John Garamendi
Re-elect John Garamendi to keep CA-03 on the right track.
About the Position
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals.
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Voting has changed in Sacramento County this year. The Voter’s Choice Act was enacted in the county to make voting more convenient. Changes include an expanded period of in-person early voting, every registered voter in the county will receive a vote-by-mail ballot, and every registered voter in the county is able to vote in-person at any Vote Center in their county. Have questions about the changes to voting in Sacramento County? Find out how to vote in Sacramento County.
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.
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 3rd Congressional District includes the counties of Colusa, Sutter, and Yuba, and portions of Glenn, Lake, Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo counties. Democrats typically hold this district, with Incumbent Garamendi representing CA-03 since 2013. In the 2016 presidential election, 52.8 percent of CA-03 voters cast their ballot for Hillary Clinton, 40.3 percent for Donald Trump, and 6.6 percent for third-party candidates. In the 2018 gubernatorial election, 52.4 percent of CA-03 voted for Gavin Newsom and 47.6 percent voted for the Republican candidate. Of those who voted in the 2020 presidential primary, 61.5 percent of CA-03 voters cast their ballot for a Democratic candidate and 38.5 percent opted for a Republican candidate.
In the primary, Democrat Incumbent Representative John Garamendi led Republican challenger Tamika Hamilton by a margin of 27.4 percent. Rep. Garamendi’s campaign has accepted at least $95,000 (as of July 27, 2020) from corporate PACs and $1,000 from fossil fuel giant General Electric Company PAC. Both Garamendi’s and Hamilton’s campaigns have not pledged to reject fossil fuel, corporate PACS, or police money. Hamilton’s campaign is funded by WinRed and Maggie’s Lists, PACS that are committed to electing conservative candidates, and individual contributions.
Rep. Garamendi is from Walnut Grove, CA. According to campaign materials, Rep. Garamendi is running for re-election to improve education for students, create middle-class jobs by rebuilding the nation’s deteriorating infrastructure with American materials and workers, fight climate change, improve flood control, and ensure that everyone has good, affordable health care.
Rep. Garamendi’s priorities for CA-03 this year have included creating jobs, protecting the California environment, and affordable health care for all. He currently sits on two committees: the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. This year, Rep. Garamendi has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 94 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. One significant piece of legislation that Rep. Garamendi voted for and AOC voted against was H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
This year, Rep. Garamendi has sponsored 28 bills about a wide variety of topics, including transportation, national security, international affairs, civil rights, and government operations, of which one has become law (H.R. 5671--WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020) and one that has passed both the House and Senate (H.R. 550--No War Against Iran Act). On July 21, 2020, Rep. Garamendi voted against the Progressive Caucus on H.R. 6395, the Pocan Amendment, which would have cut all Pentagon funds and accounts by 10 percent. This is not surprising, considering Rep. Garamendi has accepted $30,500 in campaign contributions from corporations that receive billions of dollars in contracts by the Defense Department every year. As of August 21, 2020, Rep. Garamendi has still yet to cosponsor H.R. 40, which would begin the formal process of studying the case for reparations to Black Americans, despite saying that he has been a lifelong proponent for social justice.
Rep. Garamendi is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups and elected officials in the district, such as National Organization for Women, California Teachers Association, California Labor Federation AFL-CIO, and the California Democratic Party. He is also endorsed by a former Yolo County sheriff. However, the threat of Republican challenger and avid Trump supporter Hamilton’s potential policies greatly outweighs Rep. Garamendi’s corporate PAC and military-industrial complex campaign financing. According to our analysis, Rep. Garamendi is the strongest choice for 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 6th Congressional District includes portions of Sacramento and Yolo counties. Democrats have held this district since the special election of 1974, when Democrat John Burton flipped CA-06 from red to blue. Incumbent Rep. Matsui has held the office since 2005 with at least 70 percent of the vote each election. In 2016, 69.1 percent of CA-06 voters cast their ballot for Hillary Clinton and 24.4 percent voted for Donald Trump. In the 2018 gubernatorial election, 69.4 percent of CA-06 voters cast their ballot for Gavin Newsom and 30.6 percent opted for a Republican candidate.
In the primary, Democrat Incumbent Representative Doris Matsui led Republican challenger Chris Bish by an overwhelming margin of 55.9 percent. Rep. Matsui’s campaign has accepted over $200,000 from corporate PACs and $7,000 from fossil fuel. Both Matsui’s and Bish’s campaigns have not committed to rejecting fossil fuel, corporate PAC, and police money. Sixty-nine percent of Rep. Matsui’s total campaign contributions came from PACs; only .69 percent came from small individual contributions of less than $200. In contrast, 90 percent of Bish’s total campaign contributions came from candidate self-financing.
Rep. Matsui is from Dinuba, CA. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to create jobs, improve economic security for working families, ensure access to affordable health care, support seniors, and improve the Sacramento region’s flood protection and transportation infrastructure.
Rep. Matsui’s priorities for CA-06 this year have included flood infrastructure, gun-safety research, election security, increasing funding for the EPA and fighting climate change, and ensuring affordable health care for all. She currently sits on one committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, and is co-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. This year, Rep. Matsui has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 96 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Some of the significant legislation she and AOC have disagreed on is the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2020, the DHS Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Teams Act, and the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act, all of which AOC voted no and Rep. Matsui voted yes on. Rep. Matsui has sponsored 24 bills about health, science, energy, politics, and crime and law enforcement this year, none of which have successfully passed yet. On July 21, 2020, Rep. Matsui stood with the Progressive Caucus (with only 92 other representatives) and voted yes on H.R. 6395, the Pocan Amendment, which would have cut all Pentagon funds and accounts by 10 percent for the next fiscal year. Rep. Matsui has received $8,000 in campaign contributions from Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, groups that receive billions of dollars in contracts from the Defense Department every year, but her voting record shows that she is not completely bought by the defense industry.
Rep. Matsui is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district, such as California Democratic Party, California Teachers Association, National Organization for Women PAC, Planned Parenthood Federal PAC, and the Human Rights Campaign. She is also endorsed by the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the largest law-enforcement organization in California. This conflict of interest makes it impossible to put forth meaningful policy surrounding divesting from police and reallocating funds toward public safety through social services. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Bish’s potential policies greatly outweighs Rep. Matsui’s corporate PAC financing. According to our analysis, Rep. Matsui is the strongest choice for 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 7th Congressional District includes most of Sacramento County. This district has long been held by Democrats. This district has voted in support of Democratic state and national candidates in recent years, supporting Hillary Clinton with 52.3 percent of the vote in 2016, and Gavin Newsom with 52 percent of the vote in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Ami Bera led Republican challenger Buzz Patterson by a margin of 33.6 percent. Rep. Bera’s campaign has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC money, fossil fuel money, or police money. He has a substantial number of donations from the oil and gas industry, including Sempra Energy and PG&E. He has also received donations from the PACs associated with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin Corporation, which are affiliated with the military-industrial complex. Patterson’s campaign has not committed to any of the pledges and is funded almost entirely by small and large individual contributions (91.5 percent) and candidate self-financing (8.5 percent).
Rep. Bera is the incumbent, having served as congressmember for the 7th district since 2013. He has supported legislation that would subject a person to the death penalty for attacking first responders in H.R. 115, Thin Blue Line Act of 2017, and co-sponsored H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017, which took away the right for a person with a disability to sue over architectural inaccessibility. In July of this year, Rep. Bera voted against H.R. 6395, the Pocan Amendment, which would have cut all Pentagon funds and accounts by 10 percent for the next fiscal year. Rep. Bera has consistently accepted thousands of dollars from companies that receive billions of dollars in contracts by the Defense Department, such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Sierra Nevada Company throughout his campaigns. Based on his legislative activity in 2019, Rep. Bera is ranked the 41st most conservative as compared to House Democrats by GovTrack. When questioned about his stance on the Green New Deal and Medicare for All, Rep. Bera said, “I’m not a socialist. How are we gonna pay for it?”
Rep. Bera’s priorities for CA-16 this year have included health care in the time of COVID-19. He currently sits on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and serves as vice chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Rep. Bera has sponsored 13 bills this year about health, international affairs, education, energy, and arts, culture, and religion. Only two of his bills have moved on to committee consideration. It is notable to mention that Rep. Bera did not receive the preliminary endorsement from the California Democratic Party’s delegates in his district, who cited his history of supporting pro-corporate policies as the reason why Rep. Bera does not have the support of the working families in the district.
Based on his track record, Rep. Bera is likely to provide no progressive leadership in office. Because the Democratic candidate in this race is considered to be a safe win in this district, we feel comfortable providing no recommendation in this race. Keep reading for progressive recommendations in other key races and on ballot measures where your vote can make a critical difference.
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 9th Congressional District includes parts of Contra Costa, Sacramento, and San Joaquin Counties. Democrats typically hold this seat. In recent state and federal elections, Democratic candidates have won a majority of the vote. Hillary Clinton won with 56.6 percent of the vote in 2016, and Gavin Newsom won with 53.9 percent of the vote in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat Incumbent Representative Jerry McNerney led Republican challenger Antonio Amador by a margin of 26.7 percent. Rep. McNerney’s campaign has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. He has received donations from Amazon, Google NetPAC, Comcast Corporation, Edison International, and Exelon Corporation. He has also received financial backing from defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corporation. Challenger Amador’s campaign has not committed to any pledges, and his campaign is entirely self-funded.
Rep. McNerney is the incumbent, having served in Congress since 2007. From 2007–2013, he was the congressmember representing California’s 11th district. After redistricting, he took office in CA-09 in 2013. His platform favors increasing funding for local law enforcement and border patrol, and rejects Medicare for All. Although he holds more progressive views on issues related to climate change, his moderate stance on social issues indicates that he is likely to provide limited progressive leadership in office.
Rep. McNerney’s priorities for CA-09 this year have included applying scientific practices to congressional redistricting, consumer protections around CBD dosing, and establishing a carbon tax and renewable energy. He currently sits on two committees: Science, Space, and Technology (ranks 12th), and Energy and Commerce (ranks 12th). Rep. McNerney has sponsored 21 bills about nuclear waste, water efficiency, energy development, and STEM education. Of those bills, nearly all are in committee or referred to committee.
Because the Democratic candidate in this race is considered to be a safe win in this district, we feel comfortable providing no recommendation in this race. Keep reading for progressive recommendations in other key races and on ballot measures where your vote can make a critical difference.
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 four-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 6th Assembly District includes parts of El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramento Counties. The district encompasses the outer areas of the northeastern Sacramento suburbs and commuter communities and rural farmland, as well as several reservations, including the Pala Indian, Rincon, and San Pasqual Reservations. Republicans typically hold this district. Most recent election results show AD-06 voted for Trump for president in 2016 and Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Smith trailed Republican challenger Kevin Kiley by a margin of 16 percent. Smith’s campaign has raised $191,587.15, including significant contributions from trade unions. It appears that Smith has not received corporate, fossil fuel, or police funding, despite not having committed to refuse such money. Incumbent Kiley’s campaign has not committed to any pledges and is funded by corporate interests. There is a huge gap in campaign contributions between the two candidates, with the opponent’s campaign having raised over $900,000.
Jackie Smith is a Commissioner and Legislative Representative on the Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission and a member of the California Alliance of Retired Americans. According to campaign materials, Smith is running for election to advocate for environmental justice, affordable housing for the California workforce, and health care.
Smith’s priorities for AD-06 this year include advocating for the workforce in regard to housing, education, health care, and stable retirement. Prior to her campaign, Smith’s work has been largely centered around technology. She has also served on health-care-oriented nonprofit boards, including Sunburst Projects, and the Sacramento Rainbow of Commerce. She is a longtime advocate for public health and inclusivity.
Jackie Smith is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. Smith is running against Republican incumbent Kevin Kiley, who has consistently failed to fight corporate interests in favor of his constituents and has a lifetime score of 0 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. According to recent election results, it is challenging for Democrats to win this seat. Although the odds are against Smith, her endorsement by the California Labor Federation suggests that she has the momentum required to help inspire progressives in this race. According to our analysis, Smith 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 four-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 6th Assembly District includes parts of El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramento Counties. The district encompasses the outer areas of the northeastern Sacramento suburbs and commuter communities and rural farmland, as well as several reservations, including the Pala Indian, Rincon, and San Pasqual Reservations. Republicans typically hold this district. Most recent election results show AD-06 voted for Trump for president in 2016 and Cox for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Smith trailed Republican challenger Kevin Kiley by a margin of 16 percent. Smith’s campaign has raised $191,587.15, including significant contributions from trade unions. It appears that Smith has not received corporate, fossil fuel, or police funding, despite not having committed to refuse such money. Incumbent Kiley’s campaign has not committed to any pledges and is funded by corporate interests. There is a huge gap in campaign contributions between the two candidates, with the opponent’s campaign having raised over $900,000.
Jackie Smith is a Commissioner and Legislative Representative on the Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission and a member of the California Alliance of Retired Americans. According to campaign materials, Smith is running for election to advocate for environmental justice, affordable housing for the California workforce, and health care.
Smith’s priorities for AD-06 this year include advocating for the workforce in regard to housing, education, health care, and stable retirement. Prior to her campaign, Smith’s work has been largely centered around technology. She has also served on health-care-oriented nonprofit boards, including Sunburst Projects, and the Sacramento Rainbow of Commerce. She is a longtime advocate for public health and inclusivity.
Jackie Smith is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. Smith is running against Republican incumbent Kevin Kiley, who has consistently failed to fight corporate interests in favor of his constituents and has a lifetime score of 0 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. According to recent election results, it is challenging for Democrats to win this seat. Although the odds are against Smith, her endorsement by the California Labor Federation suggests that she has the momentum required to help inspire progressives in this race. According to our analysis, Smith 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 7th Assembly District includes portions of Sacramento and Yolo counties. Democrats typically hold this district. Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Kevin McCarty has held this office since he was elected in 2014. The most recent election results show 67.5 percent of AD-07 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and 68.3 percent of AD-07 voted for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Kevin McCarty led Libertarian challenger James O. Just by a margin of 99.6 percent. Assemblymember McCarty’s campaign has raised $401,231.04 and is funded by corporate PACs, fossil fuels, and police money. Just’s campaign has raised $810, has not committed to any pledges, and is funded entirely by individual donations.
Assemblymember McCarty, a lifelong Sacramentan, previously served as Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commissioner and as a Sacramento City Council member from 2004 to 2014. He is a longtime supporter of improving the educational system and its accessibility for low- and middle-income families. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember McCarty is running for re-election to continue this work in public education.
Assemblymember McCarty’s priorities for AD-07 this year include addressing housing affordability, curbing gun violence, fighting climate change, advocating for the middle class, and championing criminal-justice reform. He currently sits on five committees: Budget, Business and Professions, Education, Health, and Natural Resources. He also serves as chair for Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance and sits on the Budget Subcommittee No. 6 on Budget Process, Oversight and Program Evaluation.
Assemblymember McCarty has sponsored 50 bills about education, criminal justice, health, and housing this year, of which nine have been successfully chaptered. Previously, Assemblymember McCarty tried to pass legislation that would require the state attorney general to independently review any case requested by local officials in which a civilian was killed by police. McCarty’s current version of this bill is now more widely supported by Assembly Democrats. Assemblymember McCarty’s lifetime score is 96 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assemblymember McCarty has supported almost all of the progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he has also supported AB 1366, a problematic bill that would eliminate critical oversight of telecom companies.
Assemblymember McCarty is endorsed by many progressive groups, such as the California Federation of Teachers and the California Democratic Party. Libertarian challenger Just’s potential policies greatly outweigh Assemblymember McCarty’s inaction on campaign financing. According to our analysis, Assemblymember McCarty 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 7th Assembly District includes portions of Sacramento and Yolo counties. Democrats typically hold this district. Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Kevin McCarty has held this office since he was elected in 2014. The most recent election results show 67.5 percent of AD-07 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and 68.3 percent of AD-07 voted for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Kevin McCarty led Libertarian challenger James O. Just by a margin of 99.6 percent. Assemblymember McCarty’s campaign has raised $401,231.04 and is funded by corporate PACs, fossil fuels, and police money. Just’s campaign has raised $810, has not committed to any pledges, and is funded entirely by individual donations.
Assemblymember McCarty, a lifelong Sacramentan, previously served as Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commissioner and as a Sacramento City Council member from 2004 to 2014. He is a longtime supporter of improving the educational system and its accessibility for low- and middle-income families. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember McCarty is running for re-election to continue this work in public education.
Assemblymember McCarty’s priorities for AD-07 this year include addressing housing affordability, curbing gun violence, fighting climate change, advocating for the middle class, and championing criminal-justice reform. He currently sits on five committees: Budget, Business and Professions, Education, Health, and Natural Resources. He also serves as chair for Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance and sits on the Budget Subcommittee No. 6 on Budget Process, Oversight and Program Evaluation.
Assemblymember McCarty has sponsored 50 bills about education, criminal justice, health, and housing this year, of which nine have been successfully chaptered. Previously, Assemblymember McCarty tried to pass legislation that would require the state attorney general to independently review any case requested by local officials in which a civilian was killed by police. McCarty’s current version of this bill is now more widely supported by Assembly Democrats. Assemblymember McCarty’s lifetime score is 96 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assemblymember McCarty has supported almost all of the progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he has also supported AB 1366, a problematic bill that would eliminate critical oversight of telecom companies.
Assemblymember McCarty is endorsed by many progressive groups, such as the California Federation of Teachers and the California Democratic Party. Libertarian challenger Just’s potential policies greatly outweigh Assemblymember McCarty’s inaction on campaign financing. According to our analysis, Assemblymember McCarty is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
State assemblymembers 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 impact 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 8th Assembly District includes parts of Sacramento County. Notable cities within the district include Rancho Cordova, Wilton, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, and Arden-Arcade. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD08 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018, both with victory margins of less than 10 percent. The district is composed of older suburbs that are gradually becoming more ethnically and politically diverse.
In the March 3 primary election, Democrat incumbent Ken Cooley led Republican challenger Cathy Cook by a margin of 14 percent. Assemblymember Cooley’s campaign has raised over $158,000 and is significantly funded through corporate, fossil fuel, and law-enforcement donations. Cooley’s problematic contributors include Chevron, Southern California Edison, Monsanto, Sempra Energy, and Amazon, among others. Republican challenger Cathy Cook’s campaign has raised over $33,000 and is entirely funded through individual contributions.
Assemblymember Cooley is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2012. He holds regressive positions on issues of criminal-justice reform and gun safety legislation, and has opted not to vote on numerous progressive issues. Based on his track record, Cooley is likely to provide no progressive leadership in office.
Cooley identifies as a fiscal conservative on his campaign site, and abstained from and even voted against specific policies that could protect tenants’ rights, promote gun violence prevention legislation, and curb climate change.
Cooley’s stated priorities for AD-08 include addressing California’s homelessness crisis and continuing his work on behalf of foster youth. He currently serves as chair of the Select Committee on Foster Care. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Cooley was a Rancho Cordova founding town councilmember, where he served for 10 years.
Cooley claims that public safety is one of his top priorities, but has failed to prioritize police accountability. This is particularly relevant in areas such as Rancho Cordova and Arden-Arcade, which have a history of police brutalizing Black and brown residents. Just this year, recordings surfaced of Rancho Cordova police using excessive force and repeatedly punching an unarmed 14-year-old Black child. Despite the severity of this issue, Cooley holds endorsements from both the CA Association of Highway Patrolmen and CA Police Chiefs Association.
Assemblymember Cooley’s voting record is a particular area of concern. In 2019, he voted no or abstained from voting for numerous criminal-justice reform bills aimed at restoring rights for people on parole (AC A6), and protecting incarcerated youth and youth not charged with crimes (AB 965/AB 901). Affordable housing is another issue Cooley refuses to budge on, having abstained from voting on AB 1482, which supported rent caps; AB 1279, which encouraged affordable housing production; and AB 1487, just to name a few. In 2020 alone, Cooley has voted against or failed to vote in support of the False Claims Act (AB 2570), oil spill penalties (AB 3214), and COVID-19 medical leave protections (AB 3216).
In 2019, Cooley scored a 27 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Assemblymember Cooley has repeatedly failed to utilize his vote in the capitol. When he does, it is often against key progressive issues. AD-08 deserves a candidate who will use their vote as a force for change.
Because the Democratic candidate in this race is considered to be a safe win in this district, we feel comfortable providing no recommendation in this race. 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 four-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 9th Assembly District includes portions of Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Jim Cooper has held this office since being elected in 2014. The most recent election results show 61.5 percent of AD-09 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and 59.7 percent of AD-09 voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Assemblymember Jim Cooper led Republican challenger Eric Rigard by a margin of 14.4 percent. Assemblymember Cooper has not signed a pledge to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Consequently, his campaign is heavily financed by all three types of these contributors, totaling $999,8345 in contributions, with over $63,000 from police associations. Rigard’s campaign is funded entirely by individual contributions, and he has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money.
Assemblymember Cooper is endorsed on paper by progressive organizations, like the California Teachers Association and Planned Parenthood, but is financially backed by:
Assemblymember Cooper’s disappointing and regressive voting history has continued to show Californians that he does not have the people in mind. In fact, he registered as “no vote recorded” for over 60 percent of the bills graded on last year’s Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, showing he doesn’t really stand for anything. For the last five years, Assemblymember Cooper has been a persistent Hall of Shamer, with a lifetime Courage Score of 20. He consistently fails to support the legislation that the majority of people of AD-09 vote and call for. Assemblymember Cooper also created the Protecting California Cooper Ballot Measure Committee to support Proposition 20, an attack on California’s recent criminal-justice reforms.
Republican challenger Rigard is running on a platform of personal responsibility, government accountability, and economic opportunity. He cites Assemblymember Cooper’s fondness for abstention as the reason he decided to run for office, and according to campaign materials, Rigard will show up and vote on these tough issues. Rigard is an active member of Calvary Christian Center and the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) Clergy Form, which focus on pro-life and Christian beliefs to fight poverty. He is endorsed by the California ProLife Council, California Rifle & Pistol Association, and the California Republican Party.
While Assemblymember Cooper is a marginally stronger choice than Republican challenger Rigard, neither demonstrates a commitment to equitable or representative leadership. Because the Democratic candidate in this race is considered to be a safe win in this district, we feel comfortable providing no recommendation in this race. 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 four-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 11th Assembly District includes portions of Contra Costa, Sacramento, and Solano Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 58.9 percent of AD-11 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and 57.6 percent voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Jim Frazier led Republican challenger Debra Schwab by a margin of 97.6 percent. Assemblymember Frazier’s campaign has raised over $772,000 and has accepted fossil fuel, police, and corporate PAC money. Schwab has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Schwab’s campaign records are not filed on the Secretary of State’s website.
Assemblymember Frazier has served AD-11 since being elected in 2012. He sits on the Accountability and Administrative Review and Insurance and Veterans Affairs Committees, and serves as chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, the Select Committee in Improving Bay Area Transportation Systems, and the Select Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Assemblymember Frazier is endorsed by the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs Association, and California Correctional Peace Officers Association.
Assemblymember Frazier’s lifetime Courage Score is 21 of 100, and he has been in Courage’s Hall of Shame for voting against or abstaining from progressive legislation since 2015. This year, Assemblymember Frazier has voted against police accountability bill AB 1185, which would establish critical oversight of local sheriffs.
Based on their track record, neither candidate is likely to provide progressive leadership in office. Because the Democratic candidate in this race is considered to be a safe win in this district, we feel comfortable providing no recommendation in this race. Keep reading for progressive recommendations in other key races and on ballot measures where your vote can make a critical difference.
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 people. 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 or 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 1st Senate District includes all of Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Sierra, Siskiyou, Plumas, and Shasta Counties. Additionally, the district includes a large portion of Placer County and a small portion of Sacramento County. Notable cities include Folsom, South Lake Tahoe, and Roseville. Republicans typically hold this district, and it has not had a Democrat representative for over 40 years. The most recent election results show SD-01 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2016 and John Cox for governor in 2018. SD-01 is the most GOP-leaning district in Northern California.
In the primary, Democrat challenger Pamela Swartz trailed Republican Incumbent Representative Brian Dahle by a margin of 21.6 percent. Swartz’s campaign is not funded by corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Swartz’s campaign has raised $25,000 and is funded mainly through individual donors. Swartz has pledged to refuse fossil fuel and corporate PAC donations; she has not committed to the #NoCopMoneyCA pledge. Opposing candidate Brian Dahle’s campaign has raised over $97,000 and is largely funded through corporate, fossil fuel, and law-enforcement donations. Notably, his campaign has received multiple donations from the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the largest law-enforcement organization in California. In the past, Dahle has also received substantial police donations under coded names, such as Taxfighters for Brian Dahle. In addition, his campaign has been funded by large fossil fuel corporations, including BP, Chevron, Sempra Energy, and Pacificorp.
Pamela Swartz grew up in Redding, CA, and currently resides in Nevada County. Both areas are located in SD-01. According to campaign materials, she is running for office to better represent the district’s needs for improved health care, housing, economic, and education systems.
Swartz is a small-business owner who believes the rural communities of SD-01 have been underserved and not strongly represented for too long. She is not beholden to any corporations or special interests, and she says her business experience and educational background in forestry/wildlife provide a unique skill set that will aid her as a state senator. Swartz has spoken out in support of single-payer health care; natural resources management, including reducing the dangers of wildfires; supporting the local farming and tourism economies; and affordable housing.
Pamela Swartz is endorsed by many liberal groups as well as progressive groups, including the California Nurses Association, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Health Care for All--California. Additionally, Swartz has received endorsements from many labor unions, the California Democratic Party, local Indivisible chapters, and many local women’s associations. Her Republican opponent, Brian Dahle, has received high ratings from regressive organizations, like the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of California. He scored just 9 out of 100 on this year’s Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Senator Dahle is not serving his constituents with progressive solutions, while Swartz has the support of the local progressive community, a compelling campaign platform, and has already demonstrated a commitment to fiscal transparency. According to our analysis, Pamela Swartz is the strongest choice for equitable and 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 people. 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 or 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 3rd Senate District includes all of Napa and Solano Counties, and parts of Contra Costa, Sacramento, Sonoma, and Yolo Counties. Notable cities within the district include Napa, Martinez, Vallejo, Sonoma, and Davis. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show SD-03 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the March 3 primary election, Democrat incumbent Representative Bill Dodd led Republican challenger Carlos Santamaria by a margin of 97.6 percent. Dodd’s campaign has raised over $200,000 and is funded largely through business, finance, and real estate contributors. His campaign has also received corporate, police, and fossil fuel money. These include significant donations from the Peace Officers Research Association of California, Walmart, and Chevron, just to name a few. Republican challenger Santamaria's campaign has raised around $1,500 from individual contributions.
Democrat incumbent Senator Bill Dodd has served as senator for the district since 2013. He holds non-progressive positions regarding affordable housing and criminal-justice reform. Based on his track record, Senator Dodd is likely to provide no progressive leadership in office.
It’s important to note that prior to his appointment in 2013, Dodd was a Republican, having switched parties in late 2012. Prior to switching to the Democratic Party, Dodd had faced criticism for his slow turnaround on progressive issues.
Sen. Dodd’s priorities for SD-03 this year include strengthening education, supporting California agriculture, and pushing for environmental protections. He currently sits on 13 committees, and serves as chair for the Wildfires and Climate Change--California’s Energy Future Select Committee. Sen. Dodd has sponsored 51 bills regarding various topics, including safety, the environment, and agriculture, of which four have successfully passed.
Senator Dodd’s emphasis on environmental protections however, is countered by his close relationship with PG&E leadership. PG&E is the energy company whose equipment started wildfires that devastated California communities. Bill Dodd’s chief of staff is the son of longtime PG&E Supervisor Jim Chaaban. Dodd has also received ample funding from the company through coded “independent expenditures” and PG&E lobbyists. Dodd has used his committee appointments as state senator to craft “bailout bills” for PG&E. Specifically, SB 901 was supposed to “prevent catastrophic wildfires and protect Californians”--yet once again failed to hold PG&E responsible two months later, when the company caused the devastating fires in Paradise, California. The bill was highly criticized for redirecting part of the cost of PG&E’s negligence onto California taxpayers. Senator Dodd’s conflicting interests regarding PG&E have proved to be concerning.
Senator Dodd also possesses a regressive voting record in terms of affordable housing and criminal-justice reform. In 2019, Dodd voted in favor of SB 136, a bill that keeps mandatory sentence enhancements despite the fact that they cost a fortune and disproportionately harm people of color. Dodd has also opposed giving tenants the right to organize for better living conditions (SB 529) and didn’t vote at all on the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (AB 1487), an agency to fund affordable housing there. In 2020, Sen. Dodd has also voted against SB 50, which supported the expansion of multifamily apartments to address housing shortages, and against SB 1383, which proposed expanded protections for paid family leave.
Senator Dodd scores a lifetime courage score of 64 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Dodd has supported some progressive bills, but remained neutral on key issues. He has also received over 22 endorsements from law-enforcement organizations and sheriffs.
Because the Democratic candidate in this race is considered to be a safe win in this district, we feel comfortable providing no recommendation in this race. Keep reading for progressive recommendations in other key races and on ballot measures where your vote can make a critical difference.
About the Position
State senators represent and advocate 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 pre-existing laws. The California State Senate has 40 congressional districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 people. 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 or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 29 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 11 seats.
About the District
California’s 5th Senate District includes all of San Joaquin County and parts of Stanislaus and Sacramento Counties. Notable cities within the district include Stockton, Tracy, Lodi, Galt, and the majority of Modesto. Democrats typically hold this district. Most recent election results show this district voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018, with small victory margins in both elections. The district includes a significant Hispanic population (37.7 percent).
About the Race
In the primary, Democrat challenger Susan Eggman led Republican challenger Jim Ridenour by a margin of 10.9 percent. Eggman’s campaign has raised $1.1M, and top funders include labor associations, such as the California Teachers Association and United Domestic Workers of America, as well as contributors from the energy and natural resources sector. Eggman’s campaign has received corporate, police, and fossil fuel money. The opposing campaign, for Ridenour, has raised about $9,000, including many individual contributions.
About the Candidate
Susan Eggman is a current State Assemblymember residing in Stockton, CA. She is originally from Turlock, CA, which is located just south of State Senate District 5. According to campaign materials, Eggman is running for state Senate to fight for Central Valley water rights, veteran services, and access to higher education within the district.
As a State Assemblymember, Eggman currently represents California’s 13th Assembly District. During her eight-year tenure, Eggman has prioritized education expansion and health-care access, and has advocated for resources to address crime. Also in her Assemblymember role, Eggman has led efforts to establish a California State University in Stockton, and has challenged the delays in establishing the French Camp CA Medical Clinic. She has been an ongoing voice of opposition toward the proposal to develop tunnels through the San Joaquin River Delta. Additionally, Eggman has authored legislation in support of undocumented residents and alternative programs as a replacement for incarceration. Prior to her position in the state legislature, Eggman worked as a combat medic for the United States Army, and later as a social worker focusing on issues of substance abuse and mental health. In 2006, Eggman was elected to the Stockton City Council as the first Latina and openly gay member of office.
Eggman is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district, including Equality California, Sierra Club California, California Teachers Association, and AFSCME. Additionally, she has received endorsements from Governor Gavin Newsom, County Supervisor Kathy Miller, and the California Democratic Party. Other key endorsements include a number of District 5 council members, the California Women’s List, Latinas Lead California, and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. In 2019, as an Assemblymember, Eggman scored 86 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. According to our analysis, despite the weakness of her campaign-financing record, Eggman is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
About the Position
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 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 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 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 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
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
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 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
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
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
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.
Measure A proposes a shift of power within Sacramento’s municipal government. The measure asks Sacramentans to amend the city’s structure of government from a council-manager form to a mayor-council form. Under the proposed measure, the city council would be composed of nine members, which may include a president and vice president. The mayor would then become the city’s chief executive officer with a two-term limit. Under Measure A, the mayor would have the authority to fire and hire Sacramento’s city manager, propose the city budget, and hold line-item veto power. The mayor would only be obligated to attend city council meetings once a quarter -- currently, the mayor is expected to attend every city council meeting. Accountability components of the act outline the council’s ability to override mayoral decisions with a two-thirds majority vote and the creation of an ethics commission and Fair Housing and Human Rights Commission. The text is not specific regarding the creation, enforcement, and consistency of the proposed commissions, leaving room for weak implementation.
Under Measure A, the balance of power strongly favors a single mayor over city council members. Based on our analysis, the current council-manager system is particularly important to preserve in Sacramento, which encompasses diverse neighborhoods that each require specific needs. Councilmembers elected to represent and advocate for each district would have their powers weakened under Measure A.
The City of Sacramento has previously attempted four times to centralize mayoral decision-making power. This is particularly concerning considering current Mayor Darrell Steinberg’s history of unresponsiveness to issues such as police violence. Mayor Steinberg has repeatedly ignored community narratives at city council meetings and has reallocated resources originally aimed at serving youth and preventing gang violence. The measure is concerning in and of itself, but especially so considering who would be holding power. Ultimately, Measure A would move the city of Sacramento further away from a system of co-governance and severely reduce the mayor’s accountability to the city and its residents.
Support for Measure A has raised over $250,000. The significant amount of development funding paired with the potential removal of the Brown Act suggest that the passage of Measure A would empower developers and development-related unions to privately negotiate with the mayor to their benefit.
Measure A proposes a shift of power within Sacramento’s municipal government.
Measure C asks Sacramentans to amend the city’s charter to expand rent regulation and eviction protections through the establishment of a rental-housing board. The proposed Rental Housing Board will consist of nine members, eight of which will be elected in districts matching the city council districts. Term limits are two consecutive four-year terms. To finance the cost of the Rental Housing Board itself, the Board will charge a Landlord Annual Fee (which has not been determined yet) to all landlords in the City of Sacramento.
The Sacramento City Council previously passed legislation in August 2019 that caps rent increases at 5 percent plus consumer price index (CPI). However, under that current law, that means that rent could still be increased by 8 percent to 10 percent each year. Under Measure C, the Board will determine the Annual General Adjustment for rent increases, which will never be less than 2 percent or more than 5 percent.
The Superior Court of Sacramento County is still deciding on the constitutionality of Measure C. Even if it is passed by voters, there is still a chance it will not be implemented, depending upon the court’s decision.
The top and main funder supporting Measure C is SEIU Local 1021 Issues PAC. The next two top funders (Sacramento Voter Project and Terry Schanz for Central Committee) are committees that are controlled by Terry Schanz. Schanz is the incumbent for Sacramento County Democratic Party Central Committee Supervisorial District 2. Also funding Measure C is housing advocate Alison Brennan.
There is no prominent misinformation about Measure C.
Measure C asks Sacramen
Les Simmons promises to fight for systemic change, prioritize Sacramento youth, and work to prevent gang violence. Mai Vang promises to serve her community by advocating for investment in District 8, and working to promote economic prosperity.
Les Simmons, a community activist and senior pastor at South Sacramento Christian Center is a South Sacramento native. His priorities for District 8 include reducing gang violence in South Sacramento, pushing for police reform, and creating opportunities for youth. Pastor Les has protested against police shootings in Sacramento, and was a crucial community leader following the murder of Stephon Clark. Prior to the acquittal of the officers in 2019, Pastor Les was a longtime advocate for Sacramento PD accountability and transparency, and continues to fight to this day.
He helped set up the Simmons Community Center in South Sacramento to provide education, job training and recreational activities for the community, and has assisted in securing millions of dollars for the Black Child Legacy campaign aimed at violence prevention. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pastor Les helped set up the only free testing site in South Sacramento. He is endorsed by the Sacramento City Teachers Association and Los Rios Colleges Federation of Teachers. According to our analysis, Les Simmons is a strong choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
Les Simmons promises to fight for systemic change, prioritize Sacramento youth, and work to prevent gang violence.
Mai Vang, a Professor at Sacramento State University & UC Davis and Sacramento City Board of Education Member, lives in the Meadowview Neighborhood in South Sacramento. Her priorities for District 8 include investing in public health, youth services and affordable housing/infrastructure. She has committed to advocating for minority owned-businesses and green infrastructure to tackle issues of food insecurity and climate change in the district.
Mai Vang has previously served as the Community Affairs Director for Councilmember Larry Carr. As a community organizer, she has advocated to improve health and education services in South Sacramento, and to bring awareness to racial and ethinic health disparities within local and national policies. Mai Vang currently serves as the Executive Director of the Buck Scholars Association, is a co-founder of Hmong Innovating Politics and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Land-Based Learning, as well as Hmong Youth & Parents United. She is endorsed by many local progressive organizations including Planned Parenthood, California Nurses Association, Sunrise Sacramento, as well as multiple labor unions. According to our analysis, Mai Vang is a strong choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
Mai Vang, a Professor at Sacramento State University & UC Davis and Sacramento City Board of Education Member, lives in the Meadowview Neighborhood in South Sacramento.
There are two candidates for this position. Both Les Simmons and Mai Vang have distinct visions for District 8, but both demonstrate an awareness of issues within South Sacramento and possess a long-standing history of community organizing. We have compiled basic biographical information for your reference.
About the Position
Sacramento is governed by a nine-member Mayor-Council system of government. 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 Sacramento are elected to four-year terms.
About the District
Sacramento is Sacramento County’s most populous city. Sacramento city council oversees the needs of over 490,000 people and manages an estimated budget of 1.3 million dollars annually. Sacramento is managed by a Mayor-Council structured government. Sacramento’s District 8 includes Meadowview, Parkway, North Laguna Creek, and Jacinto Creek in South Sacramento. The district is significantly diverse, with 30% Latinx, 28% Asian, and 20% Black populations.
About the Race
Following the March 3rd primary election, Mai Vang and Les Simmons advanced to the general election, having defeated Santiago Morales, Ronald Bell and Daphne Harris. Vang led Simmons by a margin of 14%. The City of Sacramento has not published campaign finances, however both Simmons and Vang have pledged to reject law enforcement funding.