Chris Duncan, a Democrat and San Clemente city councilmember and mayor, is running for California State Senate District 36 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

He faces Republican Tony Strickland.

Duncan, a federal homeland security attorney, said on his campaign website he is running "to make California more affordable, cut red tape, and fight for our region's fair share."

Candidate information

• Party: Democratic
• Residence: San Clemente, California
• Education: Bachelor's degree from Boston College (1997); law degree from the University of Hawaii (2000); master's in law from Georgetown (2002)
• Current employment: Tariff and customs of counsel at Squire Patton Boggs (since 2025), according to Ballotpedia and BallotReady profile data
• Current public office: Councilmember/mayor, city of San Clemente, according to BallotReady profile data
• Notable endorsements: California Democratic Party, California Teachers' Association, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, Orange County Labor Federation, Orange County Democrats, Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood Orange & San Bernardino Counties, California School Employees Association and AFSCME California, according to BallotReady profile data

Experience and public service

Duncan said in an Orange County Register questionnaire that he served as a U.S. Marine Corps liaison and as a board member on both the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Assessment Appeals Board.

He worked as assistant chief counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2019, according to BallotReady profile data. He also served as a senior attorney at U.S. Customs and Border Protection and as a special assistant United States attorney, according to the same source.

Duncan ran for California State Assembly District 74 in 2022 and 2024, according to Ballotpedia. He has also served as a school site council member at Vista Del Mar Elementary School.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Duncan's responses to an Orange County Register candidate questionnaire and from his campaign website, unless otherwise noted. They represent the candidate's own stated views.

Utility costs and the economy: Duncan said he would push legislation to hold investor-owned utilities accountable for rate increases. He said residents in Senate District 36 pay the highest electricity rates in the country while utility companies report record profits. He called for stronger regulatory oversight, caps on rate increases tied to infrastructure investment and expanded Community Choice Energy options.

Criminal justice and public safety: Duncan said he would fully fund Proposition 36, including its treatment pathway. He called for dedicated behavioral health funding with outcome metrics, regular audits and transparency requirements. He also said he wants to shift mental health and substance abuse response away from local law enforcement so officers can focus on public safety.

Immigration: Duncan said he spent his career at the Department of Homeland Security working with law enforcement and national security professionals. He said he resigned from a leadership position at the department in 2019 because he refused to defend the Trump administration's child separation policy. He supports protecting schools, hospitals and courthouses from immigration enforcement operations.

Healthcare: Duncan said he supports the Office of Health Care Affordability's cost targets for hospitals and health systems and would strengthen that office's enforcement authority. He said he supports moving California toward a single-payer system over time.

Housing and taxes: Duncan said he would work to pass legislation expanding access to affordable housing and helping people get off the streets and on the path to permanent housing. He said he opposes new state taxes and would work to reduce the tax burden on middle-class families, including opposing what he called unnecessary fees and projects such as the toll road.

Endorsements

Chris Duncan’s campaign lists endorsements from California Attorney General Rob Bonta and U.S. Reps. Robert Garcia, Lou Correa, Mike Levin, Dave Min and Derek Tran. State supporters include Sens. Tom Umberg and Catherine Blakespear and Assemblymembers Cottie Petrie-Norris, Avelino Valencia and Patrick Ahrens. Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley and local officials from communities across the district also appear on the list.

Organizational endorsements include the California Democratic Party, Equality California and the Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Labor supporters include the California Federation of Labor Unions, California Federation of Teachers, California Nurses Association, National Union of Healthcare Workers, International Longshore and Warehouse Union and UNITE HERE Local 11. The campaign also lists the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund and Climate Action California.

Candidate responses were collected by the Orange County Register and BallotReady. The Newport Signal presents this profile to help voters understand the candidates in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election for State Senate District 36.