Joshua Alder Lowenthal (born February 15, 1970)[1] is an American business executive and politician from California serving as a member of the California State Assembly, representing the 69th district. The son of politicians Bonnie and Alan Lowenthal, he was first elected in 2022 after a failed run for the State Assembly in 2018.

Joshua Lowenthal
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 69th district
Assumed office
December 5, 2022
Preceded byTom Daly
Personal details
Born (1970-02-15) February 15, 1970 (age 54)
Long Beach, California
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseErika Lowenthal
Children3
Parent(s)Alan Lowenthal (father)
Bonnie Lowenthal (mother)
Alma materCornell University
University of California, San Diego

Early life and education

edit

Lowenthal was born on February 15, 1970 in Long Beach, California to Alan Lowenthal and Bonnie Lowenthal. He attended Cornell University, where he became the student body president, and later attended the University of California, San Diego. Before becoming a politician like his parents, he worked as a teacher and as a businessman who owned restaurants and a conference calling company. Prior to running for California State Assembly, Lowenthal did community work, considering a run for a school board.[2]

Political career

edit

In 2018, Lowenthal ran for the California State Assembly as the sole Democratic candidate in the 72nd district, facing Republican Tyler Diep in the general election in over to replace incumbent Travis Allen.[3][4] During the campaign, Diep was accused for using anti-Semitic imagery targeting Lowenthal. Diep's campaign denied allegations of manipulating images to depict Lowenthal as stereotypically Jewish, but Diep later apologized about the mailers.[5][6] In the general election, Lowenthal lost to Diep by 8 points.[7]

He ran for State Assembly again in 2022 in the newly-redrawn 69th district after incumbent Patrick O'Donnell announced his retirement.[8] Lowenthal placed first and faced off against Long Beach councilman Al Austin, and defeated Austin in the general election.[9][10]

Electoral history

edit
Electoral history of Josh Lowenthal
Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing Ref.
Total % P. Total % P.
2018 California State Assembly Democratic 34,462 36.8% 1st 78,080 48.4% 2nd Lost Hold
2022 Democratic 30,919 45.6% 1st 62,582 58.9% 1st Won Hold [11][12]
2024 Democratic 54,679 68.0% 1st TBD TBD TBD [13]

References

edit
  1. ^ Parker, Sue (March 2023). "The Assembly List of MEMBERS, OFFICERS, COMMITTEES AND THE RULES" (PDF). California State Assembly.
  2. ^ Kimitch, Rebecca (August 10, 2013). "Politics could pit Lowenthals against one another". Los Angeles Daily News.
  3. ^ Kopetman, Roxana (June 5, 2018). "Incumbents, Lowenthal lead in California Assembly races". The Orange County Register.
  4. ^ "Political Landscape: Council candidate forums set in Newport and Huntington". Los Angeles Times. August 17, 2018.
  5. ^ Vega, Priscella (November 1, 2018). "Assembly candidate Tyler Diep's campaign is accused of using anti-Semitic images to attack opponent Josh Lowenthal". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Vega, Priscella (July 3, 2019). "Assemblyman Tyler Diep apologizes for campaign materials that offended the Jewish community".
  7. ^ Money, Luke (November 7, 2018). "Diep wins 72nd Assembly District seat, while Harper and Petrie-Norris remain locked in tight race in 74th". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ Saltgaver, Harry (January 6, 2022). "Josh Lowenthal, son of Long Beach congressman, throws hat in ring for 69th Assembly District". Press-Telegram.
  9. ^ Saltgaver, Harry (June 7, 2022). "Election 2022: Josh Lowenthal, Long Beach Councilman Al Austin set for November runoff in race for 69th Assembly District". Press-Telegram.
  10. ^ Saltgaver, Harry (October 3, 2022). "Election 2022: Al Austin, Josh Lowenthal face off for state Assembly seat on Nov. 8". Press-Telegram.
  11. ^ "Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 7, 2022" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  12. ^ "General Election - Statement of the Vote, November 8, 2022 - State Assembly" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  13. ^ "Tuesday March 5, 2024 - California Presidential Primary Election - Unofficial Election Results".