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Michael Simpfenderfer
Michael Simpfenderfer (Republican Party) ran for election to the California State Assembly to represent District 58. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Simpfenderfer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Simpfenderfer was a district-level delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from California. All 172 delegates from California were bound by state party rules to support Donald Trump at the convention.[1] As of July 13, 2016, Trump had approximately 1,542 delegates. The winner of the Republican nomination needed the support of 1,237 delegates. Trump formally won the nomination on July 19, 2016.
Biography
Michael Simpfenderfer attended the University of Arkansas and Harding University. His career experience includes working as a mortgage loan officer and branch manager. Simpfenderfer's organizational affiliations include Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment and Stepping Stones.[2]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for California State Assembly District 58
Incumbent Cristina Garcia defeated Michael Simpfenderfer in the general election for California State Assembly District 58 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Cristina Garcia (D) | 70.4 | 84,003 |
 | Michael Simpfenderfer (R)  | 29.6 | 35,301 | |
| Total votes: 119,304 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 58
The following candidates ran in the primary for California State Assembly District 58 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cristina Garcia (D) | 28.9 | 14,509 |
| ✔ | | Michael Simpfenderfer (R) | 26.4 | 13,246 |
| Pedro Aceituno (D) | 12.7 | 6,386 | ||
| Karla Salazar (D) | 9.2 | 4,603 | ||
| Friné Medrano (D) | 8.9 | 4,447 | ||
| Ivan Altamirano (D) | 7.6 | 3,809 | ||
 | John Paul Drayer (D) | 3.3 | 1,653 | |
| Miguel Angel Alvarado (D) | 3.1 | 1,568 | ||
| Total votes: 50,221 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016 Republican National Convention
Delegate rules
Republican presidential candidates were responsible for selecting their own delegates from California to the national convention. California state law required delegates to support the winner of the California Republican primary election unless that candidate received less than 10 percent of the vote at the convention in the first round of voting; or if the candidate released them; or if voting at the convention proceeded to a third round.
California primary results
| California Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Delegates | |
 Donald Trump |
74.7% | 1,582,099 | 172 | |
| Ted Cruz | 9.5% | 201,441 | 0 | |
| John Kasich | 11.4% | 242,073 | 0 | |
| Ben Carson | 0.7% | 14,938 | 0 | |
| Jim Gilmore | 3.7% | 77,417 | 0 | |
| Totals | 2,117,968 | 172 | ||
| Source: The New York Times and California Secretary of State | ||||
Delegate allocation
California had 172 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, 159 were district-level delegates (three for each of the state's 53 congressional districts). California's district delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the plurality winner in a given congressional district won all of that district's delegates.[3][4]
Of the remaining 13 delegates, 10 served at large. California's at-large delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the plurality winner of the statewide primary vote received all of the state's at-large delegates. In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention. The RNC delegates were required to pledge their support to the winner of the state's primary.[3][4]
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Michael Simpfenderfer participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on May 15, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Michael Simpfenderfer's responses follow below.[5]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1. Repeal the gas tax/increased DMV fees/AB109. 2. Protect Proposition 13/no more taxes. 3. Increase housing supply/engage non profits to serve the homeless.[6][7] | ” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | The increased crime is unacceptable. Two of my family members were sexually assaulted/raped. Our schools struggle when the drugs flow; the gangs rule the streets; and illegal guns are openly available from thugs and the gangs; human trafficking occurs in front of us. We must stop the red carpet treatment criminals get. Our kids deserve better and so do we. Maximum law enforcement must focus upon the criminal organizations that poison our children; pimp our daughters; traffic weapons.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[7]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Michael Simpfenderfer answered the following:
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
| “ | Too many elected officials are focused lining their pockets while people struggle for safe streets; more homes; good jobs; lower taxes. It is time to fire the hypocrite politicians who ignored/betrayed us. We deserve better.[7] | ” |
| “ | Do as the people expect me to do. Listen to them and make their lives better.[7] | ” |
| “ | I work for the people. This is their office. It is my job and responsibility to make their lives better.[7] | ” |
| “ | The people of the 58th Assembly District hired and trusted me to represent them. I did what they wanted me to do for them.[7] | ” |
| “ | Americans held hostage in 1979/980 in Iran will forever impact me. Our enemies must always fear us and respect us for our strength and resolve. Evil will prevail when good men and women do nothing.[7] | ” |
| “ | Worked for a veterinarian for a few years as a teenager. Loved the job. Learned so much. I treasured what he taught me to this day.[7] | ” |
| “ | July 4th. We freed ourselves from oppression.[7] | ” |
| “ | The Bible. The answers we need are there. Just read it.[7] | ” |
| “ | Previous political experience never should be required for any elected position. The people will decide if they trust you or not to do the job.[7] | ” |
| “ | California became a predator's playground and a state that sent people away because of our unacceptable cost of living-hostile attitudes towards businesses. We need to lock up the criminals; dramatically grow our housing supply and welcome businesses back to our state.[7] | ” |
| “ | Find common issues in the midst of disagreements such as get legislation that makes California very hostile for human trafficking...long prison sentences and lengthy claw back periods for asset seizures.[7] | ” |
| “ | It is prudent and wise to build relationships with others across the aisle. A failure to do so is not acceptable. Former House Speaker Tip O'Neill; former Congressman-HUD Secretary-VP nominee Jack Kemp; former Congressman Ed Bethune all demonstrated great leaders work with people who are focused getting things done regardless of their political party.[7] | ” |
| “ | Committee assignments dealing with crime and law enforcement are very appealing.[7] | ” |
| “ | n/a[7] | ” |
| “ | The members of the Assembly will decide if they want me to assume a leadership role or not.[7] | ” |
| “ | Current Arkansas State Representative Rebecca Petty. Read about her in Wikipedia. She is a hero and great role model.[7] | ” |
| “ | Listening to horrific stories from crime victims and how they survived then overcame what happened impact me and motivate me to do well for us and help law enforcement arrest the criminals.[7] | ” |
Ballotpedia biographical submission form
The candidate completed Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form:
| “ | What is your political philosophy?
I decided to run for office as we learned the incumbent sexually assaulted a former staff member; repeatedly utilized vulgar offensive language in the office and demeaned others; maintained a kegerator in the office; was caught lying to the media repeatedly about academic credentials. I realized it was time for a change in the 58th Assembly District and it is time to end the non stop embarrassment caused by the incumbent. As a father of a child sexually assaulted at the age of 13 and a brother of a sister drugged and raped, I realized we needed to focus putting the criminals in jail so we are safer. Repealing the gas tax/increased silly DMV fees will help all of us. CA is the poverty capital of the US and CA became the worst state to live/work. Our homeless population grows while the politicians talk, talk, talk. Block grant funds to our non profits and they will truly help reduce the homeless population. It is time we recruit employers back to CA and lower taxes for all of us. Proposition 13 is under attack and this must be protected for all of us. If Proposition 13 gets rescinded for commercial properties, rents will go up more. Is there anything you would like to add? It is time for a change in the 58th Assembly District of California. We deserve better.[7] |
” |
| —Michael Simpfenderfer[2] | ||
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- California State Assembly elections, 2018
- California State Assembly
- Republican National Convention, 2016
- 2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules
- RNC delegate guidelines from California, 2016
- Republican delegate rules by state, 2016
- Presidential election, 2016
- Presidential candidates, 2016
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ CA GOP, "Updated delegate list," accessed July 11, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on July 25, 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 CNN.com, "Republican National Convention roll call vote," accessed July 20, 2016
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Michael Simpfenderfer's responses," May 15, 2018
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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