City of Fresno

Representative Mike Thompson is from St. Helena, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 1999. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election because he understands how to bring people together to solve his district’s needs. 

In Congress, Rep. Thompson has advanced efforts to rebuild the middle-class, increase access to healthcare, ensure seniors and veterans aren’t left behind and preserve the environment. He currently sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, as well as the Health Subcommittee and serves as Chair of the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee. Prior to his election to Congress, he worked in the California State Senate and the United States Army, where he was recognized with a purple heart for his service.

Rep. Thompson has progressive positions when it comes to gun safety legislation and increasing access to affordable healthcare. That said, he has unfavorable positions when it comes to immigration and is a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition. 

Rep. Thompson is being challenged by Jason Kishineff (D), John Wesley Tyler (D), and Scott Giblin (R).  According to recent election results, Democrats usually win this seat. Though we disagree with Rep. Thompson's stances on immigration and his affiliation with the Blue Dog Coalition, his relationships with partners, his position of power in Congress, his progressive position on issues like gun safety, and his Democratic opponents' lack of viability makes Thompson the strongest choice in this race.

Rep. Cox was born in Walnut Creek, California and grew up in the Central Valley, the son of immigrants. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2019. According to campaign materials he is running to keep his seat to continue serving the working families of the Central Valley. 

In his first term in Congress, Rep. Cox has worked to secure funds for essential water infrastructure improvements in the Central Valley, to improve healthcare delivery and asthma treatment in rural communities, and to extend clean energy tax credits for business owners. He has also proposed legislation that could help dozens of cities in his district achieve safe drinking water standards, working closely with cities and environmental justice groups across the Valley to draft the bill. Rep. Cox currently chairs a subcommittee of the House Committee on Natural Resources. Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Cox was an engineer and also created the Central Valley Fund, which raises money for projects located in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods throughout the Central Valley.

Rep. Cox has shown strong support for farmers, rural communities, and veterans in Congress. That said, he has at times voted in support of amendments that have the effect of weakening progressive legislation. 

Unfortunately, Rep. Cox isn’t without complications. His eyebrow-raising business history and practices have come under scrutiny and lawsuits have surfaced accusing Rep. Cox of committing fraud and owing money to investors.

Rep. Cox is being challenged by David Valadao (R), who he bested in 2018 by less than 1,000 votes (and has his own questionable financial history). He is also challenged by Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente (R) and Ricardo De La Fuente (D). According to recent election results, it's rare that Democrats win this seat as Rep. Cox did in 2018. His track record of fighting for Central Valley families and his strong base in a recently flipped district makes him the strongest choice in this race.
 

Cooley moved to East Sacramento County community of Rancho Cordova in 1977 and has served in various public offices there since 2002. Cooley is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2012. According to campaign materials, Cooley is running to keep his seat to address California’s homelessness crisis and to continue his work on behalf of foster youth.

Cooley currently serves as Chair of the Select Committee on Foster Care, where he has focused on increased visibility for the needs of children and caretakers in the foster care system. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Cooley was a Rancho Cordova founding town council member, where he served for 10 years.

Cooley identifies as a fiscal conservative on his campaign site and has Cooley abstained from and even voted against specific policies that could protect tenants’ rights, promote gun violence prevention legislation and curb climate change.

Cooley is being challenged by Republican Cathy Cook. In 2019 Cooley scored a 27 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislator's progressive voting records. According to recent election results, Democrats usually win this seat. Though we disagree with many of Cooley’s votes, his strong base and endorsements, combined with the lack of more progressive candidates on the ballot, make him the strongest choice in this race.
 

Ash Kalra has lived in San Jose for over 35 years. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2017. According to campaign materials he is running for re-election because as a longtime resident of San Jose, he is committed to improving the region’s environmental footprint and public safety.

In the State Assembly, Kalra has has been outspoken in his advocacy for clean energy and preserving public green spaces. He is the author of the bill that banned single-use plastic toiletries in California hotels, and introduced legislation to protect tropical forests. Kalra has also worked on social protections, authoring bills to eliminate high school exit exams, and protect DACA recipients in the state. Kalra currently serves as the Chair of the Labor and Employment Committee, and sits on four additional committees. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Kalra was an attorney with the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office, working primarily to provide drug offenders with the opportunity to complete rehabilitation programs. Kalra was elected to the San Jose City Council in 2008 where he worked to stimulate economic growth and improve the public transportation system.

Kalra is being challenged by G. Burt Lancaster (R). He scores a lifetime 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of a legislators’ progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Kalra has consistently shown great courage advocating for the needs of constituents and facing down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians.

According to our analysis, Ash Kalra is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
 

Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula is from Delano, CA, and currently resides in Fresno, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2016. According to campaign materials, he is running to keep his seat because he wants to continue to work on behalf of his community and advocate for their needs in Sacramento.

In the State Assembly, he has fought to ensure farmers have access to water, address public safety concerns, create incentives to increase economic development, secure funds for improving his district’s infrastructure, and to provide veterans with the support they deserve. Arambula currently serves as Chair of the Select Committee on Regional Approaches to Addressing the State's Water Needs, as well as an additional six committees. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he worked as an emergency room physician where he learned that having quality healthcare is important for people to have a decent quality of life.

Arambula has progressive positions as it pertains to investing in infrastructure, providing assistance to food banks addressing hunger, and increasing resources for mental health services. That said, in 2019, he was absent for key progressive votes on healthcare and other issues including the environment, housing, and labor rights.

Arambula is being challenged by Fernando Banuelos (R). In 2019, Arambula scored a 63 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislator's progressive voting records. According to recent election results, Democrats usually win this seat. Though Arambula was absent for key votes on the progressive issues named above, and we know that a stronger progressive candidate would more accurately represent district 31, Arambula is the most progressive candidate on the ballot. That said, we hope to see more progressive candidates that will better reflect this community’s needs in future cycles.
 

Andrew Janz was raised in the Central Valley, and returned to the region after completing his J.D. at Southwestern Law School. According to campaign materials, he is running for City of Fresno Mayor to use his local influence to establish effective policy responses to homelessness and housing, public safety issues, and public spaces.

Janz is a Deputy District Attorney with the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Janz has founded the Voter Protection Project to reinforce voter rights, and challenged Congressman Devin Nunez in the 2018 midterm elections. Janz raised $9.2 million dollars, more than any other congressional candidate, and came within 6 points of unseating Nunez, an incumbent Republican in an historically red district. Janz has worked on statewide initiatives related to higher education and voter registration, was a member of the Law Review at Southwestern, and worked as a law clerk for District Court Judge Carolyn Ellsworth in Nevada.

Janz is running against candidates Brian E. Jefferson, Nickolas Wildstar, Floyd D. Harris Jr., Johnny W. Nelum, Bill Gates, Jerry Dyer, and Richard B. Renteria. Janz stands out as the progressive choice because of his impressive 2018 house run, his commitment to homelessness and public safety, and his principled refusal to accept developer donations in his Mayoral campaign.

According to our analysis, Andrew Janz is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.