Next election for federal, state legislative seats could be deja vu for Yorba Linda's voters

While it's much too early for voters in Yorba Linda and other north county cities to focus on the next election, current office-holders and potential challengers already are busy launching campaign committees, raising funds and securing endorsements for the upcoming ballot.

Contests to represent this area in Congress and the state legislature are shaping up as an example of electoral deja vu, as several of the losers in last year's elections queue up to again run against the candidates who defeated them.

And the March 2020 primary to select the top two finishers in each race to face-off in the November general election will have one new wrinkle: every registered voter will receive a

ballot in the mail they can either return by mail or drop off at any of some 180 vote centers.

The voting centers will replace individual precincts and be supplemented by additional secure drop-off boxes throughout the county for voters to return their mail-in ballots. The centers and boxes will open 11 days before the election, including two weekends.

Candidates for state positions must file an “intention to run” with California's Secretary of State before they can form committees and start collecting money.

Filing in the 55^th Assembly District are two-term incumbent Republican Phillip Chen and Democrat Gregg Fritchle, his opponent in 2016 and 2018. Others are Democrats Michelle Hamilton and Andrew Rodriguez and independent Gabriel Dina-Smith.

The district includes Brea, La Habra, Placentia, Yorba Linda and cities in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Registration is 37 percent Republican, 32.7 percent Democratic and 26 percent no party preference.

Filing in the 29^th Senate District are incumbent Republican Ling-Ling Chang and Democrat Josh Newman. Newman beat Chang in 2016 by 0.8 percent, but he was recalled last year by a 16.3 percent margin and replaced by Chang, who won a six-person race.

The district includes Brea, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, Stanton, Yorba Linda, parts of Anaheim and Buena Park and cities in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Registration is 36 percent Democratic, 32.7 percent Republican and 28.4 percent no party preference.

Voters in the 39^th Congressional District again will choose between Democrat Gil Cisneros of Yorba Linda and Republican Young Kim of Fullerton to represent Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Yorba Linda and cities in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

Cisneros beat Young by 1.4 percent last year. District registration is 33.8 percent Democratic, 32.7 percent Republican and 29.4 percent no party preference.

The November election might be the last with the current boundaries for local districts, since 2020 census figures could result in newly drawn lines. Changes that occurred after the 2010 census included placing all of Yorba Linda in a single assembly district and one congressional district.