Huntington Beach City Councilman Tony Strickland declared victory Monday in his run for another term in the state Senate and will resign from his council seat next week.
Strickland has garnered 51.85% of the vote in the primary election, and if he maintains the lead there would be no need for a runoff general election. Democrat Jimmy Pham received 27.74% with fellow Democrat Julie Diep third with 13.80% and Republican John Briscoe last with 6.61%.
The Orange County Registrar of Voters last day to certify the results is Thursday.
Strickland, a Republican who previously served in the state Assembly from 1998 through 2004 and then the state Senate from 2008 through 2012, will step down from his city council seat next Monday so his replacement can be picked from the council, he said. Strickland won the seat vacated by Janet Nguyen when she won a spot on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
“Today, I am announcing we won our election to state senate,” Strickland said at a news conference.
He will hold the seat for the remaining two years until the next election in the district.
Strickland said he will focus on public safety and economic issues.
“I will push to get back to the basics of government,” Strickland said, referring to public safety. “We’re going to do everything we can to make crime illegal again.”
Strickland added, “California doesn’t have a revenue problem. California has a spending problem.”
He added, “We will do whatever we can to DOGE government,” referring to the new agency headed by billionaire businessman Elon Musk that has spearheaded efforts to shrink government services and spending.
“On day one I’ll fight to lower your gas tax,” Strickland said. “People shouldn’t have to pick between a gallon of gas and a gallon of milk.”
He grew emotional and paused as he discussed his parents. He said his mother died during the campaign.
“I know both my parents are looking down right now and are very proud,” he said.