It’s a race featuring two incumbent Assembly members in the 73rd Assembly District, an area that encompasses Costa Mesa and Irvine.
Due to redistricting, Republican Assemblyman Steven Choi faces Democratic Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris in the redrawn AD-73. Democrats do have a sizeable advantage in the area, with Republicans coming in third behind voters who registered with no party preference.
Cottie Petrie-Norris
Now an Irvine resident – she moved from Laguna Beach after redistricting – Petrie-Norris first won her spot in the Assembly in 2018, beating out an incumbent. A businesswoman, Petrie-Norris is supportive of a minimum wage increase but believes there needs to be support from California’s business and small business communities first.
Her two biggest issues are bolstering economic growth and ensuring there is oversight and accountability to how tax dollars are used. She’s a supporter of Be Well OC and has touted money she has secured for its second health and wellness campus as well as for mobile crisis units.
Petrie-Norris describes herself as a “pragmatic problem solver who cuts through bureaucracy to deliver results.”
Steven Choi
A Korean American immigrant and former educator, Choi was first elected to the Assembly in 2016. He is a former Irvine mayor and member of the City Council and school board.
“My top priorities when reelected will be to reduce the cost of living for California’s families, specifically when it comes to gasoline and energy prices,” Choi said in response to a survey by the Register.
When it comes to education, Choi said ensuring diverse and low-income students are receiving a quality education, making sure money is being used for education, and having accountability from administrators and teachers are important.
Choi describes his political philosophy as “making government more effective, accountable, and transparent.”
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