Jacqui Irwin holds onto retiring Brownley’s House seat for Democrats

Democrat Jacqui Irwin (D), a state assemblymember, is projected to replace retiring Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) and lead California’s 26th Congressional District, according to preliminary results from Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

Irwin defeated Republican Sam Gallucci in a district regarded as solidly Democrat, per nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report . DDHQ, The Hill’s election forecasting partner, predicted a safe win for Irwin in the days leading up to Election Day.

As the polls closed in California, DDHQ called the race for Irwin .

The 26th district covers much of Ventura County and part of Los Angeles County, home to several cities — including Moorpark, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Oxnard —as well as part of Simi Valley.

The state legislator received endorsements from Brownley, Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath (D) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) — who called Irwin a “trusted partner” in Sacramento.

Newsom praised her sponsorship of Proposition 1, a state ballot measure aiming to provide housing to homeless veterans, as well as her advocacy for stronger gun safety regulations and combatting climate change.

“Jacqui’s record of standing up for all of us and building coalitions to get things done gives her the experience and tools needed to represent us but also stand up to the Trump administration’s attack on our values and our democracy,” Brownley said in her endorsement.

Irwin entered politics in 2003, when she was appointed to the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission. She was elected mayor of the city in 2008.

In 2014, Irwin was elected to represent 44th State Assembly District and has served three terms since then. Her fourth term was as the lawmaker representing the 42nd State Assembly District in 2022 after redistricting.