Chris Ward
Photo: Public domain
DemocratIn office since Nov 2020

Chris Ward

California State Assemblymember, District 78 since 2020. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.

California State Assemblymember, District 78Born 1976

In office
6 yrs
Since 2020
Bills became law
17
39 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
2.9%
Chamber median 6.6%
With party
100%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+42.6
Won 2026
Next election
2028
Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Arts · vice chair
  • Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism · chair
  • Biotechnology and Medical Technology Select · chair
  • Alternative Protein Innovation Select
  • Budget
  • Child Care Costs Select
  • Climate Innovation and Infrastructure Select
  • Labor and Employment
  • Local Government
  • Privacy and Consumer Protection
  • Racism, Hate and Xenophobia Select
  • Select Committee on Growing and Retaining the Creative Economy in California
  • Transportation

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 39 sponsored · 17 became law
BillIntroCmteHouseSenateLaw
AB 864 Hazardous waste: solar photovoltaic modules.
Hazardouswaste · Became law Sep 2026
AB 1793 Cash payments: calculation.
Cashpayments · Became law Sep 2026
AB 1684 Common interest developments: cooling systems.
Commoninterestdevelopments · Became law Sep 2026
AB 2222 Personal Income Tax Law and Corporation Tax Law: credits: local news outlets: business expense deduction:…
PersonalIncomeTaxLawandCorporationTaxLaw · Became law Sep 2026
AB 2292 Disability benefits: certificates.
Disabilitybenefits · Became law Sep 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Ward sits in the California State Assembly

Ward is closer to the center than 10% of the chamber's Democrats.

Dem. medianRep. medianWardMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Mia Bonta, Gregg Hart, Damon Connolly

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:46 PM ET

With Ward’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
  • Cosponsorships of the other party's bills17%

Black tick: the average of Democrats in the California State Assembly.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Ward’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

DateBillWardDem. majorityRep. majorityResult
Sep 1, 2026SB 886: California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act.YesYesNoPassed 62–7
Sep 1, 2026SB 133: Education finance: education omnibus trailer bill.YesYesNoPassed 66–9
Aug 31, 2026SB 1246: Autonomous vehicles.YesYesNoPassed 65–11
Aug 31, 2026SB 1009: Juveniles: detention.Not votingYesNoFailed 24–33
Aug 31, 2026SB 1301: Residential property insurance: nonrenewals.YesYesNoPassed 63–11

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Ward was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMarginSeat+/−
2026California Assembly District 78WonD+42.6D+37.5+5.1
2024California State Assembly, District 78Won———
2022California State Assembly, District 78WonD+37.1——
2020California State Assembly, District 78WonD+12.4——

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: California Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET

Campaign money, 2025–26

Raised
$719.5K
Spent
$773.5K
Cash
$422.4K

Source: California Secretary of State (Cal-Access) filings through Oct 17, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:31 PM ET

Campaign committees

Open committees can still raise and spend money.

Chris Ward for Assembly 2026
State
Active

Source: California Secretary of State (Cal-Access) filings through Oct 17, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026, 1:31 PM ET

Seats Ward has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Ward has run against

Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: California Secretary of State (unofficial)

How we know Ward

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET