No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, there is no progressive candidate to recommend for your vote in this race.
About the Position
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.
About the District
California's 21st Assembly District includes parts of Merced and Stanislaus Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 54.6 percent of AD-21 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 54.6 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
About the Race
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Adam Gray led Republican challenger Joel Campos by a margin of 98.5 percent. Gray’s campaign has raised $688,338.63, and has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. His campaign has received funds from all three groups. Among his donors are Anheuser-Busch, Chevron Corp., and the Peace Officers Research Association of California. Opponent Campos has not made any campaign financing filings.
About the Incumbent
Assemblymember Gray was born and raised in Merced and put himself through college working at his family’s dairy supply store. According to campaign materials, Rep. Gray is running for re-election to protect the valley’s water, to bring a medical school to the district, and to prevent crime.
Assemblymember Gray’s priorities for AD-21 this year include improving infrastructure and preserving agriculture. He currently sits on five committees and chairs the Standing Committee on Governmental Organization and the Select Committee on Health Care Access in Rural Communities. Gray has not sponsored any bills this year. He scores a Lifetime Courage Score of 23 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Gray has supported few progressive bills that made it to a vote. He has also failed to support key progressive legislation on worker protection, police oversight, and affordable housing.
Because the Democratic candidate in this race is considered to be a safe win in this district, we feel comfortable providing no recommendation in this race. Keep reading for progressive recommendations in other key races and on ballot measures where your vote can make a critical difference.
No Progressive Candidate - AD21
Based on our analysis, there is no progressive candidate to recommend for your vote in this race.
About the Position
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.
About the District
California's 21st Assembly District includes parts of Merced and Stanislaus Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 54.6 percent of AD-21 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 54.6 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.
About the Race
In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Adam Gray led Republican challenger Joel Campos by a margin of 98.5 percent. Gray’s campaign has raised $688,338.63, and has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. His campaign has received funds from all three groups. Among his donors are Anheuser-Busch, Chevron Corp., and the Peace Officers Research Association of California. Opponent Campos has not made any campaign financing filings.
About the Incumbent
Assemblymember Gray was born and raised in Merced and put himself through college working at his family’s dairy supply store. According to campaign materials, Rep. Gray is running for re-election to protect the valley’s water, to bring a medical school to the district, and to prevent crime.
Assemblymember Gray’s priorities for AD-21 this year include improving infrastructure and preserving agriculture. He currently sits on five committees and chairs the Standing Committee on Governmental Organization and the Select Committee on Health Care Access in Rural Communities. Gray has not sponsored any bills this year. He scores a Lifetime Courage Score of 23 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Gray has supported few progressive bills that made it to a vote. He has also failed to support key progressive legislation on worker protection, police oversight, and affordable housing.
Because the Democratic candidate in this race is considered to be a safe win in this district, we feel comfortable providing no recommendation in this race. Keep reading for progressive recommendations in other key races and on ballot measures where your vote can make a critical difference.