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  • Builds Power
    Builds Progress
  • Representative John Garamendi was first elected to Congress in a special election in 2009 and was re-elected to the seat in 2010. California’s subsequent redistricting shifted most of the district to California’s 3rd District, a seat which Garamendi has held since.

    Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Garamendi served in numerous public offices. He was elected to the California legislature in 1974 and went on to successfully run for California’s Insurance Commissioner in 1990. He was Appointed Deputy Secretary of the Interior in 1995 by then President Bill Clinton, and was elected California Lieutenant Governor in 2007 before his run for Congress. 

    Rep. Garamendi strongly supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act, protecting access to healthcare in rural areas, and efforts to reduce prescription drug prices, including allowing Medicare to directly negotiate drug prices. He also supports bold action on climate change including the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, green infrastructure investments, and investments in renewable energy. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he has worked to push the military to be a leader on climate change. He’s been active in efforts to protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including working to pass legislation to designate it as California’s first National Heritage Area Act. While he expressed concerns about the Green New Deal, he ultimately signed on as a co-sponsor of the House Resolution. 

    Rep. Garamendi has long supported nuclear nonproliferation, and has co-sponsored legislation to require separate authorizations from Congress in order to utilize nuclear weapons, and legislation to prohibit the research, development, production and deployment of low-yield nuclear warheads.

    Rep. Garamendi is challenged by Sean Feucht (R), and Tamika Hamilton (R). The 3rd Congressional District has been a swing district, though it has been leaning more Democratic in the last few election cycles. Rep. Garamendi has strong support from labor, environmental and social justice organizations in the district.

    Rep. Garamendi is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.

     

    Last updated: 2023-04-05

    John Garamendi

    Representative John Garamendi was first elected to Congress in a special election in 2009 and was re-elected to the seat in 2010. California’s subsequent redistricting shifted most of the district to California’s 3rd District, a seat which Garamendi has held since.

    Representative John Garamendi was first elected to Congress in a special election in 2009 and was re-elected to the seat in 2010. California’s subsequent redistricting shifted most of the district to California’s 3rd District, a seat which Garamendi has held since.

    Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Garamendi served in numerous public offices. He was elected to the California legislature in 1974 and went on to successfully run for California’s Insurance Commissioner in 1990. He was Appointed Deputy Secretary of the Interior in 1995 by then President Bill Clinton, and was elected California Lieutenant Governor in 2007 before his run for Congress. 

    Rep. Garamendi strongly supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act, protecting access to healthcare in rural areas, and efforts to reduce prescription drug prices, including allowing Medicare to directly negotiate drug prices. He also supports bold action on climate change including the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, green infrastructure investments, and investments in renewable energy. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he has worked to push the military to be a leader on climate change. He’s been active in efforts to protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including working to pass legislation to designate it as California’s first National Heritage Area Act. While he expressed concerns about the Green New Deal, he ultimately signed on as a co-sponsor of the House Resolution. 

    Rep. Garamendi has long supported nuclear nonproliferation, and has co-sponsored legislation to require separate authorizations from Congress in order to utilize nuclear weapons, and legislation to prohibit the research, development, production and deployment of low-yield nuclear warheads.

    Rep. Garamendi is challenged by Sean Feucht (R), and Tamika Hamilton (R). The 3rd Congressional District has been a swing district, though it has been leaning more Democratic in the last few election cycles. Rep. Garamendi has strong support from labor, environmental and social justice organizations in the district.

    Rep. Garamendi is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.

     

    John Garamendi

    Representative John Garamendi was first elected to Congress in a special election in 2009 and was re-elected to the seat in 2010. California’s subsequent redistricting shifted most of the district to California’s 3rd District, a seat which Garamendi has held since.

  • Builds Power
  • 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.
     

    Last updated: 2023-04-05

    Ken Cooley

    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.
     

    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.
     

    Ken Cooley

    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.
     

  • VOTE YES

    Vote YES On Prop 13, School and College Facilities Bond

  • This proposition would provide $9 billion for desperately needed renovations to public preschools and grade schools throughout the state, and $6 billion for construction to community colleges, the Cal State system, and the UC system. This will allow the state of California to use tax revenue to pay for improvements that local communities cannot afford. 

    The funding would come from bonds the state would pay back over 35 years, totaling an estimated $26 billion, which includes $15 billion in principal and $11 billion in interest. This investment is well worth the costs. It takes money, after all, to ensure that students -- especially those in districts that can’t afford major capital improvement projects -- do not have to learn in dangerous environments. 

    The vast majority of Democrats in the state legislature support it, as does Gov. Newsom, and the only major opposition is a group called the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. This is the group famous for destroying California’s school funding system in 1978 through another proposition, ironically one that was also dubbed Prop 13. The group spends most of its time lobbying to reduce tax rates. It has never shown any interest in supporting California’s children, at least if that means wealthy individuals or giant corporations would pay their fair share in taxes.

    Critics of the measure have pointed out that the ballot measure’s language includes a provision that frees new multi-family developments around subway stops and bus stations from school impact fees. This provision will make it easier for developers to build apartment buildings within a half-mile of public transit but could also drive up the cost of new housing and take funds away from school districts across the state. Despite this provision, the measure is still supported by most education groups in the state, who believe the overall funding allocation to schools outweighs the impact of reduced funding to school districts located near transit hubs. 2020’s Prop 13 is worth the investment since it means children will soon be able to attend school in buildings that are retrofitted to withstand earthquakes and no longer have lead in their water. 

    We strongly recommend a YES vote on Prop 13.

    Last updated: 2023-04-05

    This proposition would provide $9 billion for desperately needed renovations to public preschools and grade schools throughout the state, and $6 billion for construction to community colleges, the Cal State system, and the UC system. This will allow the state of California to use tax revenue to pay for improvements that local communities cannot afford. 

    The funding would come from bonds the state would pay back over 35 years, totaling an estimated $26 billion, which includes $15 billion in principal and $11 billion in interest. This investment is well worth the costs. It takes money, after all, to ensure that students -- especially those in districts that can’t afford major capital improvement projects -- do not have to learn in dangerous environments. 

    The vast majority of Democrats in the state legislature support it, as does Gov. Newsom, and the only major opposition is a group called the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. This is the group famous for destroying California’s school funding system in 1978 through another proposition, ironically one that was also dubbed Prop 13. The group spends most of its time lobbying to reduce tax rates. It has never shown any interest in supporting California’s children, at least if that means wealthy individuals or giant corporations would pay their fair share in taxes.

    Critics of the measure have pointed out that the ballot measure’s language includes a provision that frees new multi-family developments around subway stops and bus stations from school impact fees. This provision will make it easier for developers to build apartment buildings within a half-mile of public transit but could also drive up the cost of new housing and take funds away from school districts across the state. Despite this provision, the measure is still supported by most education groups in the state, who believe the overall funding allocation to schools outweighs the impact of reduced funding to school districts located near transit hubs. 2020’s Prop 13 is worth the investment since it means children will soon be able to attend school in buildings that are retrofitted to withstand earthquakes and no longer have lead in their water. 

    We strongly recommend a YES vote on Prop 13.

    This proposition would provide $9 billion for desperately needed renovations to public preschools and grade schools throughout the state, and $6 billion for construction to community colleges, the Cal State system, and the UC system. This will allow the state of California to use tax revenue to pay for improvements that local communities cannot afford. 

    The funding would come from bonds the state would pay back over 35 years, totaling an estimated $26 billion, which includes $15 billion in principal and $11 billion in interest. This investment is well worth the costs. It takes money, after all, to ensure that students -- especially those in districts that can’t afford major capital improvement projects -- do not have to learn in dangerous environments. 

    The vast majority of Democrats in the state legislature support it, as does Gov. Newsom, and the only major opposition is a group called the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. This is the group famous for destroying California’s school funding system in 1978 through another proposition, ironically one that was also dubbed Prop 13. The group spends most of its time lobbying to reduce tax rates. It has never shown any interest in supporting California’s children, at least if that means wealthy individuals or giant corporations would pay their fair share in taxes.

    Critics of the measure have pointed out that the ballot measure’s language includes a provision that frees new multi-family developments around subway stops and bus stations from school impact fees. This provision will make it easier for developers to build apartment buildings within a half-mile of public transit but could also drive up the cost of new housing and take funds away from school districts across the state. Despite this provision, the measure is still supported by most education groups in the state, who believe the overall funding allocation to schools outweighs the impact of reduced funding to school districts located near transit hubs. 2020’s Prop 13 is worth the investment since it means children will soon be able to attend school in buildings that are retrofitted to withstand earthquakes and no longer have lead in their water. 

    We strongly recommend a YES vote on Prop 13.

    CA Prop 13

    This proposition would provide $9 billion for desperately needed renovations to public preschools and grade schools throughout the state, and $6 billion for construction to community colleges, the Cal State system, and the UC system.