearings, and draft the state budget.
Orange County Board of Supervisors
The Orange County Board of Supervisors (BOS) manage the government at the county level. Services of the county government include public health, foster care, job training, and administration of social service programs such as Medi-Cal or CalFresh. The County manages a budget of $8 billion to administer these services.
For example, a Supervisor’s commitment to mental health can mean the difference between an underfunded and understaffed public mental health program that takes months to assign a caseworker, or one that meets the needs of the community.
Supervisors representing Districts 2, 4, and 5 are up for elections in 2022.
City Government
Mayors and City Council Members manage the government at the city level, including services like parks, police, firefighters, housing, emergency medical services, roads and transportation.
In the larger cities, the Mayor is usually elected by voters, while in others, City Council members select one member to serve as Mayor. Some City Councils appoint a City Manager, who oversees the administration of the city. Usually, the Mayor proposes and administers the budget, appoints department heads, and oversees the administration of the city, but the Mayor’s power varies by city.
While Orange County is comprised of more than 40 cities, OC Action’s voter education efforts are concentrated in these specific cities, for which we have compiled and linked more detailed information:
| City | 2022 Elections |
|---|---|
| Anaheim | Mayor and Council Districts 2, 3, 6 Current mayor resigned in May 2022 |
| Brea | Three Council Members (At-large) |
| Buena Park | Council Districts 1, 2, 5 |
| Costa Mesa | Mayor and Council Districts 3, 4, 5 |
| Cypress | Three Council Members (At-large) |
| Fountain Valley | Three Council Members (At-large) |
| Fullerton | Council Districts 3, 5 |
| Garden Grove | Mayor and Council Districts 1, 3, 4 |
| Irvine | Mayor and Two Council Members (At-large) |
| La Habra | Three Council Members (At-large) |
| Orange | Mayor and Council Districts 1, 3, 4, 6 |
| Placentia | City Clerk and Council Districts 2, 4 |
| Santa Ana | Mayor and Council Wards 2, 4 and 6 Current mayor‘s term is not over, but he is running for another position, triggering this election |
| Stanton | Mayor and Council Districts 1, 3 |
| Tustin | Mayor and Council District 3 |
| Wesminster | Mayor and Districts 1, 4 |
At-large Districts: from the above cities, Brea, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Irvine and La Habra’s City Councils are at-large. They do not have City Council districts, and instead voters vote in multiple candidates, for the number of seats up for election. For example, to elect three council members, you will see a list of all candidates, and asked to vote for 3 candidates from the list.
School District Board
School District Board Members approve school related decisions: budgets and set budget priorities, textbooks, and school schedules. They set the vision for schools and help students achieve their potential. The following school districts in Orange County have elections in 2022:
School Districts: Anaheim Elementary, Anaheim Union High, Brea Olinda Unified, Buena Park, Capistrano Unified, Centralia, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton Joint Union High, Fullerton, Garden Grove Unified, Huntington Beach City, Huntington Beach Union High, Irvine Unified, La Habra City, Laguna Beach Unified, Los Alamitos Unified, Lowell Joint, Magnolia, Newport-Mesa Unified, Ocean View, Orange Unified, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified, Rowland Unified, Saddleback Valley Unified, Santa Ana Unified, Savanna, Tustin Unified, Westminster
Local Boards
Community College District Boards, Water Boards, Community Services Boards and other local positions elect their board members by elections. Board members approve or reject recommendations made by personnel, and ensure the bodies meet their goals. The following local Board positions in Orange County have elections in 2022:
- Community College Districts: Coast, North Orange County, Rancho Santiago, South Orange County
- Community Services Districts: Capistrano Bay, Emerald Bay, Rossmoor, Surfside, Three Arch Bay
- Water Districts: Serrano, Surfside Colony, El Toro, Irvine Ranch, Moulton Niguel, Santa Margarita, East Orange County, Rossmoor/Los Alamitos, Mesa, South Coast, Trabuco Canyon, Yorba Linda, Orange County, Municipal of Orange County
- Sanitary Districts: Costa Mesa, Midway City, Sunset Beach
- Library Districts: Buena Park Library District, Placentia Library District
- Other Districts: Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Park District, Santiago Geologic Hazard Abatement District
Photo Credits: This webpage is licensed with Creative Commons BY-SA, and uses photos under compatible copyright licenses. Joint Session of Congress (Public Domain), US Congress, Sacramento Capitol, State Assembly, Garden Grove Methodist Church, Downtown Fullerton, Julia Lathrop Junior High School, Irvine Regional Park (BY), Old Courthouse Santa Ana (BY-SA). Candidate photos are from the Voter’s Edge website.
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