City of Los Angeles

Elect City Council Member Nithya Raman to push Los Angeles in the right direction. 

About the Position
The city of Los Angeles is governed by a fifteen-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City council members in Los Angeles are ‎limited to three terms or 12 years in office total. 

About the District
The City of Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of almost 4 million people and manages an estimated budget of $10.3 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council structured government. Los Angeles’s District 4 includes the neighborhoods of Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire, Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, Griffith Park, and Los Feliz. 

About the Race
In the primary, challenger Raman trailed incumbent David E. Ryu by a margin of 3.6 percent. Raman’s campaign has raised about $357,000 and has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, police, and corporate money. Raman’s bid has been supported by a coalition of volunteer organizers who knocked on almost 80,000 doors in the district. Ryu’s campaign has raised more than $1 million, at least $149,000 of which is from out-of-district donors, including a board member of a planned museum that is leasing land from the city. Ryu has also taken the pledge to refuse fossil fuel and police money, although he had already received and spent police funds. He also pledged to refuse developer money, but still received such funds and claimed to have returned it. 

About the Candidate

Raman, a trained urban planner, lives in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. According to campaign materials, she is running to represent District 4 on the city council to build a more inclusive and just Los Angeles.

Raman is running on a strongly progressive platform that promises to center the voices and needs of underserved communities in Los Angeles. Her knowledge of policy is clearly demonstrated in her platform, which focuses on addressing housing and homelessness, responding to the climate emergency, and bringing Angelenos into the lawmaking process to increase transparency and accountability in city policymaking.

She is a co-founder of SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a local neighborhood-based organization formed in response to the city’s inaction on homelessness. She has also served as co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness Committee since 2017. Raman recently served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, the women’s rights movement furthering equity and safety for women in the entertainment industry. Raman’s relationships in entertainment are strong, and her campaign is based on partnering with artists and performers as a rallying force for its organizing efforts.

Raman is the best choice because of her strong understanding of the challenges facing the city of Los Angeles as detailed in her policy platform, her track record of leading the way in standing up for communities under attack, and her ability to connect with and engage people currently outside of the political process.

While endorsements are split in the race, Raman’s endorsers are, on the whole, the most progressive in the district, while Ryu’s tend to be more moderate. According to our analysis, Raman is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Elect Charné Tunson to make the Los Angeles Community College District Board more reflective of its highly diverse student population. 

About the Position

Members of the Los Angeles Community College District Board are elected at large for terms of four years. Elections are held every two years, with three members being chosen at one election and four members at the other.\

About the District

The Los Angeles Community College District is located in Los Angeles County and includes nine colleges, serving a population of roughly 240,000 Californians.

About the Candidate

Charné Tunson, a former Crenshaw High School teacher, is running as part of a coalition called Justice 4 LACCD, a coalition of four Black women seeking to diversify the board to reflect the 74 percent POC and 56 percent women student population it serves. Tunson and Justice 4 LACCD are running on the shared values of what they call “The 4 R’s,” which are defined on their website as the following:

• “Representation – We are a united group of women who will make up a Board of Trustees that truly reflects and speaks on behalf of the LACCD community it serves.
• Recruitment and Retention – Creating policy to attract, retain and support more students and faculty that are under-represented. This includes more women, students and faculty of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community and those with disabilities.
• Reform – Designate a committee to investigate police policy and response on LACCD campuses.
• Response to COVID-19 – Position our Community Colleges to lead in creating an equitable COVID strategy that prioritizes the needs of the most impacted members of our community.”

Furthermore, the coalition promises to fight for the rights of part-time, disabled, and unhoused students, as well as those with health conditions that prevent them from regularly accessing a college campus.

In addition to teaching at Crenshaw High School, her alma mater, Charné Tunson recently founded the Tunson Leadership Foundation, aiming to impart the importance of community engagement and mentorship within local communities.

According to our analysis, Charné Tunson and the Justice 4 LACCD coalition will provide leadership that promotes the shared interests of communities historically excluded from the policymaking process.

Elect Sylvia Brooks Griffin to make the Los Angeles Community College District Board more reflective of its highly diverse student population. 

About the Position

Members of the Los Angeles Community College District Board are elected at large for terms of four years. Elections are held every two years, with three members being chosen at one election and four members at the other.

About the District

The Los Angeles Community College District is located in Los Angeles County and includes nine colleges, serving a population of roughly 240,000 Californians.

About the Candidate

Sylvia Brooks Griffin, a special-needs advocate who is active with LAUSD and the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, is running as part of a coalition called Justice 4 LACCD, a coalition of four Black women seeking to diversify the board to reflect the 74 percent POC and 56 percent women student population it serves. Griffin and Justice 4 LACCD are running on the shared values of what they call “The 4 R’s,” which are defined on their website as the following:

• “Representation – We are a united group of women who will make up a Board of Trustees that truly reflects and speaks on behalf of the LACCD community it serves.
• Recruitment and Retention – Creating policy to attract, retain and support more students and faculty that are under-represented. This includes more women, students and faculty of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community and those with disabilities.
• Reform – Designate a committee to investigate police policy and response on LACCD campuses.
• Response to COVID-19 – Position our Community Colleges to lead in creating an equitable COVID strategy that prioritizes the needs of the most impacted members of our community.”

Furthermore, the coalition promises to fight for the rights of part-time, disabled, and unhoused students, as well as those with health conditions that prevent them from regularly accessing a college campus.

According to our analysis, Sylvia Brooks Griffin and the Justice 4 LACCD coalition will provide leadership that promotes the shared interests of communities historically excluded from the policymaking process.

Elect Scott Mark Schmerelson to keep Los Angeles on the right track. 

About the Position

Los Angeles Unified School District contains 1,177 schools, and serves over 646,000 students annually. Members of the Los Angeles Board of Education are elected by district, every four years. 

About the District

Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school district in California,  and the second largest in the nation. The district oversees a budget of $8.4 billion. The district is very diverse, composed primarily of Latinx students (73.4 percent), with African American students (10 percent) composing the second-largest group of students.

About the Candidate

Scott Mark Schmerelson, a current LAUSD board member representing District 3, is from Los Angeles, California. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue advocating for the future of LAUSD’s educational system, and making a difference for the children and communities within his district. 

Schmerelson’s priorities for District 3 schools include improving funding, classroom safety, parent participation, and environmental justice. Schmerelson has committed to fighting for adequate funding for Los Angeles’s public schools to ensure that education is being prioritized at the same level as other states. His campaign also prioritizes advocating for classroom safety by promoting gun safety awareness and instituting annual safety procedures. In addition to classroom safety, Schmerelson’s campaign emphasizes the importance of transitioning to renewable energy. He is committed to reducing waste within schools, and closing nearby gas facilities to reduce students’ exposure to pollution. Schmerelson has also demonstrated an awareness of the need for parent participation, and plans to eliminate barriers that create difficulties for parent volunteers. Schmerelson's campaign is committed to increasing the number of library aides, and establishing early interventions and screenings for students with dyslexia. 

Prior to his role on the Los Angeles Board of Education, Scott Schmerelson served as an educator and administrator for over 40 years. He has experience working in the classroom as a high school teacher, as well as in administration through his roles as middle school counselor, assistant principal, and principal. During his term as principal, Schmerelson improved test scores, infrastructure, and morale. His experience working within the Los Angeles school system provided him with the knowledge and passion he has translated into his work as a member of the Board of Education. 

Scott Schmerelson is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. These endorsements include Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, and ACCE Action, and multiple unions, including SEIU Local 99. Schmerelson is also endorsed by the Los Angeles School Police Department, which is of particular concern, considering the rise of police violence within Los Angeles schools. 

According to our analysis, despite our concerns about Scott Schmerelson’s police support, he remains the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
 

Elect Patricia Castellanos to keep Los Angeles on the right track. 

About the Position

Los Angeles Unified School District contains 1,177 schools, and serves over 646,000 students annually. Members of the Los Angeles Board of Education are elected by district, every four years.  \

About the District

Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school district in California,  and the second largest in the nation. The district oversees a budget of $8.4 billion. The district is very diverse, composed primarily of Latinx students (73.4 percent), with African American students (10 percent) composing the second-largest group of students.

About the Candidate

Patricia Castellanos is a workforce and economic development deputy for L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, and is a lifelong resident of LAUSD District 7. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to protect and strengthen local public schools, protect students from environmental pollution, and improve funding and quality of LAUSD education. 

Castellanos’s priorities for LAUSD District 7 include improving classroom safety, quality, investment, and student support. As a parent supporting her own child with distance learning, she is committed to prioritizing COVID-19 relief and safe recovery for Los Angeles schools. Castellanos also understands the need to improve the quality of education within classrooms, and will fight to decrease class sizes, and increase the number of mental health and special education services and programs. Castellanos is also committed to finding revenue to reinvest funding into public education. 

Patricia Castellanos is a longtime community organizer, with over 20 years of experience championing issues related to education. She has worked as director of Policy Training and Education at Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education and now serves as the workforce and economic development deputy for L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. Through her positions, Castellanos has created opportunities for vulnerable, young and low-income populations. She has advocated for communities facing issues of homelessness and juvenile criminalization, and worked with L.A. County departments to ensure COVID-19 protections for small businesses and workers. Above all, Castellanos has demonstrated an awareness and commitment to address issues facing communities within District 7. She has experience organizing to address the historic disinvestment of Black and brown communities in South L.A. Her advocacy is fueled by her experience as a daughter of immigrant workers and mother of a child attending public schools in LAUSD District 7. 

Castellanos is endorsed by numerous Democratic Party, teacher, labor, women's rights, and grassroots organizations. These include United Teachers Los Angeles, United Farm Workers, Sierra Club, ACCE Action, and Planned Parenthood--just to name a few. Castellanos has also received endorsements from a number of notable individuals, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, LAUSD Board President Dr. Richard Vladovi, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and civil rights and labor leader Dolores Huerta. 

According to our analysis, Patricia Castellanos is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Senate Representative Henry Stern to keep SD-27 on the right track.

About the Position

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.

About the District

California's 27th Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show SD-27 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Henry Stern led Republican challenger Houman Salem by a margin of 27.6 percent. Stern’s campaign has raised $1,114,716 and has pledged to accept no money from the fossil fuel industry. Salem’s campaign has raised $19,080 and has not committed to any such pledges.

About the Candidate

Rep. Henry Stern, an environmental attorney and community activist, is from Malibu, CA. According to campaign materials, Rep. Stern is running for re-election to promote renewable-energy technology, end trophy hunting, and divert funds toward backup power and firefighting resources.

Sen. Stern’s priorities for SD-27 this year include expanding official state recognition of the climate-change crisis, further protecting our endangered species, and building microgrids to reduce blackouts. He currently sits on eight committees: the Natural Resources and Water Committee (chair); Climate Change Policies Committee (vice chair); Arts Committee; Budget and Fiscal Review Committee; Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee; Environmental Quality Committee; Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee; and Judiciary Committee. Sen. Stern has sponsored 141 bills this year about such topics as gun violence prevention, education finance, fire safety, and exempting feminine hygiene products from taxation, of which over 10 percent have successfully passed. He scores a Lifetime 80 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Senator Stern has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Stern has not supported expanding Medi-Cal coverage to noncitizens or banning the use of biometric surveillance and facial-recognition technology from use in police body cameras.

Prior to his election to the State Senate, Sen. Henry Stern worked as an environmental lawyer, counseled Congressman Henry Waxman on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and taught civics in local schools. He is a longtime supporter of environmental conservation and animal rights.

Rep. Henry Stern is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. In his previous campaign, he was endorsed by the Association of Los Angeles County Sheriffs and California Association of Highway Patrolmen. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Houman Salem’s potential policies greatly outweighs Rep. Stern’s occasionally moderate voting record. According to our analysis, Rep. Henry Stern is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Senate Representative Steven Bradford to keep SD-35 on the right track.

About the Position

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.

About the District

California's 35th Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles County and includes the cities of Inglewood, Torrance, and Long Beach. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show SD-35 voted for Clinton for president in 2016 and Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Bradford led American Independent Party challenger Anthony Perry by a margin of 51.4 percent. Bradford’s campaign has raised $1,162,607.30. Bradford has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and has accepted money from corporate and fossil fuel groups. No FEC filings have been made about opponent Perry’s campaign’s funding.

About the Candidate

State Senator Steven Bradford is from Gardena, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2017. According to campaign materials, he is running for State Senate to advance policies to help local working-class families.

As a state senator, Bradford has authored numerous pieces of legislation that promote a clean environment, climate justice, and civil rights, and enhance public safety. Bradford currently serves as chair of the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee and sits on the Public Safety, Governmental Organization, Appropriations Committees, as well as the Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. Prior to his election to the State Senate, he served in the Gardena City Council and the State Assembly.
 
Sen. Bradford’s priorities for SD-35 this year include health care, jobs, public safety, and economic revitalization. Sen. Bradford has sponsored and co-sponsored three bills about social justice and equitable housing this year. He scores 86 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Senator Bradford has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Bradford has not supported key legislation that provides environmental protections in the district.

Prior to his election to the State Senate, Sen. Bradford was a public affairs manager for Southern California Edison, district director for the late Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, and program director for the LA Conservation Corps.

Rep. Bradford is endorsed by many progressive and moderate groups in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Bradford is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Laura Friedman to keep AD-43 on the right track.

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 four-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 43rd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County and includes the cities of Glendale, Burbank, La Cañada Flintridge, and La Crescenta-Montrose. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-43 voted for Clinton for president in 2016 and Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Laura Friedman led Republican challenger Mike Graves by a margin of 54.9 percent. Friedman’s campaign has raised $408,291.69 and is not funded by fossil fuel money, although Sempra Energy, which is not on the No Fossil Fuel pledge list, thus technically not breaking her pledge, has contributed to her campaign. Friedman’s campaign has also accepted police and corporation money. No FEC filings have been made about opponent Graves’s campaign’s funding.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Laura Friedman is a longtime Glendale resident. She is the incumbent, having served as assemblymember for the 43rd District in the State Assembly since 2016. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to continue her work to raise the minimum wage, protect the environment, and advocate for universal health care and affordable housing.

As an assemblymember, Friedman has authored and led the passage of several bills related to small business and innovation, and has worked to save developmental disability services, protect public health, and preserve civil rights. Assemblymember Friedman currently serves as chair of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, which covers air quality, climate change, renewable energy, coastal protection, and other environmental issues. Prior to her election to the State Assembly, she served seven years on the Glendale City Council, including a term as the mayor of Glendale.

Assemblymember Friedman’s priorities for AD-43 this year include protecting vulnerable Californians, advocating for better and more efficient mass transit options, and combating the climate crisis. She has a lifetime score of 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assemblymember Friedman has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, she has not supported legislation that would increase oversight of telecommunications companies.

During her first term as assemblymember, Friedman authored a package of bills to institute landmark water-efficiency standards, strengthen environmental sustainability, and expand access to higher education, health care, and transportation alternatives. She is a longtime supporter of environmental causes.

Assemblymember Friedman is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Friedman is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to keep AD-44 on the right track.

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 four-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 44th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Democrats typically hold this district, although a Republican held this seat from 2010 to 2014. The most recent election results show AD-44 voted for Clinton for president in 2016 and Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Irwin led Republican challenger Rob McCoy by a margin of 54.9 percent. Irwin’s campaign has raised $491,633.36. The campaign has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and is funded by police and corporate money, including from Monsanto, Facebook, and Johnson & Johnson. McCoy’s campaign has not made any FEC filings.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin currently resides in Thousand Oaks, CA. She is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2014. According to campaign materials, she is running to keep her seat to continue to create jobs, ensure that her community is safe, and advocate for fiscally responsible governance.

Assemblymember Irwin’s priorities for AD-44 this year include job creation. She has sponsored and co-sponsored two bills about gun violence prevention. Irwin scores a Lifetime Courage Score of 46 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Irwin has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, she has voted against key progressive bills on criminal-justice reform, labor rights, and increasing access to affordable housing.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Rep. Irwin served as mayor of Thousand Oaks. In her first term as assemblymember, she advanced legislation to increase funding for education and mental-health services, expand consumer protections, and address sexual harassment in the workplace. Irwin currently serves as chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Cybersecurity Select Committee, and sits on three additional committees.

Rep. Irwin is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. She is also endorsed by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter McCoy’s potential policies--especially as a pastor who made the news recently by defying a judge’s orders to stop in-person church services during the pandemic--greatly outweighs Irwin’s moderate voting record. According to our analysis, Rep. Irwin is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian to keep AD-46 on the right track. 

About the Position

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a four-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or 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 46th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Democratic Incumbent Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian has held this office since he was elected in 2012. The most recent election results show 76.2 percent of AD-46 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and 78 percent of AD-46 voted for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat Incumbent Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian led Democratic challenger Lanira Murphy by a margin of 39.4 percent. Assemblymember Nazarian’s campaign has raised over $527,000 and is funded by fossil fuels, corporate PACs, and police money. Murphy’s campaign has received $1,376 in contributions and has committed to keeping corporate PAC money and police money out of her campaign. She has not signed the fossil fuel money pledge.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Nazarian was born in Iran and now lives in West Toluca Lake, CA. He previously served as Chief of Staff to former Assistant Majority Leader Paul Krekorian. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Nazarian is running for re-election to increase K–12 and higher learning aid, work with small businesses to keep film production jobs in the district, and improve transportation.

Assemblymember Nazarian’s priorities for AD-46 this year include lowering insulin copays for diabetic Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic and divesting from Turkish bonds. He currently sits on five standing committees: Aging and Long-Term Care (as chair), Arts, Budget, Health, and Transportation. Assemblymember Nazarian has sponsored 55 bills about taxation, wellness programs, health care, and education this year, of which 10 have been successfully chaptered into law.

His lifetime score is 86 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assemblymember Nazarian has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assemblymember Nazarian has not supported SB 1 (strengthening California environmental standards to pre-Trump federal levels), SB 136 (repealing sentencing enhancements for those with prior offenses), AB 1600 (expediting the process to obtain police misconduct records in a criminal trial), AB 290 (preventing dialysis companies from steering patients from Medi-Cal to boost corporate profits), SB 268 (offering voters more information on potentially progressive taxation measures), and AB 1279 (encouraging affordable housing production in “high-resource” areas that show patterns of exclusion). Additionally, Assemblymember Nazarian received a 100 percent score from the California Environmental Justice Alliance in 2019.

Assemblymember Nazarian is endorsed by a majority of progressive groups such as California Democratic Party, Equality California, and California Teachers Association. He is also endorsed by California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and the Peace Officers Research Association. We were unable to find any endorsements for challenger Murphy. Despite his problematic endorsements by law enforcement and occasional moderate voting history on key progressive legislation, Assemblymember Nazarian’s base of support in the district makes him the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo to keep AD-51 on the right track.

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 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County, and includes East Los Angeles and the neighborhoods of Lincoln Heights, Eagle Rock, and Chinatown. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show that 85 percent of AD-51 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 85.9 percent voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

Since the primary, Wendy Carrillo stands unchallenged in this election after she won 86.6 percent of the vote in the primaries. Carrillo’s campaign has raised $438,703.55. She has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money and has accepted funds from all three groups.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo is from El Salvador and moved to the Boyle Heights neighborhood in 1985. She has lived in Los Angeles ever since, and first won her seat in 2017. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Carrillo is running for re-election to fight for opportunity, equality, and fairness.

Assemblymember Carrillo’s priorities for AD-51 this year include improving access to quality education and health care, creating economic opportunity, and providing affordable housing. In the Assembly, Carrillo serves on nineteen committees, including Select Committees on Ending the School to Prison Pipeline and Uplifting Girls and Women of Color in California. She was recently a co-author of AB 1482, which protects renters from unjust evictions and unreasonable rent increases, and was signed into law in 2019. This year, Carrillo has co-sponsored three bills expanding access to affordable housing and providing medical leave protection for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. She scores a lifetime score of 90 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Carrillo has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, she has not supported legislation providing oversight of telecommunications companies.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assemblymember Carrillo was an award-winning journalist, writer, and producer. For ten years, she hosted a community-based radio program on Los Angeles Power 106 fm, discussing issues around access to higher education, environmental justice, and political transparency. More recently, she co-founded Reported.ly, an award-winning social media start-up covering human rights, global conflict, and social movements. She is a longtime supporter of labor rights, health care for all, and better conditions for caregivers.

Rep. Carrillo is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez to keep AD-52 on the right track.

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 52nd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties and the cities of Pomona, Ontario, and Chino. Democrats typically hold this district and Rodriguez has been the incumbent since 2013. The most recent election results show 65.8 percent of AD-52 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 64.1 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Rodriguez led Republican challenger Toni Holle by a margin of 37.7 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Rodriguez’s campaign has raised $460,048.63, including donations from corporations, like Pepsi Co.; police groups, like the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs’; and fossil fuel corporations, like Chevron Corp. Holle’s campaign has raised much less: $1,236.05, mostly from individuals.  

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez is from and continues to reside in Pomona, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2013. According to campaign materials, he is running to continue to represent his district’s needs in Sacramento.

In the State Assembly, Rodriguez introduced legislation to extend public transportation and address public safety concerns. He sits on twelve committees, and chairs the Standing Committee on Public and Retirement as well as the Select Committee on Local Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he worked as an emergency responder and served on the Pomona City Council. He is a longtime supporter of job creation and public safety.

Rep. Rodriguez’s priorities for AD-52 this year include public safety, the economy, and education. He scores a 53 Lifetime Score of out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Rodriguez has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Rodriguez was absent on key votes pertaining to environmental protection, criminal-justice reform, and workers’ rights.

Rep. Rodriguez is endorsed by some progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by police organizations. Although we disagree with Rodriguez being absent for key votes on the issues named above, and know that a stronger progressive candidate would more accurately represent AD-52, Rodriguez is the most progressive candidate on the ballot. That said, we encourage more progressive candidates that will better reflect this community’s needs to run in future cycles.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove to keep AD-54 on the right track.

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 54th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-54 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove led Democratic challenger Tracy Bernard Jones by a margin of 26.9 percent. Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s campaign has raised $456,755 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Jones’s campaign has not filed any apparent campaign finance records with the California Secretary of State and has not committed to any pledges.

About the Candidate

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, former district director for California State Senator and Courage California Endorsee Holly J. Mitchell, is from Chicago, IL, and has lived in Los Angeles since 1990. According to campaign materials, Rep. Kamlager-Dove is running for re-election to fight for more equitable and innovative neighborhoods.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove’s priorities for AD-54 this year include gun violence prevention, further developing her free preschool initiative, and reducing packaging waste. She currently sits on six committees: the Rules (State Assembly and Legislature), Communications and Conveyance, Insurance, Public Safety, and Arts/Entertainment/Sports/Tourism/Internet Media Committees. Rep. Kamlager-Dove has sponsored 235 bills on such topics as prohibiting no-rehire provisions, banning biometric surveillance in police body cameras, and prohibiting the state from charging admin fees to inmates seeking medical care this year, of which over 10 percent have successfully passed. She scores a lifetime 88 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Kamlager-Dove has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Kamlager-Dove has not supported funding public banks, equalizing out-of-pocket emergency health-care costs regardless of insurance coverage, and preventing dialysis companies from redirecting patients away from Medi-Cal. She has accepted $11,400 from DaVita Inc., a private company that commands 37 percent of the dialysis market.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove first worked for the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) in Venice, CA. In 2010, she worked on Courage California Endorsee Holly J. Mitchell’s State Assembly campaign, becoming district director after Mitchell’s victory. In 2015, Kamlager-Dove was elected to the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees, and in 2018, she entered the California State Assembly, winning the special election resulting from Sebastian Ridley-Thomas’s resignation. She holds an undergraduate degree in political science from USC, a master’s in arts management from Carnegie Mellon, sits on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and is a longtime supporter of recognizing and quashing racial and economic biases in the administration of California’s public services.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. She is also backed by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, California Association of Realtors, California Apartment Association, and the aforementioned DaVita Inc. However, we judge that her legislative accomplishments thus far outweigh her occasionally moderate voting record and lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.

Elect State Assemblymember Andrew Rodriguez to push AD-55 in the right direction.

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 55th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 49.9 percent of AD-55 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 52.1 percent of the district voted for Cox for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat challenger Representative Rodriguez trailed Republican challenger Phillip Chen by a margin of 12.4 percent. Rodriguez’s campaign has raised $559,650.25. His campaign has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money, and has accepted funds from a police group. Opponent Chen’s campaign has raised $774,814.84 and has also not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Some of Chen’s biggest donors are police and corporate PACs.

About the Candidate

Andrew Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of the City of Walnut and the 55th State Assembly District. According to campaign materials, he is running for the position to be an accessible, transparent, and effective representative for his community in Sacramento.

Rodriguez is mayor pro tem of the city of Walnut. In this position, he has advocated for more housing in the district and smart growth strategies for the city, and he completed a general plan land-use update for the city for the first time in forty years. He has also worked as a land-use planner in the San Gabriel Valley and on several political campaigns, including then Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s successful U.S. Senate bid.

Rodriguez’s priorities for AD-55 this year include strengthening public education, expanding economic opportunity, and addressing housing and homelessness.

When he was sworn in as mayor of Walnut, Rodriguez was the youngest councilmember serving in Los Angeles County. During his term, Andrew and the city council have balanced the city's budget annually, and have worked to make Walnut one of the safest cities in California. In 2019, Walnut was ranked as one of the financially healthiest cities in California by the State Controller's Office.

Andrew Rodriguez is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. Assemblymember Chen has shown that he does not represent the needs of constituents in facing down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians. According to our analysis, Andrew Rodriguez is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Jose Medina to keep AD-61 on the right track.

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 61st Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-61 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Jose Medina led Republican challenger Ali Mazarei by a margin of 32.4 percent. Medina’s campaign has raised $419,689 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Mazarei’s campaign has raised $176,281, almost entirely from his own pocket and his Arco gas station business, and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges.

About the Candidate

Rep. Jose Medina, a former educator and four-time assemblymember, is from San Jose, CA. According to campaign materials, Rep. Medina is running for re-election to further his efforts to achieve debt-free college.

Rep. Jose Medina’s priorities for AD-61 this year include making Ethnic Studies a high school graduation requirement and engaging young people with his Youth Advisory Committee. He currently sits on six committees: the Higher Education (chair), Arts, Accountability and Administrative Review, Business and Professions, Budget, and Transportation Committees. Rep. Medina has sponsored 239 bills this year on such topics as services for undocumented minors, occupational health and safety, and reducing the use of force by police, of which over 10 percent have successfully passed. He scores a lifetime 75 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Medina has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Medina has not supported preventing dialysis companies from steering patients away from Medi-Cal, strengthening emissions-reporting requirements, establishing oil-spill contingency plans, reducing single-use packaging waste, allowing the sponsorship of public banks, forcing debt collectors to leave a final $1,724 in a bank account, and establishing an organization to raise and distribute affordable housing funds. His No vote on the dialysis bill comes after accepting a total of $14,500 from DaVita Inc., a private dialysis provider that commands 37 percent of the market.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Rep. Jose Medina taught in the Riverside public school system, serving as a school board member on the Jurupa Unified School District Board of Education and completing three successful terms on the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees. During his first term in the Assembly, Rep. Medina secured $15 million for the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. In 2018, he secured $9.7 million to assist in the development of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture, and Industry. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of California, Riverside, and is a longtime supporter of Chicano history and art in the region.

Rep. Jose Medina has received endorsements from some progressive groups in the district. He has also been endorsed by the Peace Officers Research Association of California, California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. He has also accepted money from Pfizer, DaVita Inc., and a number of fossil fuel companies and interests. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Ali Mazarei’s potential policies outweighs Medina’s moderate voting record and inaction on campaign financing. According to our analysis, Rep. Jose Medina is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office at this time, but we urge progressive voices in the district to make themselves heard and run for office in the future.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva to keep AD-65 on the right track.

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 four-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the State Senate and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 65th Assembly District includes parts of Orange County. This is a historically red district that flipped blue when Sharon Quirk-Silva won in 2012. It went back to red in 2014, when she lost her incumbency, and then back to blue when she won again in 2016. The most recent election results show AD-65 voted for Clinton for president in 2016 and Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Sharon Quirk-Silva led Republican challenger Cynthia Thacker by a margin of 15.4 percent. Quirk-Silva’s campaign has raised $529,123.99. Her campaign has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and has accepted funds from all three groups. No FEC filings have been made for Thacker’s campaign, and she is endorsed by the Republican Party of Orange County and the California Republican Party.

About the Candidate

Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva moved to Fullerton when she was two, attended Orange County public schools, earned her bachelor's degree from Fullerton College and UCLA, and her teaching credential from CSU Fullerton. Quirk-Silva defeated a Republican incumbent for this seat in 2012, but lost her bid for re-election in 2014 to Republican Young Kim. She ran again in 2016, defeated Kim, and has served in this seat since. According to campaign materials, Quirk-Silva is running to keep working on education, climate, and economic issues that affect the state of California.

In the State Assembly, Quirk-Silva authored a fee waiver bill that allows the homeless to receive an ID and a copy of their birth certificate without paying for them. Quirk Silva served as chair of the Assembly Jobs Committee and secured $23 million for small businesses. Quirk-Silva currently sits on the Assembly Higher Education Committee and the Communications and Conveyance Committee. Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Quirk-Silva served on the Fullerton City Council starting in 2004 and was elected mayor in 2007.

Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva’s priorities for AD-65 this year include increased funding for schools, expanding the economy, public safety, and expanding access to affordable health care. She currently sits on thirteen committees, including the standing committee on Housing and Community Development and the select committees on Foster Care and Student Debt. Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva has sponsored two bills about housing and homelessness this year. She scores 49 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Quirk-Silva generally votes progressive for bills that address California’s education system and climate change. That said, she has abstained from voting on policies that could help solve other issues, including police transparency.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assemblymember Quirk-Silva worked as a teacher in the Fullerton School District. She is a longtime supporter of affordable housing, quality education, and access to physical and mental-health services.

Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. That said, she is also endorsed by police groups. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Thacker’s potential policies greatly outweighs Quirk-Silva’s moderate voting record and decisions regarding police accountability. Although we disagree with her relationships with the police, her district is vulnerable to flipping red. According to our analysis, Sharon Quirk-Silva is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi to keep AD-66 on the right track.

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 66th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County and the cities of Gardena, Redondo Beach, and Torrance. The district is somewhat purple, and Democrats have typically held this district, although it flipped to red when Muratsuchi lost to his Republican challenger in 2014. The most recent election results show 60 percent of AD-66 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 59.3 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Muratsuchi led Republican challenger Arthur Schaper by a margin of 32.4 percent. Muratsuchi’s campaign has raised $344,833.35 and has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. His campaign has accepted funds from all three groups. Schaper’s campaign has raised much less than Muratsuchi’s--$1,861 in total, all from individual contributions. Schaper has also not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money.

About the Candidate

Rep. Muratsuchi, a former prosecutor and deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice, has lived in Southern California for nearly 25 years. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2016. According to campaign materials, he is for re-election to bring good jobs and quality education to his district, as well as improve environmental protections and veteran services.

In the Assembly, Muratsuchi has advanced legislation to keep aerospace jobs in the state, increase funding for public education, oppose oil drilling throughout California’s coastlines, and to improve the services provided to homeless and disabled veterans.  He currently sits on eight committees and chairs the select committee on Aerospace. Rep. Muratsuchi has co-sponsored two bills on gun violence prevention and consumer protection this year. He scores 64 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Muratsuchi has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he has a clear history of casting bad votes on criminal-justice reform measures.

Rep. Maratsuchi is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by police organizations. However, the threat of right-wing challenger and strong Trump supporter Schaper’s potential policies greatly outweighs Muratsuchi’s moderate voting record and inaction on justice reform. According to our analysis, Rep. Muratsuchi is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Judy Chu to keep CA-27 blue.

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 27th Congressional District includes part of Los Angeles County. This seat has been reliably Democratic since 2001, and has voted for Democratic presidential and gubernatorial candidates in every election since 1996, with the exception of a narrow win by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2006. Hillary Clinton won this district with 66 percent of the vote in 2016, and Gavin Newsom won with 65 percent of the vote in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Judy Chu led Republican challenger Johnny Nalbandian by a margin of 57.5 percent. Rep. Chu’s campaign has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. She has received a total of nearly $800,000 in donations, including donations from Comcast Corporation, FedEx, Google NetPAC, and Lockheed Martin Corporation. Challenger Nalbandian has not taken any fundraising pledges, and has raised only $36,000. One third of his raised funds have been contributed from his own accounts.

About the Candidate

Rep. Judy Chu, a former member of the State Assembly, has lived in Monterey Park for over 30 years. According to campaign materials, Rep. Chu is running for re-election to continue fighting for her constituents through legislation related to social programs, education reform, and small-business support.

Rep. Chu’s priorities for CA-27 this year have included working to reverse the Trump administration’s Muslim ban, establishing increased environmental protections for the San Gabriel Mountain region, and supporting coronavirus relief for small businesses, immigrants, and working families. Rep. Chu serves on two committees: Small Business (ranks 7th), and Ways and Means (ranks 14th). This year, Rep. Chu has voted 99 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 96 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In contrast to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Chu voted in favor of the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act Trade Agreement, and in support of appropriations made to the Department of the Interior, the environment, and other related committees. Rep. Chu has sponsored 46 bills about mental-health care access, immigration protections, and educational equity this year. She has also proposed legislation to support minority-owned businesses that were left out of the COVID-19 relief legislation. Of those 46 bills, two have been referred to the Senate, and the remaining are in committee or referred to committee.

Rep.Chu is endorsed by some progressive groups in the district, including California League of Conservation Voters. She is also endorsed by several police organizations. However, the threat of Republican challenger Nalbandian’s potential policies greatly outweighs Rep. Chu’s relationship with police organizations. According to our analysis, Rep. Chu is the clear choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Adam Schiff to keep CA-28 on the right side of history.

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 28th Congressional District includes part of Los Angeles County. Democrats have held this district since 2002, and have also voted for every Democratic presidential and gubernatorial candidate since 1998.

About the Race
In the primary, Democrat Incumbent Representative Adam Schiff led Republican challenger Eric Early by a margin of 47 percent. While Schiff’s campaign is funded by the fossil fuel industry and corporate PACs, his Republican opponent, Eric Early, has several problematic funders, including California Freedom and Prosperity Fund PAC, which regularly misleads the public about progressive leaders across the country. Schiff’s voting record, however, still shows that he has the progressive values and experience to meet this moment in history.

About the Candidate
Rep. Schiff currently lives in Burbank. According to campaign materials, Rep. Schiff is running for re-election to support American-made products, promote renewable energy, fund affordable education initiatives, support the Equality Act for the LGBTQ+ community, end Citizens United through a constitutional amendment, fix our immigration system, secure our nation and our democracy, and pass gun violence prevention legislation.

Rep. Schiff’s priorities for CA-28 this year have included battling COVID-19 through relief legislation and safety regulation, getting funding for an early earthquake-warning system, rental assistance and affordable housing, space exploration, earth science research, and next steps for a “cap park” across Highway 101 in Hollywood, just to name a few. He currently sits on several committees but is now the top Democrat, or Ranking Member, on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he skillfully led the impeachment inquiry into the current President’s abuse of power. This year, Rep. Schiff has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 95 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, mainly differing on the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Rep. Schiff has sponsored 26 bills around COVID-19, corruption, and other national security items this year, some of which are now on the floor of the Senate. That said, he has cast unfavorable votes on issues pertaining to military spending and the use of military force.  

Rep. Schiff is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. As the only Democratic candidate running in a strong Democratic district, Representative Adam Schiff is the clear choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Brad Sherman to keep CA-30 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 30th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Democrats typically hold this district, and the incumbent Rep. Sherman has held this seat since 2012. The most recent election results show 69.1 percent of AD-30 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 69.9 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Sherman led Republican challenger Mark Reed by a margin of 35.4 percent. Neither campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Sherman’s campaign is funded by banks, fossil fuel money, and Pro-Israel America PAC. Reed’s campaign has not made any FEC filings.

About the Candidate

Representative Brad Sherman was born and raised in Southern California and lives in Sherman Oaks, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. He is the incumbent and is currently serving his 12th term in Congress. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue providing strong progressive leadership in Congress for the labor movement, human rights, animal rights, and the environment.

As a congressional representative, Rep. Sherman has provided leadership in areas that include fiscal policy and foreign relations, and was among the first legislators to call for impeachment against the president in 2017 on the grounds of obstruction of justice. Prior to his election to Congress, he served on the California State Board of Equalization from 1991 to 1996. It is, however, important to note that Rep. Sherman has been called out by former aides for enabling a generally toxic workplace atmosphere, although he has not been accused of any specific abusive acts in or outside the workplace. In addition, Rep. Sherman spoke in 2017 at an event hosted by MeK (Mojahedin-e Khalq), an Iranian group with ties to Rudy Giuliani and John Bolton, and which advocates for U.S. sanctions on and bombing of Iran. His support of the organization incited criticism among anti-war groups and his constituents, many of whom are Iranian-American.

Rep. Sherman’s priorities for CA-30 this year have included fixing the economy, standing up to Wall Street, and protecting Social Security and Medicare. He currently sits on three committees and is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Financial Services Committee. This year, Rep. Sherman has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 95 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. While Rep. Ocasio-Cortez voted against the National Defense Authorization Act, Sherman voted for it. Rep. Sherman has co-sponsored three bills about protecting the USPS, increasing accountability of police misconduct, and limiting American engagement in hostilities in or against Iran this year, of which all have successfully passed.

Rep. Sherman is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by Democrats for Israel Los Angeles, which pressured the California Democratic Party to vote down an amendment to the party platform that would have called for the right of return for Palestinians and resulted in the elimination of references to a two-state solution. However, the threat of the potential policies of his Republican challenger, Reed, who is pro-life, denies climate change, and opposes same-sex marriage, outweighs Sherman’s issues described here. According to our analysis, Rep. Sherman is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Grace Napolitano to keep CA-32 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 32nd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 66.6 percent of AD-32 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 65.2 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Grace Napolitano led Republican challenger Joshua Scott by a margin of 23.5 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Rep. Napolitano’s campaign is funded in large part by utilities, air transport, and construction services interest groups. Scott’s campaign is funded by transport and manufacturing interest groups.

About the Candidate

Representative Grace Napolitano is from Brownsville, TX, and currently resides in Los Angeles County. She is the incumbent, having served in Congress since 1999. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to stand up for labor rights, push for immigration reform, improve veteran services, and restore water infrastructure.

In Congress, Napolitano has advanced legislation to secure funding to improve water management, mental-health services, and has led a task force to reduce gun violence. Prior to her election to Congress, she served on the Norwalk City Council, as mayor of Norwalk, and in the State Assembly.

Rep. Napolitano’s priorities for CA-32 this year include continuing making progress to create new jobs, reaching compromise on immigration reform, attending to skyrocketing college costs, and managing the demand for mental-health awareness and services. She currently sits on two committees: the Committees on Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure. This year, Rep. Napolitani has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 95 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Napolitano has disagreed with Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on two bills, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act and on appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. Rep. Napolitano has co-sponsored six bills providing for childcare, transportation infrastructure, and police accountability, all of which have successfully passed the House but remain in the Senate.

Rep. Napolitano is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. She is also endorsed by the Peace Officers Research Association of California, a law-enforcement interest group. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Scott’s potential policies greatly outweighs Rep. Napolitano’s problematic financial backing and police endorsement. According to our analysis, Rep. Napolitano is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Elect David Kim to push CA-34 in the right direction.

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 34th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 83.6 percent of AD-52 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 84.5 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democratic Party challenger David Kim trailed Democrat incumbent Representative Jimmy Gomez by a margin of 31 percent. Kim has raised $50,619 entirely from individual donors, has pledged to refuse police and fossil fuel money, and has not taken any corporate money, PAC or otherwise. Rep. Gomez has raised $943,524.08 and has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and has received substantial sums of money from corporate interest groups.

About the Candidate

David Kim is a second-generation Korean-American, immigration attorney, and neighborhood councilmember. According to campaign materials, he is running for congress to steer his district out of being the 10th poorest in the nation and advance a comprehensive progressive policy agenda that will put community first.

David Kim’s goals for the district include ensuring safety and justice for Black and brown communities, addressing the housing crisis that disproportionately affects  undocumented people and community members in Westlake, Pico-Union, Lincoln Heights, Boyle Heights, and East LA, reforming disability benefits and advancing ADA protections, protecting religious communities, and providing care and services to veterans. He pledges to work with experts and activists from each underrepresented community in his district, including Latinx, AAPI, Black, disabled, Indigenous, and others. The foundation of Kim’s policy platform is called A Floor to Stand On and includes universal basic income, a Homes Guarantee (which would build 12 million new social housing units over the next 10 years), Medicare for all, a Green New Deal, responsive representation, campaign finance reform, and immigration reform.

Currently an immigration attorney, Kim has worked for the L.A. County District Attorney’s office, where he investigated corruption. He then worked in labor/employment litigation and entertainment law before starting his own law practice while working multiple jobs to make ends meet. In 2019, Kim was elected to the Macarthur Park Neighborhood Council.

David Kim is endorsed by many local progressive groups in the district, including Our Revolution, Sunrise Movement LA, Progressive Asian Network for Action, and Health Care for All LA. Incumbent representative Jimmy Gomez has steered a mostly moderate course in Congress and has secured most of the establishment endorsements. Given his history of community organizing, detailed intersectional policy platform, and support from local progressive groups, David Kim is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Raul Ruiz to keep CA-36 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 36th Congressional District includes parts of Riverside County. Republicans typically held this district until 2012, when Ruiz won and flipped 36 from red to blue. The most recent election results show 52.2 percent of AD-36 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 53.2 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018. While pollsters consider the district solidly Democratic, early in the 2018 campaign season, both parties identified the area as a battleground district.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Ruiz led Republican challenger Kimberlin Brown Pelzer by a margin of 39.1 percent. Neither campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Ruiz’s campaign is funded by both health professionals as well as pharmaceutical companies. Pelzer’s campaign has not made any FEC filings.

About the Candidate

Representative Raul Ruiz grew up in Coachella, CA, and currently resides in La Quinta, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2013. According to campaign materials, he is running to serve his community and address the issues his district faces by being a strong advocate in Washington.

In Congress, Rep. Ruiz has utilized his knowledge as an emergency physician to push to save such programs as Medicare and Social Security. Furthermore, he has been a strong advocate for veterans, and a voice of opposition against the influence of special interests in Washington.

Rep. Ruiz has progressive positions when it comes to preserving the environment and ensuring access to affordable, quality health care. That said, he has voted against key progressive bills pertaining to military spending and other issues involving trade and earlier votes on the impeachment of the President.
 
Rep. Ruiz’s priorities for CA-36 this year include protecting Medicare and Social Security, building a stronger economy, and opposing DC-insider perks. He currently sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This year, Rep. Ruiz has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 94 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Ruiz voted for the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act, while Rep. Ocasio-Cortez voted against it. Rep. Ruiz has co-sponsored three bills about law-enforcement accountability, protecting the USPS, and a resolution that expressed disapproval of Trump administration actions regarding Medicaid, all of which have successfully passed the House but remain in the Senate.  

Rep. Ruiz is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. The threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Pelzer’s potential policies greatly outweighs Ruiz’s moderate voting record and inaction on military spending, trade, and impeachment. According to our analysis, Rep. Ruiz is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Karen Bass to keep CA-37 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 37th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 85.7 percent of AD-37 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 86.3 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Karen Bass led Republican challenger Errol Webber by a margin of 88.4 percent. Neither campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Rep. Bass’s campaign is funded by corporate PACs. Webber’s campaign is funded by retirees and other PACs. Incumbent Rep. Bass has raised much more than Webber, with $1,574,918.20 against Webber’s $28,383.54.

About the Candidate

Representative Karen Bass is from Los Angeles. She is the incumbent, having served in Congress since 2011. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to continue to play a leading role in protecting voting rights, health care, jobs, education, criminal-justice reform, and standing up to the Trump administration.

In Congress, she has worked to protect peoples’ voting rights, access to health care, jobs, quality education, and to hold those in power accountable. She has also advanced progressive policies and instituted initiatives to help Congress better serve the people. Bass developed the Congressional Council, which provides her constituents with the ability to learn about issues in Congress and how they can become involved in the legislative process. Prior to her election to Congress, she served in the State Assembly as the speaker.

Rep. Bass’s priorities for CA-37 this year have included criminal-justice reform, providing COVID-19 resources to underserved communities, and supporting human rights advocates in authoritarian states. She currently sits on two committees: the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee. This year, Rep. Bass has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 96 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Bass has co-sponsored two bills--to protect the USPS and to remove all statues of people who served the Confederacy from the US Capitol. Rep. Bass also sponsored one bill this year, increasing police accountability, which successfully passed the House but remains in the Senate.

Rep. Bass is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Bass is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Maxine Waters to keep CA-43 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 43rd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Republicans held this district until 2002, when Joe Baca won and flipped CA-43 from red to blue. The most recent election results show 78.4 percent of AD-43 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 78 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Waters led Republican challenger Joe Collins III by a margin of 67.1 percent. Neither campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Rep. Maxine Waters’s campaign has raised $1,173,263.74 and is funded by Democratic Party–aligned PACs. Collins’s campaign has not made any FEC filings.

About the Candidate

Representative Maxine Waters is from St. Louis, MO, and moved to Los Angeles in 1961. She is the incumbent, having served in Congress since 1991. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to continue to advocate for the needs of her district and to hold those in power accountable.

In Congress, Rep. Waters has secured $10 billion in Section 108 loan guarantees, spurred economic and infrastructure development, and played a pivotal role in establishing the Youth Fair Chance program, which provides unemployed youth with skills training for well-paying jobs. Prior to being elected to Congress, she served in the State Assembly.

Rep. Water’s priorities for CA-43 this year have included seeking police accountability, standing with Amazon workers, protecting Medicare patients, and expanding services for veterans. She currently chairs the House Committee on Financial Services, where she leads the fight to hold financial institutions accountable for predatory behavior. This year, Rep. Waters has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 94 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Waters has sponsored one bill, providing immediate housing and rental relief, and co-sponsored five bills this year, all of which have successfully passed the House but remain in the Senate.

Rep. Waters is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Waters is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Nanette Barragán to keep CA-44 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 44th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles Counties. Republicans held this district until 2012, when Janice Hahn won and flipped CA-44 from red to blue. The most recent election results show 83 percent of CD-44 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 81.4 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Barragán led Democratic challenger Analilia Joya by a margin of 49 percent. Barragán’s campaign has pledged to refuse fossil fuel money, but has yet to pledge to refuse corporate PAC and police money. While Barragan’s campaign has signed the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, it has still accepted money from Edison International, whose subsidiaries still use fossil-fuel-generating facilities. Barragan’s campaign is also funded by corporate PACs and labor organizations. Analilia Joya’s campaign has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, nor has it made any FEC filings.

About the Candidate

Representative Nanette Barragán is from Los Angeles and currently resides in San Pedro, CA. She is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2017. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to fight for immigration reform, veterans, access to quality health care, and the environment.

In Congress, Rep. Barragán works to protect vulnerable communities, social security, and Medicare from Republican attacks. She became a leading critic and leader against the administration's policy of child separations. Prior to her election to Congress, she served as mayor of Beach City and worked at the NAACP to address racial health disparities and discrimination.

Rep. Nanette Barragán’s priorities for CA-44 this year have included advocating for protecting the USPS, improving air-quality monitoring, and increasing federal support for schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. She currently sits on two committees: the Committees on Homeland Security and on Natural Resources. This year, Rep. Barragán has voted 97 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 96 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Barragán has co-sponsored five bills this year--about expanding childcare, policy accountability, and protecting the USPS--all of which have successfully passed the House but remain in the Senate.

Rep. Nanette Barragán is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Nanette Barragán is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Elect George Gascón to push Los Angeles County in the right direction. 

About the Position

The district attorney (DA) serves as the chief prosecutor for their designated county. The district attorney’s duties include reviewing police reports, determining criminal charges, and prosecuting criminal cases. The district attorney oversees a staff of prosecutors, who are responsible for presenting cases against individuals suspected of breaking the law, initiating investigations and recommending sentencing. The district attorney holds the power to grant immunity, conduct investigations of individuals, plea bargain with defendants, and is responsible for conducting investigations into every police misconduct incident. 

About the District

Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the United States. It encompasses a population of over 10 million, with significant Latinx, Black, and Asian populations. Notable cities within the county include Los Angeles, Inglewood, Long Beach, and Compton. Notable issues within the county’s criminal justice system include high rates of incarceration and police brutality.  

About the Race

In the March 3 primary election with three candidates, challenger George Gascón qualified along with incumbent Jackie Lacey, who failed to secure over 50 percent of the vote. At that time, Gascón trailed DA Lacey by a margin of 20 percent. Since then, as a result of the recent Black Lives Matter demonstrations, DA Lacey has been under increasing pressure to account for her problematic record of not listening to community groups and failing to prosecute police officers. Several elected officials have also rescinded their endorsements of DA Lacey since the start of the demonstrations.

Gascón’s campaign is largely funded through individual donations, as well as contributions from labor unions and law firms. He has joined forces with San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin and Contra Costa DA Diana Becton to call all DAs and DA candidates to reject police union support as a conflict of interest. Gascón has not received any police, corporate, or fossil fuel money. 

Opponent Jackie Lacey’s campaign’s funding is mostly composed of law-enforcement contributions, including a $1 million donation from the Los Angeles Police Protective League, $800,000 from the L.A. County sheriff’s deputies, and over $100,000 from the Peace Officers Research Association of California. Unions such as the Los Angeles Police Protective League have also contributed over $1 million to an anti-Gascón PAC. This push against Gascón from law enforcement is a direct result of Gascón’s commitment toward stricter oversight of police use of force. 

About the Candidate

George Gascón, a Cuban immigrant and longtime Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) police officer is known as a groundbreaking progressive leader in criminal justice reform in the country. Gascón is running for district attorney in Los Angeles because he believes the way the criminal justice system operates in Los Angeles must change.

George Gascón moved back to L.A. to run for district attorney there, leaving his role as district attorney in San Francisco, where he was appointed to the seat in 2011, and he was re-elected twice. As the San Francisco DA, Gascón led a slate of progressive reforms, including lowering incarceration rates, expunging more than 9,000 marijuana convictions dating back to 1975, and launching a first-of-its-kind website that provides data on prosecutions, caseloads, and trial outcomes to the public in order to increase accountability and transparency in the criminal justice system. 

Gascón started his career as a cop in Los Angeles. His trajectory took him to the top of the LAPD, where, as assistant chief, he oversaw operations of more than 9,000 officers. Throughout his career, Gascón has demonstrated the ability to think in new ways about complex problems in criminal justice and to create meaningful change in the culture and operations of police departments, including the LAPD, the Mesa Police Department, and the SFPD. 

In his role as San Francisco DA, Gascón increased the prosecution of sexual assault cases, and created response teams, education programs, partnerships, and a new law-enforcement unit focused on addressing child abuse and sexual assault. He implemented practices and resources that centered on survivors and is currently proposing policies that protect undocumented, LGBTQ, and student survivors while prioritizing cultural and linguistic competency. 

Gascón’s priorities for Los Angeles County address issues of immigration, corruption, and climate justice. Gascón has experience prosecuting both corporations and individual polluters and has committed to protecting the environment. Additionally, Gascón promises to fight against public corruption and promote accountability among Los Angeles County officials. Gascón is committed to opposing the death penalty and the use of money bail, both of which disproportionately target Black and brown populations.

One of Gascón’s most notable priorities is addressing police brutality and holding law enforcement accountable. This is particularly relevant, considering Los Angeles County police have killed nearly 900 people since 2000, of which a majority are Black and brown victims. Only two officers have been charged for shooting civilians while on duty. This discrepancy is largely due to incumbent DA Jackie Lacey’s failure to prosecute the officers. In nearly all 886 cases of police violence, DA Lacey deemed use of force as legally justified. 

Gascón’s track record and position on law-enforcement accountability is rare, particularly for someone with a law-enforcement background. During his term as San Francisco DA, Gascón prosecuted more than 30 police officers for criminal conduct. In 2019, while many police, law-enforcement officials, and prosecutors fought against its passage, Gascón advocated for Assembly Bill 392, also known as the Stephon Clark Bill, or the deadly use of force bill, which created a stricter standard for police use of force. He remains the only law-enforcement official in California to advocate for this legislation; every other prosecutor, including incumbent L.A. County DA Jackie Lacey, refused. 

Throughout all these initiatives, Gascón has demonstrated an awareness of underserved communities’ needs. His awareness of the intricacies of racial bias is necessary, now more than ever, for the district attorney’s office. That awareness, however, is not what makes Gascón an ideal choice. While critics tend to focus on his background as a police officer who rose through the ranks, it is his departure from policing in pursuit of systemic reform that sets him apart. 

In a time of heightened injustice, Gascón stands out from other political candidates in that he has studied his past actions and outcomes, listened to communities affected by the system, and changed his views and behaviors in response to become a more effective and compassionate leader. His willingness to prosecute police brutality cases and his track record on creating solutions that have become models for criminal justice reform advocates are highlights of his case for becoming Los Angeles’s next district attorney. 
 
Gascón is a compelling challenger to incumbent Jackie Lacey, who has consistently resisted public pressure to hold police accountable for the more than 618 people who have been killed by police in Los Angeles County since her election in 2013. According to our analysis, George Gascón is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

About Courage California’s Endorsement

After a comprehensive review of George Gascón’s record and from local partners, we have determined that he is committed to criminal justice reform, environmental justice, racial equity and justice, and immigrant rights. His experience in the community and 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. Gascón’s dedication to holding law enforcement accountable for police brutality demonstrates the integrity Californians need more now than ever. We are confident that he will rule cases with equity and justice. Courage California is proud to endorse George Gascón.

Elect Holly J. Mitchell to push Los Angeles County in the right direction. 

About the Position

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 administered by their own city councils, as well as unincorporated areas 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.

About the District

Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the United States. It encompasses a population of over 10 million, with significant Latinx, Black, and Asian populations. District 2 includes the cities of Carson, Compton, Culver City, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Los Angeles (portion), Lynwood, as well as a number of unincorporated areas within the county. The five-member board of supervisors is the governing body of Los Angeles County and manages a budget of nearly $35 million annually, which they administer with the support of the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office. 

About the Race

State Senator Holly Mitchell is running against opponent Herb Wesson, member of the Los Angeles City Council. According to recent polling numbers, Sen. Mitchell is leading opponent City Council Member Wesson by a margin of 13 percent, with many voters in the district still undecided.

Sen. Mitchell’s campaign has raised $445,000 through June 2020 and has pledged to not take police or fossil fuel money. Her campaign, primarily funded by individuals, labor unions, and the campaigns of colleagues in the state legislature, has accepted several donations from corporate PACs. These PACs include Herbalife International Inc. PAC, and Enterprise Holdings, Inc. Political Action Committee, the employee PAC for the brands Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent a Car.

City Council Member Herb Wesson’s campaign has raised just over $550,000 in the same period and has not pledged to avoid any types of campaign contributions. His candidacy is supported by multiple independent expenditure efforts that spent over $1.2 million on his behalf in the primary, with $715,000 coming from three police officer unions. City Council Member Wesson played the key role in passing an amendment to the Los Angeles City Charter to reduce disciplinary procedures for Los Angeles police officers. Additionally, when he served in the Assembly, Wesson received over $10,000 in contributions from the private prison industry and supported private prisons with SB297 (The bill was vetoed by former Gov. Gray Davis).

About the Candidate

State Senator Holly Mitchell is a third-generation Angeleno and continues to live in Los Angeles, where she serves as a state senator for California’s 30th Senate District. According to campaign materials, Sen. Mitchell is running to represent District 2 on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in order to meet the real needs of local communities in Los Angeles County.

Sen. Mitchell was elected to the state Assembly in 2010 and moved to the Senate in 2013. She is currently serving her final term (2018–2022) as a state senator and is the first African American Chair of the powerful Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. During her tenure, Sen. Mitchell proposed a set of criminal justice reforms that were signed into law. The reforms consisted of 10 laws to reduce barriers for Californians affected by the criminal justice system by reducing sentence enhancements for low-level drugs, removing court fees for the innocent, sealing arrest records for people not convicted, ending the sentencing of juveniles to life without parole, and other advancements. She has been a notable progressive influence in other areas as well, with nearly 90 bills signed into law on issues that include homelessness, mental health, children’s rights, and job protections.

In office, Sen. Mitchell has scored an overall 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting record. Recently, Sen. Mitchell has taken a stand on a problematic statewide housing bill, working with a coalition representing low-income communities to demand stronger protections for low-income people, people of color, and other vulnerable people most strongly affected by the housing crisis.

Courage is proud to endorse Sen. Mitchell because of her track record as a champion for underrepresented and marginalized communities in California and her reputation as a strong leader on ethics for other legislators. The Los Angeles Times described her as “the Legislature’s moral compass.” Sen. Mitchell is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Sen. Mitchell is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

About the Misinformation

A website and TV ads mischaracterizing Senator Mitchell have been unveiled by her opponent, Wesson. The ads accuse Sen. Mitchell of personally supporting private prisons in return for “thousands” of dollars to her campaign. Her campaign reported returning the unsolicited $1,000 in question, and her voting record in the State legislature proves she has never supported private prisons. On the contrary, Senator Mitchell’s record shows she has been a staunch advocate for criminal justice reform and decarceration. Sen. Mitchell and other advocates have encouraged Councilmember Wesson to return the money he has received from the private prison industry, but he has not done so as of Oct 16, 2020.

About Courage California’s Endorsement

After a comprehensive review of Holly J. Mitchell’s record and consultation with local partners, we have determined that she is committed to criminal justice reform, environmental justice, racial equity and justice, and immigrant rights. Her experience in the community and in the California State Legislature combined with her pledges to refuse money from the fossil fuel industry and police are in alignment with the progressive future Courage California hopes to achieve in which special interests have no place in politics. Mitchell’s ideas and proposals are thoroughly well-thought out and demonstrate her strong, structural grasp on the issues Californians face. We are confident that she will co-govern in the interests of all Los Angeles residents. Courage California is proud to endorse Holly J. Mitchell for Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.