EndorsedIn office
Chris Ward
Running for Assemblymember District 78, California Assembly District 78, in California
Why we endorsed Chris
YIMBY Action endorses Assemblymember Chris Ward because he has been one of San Diego's strongest housing champions in Sacramento. As former chair of the Assembly Housing Committee, he helped move major pro-housing reforms through the Legislature. He has also written practical laws that cut the delays driving up costs.
About Chris Ward
Chris Ward is the California State Assemblymember for District 78, representing San Diego, first elected in 2020, and is running for re-election in November 2026 after advancing from the June 2026 primary. He previously served on the San Diego City Council from 2016 to 2020 and was Speaker pro Tempore of the Assembly from 2022 to 2023. Earlier he was chief of staff to State Senator Marty Block and an environmental planner at the firm EDAW. He holds a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and a Master in Public Policy and Urban Planning from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Offices held2
- 2020–now
- California State Assemblymember, Assembly District 78In office
- 2016–2020
- San Diego City Council, District 3
Endorsed by
- YIMBY Action
Voter guides4
California general electionTue, Nov 3, 2026
00 days
How our endorsements work
Every YIMBY Action endorsement starts with local research and is ratified by a member vote.
01
Chapters do the research
Local members study the races, send questionnaires, and interview candidates about housing.
02
Members vote
Every endorsement, candidate or ballot measure, is ratified by a vote of YIMBY Action members, not staff.
Read our full procedures03
We put it to work
Endorsements go into voter guides, and chapters knock doors and phone-bank for the slate.
Voter guides are member funded
Members shape who we endorse and keep this research free.
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