5th Senate District

Re-elect Congressional Representative Josh Harder to keep CA-10 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 10th Congressional District includes Stanislaus County and portions of San Joaquin County. Incumbent Josh Harder flipped this district in 2018, when he was elected to his first term in Congress. The most recent election results show 48.5 percent of CD-10 voted for Hillary Clinton for president and 45.5 percent voted for Donald Trump. In 2018, 50.5 percent of voters chose a Republican candidate over Gavin Newsom, indicating that CD-10 is a purple district.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Josh Harder led Republican challenger Ted Howze by a margin of 10.2 percent. Rep. Harder’s campaign is not funded by fossil fuel money; however, he has accepted at least $24,000 from corporate PACs and $10,000 from Rep. Lowenthal, who is funded by the National Fraternal Order of Police PAC. Howze’s campaign has not committed to any of the pledges and is backed by BP Industries and MTC Distributing. Also noteworthy is that 40 percent of Howze’s total funds raised were from candidate self-financing.

About the Candidate

Rep. Harder, a former businessman, is from Turlock, CA. According to campaign materials, Rep. Harder is running for re-election to stand up to Washington’s corruption and put Valley families first.

Rep. Harder’s priorities for CA-10 this year have included affordable health care, fair and humane immigration reform, fighting corruption, building sustainable water infrastructure, and creating jobs. He currently sits on two committees: House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Education and Labor. This year, Rep. Harder has voted 97 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 91 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In the two votes that Pelosi and Rep. Harder disagreed on, Pelosi voted for the Bipartisan Budget Act on Passage, while Rep. Harder voted against, and Rep. Harder voted with Republicans for the American Dream and Promise Act, while Pelosi voted against. On July 21, 2020, Rep. Harder voted against H.R. 6395, the Pocan Amendment, which would have cut all Pentagon funds and accounts by 10 percent. As of August 21, 2020, Rep. Harder has yet to cosponsor H.R. 40, which would begin the formal process of studying the case for reparations to Black Americans, despite saying that he has been a lifelong proponent of social justice.

Rep. Harder has sponsored 37 bills about education, national security, health, taxation, and agriculture this year, of which none have successfully passed.

Rep. Harder is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups and leaders, such as President Barack Obama, End Citizens United, California Teachers Association, and Moms Demand Action. He is also endorsed by Deputy Sheriff Dana Rodriguez and former Chowchilla Police Chief Al Lucchesi. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Howze’s potential policies greatly outweighs Harder’s moderate voting record and lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Rep. Harder is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Barbara Lee to keep CA-13 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 13th Congressional District includes parts of Alameda Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show CA-13 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race
In the primary, Democrat Incumbent Representative Barbara Lee led Republican opponent Nikka Piterman by 85.4 percent. Lee has held this seat since 2013, and her campaign has pledged not to accept money from the fossil fuel industry. Piterman’s campaign has not committed to any such pledge and is running a campaign based on strengthening the national security apparatus and extraterrestrial defense concerns. Barbara Lee has raised $1,344,189, while Nikka Piterman has raised $5,635.

About the Candidate
Rep. Barbara Lee is a former member of the California State Assembly and State Senate and has served as a House representative for 22 years. She is originally from El Paso, TX. According to campaign materials, Rep. Lee is running for re-election to promote the arts and culture in California, strengthen civil rights protections, and invest in public education.

Rep. Barbara Lee’s priorities for CA-13 this year include blocking the President from declaring war on Iran, continuing her expansion of HIV/AIDS treatment, and fighting domestic poverty with food-assistance programs. She currently sits on two committees: the House Committee on Appropriations, where she is vice chair of the House Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and the House Committee on Budget. This year, Rep. Lee has voted 96 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 96 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Lee has sponsored 54 bills this year, notably including the expansion of public health care, gun record accountability, increasing CEO tax rates, and tenants’ rights. On January 30, 2020, Rep. Lee’s bill to repeal the 2002 authorization of military force against Iraq was passed into law.

Rep. Barbara Lee is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. Her record in Congress is staunchly and successfully anti-war, pro–gun control, and anti–death penalty, and she has recently offered her support to Medicare for All. According to our analysis, Rep. Barbara Lee is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Jackie Speier to keep CA-14 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 14th Congressional District includes parts of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties. Democrats have held this district since it was flipped from red to blue in 1992. In recent general elections, the district voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton in 2016, and for Gavin Newsom in 2018.

About the Race
In the primary, Democrat Incumbent Representative Jackie Speier led Republican challenger Ran Petel by a margin of 61.3 percent. Representative Speier has run and won against all challengers for this seat since 2008. Speier’s campaign has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Representative Speier’s campaign has accepted corporate PAC funds from groups that include Walmart Inc. PAC for Responsible Government, Facebook Inc. PAC, and Biopharma ThermoFisher Scientific PAC. Speier has also received money from Edison International PAC, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities and provider of industrial and commercial energy services. No FEC filings have been made about opponent Petel’s campaign’s funding.

About the Candidate
Rep. Speier was born and raised in San Francisco and has been a longtime public servant, having first been elected to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors in 1980. She won a special primary for the 14th Congressional District on April 8, 2008, and has run on platforms advocating for gender equity, gun violence prevention, and LGBTQ equality.

Rep. Speier’s priorities for CA-14 this year have included the reporting of data on COVID-19 in federal, state, and local correctional facilities, authorizing the use of funds for comprehensive reproductive health-care services, and modifying and enhancing protections for federal government whistleblowers. She currently sits on two committees: the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Armed Services Committee. This year, Rep. Speier has voted 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 95 percent of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In contrast to Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Speier voted in favor of the motion to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment and in favor of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement Implementation Act. Rep. Speier has sponsored 55 bills about civil rights and liberties, minority issues, environmental protection, and labor and employment rights, of which three have passed one chamber.
 
Rep. Speier is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. Despite her imperfect campaign-financing record and her moderate stances, she has a track record of working with statewide progressive groups. According to our analysis, Rep. Speier is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.

Elect Kathy Miller to push AD-13 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 13th Assembly District includes part of San Joaquin County. Notable cities within the district include Stockton and Tracy. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-13 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018, both with large victory margins. AD-13 is very diverse, with a Latinx majority of 42 percent.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat challenger Kathy Miller trailed the other Democrat challenger Carlos Villapudua by a 4 percent margin. Miller's campaign has raised upwards of $105,000, largely from individual, real estate, women’s and labor associations, and trade union donors. Miller has not received police, fossil fuel, or corporate funding; however, she has not signed the #NoCopMoneyCA pledge. Opponent Democrat challenger Carlos Villapudua has raised more than $51,000 and is funded through law enforcement and fossil fuel money.

About the Candidate

Kathy Miller is from Southern California and moved to Stockton in 1997. She has served on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors since 2014. According to campaign materials, she’s running for Assembly District 13 Representative to advocate for the homeless, improve neighborhoods, and balance the state budget.

Miller has proven her commitment to progress through her hands-on experiences in public office. At present, she heads the Homelessness Task Force, as well as the Children and Youth Task Force on the Board of Supervisors for San Joaquin County. These two forces, now known as the San Joaquin Continuum of Care, increased the number and improved the quality of public services offered to adults and children reckoning with poverty and homelessness. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Miller utilized her position to ensure that issues of health care and food insecurity were addressed. She is committed to transferring that same dedication in her role in the State Assembly, and promises to fight for health-care expansion for women, seniors, and families.

Prior to her appointment to the Board of Supervisors, Miller was a councilmember in the Stockton City Council from 2009 to 2014. She spent four of those years as vice mayor, and emerged as a strong voice for fiscal responsibility and an open, transparent, and accountable local government.

Considering the diversity of AD-13, particularly in the city of Stockton, Miller’s campaign has failed to address issues related to the district’s minority population. These issues include both immigration and police brutality. In a city where Black civilians are 2.9 times as likely and Latinx civilians .9 times as likely to have deadly force used on them by police, law enforcement must be held accountable. Although Miller has not taken any law-enforcement funding, she does not list police accountability as an issue of focus for her campaign. Stockton is also home to the Stockton Staging Facility, a holding area used by ICE to temporarily house detainees. The facility has been the focus of criticism, and does not contain sleeping quarters or showers. Similar to police brutality, Miller has remained silent on this issue.

Miller is running against Democrat Carlos Villapudua in this upcoming election. Villapudua has strong ties with both law enforcement and the fossil fuel industry. He is endorsed by the California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations, and has not taken a solid stance on many progressive issues. Miller has received notable endorsements from Equality California, California Federation of Teachers, and the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Despite our concerns regarding her silence on issues critical to the district, Miller is a particularly strong progressive choice because of her extensive experience in public office and strong endorsements from local and statewide organizations.

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

Re-elect State Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan to keep AD-16 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 16th Assembly District includes portions of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Republicans held this district until 2008, when Democrat Joan Buchanan  won and flipped AD-16 from red to blue. It has flipped back and forth in the last decade. Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan has served AD-16 since 2018. The most recent election results show 64.5 percent of AD-16 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and 63.2 percent voted for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan led Republican challenger Joseph Rubay by a margin of 36.6 percent. Bauer-Kahan’s campaign has raised $873,755 and is funded by corporate PACs, police money, and fossil fuel money. Rubay’s campaign has raised $16,525, of which $15,300 is from candidate self-financing. Rubay has not committed to any of the pledges to refuse corporate PACs, fossil fuel, or police money.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, a law professor and attorney, is from Orinda, CA. Prior to her election to the State Assembly, she taught law at Santa Clara University and Golden State University. She is a longtime supporter of fighting climate change and for a women’s right to choose. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan is running for re-election to protect the environment, fight Trump’s immigration policies, increase access to quality, affordable health care, and help small businesses thrive.

Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan’s priorities for AD-16 this year include education, public safety, and labor. She currently sits on five committees: Appropriations, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, Privacy and Consumer Protection, Public Safety, and Banking and Finance. She also serves as chair on the Select Committee on Women’s Reproductive Health. Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan has sponsored 31 bills about public safety, environment safety, and labor this year, of which nine have been successfully chaptered. She scores a lifetime score of 81 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.

Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, she has not supported AB 290, which would prevent dialysis companies from steering patients from Medi-Cal to boost corporate profits. This is not surprising, considering Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan has accepted $12,900 from the two dialysis giants in California: Fresenius and DaVita. Additionally, she has consistently failed to support essential housing bills, such as AB 1487, AB 1482, and AB 1279. By accepting almost $10,000 from powerful landlord-lobbying groups like the California Apartment Association PAC and Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles PAC and failing to support these bills, Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan has shown AD-16 where her priorities lie.

Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan is endorsed by several progressive groups, such as EMILY’s List, NARAL Pro-Choice California, and the California League of Conservation Voters. At this time, she does not have any problematic endorsements. The threat of Republican challenger Rubay’s potential policies on strengthening police to solve gun violence greatly outweighs Bauer-Kahan’s moderate voting record and lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Marc Berman to keep AD-24 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 24th Assembly District includes San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Marc Berman has held this position since being elected in 2016. The most recent election results show 78.2 percent of AD-24 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016, and 76.7 percent voted for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Assemblymember Marc Berman led Republican challenger Peter Ohtaki by a margin of 53 percent. Berman’s campaign has raised $491,613 and is funded by police money, fossil fuel money, and corporate PACs. Ohtaki’s campaign has raised $1,800, has not committed to any of the pledges, and is funded entirely by individuals.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Berman, a lawyer, is from Palo Alto. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he worked with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation to support efforts to close the achievement gap through STEM education in Silicon Valley. He later served as a Palo Alto City Councilmember, increasing the city’s financial transparency. He is a longtime supporter of increasing election accessibility and infrastructure. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Berman is running for re-election because he wants to use his long history of public service to continue to push California forward on election security and higher education accessibility.

Assemblymember Berman’s priorities for AD-24 this year include election protections and transportation. He currently sits on five committees: Elections and Redistricting (chair), Governmental Organization, Insurance, Privacy and Consumer Protection, and Transportation. He also serves as chair for both the Select Committees on the Census and the Master Plan for Higher Education in California. Assemblymember Berman has sponsored 45 bills about elections, technology, education, and transportation this year, of which 17 have been successfully chaptered.

He scores a lifetime score of 92 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assemblymember Berman has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he failed to support AB 1505, which would empower local districts to evaluate charter-school applications based on economic-impact criteria. This is not surprising, considering he has accepted campaign money from California Charter Schools Association Advocates for Great Public Schools. Additionally, Assemblymember Berman voted to support AB 1366, which would eliminate critical oversight of telecom companies. He has also accepted campaign money from Verizon, one of the largest telecom providers.

Assemblymember Berman is endorsed by several progressive groups in the district, such as Peninsula for Everyone, AFSCME California, and the California Labor Federation. However, the threat of Ohtaki’s potential policies greatly outweighs Berman’s lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Assemblymember. Berman is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Elect Susan Eggman to the State Senate keep SD-05 on the right track.

About the Position
State senators represent and advocate the needs of their district at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating legislation that addresses issues within their district, as well as voting and debating on pre-existing laws. The California State Senate has 40 congressional districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 people. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate’s 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 29 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 11 seats.

About the District
California’s 5th Senate District includes all of San Joaquin County and parts of Stanislaus and Sacramento Counties. Notable cities within the district include Stockton, Tracy, Lodi, Galt, and the majority of Modesto. Democrats typically hold this district. Most recent election results show this district voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018, with small victory margins in both elections. The district includes a significant Hispanic population (37.7 percent).

About the Race
In the primary, Democrat challenger Susan Eggman led Republican challenger Jim Ridenour by a margin of 10.9 percent. Eggman’s campaign has raised $1.1M, and top funders include labor associations, such as the California Teachers Association and United Domestic Workers of America, as well as contributors from the energy and natural resources sector. Eggman’s campaign has received corporate, police, and fossil fuel money. The opposing campaign, for Ridenour, has raised about $9,000, including many individual contributions.

About the Candidate
Susan Eggman is a current State Assemblymember residing in Stockton, CA. She is originally from Turlock, CA, which is located just south of State Senate District 5. According to campaign materials, Eggman is running for state Senate to fight for Central Valley water rights, veteran services, and access to higher education within the district.

As a State Assemblymember, Eggman currently represents California’s 13th Assembly District. During her eight-year tenure, Eggman has prioritized education expansion and health-care access, and has advocated for resources to address crime. Also in her Assemblymember role, Eggman has led efforts to establish a California State University in Stockton, and has challenged the delays in establishing the French Camp CA Medical Clinic. She has been an ongoing voice of opposition toward the proposal to develop tunnels through the San Joaquin River Delta. Additionally, Eggman has authored legislation in support of undocumented residents and alternative programs as a replacement for incarceration. Prior to her position in the state legislature, Eggman worked as a combat medic for the United States Army, and later as a social worker focusing on issues of substance abuse and mental health. In 2006, Eggman was elected to the Stockton City Council as the first Latina and openly gay member of office.

Eggman is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district, including Equality California, Sierra Club California, California Teachers Association, and AFSCME. Additionally, she has received endorsements from Governor Gavin Newsom, County Supervisor Kathy Miller, and the California Democratic Party. Other key endorsements include a number of District 5 council members, the California Women’s List, Latinas Lead California, and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. In 2019, as an Assemblymember, Eggman scored 86 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. According to our analysis, despite the weakness of her campaign-financing record, Eggman is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Elect Vinnie Bacon to push Alameda 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, which are administered by their own city councils and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically ‎limited to three terms, or 12 years in office total.

About the District

Alameda is California's 7th most populous county. Alameda County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 1.53 million people and manages an estimated budget of $3.5 billion annually. According to the County Charter, Alameda County is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors directly elected by voters in their respective districts. District 1 includes the cities of Fremont, Livermore, and Dublin.

About the Race

In the primary, challenger Vinnie Bacon led challenger David Haubert by a margin of 1.3 percent. Bacon’s campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC and fossil fuel money, but has yet to pledge to refuse police money. Haubert’s campaign has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Neither campaign has made any campaign finance filings.

About the Candidate

Vinnie Bacon, an environmental engineer with experience in city planning, has lived in Fremont for more than 20 years. Bacon has served as Fremont City Councilmember since 2016. According to campaign materials, Vinnie Bacon is running to bring integrity, independence, and representation to the district.

Vinnie Bacon’s priorities for Alameda County this term include the construction of affordable housing, to push for a Green New Deal, and to bring smart traffic and transit planning to the county. His campaign emphasizes clean money and not bowing to deep pockets and special interests. According to campaign materials, Bacon is the only candidate in this election who stands up unambiguously for LGBTQIA+ equality and a woman’s right to choose.

Councilmember Vinnie Bacon grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and worked as an environmental engineer after college. After moving to Fremont, Bacon worked as transportation planner for several years. Before becoming councilmember, Bacon served on the City of Fremont’s Economic Development Advisory Commission. Councilmember Bacon serves on the Sierra Club’s San Francisco Bay Chapter Executive Committee. As Fremont City Councilmember, Bacon has fought for affordable housing, opposed encroachment on open spaces, demanded an acceleration of the $15 minimum wage, and stood up for DACA recipients against the bigotry of the Trump administration.

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

Elect Rhodesia Ransom to push San Joaquin 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, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically ‎limited to three terms, or 12 years in office total.

About the District

San Joaquin is California's 15th most populous county. San Joaquin County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of almost 800,000 people and manages an estimated budget of $1.8 billion annually. District 5 includes the cities of Manteca, Lacy, Lathrop, and Mountain House CSD.

About the Race

In the March 3 primary election, Tracy City Council Member Rhodesia Ransom trailed challenger Robert Rickman by a margin of 12.6 percent. Neither campaign has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Ransom’s campaign raised more than $50,000 between February and June and is mostly funded by individuals. Rickman’s campaign has raised around $30,000 for the same period and is mostly funded by individuals, but also by construction companies.

About the Candidate

Rhodesia Ransom is from San Francisco and has lived in Tracy for nearly 20 years. According to campaign materials, she is running for San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors because she wants to continue to collaborate with local groups and use her decades of community knowledge to support families and advance public safety.

Ransom is a member of the Tracy City Council, where she works to address the systemic issues in housing, education, and job growth that challenge her community. Ransom has co-founded several organizations and issue-based boards, including Sow A Seed Community Foundation and the Tracy Community Homelessness Task Force.

Rhodesia Ransom is a longtime public servant in her community, particularly around issues of youth empowerment.Over the years, she has been involved in initiatives designed to improve economic outcomes in the City of Tracy, including serving seven years on the Planning Commission, and acting as a board member for the San Joaquin Partnership. These efforts have provided Ransom with an understanding of how homelessness, access to education, and limited economic opportunities are interconnected issues that must be addressed comprehensively. At the same time, she is also a founding board member of the Tracy Police Activities League, which founded a boxing gym for young people located in the Tracy Homes public housing neighborhood. While framed as a youth violence prevention program, boxing programs like this have not shown clear evidence of positive outcomes, and critics suggest that the sport can actually reinforce the view that violence is a practical solution to a problem.  

Councilmember Ransom’s priorities for San Joaquin County this term include tackling homelessness, government accountability, and public safety.

Ransom is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. She is also endorsed by several police groups. Despite her police backing, Ransom stands out as the progressive choice because of her extensive work in the community and her commitment to addressing issues through strategic collaboration. According to our analysis, Rhodesia Ransom is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect Michael D. Tubbs as mayor to keep Stockton on the right track.

About the Position

The mayor of Stockton is elected in a two-round citywide election. The first round, the primary election, is open to all candidates. The top two candidates from the primary election advance to the general election. Write-in candidates are only allowed to contest the primary election and are not allowed in the general election. The mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms. The city of Stockton uses a council-manager government. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body, while the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.

About the City

Stockton is San Joaquin County’s most populous city, with significant Latinx, Asian, and Black communities, listed in order of population. The mayor’s office of Stockton oversees the needs of an estimated 300,000 people and manages an estimated budget of $7.8 million for 2020.

About the Race

In the primary, incumbent Michael D. Tubbs led challenger Kevin Lincoln II by a margin of 19.9 percent. Tubbs’s campaign has raised $277,680 and has pledged not to accept any money from law-enforcement organizations. Lincoln’s campaign has raised $28,680 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. While mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan, Michael D. Tubbs has stated a personal preference for the Democratic Party. Kevin Lincoln II has previously run for State Assembly with the Republican Party and describes California as “one of the unfriendliest business states in the nation.”

About the Candidate

Michael D. Tubbs, from Stockton, CA, returned to the district after completing his master’s degree at Stanford, and has served as mayor since 2016. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to further improve Stockton’s economic foundation, public education system, transitional/affordable housing, and public safety standards.

As mayor, Michael D. Tubbs successfully invested in increasing the number of Stockton students attending and completing college. He also established a partnership with Advance Peace to Stockton, a data-forward program that works to reduce and prevent gun violence, and piloted the nation’s first municipal universal basic income program, improving the city’s economic status and reducing poverty. Tubbs is the youngest person in the country to be elected to the mayor’s office in a city with a population over 100,000 and is the first African American mayor to serve Stockton. Prior to his term as mayor, Tubbs served on the Stockton City Council at age 22, where he created the Office of Violence Prevention and was chair of the Audit & Legislative Committee. His achievements and passion for his hometown have been chronicled in the HBO documentary Stockton on My Mind.

Endorsed by such organizations as Planned Parenthood and AFL-CIO, Michael D. Tubbs stands out for his demonstrated commitment to improving Stockton through education initiatives, violence prevention programs, and novel economic stimulation. According to our analysis, Michael D. Tubbs is the strongest choice for representative and equitable leadership in office.

Elect Jovanka Beckles to push the AC Transit Board in the right direction. 

About the Position

Transit systems in California are generally governed by a five-person board. A transportation board is responsible for operating transit service, setting service levels, routes, and fares, and regulating transit facilities. AC Transit Board directors are elected every four years and can serve indefinite four-year terms until they resign or are replaced.

About the District

AC Transit Board is responsible for public transportation within Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The AC Transit Board oversees the needs of 1,423,713 people according to the most recent population report in 2011 and manages an estimated budget of $471 million annually. The AC Transit Board is managed by a seven-person president-director structured government. AC Transit Board Ward 1 serves 284,966 people and operates in Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Kensington, and Richmond.

About the Race

Jovanka Beckles is the only challenger to incumbent Joe Wallace, who was first elected to AC Transit Board Ward 1 in 2000 and has been re-elected every term. He currently serves as president of the board. Wallace is endorsed by San Pablo City Council Member Rita Xavier and the Sierra Club. No campaign filing statements have been filed for either Wallace or challenger Jovanka Beckles. 

About the Candidate

Jovanka Beckles, a former Richmond City Council member, is from Richmond, CA. Beckles is also a children’s mental-health professional, a leader in the Richmond Progressive Alliance, and a self-described democratic socialist following the tradition of Martin Luther King, Jr. She is a longtime supporter of environmental protections and public safety, having co-sponsored the Climate Emergency Declaration in Richmond, voted against Chevron’s plan to produce dirtier crude oil, and opposed the transportation of coal into Richmond. According to campaign materials, Beckles is running for election at the urging of AC Transit workers in Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192. 

Beckles’s priorities for the AC Transit Board this term include establishing fare-free transit, making a Green New Deal for transit in the East Bay a reality by taxing corporations, ensuring a safe ride for all--specifically with COVID-19 in mind--and continuing to fight for labor rights for transit workers, including safe working conditions. 

Beckles is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups and elected officials in the district, such as Carroll Fife (director of Oakland’s ACCE Action chapter), Lateefah Simon (BART Board of Directors, District 7), East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, and Mark Williams (AC Transit Board of Directors, Ward 4). Beckles does not have any problematic endorsements at this time. According to our analysis, Beckles is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Elect Board Member Jamie Salcido to push BART District 1 in the right direction. 

About the Position

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system, or BART, is split into nine districts within Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties. Each district elects one board member to a four-year term. Once elected, one member acts as president, and five officers are appointed: general manager, controller-treasurer, independent police auditor, general counsel, and district secretary. In 2019, BART served 118 million passengers, averaging 411,000 per weekday.

About the District

BART District 1 lies within Contra Costa County and includes the following stations: Concord, Lafayette, Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre, and Walnut Creek.

About the Candidate

Jamie Salcido is a transportation commissioner for Walnut Creek and a health-care marketing manager. According to campaign materials, Salcido is running for election to address the extended impact of COVID-19 and bring ridership back; to keep riders safe by increasing collaboration with local governments, nonprofits, and social services agencies, as opposed to the police; and to ensure that BART continues its transition to Communication-Based Train Control, allowing trains to run at closer intervals.

As transportation commissioner, Jamie Salcido focuses on improving traffic congestion, downtown parking, and moving people out of single-occupancy vehicles in favor of efficient and clean public transit. With a background in urban design, she has built transit-related projects that enhance the safety of public spaces with visibility and lighting systems, and improve community connectivity with pedestrian and bike paths.

Jamie Salcido is endorsed by many progressive organizations in the district, such as the League of Conservation Voters of the East Bay, Contra Costa Young Democrats, LAMBDA Democrats, East Bay for Everyone, and a number of trade unions and labor councils. According to our analysis, Lateefah Simon is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.
 

Re-elect board member Lateefah Simon to keep BART on the right track. 

About the Position

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system, or BART, is split into nine districts within Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties. Each district elects one board member to a four-year term. Once elected, one member acts as president, and five officers are appointed: general manager, controller-treasurer, independent police auditor, general counsel, and district secretary. In 2019, BART served 118 million passengers, averaging 411,000 per weekday.

About the District

BART District 7 lies within the Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties and includes the following stations: Ashby, El Cerrito del Norte (partial), El Cerrito Plaza (partial), MacArthur (partial), Montgomery (partial), Richmond, West Oakland, Embarcadero (partial).

About the Candidate

Incumbent Boardmember Lateefah Simon, a community activist and president of the BART District Board for 2020, is from the Fillmore district of San Francisco. Legally blind and a working mother, Simon is running for re-election to continue serving the working people, seniors, and people with disabilities who rely on BART. She has expressed a long-term desire to secure enough funding to make public transit free.

Lateefah Simon began her community engagement at age 15, organizing for the Center for Young Women’s Development. By 19, she was appointed executive director and served 11 years, bringing the organization to national acclaim. At 26, her work with the Center earned Simon the distinction of youngest woman ever to receive a MacArthur Fellowship. She went on to lead the creation of San Francisco’s first reentry services division under the leadership of then District Attorney Kamala Harris. Simon later served as executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and as program director at the Rosenberg Foundation.

Currently, Lateefah Simon works as president of the Akonadi Foundation, an organization based in Oakland that funds and nurtures racial-justice movements, seeking to eliminate structural racism and expand opportunity for youth of color. She is also a California State University Trustee, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2016 to serve the largest public university system in the world.

Incumbent Boardmember Lateefah Simon is endorsed by many progressive organizations in the district, such as the Harvey Milk Club; San Francisco Bicycle Coalition; SF Renters Alliance; the East Bay, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Young Democrats; and a number of trade unions. According to our analysis, Lateefah Simon is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.