3rd Senate District

Brynne Kennedy and moved to Roseville, CA in 2019. According to campaign materials she is running for Congressional District 4 because she is disillusioned with partisan gridlock in Washington and government inefficiency.

Brynne Kennedy is the former CEO of Topia, an HR software company she founded to innovate the way companies relocate their employees. As CEO, she offered her employees paid parental leave as well as stock ownership. Through Topia, Kennedy also founded Mobility4All, a philanthropy initiative that relocates refugees and those fleeing poverty. She supports policies that ensure equal pay for women, the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, and the protection and expansion of access to reproductive health services.

Kennedy is running against Tom McClintock (R) who is the incumbent and has held the position since 2009, as well as Julianne Benzel (R), Jamie Byers (R), Jacob Thomas (R), and Robert Lawton (NPP). According to recent election results, this is a very challenging race for Democrats to win. Though we are concerned that Kennedy remains markedly silent on immigration, her strong support for equality and women’s rights would move the district forward on those progressive issues and make her a strong choice in this race.

According to our analysis, Brynne Kennedy is the strongest choice for effective leadership in office.
 

Dr. Ami Bera was first elected to California’s 7th Congressional District in 2012, defeating Republican incumbent Dan Lungren after redistricting. Rep. Bera was born and raised in southern California, and earned his B.S. and M.D. from the University of California, Irvine. He moved to the Sacramento area in the mid 1990s and currently lives with his family in Elk Grove. As a doctor, improving access to health care and reducing prescription drug costs have been central to Rep. Bera’s platform, as has protecting Medicare and Social Security. 

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Bera served as Sacramento County’s Chief Medical Officer, and was a clinical professor and associate dean for admissions at the University of California, Davis. 

In the House, Rep. Bera currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; he is also the Chair of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. 

Rep. Bera has been a strong proponent of women’s issues, including improving early access to healthcare, protecting reproductive choice, increasing funding for Title X and the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. He has fought the Trump administrations roll backs of clean air and water regulations, and supports investments in renewable, green energy, but is not a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal resolution. After California’s devastating wildfires, he co-sponsored legislation to improve the resilience of electrical grids. He’s stated his support of publicly owned utilities but has not specifically called for public ownership of PG&E. He supported the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which, among other reforms, would allow Health & Human Services to negotiate the cost of 250 drugs for Medicare recipients. While he supports a path to universal healthcare, he has not supported Medicare for All plans.  

Rep. Bera is running against Jeff Burdick (D), Jon Ivy (R), Buzz Paterson (R), and Chris Richardson (G). The district is a battleground district that can be tough for Democrats to win; the margin of victory was often less than 3% for Bera. While Rep. Bera is more conservative on some issues, this seat is a must-keep for Democrats, and his support on other key progressive issues is vital. Rep. Bera is the best choice for a progressive voice in this race. 
 

Christine “Chris” Bubser is from Pennsylvania and has lived in Mammoth Lakes for over 13 years. According to campaign materials, she’s running for office to bring responsive representation to California’s 8th Congressional district.  

Bubser is a biotech engineer and healthcare advocate. The 2017 attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act led her to advocate in Washington, and she decided to run for office after the indifference she experienced. In her community, Bubser is a trustee at her Temple and a co-founder of HODG (HangOutDoGood), a grassroots community of hundreds of volunteers who work to elect progressive candidates. 

Bubser is running against nine other candidates: Bob Conaway (D), James Ellars (D), Tim Donnelly (R), Jerry Laws (R), Jay Obernolte (R), Jeremy Staat (R), Justin David Whitehead (R), Jeff Esmus (NPP). Incumbent Paul Cook (R) is not seeking re-election. Recent election results show it's hard for Democrats to win this seat. Chris Bubser is the best progressive choice thanks to endorsements from over a dozen progressive organizations, elected officials, and community leaders. 

According to our analysis, Chris Bubser is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.

Jerry McNerny is from New Mexico and has lived in California since 1990. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2007. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue to be an independent voice for the 9th District. 

Jerry McNerney currently serves in the House of Representatives, where he has written and passed laws that include the better treatment of veterans returning home with traumatic brain injury, as well as improved training for new green jobs and increased investment in infrastructure for electric vehicles. He currently serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Prior to his election to Congress, he worked as a renewable energy engineer and founded a company that manufactures wind turbines.

Jerry McNerney has introduced a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would limit funding for candidates and ballot measures from direct donations from individual citizens, restrict campaign contributions, and essentially eliminate Political Action Committees. 

Jerry McNerney is running against William Martinek (R) and Antonio Amador (R). According to recent election results, Democrats can win this seat but it's often a close race. Though we disagree with McNerney’s often punitive stances on immigration, as well as calls for increased funding for law enforcement and surveillance at the border, his position in Congress helps to advance progressive policies on issues such as climate change and makes him the strongest choice for in this race.

Rep. Josh Harder lives in his hometown of Turlock, CA. He is the incumbent, having beat the sitting republican in a tight race in 2018, which helped Democrats to win back control of Congress. According to campaign materials, Harder is running for re-election to protect access to health care, create good-paying jobs, reform our broken immigration system, and to secure and grow his area’s water supply.

In Congress, Rep. Harder has advocated for the needs of the agriculture industry by addressing issues of climate change, and has fought to support California’s farmers. Rep. Harder currently sits on the House Committees on Education and Labor, as well as the Agriculture Committee. Prior to serving in congress, Harder was a business professor at Modesto Junior College. Harder has also passed on his small business knowledge to developing economies through volunteer efforts. While working at Boston Consulting Group, he took a leave of absence to help small farmers in Kenya and Uganda organize for economic cooperation and development.

Rep. Harder is running against Michael “Mike” Barkley (D), Ryan Blevins (D), Bob Elliot (R), Maria Sousa Livengood (R), and Ted Howze (R). According to recent election results, it's difficult for Democrats to win this seat as Rep. Harder did in 2018. His strong progressive track record as well as his recent win in a recently flipped district make him the strongest choice in this race.
 

Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry grew up in Yolo County and lives in Winters, CA. She is the incumbent, having served as Assemblymember for the 4th District in the State Assembly since 2016. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to continue to be a fierce advocate for Democratic values and for the small cities and towns that make up District 4.

During her tenure, Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry has worked to serve the interests of rural residents, farmers and agricultural workers, and local government. She has authored successful legislation to protect small family farm homesteads, improve the quality of recycling programs by local governments, and to improve voter registration in counties throughout the state. Through her efforts, she helped establish the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to protect environmental lands across five counties. In the Assembly, Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry currently chairs the Local Government Committee and the Select Committee on Wine. She also currently serves as Chair of the Yolo Housing Commission, Vice-Chair of the Yolo County Water Association, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Council of Governments. Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry served as the first woman Mayor of Winters.

Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry is being challenged by Sophia Racke (D) and Matthew Nelson (R). Based on Courage Score, our annual analysis of a legislator's progressive voting records, Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry has a mixed record advocating for the needs of constituents and facing down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians. In 2019, she scored a 90 out of 100 on Courage Score. That said, in 2017, she received a 79, and in 2018, she received a 61. According to our analysis, Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office, although we will continue to closely watch her voting record.

Tracie Stafford is a 53 year old resident of Elk Grove, born to a single mother and orphaned at the age of 12 along with her 4 siblings. She is the first in her family to earn a college degree. According to Stafford, she is running to end corporate-dominated politics and to give a voice to the unheard, under-served and disenfranchised.

Stafford is a community leader, an elected assembly district delegate, and was appointed by the governor as Chair of the city of Sacramento’s small business board. Stafford supports legislation that closes the gender and racial wage gap while ensuring that women, the LGBTQ+ community and people of color are provided with equal opportunities in the workplace. She will work closely with labor to ensure that workers are being treated justly and with dignity regarding pay, benefits, and access to promotions.

Stafford’s commitment to justice and equity is fueled by her personal experiences with poverty, discrimination, child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She plans to advocate to preserve confidential, unrestricted access to affordable, high quality, culturally sensitive health care services, including the full range of reproductive services, contraception and abortion, without requiring guardian, judicial, parental, or spousal consent or notification.

Stafford brings a strong track record and deep relationships in progressive politics and public service. Among many other roles and affiliations, Stafford has served as President of the Women Democrats of Sacramento County, as Political Action Chair for the Sacramento NAACP, and as a founder of Indivisible Women of California.

Stafford is challenging incumbent Jim Cooper (D), who has consistently opposed progressive priorities by siding with corporate lobbyists and failing his constituents on many issues include the environment and worker protections. Other candidates include Mushtaq Tahirkheli (D), and Eric Rigard (R). Stafford is the strongest choice in a crowded field because of her track record as a progressive champion for the underserved and disenfranchised, and as an advocate for her region’s priorities in the Democratic Party.

Voting for Stafford is an opportunity to elect a legislator who will accurately represent the perspective and priorities of her district in Congress. Courage California strongly endorses Tracie Stafford for State Assembly.
 

Assemblymember Marc Levine lives in Marin County with his wife and twin daughters. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2012. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to improve California's schools, preserve the environment, advocate for a sustainable government budget, and maintain an economy that welcomes innovation. 

In the State Assembly, Levine has helped increase investments for public education, supported measures to increase access to higher education, created incentives to promote sustainable practices for environmental preservation, and lifted up policies that increase access to affordable housing. Courage has criticized Levine in the past for accepting money from Big Oil investors and prioritizing the interests of real-estate developers over environmental protection. He has a lifetime “B” grade (83 out of 100) on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislator's progressive voting record. In deep-blue Marin County, that’s not good enough, particularly since he received an unacceptable “C” grade in both 2016 and 2017.

Levine currently serves as Chair of the Select Committee on International and Regional Agreements and sits on the committees on Agriculture, Higher Education, Rules, as well as Water, Parks, and Wildlife. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Levine served on the San Rafael City Council where he gained a reputation for a proactive approach to environmental issues on a local level. Prior to taking any public office, Levine earned his Master’s Degree in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School, and later developed technology for human rights organizations all over the world.

Levine is being challenged by Ted Cabral (D), Veronica “Roni” Jacobi (D), and Ron Sondergaard (R). Neither of the two Democrat challengers met our viability criteria detailed on the Methodology page. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Levine has done a decent job standing up for the needs of constituents and facing down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians, but has room for improvement. Given the make-up of his district, improvement should be expected. 

According to our analysis, Levine is the best choice for progressive leadership in this district, although a viable progressive challenger would deserve a close look.
 

Paul Akinjo (D) is a pastor, Alameda County support technician, and has been a Lathrop City Councilman for seven years. He is the only Democrat in this race. While we do not have sufficient information about this candidate to confirm his viability, we recommend supporting Akinjo as a more progressive alternative to the current incumbent, Heath Flora (R).

Akinjo is an immigrant who came to the U.S. from Nigeria in the 1980s and has lived in Lathrop since 2001. During Akinjo’s time on the Lathrop City Council, the city has gone from no financial reserves to $10 million in savings as its seen growth in housing and business. Akinjo has advocated in Sacramento on homelessness, housing, natural disasters, water and transportation. If elected, Akinjo would focus on transportation funding, mental healthcare, and housing. 

Assemblymember Heath Flora has represented District 12 in the State Assembly since 2016. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Flora has shown that he does NOT advocate for the needs of constituents or face down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians. He scored a 2 out of 100 on this year’s Courage Score, our annual analysis of a legislator's progressive voting records. In summary, Assemblymember Flora is not serving his constituents with progressive solutions.

According to our analysis, Paul Akinjo has the potential to provide stronger progressive leadership in office. 
 

Buffy Wicks was raised in rural California and permanently moved to Oakland in 2016. She is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2019. According to campaign materials she is running for re-election because she is a lifelong Californian and a former grassroots organizer who wants to use her federal and local experience to continue to fight for equity and economic security in the region.

In the State Assembly, Wicks has introduced a renter’s protection bill, championed consumer protections, authored a bill to reestablish California's Healthy Start program to connect children and families with critical services, and joined a gun violence prevention working group. Wicks serves on five Assembly committees, including Budget, Public Safety, Banking and Finance, Privacy and Consumer Protection, and Rules. Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Wicks campaigned for Howard Dean, and ran field operations for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Wicks served as the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement during the Obama Administration and worked to advocate for the Affordable Care Act. After leaving the White House, Wicks was a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress where she focused much of her work on seeking innovative ways to establish economic security for women and families.

Wicks is being challenged by Sara Brink (NPP) and Jeanne Solnordal (R). In 2019, she scored a 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislator's progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Wicks has consistently shown great courage in advocating for the needs of constituents and facing down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians.

According to our analysis, Buffy Wicks is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
 

Senator Bill Dodd (D) is the incumbent, having served as Senator for the district since 2013. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Senator Dodd has shown that he does NOT advocate for the needs of constituents or face down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians. Dodd scored a shocking 57 out of 100 on this year’s Courage Score, our annual analysis of a legislator's progressive voting records.
 
Senator Dodd is running unopposed. Courage California encourages you to write in a candidate of your choice to show support for progressives in this district. Keep reading for progressive recommendations in other key races and on ballot measures where your vote can make a critical difference.

Diane Burgis lives in Oakley with her family and has lived in Contra Costa County for most of her life. She has served as the Supervisor for District 3 for three years. According to campaign materials she is running for re-election to continue advocating for responsible environmental stewardship, improved transportation infrastructure, and effective delivery of county services. 

As the Supervisor for the County’s largest geographic district, Diane serves on over two dozen committees including the 2020 Census, the Delta Protection Commission, and the Contra Costa County Family Justice Center. Before her election to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, she served in the East Bay Regional Park District as the Ward 7 Director. While there, she managed a $205 million budget for over 120,000 acres in both Alameda and Contra Costa County. 

Diane Burgis is running against Paul Seger, who serves on the Board of Directors for the Diablo Water Project. Despite Paul Seger’s seemingly progressive agenda, Diane Burgis' notable strong support from local officials and organizations make her the stronger candidate. 

According to our analysis, Diane Burgis is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
 

Belia Ramos grew up in Pope Valley and St. Helena and lives with her family in American Canyon. She is the incumbent and has served in this position since 2017. Belia Ramos is seeking a second term as the District 5 Supervisor because she is “dedicated to making Napa County a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

As the District 5 Supervisor, Belia Ramos has focused on improving transportation and infrastructure, affordable housing, and helping residents rebuild after the 2017 and 2019 storms. Her achievements include promoting alternatives to Highway 29 and implementing Measure T and SB 1 funds to repave county roads. She also secured funding for 329 affordable housing units and wants to create a funding mechanism to construct more Accessible Dwelling Units (ADUs).  Supervisor Ramos serves as the Elected Vice President of the Association of Bay Area Governments where she addresses the housing crisis. Prior to her election to the County Board of Supervisors, she served as a member of the American Canyon City Council from 2012 to 2016, where she focused on transportation, economic development, public art, public safety, and community engagement. 

Supervisor Ramos is running against Mariam Aboudamous, the current Vice Mayor of the American Canyon City Council. Despite a similar progressive agenda, Supervisor Ramos is the better progressive choice because of her track record and experience.

Based on our analysis, Belia Ramos is a strong choice for progressive leadership in office.
 

K. Patrice Williams moved to Solano County over 20 years ago and lives in Fairfield with her son and husband. According to campaign materials, her goals as Supervisor are to effectively fund solutions to homelessness and build more affordable housing, repair streets and roads, and create a regional parks system for Solano County.

K. Patrice has worn many professional hats, including working a tech startup and as an attorney for low-income tenants facing eviction. Currently, she runs the employment consulting firm she founded. Her civic involvement also spans a range of issues: she served as public policy commissioner for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, volunteers with  “Solano Seniors Count,” a group of citizens aiming to protect senior services, and founded the Solano County chapter of Black Women Organized for Political Action. 

K. Patrice is challenging incumbent, Monica Brown, who has held the seat since 2016. K. Patrice Williams is the noteworthy progressive choice because of her proven commitment to marginalized communities and her vision for an economically empowered Solano County. 

According to our analysis, K. Patrice Williams is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
 

A long-time resident of the City of Davis, Linda Deos originally intended to run for Davis City Council. She was inspired to run for Yolo County Supervisor after conversations with residents and activists made it clear issues like criminal justice reform and immigration were county-wide issues.

Linda Deos is a consumer protection attorney who has effectively defended clients in bankruptcy, student loans, and debt collection. She is running on a platform of criminal justice reform, housing, and sustainability. Deos wants to make Yolo a “Rural Innovation Hub” to attract higher paying jobs, affordable housing for all, non-incarcerative justice, and a local Green New Deal. She also volunteers at Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals’ Know Your Law Clinics, and as a mediator for ADA disability access cases for the Eastern District of California. She also serves on the Davis Utility Rate Advisory Commission, the Cannabis Tax Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and the Board of Directors for the Yolo Basin Foundation.

Linda Deos is running against David Abramson, a local activist, to unseat incumbent Jim Provenza. Linda Deos is the best progressive choice because of her strong, well-rounded vision for Yolo County.

According to our analysis, Linda Deos is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.