Fil-Am candidates notch wins, lead key races in US midterms

LOS ANGELES – Filipino American candidates posted a strong showing in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, led by the reelection of California Attorney General Rob Bonta and strong performances by candidates seeking seats in the state Legislature and local governments.

Several Filipino American candidates were leading in preliminary returns in city council, school board and county races across California, while others faced close contests or trailed. In Nevada, Democratic Assemblymember Erica Mosca was set to retain her seat in District 14 after running unopposed.

The results highlight the growing presence of Filipino Americans in elected office, particularly in California, where candidates competed for positions ranging from statewide leadership to local government.

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The Associated Press projected incumbent Rob Bonta as the winner of the California attorney general’s race, extending his tenure as the state’s first attorney general of Filipino descent.

According to AP results, Bonta received 4,901,507 votes, or 63.7%, compared with Republican Michael Gates’ 2,781,267 votes, or 36.2%. The race was called on election night, when approximately 59.6% of the expected vote had been counted.

In the 67th Assembly District, Cerritos Mayor Pro Tem Mark Pulido was leading Republican challenger Paulo Morales with 61.7% of the vote, or 59,135 votes, in the preliminary returns provided. Morales had 38.3% or 36.749 votes.

Pulido previously served on the Cerritos City Council from 2011 to 2020 before returning in 2025. He was the first Filipino American elected to the council and the first to serve as the city’s mayor.

In the 52nd Assembly District, incumbent Jessica Caloza was also holding a commanding lead, with 86.0%, or 90,115 votes, compared with Republican Andrea Lee Anderson’s 14.0%, or 14,650 votes, in the reported returns.

Caloza, who has represented the district since December 2024, is the first Filipina elected to the California State Legislature. She serves as assistant majority whip in the Assembly.

Filipino American candidates also made their presence felt in local contests across Southern California and the Bay Area.

In West Covina, Letty Lopez was leading the District 2 City Council race with 1,980 votes, or 45.4%, while Ollie Cantos was leading the District 4 contest with 2,386 votes, or 53.14%. Both held substantial leads in the reported results.

In Artesia, Melissa Ramoso was narrowly trailing Rene Trevino in the race for three City Council seats. Ramoso received 1,662 votes, or 24.25%, compared with Trevino’s 1,685 votes, or 24.58%. With three seats available, Ramoso remained in a competitive position. Incumbent Ali Taj was third with 1,625 votes or 23.71%.

In Carson’s District 4, Arleen Bocatija Rojas was trailing with 49.24% of the vote, or 2,386 votes, compared with the leading candidate John Holloway’s 50.76%, or 2,460 votes.

In the Culver City Unified School District race, Incumbent Stephanie Loredo was leading the field with 6,765 votes, or 29.4%, in preliminary returns. Four board seats were available.

In Santa Ana’s Ward 4, incumbent Phil Bacerra was trailing challenger Sandra De Anda, who received 53.42% of the votes, or 4,164 votes, compared with Bacerra’s 46.58%, or 3,631 votes — a difference of 533 votes.

In National City’s District 3, Ditas Yamane was leading with 1,081 votes, or 50.49%, in returns showing 37.7% of the vote counted.

In San Mateo County’s District 5 Board of Supervisors race, Juslyn Manalo was leading with 53.14%, compared with fellow Filipino American Mark Nagales’ 46.86%, according to the reported figures.

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Mike Guingona was also leading the San Mateo County Community College District Trustee Area 2 race with 60.65% of the vote, compared with Jason Holt’s 39.35%.

In Daly City, incumbent Rod Daus-Magbual was among the top three candidates in the at-large City Council race, receiving 21.88% of the vote in preliminary returns. Three seats were available. Fellow Filipino American candidate Tony Bayudan was outside the top three.

In El Cerrito, incumbent Gabe Quinto was third in the race for two City Council seats, receiving approximately 16% of the vote in preliminary returns.

In Nevada, Democratic incumbent Erica Mosca was set to retain her seat in the State Assembly representing District 14 in Clark County after running unopposed. Her unopposed re-election adds to the representation of Filipino Americans in state legislatures beyond California.

Editor’s Note: Results for local races are unofficial and reflect preliminary figures available at the time of reporting. Vote totals and percentages may change as additional ballots are counted and county election officials complete their canvasses.

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