Over the last week, a couple of people have already contacted me for my endorsements for the upcoming elections in Torrance as well as across the state.
Initially, I was happy to use the CRA list or Craig Huey's endorsements, but the CRA list was missing some races, and as of Sunday, Election Forum did not list substantive endorsements for California or Los Angeles County.
So, here are my endorsements for the 2026 California primary, listing the offices in order that they are printed in my sample ballot:
Mayor of Torrance, CA:
George Chen
I have written extensively about my disappointments with the incumbent mayor, and I was willing to sit out this election. Yet following the attempted assassination against Trump, plus all the information that I am hearing about the Indivisibles' politicking behind Sharon Kalani, plus her support for tax increases, weak resolve against disturbances, and her attempt to move the Armed Forces Day parade to the Torrance Airport, I am happy to tolerate Chen for four more years.
And to his credit, Mayor Chen has consistently rejected the awful Pride Month Resolution. We should all be grateful for that.
Torrance City Clerk:
Rebecca Poirier is the only candidate on the ballot, and she has done a great job. She deserves the vote.
Torrance Treasurer:
Say His Name: Aurelio Mattuci
Mike Griffiths is a dishonest man with no respect for others. He has a routine habit of lying to people in the city, and those voters have shared their disgust with me about him. He is also very rude, elitist, and condescending, and the major reason he is seeking this position is that he wants to set himself up for a bid for mayor--and he does not deserve that job.
In contrast, Aurelio is one of the hardest-working councilmen in the city. He is not afraid to ask for big things, to take risks, and to fight for what is best for the city. He responds to the needs of constituents, and he took the lead on major issues that the residents care about, like killing the coyotoes, but which some city council members didn't want to do anything about.
Torrance City Council District One
No Endorsement
Torrance City Council District Three
Mike Mauno
I want a businessman on the city council, and I am looking for someone who will take on local issues, whether he's an elected official or not. Mauno assisted all of us with his efforts to stop Project Homekey from buying up one of the local Extended Stay facilities.
Councilman Sheikh has not properly responded to the emerging news about alleged elder abuse in connection with his now-deceased neighbor John Fleming.
Torrance City Council District Five
Michelle Brooks
She is personable, experienced, and has long roots in the community. Harry Ward is running out of spite and ego, propped up by uniparty establishment hacks in Torrance who don't want a common-sense conservative city council.
It's really important to elect Michelle, because her opponent is Betty Lieu, The wife of creepy congressman Ted Lieu, and just as much a committed crypto-Marxist as he.
California State Senate District 26
Kristi Irwin
Rick Marshall is a friend of mine, but I had already pledged my vote for Kristi Irwin. She is a parents' rights advocate who fought for health freedom in the schools during the COVID-19 lockdown madness. She has run before, having obtained signatures as a write-in candidate in 2022.
And she is running again, so she has some name ID.
Rick Marshall is running because he has persuasively argued that the only way a Republican advances to the general election is that there are TWO Republicans in the Top Two. I support that move, and I encourage everyone to figure out with their friend and families to divide their votes so that we can get both into the Top Two.
California State Assembly District 66
Jessica Maldonado
She is the more conservative candidate compared to George Barks, whom I voted for in 2022 and 2024. Barks did not support Trump in 2024. He told me that during the June 2024 Hermosa Beach town hall, where he took the mic from Asm. Muratsuchi to make his case for the assembly.
Jessica is an outspoken member of the CRA, and she is a clear pro-life, pro-family record as a nurse and a missionary.
I hope that two Republicans make it into the Top Two, which is possible, but I am voting for Jessica.
United States Congress District 36
Houston Brignano
In the two previous elections, I voted for Melissa Toomim, since she was the only decent Republican candidate on the ballot.
But Houston Brignano of San Pedro, CA is an improvement for Election 2026.
He is a full CRA conservative, and he received a ringing endorsement from CRA leadership at the LA County CRA convention in March 2026.
Melissa is too liberal, too quiet on the cultural issues, while Houston is not afraid to talk about all the issues that matter.
LA County Sheriff
Alex Villanueva
This endorsement may come as a shock to some people, especially because I so vocally opposed in 2018, even chasing him out of the Torrance Democratic Club meeting at the Torrance Airport. I continued to hound him at the LA County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission meetings because he had pledged to take ICE out of the jails.
Then came the targeted murder of sheriff's deputies, and Villanueva swung hard to common sense and law and order. During the COVID-19 madness, he slowly but ultimately took a stand against the lockdown orders and mask mandates.
I needed that coverage so that I could take a stand as well, and I will never forget that.
I voted for him both times in 2022, and I will vote for him again, especially now, because he is pledging to work with ICE in the jails
LA County Assessor
Stephen Adamus
I had to do my own research for this office, since the CRA website did not provide an endorsement last time I checked.
Jeffrey Prang is part of the John Noguez corruption, and he needs to go. He is an outspoken, aggressive, openly gay liberal who is pushing the LGBT agenda all over the county. We don't need such a brazen partisan dealing with property tax assessments.
Stephen Adamus is the only one with a record of having done something to fix the Assessor's office: he sued!
And now he's running to lead the office. He talks about lowering taxe and providing property assessments for all homeowners. Common sense!
Judges of the Superior Court
For these elections, I rely on Craig Huey or other endorsement sites to help me choose the best judicial officers for the different seats. These elections are some of the most important, although voters all too often skip over them because there is so little information to inform a decision.
I looked over the websites for each of the candidates myself, and here is my criteria:
1. If they are endorsed by the LA County Democratic Party, they are automatically disqualified. I can't help if they are endorsed by local clubs, since every judicial nominee will seek Dem support to have a viable chance of winning county-wide. It sucks, but Republicans don't have the numbers to influence judicial elections for the better. Also, if the candidate is endorsed by an LGBT group, I reject the candidate, because I cannot trust the person to look at natural right and natural law as a standard.
2. If the candidate is endorsed by for LA County District Attorney Steve Cooley, I am more likely to vote for the nominee. He was a good DA, a decent Republican who should have been elected our State Attorney General in 2010, and he is committed to law, order, and public integrity.
3. If the nominee is a prosecutor, I am more likely to vote for that person. Prosecutors in general tend to be more conservative, while public defenders tend to be more liberal. It's not a rocksteady standard, only because some prosecutors were endorsed by LA County Dems, too.
These criteria are not perfect, but they work for me.
Office No. 2
Robert Draper
Office No. 14
Irene Lee
Office No. 39
Binh Dang (only candidate, and he's OK)
Office No. 60
Ann Maurer (only candidate, and he's OK)
Office No. 64
Francisco Amador
Office No. 65
Samuel Krause
Office No. 66
Ben Forer
Office No. 81
David Walgren
Office No. 87
Anthony Bayne
Office No. 116
Pat Connolly
Office No. 131
Donna Tryfman
Office No. 141
Mariela Torres
Office No. 176
Gloria Marin
Office No. 181
Thanayi Lindsey
Offiec No. 196
Candice Henry
County Measure ER
No!
It's a tax increase. Vote No!
Governor
This should be obvious to everyone by now: Sheriff Chad Bianco.
I have written extensively about why he is more qualified than Steve Hilton.
He has been elected, twice, countywide, in a blue county.
He stood up to Newsom's lockdown orders and other health mandates.
He turned Riverside County into a shall-issue county for CCW weapons permits.
He is outspokenly pro-gun.
He is pro-life.
He is pro-family.
He has reached out to numerous groups, and he rightfully won the CRA endorsement with 71% of the delegate vote.
Lieutenant Governor
Ebie Lynch
I have met her, listened to her platform, and she is not afraid to be a conservative. She cares about parents rights, securing the border, and lowering the cost of living. Gloria Romero is a liberal, even if she switched parties. Not good enough for me. It's as simple as that.
Secretary of State
Don Wagner
The only Republican, CAGOP and CRA endorsed, and a experienced leader who has done great work in Orange County.
State Controller
Herb Morgan
CAGOP and CRA endorsed, Herb is active, available, and committed to cleaning up the state's finances. He has a chance, and he has my vote.
Treasurer
Jennifer Hawks
She is the decent Republican, endorsed by the CRA. David Serpa is a flabby, wannabe groyper, all in line with the white nationalist Nick Fuentes-controlled opposition that pushes Anti-Semitism and communist populism.
Don't take my word for it: I confronted him about all of it:
Attorney General
Michael Gates
This is an absolute no brainer. He is completely qualified for this position He has been an excellent city attorney for the city of Huntington Beach. He led the fight to dismantle the sanctuary state law. He drafted the voter ID initiative which passed in the city, as well.
He has been a vocal proponent of parents' rights and fighting to protect all California residents.
He would be an excellent attorney general for the state of California!
Insurance Commissioner
Robert Howell
Stacy Korsgaden has received a number of endorsements, but she is an out-lesbian who hid her illicit marriage from the CRA convention when she was campaigning.
I don't care what her experience may be. I don't care if she got conservative endorsements. She covered up about her married life. LGBT should not be supported or promoted, especially in the supposedly pro-family GOP.
Don't trust her, won't vote for her.
Robert Howell has run for this office before, and I will give him another shot.
Board of Equalization District 3
Rey Portela
He's endorsed by the American Independent Party, so that's a good enough endorsement for me.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Sonja Shaw
She is the Momma Bear who has been pushing hard for parents' rights, protections for girls' sports and spaces, and full transparency and accountability in all school districts.
We need her in that office. She's the best!
