California’s thirty-ninth state assembly district is represented by Democratic Representative Luz Maria Rivas, who won a special election to replace Rep. Raul Bocanegra (D) on June 5, 2018. She defeated Ricardo Benitez (R) in the race. Bocanegra resigned due to sexual harassment allegations.

California state assembly members represent an average of 465,674 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 420,000 residents.

About the office

Members of the California State Assembly serve two-year terms with term limits. California legislators assume office one month after election (December).

Qualifications

According to Article IV of the California Constitution, the candidate must be a United States Citizen, a resident of California for three years, a resident of the legislative district for one year and a registered voter in that district by the time nomination papers are filed.

Salaries

Term limits

Since the passage of Prop 28 in 2012, legislators first elected on or after November 6, 2012, are limited to a maximum of 12 years. Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, and limits them to a maximum of three two-year terms (six years).

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the assembly, the Governor must call for a special election. The election must be called by the Governor within fourteen days of the vacancy. No special election can be held if the vacancy happened in an election year and the nominating deadline passed.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of California State Assembly will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline was December 6, 2019.

2018

Regular election

Special election

A special primary election for the position of California State Assembly District 39 was called for April 3, 2018. Luz Maria Rivas (D) and Ricardo Benitez (R), the top two vote-getters, advanced to the special general election that was held on June 5, 2018. Rivas won the seat.

To qualify for the race, candidates had to obtain nomination documents from election officials in their county of residence by February 8, 2018. Candidates could have qualified by paying a $1,072.42 filing fee. Candidates could have also qualified by submitting 536 petition signatures by January 9, 2018. The filing deadline for write-in candidates was March 20, 2018.

The seat became vacant following Raul Bocanegra's (D) resignation on November 27, 2017. He resigned due to sexual harassment allegations.

Six candidates—five Democrats and one Republican—filed to run in the primary election.

2016

Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016.

Raul Bocanegra defeated incumbent Patty Lopez in the California State Assembly District 39 general election.

California State Assembly, District 39 General Election, 2016

The following candidates ran in the California State Assembly District 39 Blanket primary.

California State Assembly, District 39 Blanket Primary, 2016

2014

Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Incumbent Raul Bocanegra (D) and Patty Lopez (D) defeated Kevin J. Suscavage (D) and write-in candidate Michael B. Boyd (R) in the blanket primary. Lopez defeated Bocanegra in the general election.

California State Assembly, District 39, General Election, 2014

California State Assembly, District 39 Blanket Primary, 2014

2012

Elections for the office of California State Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 9, 2012. Raul Bocanegra (D) and Richard Alarcon (D) defeated Ricardo Benitez (R), Margie Margarita Carranza (R), Omar Cuevas (R) and John Paul Lindblad (G) in the June 5 blanket primary. Bocanegra went on to defeat Alarcon in the general election.

California State Assembly, District 39, General Election, 2012

California State Assembly, District 39 Blanket Primary, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for California State Assembly District 39 raised a total of $9,209,206. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $297,071 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, California State Assembly District 39