SAN MARCOS — Incumbents generally eased to victory in state Senate and Assembly seats decided by San Diego County voters, while a Democrat led in an open state Senate race and a Republican incumbent led by fewer than 700 votes in an Assembly contest.
In the 40th Senate District race, Democrat Mara Elliott led Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane early Wednesday, 53% to 47%. Elliott had 134,798 votes, while Bruce-Lane garnered 119,320.
The 40th Senate District covers a wide portion of San Diego, including Escondido, San Marcos, Poway and Santee, plus portions of San Diego. Those San Diego neighborhoods include Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, University City and Carmel Mountain Ranch.
The district also includes unincorporated communities such as Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow, Valley Center, Ramona, 4S Ranch, Alpine, Lakeside and Pine Valley.
It was previously represented by Republican Brian Jones.
Elliott took nearly 48% of the June primary vote, while Bruce-Lane narrowly advanced to the November election over another Republican, Ed Musgrove.
Elliott, the former San Diego city attorney, says she would tackle affordability issues by expanding housing access, improving health care access and lowering the cost of living “by standing up to those driving up the cost of health care, housing, higher education and everyday essentials,” her campaign website states.
Drawing on her prosecutorial background, she also says she prioritizes public safety issues, such as preventing gun violence, protecting crime victims and ensuring those suffering from drug addiction or mental health issues obtain treatment.
Bruce-Lane, a businesswoman who previously ran for the state Assembly in 2024, says she would address cost-of-living issues by opposing tax hikes, regulations she says impede new housing development and wasteful spending by state government officials.
In the 74th Assembly District — spanning North County into southern Orange County — Republican incumbent Laurie Davies held a slim lead of 691 votes over Democrat Sergio Farias, 50.24% to 49.76%. The margin has shrunk since Election Day.
Davies’ vote tally was 71,700 as of Thursday night, while Farias had 71,009.
Davies, who is seeking her fourth Assembly term, received 52.3% of the vote in the June primary election.
Davies said she would tackle cost-of-living issues by opposing “unaffordable and unfair middle-class taxes.” She also said she would work to preserve the district’s natural spaces and move nuclear waste housed at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
Farias, a San Juan Capistrano City Council member, said the cost of living was also his key issue, particularly housing affordability, which he said he would address by making the homebuilding process more efficient. He touted increases in affordable housing and reductions in homelessness during his time on the San Juan Capistrano City Council.
The 74th Assembly District spans northern San Diego County and southern Orange County, including Oceanside, Vista, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. It also encompasses Camp Pendleton and portions of Fallbrook and Bonsall.
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