Kristina Irwin Runs Again for State Senate in District 24

Kristina Irwin's Second Run for California’s 24th State Senate District

Kristina Irwin is making her second bid for California’s 24th State Senate District, a region that spans from Agoura Hills and the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Venice, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood. This district has long been a stronghold for Democrats, but Irwin believes there is an opportunity for change, especially with the current incumbent, Sen. Ben Allen, stepping down.

In 2022, Irwin ran as a write-in candidate against Allen, earning what she claims was a record number of write-in votes in Los Angeles County. Her efforts were enough to advance to the general election, where she received over 121,000 votes. Now, with Allen leaving the seat, Irwin is looking to build on that momentum and position herself as a viable Republican candidate in a traditionally Democratic area.

“This is the best shot Republicans have in California,” Irwin said. She emphasized that flipping just three seats could disrupt the Democrats’ two-thirds supermajority in the State Senate. “I’m running to give this community a voice in Sacramento that it hasn’t had for 16 years.”

Why She's Running

Irwin’s decision to enter politics was influenced by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the impact on her children’s education. As school closures forced online learning, she became increasingly concerned about the lack of transparency and the politicized content in the curriculum. This led her to organize with other parents and challenge Allen.

She criticized the one-party rule in Sacramento, pointing to policies that ignore voter concerns. These include public safety failures, state housing mandates that override local control, and education requirements she views as ideological. “These issues go beyond party lines,” she said. “People want safer neighborhoods, affordable living, and schools that focus on teaching, not politics.”

Platform Priorities

Irwin’s campaign focuses on three main areas:

Public Safety and Homelessness:
She supports Proposition 36 and advocates for stronger enforcement of violent crime laws. She also wants more mental health and addiction treatment facilities. Irwin criticizes policies that prioritize criminals over victims and believes homelessness must be addressed through mandatory treatment for those in need, not just housing.

Education and Parental Rights:
Irwin wants to return to what she calls “the three Rs—reading, writing, and arithmetic.” She opposes state graduation requirements that include diversity, equity, and inclusion coursework. She supports vocational programs, trade schools, and practical life skills classes to prepare students for careers beyond college.

Protecting Local Control:
Irwin opposes Senate Bill 9 and similar laws that promote high-density housing in single-family neighborhoods, especially in wildfire rebuild zones like the Pacific Palisades. She advocates for preserving community planning processes and limiting the influence of large-scale developers.

Personal Background

Irwin’s family immigrated from the former Yugoslavia when she was three years old, settling in Santa Monica and later Marina del Rey. Her father, a physician, and her grandparents shared stories of life under socialism, which shaped her political views.

She has lived in various parts of the district, sent her children to local public schools, and experienced both the challenges of the pandemic and the devastation of the recent Pacific Palisades fire. “I’m a mom, a neighbor, and someone who understands what this community has been through,” she said. “I’m running because I refuse to sit back and watch Sacramento ignore us.”