California Assembly District 65 is a Los Angeles County seat covering Compton, Carson, portions of Long Beach, and several Los Angeles neighborhoods including Watts, Wilmington, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, and San Pedro. It is represented by Democrat Mike Gipson, who has served in the Assembly since 2014 and under the current boundaries since December 2022.1California State Assembly. Assemblymember Mike Gipson – Biography The next elections for the seat are the June 2, 2026 primary and the November 3, 2026 general.2California Secretary of State. Primary Election – June 2, 2026
What Communities Are in District 65
The district sits entirely within Los Angeles County and holds roughly 503,000 residents. It takes in all of Compton, Willowbrook, East Rancho Dominguez, West Rancho Dominguez, and West Carson, plus large sections of Carson and northern Long Beach. Inside the city of Los Angeles, the district covers Watts, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, Wilmington, and San Pedro.3California State Assembly. Assemblymember Mike Gipson – District Map
Interstates 405, 110, and 710 and State Route 91 run through the district and help define its shape. The area is urban and suburban, with residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and the industrial zones around the Port of Long Beach.
If you’re trying to confirm whether your home is inside District 65, the official district map on Assemblymember Gipson’s website is the authoritative reference.3California State Assembly. Assemblymember Mike Gipson – District Map District lines can split a city, so being inside Carson or Long Beach doesn’t automatically place you in District 65.
Who Represents District 65
Mike Gipson was born in Watts and served on the Carson City Council, including as Mayor Pro Tempore, before his election to the Assembly in 2014.1California State Assembly. Assemblymember Mike Gipson – Biography
He chairs the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee and the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, which carries real weight for a district next to the busiest port complex in the Western Hemisphere. He also sits on the standing committees for Governmental Organization and Insurance, and on select committees covering domestic violence, the nonprofit sector, and youth mental health.4California State Assembly. Assemblymember Mike Gipson – Committees His legislative record includes bills banning untraceable firearms and several police use-of-force measures.1California State Assembly. Assemblymember Mike Gipson – Biography
If you live in the district and need help with a state agency — a stuck DMV case, an Employment Development Department claim, a disability insurance problem — the district office handles that kind of casework and can contact the agency on your behalf.5California State Assembly. Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo – Help With State Agencies
How to Vote in District 65 in 2026
Every Assembly seat is on the ballot every two years, so District 65 voters will choose a representative in both the June 2026 primary and the November 2026 general.6California State Capitol Museum. Assembly and Senate
Who Can Register
You must be a United States citizen, a California resident, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. You cannot register if you are currently serving a state or federal prison term for a felony conviction.7California Secretary of State. Who Can Vote in California Residents who are 16 or 17 can pre-register using the same process, and the registration activates automatically on their 18th birthday.8California Secretary of State. Pre-register at 16 Vote at 18
How and When to Register
The fastest route is registertovote.ca.gov, which pulls your signature from DMV records. You’ll need a California driver’s license or state ID; if you don’t have one, you can use the last four digits of your Social Security number, and if you have neither you can still register and be assigned a unique identifier.9California Secretary of State. Voter Registration Paper forms are also available at county elections offices, libraries, DMV offices, and post offices.
Registrations must be received or postmarked at least 15 days before an election to guarantee a standard ballot.10California Legislative Information. California Elections Code 2102 For the June 2, 2026 primary, that cutoff is May 18, 2026.11California Secretary of State. Election Dates and Resources If you miss it, California still lets you register and vote conditionally at any polling place or vote center during the 14 days before the election and on Election Day itself. You fill out the form on the spot, cast a conditional ballot, and the county counts it once your information is verified.12California Secretary of State. Same Day Voter Registration (Conditional Voter Registration)
Returning Your Ballot
California mails a ballot to every registered voter. Counties begin mailing ballots for the November 3, 2026 general election by early October.13California Secretary of State. General Election – November 3, 2026 You have three ways to return it:
- By mail. The prepaid return envelope requires no stamp, and your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day.14California Legislative Information. California Elections Code 3010
- At a drop box. Secure boxes are placed around the district well before Election Day and close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.
- In person. Any vote center or polling place will accept your mail ballot or let you vote on-site. Polls run from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.2California Secretary of State. Primary Election – June 2, 2026
You can track your ballot through the state’s “Where’s My Ballot?” system, which sends updates by text, email, or voice call when it is mailed, received, and counted.15California Secretary of State. Wheres My Ballot
Why the Boundaries Look the Way They Do
The current District 65 map took effect with the 2022 elections after the California Citizens Redistricting Commission redrew every Assembly, Senate, Congressional, and Board of Equalization district using 2020 census data. The commission is an independent 14-member citizen body, not a legislative committee, and is barred from drawing lines that favor or disadvantage any party, incumbent, or candidate.16Justia Law. California Constitution Article XXI Section 2 – Redistricting of Senate, Assembly, Congressional and Board of Equalization Districts The next redraw will follow the 2030 census, so the boundaries described here will stay in place through the rest of the decade.