Huntington Beach Councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark has launched a 2026 bid for an Assembly seat.
Van Der Mark, who took a turn as the city’s mayor last year, is vying for the coastal 72nd Assembly District seat, an open spot in 2026 because Assemblymember Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, is running for a spot on Orange County’s Board of Supervisors.
“Huntington Beach has been amazing for my family, and I just wanted to move forward and preserve those values for the state, bring some common sense back into California,” said Van Der Mark.
She said she is focused in her campaign on public safety, homelessness, parental rights and taxes.
Sign up for Down Ballot, our Southern California politics email newsletter. Subscribe here.Van Der Mark enjoys a fellow conservative majority on the Huntington Beach City Council dais — but in Sacramento, Democrats lead the legislature and executive branch.
“I am open to working with other legislators to actually get things going,” said Van Der Mark when asked about navigating that change, should she be elected. “I don’t think we should just stick to one side or another of the aisle. If it makes sense, we should move forward together.”
On the City Council, Van Der Mark has been involved in myriad polarizing decisions, including changes to the city’s libraries, legal challenges to the state’s housing mandates and a voter ID requirement for city elections, which voters approved in 2024.
Although she’s lived in Huntington Beach for 24 years, Van Der Mark grew up in Maywood, a small city south of Los Angeles. She is the daughter of immigrant parents. Between her and her husband, she’s a mom to seven.
Van Der Mark said she decided to jump into the race because she believes the 72nd Assembly District needs a “strong conservative” to represent it — and with Dixon leaving the seat, it’s losing that type of representation, she said.
“I wanted to honor her service by stepping up and continuing her legacy,” said Van Der Mark, whose term on the City Council is up in 2026.
The 72nd Assembly District spans the coast in Orange County, from Seal Beach to Laguna Beach, jutting inland to include Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest and Laguna Woods.
As of February, the latest report from the secretary of state, registered Republicans make up 39.8% of voters in the district, Democrats account for 32.14% of registered voters, and 21.32% are no party preference.
Van Der Mark is already backed by former GOP Assembly leader Scott Baugh, according to her campaign.
Related Articles
LACCD Trustee Andra Hoffman eyes seat as California’s schools chief Democrats seeking California governor strut their stuff for powerful union leaders This OC Assembly race is already one of the most expensive 2026 legislative contests Paula Swift joins crowded race for California’s 40th Congressional District Cerritos Councilmember Mark Pulido is running for the 67th Assembly District Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Huntington Beach Councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark eyes Assembly seat )
Also on site :