The Ballot Brief
Orange County, California

California Senate District 36

2 candidates are tracked for California Senate District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Chris Duncan and Tony Strickland. Candidate information follows official Orange County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Chris Duncan (Democratic) and Tony Strickland (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Tony Strickland is the incumbent, per the Secretary of State's list. June 2 top-two primary result: Tony Strickland (REP) 53.4 percent and Chris Duncan (DEM) 46.6 percent advanced, per the Secretary of State's Statement of Vote. California's top-two primary decides who prints in November; the field is the Secretary of State's Certified List of Candidates for the General Election (August 27, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Tony Strickland, is on the ballot.

California › Orange County › California Senate District 36

Chris Duncan

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Public safety and reducing homelessness
  • Lowering taxes, utility costs, and insurance premiums
  • Gun-safety enforcement

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Chris Duncan is a Democratic candidate for California's 36th Senate District and a San Clemente City Councilmember, the first Democrat elected to that council, per his campaign website. He served as mayor in 2022 and previously spent more than 16 years as a federal prosecutor, including as Assistant Chief Counsel at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Tony Strickland

Tony Strickland

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Championed a Student Health Bill addressing student health resources
  • Has raised affordability concerns for Californians

Per the official Senate site.

Biography

Tony Strickland is a sitting State Senator representing the 36th District, previously elected to the State Assembly in 1998 and to the Huntington Beach City Council in 2022, where Strickland also served as Mayor, per Strickland's campaign site. Strickland was born at Fort Ord, California, the son of an Army drill sergeant, and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Whittier College, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Next on your ballotCalifornia Senate District 38

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for California Senate District 36 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for California Senate District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Chris Duncan and Tony Strickland. Candidate information follows official Orange County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the California Senate District 36 election in California?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for California are on the California election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Orange County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Orange County and state election office filings, last verified September 8, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official California election office, or see the full Orange County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Orange County ballot

15 tracked races in Orange County, California. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
California Assembly District 59California Assembly District 64California Assembly District 67See all 15 Orange County races
Candidate profiles
Chris Duncan, full profileTony Strickland, full profileOfficial California election office