Political Landscape: Assemblyman Tyler Diep loses O.C. Republican Party endorsement

The Republican Party of Orange County has voted to revoke its endorsement of Assemblyman Tyler Diep in objection to some of his votes and policies.

Diep (R-Westminster) is in his first two-year term representing the 72nd Assembly District and is running for reelection this year. The district includes Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Westminster, portions of Garden Grove, Huntington Beach and Santa Ana, and the unincorporated areas Midway City and Rossmoor.

The vote to rescind the endorsement occurred Monday night at a party Central Committee meeting.

Former Assemblyman Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach), who lost his 74th District seat to Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) in 2018, wrote a letter earlier this month criticizing Diep’s voting record and comments related to organized labor, noting that Diep was the only Republican to vote in favor of Assembly Bill 5, a California law that limits employers’ use of freelance workers.

Diep said Tuesday in a statement reported by the Orange County Register that “while it is disappointing that a few political insiders of the local party drove this, I am confident that voters will know I’m the best candidate to fight for them in Sacramento.”

The party Monday didn’t consider endorsing former state Sen. Janet Nguyen (R-Fountain Valley), who is challenging Diep in the March 3 primary election. On Thursday, the OCGOP website did not list an endorsement for the 72nd District.

Nguyen, who also is a former county supervisor, entered the Assembly race Dec. 6 after former OCGOP Chairman Scott Baugh sent an email to local party leaders criticizing Diep for his voting record.

State election candidates to speak at UCI forum

The College Democrats of UC Irvine will present a forum featuring candidates for state offices beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday at the campus Student Center.

Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley and UCI law professor Dave Min, Democrats running for the 37th state Senate District seat occupied by John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa), are scheduled to attend, along with Eugene Fields, a Democratic candidate in the 68th Assembly District race.

Tickets to the event are free for UCI students and $10 for others. They are available at eventbrite.com (search for “Candidate Panel 2020”).

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