Republican Ted Nordblum and Democrat Deborah Klein Lopez clashed on immigration, climate and guns at an Oct. 1 forum in Thousand Oaks. Ballots are arriving for the Tuesday, Nov. 3, Assembly District 42 election.

The two are competing to replace Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, a Democrat who held the seat since 2014 and is now termed out. The district covers Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and stretches into Simi Valley, Calabasas, Malibu and parts of Camarillo. The forum was first reported by the VC Reporter.

Nordblum, 61, is a medical-device business owner from Newbury Park who ran unsuccessfully against Irwin in 2022 and 2024. Lopez, 58, is the Agoura Hills mayor pro tem and city councilmember since 2018. This is her first run for state office.

The forum at the Thousand Oaks City Council Chambers was co-hosted by the Ventura County League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women Thousand Oaks Branch. Moderator David Maron posed questions submitted by audience members.

Immigration

Asked whether they support ICE working with local law enforcement, the candidates split. Nordblum said he would "continue with the ICE things," distinguishing between DACA recipients and people he said are "basically just here to create havoc and chaos."

Lopez called ICE "out of control" and "not well trained." She said she supports border control and keeping violent criminals off the streets but argued the agency is "tearing families apart" and targeting innocent families.

Climate and energy

Lopez said the Palisades Fire and other recent blazes are "happening more frequently because of climate change" and called for expanding clean energy infrastructure. She passed a climate action plan as Agoura Hills mayor in 2022, according to Politico.

Nordblum said climate change in California is "done on purpose" and "an agenda." He dismissed solar power as "a $10 trillion boondoggle that failed" and argued petroleum remains essential to modern life.

Guns

Lopez noted she was elected to the Agoura Hills City Council one day before the Nov. 7, 2018, mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, which killed 12 people and Ventura County Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Helus. She said a gun violence restraining order "could have possibly saved 12 lives" if it had been in place before the shooting.

Nordblum, who said he holds a concealed-carry permit and has been shooting since age 10, said current gun laws are sufficient. "I believe in our Constitution. I believe in our Bill of Rights. I think that's absolute …" he said at the forum.

Leaked audio controversy

Separately, Nordblum drew criticism after Politico published leaked audio in which he said of the Palisades Fire: "It's a tragedy what happened down there, but it's going to be a blessing for us because we're going to lose about 10 to 12,000 Democratic voters." His consultant Chris Jones said in an email to Politico that the remarks referenced voter disillusionment with Democratic leadership, not a celebration of the fires.

Primary results and ballot deadlines

Lopez led the June 2026 primary with roughly 50,530 votes, about 50%, to Nordblum's 27,783 at 27%, according to preliminary results reported by the Thousand Oaks Acorn. A third candidate, Rocky Rhodes, received about 23%.

Ballot drop boxes opened Tuesday, Oct. 6. The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 19, with polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.