Deborah Klein LopezDeborah Klein Lopez

Deborah Klein Lopez - Former Mayor of Agoura Hills. Don't love her, but she has solid endorsements from the area. It's a wealthier portion of Ventura County though, so her profile lines up with the district.

Three candidates vying for retiring Assembly member Jacqui Irwin’s open seat that spans from Calabasas to the Simi Valley. Agoura Hills City Council Councilmember and Democrat Deborah Klein Lopez entered the race first, now running against Simi Valley Councilmember Rocky Rhodes and former 2022 and 2024 Republican candidate Ted Nordblum.

A project manager and financial analyst, Klein Lopez has garnered the most fundraising from grassroots donors. Her platform, according to her website, focuses on climate change such as disaster preparedness against recent devastating Palisades wildfires, as well as ensuring economic fairness and affordability. Since becoming an Agoura Hills Council member in 2018, she has overseen climate resilience initiatives and recovery during disasters such as the Woolsey fire in Ventura. She has also served as a Board Chair of the Clean Power Alliance and focused on lobbying for state and federal funding related to microgrids and citywide bike plans. Lopez has won the endorsements from incumbent Irwin as well as LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and California U.S. Senator Adam Schiff and multiple key unions such as firefighters, SEIU and Teamsters.

Klein Lopez’s biggest challenger was originally from fellow Democrat Westlake Village city councilmember Kelly Honig. Her election bid was denied after a procedural error: she filed her declaration of candidacy in Ventura County rather than her county of residence in Los Angeles. Although Ventura County staff seemingly made errors along the way, a judge ruled that Honig should have known the law.

LA Forward recommends Klein Lopez due to her track record of environmental advocacy.

EnviroVoters endorsed

Elect Deborah Klein Lopez for State Assembly to keep AD-42 on the right track for progress.

Harm Reduction.