37th Assembly District

Representative Salud Carbajal, a veteran, was born in Mexico and emigrated as a child with his family to Arizona and later Oxnard, CA. After high school, Carbajal attended the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and went on to obtain his Master's Degree in Organizational Management from the Fielding University. Carbajal spent eight years in the United States Marine Corps, including active duty during the 1991 Gulf War.

Carbajal was elected to the 24th District in 2017 after serving on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for 12 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for reelection on a platform that promotes a robust Central Coast through investments in infrastructure and housing, renewable energy and environmental protections, and workforce development.

Salud serves on the House Committee on Armed Services, the House Committee on Agriculture, and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where he was elected to serve as the Vice Chair. As part of his commitment to renewable energy, Salud’s first act in Congress was to introduce the California Clean Coast Act, which would ban future offshore oil and gas drilling on California’s coast. He also secured $1 million for the Santa Barbara Veterans Treatment Courts and has introduced legislation to combat veteran homelessness.

Representative Carbajal is being challenged by Andy Caldwell (R), a conservative radio host, and Kenneth Young (NPP). Based on our analysis, Rep. Salud Carbajal has consistently demonstrated a commitment to progressive issues, from protecting the environment to ensuring DACA protections remain in place.

According to our analysis, Rep. Carbajal is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in this district.
 

Kipp Mueller is from Sacramento and moved to Santa Clarita, CA, in 2019. According to campaign materials, he is running for State Senate to represent the needs of the working and middle class families over special interests.

Mueller is a workers’ rights and immigration attorney, representing workers and unions in legal disputes with large corporations. As a workers’ rights and immigration attorney, Mueller has successfully represented union workers who have experienced fatal work accidents, and worked as a pro-bono asylum attorney at an ICE detention center in Adelanto.

Mueller is running against Warren Heaton, Jr. (D), Dana LaMon (D), Steve Hill (D), and incumbent Scott Wilk (R). According to recent election results, this is a tough race for Democrats. Mueller is the best progressive choice because of his track record of defending workers’ rights, his commitment to defend our values, and to fight for a better future.

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

Ellen Beraud is challenging incumbent Debbie Arnold for District 5 Supervisor in San Luis Obispo County. Beraud is running on a platform to address the housing crisis--particularly addressing the needs for workforce housing--as well as the promotion of renewable energy, sustainable groundwater management, sensible cannabis regulation, improving infrastructure, and job growth. She has resided in San Luis Obispo County for 20 years. 

Beraud has been critical of the board’s inaction on a variety of issues. She is calling for a transparent groundwater use plan as communities have been negatively impacted by drought. She wants the county to provide more funding to address the homeless crisis, including providing mental health and addiction services. 

While campaigning, Beraud has expressed concerns about potential local job losses with the closure of Diablo Canyon. She supports sensible cannabis regulation to provide stable jobs for the county, as well as investments in renewable energy and infrastructure, including off-shore wind farms and exploring the use of Diablo Canyon for renewable energy generation. 

Beraud has a long history of public service. She is a former Atascadero mayor and City Council member. Prior to her election to the city council in 2006, she served on the Atascadero Planning Commission. She is also a registered dietician, working at local hospitals, and she and her husband own a small electrical contracting business. As a council member and mayor, she opposed the expansion of a Walmart Supercenter, citing the harm it could cause to local businesses. 

District 5 includes Atascadero, Creston, Pozo, and Santa Margarita, as well as portions of Templeton and San Luis Obispo. While this is a non-partisan race, this seat has been referred to as the “swing seat” on the board, as this district is the most evenly split in the county, with roughly 1,100 more registered Republicans than Democrats. Beraud is a registered Democrat and the incumbent, Arnold, is a registered Republican. 

Based on her track record of public service, commitment to address the housing and homeless crisis, and progressive stances on a range of issues, Beraud is the strongest choice for this office. 
 

Supervisor Das Williams grew up in both Ojai and Isla Vista and has lived in Santa Barbara for the last 20 years. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2017. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to prioritize the prevention of gun violence, make Santa Barbara County carbon-free, and build a strong local economy.

On the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Williams has worked to develop clean energy, protect vital public services and protect the environment. During his time on the city council, Supervisor Williams has held strong against intense pressure from the oil industry to successfully preserve Santa Barbara’s vital natural resources. He has also prioritized strong financial management to weather any future economic climate while maintaining county services. Prior to serving as Supervisor, Williams was a teacher and Santa Barbara City Councilmember before serving in the State Assembly, where he worked to make higher education more affordable and reduce California’s reliance on fossil fuels. Supervisor Williams’s re-election campaign has the official support of three of his fellow board members. 

Supervisor Williams is being challenged by Laura Capps, a fellow Democrat. Williams is the strongest progressive choice because of his strong track record on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and his progressive accomplishments throughout his career in public service. 

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

Supervisor Joan Hartmann has lived in Santa Barbara for over 20 years. She is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2017. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to maintain the quality of life and scenic beauty of Santa Barbara County for future generations.

On the Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors, she has helped enhance disaster response, fought for the expansion of mental health facilities and clean energy programs, and advanced government transparency and accountability. Prior to her election, she served as a Special Advocate in the foster care system, as a professor at Oberlin College, Claremont College and USC, and helped restore coastal rivers and wetlands with the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project.

Supervisor Hartmann is being challenged by Karen Jones, Jessica Alvarez Parfrey, and Bruce Williams. Hartmann is the best progressive choice due to her environmental vision for Santa Barbara County and her track record of people-first policy in regard to public safety, health care, and energy.

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