Irwin, Klein Lopez lead field in key June 2 primaries
Klein Lopez Takes Commanding Lead in Assembly Primary
Agoura Hills City Councilmember Deborah Klein Lopez emerged as the decisive front-runner in Tuesday's primary election for California's 42nd Assembly District, capturing 49.7% of the vote with 50,530 ballots cast, according to The Acorn (Agoura Hills). Under California's top-two primary system, Klein Lopez will advance to the November 3 general election alongside Republican businessman Ted Nordblum of Newbury Park, who secured second place with 27.4% of the vote.
The race for the open seat, which represents communities including Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and Calabasas, was reshaped earlier this year when Westlake Village City Councilmember Kelly Honig was disqualified from the ballot after filing her candidacy paperwork in the wrong county.
Filing Error Dramatically Altered Race Dynamics
The contest became significantly less competitive for Klein Lopez after Honig's removal in late March over a procedural filing error. Honig had filed her Declaration of Candidacy in Ventura County rather than Los Angeles County, where she resides, as required by state election law.
A Sacramento County Superior Court judge denied Honig's lawsuit to be placed on the ballot, finding that "strict compliance with (election) laws is required." The disqualification left Klein Lopez as the sole Democrat in the race, virtually guaranteeing her advancement to the general election while ensuring at least one Republican would also advance.
Honig, who had raised more than $351,000 for her campaign, expressed frustration with the outcome, stating that "three separate government offices had every opportunity to notify me of this error given how early I filed."
Klein Lopez's Path from Local Politics to State Capitol
The former Agoura Hills mayor brings significant local government experience to her Assembly bid. Elected to the City Council in November 2018, just two days before the devastating Woolsey Fire swept through the area, she quickly established herself as a leader on emergency management and wildfire recovery issues.
Klein Lopez served as mayor in 2021-2022, during which time the city celebrated its 40th anniversary and broke ground on the world's largest urban wildlife crossing. She has also served as Chair of the Clean Power Alliance, a regional electricity provider serving 35 Southern California communities.
Her campaign has emphasized disaster preparedness, environmental sustainability, affordable housing, and education funding—issues that resonate strongly with voters who have experienced recent wildfires and ongoing housing challenges.
November Showdown Set Against Congressional Backdrop
The Assembly race coincides with current District 42 representative Jacqui Irwin's successful bid for Congress. Irwin advanced in the primary for California's 26th Congressional District, positioning herself to move from the state legislature to Washington.
Irwin, who has served in the Assembly since December 2014 and endorsed Klein Lopez's candidacy, represents the kind of progressive Democratic leadership that Klein Lopez hopes to continue in the district.
What's Next for Agoura Hills Voters
The November 3 general election will offer voters a choice between Klein Lopez's progressive Democratic platform and Nordblum's Republican vision for the district. Primary results will be certified by July 10, 2026, with vote-by-mail and provisional ballots still being counted.
For Agoura Hills residents, the outcome will determine who represents their interests in Sacramento on key issues including wildfire prevention, housing policy, and local infrastructure needs. Klein Lopez's commanding primary performance suggests she enters the general election as the heavy favorite in a district that has consistently elected Democratic representatives in recent cycles.
Reported by 805.life
Researched and written drawing on primary sources. Additional reporting: The Acorn (Agoura Hills).
City
Agoura HillsAdditional Reporting
The Acorn (Agoura Hills)Published
June 4, 2026
Reported and written by 805.life
Explore Agoura HillsAll Agoura Hills NewsMore News from Agoura Hills
Agoura HillsWildfire Protection Plan approved
Agoura Hills has taken a big step toward protecting our community from wildfire danger. The City Council unanimously approved a new Community Wildfire Protection Plan at the May 27 meeting, building on a risk assessment completed last October. This plan isn't just a document—it's our ticket to securing state and federal grant money for critical mitigation projects like brush clearance, emergency access routes, and community education. For anyone who remembers the Woolsey Fire or lives near the wildland-urban interface, this is personal. The assessment identified our highest-risk areas, and now we have a clear roadmap to make our neighborhoods safer. As The Acorn (Agoura Hills) reported, this proactive approach means we're not waiting for the next disaster to act. It's a smart, neighborly move that puts safety first.
Agoura HillsCandidate targets governance issue
You know how sometimes it feels like our local government moves at a snail’s pace? Well, Mark Perryman is trying to speed things up, and he’s not letting one “no” stop him. According to The Acorn (Agoura Hills), Perryman—a candidate for the Ventura County Board of Supervisors District 2—saw his proposal to form a Community Services District (CSD) for Oak Park get voted down 4-1 by the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council last month. That might sound like a dry procedural hiccup, but for anyone who lives in Oak Park or nearby unincorporated areas, it’s a big deal. A CSD could mean more local control over things like parks, streetlights, and fire prevention—stuff that affects our daily lives but often gets tangled up in county bureaucracy. What’s refreshing here is that Perryman isn’t backing down. He’s framing this as a governance issue, not a political loss. And honestly, that’s the kind of persistence we need in the 805. Whether you agree with his approach or not, it’s worth paying attention to because how we govern these unincorporated pockets—from Oak Park to parts of Agoura Hills—shapes everything from your property taxes to how quickly a pothole gets fixed. So keep an eye on this race. It’s not just about one CSD; it’s about whether our local voices can actually steer the ship.
Agoura HillsAgoura protesters worry new housing increases city’s fire risk
If you’ve ever sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic at Kanan and Agoura roads during a red flag warning, you know the knot-in-your-stomach feeling that comes with it. That stretch is already a choke point when we’re just trying to get to the grocery store—so imagine trying to evacuate hundreds of families with flames on the horizon. According to The Acorn (Agoura Hills), a group of local residents called PRISMM gathered at that very intersection on May 2 to protest new housing developments they say would turn our main escape route into a death trap. It’s not about being anti-housing—it’s about being pro-survival. We live in one of the most fire-prone regions in the state, and anyone who’s watched the Woolsey Fire scar our hills knows that when the Santa Anas kick up, every second counts. Adding more homes without widening Kanan or creating a secondary evacuation corridor feels like playing with matches in a dry canyon. PRISMM isn’t just waving signs; they’re asking the city to slow down and think about what happens when the next big fire comes. And honestly, that’s a conversation every Agoura Hills neighbor should be part of—because your driveway might be their only way out.