Gracey Van Der Mark, a Republican and Huntington Beach City Council member, is running for California State Assembly District 72 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She faces Democrat Chris Kluwe.

Asked why she is running, Van Der Mark said in our candidate questionnaire: "Sacramento has driven up costs, weakened public safety, and spent billions with little oversight. I am running to bring a common-sense approach to the Assembly by lowering the cost of living, supporting law enforcement, cutting waste and fraud, and defending local control so Orange County families can thrive."

The seat opened after Assemblywoman Diane Dixon announced a run for the Board of Supervisors, according to OC Independent.

Candidate information

Party: Republican

Family: "I am the daughter of immigrant parents, my dad from Ecuador and my mom from Mexico, and I grew up in a working-class Los Angeles neighborhood. I raised a blended family in Huntington Beach and am proud to be a mother and grandmother. My husband Pieter, an immigrant from Holland, and I built our life and small business here in Orange County."

Education: "High school graduate with some college. My education has also come from raising a family, running a small business, and serving in local government."

Occupation: "I am a Huntington Beach City Councilmember and a small-business owner. With my husband Pieter, I run a property-management business serving local families."

Experience and public service

Van Der Mark was elected to the Huntington Beach City Council in 2022, according to OC Independent. She has served as mayor of Huntington Beach, according to the Orange County Register. She co-founded Concerned Parents of California, a parent-driven advocacy group, according to the City of Huntington Beach website.

Van Der Mark listed additional appointed positions in our questionnaire: "Board Member, West Orange County; Board of Directors, Orange County Housing Finance Trust; Board Member, Orange County Waste & Recycling; Huntington Beach Planning Commissioner; Huntington Beach Finance Commission."

On the issues

Housing costs: Asked what specific policy she would push in Sacramento, Van Der Mark said: "I would push to streamline housing permitting and cut redundant CEQA delays that add years and cost to homes people actually need while keeping final land-use decisions with local communities." She said voters should watch "median days from complete application to building permit and the annual count of new housing units permitted."

Cost of living and energy: Van Der Mark said she would support immediately suspending the gas tax and would act to remove some powers of the California Air Resources Board that she said allow it to impose standards with no accountability and increase fuel costs, according to the Orange County Register questionnaire.

Public safety: Van Der Mark said she would reaffirm California's three-strikes law and stiffen penalties for violent criminals. She said she opposes catch-and-release policies and early parole of violent offenders, according to the Orange County Register questionnaire.

State budget: Van Der Mark said she has signed a pledge not to raise taxes and supports cutting wasteful spending rather than raising revenue to address the state budget deficit, according to the Orange County Register questionnaire.

Immigration: Van Der Mark said she supports allowing local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and opposes state policies that prevent such cooperation, according to the Orange County Register questionnaire.

Endorsements: Van Der Mark's endorsements include the Huntington Beach Police Officers Association, the Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the California GOP and the Republican Party of Orange County, according to BallotReady and the Orange County Register questionnaire.

Candidate responses were collected through the Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire and the Orange County Register questionnaire. Responses are presented in the candidate's own words and have not been edited.