Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin of Thousand Oaks is running against businesswoman Lori Mills in the race to represent California’s 42nd State Assembly District.

Irwin, representing the Democratic Party, won the primary election back in June with 56% of the votes. Mills, a Republican, also advanced the primary election, receiving 29% of the total votes.

The winning candidate of this mid-term election will join an assembly of 80 politicians who are tasked with producing legislation that best represents the interests of their constituents.

Following data collection from the United States Census in 2020, district boundaries of the 42nd Assembly District have been redrawn.

While voters living in Moorpark, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village continue to be represented by the 42nd District, residents of Simi Valley, Agoura Hills, Newbury Park, Calabasas, Malibu and Pacific Palisades have been formally added to this grouping. Nearby cities Oxnard and Port Hueneme are now a part of the 38th Assembly District.

Once elected, Assemblymembers serve in several committees that reflect their professional experiences and/or educational background. In their two-year term, they participate in committee hearings to review and debate bills in their respective committee areas that have been introduced by their colleagues. Some of these bills end up becoming state laws if they receive the necessary approval votes from the Assembly and State Senate, and if they are then signed by the governor.

Irwin, who currently represents California’s 44th Assembly District, chairs the Revenue and Taxation Committee and is also a member of the following standing committees: Higher Education, Privacy and Consumer Protection, Agriculture and Business and Professions.

Irwin obtained a B.S in Systems Engineering from the University of California San Diego. She began her career in politics back in 2004 when she was elected to the Thousand Oaks City Council. She later served two terms as mayor of Thousand Oaks and was first elected into the State Assembly in 2014.

Going into this election, Irwin’s main campaign goals are increasing funding for the homeless, keeping the community safe, building the economy and creating more jobs. She has been publicly endorsed by organizations such as Planned Parenthood, California Teachers Association and Simi Valley Police Officers Association.

During her campaign, Irwin has made appearances at Moorpark College. On Oct. 18, Irwin held a press conference at the college to speak about securing $64 million in funding for California Community Colleges.

“Throughout my legislative tenure, I have made it a priority to create an equitable and accessible higher education system for all,” Irwin explained. “As a first-generation college student myself, I have long understood the barriers to student success.”

Irwin’s opponent in this election is Mills, who has been appealing to the 42nd District’s Republican voter base to garner support.

Mills is a California native and businesswoman working for a Fortune 500 company. As a new political figure, Mills is centering her campaign on a 6-point plan.

Her main priorities include crime prevention, supporting law enforcement, reigning in government spending, addressing homelessness, government overreach and parental rights. She has been openly endorsed by Simi Valley Mayor Keith Mashburn and the Ventura County GOP.

Mills discussed her reasons for running for a seat in the State Assembly on her campaign website.

“California residents are enduring high taxes, a sharply increasing cost of living, a deteriorating education system, a worsening crime rate, and a homelessness and mental health problem that has evolved into a humanitarian crisis,” Mills wrote. “Californians are losing trust in elected politicians.”

Irwin and Mills’ competitive campaigns will be put to the test on election day today, Nov. 8, when Ventura County and Los Angeles County voters — who haven’t already turned in their ballots via mail or drop box — will fill in their choice candidate for California’s 42nd State Assembly District.