There’s only one state Senate contest on Orange County voters’ ballots this year — and it’s a tight contest between incumbent Sen. Josh Newman and former Assemblymember Steven Choi.
While both Choi and Newman are familiar to the legislature, the 37th Senate district is a bit of a new arena. The sprawling district, its shape marked by four arms jutting out to pick up more territory, was changed during the decennial redistricting process in 2021. That means, as Newman has put it, the district is “very obviously different” from the area the Fullerton Democrat has been representing in the legislature since he was first elected in 2016.
Voter Guide Series
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series breaking down each of the legislative races in 2024 in Orange County. We explore the districts and candidates’ platforms. For more, check out our comprehensive voter guide here.
Choi, too, isn’t a stranger to the effects of redistricting. A Republican, he served in the Assembly for six years before redistricting pitted him against another incumbent, Democratic Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris in 2022. Choi lost.
When it comes to the issue of homelessness, Choi said he would support legislation that helps communities “by compassionately clearing homeless encampments and outlawing encampments near schools, parks and neighborhoods.”
“It’s time that we admit that allowing individuals to live on the streets is inhumane,” said Choi. “So-called ‘criminal justice reforms’ from Sacramento have made the problem worse, leaving more people on the streets and leading to an increase in retail crime and drug abuse.”
Newman, in a questionnaire posed by the Orange County Register, was critical of how much California has spent to address homelessness and yet has yielded “very limited results, poor coordination among programs and virtually no real accountability or cost-benefit analysis.”
“Among the necessary changes is first, a recognition that there is no single cause of homelessness, and no single ‘top-down’ solution, so the key is to better address the underlying causes, such as mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence and the chronic failure of our foster care system, all of which have different demographics and dynamics,” Newman said.
“From there, the emphasis has to be on coordination and accountability in equal measure — figure out what works and continue to build upon that and discontinue what doesn’t,” he added.
Newman also pointed to California’s building and development regulations, arguing they are driving up the costs of housing construction and stifling the creation of more housing. He said he would support reforms to CEQA — a state law that requires state and local governments to consider, and avoid, potential environmental impacts of proposed projects and activities — including a temporary “holiday” that would “suspend some of its most onerous aspects.”
“In recent years, the legislature has passed a series of measures intended to encourage the expedited development of housing, mostly with less-than-hoped-for results, and often creating more new problems than the old ones they were intended to solve,” Newman said.
Choi, a former Irvine mayor, also pointed to regulatory reform as a means to drive down the cost of living.
“Streamline regulations across key sectors, including housing, energy and transportation,” he said. “Reducing bureaucratic red tape can lower costs for businesses, which can, in turn, lead to lower prices for consumers. For example, simplifying the process of building and expanding businesses can help lower costs and increase competition, benefiting consumers through more affordable goods and services.”
SD-37 includes Costa Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Villa Park.
Both parties have earmarked the 37th district as a key race. While Democrats hope to hold it, Republicans are looking to flip it, making a slight dent into the Democratic supermajority in Sacramento.
As of Sept. 6, the latest report from the secretary of state shows Democrats hold the advantage, accounting for 36.58% of registered voters. Republicans make up 33.49% of registered voters in the district and 23.81% are no party preference.
Choi has raised more than $287,000 this cycle and has nearly $57,000 left to spend. Newman, meanwhile, has raised about $5 million with nearly $320,000 cash on hand.
Find out more about Choi and Newman — and other candidates on your ballot — with the Register’s Voter Guide. Both candidates were sent questionnaires and in their own words, detailed their plans on various issues, from artificial intelligence to the state’s minimum wage and from the state budget to bond measures. You can also find what’s on their playlists as they’re on the campaign trail.
