Ro Khanna
Re-elect Congressional Representative Ro Khanna to keep CA-17 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 Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County? Find out how to vote in Santa Clara 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 17th Congressional District includes parts of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 73.9 percent of AD-17 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 71.5 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Ro Khanna led Republican challenger Ron Cohen by a margin of 47.2 percent. Rep. Khanna has taken the pledge to refuse corporate PAC and fossil fuel money, but has yet to pledge to refuse police money. Cohen’s campaign has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and has not made any FEC filings.
Rep. Ro Khanna was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended the University of Chicago and Yale Law School. Khanna served the Obama Administration in Washington, DC, from 2009–2011; afterward he accepted a position at a law firm and moved to Silicon Valley. He is the incumbent in the district, having served in this position since 2017. He is running for re-election on a platform supporting the Green New Deal, internet-privacy reforms, Medicare for All, immigration reform, and economic growth.
In Congress, Khanna has been outspoken in support of legislation to fight climate change, including the Green New Deal. He has called for various online and cybersecurity reforms, including helping to draft an Internet Bill of Rights. He sponsored the VALOR Act, which became law in 2019 and makes it easier for employers to create apprenticeship programs for veterans. He is a member of the NO PAC Caucus, which has pledged to not take donations from any PACs.
He currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee, House Budget Committee, and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Prior to the election in 2016, Rep. Khanna was an attorney at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and taught at Stanford University, Santa Clara University, and San Francisco State University. From 2009–2011, he served as deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and in 2012, California Governor Jerry Brown appointed him to the California Workforce Investment Board.
Rep. Khanna’s priorities for CA-17 this year have included banning PAC and lobbyist money, creating tech and manufacturing jobs, and providing debt-free college. This year, Rep. Khanna has voted 97 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 97 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Khanna has sponsored three bills: about requiring Trump to stop military aggression in and against Iran without congressional approval, protecting the USPS, and providing for more police accountability this year, all of which have successfully passed.
Rep. Khanna is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Khanna 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.
Re-elect Congressional Representative Anna Eshoo to keep CA-18 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. 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.
About the District
California's 18th Congressional District includes parts of San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties. Democrats have reliably held this district for over 30 years. The most recent election results show CD-18 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
About the Race
In the March 3 primary election, Democrat incumbent Representative Anna Eshoo led Democratic challenger Rishi Kumar by a margin of 45.3 percent. Rep. Eshoo’s campaign is not funded by fossil fuel money. She has received corporate PAC donations from many companies, including Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Comcast, and PG&E. She has also received donations from defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corporation. Rep. Eshoo has also received donations from a variety of pharmaceutical companies and medical association PACs. Kumar’s campaign has committed to refuse fossil fuel money and corporate PAC money in his campaign, and is funded primarily by individual donors. Kumar has been critical of Rep. Eshoo’s willingness to accept corporate donations and her connection to lobbyists, and has made his commitment to clean money central in his campaign.
About the Candidate
Rep. Eshoo, a former member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, is from Connecticut, and has lived in California since the 1960s. According to campaign materials, Rep. Eshoo is running for re-election to continue to advocate for her constituents on issues related to technological innovation and health-care access.
Rep. Eshoo’s priorities for CA-18 this year have included pandemic preparedness, technology regulation and innovation, and domestic pharmaceutical policy. She currently sits on one committee: Energy and Commerce (ranks 3rd). This year, Rep. Eshoo has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 95 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In contrast to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Eshoo voted in favor of passing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act, approving the National Defense Authorization Act, and for making additional appropriations to the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies.
Rep. Eshoo has sponsored 44 bills about science and technology, health, taxation, and public works this year, of which three have arrived in the Senate, and all others are in committee or referred to committee.
Rep. Eshoo is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district, including California League of Conservation Voters and NARAL. She is also endorsed by the Peace Officers Research Association of California. Kumar maintains a more progressive platform than Rep. Eshoo, and has been critical of her more moderate record. He has dedicated significant efforts to refuting her endorsements, but has not gained any progressive organizational endorsements of his own. According to our analysis, Rep. Eshoo is the strongest choice for equitable leadership in office. That said, we encourage more progressive candidates that will better reflect this community’s needs to run in future cycles.
Re-elect Congressional Representative Anna Eshoo to keep CA-18 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. 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 19th Congressional District includes parts of Santa Clara County. Republicans held this district until 2012, when Zoe Lofgren won and flipped CA-19 from red to blue. The most recent election results show 72.9 percent of AD-19 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 70.3 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Lofgren led Republican challenger Justin Aguilera by a margin of 50.4 percent. Rep. Lofgren’s campaign has pledged to refuse fossil fuel money, but it has received a donation from Robinson Oil. Her campaign has yet to pledge to refuse corporate PAC and police money. Her campaign donors include banks and corporations. Justin Aguilar’s campaign has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Rep. Lofgren has raised much more than Aguilera, with $1,444,692.52 versus Aguilera’s $960.00.
Rep. Lofgren was born and raised in the Bay Area, and attended Stanford and Santa Clara Law School. Lofgren is the incumbent, having served in the House of Representatives since 1995. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to protect dreamers, end gun violence, protect the free and open internet, and get dirty money out of politics.
In Congress, she helped pass the DREAM Act of 2019 (and 2010), and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the House. She has opposed the Trump administration's immigration policies, and has called for an end to the detention centers, and for foreign aid to end the instability in Central America that leads to people fleeing their homes. As the representative for the heart of Silicon Valley, she has been active on internet and technology issues. She fought the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the NSA surveillance of Americans, and recently introduced the Online Privacy Act. Lofrgen has been a strong supporter of women’s rights, abortion protections, and LGBTQIA+ equity, and has led the implementation of the House of Representatives' mandatory anti-harassment and anti-discrimination trainings.
Prior to her role as congresswoman, she was an immigration lawyer, taught at Santa Clara Law School, and served as staff assistant to Congressman Don Edwards.
Rep. Lofgren’s priorities for CA-19 this year include protecting Dreamers, ending gun violence, and promoting clean elections. She currently sits on three committees and chairs the Committee on House Administration. This year, Rep. Lofgren has voted 99 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 96 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Lofgren has co-sponsored five bills, including the HEROES Act, as well as legislation to constrain Trump’s ability to allow military action against Iran, to protect the USPS, and to provide for more police accountability this year, all of which have successfully been sent to the Senate.
Rep. Lofgren is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Lofgren 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 20th Congressional District includes Monterey and San Benito Counties, as well as parts of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 70.4 percent of AD-20 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 70.2 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Panetta led Republican challenger Jeff Gorman by a margin of 45.9 percent. Neither campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Panetta’s campaign has raised $1,349,218.44 and is funded by insurance companies, corporations, and agribusiness. Jeff Gorman’s campaign has raised $47,557.40 and is funded by retirees as well as construction and finance interests.
Rep. Panetta, a past intelligence officer with the United States Navy Reserve and district attorney for Monterey County, grew up on the central coast of California. According to campaign materials, Rep. Panetta is running for re-election to serve and give back to the community and country.
Rep. Panetta’s priorities for CA-20 this year have included protecting the environment, pushing for affordable housing, and advocating for immigration reform. He currently sits on three committees, including the Committee on Ways and Means. This year, Rep. Panetta has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 93 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Significant legislation that Rep. Panetta has disagreed with Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on is the Defense Bill and Paid Leave for Federal Workers, which Rep. Panetta voted for but Rep. Ocasio-Cortez voted against. Rep. Panetta has co-sponsored four bills this year, including on expanding childcare and requiring Trump to seek congressional approval before engaging in military operations against Iran, all of which have successfully passed.
Rep. Panetta is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Panetta 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.
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 24th Assembly District includes San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Marc Berman has held this position since being elected in 2016. The most recent election results show 78.2 percent of AD-24 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and 76.7 percent voted for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Marc Berman led Republican challenger Peter Ohtaki by a margin of 53 percent. Berman’s campaign has raised $491,613 and is funded by police money, fossil fuel money, and corporate PACs. Ohtaki’s campaign has raised $1,800, has not committed to any of the pledges, and is funded entirely by individuals.
Assemblymember Berman, a lawyer, is from Palo Alto. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he worked with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation to support efforts to close the achievement gap through STEM education in Silicon Valley. He later served as a Palo Alto City Councilmember, increasing the city’s financial transparency. He is a longtime supporter of increasing election accessibility and infrastructure. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Berman is running for re-election because he wants to use his long history of public service to continue to push California forward on election security and higher education accessibility.
Assemblymember Berman’s priorities for AD-24 this year include election protections and transportation. He currently sits on five committees: Elections and Redistricting (chair), Governmental Organization, Insurance, Privacy and Consumer Protection, and Transportation. He also serves as chair for both the Select Committees on the Census and the Master Plan for Higher Education in California. Assemblymember Berman has sponsored 45 bills about elections, technology, education, and transportation this year, of which 17 have been successfully chaptered.
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, Assemblymember Berman has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he failed to support AB 1505, which would empower local districts to evaluate charter-school applications based on economic-impact criteria. This is not surprising, considering he has accepted campaign money from California Charter Schools Association Advocates for Great Public Schools. Additionally, Assemblymember Berman voted to support AB 1366, which would eliminate critical oversight of telecom companies. He has also accepted campaign money from Verizon, one of the largest telecom providers.
Assemblymember Berman is endorsed by several progressive groups in the district, such as Peninsula for Everyone, AFSCME California, and the California Labor Federation. However, the threat of Ohtaki’s potential policies greatly outweighs Berman’s lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Assemblymember. Berman 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 24th Assembly District includes San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Marc Berman has held this position since being elected in 2016. The most recent election results show 78.2 percent of AD-24 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and 76.7 percent voted for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Marc Berman led Republican challenger Peter Ohtaki by a margin of 53 percent. Berman’s campaign has raised $491,613 and is funded by police money, fossil fuel money, and corporate PACs. Ohtaki’s campaign has raised $1,800, has not committed to any of the pledges, and is funded entirely by individuals.
Assemblymember Berman, a lawyer, is from Palo Alto. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he worked with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation to support efforts to close the achievement gap through STEM education in Silicon Valley. He later served as a Palo Alto City Councilmember, increasing the city’s financial transparency. He is a longtime supporter of increasing election accessibility and infrastructure. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Berman is running for re-election because he wants to use his long history of public service to continue to push California forward on election security and higher education accessibility.
Assemblymember Berman’s priorities for AD-24 this year include election protections and transportation. He currently sits on five committees: Elections and Redistricting (chair), Governmental Organization, Insurance, Privacy and Consumer Protection, and Transportation. He also serves as chair for both the Select Committees on the Census and the Master Plan for Higher Education in California. Assemblymember Berman has sponsored 45 bills about elections, technology, education, and transportation this year, of which 17 have been successfully chaptered.
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, Assemblymember Berman has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he failed to support AB 1505, which would empower local districts to evaluate charter-school applications based on economic-impact criteria. This is not surprising, considering he has accepted campaign money from California Charter Schools Association Advocates for Great Public Schools. Additionally, Assemblymember Berman voted to support AB 1366, which would eliminate critical oversight of telecom companies. He has also accepted campaign money from Verizon, one of the largest telecom providers.
Assemblymember Berman is endorsed by several progressive groups in the district, such as Peninsula for Everyone, AFSCME California, and the California Labor Federation. However, the threat of Ohtaki’s potential policies greatly outweighs Berman’s lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Assemblymember. Berman 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 25th Assembly District includes parts of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-25 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Alex Lee trailed Republican Challenger Bob Brunton by a margin of 5.4 percent. However, this is only due to the size of the Democratic primary field, where Democratic candidates outperformed Brunton by a margin of 79.2 percent. Alex Lee’s campaign has pledged not to take money from police or fossil fuel organizations. Brunton’s campaign has not committed to any such pledges, and he has been subject to legal complaints and penalties for campaign finance violations in 2014 and 2015.
Alex Lee is from San Jose, CA, where he returned after completing undergraduate studies at UC Davis. According to campaign materials he is running for election to address the housing crisis, improve public transportation, achieve universal health care, and build ecologically sustainable communities.
Alex Lee is a former legislative policy advisor for State Senator Henry Stern, where he worked on legislation addressing climate change, housing, and public education. If elected, he would be the youngest state legislator in nearly a century.
Alex Lee is endorsed by many local progressive groups in the district and has been found to be true to his pledges to refuse money from problematic sources. According to our analysis, Alex Lee is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
After a comprehensive interview with Alex Lee, we have determined that he is committed to criminal justice reform, environmental justice, racial equity and justice, and immigrant rights. His experience in Sacramento and deep knowledge of his district, along with his pledges to refuse money from corporate PACs, police, and the fossil fuel industry are in alignment with the progressive future Courage California hopes to achieve in which special interests have no place in politics. One of the first policies he would champion as a state legislator in the 2021 session is regarding social housing, a time-tested housing solution in Europe and Asia wherein the public sector is responsible for building affordable housing, not for-profit developers. We are confident that he will co-govern in the interests of all Californians and actively fight for anti-racist legislation. Courage California is proud to endorse Alex Lee for AD-25.
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 25th Assembly District includes parts of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-25 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democratic challenger Alex Lee trailed Republican Challenger Bob Brunton by a margin of 5.4 percent. However, this is only due to the size of the Democratic primary field, where Democratic candidates outperformed Brunton by a margin of 79.2 percent. Alex Lee’s campaign has pledged not to take money from police or fossil fuel organizations. Brunton’s campaign has not committed to any such pledges, and he has been subject to legal complaints and penalties for campaign finance violations in 2014 and 2015.
Alex Lee is from San Jose, CA, where he returned after completing undergraduate studies at UC Davis. According to campaign materials he is running for election to address the housing crisis, improve public transportation, achieve universal health care, and build ecologically sustainable communities.
Alex Lee is a former legislative policy advisor for State Senator Henry Stern, where he worked on legislation addressing climate change, housing, and public education. If elected, he would be the youngest state legislator in nearly a century.
Alex Lee is endorsed by many local progressive groups in the district and has been found to be true to his pledges to refuse money from problematic sources. According to our analysis, Alex Lee is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
After a comprehensive interview with Alex Lee, we have determined that he is committed to criminal justice reform, environmental justice, racial equity and justice, and immigrant rights. His experience in Sacramento and deep knowledge of his district, along with his pledges to refuse money from corporate PACs, police, and the fossil fuel industry are in alignment with the progressive future Courage California hopes to achieve in which special interests have no place in politics. One of the first policies he would champion as a state legislator in the 2021 session is regarding social housing, a time-tested housing solution in Europe and Asia wherein the public sector is responsible for building affordable housing, not for-profit developers. We are confident that he will co-govern in the interests of all Californians and actively fight for anti-racist legislation. Courage California is proud to endorse Alex Lee for AD-25.
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 27th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County and the city of San Jose. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 77.8 percent of AD-27 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 74.1 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Kalra led Republican challenger G. Burt Lancaster by a margin of 51.4 percent. Kalra’s campaign has raised $381,896.30 and has pledged to refuse police money. At the same time, he has accepted money from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association and the Santa Clara County Probation Peace Officers Local 1587. His campaign has yet to pledge to refuse corporate PAC and fossil fuel money, and his campaign has accepted corporate PAC funding. Lancaster’s campaign has not made any FEC filings.
Ash Kalra has lived in San Jose for over 35 years. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2017. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election because as a longtime resident of San Jose, he is committed to improving the region’s environmental footprint and public safety.
In the State Assembly, Kalra has been outspoken in his advocacy for clean energy and preserving public green spaces. He is the author of the bill that banned single-use plastic toiletries in California hotels, and introduced legislation to protect tropical forests. Kalra has also worked on social protections, authoring bills to eliminate high school exit exams, and protect DACA recipients in the state.
Rep. Kalra’s priorities for AD-27 this year include being a champion for transit, safety, and the environment. He currently sits on five committees, including the committees on Aging and Long-Term Care, Labor and Employment, and Education. Rep. Kalra has co-sponsored five bills expanding housing, environmental protection, and justice reform this year. He scores a 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Kalra has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Kalra was an attorney with the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office, working primarily to provide drug offenders with the opportunity to complete rehabilitation programs. Kalra was elected to the San Jose City Council in 2008, where he worked to stimulate economic growth and improve the public transportation system.
Rep. Kalra is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by police groups. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Lancaster’s potential policies greatly outweighs Kalra’s police backing and financing. According to our analysis, Rep. Kalra 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 27th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County and the city of San Jose. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 77.8 percent of AD-27 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 74.1 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Kalra led Republican challenger G. Burt Lancaster by a margin of 51.4 percent. Kalra’s campaign has raised $381,896.30 and has pledged to refuse police money. At the same time, he has accepted money from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association and the Santa Clara County Probation Peace Officers Local 1587. His campaign has yet to pledge to refuse corporate PAC and fossil fuel money, and his campaign has accepted corporate PAC funding. Lancaster’s campaign has not made any FEC filings.
Ash Kalra has lived in San Jose for over 35 years. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2017. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election because as a longtime resident of San Jose, he is committed to improving the region’s environmental footprint and public safety.
In the State Assembly, Kalra has been outspoken in his advocacy for clean energy and preserving public green spaces. He is the author of the bill that banned single-use plastic toiletries in California hotels, and introduced legislation to protect tropical forests. Kalra has also worked on social protections, authoring bills to eliminate high school exit exams, and protect DACA recipients in the state.
Rep. Kalra’s priorities for AD-27 this year include being a champion for transit, safety, and the environment. He currently sits on five committees, including the committees on Aging and Long-Term Care, Labor and Employment, and Education. Rep. Kalra has co-sponsored five bills expanding housing, environmental protection, and justice reform this year. He scores a 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Kalra has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Kalra was an attorney with the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office, working primarily to provide drug offenders with the opportunity to complete rehabilitation programs. Kalra was elected to the San Jose City Council in 2008, where he worked to stimulate economic growth and improve the public transportation system.
Rep. Kalra is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by police groups. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Lancaster’s potential policies greatly outweighs Kalra’s police backing and financing. According to our analysis, Rep. Kalra 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 28th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County and parts of the cities of Cupertino and San Jose. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 70.6 percent of AD-28 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 69.6 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Low led Republican challenger Carlos Rafael Cruz by a margin of 47.6 percent. Low’s campaign has raised $1,248,667.17, has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and has received funding from all three groups. Cruz’s campaign has not made any filings about their campaign contributions. Cruz has also not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money.
Evan Low was born and raised in the Bay Area. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2014. According to campaign materials, he is running to continue serving his home community and working toward equitable solutions for his constituents.
In the State Assembly, Rep. Low has worked to strengthen protections for the LGBTQIA+ community, pushed for more affordable housing, and has passed bills to protect victims of crime and human trafficking. Rep. Low has been a responsive legislator, working to improve college admissions reform since early 2019, and establishing the California Legislative Technology & Innovation Caucus.
Rep. Low’s priorities for AD-28 this year include environmental protection, housing, LGBTQIA+ rights, and technology. He currently sits on six committees, and chairs the Business and Professions Committee. Rep. Low has co-sponsored two bills about expanding affordable housing this year. He scores a lifetime 79 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Low has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Low has not supported several bills that would provide for key oversight of the police, increase employer responsibility to prevent workplace harassment, and to limit the establishment and operation of charter schools in the state.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Low was the first Asian-American and openly gay person to be elected to the Campbell City Council. He later served as mayor of Campbell and was a community college instructor at De Anza Community College.
Rep. Low is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by a police group. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Cruz’s potential policies greatly outweighs Low’s moderate voting record and inaction on police accountability and workplace harassment. According to our analysis, Rep. Low 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 28th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County and parts of the cities of Cupertino and San Jose. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 70.6 percent of AD-28 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 69.6 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Low led Republican challenger Carlos Rafael Cruz by a margin of 47.6 percent. Low’s campaign has raised $1,248,667.17, has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and has received funding from all three groups. Cruz’s campaign has not made any filings about their campaign contributions. Cruz has also not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money.
Evan Low was born and raised in the Bay Area. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2014. According to campaign materials, he is running to continue serving his home community and working toward equitable solutions for his constituents.
In the State Assembly, Rep. Low has worked to strengthen protections for the LGBTQIA+ community, pushed for more affordable housing, and has passed bills to protect victims of crime and human trafficking. Rep. Low has been a responsive legislator, working to improve college admissions reform since early 2019, and establishing the California Legislative Technology & Innovation Caucus.
Rep. Low’s priorities for AD-28 this year include environmental protection, housing, LGBTQIA+ rights, and technology. He currently sits on six committees, and chairs the Business and Professions Committee. Rep. Low has co-sponsored two bills about expanding affordable housing this year. He scores a lifetime 79 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Low has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Low has not supported several bills that would provide for key oversight of the police, increase employer responsibility to prevent workplace harassment, and to limit the establishment and operation of charter schools in the state.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Low was the first Asian-American and openly gay person to be elected to the Campbell City Council. He later served as mayor of Campbell and was a community college instructor at De Anza Community College.
Rep. Low is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by a police group. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Cruz’s potential policies greatly outweighs Low’s moderate voting record and inaction on police accountability and workplace harassment. According to our analysis, Rep. Low 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 29th Assembly District includes parts of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 70 percent of AD-29 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 70.9 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Stone led Republican challenger Shomir Banerjee by a margin of 51.6 percent. Stone’s campaign has raised $163,718.50, has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and has accepted funds from corporations and police groups. Individual donations comprise a large amount of Stone’s campaign finances. Banerjee’s campaign has raised $2,250.00 and has also not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money.
Mark Stone lives in Scotts Valley. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2012. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election because he wants to continue to protect the most vulnerable Californians.
In the State Assembly, Rep. Stone has led reform in criminal justice, youth and education, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the environment. Last year, his bill to eliminate copayments for medical and dental visits for incarcerated people became law, as well as a bill that allowed more incarcerated people to qualify to earn parole credits. He also introduced a Student Borrower’s Bill of Rights, and the Coastal Adaptation, Access, and Resilience Program (CAARP), to fund climate-adaptation projects. He currently chairs the Judiciary Committee.
Rep. Stone’s priorities for AD-29 this year include child welfare, justice reform, and environmental protection. He currently sits on eight committees, and he chairs the Judiciary Committee. Rep. Stone has sponsored or cosponsored five bills supporting gun violence prevention legislation, consumer protection, and expanded medical leave this year. He scores a lifetime score of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Stone has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.
Prior to election to the State Assembly, he served two terms on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.
Rep. Stone is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, despite his lack of campaign finance pledges, Rep. Mark Stone 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 29th Assembly District includes parts of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 70 percent of AD-29 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 70.9 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Stone led Republican challenger Shomir Banerjee by a margin of 51.6 percent. Stone’s campaign has raised $163,718.50, has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and has accepted funds from corporations and police groups. Individual donations comprise a large amount of Stone’s campaign finances. Banerjee’s campaign has raised $2,250.00 and has also not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money.
Mark Stone lives in Scotts Valley. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2012. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election because he wants to continue to protect the most vulnerable Californians.
In the State Assembly, Rep. Stone has led reform in criminal justice, youth and education, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the environment. Last year, his bill to eliminate copayments for medical and dental visits for incarcerated people became law, as well as a bill that allowed more incarcerated people to qualify to earn parole credits. He also introduced a Student Borrower’s Bill of Rights, and the Coastal Adaptation, Access, and Resilience Program (CAARP), to fund climate-adaptation projects. He currently chairs the Judiciary Committee.
Rep. Stone’s priorities for AD-29 this year include child welfare, justice reform, and environmental protection. He currently sits on eight committees, and he chairs the Judiciary Committee. Rep. Stone has sponsored or cosponsored five bills supporting gun violence prevention legislation, consumer protection, and expanded medical leave this year. He scores a lifetime score of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Stone has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.
Prior to election to the State Assembly, he served two terms on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.
Rep. Stone is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, despite his lack of campaign finance pledges, Rep. Mark Stone 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 31st Assembly District includes all of San Benito County, as well as parts of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 66.7 percent of AD-30 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 64.5 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Rivas led Republican challenger Gregory Swett by a margin of 38.8 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Rivas’s campaign has raised $477,985.86, including from corporate, fossil fuel, and police interest groups. Swett’s campaign has raised much less than Rivas’s, with $1,000, all from his private business.
Robert Rivas is from Paicines and has lived in Hollister for most of his life. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2018. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue to fight for the “resources local communities need and deserve.”
In the State Assembly, he authored the landmark Farmworker Housing Act, which would allow surplus agricultural land to be rezoned for farmworker housing. He also co-authored the bill to fund the Golden State Teacher Grant Program. The program provides $20,000 in scholarship grants for recent college graduates who acquire a teaching credential in high-need fields, such as STEM or special education, and teach for four years in select schools.
Rivas’s priorities for AD-30 this year include infrastructure improvements, affordable housing, and attracting more jobs. He currently sits on 13 committees and chairs the Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification. Assemblymember Rivas has co-sponsored three bills about environmental, consumer, and worker protection this year. He scores a lifetime score of 88 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Rivas has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Rivas has been absent from voting on key progressive legislation on worker protection and police accountability.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he served on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors.
Rep. Rivas is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Assemblymember Rivas 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 31st Assembly District includes all of San Benito County, as well as parts of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 66.7 percent of AD-30 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 64.5 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Rivas led Republican challenger Gregory Swett by a margin of 38.8 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Rivas’s campaign has raised $477,985.86, including from corporate, fossil fuel, and police interest groups. Swett’s campaign has raised much less than Rivas’s, with $1,000, all from his private business.
Robert Rivas is from Paicines and has lived in Hollister for most of his life. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2018. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue to fight for the “resources local communities need and deserve.”
In the State Assembly, he authored the landmark Farmworker Housing Act, which would allow surplus agricultural land to be rezoned for farmworker housing. He also co-authored the bill to fund the Golden State Teacher Grant Program. The program provides $20,000 in scholarship grants for recent college graduates who acquire a teaching credential in high-need fields, such as STEM or special education, and teach for four years in select schools.
Rivas’s priorities for AD-30 this year include infrastructure improvements, affordable housing, and attracting more jobs. He currently sits on 13 committees and chairs the Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification. Assemblymember Rivas has co-sponsored three bills about environmental, consumer, and worker protection this year. He scores a lifetime score of 88 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Rivas has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Rivas has been absent from voting on key progressive legislation on worker protection and police accountability.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he served on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors.
Rep. Rivas is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Assemblymember Rivas is the strongest choice for equitable and 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 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 13th Senate District includes portions of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 76.7 percent of SD-13 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and 75.5 percent of SD-13 voted for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat challenger Josh Becker led Republican Challenger Alexander Glew by a margin of 6.5 percent. To provide some context for the slim margin, the March primary consisted of five Democrats, a Libertarian, and a Republican, with the majority of the votes split between Becker and fellow Democratic challenger Sally Lieber. Becker’s campaign is funded by police, fossil fuels, and corporate PACs. Glew’s campaign has not submitted any contribution filings with the Secretary of State.
Becker has lived in Menlo Park for 20 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to reject and overturn the Trump agenda. His priorities include ensuring that everyone has affordable health care, including immigrants, increasing funding and accessibility for public transportation, building sustainable housing, and fighting against workplace harassment.
Becker is a public-policy innovator, which he does because he is invested in supporting communities in economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, education, and health. In 2000, he created the Full Circle Fund, a community organization funding Bay Area nonprofits to create positive change. Additionally, Becker was appointed to the CA State Workforce Development Board for five years by Governor Jerry Brown, and now serves the community of San Mateo on the Child Care Partnership Council. Becker also founded Clean Tech for Barack Obama, co-founded the Stanford Board Fellows program to train students to serve on the boards of local nonprofits, and New Cycle Capital.
Becker is endorsed by a strong majority of local progressive groups and elected officials, such as SEIU, California League of Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice California, Govenor Gavin Newsom, and US Senator Kamala Harris. He is also endorsed by Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith and Peace Officers Research Association of California. The threat of Republican Glew’s potential policies greatly outweighs Becker’s problematic endorsements and failure to take action in rejecting fossil fuel, police, and corporate PAC money. According to our analysis, Josh Becker is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
State senators represent and advocate 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 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 15 Senate District includes parts of Santa Clara County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 73 percent of SD-15 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 70.8 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Dave Cortese led Democratic challenger Ann Ravel by a margin of 11.8 percent. Cortese’s campaign has raised $1,384,885.53, not pledged to refuse corporate PAC and police money, and has received funds from both corporations and police groups. While Cortese has signed the pledge to refuse fossil fuel money, he is still funded by Edison International, which emits 62.9 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. His campaign is also funded by labor unions and local businesses. Opponent Ann Ravel has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Ravel’s campaign has not made any campaign finance filings.
Dave Cortese is from East San Jose and is a lifelong resident of Santa Clara County. According to campaign materials, he is running for State Senate because he has a long history of public service at the local level, which has provided him with a strong understanding of the unique challenges of the region.
Cortese has been a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors since 2008, which he joined to bring increased social equity and justice to his community. Cortese served as the Board’s president for four years, and has several accomplishments as a member, including addressing and reducing homelessness in the region, advocating for changes to criminal-justice custody operations, and decreasing the number of children involved in the child welfare system. Sen. Cortese’s priorities for SD-15 this year include tackling housing and homelessness, public safety, and protecting the environment.
Prior to his election to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Cortese ran a large family agriculture and real estate business, and served as a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Valley Transportation Authority, and as a trustee for the East Side Union High School District. In each of these roles, Cortese worked to build funding for capital projects intended to support local communities.
Rep. Cortese is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by police unions and chambers of commerce. Although we disagree with Cortese taking money and endorsements from corporations and police unions, and know that a more progressive candidate would better represent SD-15, Cortese has the backing of local progressive groups that will help him legislate more effectively than his opponent. That said, we encourage more progressive candidates that will better reflect this community’s needs to run in future cycles.
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 17th Senate District includes San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz Counties, as well as parts of Monterey and Santa Clara Counties. Republicans held this district until the 2008 election, when Democratic incumbent Bill Monning won and flipped SD-17 from red to blue. The most recent election results show SD-17 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.
In the primary, Democrat challenger John Laird led Republican challenger Vicki Nohrden by a margin of 12.9 percent. Laird’s campaign is funded by police, fossil fuels, and corporate PAC money. Nohrden’s campaign has not committed to any of the pledges, and $10,000 of the $63,493.05 raised is self-funded.
John Laird was raised in Vallejo and moved to Santa Cruz in the 1960s. He graduated with honors from UC Santa Cruz in 1972. Laird served as a councilmember on the Santa Cruz City Council and then as a two-term mayor. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election because he wants to work to expand state efforts against climate change, guarantee universal health-care coverage, develop affordable housing, and protect the public education system.
Laird is a former city councilmember, mayor, member of the California State Assembly, and California Secretary for Natural Resources under Governor Jerry Brown. His other professional experiences include serving as executive director of the Santa Cruz AIDS Project and teaching state environmental policy at UC Santa Cruz. While serving as assemblymember for the 27th district, Laird authored 82 bills that were signed into law.
Laird is endorsed by a strong majority of local progressive groups, including California Democratic Party, California Legislative LGBT Caucus, California Teachers Association, and NARAL Pro-Choice California. He is also endorsed by California Association Highway Patrolmen, Peace Officers Research Association of CA, and Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart. However, the threat of Republican Nohrden’s potential policies greatly outweighs Laird’s few problematic endorsements and lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Laird 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.
Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person board of supervisors. A board of supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically limited to three terms, or 12 years in office total.
Santa Clara is California's 6th most populous county. Santa Clara’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 1.9 million people and manages an estimated budget of $8.2 billion dollars annually. According to the County Charter, residents are represented by an elected five-member Board of Supervisors. A county executive is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to manage day-to-day operations. Demographic analysis of District 3 reveals significant Asian (53 percent) and Latinx (21 percent) populations.
In the March 3 primary election, challenger Otto Lee trailed incumbent Supervisor Kansen Chu by a margin of 2.5 percent. Lee’s campaign has raised $772,476 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Chu’s campaign has raised $414,431 and has also not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Chu’s campaign has recently come under fire in the press for potential campaign finance violations and for comments that reveal a lack of support for affirmative action.
Otto Lee, an intellectual property attorney and former mayor of Sunnyvale, is from Hong Kong and moved to California at the age of 15. According to campaign materials, Lee is running to take action to address the cost of housing, traffic congestion, and homelessness.
Otto Lee’s priorities for Santa Clara this term include building up rather than out in order to preserve open and agricultural spaces, increasing the availability of inpatient and outpatient mental-health treatment, and ensuring that the Valley Medical Center, St. Louise Regional Hospital, and O’Connor Hospital are fully funded. His record in Sunnyvale’s local government reveals a steadfast commitment to green energy and waste reduction.
Otto Lee’s first experience in local government was with the Sunnyvale Planning Commission. He went on to serve on the Sunnyvale City Council from 2003–2011, including his 2006–2007 term as mayor, during which he passed the city’s single-use plastic bag ban, installed solar panels on city buildings, and encouraged commercial development projects to build with higher green LEED standards. In 2018, Lee was elected to the Democratic National Committee, where he helped propel the party to great success during the “Blue Wave.” Lee works as an intellectual property attorney in San Jose, CA, and is a 28-year veteran of the Navy and Navy Reserve, having achieved the rank of commander before his retirement in 2018.
Otto Lee is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district and is, according to our analysis, the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person board of supervisors. A board of supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically limited to three terms, or 12 years in office total.
Santa Clara is California's 6th most populous county. Santa Clara’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 1.9 million people and manages an estimated budget of $8.2 billion dollars annually. According to the County Charter, residents are represented by an elected five-member Board of Supervisors. A county executive is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to manage day-to-day operations. Demographic analysis of District 3 reveals significant Asian (53 percent) and Latinx (21 percent) populations.
In the March 3 primary election, challenger Otto Lee trailed incumbent Supervisor Kansen Chu by a margin of 2.5 percent. Lee’s campaign has raised $772,476 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Chu’s campaign has raised $414,431 and has also not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Chu’s campaign has recently come under fire in the press for potential campaign finance violations and for comments that reveal a lack of support for affirmative action.
Otto Lee, an intellectual property attorney and former mayor of Sunnyvale, is from Hong Kong and moved to California at the age of 15. According to campaign materials, Lee is running to take action to address the cost of housing, traffic congestion, and homelessness.
Otto Lee’s priorities for Santa Clara this term include building up rather than out in order to preserve open and agricultural spaces, increasing the availability of inpatient and outpatient mental-health treatment, and ensuring that the Valley Medical Center, St. Louise Regional Hospital, and O’Connor Hospital are fully funded. His record in Sunnyvale’s local government reveals a steadfast commitment to green energy and waste reduction.
Otto Lee’s first experience in local government was with the Sunnyvale Planning Commission. He went on to serve on the Sunnyvale City Council from 2003–2011, including his 2006–2007 term as mayor, during which he passed the city’s single-use plastic bag ban, installed solar panels on city buildings, and encouraged commercial development projects to build with higher green LEED standards. In 2018, Lee was elected to the Democratic National Committee, where he helped propel the party to great success during the “Blue Wave.” Lee works as an intellectual property attorney in San Jose, CA, and is a 28-year veteran of the Navy and Navy Reserve, having achieved the rank of commander before his retirement in 2018.
Otto Lee is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district and is, according to our analysis, the strongest choice for equitable and 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 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.
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 Morgan Hill serve four-year terms, and are not bound by term limits.
Morgan Hill is Santa Clara County’s 10th most populous city, and includes a population that is 71 percent white and 10 percent Asian. The Morgan Hill City Council oversees the needs of 37,882 people and manages an estimated budget of $109 million annually. Morgan Hill is managed by council-manager structured government. Morgan Hill’s District C includes the northwestern portion of the city.
This November, Morgan Hill is voting to fill city council seats in both District A and District C. In the District C race, incumbent Rene Spring is being challenged by Juan Miguel Munoz Morris. Spring’s campaign has recorded around $10,000 in fundraising receipts, and has not pledged to refuse police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC money. Challenger Munoz Morris has not recorded any fundraising receipts, and has not committed to any fundraising pledges. He is endorsed by the Morgan Hill Police Officers Association.
Rene Spring, a program manager at a software company and city councilmember, is from Switzerland and moved to the Bay Area in 1998. He has lived in District C for 16 years. According to campaign materials, Spring is running for re-election to continue to be a strong voice for responsible residential and economic growth in the city.
Spring’s priorities for Morgan Hill this term include enhancing public safety, increasing education investment, adding more affordable housing, and increasing the number of technology jobs available within the city limits. Spring strongly believes that slower residential growth will allow Morgan Park to maintain its rural character. He has opposed state legislation that increases local development, and will prioritize continued efforts to maintain green spaces and fiscally responsible expansion.
Spring has served in several public roles over the last ten years. Prior to running for city council, he was the city’s planning commissioner for four years, and is currently commissioner of the Veterans Commission of Santa Clara County. He has also served on several local nonprofit boards. Spring is the first openly gay councilmember elected in Morgan Hill, and is a longtime supporter of efforts to increase LGBTQIA+ equality. He has also been a strong supporter of land-use protections.
Spring is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district, including BAYMEC and the Santa Clara County League of Conservation Voters. According to our analysis, Rene Spring is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council.
San Jose, CA, is governed by a ten-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 San Jose are limited to two consecutive terms of four years each.
San Jose is Santa Clara County’s most populous city. The San Jose City Council oversees the needs of an estimated 1 million people and manages an estimated budget of $3 billion annually. San Jose is managed by a council-manager structured government. San Jose’s District 4 includes Alviso, Berryessa, and the North San Jose Innovation District.
In the primary, challenger David Cohen led incumbent Lan Diep by a margin of 3.3 percent. Cohen’s campaign has raised $123,766 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Diep’s campaign has raised $227,062, has not committed to any campaign finance pledges, and is endorsed by the California Apartment Association and the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors. Diep was a registered Republican until 2019, when he re-registered as “Decline to State” without a public statement. Diep’s top priority for a prospective second term is “safety,” and he is quoted as saying, “This is the challenge of the moment facing our police force: trying to grow our ranks as we face waves of officers ready to retire.”
David Cohen, an engineer and Berryessa Union School District Board trustee, has lived in District 4 for twenty years. According to campaign materials, Cohen is running for election to promote sustainable financial investment in San Jose’s public services.
David Cohen’s priorities for San Jose this term include making solar energy part of every development project, working with the water district to ensure that gray water is reused for irrigation, expanding BART and light-rail access by completing stalled extension efforts, and partnering with Santa Clara County and nonprofit organizations to provide housing, mental-health care, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and job training/placement programs for unhoused residents.
David Cohen earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his PhD from U.C Berkeley. During his time on the Berryessa Union School District Board, Cohen started Dual-Immersion Programs in Mandarin and Spanish, prevented class size increases, protected the music and science programs from budget cuts, ensured that counselors and social workers were added to each school site, and moved several schools over to solar energy. He is also involved with the Berryessa Citizens Advisory Council and other neighborhood associations.
David Cohen is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district and is, according to our analysis, the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
San Jose, CA, is governed by a ten-person city council.