The filing deadline to run for the District 1 seat in the California State Assembly passed on July 3. The following five candidates filed: Elizabeth Betancourt (D), Megan Dahle (R), Patrick Henry Jones (R), Lane Rickard (R), and Joe Turner (R).

 

The top two vote recipients in the August 27 primary, regardless of their party, will advance to the special general election on November 5. The District 1 seat was vacated by Brian Dahle (R), who was elected to represent District 1 of the California State Senate on June 4 in another special election. Megan Dahle is his wife.

 

As of July 10, 65 state legislative special elections have been scheduled or held in 24 states. This is the third state legislative special election in California this year. Between 2011 and 2018, an average of 77 special elections took place each year.

 

Entering the special election, the California State Assembly had 61 Democrats, 18 Republicans, and one vacancy. A majority in the chamber requires 41 seats. California is one of 14 Democratic trifectas. A state government trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and both state legislative chambers.