Two Republicans and one Democrat are competing in the open primary for the coastal 72nd Assembly District, which is one of just a few districts touching Orange County that still lean solidly to the right.

The two candidates who get the most votes in the June 7 primary will advance to the November general election. That will decide who’ll represent the district’s nearly 500,000 residents who live from Seal Beach south to Laguna Beach, or within a narrow carve-out east to Lake Forest, for the next two years.

The area was left with no incumbent after redistricting shuffled political boundaries and Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, who’s current district includes much of the new AD-72, opted to move to Costa Mesa and run in a more favorable district.

Since voter registration in AD-72 favors Republicans by six points, GOP candidates Diane Dixon, who’s on the Newport Beach City Council, and Benjamin Yu, a businessman and appointed commissioner in Lake Forest, have an advantage coming out of the gate.

Between the two, Dixon has the clear edge, having been elected twice to represent one of the largest cities in the district — second only to Huntington Beach. The former Newport Beach mayor also has reported more than $176,000 in donations so far this cycle, vs. $10,500 that Yu has loaned himself. And Dixon has the endorsement of the California Republican Party along with a slew of local GOP leaders, including former Gov. Pete Wilson.

With no other Democrats on the ballot to split the primary vote, Judie Mancuso of Laguna Beach is expected to easily advance with Dixon to the general election.

While voter registration isn’t working in Mancusco’s favor, and she hasn’t won an election before, she still has solid name recognition and legislative experience from her newly two decades of work as the founder of the nonprofit animal rights organization Social Compassion in Legislation. She reports having raised roughly $57,000 so far. And she has the backing of the California Democratic Party and many top Democratic leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Mancuso, 59, had a lucrative, 20-year career as an information technology manager when she walked away to found her nonprofit, which is best known for sponsoring bills that have banned puppy mills, eliminated the sale of animal-tested cosmetics and made it illegal to leave animals in cars unattended during extreme weather.

“We take on some of the world’s largest special interests and win, having sponsored 54 bills, with 19 being successfully signed into law,” Mancuso said.

She ran for Laguna Beach City Council twice, in 2016 and 2018, but fell short both times. She did serve two terms as an appointed member of the state’s Veterinary Medical Board and is in her second term as the vice chair of Laguna Beach’s Environmental Sustainability Committee.

Mancuso said her top priorities in her Assembly campaign include “addressing the pressing issues that affect the quality of life of all AD-72 residents, fighting climate change, helping to build a strong economy and creating jobs, improving public education and getting legislation passed that will have a positive global impact.”

In terms of political ideology, Mancuso rated herself a four on a scale of 1-10, with one being far left.

Yu rated himself a six, while Dixon didn’t answer the question.

Dixon, 59, was a global communications executive in a Fortune 300 company for more than 30 years. She’s also served on the boards of a number of area nonprofits, including United Way Orange County and YMCA.

About the 72nd Assembly District

Voter registration: 38.9% Republican, 32.7% Democrat, 22.4% no party preference

Voter demographics: 78.7% White, 10.7% Asian American, 10.3% Latino, 1% Black

During nearly eight years on the Newport Beach City Council, Dixon has focused on fiscal issues, such as delivering budget surpluses and paying down pension liabilities. She also touts her work to improve public safety and complete infrastructure projects on time and within budget.

Dixon didn’t respond to a majority of the Register’s questions about her views and policy plans around key issues, and her website doesn’t discuss her platform. But in a campaign press release, she said she aims to be “a strong voice for a less intrusive state government, with lower taxes, balanced budgets that spend less and enhance public safety.”

As for how she’d measure her success in the Assembly, Dixon said it would be her “ability to address the major issues faced by our state” adding that she’s “tired of seeing middle class families leave the Golden State because of the toxic policies coming out of Sacramento.”

For Yu, he said success in office would be seeing crime and unemployment go down, housing availability and affordability go up, and seeing “vibrant local business activities.”

Yu immigrated from China as a teenager and grew up in New York. He joined the Army in the aftermath of Sept. 11, later settling in Lake Forest where he now serves on the Traffic and Parking commission and the boards of several community organizations.

As a former Democrat, Yu said seeing the direction California was going motivated him to run for office. In 2020, he ran for the 68th Assembly District seat against GOP incumbent Steven Choi and two Democratic challengers, but failed to make it out of the March primary.

Yu, who drew headlines for a serious bout with COVID-19 earlier this year, is campaigning this time around on promises to boost public safety and help for veterans, fight taxes, and support small businesses and school choice.

As for his plan to address homelessness, Yu said he supports providing more incentives and training for work, court diversion programs for the mentally ill or addicted with criminal offenses, more incentives for construction of low-cost housing and a reunion assistance program to help people experiencing homeless to reconnect with family members.

Mancuso advocates for the state investing in temporary housing solutions, such as adaptive reuse and tiny homes, “to get people, especially veterans, experiencing homelessness off our streets now.” Meanwhile, she wants to work on “cutting red tape and costs involved in building more permanent supportive housing solutions faster,” while also “investing in mental and addiction health care.”

Dixon didn’t answer a question about her plans to tackle homelessness.

When it comes to government policies to address climate change, Mancuso said she supports much more aggressive policies, Yu supports less aggressive policies and Dixon didn’t respond.

In terms of abortion rights, Mancuso called herself “a fierce advocate for a women’s right to choose.” Yu said “Roe vs Wade is the settled law in the land,” while Dixon declined to answer the question.

Elections officials will begin mailing primary ballots to all registered voters May 9. Centers will open for in-person voting starting May 28.