California Republicans are more satisfied with their choices for president than their Democratic counterparts, but many voters on both sides are far from content, according to a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.

Among Republicans, 58 percent said they were satisfied while 51 percent of Democrats were satisfied, according to the survey released earlier this month. Predictably, voters with no party preference were even less happy, with 41 percent saying they were satisfied.

California Republicans were more likely to prefer candidates with “new ideas and a different approach” (61 percent) while Democrats preferred candidates with “experience and a proven record” (52 percent). Independent voters also favored new ideas and a different approach (54 percent).

That tracks roughly with what the Pew Research Center found nationwide in September, when 65 percent of Republicans favored new ideas and 50 percent of Democrats preferred experience. But Pew found that was a big shift for Republicans, 57 percent of whom said in March that experience was preferable.

New Assembly hopeful

The race to replace Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang, R-Diamond Bar, continues to attract contestants, with Walnut Valley schools trustee Phillip Chen, a Republican, the latest to lace up his shoes.

Chang’s consultant, Jim Nygren, had success in the district last year when he got her elected there. This cycle, he’s running Chang’s campaign against Democratic former Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang for the seat being vacated by termed-out Sen. Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar.

But Nygren also is on Team Chen in the race for the tri-county Assembly seat. Chen ran for the post in 2014, too, coming in third in the primary, so Nygren has some familiarity with him. Nygren’s also acquainted with Republican contestant and Diamond Bar Councilman Steve Tye, who came in fourth when he ran last time.

Two new faces in the Assembly race are Chino Hills Councilman Ray Marquez and West Covina Councilman Mike Spence, both Republicans. No Democrats have entered the race so far, nor has anybody from Orange County despite it having the biggest chunk of the district. The GOP has an 8-percentage point advantage in voter registration.

Nelson for supervisor?

Two weeks ago, I wrote about a campaign account called “Shawn Nelson for Supervisor 2018” despite Nelson being termed out and ineligible to run in 2018.

Because of criticism, he changed it back to “Shawn Nelson for Supervisor 2014.” He had $121,000 at the end of the June 30 reporting period, including more than $44,000 raised since he was re-elected last year. Among permissible uses for the money are officeholder expenses – such as attending conferences – and the transfer of the money to a future campaign, such as a bid for the judge post Nelson has said he’s interested in.

A couple of insiders subsequently emailed me – and the Voice of OC has suggested – that Nelson really wants another term as county supervisor, and that he and Supervisor Todd Spitzer are looking for a third vote on the Board of Supervisors to approve asking voters to extend term limits.

But Spitzer told me he opposes such an extension, and I also asked Nelson about it earlier this month.

“I’m not against it, but I don’t plan on doing it,” Nelson said. And he reiterated that his plan is to apply for a judgeship, and if he isn’t appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy, to run for an elected judicial post.

In case you missed my earlier report, Nelson said he changed the name of his 2014 account on the advice of his treasurer, who recommended it once the 2014 campaign was over. When “2018” starting drawing attention, he reverted to using 2014 in the name.

Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com