2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

California Assembly District 72

2 candidates, listed alphabetically.

California uses a top-two primary: the two candidates with the most votes in the June 2 primary advanced, regardless of party, so both finalists can be from the same party.

California uses a top-two primary for congressional, statewide and legislative offices: the two candidates with the most primary votes advance regardless of party, so both general-election candidates can be from the same party. Write-in candidates for these offices can run only in the primary. California Secretary of State

Candidates

Chris Kluwe

Democratic

Work
Coach and businessman; former NFL punter

Ballot designation filed with the California Secretary of State: Businessman/Coach.

Chris Kluwe is a former NFL punter who now coaches and runs a business; his ballot designation lists him as a businessman and coach.

Sources for Kluwe

Gracey Van Der Mark

Republican

Work
Huntington Beach City Council member; business owner

Ballot designation filed with the California Secretary of State: Councilwoman/Business Owner.

Gracey Van Der Mark serves on the Huntington Beach City Council and has served on the city's finance commission. Her ballot designation is "Councilwoman/Business Owner."

Sources for Van Der Mark

Sources

Candidate list and race details

What's included
U.S. Senate and House, statewide offices, every state legislative district on the ballot and statewide ballot measures.
Everything else
Local races (county, city, school board, judges) and anything else on your ballot are on your official sample ballot: voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.
Candidate lists
As of Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

This is not an official ballot. Confirm your registration, polling place and ballot with your election office through vote.gov.