By Courage California
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30th Assembly District
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Remember to vote or turn in your ballot by Tuesday, March 3rd
Remember to vote or turn in your ballot by Tuesday, March 3rd
RETURN BALLOTS BY TUESDAY, MARCH 3RD
The Courage California Voter Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. Vote in every race on your ballot! It's our right and our responsibility. Please share this guide with your friends and family.
Voting has changed in Santa Clara County this year. The Voter’s Choice Act was enacted in the county to make voting more convenient. Changes include an expanded period of in-person early voting, every registered voter in the county will receive a vote-by-mail ballot, and every registered voter in the county is able to vote in-person at any Vote Center in their county. Have questions about the changes to voting in Santa Clara County? Visit your county elections website.
Congress, 19th Congressional District
Depending on where you live, you may have the below races on your ballot.
Member of the House of Representatives
Democrat
Builds Power
Builds Progress
Builds Representation
Rep. Lofgren was born and raised in the Bay Area, and attending Stanford and Santa Clara Law School. Lofgren is the incumbent, having served in the House of Representatives since 1995. According to campaign materials she is running for re-election to protect dreamers, end gun violence, protect the free and open internet, and getting dirty money out of politics.
In Congress, she helped pass the DREAM Act of 2019 (and 2010), and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the House. She has opposed the Trump administration's immigration policies, and has called for an end to the detention centers, and for foreign aid to end the instability in Central America that leads to people fleeing their homes. As the representative for the heart of Silicon Valley, she has been active on Internet and technology issues. She fought the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), NSA surveillance of Americans, and recently introduced the Online Privacy Act. Lofrgen has been a strong supporter of women’s rights, abortion protections, LGBTQ equity and has led the implementation of the House of Representatives' mandatory anti-harassment and anti-discrimination trainings.
Prior to her role as Congresswoman, she was an immigration lawyer, taught at Santa Clara Law School, and served as Staff Assistant to Congressman Don Edwards.
Lofgren is being challenged by Ivan Torres (D), Justin Aguilera (R), Ignacio Cruz (R), and Jason Mallory (NPP).
According to our analysis, Lofgren is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
Last updated: 2020-02-17
State Assembly, 30th District
Member of the State Assembly
Democrat
Builds Power
Builds Progress
Builds Representation
Rober Rivas is from Paicines and moved to has lived in Hollister for most of his life. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2018. According to campaign material, he is running for re-election to continue to fight for the “resources local communities need and deserve.”
In the State Assembly, he authored the landmark Farmworker Housing Act, which would allow surplus agricultural land to be rezoned for farmworker housing. He also co-authored the bill to fund the Golden State Teacher Grant Program. The program provides $20,000 in scholarship grants for recent college graduates that acquire a teaching credential in high-need fields, such as STEM or special education, and teach for four years in select schools. Rep. Rivas currently serves as Chair of the Joint Committee on Fair Allocation and Classification. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he served on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors.
Robert Rivas is running against Gregory Swett (R). He scored a 90 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of a legislator’s progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rivas has consistently advocated for the needs of constituents and faced down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians.
According to our analysis, Robert Rivas is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
Last updated: 2020-02-24
State Senator, 17th District
Member of the State Senate
Democrat
Builds Power
Builds Progress
Builds Representation
John Laird is from Vallejo and is a long-time resident of Santa Cruz. According to campaign materials he is running for State Senate to build on his long history of public service and activism by providing leadership on local environmental issues and pushing for continued social reforms.
Laird has recently completed eight years of service as the California Secretary for Natural Resources, which he did because of his strong interest and experience in advocating for environmental issues. Over the course of his career, Laird has been a leading voice on environmental issues, including advocating for the establishment of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, addressing the dwindling water supply, and responding to the frequent wildfires. Prior to his Secretarial appointment, Laird served two terms as the Mayor of Santa Cruz, sat on the Santa Cruz City Council, was the Executive Director of the Santa Cruz AIDS Project, taught environmental policy at UC Santa Cruz, and held a seat in the State Assembly for three terms. Laird was prolific in the Assembly, authoring 82 bills that were signed into law.
Laird is running against Maria Cadenas (D), John Nevill (D), and Vicki Nohrden (R) for this open seat. According to recent election results, Democrats usually win this seat. Laird is a noteworthy progressive choice because of his track record of public service, and his commitment to important regional issues like environmental protections and education reform.
According to our analysis, John Laird is a strong choice for progressive leadership in office.
Last updated: 2020-02-27
Website: https://www.lairdforcasenate.com/
Endorsements: https://www.lairdforcasenate.com/endorsements
Endorsements: https://www.lairdforcasenate.com/endorsements
Democrat
Builds Power
Builds Progress
Builds Representation
Maria Cadenas was born in Mexico, and moved to California with her family when she was 11. According to campaign materials she is running for State Senate because she wants to find innovative solutions to problems that plague our communities socially and environmentally.
Cadenas currently supports families through her work with Santa Cruz Community Ventures, which provides a variety of social supports, including seeking to create a college savings account for every child born in Santa Cruz County, reducing college debt, and providing resources for immigrant families. Cadenas does this work to ensure that vulnerable members of her community have access to crucial resources. She has worked as the Associate Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, fought to protect LGBTQ+ youth as the Executive Director of the Cream City Foundation, and supported career pipeline development through her work with Driscoll. Each of these roles have provided Cadenas with the opportunity to provide access and opportunity to underserved populations.
Cadenas is running against John Laird (D), John Nevill (D), and Vicki Nohrden (R) for this open seat. According to recent election results, Democrats usually win this seat. Cadenas is a noteworthy progressive choice because of her demonstrated interest in complex progressive issues like reducing college debt, supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and working to provide resources to immigrant families.
According to our analysis, Maria Cadenas is a strong choice for progressive leadership in office.
Last updated: 2020-02-27
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
Santa Clara Board of Supervisors, District 3
There are three well-qualified candidates in this race who have received broad support from progressive advocates: Kansen Chu, Magdalena Carrasco, and Otto Lee. After extensive research, we believe they are all good choices. Read the full descriptions below to find the candidate which best fits your values and priorities for Santa Clara Board of Supervisor, District 3.
Non-Partisan
Builds Power
Builds Progress
Builds Representation
Kansen Chu is from Taiwan and moved to the United States in 1976. According to campaign materials, he is running for Santa Clara Board of Supervisors to bring government, business, local community leaders, and organizations together to solve critical issues.
Kansen Chu currently serves in the State Assembly, where he works to promote economic development, increase access to quality education, and advance environmental preservations. While in the State Assembly, Chu has used his position as Chair of the Health and Human Services committee to ensure vulnerable communities have access to efficient support services. Chu has fought to improve child welfare programs, the foster care system, and other support services such as Cal-Works and Cal-Fresh. Chu has also worked as an electronics engineer and served on the San Jose City Council and Berryessa School Board.
Kansen Chu is running against Magdalena Carrasco, Otto Lee, and John Leyba for the open Board of Supervisors seat. In 2019, Chu scored a 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of a legislator's progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Kansen Chu has consistently shown great courage in standing up for the needs of constituents and facing down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians.
According to our analysis, Kansen Chu is a strong choice for progressive leadership in office.
Last updated: 2020-02-27
Non-Partisan
Builds Power
Builds Progress
Builds Representation
Magdalena Carrasco grew up in San Jose, CA. According to campaign materials, she is running for Santa Clara Board of Supervisors to be a voice for the voiceless and strengthen her community.
Carrasco currently serves on the San Jose City Council, which she does to improve the quality of life for the residents of East San Jose and the rest of the city. She has helped to pass the city’s Women’s Bill of Rights, which increased resources to support survivors of domestic abuse, as well as improved policies to combat human trafficking, and increased access to economic opportunities. Also, while on the city council, she has developed clean energy programs, promoted infrastructure improvements, increased access to affordable housing, been a champion for labor rights, and increased access to educational opportunities. Carrasco has also served as Vice Mayor of San Jose where she focused on increasing representation of women and people of color in all levels of government.
Carrasco is running against Kansen Chu, Otto Lee, and John Leyba candidate for the open Board of Supervisors seat. Carrasco stands out as a progressive choice because of her track record of successfully advancing progressive initiatives and increasing political representation in all levels of government.
According to our analysis, Carrasco is a strong choice for progressive leadership in office.
Last updated: 2020-02-27
Courage Score: https://couragescore.org
Website: https://www.voteformagdalena.com/
Endorsements: https://www.voteformagdalena.com/endorsements
Endorsements: https://www.voteformagdalena.com/endorsements
Non-Partisan
Builds Power
Builds Progress
Builds Representation
Otto Lee is from Hong Kong and immigrated to California at 15 years old with his family. According to campaign materials, he is running for Santa Clara Board of Supervisors to continue his public service and to use his experience to address challenges his community faces, such as the increased cost of housing and traffic congestion.
Lee is an intellectual property attorney, where he fosters economic development by protecting the rights’ of innovators. Lee has served on the Sunnyvale Planning Commission, the Sunnyvale City Council, and as Mayor, where he championed environmental issues such as banning single-use plastic bags, successfully promoting solar energy, and ensuring that development projects are environmentally sustainable. He has also served as a Democratic National Committee member and in the US Navy, where he received the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal for his honorable service.
Otto Lee is running against Kansen Chu, Magdalena Carrasco, and John Leyba for the open Board of Supervisors seat. Lee stands out as a progressive choice because of his strong environmental track record and his vision to address issues that directly impact his community, such as the rising unhoused population and the need to invest in sustainable infrastructure.
According to our analysis, Lee is a strong choice for progressive leadership in office.
Last updated: 2020-02-27
Statewide Ballot Measures
Proposition 13
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: 2020-03-02
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There are two well-qualified candidates in this race who have received broad support from progressive advocates: Maria Cadenas and John Laird. After extensive research, we believe they are both good choices. Read the full descriptions below to find the candidate which best fits your values and priorities for State Senate District 17.