by Roger Riffenburgh
Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner has launched a campaign for California Secretary of State built around election reform and restoring public confidence in voting. He says, “Californians deserve an excellent election system that is secure, efficient, accurate and accessible to every eligible voter. I will make sure that every eligible voter can participate in our democracy while also protecting the security of elections by ensuring that only eligible voters cast ballots.”
Wagner supports the voter ID initiative that’s expected to be on the November ballot. He has also emphasized the need to rebuild public trust in California’s election system. He argues that the secretary of state must improve transparency and reporting while providing voters confidence that elections are fair and timely. He has criticized delays in election reporting and said reforms could ensure quicker and more reliable results.
He currently serves on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing more than 600,000 residents, and has held the position since 2019. Previously, he had served as mayor of Irvine. Wagner has been endorsed by former Governor Pete Wilson and also former Secretaries of State Bill Jones and Bruce McPherson, who are serving as campaign co-chairs.
Don Wagner was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He moved to California at age 12. He met his wife, Megan, in high school. They both attended UCLA, where Don earned his BA. He earned his JD in San Franciso at the University of California College of the Law (formerly Hastings). In 1987, he began his legal career as a business lawyer. He was a founder of Wagner Lautsch LLP in 1993, specializing in business and real estate.
In 1998, he was elected to the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, serving six of his twelve years as board president, where he balanced budgets and paid off debts without tax increases or bonds. From 2010 to 2016, Don served in the California State Assembly and was known for his expertise in government fiscal affairs, particularly on committees such as Appropriations and Budget. In 2016, he was elected mayor of Irvine.
Don and his wife Megan, who is a Superior Court judge, raised their three kids in Orange County and are now grandparents of two. They are avid sports fans for UCLA and their local teams. An English major with a love for classics and history, Don is an avid reader. You can learn more about Don Wagner and his campaign on his campaign website, Wagner For California.
