It's not that simple. A lot depends on the exact terms and conditions of your lease as required by the following CA statute:
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/fa...tionNum=1951.4.
Read it and then check your lease for the appropriate provisions.
California law doesn't take kindly to forfeitures but it does give a landlord the option of continuing to hold you responsible for the rent indefinitely and apply your deposit to unpaid rent if he complies with the statute.
Keep in mind that it's not your opinion of whether your replacement is qualified it's the landlords qualifying requirements that are paramount as long as those requirements are reasonable.
Also keep in mind that you'll be obliged to continue paying rent until the replacement is approved or you sublet the unit and retain responsibility for your tenant.
In short, breaking a lease comes with consequences even in the best of circumstances and you could, effectively, lose your deposit and then some.
The lesson learned here: Don't sign contracts and think you can just walk away from them unscathed.

