Zbur Wins Reelection to State Assembly

Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur retains California's 51st Assembly District seat, defeating Republican challenger Colin Hernandez.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single weathered wooden ballot box standing alone on an ochre field under a clear sky, evoking civic voting in California. — Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur won reelection to California's 51st Assembly District, defeating Republican Colin Hernandez with 61.5% of the vote. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Rick Chavez Zbur was reelected to California State Assembly District 51, receiving 61.5% of the vote to Colin Hernandez's 38.5%, according to results as of Thursday evening that the Associated Press announced.

Why it matters

The district includes UCLA and surrounding communities, and Zbur's reelection keeps a sitting Democratic Caucus Chair in the Assembly seat he has held since 2022.

Zbur received 61.5% of the vote to Hernandez's 38.5% in results counted as of Thursday evening, according to Associated Press figures. Certified final totals were not part of the reported results.

The players

Rick Chavez Zbur

Zbur is a California Democrat who previously led Equality California and California Environmental Voters before entering the Assembly.

Colin Hernandez

Hernandez was the challenger in the District 51 race, receiving 38.5% of the vote.

The details

Zbur, first elected in 2022 and appointed Democratic Caucus Chair in 2023, previously led Equality California and California Environmental Voters. His legislative record includes measures supporting renewable energy and housing near community colleges, and he helped secure $5 million for UCLA's Center on Reproductive Health, Law, and Policy.

2022: Zbur first elected to the State Assembly
2023: Zbur appointed Democratic Caucus Chair
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Zbur reelected; AP announces result
2028: District 51 seat next up for reelection

Political Context

Zbur's reelection keeps him in the District 51 seat he first won in 2022, extending his tenure as Democratic Caucus Chair. The margin of 61.5% to 38.5% reflects the district's partisan lean in this race.

District 51 voters will next choose their Assembly representative in 2028, when the seat returns to the ballot. Residents' representation in Sacramento rests with Zbur for the current term.

The takeaway

Zbur's reelection extends a continuous Assembly tenure in a district anchored by UCLA, keeping the seat's representation stable through the current term.