Cottie Petrie-Norris

For voters in Costa Mesa, Irvine and Tustin, Cottie Petrie-Norris is the Democratic assemblymember whose district number — and home — changed while her service in the Legislature continued. She entered the Assembly from the old 74th District, then moved to Irvine after the 2021 redistricting to seek reelection in the newly drawn 73rd. Her elections have repeatedly put her against officeholders or former officeholders, including two Republican Assembly incumbents. Before Sacramento, she owned a small business and served on Laguna Beach’s Housing and Human Services Committee. She now chairs the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.

BEFORE PUBLIC OFFICE

Catherine Ann “Cottie” Petrie-Norris was born on August 7, 1975. She is married to Colin Petrie-Norris.

Before her election to the Assembly, Petrie-Norris was a small business owner and served on the Housing and Human Services Committee of Laguna Beach. That committee service preceded her election to the Legislature.

Her pre-Assembly background included business ownership and committee work. One role was as a small business owner; the other was service on Laguna Beach’s Housing and Human Services Committee. She was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2018.

THE PATH THROUGH THREE DISTRICTS

Petrie-Norris was first elected to the Assembly in November 2018, representing the 74th Assembly District. She defeated Republican Matthew Harper, the previous incumbent, to win that first term.

In 2020, she won a second term by a very narrow margin over Diane Dixon, then the mayor of Newport Beach. That contest was one of four Assembly elections in which Petrie-Norris faced an officeholder or former officeholder.

Redistricting changed the map in 2021. Petrie-Norris moved to Irvine to seek reelection in the newly drawn 73rd Assembly District. She ran against incumbent Republican Assemblymember Steven Choi and defeated him in 2022.

She returned to the ballot in 2024 against Scotty Peotter, a former Newport Beach councilman, and was reelected. Across those election cycles, she went from the 74th District to the 73rd, moving to Irvine following redistricting to seek reelection in the newly drawn district.

THE DISTRICT’S PERSON

Petrie-Norris now represents Costa Mesa, Irvine and Tustin in the State Assembly. Her tenure has continued through four election cycles: the first victory over Harper in 2018, the very narrow reelection against Dixon in 2020, the contest with Choi after redistricting in 2022, and the race against Peotter in 2024.

The opponents held or had held public office. Harper and Choi were Republican Assembly incumbents. Dixon was serving as Newport Beach mayor. Peotter had served on the Newport Beach City Council.

Her own route included small-business ownership, service on a Laguna Beach committee and election to the Legislature. The district changed, she moved to Irvine, and the sequence of elections continued. She has won Assembly elections under both the former and current district maps.

THE POLICY SIGNATURE

Petrie-Norris serves as chair of the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. That is her stated present committee leadership position.

Her earlier committee work was on Laguna Beach’s Housing and Human Services Committee. Her current committee leadership is in utilities and energy at the state level. Those posts place housing and human services, and later utilities and energy, among the areas connected to her public service.

Petrie-Norris represents the 73rd District, encompassing the Orange County communities of Costa Mesa, Irvine and Tustin. Her election history includes reelection following redistricting, a move to Irvine and contests against officeholders or former officeholders. Her present Assembly role also includes the Utilities and Energy Committee chairmanship.