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The President of the United States is the head of the Executive branch of the federal government, and the Commander-in-Chief for all branches of the armed forces. A president has the power to make diplomatic, executive, and judicial appointments, and can sign into law or veto legislation. Presidential administrations are responsible for both foreign and domestic policy priorities. Presidents are limited to serving two four-year terms in office.
As of October 12th, Democratic challenger Vice President Joe Biden is leading Republican incumbent President Donald Trump in the polls by an average national margin of 9.2% (as of 10/24/20). Ten days before Election Day in 2016, Secretary Hillary Clinton held an average 4.9% polling lead over Donald Trump. Vice President Biden’s campaign has raised $952 million (as of 10/14/20) and is not funded by fossil fuel money. While his platform commits to establishing meaningful campaign finance reform, his 2020 campaign has received donations from special interest, corporate PAC, and lobbyist organizations. President Donald Trump has raised $601 million (as of 10/14/20) and has not taken any fundraising pledges. President Trump is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, Citizens United, Proud Boys, and a variety of law enforcement organizations.
Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. is from Scranton, PA, and moved to Claymont, DE with his family when he was 10 years old. He has been a resident of Wilmington, DE, for most of his adult life. Vice President Biden came of age during the 1960s Civil Rights movement, which he cites as his inspiration for majoring in political science at the University of Delaware before earning his law degree at Syracuse University. His political career began in 1970 when he was elected to the New Castle County Council. Just two years later, at age 29, Vice President Biden ran for the Delaware Senate seat, and became one of the youngest people ever elected to the United States Senate. A few weeks after his election, his wife and infant daughter were killed in a car accident, and his two sons were badly injured. This personal tragedy shaped Vice President Biden’s public image as an empathetic leader and committed family man.
Vice President Biden spent 36 years representing Delaware in the Senate. He is often critiqued as being an unremarkable, status quo Democrat, and mid-career votes in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act, anti-drug legislation, and the Iraq War reaffirm that characterization. In 1991, Vice President Biden was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and presided over the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Justice Clarence Thomas, who had been credibly accused of sexual harassment by a former colleague, Anita Hill. Vice President Biden’s mismanagement of the hearing resulted in a targeted and unfair character assassination of Anita Hill, and remains a reminder of his complicity in the patriarchal and racist systems on which American government is built.
Vice President Biden has also been directly accused of unwanted contact by several women over the course of his career. Most of the accusations came to light as part of the #MeToo movement, and related to invasions of personal space that included the touching of shoulders, caressing of hair, and close whispering. He has apologized publicly for this behavior, and stated an understanding of his responsibility to conform to more modern social norms in his interactions with women.
Vice President Biden launched two unsuccessful campaigns for President during his time in the Senate, in 1988 and 2008. After ending his 2008 campaign, he was chosen by President Barack Obama to join his ticket as Vice President, and they served together for two terms. As Vice President, he was responsible for managing the 2009 economic recovery, helping to expand health care through the Affordable Care Act, and acting as the administration’s liaison to the Senate. In 2015, his oldest son, Beau Biden, lost his battle with brain cancer at the age of 46. Since leaving office in 2016, Vice President Biden has dedicated substantial resources to cancer research.
Although he was rarely a trailblazer, Vice President Biden’s record does demonstrate a consistent liberal evolution on many issues throughout his career. After voting in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, he was the first member of the Obama Administration to advocate for marriage equality in 2012. After presiding over the Anita Hill hearings in 1991, he was the architect of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, and led the Obama Administration’s effort to reduce campus sexual assault through the It’s On Us campaign. After supporting the 1994 Crime Bill and aligning with the racist ‘tough on crime’ approach of that era, his current platform supports criminal justice reform, abolishing private prisons, and decriminalizing marijuana.
Vice President Biden has long been committed to building relationships with colleagues across the aisle, and bridging intra-party policy differences to establish compromise legislation for the American people. This commitment to civility resulted in Vice President Biden maintaining problematic working relationships with segregationist Senators James Eastland and Herman Talmadge during his time in the Senate. During the 2020 primary, Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Kamala Harris, both Black candidates running for President, were outward in their critique of what they viewed as Vice President Biden’s defense of the reputations and decency of these segregationists. However, Vice President Biden has not apologized for his continued defense of collaborating with these segregationist colleagues, and maintains broad support in the Black community.
Vice President Biden’s commitment to compromise has extended to the left in recent months, and updates to his campaign platform are reflective of his interest in connecting with progressive voters. While he was a more moderate candidate in the larger 2020 field, he has been conscientious about including the popular perspectives of his progressive rivals, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders, in his platform. He has recently issued proposals that include middle-class tax cuts, lowering Medicare eligibility to age 60, new benchmarks for greenhouse gas emission limits, free college tuition for families making less than $125,000 annually, and clean energy investments. While these proposals do not embrace the full scope of progressive ideals, they are an important indicator of his capacity for collaboration.
The Biden/Harris campaign is endorsed by many progressive groups in the country. While the Biden/Harris platform is the most progressive platform ever adopted by a major party ticket, we encourage progressive advocates to continue to hold their administration accountable, and work to encourage progressive legislation throughout the country. With consideration to their records in public service, we unequivocally recommend Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The President of the United States is the head of the Executive branch of the federal government, and the Commander-in-Chief for all branches of the armed forces. A president has the power to make diplomatic, executive, and judicial appointments, and can sign into law or veto legislation. Presidential administrations are responsible for both foreign and domestic policy priorities. Presidents are limited to serving two four-year terms in office.
As of October 12th, Democratic challenger Vice President Joe Biden is leading Republican incumbent President Donald Trump in the polls by an average national margin of 9.2% (as of 10/24/20). Ten days before Election Day in 2016, Secretary Hillary Clinton held an average 4.9% polling lead over Donald Trump. Vice President Biden’s campaign has raised $952 million (as of 10/14/20) and is not funded by fossil fuel money. While his platform commits to establishing meaningful campaign finance reform, his 2020 campaign has received donations from special interest, corporate PAC, and lobbyist organizations. President Donald Trump has raised $601 million (as of 10/14/20) and has not taken any fundraising pledges. President Trump is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, Citizens United, Proud Boys, and a variety of law enforcement organizations.
Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. is from Scranton, PA, and moved to Claymont, DE with his family when he was 10 years old. He has been a resident of Wilmington, DE, for most of his adult life. Vice President Biden came of age during the 1960s Civil Rights movement, which he cites as his inspiration for majoring in political science at the University of Delaware before earning his law degree at Syracuse University. His political career began in 1970 when he was elected to the New Castle County Council. Just two years later, at age 29, Vice President Biden ran for the Delaware Senate seat, and became one of the youngest people ever elected to the United States Senate. A few weeks after his election, his wife and infant daughter were killed in a car accident, and his two sons were badly injured. This personal tragedy shaped Vice President Biden’s public image as an empathetic leader and committed family man.
Vice President Biden spent 36 years representing Delaware in the Senate. He is often critiqued as being an unremarkable, status quo Democrat, and mid-career votes in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act, anti-drug legislation, and the Iraq War reaffirm that characterization. In 1991, Vice President Biden was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and presided over the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Justice Clarence Thomas, who had been credibly accused of sexual harassment by a former colleague, Anita Hill. Vice President Biden’s mismanagement of the hearing resulted in a targeted and unfair character assassination of Anita Hill, and remains a reminder of his complicity in the patriarchal and racist systems on which American government is built.
Vice President Biden has also been directly accused of unwanted contact by several women over the course of his career. Most of the accusations came to light as part of the #MeToo movement, and related to invasions of personal space that included the touching of shoulders, caressing of hair, and close whispering. He has apologized publicly for this behavior, and stated an understanding of his responsibility to conform to more modern social norms in his interactions with women.
Vice President Biden launched two unsuccessful campaigns for President during his time in the Senate, in 1988 and 2008. After ending his 2008 campaign, he was chosen by President Barack Obama to join his ticket as Vice President, and they served together for two terms. As Vice President, he was responsible for managing the 2009 economic recovery, helping to expand health care through the Affordable Care Act, and acting as the administration’s liaison to the Senate. In 2015, his oldest son, Beau Biden, lost his battle with brain cancer at the age of 46. Since leaving office in 2016, Vice President Biden has dedicated substantial resources to cancer research.
Although he was rarely a trailblazer, Vice President Biden’s record does demonstrate a consistent liberal evolution on many issues throughout his career. After voting in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, he was the first member of the Obama Administration to advocate for marriage equality in 2012. After presiding over the Anita Hill hearings in 1991, he was the architect of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, and led the Obama Administration’s effort to reduce campus sexual assault through the It’s On Us campaign. After supporting the 1994 Crime Bill and aligning with the racist ‘tough on crime’ approach of that era, his current platform supports criminal justice reform, abolishing private prisons, and decriminalizing marijuana.
Vice President Biden has long been committed to building relationships with colleagues across the aisle, and bridging intra-party policy differences to establish compromise legislation for the American people. This commitment to civility resulted in Vice President Biden maintaining problematic working relationships with segregationist Senators James Eastland and Herman Talmadge during his time in the Senate. During the 2020 primary, Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Kamala Harris, both Black candidates running for President, were outward in their critique of what they viewed as Vice President Biden’s defense of the reputations and decency of these segregationists. However, Vice President Biden has not apologized for his continued defense of collaborating with these segregationist colleagues, and maintains broad support in the Black community.
Vice President Biden’s commitment to compromise has extended to the left in recent months, and updates to his campaign platform are reflective of his interest in connecting with progressive voters. While he was a more moderate candidate in the larger 2020 field, he has been conscientious about including the popular perspectives of his progressive rivals, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders, in his platform. He has recently issued proposals that include middle-class tax cuts, lowering Medicare eligibility to age 60, new benchmarks for greenhouse gas emission limits, free college tuition for families making less than $125,000 annually, and clean energy investments. While these proposals do not embrace the full scope of progressive ideals, they are an important indicator of his capacity for collaboration.
The Biden/Harris campaign is endorsed by many progressive groups in the country. While the Biden/Harris platform is the most progressive platform ever adopted by a major party ticket, we encourage progressive advocates to continue to hold their administration accountable, and work to encourage progressive legislation throughout the country. With consideration to their records in public service, we unequivocally recommend Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The Vice President is the second-highest office in the Executive branch of the federal government. The officeholder is the first in the line of succession to the presidency and holds legislative authority as the president of the Senate. In this role, the Vice President presides over Senate deliberations and can cast a tie-breaking vote in close decisions. A Vice Presidential candidate is selected directly by a Presidential nominee who has won the democratic primary process. Vice Presidential candidates are elected indirectly as a part of the Presidential ticket in the general election. A Vice President serves four year terms, and there is no term limit for this position.
As of October 12th, Democratic challenger Vice President Joe Biden is leading Republican incumbent President Donald Trump in the polls by an average national margin of 9.2% (as of 10/24/20). Ten days before Election Day in 2016, Secretary Hillary Clinton held an average 4.9% polling lead over Donald Trump. Vice President Biden’s campaign has raised $952 million (as of 10/14/20) and is not funded by fossil fuel money. While his platform commits to establishing meaningful campaign finance reform, his 2020 campaign has received donations from special interest, corporate PAC, and lobbyist organizations. President Donald Trump has raised $601 million (as of 10/14/20) and has not taken any fundraising pledges. President Trump is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, Citizens United, Proud Boys, and a variety of law enforcement organizations.
Senator Kamala Harris grew up in Berkeley, CA, and now resides in Los Angeles. She is the daughter of a Jamiacan father and an Indian mother who both emigrated to the Bay Area in the 1960s, and established themselves as activists in the Civil Rights movement in Oakland. Sen. Harris’ interest in justice and equal rights was instilled at a young age when she participated in civil rights protests in Oakland alongside her activist parents, and was further shaped when she was included in the second class of students to be bussed as part of Berkley’s efforts toward school integration. She attended Howard University, one of America’s HBCU institutions, for undergraduate studies, and completed her law degree at the University of California, Hastings.
After working for the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for 8 years, Sen. Harris transitioned to a role as a prosecutor in the San Francisco District Attorney’s office. Sen. Harris’ political career began in 2003 when she won her bid to become District Attorney of the City and County of San Francisco. She served two terms in San Francisco before being elected as the Attorney General for the state of California in 2010. She was the first woman and the first person of color to hold this seat. In representing the needs and interests of Californians in each of these roles, Sen. Harris’ record was both progressive for the time and complicated by her moderate approach to policing and criminal justice. She has been criticized for failing to institute comprehensive police accountability measures, for not establishing meaningful prison reform, and for taking a hands-off approach to cases related to police misconduct. However, her lenient approach to policing was often punctuated by decidedly progressive support for social justice issues, including the establishment of an education and workforce reentry program designed to diminish recidivism. Similarly, as Attorney General, she declined to defend Proposition 8, a proposition to make same-sex marriage illegal in California, in court and officiated the first wedding in the state when marriage equality was restored in 2013.
In 2016, Sen. Harris became the first woman of color elected to represent California in the United States Senate. Sen. Harris has sponsored legislation on climate and environmental protections, rental and housing protections, women’s health, and pandemic relief. She was also an original cosponsor of the progressive Green New Deal authored by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey. Sen. Harris sits on four committees: Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Budget, Judiciary, and Select Committee on Intelligence. She has been an outspoken opponent of the Trump Administration, and has deftly used her position on the Senate Judiciary Committee to question judicial nominees and interrogate the hypocrisy of her Republican colleagues.
Sen. Harris formally launched her campaign for President in January 2019 at an Oakland rally with an estimated attendance of 20,000 supporters. As a candidate, she pushed forward a platform that opposed Medicare for All, supported expansion of the Affordable Care Act, sought to expand tax benefits for middle and low-income families, supported citizenship for Dreamers, and favored a ban on assault weapons. She ended her campaign in December 2019, and was tapped to join Vice President Joe Biden’s ticket ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August 2020.
The Biden/Harris campaign is endorsed by many progressive groups in the country. While the Biden/Harris platform is the most progressive platform ever adopted by a major party ticket, we encourage progressive advocates to continue to hold their administration accountable, and work to encourage progressive legislation throughout the country. With consideration to their records in public service, we unequivocally recommend Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The Vice President is the second-highest office in the Executive branch of the federal government. The officeholder is the first in the line of succession to the presidency and holds legislative authority as the president of the Senate. In this role, the Vice President presides over Senate deliberations and can cast a tie-breaking vote in close decisions. A Vice Presidential candidate is selected directly by a Presidential nominee who has won the democratic primary process. Vice Presidential candidates are elected indirectly as a part of the Presidential ticket in the general election. A Vice President serves four year terms, and there is no term limit for this position.
As of October 12th, Democratic challenger Vice President Joe Biden is leading Republican incumbent President Donald Trump in the polls by an average national margin of 9.2% (as of 10/24/20). Ten days before Election Day in 2016, Secretary Hillary Clinton held an average 4.9% polling lead over Donald Trump. Vice President Biden’s campaign has raised $952 million (as of 10/14/20) and is not funded by fossil fuel money. While his platform commits to establishing meaningful campaign finance reform, his 2020 campaign has received donations from special interest, corporate PAC, and lobbyist organizations. President Donald Trump has raised $601 million (as of 10/14/20) and has not taken any fundraising pledges. President Trump is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, Citizens United, Proud Boys, and a variety of law enforcement organizations.
Senator Kamala Harris grew up in Berkeley, CA, and now resides in Los Angeles. She is the daughter of a Jamiacan father and an Indian mother who both emigrated to the Bay Area in the 1960s, and established themselves as activists in the Civil Rights movement in Oakland. Sen. Harris’ interest in justice and equal rights was instilled at a young age when she participated in civil rights protests in Oakland alongside her activist parents, and was further shaped when she was included in the second class of students to be bussed as part of Berkley’s efforts toward school integration. She attended Howard University, one of America’s HBCU institutions, for undergraduate studies, and completed her law degree at the University of California, Hastings.
After working for the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for 8 years, Sen. Harris transitioned to a role as a prosecutor in the San Francisco District Attorney’s office. Sen. Harris’ political career began in 2003 when she won her bid to become District Attorney of the City and County of San Francisco. She served two terms in San Francisco before being elected as the Attorney General for the state of California in 2010. She was the first woman and the first person of color to hold this seat. In representing the needs and interests of Californians in each of these roles, Sen. Harris’ record was both progressive for the time and complicated by her moderate approach to policing and criminal justice. She has been criticized for failing to institute comprehensive police accountability measures, for not establishing meaningful prison reform, and for taking a hands-off approach to cases related to police misconduct. However, her lenient approach to policing was often punctuated by decidedly progressive support for social justice issues, including the establishment of an education and workforce reentry program designed to diminish recidivism. Similarly, as Attorney General, she declined to defend Proposition 8, a proposition to make same-sex marriage illegal in California, in court and officiated the first wedding in the state when marriage equality was restored in 2013.
In 2016, Sen. Harris became the first woman of color elected to represent California in the United States Senate. Sen. Harris has sponsored legislation on climate and environmental protections, rental and housing protections, women’s health, and pandemic relief. She was also an original cosponsor of the progressive Green New Deal authored by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey. Sen. Harris sits on four committees: Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Budget, Judiciary, and Select Committee on Intelligence. She has been an outspoken opponent of the Trump Administration, and has deftly used her position on the Senate Judiciary Committee to question judicial nominees and interrogate the hypocrisy of her Republican colleagues.
Sen. Harris formally launched her campaign for President in January 2019 at an Oakland rally with an estimated attendance of 20,000 supporters. As a candidate, she pushed forward a platform that opposed Medicare for All, supported expansion of the Affordable Care Act, sought to expand tax benefits for middle and low-income families, supported citizenship for Dreamers, and favored a ban on assault weapons. She ended her campaign in December 2019, and was tapped to join Vice President Joe Biden’s ticket ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August 2020.
The Biden/Harris campaign is endorsed by many progressive groups in the country. While the Biden/Harris platform is the most progressive platform ever adopted by a major party ticket, we encourage progressive advocates to continue to hold their administration accountable, and work to encourage progressive legislation throughout the country. With consideration to their records in public service, we unequivocally recommend Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below congressional districts on your ballot.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives. There is no term limit for this position.
California's 36th Congressional District includes parts of Riverside County. Republicans typically held this district until 2012, when Ruiz won and flipped 36 from red to blue. The most recent election results show 52.2 percent of AD-36 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 53.2 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018. While pollsters consider the district solidly Democratic, early in the 2018 campaign season, both parties identified the area as a battleground district.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Ruiz led Republican challenger Kimberlin Brown Pelzer by a margin of 39.1 percent. Neither campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Ruiz’s campaign is funded by both health professionals as well as pharmaceutical companies. Pelzer’s campaign has not made any FEC filings.
Representative Raul Ruiz grew up in Coachella, CA, and currently resides in La Quinta, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2013. According to campaign materials, he is running to serve his community and address the issues his district faces by being a strong advocate in Washington.
In Congress, Rep. Ruiz has utilized his knowledge as an emergency physician to push to save such programs as Medicare and Social Security. Furthermore, he has been a strong advocate for veterans, and a voice of opposition against the influence of special interests in Washington.
Rep. Ruiz has progressive positions when it comes to preserving the environment and ensuring access to affordable, quality health care. That said, he has voted against key progressive bills pertaining to military spending and other issues involving trade and earlier votes on the impeachment of the President.
Rep. Ruiz’s priorities for CA-36 this year include protecting Medicare and Social Security, building a stronger economy, and opposing DC-insider perks. He currently sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This year, Rep. Ruiz has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 94 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Ruiz voted for the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act, while Rep. Ocasio-Cortez voted against it. Rep. Ruiz has co-sponsored three bills about law-enforcement accountability, protecting the USPS, and a resolution that expressed disapproval of Trump administration actions regarding Medicaid, all of which have successfully passed the House but remain in the Senate.
Rep. Ruiz is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. The threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Pelzer’s potential policies greatly outweighs Ruiz’s moderate voting record and inaction on military spending, trade, and impeachment. According to our analysis, Rep. Ruiz is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives. There is no term limit for this position.
California's 36th Congressional District includes parts of Riverside County. Republicans typically held this district until 2012, when Ruiz won and flipped 36 from red to blue. The most recent election results show 52.2 percent of AD-36 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 53.2 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018. While pollsters consider the district solidly Democratic, early in the 2018 campaign season, both parties identified the area as a battleground district.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Ruiz led Republican challenger Kimberlin Brown Pelzer by a margin of 39.1 percent. Neither campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Ruiz’s campaign is funded by both health professionals as well as pharmaceutical companies. Pelzer’s campaign has not made any FEC filings.
Representative Raul Ruiz grew up in Coachella, CA, and currently resides in La Quinta, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2013. According to campaign materials, he is running to serve his community and address the issues his district faces by being a strong advocate in Washington.
In Congress, Rep. Ruiz has utilized his knowledge as an emergency physician to push to save such programs as Medicare and Social Security. Furthermore, he has been a strong advocate for veterans, and a voice of opposition against the influence of special interests in Washington.
Rep. Ruiz has progressive positions when it comes to preserving the environment and ensuring access to affordable, quality health care. That said, he has voted against key progressive bills pertaining to military spending and other issues involving trade and earlier votes on the impeachment of the President.
Rep. Ruiz’s priorities for CA-36 this year include protecting Medicare and Social Security, building a stronger economy, and opposing DC-insider perks. He currently sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This year, Rep. Ruiz has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 94 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Ruiz voted for the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act, while Rep. Ocasio-Cortez voted against it. Rep. Ruiz has co-sponsored three bills about law-enforcement accountability, protecting the USPS, and a resolution that expressed disapproval of Trump administration actions regarding Medicaid, all of which have successfully passed the House but remain in the Senate.
Rep. Ruiz is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. The threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Pelzer’s potential policies greatly outweighs Ruiz’s moderate voting record and inaction on military spending, trade, and impeachment. According to our analysis, Rep. Ruiz is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives. There is no term limit for this position.
California's 41st Congressional District includes parts of Riverside County. Republicans held this district until 2012, when Mark Takano won and flipped CA-41 from red to blue. The most recent election results show 61 percent of AD-41 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 59.4 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Takano led Republican challenger Aja Smith by a margin of 17.8 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Rep. Takano’s campaign is funded mostly by labor and rights groups but is also backed by some corporations. Smith’s campaign is funded by retirees as well as real estate, business, and oil and gas interests.
Representative Mark Takano is from Riverside, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2013. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue to fight for his district’s progressive priorities and be an advocate for veterans, seniors, students, local businesses and hardworking families.
In Congress, Rep. Takano has authored and advanced legislation to limit for-profit colleges’ abusive practices, protect veterans’ benefits, and increase access to vocational training programs. Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Takano served on the Riverside Community College District’s Board of Trustees, where he increased access to higher education and job-skills training programs for adults seeking new careers. Rep. Takano’s public service in the Riverside community includes positions on the Community Advisory Board of the Children’s Spine Foundation, as well as the mayor of Riverside’s Task Force on the Digital Divide. He also served as chair for the Asain Pacific Islander Caucus of the California Democratic Party.
Rep. Takano’s priorities for CA-41 this year have included pushing for accountability from the US Postmaster General and from the ICE Adelanto Detention Center, as well as to protect servicemembers’ education benefits. He currently sits on two committees: the Education and Labor Committee, and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, which he chairs. This year, Rep. Takano has voted 99 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 96 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Takano has co-sponsored six bills this year--including about protecting the USPS and providing for more police accountability, all of which have successfully passed the House but remain in the Senate.
Rep. Takano is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. The threat of anti-choice Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Smith’s potential policies greatly outweighs Takano’s moderate corporate backing. According to our analysis, Rep. Takano is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives. There is no term limit for this position.
California's 41st Congressional District includes parts of Riverside County. Republicans held this district until 2012, when Mark Takano won and flipped CA-41 from red to blue. The most recent election results show 61 percent of AD-41 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 59.4 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Takano led Republican challenger Aja Smith by a margin of 17.8 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Rep. Takano’s campaign is funded mostly by labor and rights groups but is also backed by some corporations. Smith’s campaign is funded by retirees as well as real estate, business, and oil and gas interests.
Representative Mark Takano is from Riverside, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2013. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue to fight for his district’s progressive priorities and be an advocate for veterans, seniors, students, local businesses and hardworking families.
In Congress, Rep. Takano has authored and advanced legislation to limit for-profit colleges’ abusive practices, protect veterans’ benefits, and increase access to vocational training programs. Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Takano served on the Riverside Community College District’s Board of Trustees, where he increased access to higher education and job-skills training programs for adults seeking new careers. Rep. Takano’s public service in the Riverside community includes positions on the Community Advisory Board of the Children’s Spine Foundation, as well as the mayor of Riverside’s Task Force on the Digital Divide. He also served as chair for the Asain Pacific Islander Caucus of the California Democratic Party.
Rep. Takano’s priorities for CA-41 this year have included pushing for accountability from the US Postmaster General and from the ICE Adelanto Detention Center, as well as to protect servicemembers’ education benefits. He currently sits on two committees: the Education and Labor Committee, and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, which he chairs. This year, Rep. Takano has voted 99 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 96 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Takano has co-sponsored six bills this year--including about protecting the USPS and providing for more police accountability, all of which have successfully passed the House but remain in the Senate.
Rep. Takano is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. The threat of anti-choice Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Smith’s potential policies greatly outweighs Takano’s moderate corporate backing. According to our analysis, Rep. Takano is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives. There is no term limit for this position.
California's 42nd Congressional District includes parts of Riverside County. While Republicans typically hold this district, demographically, it is purple. The most recent election results show 53.4 percent of AD-52 voted for Trump for president in 2016, and 58.8 percent of the district voted for Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat challenger William “Liam” O’Mara trailed Republican incumbent Representative Ken Calvert by a margin of 35.3 percent. O’Mara’s campaign has pledged to refuse fossil fuel money but has yet to pledge to refuse corporate PAC and police money. O’Mara’s campaign has raised $55,686.53, and is funded by Democratic Party–aligned PACs and small amounts of corporate donations. Calvert’s campaign has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Calvert’s campaign has raised $1,098,245.86 and is largely funded by multinational defense conglomerates like Honeywell International, L3 Harris, and Raytheon Technologies, as well as fossil fuel companies like Edison International.
William “Liam” O'Mara resides in Lake Elsinore, CA. According to campaign materials, he is running for Congress to advocate for his community’s needs and to fight for an America that benefits all, not just those at the top.
O’Mara is a history professor at Chapman University, where he works to spread knowledge and share his expertise, as well as learn from his students about the difficult experiences people face in today’s society. He put himself through college and pursued a PhD in history while working as a cook and a longshoreman, and in technology.
O’Mara is committed to enacting progressive policies, such as Medicare for All, so that people have access to quality health care regardless of financial circumstances, paid sick and family leave to provide stability when people experience unexpected situations, a $15 minimum wage, and tuition-free public college so that people have access to learning the necessary skills for a job in today’s economy.
William “Liam” O’Mara is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. Ken Calvert is endorsed by anti-choice groups. Calvert has a 27-year track record of inaction on constituents’ needs, and he is marred by a history of corruption issues, including using earmarks for personal gain and illegally purchasing land. The threat of another term with Ken Calvert, named one of the most corrupt members of Congress five times by Citizens for Ethics in Washington in their annual report, makes William “Liam” O’Mara the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives. There is no term limit for this position.
California's 42nd Congressional District includes parts of Riverside County. While Republicans typically hold this district, demographically, it is purple. The most recent election results show 53.4 percent of AD-52 voted for Trump for president in 2016, and 58.8 percent of the district voted for Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat challenger William “Liam” O’Mara trailed Republican incumbent Representative Ken Calvert by a margin of 35.3 percent. O’Mara’s campaign has pledged to refuse fossil fuel money but has yet to pledge to refuse corporate PAC and police money. O’Mara’s campaign has raised $55,686.53, and is funded by Democratic Party–aligned PACs and small amounts of corporate donations. Calvert’s campaign has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Calvert’s campaign has raised $1,098,245.86 and is largely funded by multinational defense conglomerates like Honeywell International, L3 Harris, and Raytheon Technologies, as well as fossil fuel companies like Edison International.
William “Liam” O'Mara resides in Lake Elsinore, CA. According to campaign materials, he is running for Congress to advocate for his community’s needs and to fight for an America that benefits all, not just those at the top.
O’Mara is a history professor at Chapman University, where he works to spread knowledge and share his expertise, as well as learn from his students about the difficult experiences people face in today’s society. He put himself through college and pursued a PhD in history while working as a cook and a longshoreman, and in technology.
O’Mara is committed to enacting progressive policies, such as Medicare for All, so that people have access to quality health care regardless of financial circumstances, paid sick and family leave to provide stability when people experience unexpected situations, a $15 minimum wage, and tuition-free public college so that people have access to learning the necessary skills for a job in today’s economy.
William “Liam” O’Mara is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. Ken Calvert is endorsed by anti-choice groups. Calvert has a 27-year track record of inaction on constituents’ needs, and he is marred by a history of corruption issues, including using earmarks for personal gain and illegally purchasing land. The threat of another term with Ken Calvert, named one of the most corrupt members of Congress five times by Citizens for Ethics in Washington in their annual report, makes William “Liam” O’Mara the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives. There is no term limit for this position.
California's 50th Congressional District includes parts of San Diego and Riverside Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 54.6 percent of AD-52 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 59.1 percent of the district voted for Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat challenger Ammar Campa-Najjar led Republican opponent Darrell Issa by a margin of 13.4 percent. Campa-Najjar’s campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC money. While his campaign has yet to pledge to refuse fossil fuel or police money, it has not taken such financing. Campa-Najjar’s campaign has raised $2,969,097.44, and top donors are California universities and a Democratic Party–aligned group. Issa’s campaign has raised $5,465,943.21 and is funded by corporate and investment interests, defense contractors, and energy companies.
Ammar Campa-Najjar was born and raised in San Diego. According to campaign materials, he is running for election because he believes in a fair, just, and inclusive America and wants to carry the hard work of democracy forward.
Campa-Najjar is a San Diego State University lecturer and the owner of a small business that helps other small businesses and nonprofits with small budgets compete against their larger counterparts. Campa-Najjar has served in a White House position in the Executive Office of the President, at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Campa-Najjar also headed the Office of Public Affairs for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) at the U.S. Department of Labor. In this role, Campa-Najjar successfully promoted a nationwide effort to expand and diversify the number of registered apprenticeships in America. His efforts helped American workers who were laid off, expanded aid for farmworkers, launched youth job programs, provided vocational training and rehabilitation services to those in the criminal-justice system, and advanced veteran employment opportunities.
That said, in this second attempt at running for Congressional District 50, Campa- Najjar has fallen short in advocating for large structural health-care reform, and has said that he would have abstained from voting on impeachment. In recent weeks, Campa-Najjar provided a problematic and wandering interview to a far-right group, Defend East County. During that conversation, he was noncommittal about supporting Vice President Joe Biden, stated his support for confirming judicial nominee Amy Coney Barrett, and discussed investigating Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama. He has issued a public apology for his lack of judgment in participating in the interview, and has strongly condemned Defend East County for their racist threats against Black Lives Matter protesters. While Campa-Najjar has a moderate Democratic platform, and has even claimed that he would be a conservative voice for his district, he has committed to working with local organizations to navigate complex issues and bring meaningful legislation forward to benefit marginalized communities.
Despite his more moderate perspective, Campa- Najjar is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. The opponent, Republican Darrell Issa, is endorsed by Republican Party figures. The threat of policies from Issa, who is anti-woman, anti-LGBTQIA+, pro–border wall, and a Trump supporter, are significant and underscore the imperative that this seat be held by a Democrat. Ammar Campa-Najjar the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives. There is no term limit for this position.
California's 50th Congressional District includes parts of San Diego and Riverside Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 54.6 percent of AD-52 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 59.1 percent of the district voted for Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat challenger Ammar Campa-Najjar led Republican opponent Darrell Issa by a margin of 13.4 percent. Campa-Najjar’s campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC money. While his campaign has yet to pledge to refuse fossil fuel or police money, it has not taken such financing. Campa-Najjar’s campaign has raised $2,969,097.44, and top donors are California universities and a Democratic Party–aligned group. Issa’s campaign has raised $5,465,943.21 and is funded by corporate and investment interests, defense contractors, and energy companies.
Ammar Campa-Najjar was born and raised in San Diego. According to campaign materials, he is running for election because he believes in a fair, just, and inclusive America and wants to carry the hard work of democracy forward.
Campa-Najjar is a San Diego State University lecturer and the owner of a small business that helps other small businesses and nonprofits with small budgets compete against their larger counterparts. Campa-Najjar has served in a White House position in the Executive Office of the President, at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Campa-Najjar also headed the Office of Public Affairs for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) at the U.S. Department of Labor. In this role, Campa-Najjar successfully promoted a nationwide effort to expand and diversify the number of registered apprenticeships in America. His efforts helped American workers who were laid off, expanded aid for farmworkers, launched youth job programs, provided vocational training and rehabilitation services to those in the criminal-justice system, and advanced veteran employment opportunities.
That said, in this second attempt at running for Congressional District 50, Campa- Najjar has fallen short in advocating for large structural health-care reform, and has said that he would have abstained from voting on impeachment. In recent weeks, Campa-Najjar provided a problematic and wandering interview to a far-right group, Defend East County. During that conversation, he was noncommittal about supporting Vice President Joe Biden, stated his support for confirming judicial nominee Amy Coney Barrett, and discussed investigating Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama. He has issued a public apology for his lack of judgment in participating in the interview, and has strongly condemned Defend East County for their racist threats against Black Lives Matter protesters. While Campa-Najjar has a moderate Democratic platform, and has even claimed that he would be a conservative voice for his district, he has committed to working with local organizations to navigate complex issues and bring meaningful legislation forward to benefit marginalized communities.
Despite his more moderate perspective, Campa- Najjar is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. The opponent, Republican Darrell Issa, is endorsed by Republican Party figures. The threat of policies from Issa, who is anti-woman, anti-LGBTQIA+, pro–border wall, and a Trump supporter, are significant and underscore the imperative that this seat be held by a Democrat. Ammar Campa-Najjar the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Assembly races on your ballot.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 42nd Assembly District includes parts of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Republicans typically hold this district, and incumbent Chad Mayes has held this seat as a Republican since 2014. That said, Mayes left the Republican Party this year and is running as an independent. The most recent election results show 49.7 percent of AD-42 voted for Trump for president in 2016, and 52.2 percent of the district voted for Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, now-Independent incumbent Representative Mayes led Republican challenger Andrew Kotyuk by a margin of 1.5 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Mayes’s campaign has raised $740,040 and is funded by all three groups, including Anheuser-Busch Co., the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, and Chevron Corp. Opponent Kotyuk’s campaign has raised $298,738.27 and is backed by individuals, local businesses, and some labor groups.
Rep. Mayes, the incumbent, was first elected to the Assembly in 2014. According to campaign materials, Rep. Mayes is running for re-election to represent the people, not a party. Chad Mayes was first elected to the Assembly in November 2014 to represent the 42nd District in the California State Assembly. This Inland Empire district encompasses parts of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
Rep. Mayes’s priorities for AD-42 this year include individual freedom, shared responsibility, and educational excellence. He scores a lifetime score of 4 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Mayes has supported a very small number of progressive bills that made it to a vote. He has voted consistently against workers’ rights and environmental protection.
Neither candidate demonstrates a commitment to equitable or representative leadership. Keep reading for progressive recommendations in other key races and on ballot measures where your vote can make a critical difference.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 56th Assembly District includes all of Imperial County and parts of Riverside County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 64.2 percent of AD-52 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 61.5 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Garcia led Republican challenger America Figueroa by a margin of 28 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Garcia’s campaign has raised $387,571.73. Garcia has accepted funds from corporations and fossil fuel interests. Figueroa’s campaign has raised $8,365.00, mostly from individual donations.
Eduardo Garcia is a lifelong resident of the Coachella Valley, and currently lives in Coachella. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2015. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Garcia wants to continue to champion health care, as well as environmental and economic development for the Coachella and Imperial Valleys.
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia has authored several critical pieces of legislation. In 2016, he authored a landmark bill that mandates the reduction of emissions, improves oversight of the Air Resources Board, and lays the groundwork to ensure that future policies prioritize investments in the disadvantaged communities that are most affected by pollution. He currently chairs the Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, and the Select Committee on Renewable Energy Development and Restoration of the Salton Sea.
Rep. Garcia currently sits on 15 committees and chairs the Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife. Rep. Garcia has co-sponsored one bill about affordable housing this year, which has successfully passed. He scores a lifetime score of 92 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Garcia has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he was absent on a vote that would prohibit medical insurance companies from engaging in surprise billing.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he served as Coachella’s first elected mayor.
Rep. Garcia is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. Challenger Figueroa is endorsed by the California Pro-Life Council and conservative figures who oppose sex education in schools. According to our analysis, Rep. Garcia is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 56th Assembly District includes all of Imperial County and parts of Riverside County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 64.2 percent of AD-52 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 61.5 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Garcia led Republican challenger America Figueroa by a margin of 28 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Garcia’s campaign has raised $387,571.73. Garcia has accepted funds from corporations and fossil fuel interests. Figueroa’s campaign has raised $8,365.00, mostly from individual donations.
Eduardo Garcia is a lifelong resident of the Coachella Valley, and currently lives in Coachella. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2015. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Garcia wants to continue to champion health care, as well as environmental and economic development for the Coachella and Imperial Valleys.
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia has authored several critical pieces of legislation. In 2016, he authored a landmark bill that mandates the reduction of emissions, improves oversight of the Air Resources Board, and lays the groundwork to ensure that future policies prioritize investments in the disadvantaged communities that are most affected by pollution. He currently chairs the Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, and the Select Committee on Renewable Energy Development and Restoration of the Salton Sea.
Rep. Garcia currently sits on 15 committees and chairs the Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife. Rep. Garcia has co-sponsored one bill about affordable housing this year, which has successfully passed. He scores a lifetime score of 92 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Garcia has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he was absent on a vote that would prohibit medical insurance companies from engaging in surprise billing.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he served as Coachella’s first elected mayor.
Rep. Garcia is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. Challenger Figueroa is endorsed by the California Pro-Life Council and conservative figures who oppose sex education in schools. According to our analysis, Rep. Garcia is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 56th Assembly District includes all of Imperial County and parts of Riverside County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 64.2 percent of AD-52 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 61.5 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Garcia led Republican challenger America Figueroa by a margin of 28 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Garcia’s campaign has raised $387,571.73. Garcia has accepted funds from corporations and fossil fuel interests. Figueroa’s campaign has raised $8,365.00, mostly from individual donations.
Eduardo Garcia is a lifelong resident of the Coachella Valley, and currently lives in Coachella. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2015. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Garcia wants to continue to champion health care, as well as environmental and economic development for the Coachella and Imperial Valleys.
Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia has authored several critical pieces of legislation. In 2016, he authored a landmark bill that mandates the reduction of emissions, improves oversight of the Air Resources Board, and lays the groundwork to ensure that future policies prioritize investments in the disadvantaged communities that are most affected by pollution. He currently chairs the Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, and the Select Committee on Renewable Energy Development and Restoration of the Salton Sea.
Rep. Garcia currently sits on 15 committees and chairs the Standing Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife. Rep. Garcia has co-sponsored one bill about affordable housing this year, which has successfully passed. He scores a lifetime score of 92 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Garcia has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he was absent on a vote that would prohibit medical insurance companies from engaging in surprise billing.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he served as Coachella’s first elected mayor.
Rep. Garcia is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. Challenger Figueroa is endorsed by the California Pro-Life Council and conservative figures who oppose sex education in schools. According to our analysis, Rep. Garcia is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 60th Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-60 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Sabrina Cervantes led far-right Republican challenger Chris Raahauge by a margin of 8.8 percent.
Rep. Cervantes’s campaign has raised $1,015,215, has not committed to any campaign finance pledges, and has taken significant money from Chevron, Exxon Mobil, PBF Energy, the California Independent Petroleum Association, Edison International, PG&E, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association, the Riverside Sheriffs Association, the Corona Police Officers Association, and numerous banking, real estate, pharmaceutical, private healthcare, pawnbroker/payday loan, and corporate organizations.
Raahauge’s campaign has raised $9,785, also not committed to any campaign finance pledges, and commands only three endorsements: the California Pro-Life Council, Gun Owners of California, and the National Rifle Association. Raahauge works as a peace officer for a county probation department and cites public treatment of law enforcement as what spurred his decision to run. He says on his campaign website: “...we have seen anti-law enforcement legislation, homeless encampments tolerated, and even officers contracting typhus.” The website goes on to claim that there is an epidemic of shoplifting in society and provides links to two petitions to stop early prisoner release. Raahague’s campaign Facebook page includes advertisements for a fundraiser featuring a 9/11 documentary “So Secret We Can Not Even Tell You The Title”, hinting at an affiliation with the 9/11 Truther conspiracy movement. He has stated on Facebook and in interviews that he supports ending all Covid prevention measures and believes President Trump’s assertion that California wildfires are caused by mismanaged brush clearing efforts.
Furthermore, the Raahauge family is known throughout the district as gun range owners. In 2013, it was discovered that Patrick Raahauge was operating the range despite being a convicted felon barred from firearm possession and in 2017 the range was served with a lawsuit for wrongful death and negligence after a man was killed. The Press Enterprise reports: “The lawsuit says the range was designed ‘contrary to all design standards and common sense’ so that rifle fire was aimed directly toward a crowd of people, with some areas protected from an off-target shot only by plywood.”
Rep. Sabrina Cervantes is the incumbent, having served as assemblymember since 2016. She scores a lifetime 29 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Cervantes abstained or voted no on most progressive bills that made it to a vote from 2017 to 2019. She has voted against expanding overtime pay, eliminating life sentences for minors, allowing minors to consult lawyers during interrogations, preventing children under 12 from being tried in juvenile court, rejecting concealed-carry gun permits from out-of-state holders, prohibiting the state from charging inmates administrative fees for medical visits, encouraging affordable housing production in “high-resource” areas, capping rent increases, reinstating net neutrality, decriminalizing truancy, and repealing sentencing enhancements for those with prior offenses. She abstained from voting on reforming War on Drugs–era sentence enhancements, allowing workers to return to work during labor claim processes, requiring law enforcement to notify the public when acquiring military equipment, ending the transport of oil from offshore drilling facilities to the state, setting a goal of 100 percent clean energy in California by 2045, requiring charter schools to get permission from local school districts to operate, and prohibiting no-rehire provisions that bar victims of mistreatment from employment with the offending company.
While we recognize Rep. Sabrina Cervantes’s problematic track record does not suggest she will provide progressive leadership in office, her inaction on legislation and campaign finance is greatly overshadowed by the threat of Chris Raahague’s far-right campaign, stances, and history in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Sabrina Cervantes is the best choice for keeping the district under Democratic control. We encourage progressive organizations and individuals in AD-60 to consider future runs for office that accurately reflect the voting tendencies of the citizenry.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 60th Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-60 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Sabrina Cervantes led far-right Republican challenger Chris Raahauge by a margin of 8.8 percent.
Rep. Cervantes’s campaign has raised $1,015,215, has not committed to any campaign finance pledges, and has taken significant money from Chevron, Exxon Mobil, PBF Energy, the California Independent Petroleum Association, Edison International, PG&E, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association, the Riverside Sheriffs Association, the Corona Police Officers Association, and numerous banking, real estate, pharmaceutical, private healthcare, pawnbroker/payday loan, and corporate organizations.
Raahauge’s campaign has raised $9,785, also not committed to any campaign finance pledges, and commands only three endorsements: the California Pro-Life Council, Gun Owners of California, and the National Rifle Association. Raahauge works as a peace officer for a county probation department and cites public treatment of law enforcement as what spurred his decision to run. He says on his campaign website: “...we have seen anti-law enforcement legislation, homeless encampments tolerated, and even officers contracting typhus.” The website goes on to claim that there is an epidemic of shoplifting in society and provides links to two petitions to stop early prisoner release. Raahague’s campaign Facebook page includes advertisements for a fundraiser featuring a 9/11 documentary “So Secret We Can Not Even Tell You The Title”, hinting at an affiliation with the 9/11 Truther conspiracy movement. He has stated on Facebook and in interviews that he supports ending all Covid prevention measures and believes President Trump’s assertion that California wildfires are caused by mismanaged brush clearing efforts.
Furthermore, the Raahauge family is known throughout the district as gun range owners. In 2013, it was discovered that Patrick Raahauge was operating the range despite being a convicted felon barred from firearm possession and in 2017 the range was served with a lawsuit for wrongful death and negligence after a man was killed. The Press Enterprise reports: “The lawsuit says the range was designed ‘contrary to all design standards and common sense’ so that rifle fire was aimed directly toward a crowd of people, with some areas protected from an off-target shot only by plywood.”
Rep. Sabrina Cervantes is the incumbent, having served as assemblymember since 2016. She scores a lifetime 29 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Cervantes abstained or voted no on most progressive bills that made it to a vote from 2017 to 2019. She has voted against expanding overtime pay, eliminating life sentences for minors, allowing minors to consult lawyers during interrogations, preventing children under 12 from being tried in juvenile court, rejecting concealed-carry gun permits from out-of-state holders, prohibiting the state from charging inmates administrative fees for medical visits, encouraging affordable housing production in “high-resource” areas, capping rent increases, reinstating net neutrality, decriminalizing truancy, and repealing sentencing enhancements for those with prior offenses. She abstained from voting on reforming War on Drugs–era sentence enhancements, allowing workers to return to work during labor claim processes, requiring law enforcement to notify the public when acquiring military equipment, ending the transport of oil from offshore drilling facilities to the state, setting a goal of 100 percent clean energy in California by 2045, requiring charter schools to get permission from local school districts to operate, and prohibiting no-rehire provisions that bar victims of mistreatment from employment with the offending company.
While we recognize Rep. Sabrina Cervantes’s problematic track record does not suggest she will provide progressive leadership in office, her inaction on legislation and campaign finance is greatly overshadowed by the threat of Chris Raahague’s far-right campaign, stances, and history in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Sabrina Cervantes is the best choice for keeping the district under Democratic control. We encourage progressive organizations and individuals in AD-60 to consider future runs for office that accurately reflect the voting tendencies of the citizenry.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 60th Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-60 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Sabrina Cervantes led far-right Republican challenger Chris Raahauge by a margin of 8.8 percent.
Rep. Cervantes’s campaign has raised $1,015,215, has not committed to any campaign finance pledges, and has taken significant money from Chevron, Exxon Mobil, PBF Energy, the California Independent Petroleum Association, Edison International, PG&E, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association, the Riverside Sheriffs Association, the Corona Police Officers Association, and numerous banking, real estate, pharmaceutical, private healthcare, pawnbroker/payday loan, and corporate organizations.
Raahauge’s campaign has raised $9,785, also not committed to any campaign finance pledges, and commands only three endorsements: the California Pro-Life Council, Gun Owners of California, and the National Rifle Association. Raahauge works as a peace officer for a county probation department and cites public treatment of law enforcement as what spurred his decision to run. He says on his campaign website: “...we have seen anti-law enforcement legislation, homeless encampments tolerated, and even officers contracting typhus.” The website goes on to claim that there is an epidemic of shoplifting in society and provides links to two petitions to stop early prisoner release. Raahague’s campaign Facebook page includes advertisements for a fundraiser featuring a 9/11 documentary “So Secret We Can Not Even Tell You The Title”, hinting at an affiliation with the 9/11 Truther conspiracy movement. He has stated on Facebook and in interviews that he supports ending all Covid prevention measures and believes President Trump’s assertion that California wildfires are caused by mismanaged brush clearing efforts.
Furthermore, the Raahauge family is known throughout the district as gun range owners. In 2013, it was discovered that Patrick Raahauge was operating the range despite being a convicted felon barred from firearm possession and in 2017 the range was served with a lawsuit for wrongful death and negligence after a man was killed. The Press Enterprise reports: “The lawsuit says the range was designed ‘contrary to all design standards and common sense’ so that rifle fire was aimed directly toward a crowd of people, with some areas protected from an off-target shot only by plywood.”
Rep. Sabrina Cervantes is the incumbent, having served as assemblymember since 2016. She scores a lifetime 29 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Cervantes abstained or voted no on most progressive bills that made it to a vote from 2017 to 2019. She has voted against expanding overtime pay, eliminating life sentences for minors, allowing minors to consult lawyers during interrogations, preventing children under 12 from being tried in juvenile court, rejecting concealed-carry gun permits from out-of-state holders, prohibiting the state from charging inmates administrative fees for medical visits, encouraging affordable housing production in “high-resource” areas, capping rent increases, reinstating net neutrality, decriminalizing truancy, and repealing sentencing enhancements for those with prior offenses. She abstained from voting on reforming War on Drugs–era sentence enhancements, allowing workers to return to work during labor claim processes, requiring law enforcement to notify the public when acquiring military equipment, ending the transport of oil from offshore drilling facilities to the state, setting a goal of 100 percent clean energy in California by 2045, requiring charter schools to get permission from local school districts to operate, and prohibiting no-rehire provisions that bar victims of mistreatment from employment with the offending company.
While we recognize Rep. Sabrina Cervantes’s problematic track record does not suggest she will provide progressive leadership in office, her inaction on legislation and campaign finance is greatly overshadowed by the threat of Chris Raahague’s far-right campaign, stances, and history in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Sabrina Cervantes is the best choice for keeping the district under Democratic control. We encourage progressive organizations and individuals in AD-60 to consider future runs for office that accurately reflect the voting tendencies of the citizenry.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 61st Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-61 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Jose Medina led Republican challenger Ali Mazarei by a margin of 32.4 percent. Medina’s campaign has raised $419,689 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Mazarei’s campaign has raised $176,281, almost entirely from his own pocket and his Arco gas station business, and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges.
Rep. Jose Medina, a former educator and four-time assemblymember, is from San Jose, CA. According to campaign materials, Rep. Medina is running for re-election to further his efforts to achieve debt-free college.
Rep. Jose Medina’s priorities for AD-61 this year include making Ethnic Studies a high school graduation requirement and engaging young people with his Youth Advisory Committee. He currently sits on six committees: the Higher Education (chair), Arts, Accountability and Administrative Review, Business and Professions, Budget, and Transportation Committees. Rep. Medina has sponsored 239 bills this year on such topics as services for undocumented minors, occupational health and safety, and reducing the use of force by police, of which over 10 percent have successfully passed. He scores a lifetime 75 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Medina has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Medina has not supported preventing dialysis companies from steering patients away from Medi-Cal, strengthening emissions-reporting requirements, establishing oil-spill contingency plans, reducing single-use packaging waste, allowing the sponsorship of public banks, forcing debt collectors to leave a final $1,724 in a bank account, and establishing an organization to raise and distribute affordable housing funds. His No vote on the dialysis bill comes after accepting a total of $14,500 from DaVita Inc., a private dialysis provider that commands 37 percent of the market.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Rep. Jose Medina taught in the Riverside public school system, serving as a school board member on the Jurupa Unified School District Board of Education and completing three successful terms on the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees. During his first term in the Assembly, Rep. Medina secured $15 million for the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. In 2018, he secured $9.7 million to assist in the development of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture, and Industry. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of California, Riverside, and is a longtime supporter of Chicano history and art in the region.
Rep. Jose Medina has received endorsements from some progressive groups in the district. He has also been endorsed by the Peace Officers Research Association of California, California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. He has also accepted money from Pfizer, DaVita Inc., and a number of fossil fuel companies and interests. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Ali Mazarei’s potential policies outweighs Medina’s moderate voting record and inaction on campaign financing. According to our analysis, Rep. Jose Medina is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office at this time, but we urge progressive voices in the district to make themselves heard and run for office in the future.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 61st Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-61 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Jose Medina led Republican challenger Ali Mazarei by a margin of 32.4 percent. Medina’s campaign has raised $419,689 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Mazarei’s campaign has raised $176,281, almost entirely from his own pocket and his Arco gas station business, and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges.
Rep. Jose Medina, a former educator and four-time assemblymember, is from San Jose, CA. According to campaign materials, Rep. Medina is running for re-election to further his efforts to achieve debt-free college.
Rep. Jose Medina’s priorities for AD-61 this year include making Ethnic Studies a high school graduation requirement and engaging young people with his Youth Advisory Committee. He currently sits on six committees: the Higher Education (chair), Arts, Accountability and Administrative Review, Business and Professions, Budget, and Transportation Committees. Rep. Medina has sponsored 239 bills this year on such topics as services for undocumented minors, occupational health and safety, and reducing the use of force by police, of which over 10 percent have successfully passed. He scores a lifetime 75 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Medina has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Medina has not supported preventing dialysis companies from steering patients away from Medi-Cal, strengthening emissions-reporting requirements, establishing oil-spill contingency plans, reducing single-use packaging waste, allowing the sponsorship of public banks, forcing debt collectors to leave a final $1,724 in a bank account, and establishing an organization to raise and distribute affordable housing funds. His No vote on the dialysis bill comes after accepting a total of $14,500 from DaVita Inc., a private dialysis provider that commands 37 percent of the market.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Rep. Jose Medina taught in the Riverside public school system, serving as a school board member on the Jurupa Unified School District Board of Education and completing three successful terms on the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees. During his first term in the Assembly, Rep. Medina secured $15 million for the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. In 2018, he secured $9.7 million to assist in the development of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture, and Industry. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of California, Riverside, and is a longtime supporter of Chicano history and art in the region.
Rep. Jose Medina has received endorsements from some progressive groups in the district. He has also been endorsed by the Peace Officers Research Association of California, California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. He has also accepted money from Pfizer, DaVita Inc., and a number of fossil fuel companies and interests. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Ali Mazarei’s potential policies outweighs Medina’s moderate voting record and inaction on campaign financing. According to our analysis, Rep. Jose Medina is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office at this time, but we urge progressive voices in the district to make themselves heard and run for office in the future.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 61st Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-61 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Jose Medina led Republican challenger Ali Mazarei by a margin of 32.4 percent. Medina’s campaign has raised $419,689 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Mazarei’s campaign has raised $176,281, almost entirely from his own pocket and his Arco gas station business, and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges.
Rep. Jose Medina, a former educator and four-time assemblymember, is from San Jose, CA. According to campaign materials, Rep. Medina is running for re-election to further his efforts to achieve debt-free college.
Rep. Jose Medina’s priorities for AD-61 this year include making Ethnic Studies a high school graduation requirement and engaging young people with his Youth Advisory Committee. He currently sits on six committees: the Higher Education (chair), Arts, Accountability and Administrative Review, Business and Professions, Budget, and Transportation Committees. Rep. Medina has sponsored 239 bills this year on such topics as services for undocumented minors, occupational health and safety, and reducing the use of force by police, of which over 10 percent have successfully passed. He scores a lifetime 75 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Medina has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Medina has not supported preventing dialysis companies from steering patients away from Medi-Cal, strengthening emissions-reporting requirements, establishing oil-spill contingency plans, reducing single-use packaging waste, allowing the sponsorship of public banks, forcing debt collectors to leave a final $1,724 in a bank account, and establishing an organization to raise and distribute affordable housing funds. His No vote on the dialysis bill comes after accepting a total of $14,500 from DaVita Inc., a private dialysis provider that commands 37 percent of the market.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Rep. Jose Medina taught in the Riverside public school system, serving as a school board member on the Jurupa Unified School District Board of Education and completing three successful terms on the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees. During his first term in the Assembly, Rep. Medina secured $15 million for the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. In 2018, he secured $9.7 million to assist in the development of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture, and Industry. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of California, Riverside, and is a longtime supporter of Chicano history and art in the region.
Rep. Jose Medina has received endorsements from some progressive groups in the district. He has also been endorsed by the Peace Officers Research Association of California, California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. He has also accepted money from Pfizer, DaVita Inc., and a number of fossil fuel companies and interests. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Ali Mazarei’s potential policies outweighs Medina’s moderate voting record and inaction on campaign financing. According to our analysis, Rep. Jose Medina is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office at this time, but we urge progressive voices in the district to make themselves heard and run for office in the future.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 67th Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-67 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016, and John H. Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Jerry Carlos led Republican challenger Kelly Seyarto by a margin of 8 percent. However, this lead was due to a crowded Republican field and is almost certain to disappear in the general election, as Republicans totaled 74.6 percent of primary voters in this district. Carlos’s campaign has raised $1,325 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Seyarto’s campaign has raised $89,430 and has also not committed to any campaign finance pledges.
Jerry Carlos is a Riverside deputy sheriff, former National Guard and Army Reserve military police officer, and founder of the Riverside Community College Police Department, having served as its first chief. His website lists no policy goals, and his campaign Facebook page has only three posts made during this election cycle. With Carlos’s problematic history in law enforcement and near total lack of fundraising efforts and engagement with the electorate, we cannot recommend him for your vote.
Keep reading for progressive recommendations in other key races and on ballot measures where your vote can make a critical difference.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 71st Assembly District includes parts of San Diego and Riverside Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-71 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016 and John H. Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Liz Lavertu trailed Republican incumbent Representative Randy Voepel by a margin of 22.2 percent. Lavertu’s campaign has raised $28,821 and has pledged not to accept money from the fossil fuel industry. Voepel’s campaign has raised $140,304, has not committed to any such pledges, and is funded by Chevron, PG&E, Altria Tobacco, Philip Morris, the Peace Officers Association of California, Deputy Sheriffs of San Diego County, the Riverside Sheriffs Association Public Education Fund, the California Institute of Highway Patrolmen, DaVita Inc., and many more problematic organizations and interest groups.
Liz Lavertu is originally from Wisconsin and has been active as a community organizer in San Diego County for over twenty years. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to focus on affordable housing and rent control, establish health care as a universal right, and guarantee increased funding for public schools.
Liz Lavertu is co-chair of the Spring Valley Community Planning Group and a former volunteer with the Girl Scouts and AIDS Research Center. Through her work in education, she has prevented local arts programs from being subject to budget cuts, and helped to secure over $100,000 for the installation of an outdoor fitness circuit at Jamacha Elementary. Her time with the Spring Valley Community Planning Group has seen an increased investment in public infrastructure maintenance.
Liz Lavertu is endorsed by many local progressive groups in the district and her financial disclosures reveal no problematic backers. According to our analysis, Liz Lavertu is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 71st Assembly District includes parts of San Diego and Riverside Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-71 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016 and John H. Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Liz Lavertu trailed Republican incumbent Representative Randy Voepel by a margin of 22.2 percent. Lavertu’s campaign has raised $28,821 and has pledged not to accept money from the fossil fuel industry. Voepel’s campaign has raised $140,304, has not committed to any such pledges, and is funded by Chevron, PG&E, Altria Tobacco, Philip Morris, the Peace Officers Association of California, Deputy Sheriffs of San Diego County, the Riverside Sheriffs Association Public Education Fund, the California Institute of Highway Patrolmen, DaVita Inc., and many more problematic organizations and interest groups.
Liz Lavertu is originally from Wisconsin and has been active as a community organizer in San Diego County for over twenty years. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to focus on affordable housing and rent control, establish health care as a universal right, and guarantee increased funding for public schools.
Liz Lavertu is co-chair of the Spring Valley Community Planning Group and a former volunteer with the Girl Scouts and AIDS Research Center. Through her work in education, she has prevented local arts programs from being subject to budget cuts, and helped to secure over $100,000 for the installation of an outdoor fitness circuit at Jamacha Elementary. Her time with the Spring Valley Community Planning Group has seen an increased investment in public infrastructure maintenance.
Liz Lavertu is endorsed by many local progressive groups in the district and her financial disclosures reveal no problematic backers. According to our analysis, Liz Lavertu is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 71st Assembly District includes parts of San Diego and Riverside Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-71 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016 and John H. Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Liz Lavertu trailed Republican incumbent Representative Randy Voepel by a margin of 22.2 percent. Lavertu’s campaign has raised $28,821 and has pledged not to accept money from the fossil fuel industry. Voepel’s campaign has raised $140,304, has not committed to any such pledges, and is funded by Chevron, PG&E, Altria Tobacco, Philip Morris, the Peace Officers Association of California, Deputy Sheriffs of San Diego County, the Riverside Sheriffs Association Public Education Fund, the California Institute of Highway Patrolmen, DaVita Inc., and many more problematic organizations and interest groups.
Liz Lavertu is originally from Wisconsin and has been active as a community organizer in San Diego County for over twenty years. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to focus on affordable housing and rent control, establish health care as a universal right, and guarantee increased funding for public schools.
Liz Lavertu is co-chair of the Spring Valley Community Planning Group and a former volunteer with the Girl Scouts and AIDS Research Center. Through her work in education, she has prevented local arts programs from being subject to budget cuts, and helped to secure over $100,000 for the installation of an outdoor fitness circuit at Jamacha Elementary. Her time with the Spring Valley Community Planning Group has seen an increased investment in public infrastructure maintenance.
Liz Lavertu is endorsed by many local progressive groups in the district and her financial disclosures reveal no problematic backers. According to our analysis, Liz Lavertu is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 75th Assembly District includes parts of Riverside and San Diego Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-75 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016 and John H. Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Kate Schwartz trailed Republican incumbent Representative Marie Waldron by a margin of 18.4 percent. Schwartz’s campaign has raised $13,465 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Waldron’s campaign has raised $622,121, has not committed to any campaign finance pledges, and is backed by Chevron, Edison International, PG&E, Phillips 66, Phillip Morris, Reynolds American Tobacco, Walmart, Pfizer, Koch Industries, and many other problematic organizations and interest groups.
Kate Schwartz is a California native and has lived in the Bonsall and Fallbrook areas since 2000. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to drive down the cost of health care, repair our streets and highways, and make electric vehicle and solar panel alternatives more affordable for working families.
Kate Schwartz has served on the Fallbrook Regional Health District Board, and currently serves as chair of the Government Relations/Community Engagement Committee. During her career as a licensed behavioral health care provider, she has advocated for patients and their families, provided behavioral services within both the public and private sectors, and continues to train master’s and doctoral-level interns. She is particularly concerned with senior issues and food insecurity.
Kate Schwartz is endorsed by many local progressive groups in the district, and the threat of Republican incumbent and strong Trump supporter Marie Waldron’s potential and past policies greatly outweighs Schwartz’s lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Kate Schwartz is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 75th Assembly District includes parts of Riverside and San Diego Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-75 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016 and John H. Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Kate Schwartz trailed Republican incumbent Representative Marie Waldron by a margin of 18.4 percent. Schwartz’s campaign has raised $13,465 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Waldron’s campaign has raised $622,121, has not committed to any campaign finance pledges, and is backed by Chevron, Edison International, PG&E, Phillips 66, Phillip Morris, Reynolds American Tobacco, Walmart, Pfizer, Koch Industries, and many other problematic organizations and interest groups.
Kate Schwartz is a California native and has lived in the Bonsall and Fallbrook areas since 2000. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to drive down the cost of health care, repair our streets and highways, and make electric vehicle and solar panel alternatives more affordable for working families.
Kate Schwartz has served on the Fallbrook Regional Health District Board, and currently serves as chair of the Government Relations/Community Engagement Committee. During her career as a licensed behavioral health care provider, she has advocated for patients and their families, provided behavioral services within both the public and private sectors, and continues to train master’s and doctoral-level interns. She is particularly concerned with senior issues and food insecurity.
Kate Schwartz is endorsed by many local progressive groups in the district, and the threat of Republican incumbent and strong Trump supporter Marie Waldron’s potential and past policies greatly outweighs Schwartz’s lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Kate Schwartz is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.
California's 75th Assembly District includes parts of Riverside and San Diego Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-75 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016 and John H. Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Kate Schwartz trailed Republican incumbent Representative Marie Waldron by a margin of 18.4 percent. Schwartz’s campaign has raised $13,465 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Waldron’s campaign has raised $622,121, has not committed to any campaign finance pledges, and is backed by Chevron, Edison International, PG&E, Phillips 66, Phillip Morris, Reynolds American Tobacco, Walmart, Pfizer, Koch Industries, and many other problematic organizations and interest groups.
Kate Schwartz is a California native and has lived in the Bonsall and Fallbrook areas since 2000. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to drive down the cost of health care, repair our streets and highways, and make electric vehicle and solar panel alternatives more affordable for working families.
Kate Schwartz has served on the Fallbrook Regional Health District Board, and currently serves as chair of the Government Relations/Community Engagement Committee. During her career as a licensed behavioral health care provider, she has advocated for patients and their families, provided behavioral services within both the public and private sectors, and continues to train master’s and doctoral-level interns. She is particularly concerned with senior issues and food insecurity.
Kate Schwartz is endorsed by many local progressive groups in the district, and the threat of Republican incumbent and strong Trump supporter Marie Waldron’s potential and past policies greatly outweighs Schwartz’s lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Kate Schwartz is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating legislation that addresses issues within their district, as well as voting and debating on preexisting laws. The California State Senate has 40 congressional districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 29 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 11 seats.
California's 23rd Senate District includes parts of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show SD-23 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016 and John H. Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Abigail Medina led Republican challenger Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh by a margin of 3.3 percent. Medina’s campaign has pledged not to accept any fossil fuel or police money. Bogh’s campaign has not committed to any such pledges and is backed by Big Energy donors Marathon Petroleum and Edison International.
Abigail Medina is from Torrance, CA, and moved to San Bernardino City, CA. According to campaign materials, she is running for office to advocate for environmental protections, public health, affordable housing, and increasing access to public college.
Abigail Medina is a member of the San Bernardino City Unified School District board, serving as the lead on budgeting and strategic planning. Under her leadership, high school graduation rates have exceeded state and county standards for the first time in over 40 years. Additionally, Medina has fought for LGBTQIA+ rights as the executive director of Inland Region Equality Network, and she served as a board member for the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice. As a youth, Medina spent time in the foster-care system and worked as a fruit picker, experiences that informed her lifelong commitment to social services.
Abigail Medina is endorsed by a strong majority of local progressive groups in the district. She has a detailed record of promoting progressive causes in her work and, according to our analysis, is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
After a comprehensive interview with Abigail Medina, we have determined that she is committed to education, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, racial equity and justice, and immigrant rights. Her experience with the SBCUSD and work as the Executive Director for IREN will bring fresh and new perspectives to the legislature on LGBTQIA+ issues. One of the first policies she would champion as a state legislator in the 2021 session is health care for all, including undocumented people. We are confident that she will co-govern in the interests of all Californians. Courage California is proud to endorse Abigail Medina for SD-23.
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district at the California State Capitol.
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating legislation that addresses issues within their district, as well as voting and debating on preexisting laws. The California State Senate has 40 congressional districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 29 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 11 seats.
California's 23rd Senate District includes parts of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show SD-23 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016 and John H. Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Abigail Medina led Republican challenger Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh by a margin of 3.3 percent. Medina’s campaign has pledged not to accept any fossil fuel or police money. Bogh’s campaign has not committed to any such pledges and is backed by Big Energy donors Marathon Petroleum and Edison International.
Abigail Medina is from Torrance, CA, and moved to San Bernardino City, CA. According to campaign materials, she is running for office to advocate for environmental protections, public health, affordable housing, and increasing access to public college.
Abigail Medina is a member of the San Bernardino City Unified School District board, serving as the lead on budgeting and strategic planning. Under her leadership, high school graduation rates have exceeded state and county standards for the first time in over 40 years. Additionally, Medina has fought for LGBTQIA+ rights as the executive director of Inland Region Equality Network, and she served as a board member for the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice. As a youth, Medina spent time in the foster-care system and worked as a fruit picker, experiences that informed her lifelong commitment to social services.
Abigail Medina is endorsed by a strong majority of local progressive groups in the district. She has a detailed record of promoting progressive causes in her work and, according to our analysis, is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
After a comprehensive interview with Abigail Medina, we have determined that she is committed to education, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, racial equity and justice, and immigrant rights. Her experience with the SBCUSD and work as the Executive Director for IREN will bring fresh and new perspectives to the legislature on LGBTQIA+ issues. One of the first policies she would champion as a state legislator in the 2021 session is health care for all, including undocumented people. We are confident that she will co-govern in the interests of all Californians. Courage California is proud to endorse Abigail Medina for SD-23.
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating legislation that addresses issues within their district, as well as voting and debating on preexisting laws. The California State Senate has 40 congressional districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 29 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 11 seats.
California's 31st Senate District includes parts of Riverside County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show SD-31 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Richard Roth led Republican challenger Rod Taylor by a margin of 98 percent. Roth’s campaign has raised $702,617 and has taken no campaign finance pledges. Taylor’s campaign has raised $0.
Rep. Richard Roth, a retired Air Force major general and former attorney, is from Columbus, OH. According to campaign materials, Rep. Roth is running for re-election to create jobs and continue investing in Riverside’s education system.
Sen. Richard Roth’s priorities for SD-31 this year include further investment in UC Riverside’s School of Medicine and protecting our groundwater. He currently sits on 8 committees: the Legislative Audit Committee (vice chair), Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, Insurance Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, Housing Committee, Transportation and Housing Committee, and both the State Senate and Legislature Rules Committees. Sen. Roth has sponsored seven bills this year centered around bolstering Riverside’s schools and groundwater regulation, of which all have successfully passed. He scores a Lifetime Courage Score of 44 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Senator Roth has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Roth has not supported prohibiting landlords from rejecting applicants based on Section 8 status, granting tenants the right to a tenant association, prohibiting no-rehire policies that bar victims of workplace mistreatment from employment with the offending company, and banning the use of biometric surveillance and facial-recognition technology from being used in police body cameras.
Prior to his election to the State Senate, Sen. Richard Roth served in the United States Air Force as a reservist, eventually achieving the rank of major general. He was also an employment attorney for 30 years, licensed to practice in California and Georgia, until joining the California State Senate in 2012. He is a longtime supporter of UC Riverside and local community colleges.
Rep. Richard Roth is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, California Correctional Peace Officers Association, and California Apartment Association. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Rod Taylor’s potential policies greatly outweighs Sen. Roth’s moderate voting record, problematic endorsements, and lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Rep. Richard Roth is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district at the California State Capitol.
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating legislation that addresses issues within their district, as well as voting and debating on preexisting laws. The California State Senate has 40 congressional districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 29 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 11 seats.
California's 31st Senate District includes parts of Riverside County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show SD-31 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Richard Roth led Republican challenger Rod Taylor by a margin of 98 percent. Roth’s campaign has raised $702,617 and has taken no campaign finance pledges. Taylor’s campaign has raised $0.
Rep. Richard Roth, a retired Air Force major general and former attorney, is from Columbus, OH. According to campaign materials, Rep. Roth is running for re-election to create jobs and continue investing in Riverside’s education system.
Sen. Richard Roth’s priorities for SD-31 this year include further investment in UC Riverside’s School of Medicine and protecting our groundwater. He currently sits on 8 committees: the Legislative Audit Committee (vice chair), Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, Insurance Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, Housing Committee, Transportation and Housing Committee, and both the State Senate and Legislature Rules Committees. Sen. Roth has sponsored seven bills this year centered around bolstering Riverside’s schools and groundwater regulation, of which all have successfully passed. He scores a Lifetime Courage Score of 44 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Senator Roth has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Roth has not supported prohibiting landlords from rejecting applicants based on Section 8 status, granting tenants the right to a tenant association, prohibiting no-rehire policies that bar victims of workplace mistreatment from employment with the offending company, and banning the use of biometric surveillance and facial-recognition technology from being used in police body cameras.
Prior to his election to the State Senate, Sen. Richard Roth served in the United States Air Force as a reservist, eventually achieving the rank of major general. He was also an employment attorney for 30 years, licensed to practice in California and Georgia, until joining the California State Senate in 2012. He is a longtime supporter of UC Riverside and local community colleges.
Rep. Richard Roth is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, California Correctional Peace Officers Association, and California Apartment Association. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Rod Taylor’s potential policies greatly outweighs Sen. Roth’s moderate voting record, problematic endorsements, and lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Rep. Richard Roth is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
Proposition 14 asks voters to authorize a total of $5.5 billion in state general obligation bonds to continue the California stem cell agency that funds research, therapy, and grants to educational, nonprofit, and private entities for Alzheimer’s, Parkison’s, epilepsy, strokes, and other central nervous system and brain conditions and diseases. Prop 14 is an extension of Prop 71, which created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) in 2004. The CIRM ran out of the original Prop 71 funds in 2019 and has not been funding new projects since then.
Vote YES to continue the CIRM, a state agency that has distributed a significant source of funding to scientific research programs and enterprises across the state, both nonprofit and for-profit.
Vote NO to not authorize the sale of $5.5 billion in state bonds for the CIRM and eliminate a financially burdensome stem cell research program that no longer has significant impact on medical research.
Robert N. Klein II, a Silicon Valley real estate developer and the top donor for Prop 14, was also the chief author of Proposition 71, which authorized $3 billion in bonds to create and maintain the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine in 2004. There is no registered financial opposition.
There is no notable misinformation about Proposition 14.
Proposition 14 asks voters to authorize a total of $5.5 billion in state general obligation bonds to continue the California stem cell agency that funds research, therapy, and grants to educational, nonprofit, and private entities for Alzheimer’s, Parkison’s, epilepsy, strokes, and other central nervous system and brain conditions and diseases. Prop 14 is an extension of Prop 71, which created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) in 2004. The CIRM ran out of the original Prop 71 funds in 2019 and has not been funding new projects since then.
Vote YES to continue the CIRM, a state agency that has distributed a significant source of funding to scientific research programs and enterprises across the state, both nonprofit and for-profit.
Vote NO to not authorize the sale of $5.5 billion in state bonds for the CIRM and eliminate a financially burdensome stem cell research program that no longer has significant impact on medical research.
Robert N. Klein II, a Silicon Valley real estate developer and the top donor for Prop 14, was also the chief author of Proposition 71, which authorized $3 billion in bonds to create and maintain the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine in 2004. There is no registered financial opposition.
There is no notable misinformation about Proposition 14.
Proposition 15 asks California voters to raise an estimated $6.4 billion to $11.5 billion in funding for local schools and governments by increasing property taxes on commercial and industrial properties based on current market value instead of the price they were purchased for. Based on the most recent report by Blue Sky Consulting Group, 10% of the biggest corporate property owners will pay 92% of the funding and more than 75% of total revenues will come from properties that have not been reassessed since prior to 1990 -- just 2% of all commercial and industrial properties! Proposition 15 will maintain the existing commercial and industrial property tax at a 1% limit and will also maintain existing exemptions for small businesses, homeowners, agricultural lands, and renters.
Prop 15’s main opponents include realty and industrial property owners, while the California Teachers Association and SEIU California State Council are main supporters.
Proposition 15 asks California voters to raise an estimated $6.4 billion to $11.5 billion in funding for local schools and governments
Proposition 15 asks California voters to raise an estimated $6.4 billion to $11.5 billion in funding for local schools and governments by increasing property taxes on commercial and industrial properties based on current market value instead of the price they were purchased for. Based on the most recent report by Blue Sky Consulting Group, 10% of the biggest corporate property owners will pay 92% of the funding and more than 75% of total revenues will come from properties that have not been reassessed since prior to 1990 -- just 2% of all commercial and industrial properties! Proposition 15 will maintain the existing commercial and industrial property tax at a 1% limit and will also maintain existing exemptions for small businesses, homeowners, agricultural lands, and renters.
Prop 15’s main opponents include realty and industrial property owners, while the California Teachers Association and SEIU California State Council are main supporters.
Proposition 16 asks California voters to amend the Constitution of California to repeal Prop 209’s restrictions on local and state governments from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, and contracting. If passed, Prop 16 will permit governments to consider those protected categories in order to promote inclusive hiring and admissions programs in California’s public universities, government, and public agencies.
Proposition 16 asks California voters to amend the Constitution of California to repeal Prop 209’s restrictions on local and state governments from considering race, sex, color,
Proposition 16 asks California voters to amend the Constitution of California to repeal Prop 209’s restrictions on local and state governments from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, and contracting. If passed, Prop 16 will permit governments to consider those protected categories in order to promote inclusive hiring and admissions programs in California’s public universities, government, and public agencies.
Proposition 17 asks California voters to amend the Constitution of California to restore voting rights to persons who have been disqualified from voting while on parole. If passed, Prop 17 will restore voting rights to approximately 50,000 Californians currently on parole.
There are no contributions recorded for support or opposition to Prop 17.
Proposition 17 asks California voters to amend the Constitution of California to restore voting rights to persons who have been disqualified from voting while on parole.
Proposition 17 asks California voters to amend the Constitution of California to restore voting rights to persons who have been disqualified from voting while on parole. If passed, Prop 17 will restore voting rights to approximately 50,000 Californians currently on parole.
There are no contributions recorded for support or opposition to Prop 17.
Proposition 18 asks California voters to amend the Constitution of California to allow 17-year-olds to vote in the primary election if they will turn 18 by the following general election. At the age of 18, Californians are technically given the right to vote in all elections. However, those who are not 18 by the time of the primary are not able to have input on who would or would not appear on their ballot in the general election. A YES vote on Prop 18 solves this problem.
There are no recorded contributions in support of or opposition to Prop 18.
There is no prominent misinformation about Prop 18.
Proposition 18 asks California voters to amend the Constitution of California to allow 17-year-olds to vote in the primary election if they
Proposition 18 asks California voters to amend the Constitution of California to allow 17-year-olds to vote in the primary election if they will turn 18 by the following general election. At the age of 18, Californians are technically given the right to vote in all elections. However, those who are not 18 by the time of the primary are not able to have input on who would or would not appear on their ballot in the general election. A YES vote on Prop 18 solves this problem.
There are no recorded contributions in support of or opposition to Prop 18.
There is no prominent misinformation about Prop 18.
Proposition 19 asks voters to amend sections of 1978’s Proposition 13 to increase the number of times a property tax base can be transferred to three times for longtime homeowners. Prop 19 is almost exactly the same as Proposition 5, which was on the 2018 California ballot and overwhelmingly defeated by voters, with 60 percent having voted against the proposition. The main difference in the proposition this year is that Prop 19 includes an additional amendment to Prop 13 that narrows an existing inheritance property tax break and promises to distribute any revenue generated from that amendment toward fire protection agencies and schools.
Realtor associations have contributed $36,270,000 in support of Prop 19. There is no registered financial opposition.
There is no prominent misinformation about Proposition 19.
Proposition 19 asks voters to amend sections of 1978’s Proposition 13 to increase the number of times a property tax base can be transferred to three times for long
Proposition 19 asks voters to amend sections of 1978’s Proposition 13 to increase the number of times a property tax base can be transferred to three times for longtime homeowners. Prop 19 is almost exactly the same as Proposition 5, which was on the 2018 California ballot and overwhelmingly defeated by voters, with 60 percent having voted against the proposition. The main difference in the proposition this year is that Prop 19 includes an additional amendment to Prop 13 that narrows an existing inheritance property tax break and promises to distribute any revenue generated from that amendment toward fire protection agencies and schools.
Realtor associations have contributed $36,270,000 in support of Prop 19. There is no registered financial opposition.
There is no prominent misinformation about Proposition 19.
If passed, Prop 20 increases penalties for low-level offenses and would create a state database that collects DNA samples from persons convicted of specified misdemeanors for use in cold cases by repealing parts of Props 47 and 57. Prop 20 would expand the list of offenses that disqualify inmates from a parole program, consider an individual’s collective criminal history and not just their most recent offense, and impose stronger restrictions for a nonviolent offender’s parole program. Additionally, Prop 20 would reclassify theft between $250 and $950 as a felony.
If passed, Prop 20 increases penalties for low-level offenses and would create a state database that collects DNA samples from persons convicted of specified misdemeanors for us
If passed, Prop 20 increases penalties for low-level offenses and would create a state database that collects DNA samples from persons convicted of specified misdemeanors for use in cold cases by repealing parts of Props 47 and 57. Prop 20 would expand the list of offenses that disqualify inmates from a parole program, consider an individual’s collective criminal history and not just their most recent offense, and impose stronger restrictions for a nonviolent offender’s parole program. Additionally, Prop 20 would reclassify theft between $250 and $950 as a felony.
Proposition 21 asks voters to amend state law in order to allow (not require) local governments at the city and county levels to establish and regulate rent control on residential properties. This proposition would affect residential properties over 15 years old and exempts individuals who own up to two residential properties. Additionally, Prop 21 would allow rent in rent-controlled properties to increase up to 15 percent over a period of three years with the start of a new tenancy. Prop 21 is more or less the same proposition voters rejected in 2018.
California has the highest rate of homelessness in the nation, which can be attributed to the overwhelmingly high median rates for rent throughout the state forcing residents to pay 50 percent of their income just toward rent.
The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act prohibits rent control on residential properties built after February 1, 1995. Since then, housing built in California has become accessible only to those who can afford uncontrolled rent increases, and low-income families have largely been shut out from newer housing developments.
According to a Stanford study, those who lived in rent-controlled properties when Costa-Hawkins passed ended up saving a cumulative total of $7 billion over 18 years, which confirms that rent control is an effective way to prevent displacement from the city.
Proposition 21 asks voters to amend state law in order to allow (not require) local governments at the city and county levels to establish and regulate rent control on residential p
Proposition 21 asks voters to amend state law in order to allow (not require) local governments at the city and county levels to establish and regulate rent control on residential properties. This proposition would affect residential properties over 15 years old and exempts individuals who own up to two residential properties. Additionally, Prop 21 would allow rent in rent-controlled properties to increase up to 15 percent over a period of three years with the start of a new tenancy. Prop 21 is more or less the same proposition voters rejected in 2018.
California has the highest rate of homelessness in the nation, which can be attributed to the overwhelmingly high median rates for rent throughout the state forcing residents to pay 50 percent of their income just toward rent.
The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act prohibits rent control on residential properties built after February 1, 1995. Since then, housing built in California has become accessible only to those who can afford uncontrolled rent increases, and low-income families have largely been shut out from newer housing developments.
According to a Stanford study, those who lived in rent-controlled properties when Costa-Hawkins passed ended up saving a cumulative total of $7 billion over 18 years, which confirms that rent control is an effective way to prevent displacement from the city.
Proposition 22 asks voters to exempt companies like Lyft, Postmates, Uber, DoorDash, and others from a recently implemented state worker protection law, Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), so they can classify gig economy drivers from ride-share and delivery companies as independent contractors, not as employees. Additionally, Prop 22 would restrict local regulation of app-based drivers and would criminalize the impersonation of drivers.
By classifying workers as contractors and not employees, companies like Lyft, Uber, and DoorDash are exempted by state employment laws from ensuring basic protections to their workforce including minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.
Currently, rideshare and delivery workers are entitled under AB 5 to labor rights that every other employee in California receives, such as the right to organize, health insurance, and Social Security benefits. Prop 22 would take those rights away.
AB 5 also guarantees paid family leave, paid sick days, and unemployment insurance to those classified as gig employees. Proposition 22 asks voters to make gig-economy employees exempt from this law and replaces their rights with fewer benefits of much less value to their workers.
More than 2,000 drivers have filed claims against Uber and Lyft for over $630 million in damages, expenses, and lost wages. Prop 22 will codify Uber and Lyft’s abilities to systematically steal wages from drivers.
Uber and Lyft currently owe California $413 million in unemployment insurance contributions due to misclassifying drivers as independent contractors under AB 5. If Prop 22 passes, Uber and Lyft would get away with not paying what they owe.
"Prop 22 will guarantee 120% of minimum wage to all drivers." -- FALSE. The UC Berkeley Labor Center released a report that estimates Prop 22’s “pay guarantee” for their Uber and Lyft drivers would only end up being $5.64 per hour after accounting for all the expenses that drivers are responsible for themselves. At that rate, even if an individual worked 10 hour days, 7 days a week under Prop 22, they would be living below the California poverty line.
"Prop 22 will give health insurance to all drivers." -- FALSE. Under Prop 22, companies do not pay for health insurance, but instead provide a stipend to drivers. This stipend is valued at only 82% of the minimum coverage provided by state law, and is actually worth even less because workers would owe state and federal income taxes on the stipend. Prop 22 forces drivers to work more than 39 hours a week to qualify for the health stipend, so many workers would never even qualify for the stipend. For drivers who do qualify, Health Access California estimates that the health stipend would be just a couple hundred dollars—and could be just tens of dollars for younger workers—not enough for drivers to cover the purchase of their own health insurance.
If Prop 22 is passed, all future labor legislation surrounding Uber and Lyft would have to be approved by 7/8 of the total California State Legislature. Making this happen is virtually impossible considering Uber and Lyft have donated $2 million to the California Republican Party campaign committee. This is why Uber and Lyft are spending millions of dollars: to make their operations virtually untouchable in terms of regulation.
Proposition 22 asks voters to exempt companies like Lyft, Postmates, Uber, DoorDash, and others from a recently implemented state worker protection law, Assembly Bil
Proposition 22 asks voters to exempt companies like Lyft, Postmates, Uber, DoorDash, and others from a recently implemented state worker protection law, Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), so they can classify gig economy drivers from ride-share and delivery companies as independent contractors, not as employees. Additionally, Prop 22 would restrict local regulation of app-based drivers and would criminalize the impersonation of drivers.
By classifying workers as contractors and not employees, companies like Lyft, Uber, and DoorDash are exempted by state employment laws from ensuring basic protections to their workforce including minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.
Currently, rideshare and delivery workers are entitled under AB 5 to labor rights that every other employee in California receives, such as the right to organize, health insurance, and Social Security benefits. Prop 22 would take those rights away.
AB 5 also guarantees paid family leave, paid sick days, and unemployment insurance to those classified as gig employees. Proposition 22 asks voters to make gig-economy employees exempt from this law and replaces their rights with fewer benefits of much less value to their workers.
More than 2,000 drivers have filed claims against Uber and Lyft for over $630 million in damages, expenses, and lost wages. Prop 22 will codify Uber and Lyft’s abilities to systematically steal wages from drivers.
Uber and Lyft currently owe California $413 million in unemployment insurance contributions due to misclassifying drivers as independent contractors under AB 5. If Prop 22 passes, Uber and Lyft would get away with not paying what they owe.
"Prop 22 will guarantee 120% of minimum wage to all drivers." -- FALSE. The UC Berkeley Labor Center released a report that estimates Prop 22’s “pay guarantee” for their Uber and Lyft drivers would only end up being $5.64 per hour after accounting for all the expenses that drivers are responsible for themselves. At that rate, even if an individual worked 10 hour days, 7 days a week under Prop 22, they would be living below the California poverty line.
"Prop 22 will give health insurance to all drivers." -- FALSE. Under Prop 22, companies do not pay for health insurance, but instead provide a stipend to drivers. This stipend is valued at only 82% of the minimum coverage provided by state law, and is actually worth even less because workers would owe state and federal income taxes on the stipend. Prop 22 forces drivers to work more than 39 hours a week to qualify for the health stipend, so many workers would never even qualify for the stipend. For drivers who do qualify, Health Access California estimates that the health stipend would be just a couple hundred dollars—and could be just tens of dollars for younger workers—not enough for drivers to cover the purchase of their own health insurance.
If Prop 22 is passed, all future labor legislation surrounding Uber and Lyft would have to be approved by 7/8 of the total California State Legislature. Making this happen is virtually impossible considering Uber and Lyft have donated $2 million to the California Republican Party campaign committee. This is why Uber and Lyft are spending millions of dollars: to make their operations virtually untouchable in terms of regulation.
Prop 23 would add sections to the California Health and Safety Code about how dialysis facilities can operate, requiring a physician to be on-site at every dialysis clinic to oversee operations, and mandating that each chronic dialysis clinic submit quarterly reports on dialysis-related infections to the California Department of Health. The on-site physician would assume a non-caregiving role, as they would not be required to be specially trained in nephrology or interact with patients at all. Additionally, Prop 23 would prohibit discrimination against patients based on their coverage or care.
Prop 23 would add sections to the California Health and Safety Code about how dialysis facilities can operate, requiring a physician to be on-site at every di
Prop 23 would add sections to the California Health and Safety Code about how dialysis facilities can operate, requiring a physician to be on-site at every dialysis clinic to oversee operations, and mandating that each chronic dialysis clinic submit quarterly reports on dialysis-related infections to the California Department of Health. The on-site physician would assume a non-caregiving role, as they would not be required to be specially trained in nephrology or interact with patients at all. Additionally, Prop 23 would prohibit discrimination against patients based on their coverage or care.
Proposition 24 asks voters to amend the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) to include pay-for-privacy schemes, which provide better services and internet connection to those who pay more in order to protect their personal information while providing suboptimal services for Californians who cannot or do not want to pay more. Additionally, Prop 24 caters to tech companies by allowing them to upload a California resident’s personal information as soon as that resident’s device, computer, or phone leaves the state’s borders, and permits tech companies to completely ignore a programmable universal electronic “do not sell my information” signal. Under current law, privacy follows a Californian wherever they go, and businesses must honor the electronic signal.
Proposition 24 asks voters to amend the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) to include pay-for-privacy schemes, which provide better services and internet connection to those who pay more in order
Proposition 24 asks voters to amend the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) to include pay-for-privacy schemes, which provide better services and internet connection to those who pay more in order to protect their personal information while providing suboptimal services for Californians who cannot or do not want to pay more. Additionally, Prop 24 caters to tech companies by allowing them to upload a California resident’s personal information as soon as that resident’s device, computer, or phone leaves the state’s borders, and permits tech companies to completely ignore a programmable universal electronic “do not sell my information” signal. Under current law, privacy follows a Californian wherever they go, and businesses must honor the electronic signal.
Vote YES on Prop 25 to eliminate the use of cash bail in pretrial incarceration.
Proposition 25 is a referendum, which asks voters to directly weigh in on whether to keep or reject SB 10, a bill originally passed in 2018. Voting YES on Prop 25 will keep SB 10 in place and eliminate the cash bail system of pretrial incarceration in California, which is directly responsible for the disproportionate incarceration of Californians who cannot afford bail. The bail bond industry is directly responsible for placing Prop 25 on the ballot and calling SB 10 into question.
There are three major components to grassroots groups' objections to Prop 25. Here we provide our assessment of these concerns and how they can be addressed in the future if Prop 25 passes.
The bail bond industry has invested heavily in a No on the Prop 25 campaign in an attempt to spread misinformation and save the industry.
Vote YES on Prop 25 to eliminate the use of cash bail in pretrial incarceration.
Vote YES on Prop 25 to eliminate the use of cash bail in pretrial incarceration.
Proposition 25 is a referendum, which asks voters to directly weigh in on whether to keep or reject SB 10, a bill originally passed in 2018. Voting YES on Prop 25 will keep SB 10 in place and eliminate the cash bail system of pretrial incarceration in California, which is directly responsible for the disproportionate incarceration of Californians who cannot afford bail. The bail bond industry is directly responsible for placing Prop 25 on the ballot and calling SB 10 into question.
There are three major components to grassroots groups' objections to Prop 25. Here we provide our assessment of these concerns and how they can be addressed in the future if Prop 25 passes.
The bail bond industry has invested heavily in a No on the Prop 25 campaign in an attempt to spread misinformation and save the industry.
Coachella is governed by a five-person city council, the members of which are elected at large. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in Coachella serve four-year overlapping terms, and the mayor serves a two-year term.
Coachella is Riverside County’s 18th most populous city. The Coachella City Council oversees the needs of 41,648 people and manages an estimated budget of $24 million annually. Coachella is managed by a mayor-council structured government.
Neftalí Galarza is running against Philip Bautista, Denise Delgado, and Emmanuel Martinez. There are no campaign filings available for any candidate.
Neftalí Galarza, a member of the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees since 2017, was born and raised in the Eastern Coachella Valley, where he attended public schools. Galarza’s motivation for running is to create positive changes for residents and visitors to the city. If elected, Galarza aims to focus on expanding youth engagement opportunities, increasing neighborhood participation, and collaborating with various government agencies to create resources.
Galarza was appointed to the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees in 2017, replacing a member who had been forced to resign. He won his seat in 2018. Prior to his service as School District Board member, Galarza worked as a community advocate in voter registration and on get-out-the-vote campaigns across California with the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project.
Galarza is endorsed by a large progressive coalition in the area called IE United. According to our analysis, Galarza is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
Coachella is governed by a five-person city council, the members of which are elected at large. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in Coachella serve four-year overlapping terms, and the mayor serves a two-year term.
Coachella is Riverside County’s 18th most populous city. The Coachella City Council oversees the needs of 41,648 people and manages an estimated budget of $24 million annually. Coachella is managed by a mayor-council structured government.
Neftalí Galarza is running against Philip Bautista, Denise Delgado, and Emmanuel Martinez. There are no campaign filings available for any candidate.
Neftalí Galarza, a member of the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees since 2017, was born and raised in the Eastern Coachella Valley, where he attended public schools. Galarza’s motivation for running is to create positive changes for residents and visitors to the city. If elected, Galarza aims to focus on expanding youth engagement opportunities, increasing neighborhood participation, and collaborating with various government agencies to create resources.
Galarza was appointed to the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees in 2017, replacing a member who had been forced to resign. He won his seat in 2018. Prior to his service as School District Board member, Galarza worked as a community advocate in voter registration and on get-out-the-vote campaigns across California with the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project.
Galarza is endorsed by a large progressive coalition in the area called IE United. According to our analysis, Galarza is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Corona serve four-year terms, and are currently not bound by term limits. The passage of Measure Y, which is on the November ballot, would institute a three-term, or 12-year, lifetime limit for all city councilmembers.
Corona is Riverside County’s third-most populous city, and includes a population that is 43 percent Latinx, 36 white white, 10 percent Asian, and 6 percent Black. The Corona City Council oversees the needs of 152,374 people and manages an estimated budget of $343 million annually. Corona is managed by council-manager structured government. Corona’s District 3 includes the central portion of the city and a population of over 30,000 residents.
There are three candidates running for the District 3 seat, including incumbent Councilmember Jason B. Scott and challenger Meg E’amato. There are no publicly available campaign filings for either candidate. Scott is endorsed by the Corona Police Officers’ Association, Riverside Sheriffs’ Association, and five retired law-enforcement leaders from Corona.
Meg E’amato, a public school teacher, has lived in Corona for 40 years. According to campaign materials, E’amato is running for election to revitalize the District 3 community by creating interconnection between local schools, small businesses, and green spaces through strategic partnerships.
E’amato’s priorities for Corona this term include reinvesting in small businesses, building partnerships to improve local parks, and bringing accountability and transparency to the city council.
E’amato is a career educator, having been a teacher in the Corona-Norco Unified School District for 22 years. She grew up in Corona, and sees the intersection between education, homelessness, transportation, and public investment. She will use her term in the city council to build revitalizing partnerships that nurture areas of longtime disinvestment in District 3. She is a longtime supporter of the value of education, and is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
E’amato is endorsed by some progressive groups in the district, including Equality California and National Organization for Women’s Riverside County. According to our analysis, Meg E’amato is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
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Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Corona serve four-year terms, and are currently not bound by term limits. The passage of Measure Y, which is on the November ballot, would institute a three-term, or 12-year, lifetime limit for all city councilmembers.
Corona is Riverside County’s third-most populous city, and includes a population that is 43 percent Latinx, 36 white white, 10 percent Asian, and 6 percent Black. The Corona City Council oversees the needs of 152,374 people and manages an estimated budget of $343 million annually. Corona is managed by council-manager structured government. Corona’s District 3 includes the central portion of the city and a population of over 30,000 residents.
There are three candidates running for the District 3 seat, including incumbent Councilmember Jason B. Scott and challenger Meg E’amato. There are no publicly available campaign filings for either candidate. Scott is endorsed by the Corona Police Officers’ Association, Riverside Sheriffs’ Association, and five retired law-enforcement leaders from Corona.
Meg E’amato, a public school teacher, has lived in Corona for 40 years. According to campaign materials, E’amato is running for election to revitalize the District 3 community by creating interconnection between local schools, small businesses, and green spaces through strategic partnerships.
E’amato’s priorities for Corona this term include reinvesting in small businesses, building partnerships to improve local parks, and bringing accountability and transparency to the city council.
E’amato is a career educator, having been a teacher in the Corona-Norco Unified School District for 22 years. She grew up in Corona, and sees the intersection between education, homelessness, transportation, and public investment. She will use her term in the city council to build revitalizing partnerships that nurture areas of longtime disinvestment in District 3. She is a longtime supporter of the value of education, and is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
E’amato is endorsed by some progressive groups in the district, including Equality California and National Organization for Women’s Riverside County. According to our analysis, Meg E’amato is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in Hemet are elected to serve four-year staggered terms.
Hemet is an incorporated city located in Riverside County. Hemet City Council oversees the needs of over 85,000 people and manages an estimated budget of over $48 million annually. The city is managed by a mayor-council structured government. Hemet’s District 1 is a working-class, rural district with a majority white population.
Mazingo’s campaign has raised over $61,000 and is primarily funded through individual contributions, as well as the California Nurses Association and California Teachers Association. Her campaign is not funded by any corporate, fossil fuel, or law-enforcement money.
DeniAntionette Mazingo is a practicing attorney and active community member from Hemet, California. According to campaign materials, Mazingo is running for office to advocate for seniors, single parents, veterans, children, and the LGBTQIA+ community. She wants to improve the quality of life for citizens of Hemet by creating jobs, affordable housing, and environmental protections.
Mazingo’s priorities for Hemet include creating affordable housing and increasing access to public transit, in order to decrease the city's homeless rates. She is also committed to increasing vocational-technical programs to increase job opportunities for young adults.
Mazingo has served her community in a variety of positions. Through her role as Third District commissioner for the Riverside County Commission for Women, she has brought awareness to issues of human trafficking. As a member of Soroptimist International, Mazingo has helped host the Soroptomist Girl Power Conference to provide young girls with educational opportunities. Her additional roles include national president of Las Amigas Incorporated, president of Ladies of Charity for San Bernardino Diocese, member of the Hemet Woman’s Club, member of Rotary International, and a lifetime member of the National Council of Negro Women. Through her work as an attorney, Mazingo provides pro bono services, and is a longtime supporter of causes that support low-income communities of color.
DeniAntionette Mazingo is endorsed by the California Nurses Association, American Association of University Women, and the Riverside County Democratic Party. She has also received endorsements from notable individuals, including CA State Controller Betty Yee and Assemblymember Jose Medina. According to our analysis, DeniAntionette Mazingo is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in Hemet are elected to serve four-year staggered terms.
Hemet is an incorporated city located in Riverside County. Hemet City Council oversees the needs of over 85,000 people and manages an estimated budget of over $48 million annually. The city is managed by a mayor-council structured government. Hemet’s District 1 is a working-class, rural district with a majority white population.
Mazingo’s campaign has raised over $61,000 and is primarily funded through individual contributions, as well as the California Nurses Association and California Teachers Association. Her campaign is not funded by any corporate, fossil fuel, or law-enforcement money.
DeniAntionette Mazingo is a practicing attorney and active community member from Hemet, California. According to campaign materials, Mazingo is running for office to advocate for seniors, single parents, veterans, children, and the LGBTQIA+ community. She wants to improve the quality of life for citizens of Hemet by creating jobs, affordable housing, and environmental protections.
Mazingo’s priorities for Hemet include creating affordable housing and increasing access to public transit, in order to decrease the city's homeless rates. She is also committed to increasing vocational-technical programs to increase job opportunities for young adults.
Mazingo has served her community in a variety of positions. Through her role as Third District commissioner for the Riverside County Commission for Women, she has brought awareness to issues of human trafficking. As a member of Soroptimist International, Mazingo has helped host the Soroptomist Girl Power Conference to provide young girls with educational opportunities. Her additional roles include national president of Las Amigas Incorporated, president of Ladies of Charity for San Bernardino Diocese, member of the Hemet Woman’s Club, member of Rotary International, and a lifetime member of the National Council of Negro Women. Through her work as an attorney, Mazingo provides pro bono services, and is a longtime supporter of causes that support low-income communities of color.
DeniAntionette Mazingo is endorsed by the California Nurses Association, American Association of University Women, and the Riverside County Democratic Party. She has also received endorsements from notable individuals, including CA State Controller Betty Yee and Assemblymember Jose Medina. According to our analysis, DeniAntionette Mazingo is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
The Riverside mayor is elected at large in March of U.S. Presidential election years. A runoff election, if required, is held the following November. Riverside uses a council-manager form of government.
Riverside is Riverside County’s most populous city. The mayor’s office of Riverside oversees the needs of an estimated 303,569 people and manages an estimated budget of $354 million annually. Demographic data reveals a notable Latinx population, about 49 percent.
In the March 3 race, challenger Andy Melendrez led challenger Patricia Lock Dawson by a margin of 7.7 percent. Melendrez’s campaign has raised $168,343 in 2020 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Dawson’s campaign has raised $153,215 and has also not committed to any campaign finance pledges. According to campaign materials, Dawson’s top priorities involve funding and relying on law enforcement and church institutions to address the issue of homelessness.
Andy Melendrez, a four-term Riverside City Council member, is a lifelong resident, having been born in Casa Blanca. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to continue his improvements to public parks, push for transit-oriented development, establish two affordable housing unit complexes, and continue the planning for a new Canyon Crossing Medical Hospital, Medical Clinics, and housing.
As a city council member, Andy Melendrez brought the Transitional Aged Youth Center to Ward 2, a drop-in organization where at-risk youth can safely access treatment services. He brought the Small Business Administration and Inland Empire Small Business Development Center together to offer community training for local citizens wanting to start their own business, making licensing more readily available through community funding. Affordable housing projects in his district were vetted with the neighborhood, ensuring that the facilities contain all the services the community needs, including on-site behavioral-health treatment for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Melendrez has also worked as a gang intervention counselor and vocational rehabilitation counselor, founded the Riverside Arts Academy, established the Youth Opportunity Center, and assisted with funding the Centro De Ninos Child Care Center. To help promote local businesses in his city, he created the Shop Local Shop Small Riverside YouTube channel, interviewing business owners and employees about their experiences and services.
For his strong record in the community and long service on the city council, Andy Melendrez is, according to our analysis, the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
The Riverside mayor is elected at large in March of U.S. Presidential election years. A runoff election, if required, is held the following November.
The Riverside mayor is elected at large in March of U.S. Presidential election years. A runoff election, if required, is held the following November. Riverside uses a council-manager form of government.
Riverside is Riverside County’s most populous city. The mayor’s office of Riverside oversees the needs of an estimated 303,569 people and manages an estimated budget of $354 million annually. Demographic data reveals a notable Latinx population, about 49 percent.
In the March 3 race, challenger Andy Melendrez led challenger Patricia Lock Dawson by a margin of 7.7 percent. Melendrez’s campaign has raised $168,343 in 2020 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Dawson’s campaign has raised $153,215 and has also not committed to any campaign finance pledges. According to campaign materials, Dawson’s top priorities involve funding and relying on law enforcement and church institutions to address the issue of homelessness.
Andy Melendrez, a four-term Riverside City Council member, is a lifelong resident, having been born in Casa Blanca. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to continue his improvements to public parks, push for transit-oriented development, establish two affordable housing unit complexes, and continue the planning for a new Canyon Crossing Medical Hospital, Medical Clinics, and housing.
As a city council member, Andy Melendrez brought the Transitional Aged Youth Center to Ward 2, a drop-in organization where at-risk youth can safely access treatment services. He brought the Small Business Administration and Inland Empire Small Business Development Center together to offer community training for local citizens wanting to start their own business, making licensing more readily available through community funding. Affordable housing projects in his district were vetted with the neighborhood, ensuring that the facilities contain all the services the community needs, including on-site behavioral-health treatment for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Melendrez has also worked as a gang intervention counselor and vocational rehabilitation counselor, founded the Riverside Arts Academy, established the Youth Opportunity Center, and assisted with funding the Centro De Ninos Child Care Center. To help promote local businesses in his city, he created the Shop Local Shop Small Riverside YouTube channel, interviewing business owners and employees about their experiences and services.
For his strong record in the community and long service on the city council, Andy Melendrez is, according to our analysis, the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
The Western Municipal Water District is one of the largest public agencies in Riverside County, providing water, wastewater (sewer), and recycled water services to nearly one million people across 527 square miles in western Riverside County. Western’s board of directors are elected to four-year terms by registered voters in five geographic divisions, which are apportioned by population. Terms are staggered to ensure continuity. Directors must reside within their elected division.
Western’s Division 5 contains parts of Corona and the Temescal Valley.
Fauzia Rizvi, an engineer and business owner, is a 17-year resident of Corona, CA. According to campaign materials, Rizvi is running for election to prioritize self-sufficient technology to meet water-quality standards, expand the capture of stormwater, and promote new wastewater treatment technologies. Rizvi’s previous community service includes time with For the People Task Force, the City of Corona Homeless Task Force, CNUSD PTA, Corona Norco Interfaith Association, Beloved Corona, and the Riverside Community College Measure C Bond Oversight Committee.
Fauzia Rizvi is endorsed by IE United, the Corona Norco Democratic Club, the Inland Empire Labor Council, and many local- and state-elected officials. According to our analysis, Rizvi is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
The Western Municipal Water District is one of the largest public agencies in Riverside County, providing water, wastewater (sewer), and recycled water services to nearly one million people across 527 square miles in western Riverside County. Western’s board of directors are elected to four-year terms by registered voters in five geographic divisions, which are apportioned by population. Terms are staggered to ensure continuity. Directors must reside within their elected division.
Western’s Division 5 contains parts of Corona and the Temescal Valley.
Fauzia Rizvi, an engineer and business owner, is a 17-year resident of Corona, CA. According to campaign materials, Rizvi is running for election to prioritize self-sufficient technology to meet water-quality standards, expand the capture of stormwater, and promote new wastewater treatment technologies. Rizvi’s previous community service includes time with For the People Task Force, the City of Corona Homeless Task Force, CNUSD PTA, Corona Norco Interfaith Association, Beloved Corona, and the Riverside Community College Measure C Bond Oversight Committee.
Fauzia Rizvi is endorsed by IE United, the Corona Norco Democratic Club, the Inland Empire Labor Council, and many local- and state-elected officials. According to our analysis, Rizvi is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
The Western Municipal Water District is one of the largest public agencies in Riverside County, providing water, wastewater (sewer), and recycled water services to nearly one million people across 527 square miles in western Riverside County. Western’s board of directors are elected to four-year terms by registered voters in five geographic divisions, which are apportioned by population. Terms are staggered to ensure continuity. Directors must reside within their elected division.
Western’s Division 5 contains parts of Corona and the Temescal Valley.
Fauzia Rizvi, an engineer and business owner, is a 17-year resident of Corona, CA. According to campaign materials, Rizvi is running for election to prioritize self-sufficient technology to meet water-quality standards, expand the capture of stormwater, and promote new wastewater treatment technologies. Rizvi’s previous community service includes time with For the People Task Force, the City of Corona Homeless Task Force, CNUSD PTA, Corona Norco Interfaith Association, Beloved Corona, and the Riverside Community College Measure C Bond Oversight Committee.
Fauzia Rizvi is endorsed by IE United, the Corona Norco Democratic Club, the Inland Empire Labor Council, and many local- and state-elected officials. According to our analysis, Rizvi is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
Customizing the Progressive Voters Guide for your location...
Customizing the Progressive Voters Guide for your location...
