37th Senate District

Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard is from Los Angeles. She is the incumbent, having served in Congress since 1993. According to campaign materials, Rep. Royal-Allard is running for Congress to support small businesses, protect seniors, and improve access to healthcare and quality education. 

In Congress, she has been a voice for marginalized communities and worked to advance policies to benefit American families. Rep. Royal-Allard was also an original co-author of The Dream Act and used her position as Vice-Chair on the House Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee to secure funds for local health needs. Rep. Roybal-Allard also serves as Chair of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.  Prior to her election to Congress, she served in the State Assembly. 

Rep. Roybal-Allard is being challenged by Anthony Felix Jr. (D), David John Sanchez (D), C Antonio Delgado (R), Michael Donnell Graham Jr. (AI), and Rodolfo Cortes Barragan (G). Challenger critiques of Rep. Roybal-Allard include concerns about her listening to the needs of her community and her inability to quickly enact large structural change. 

Rep. Roybal-Allard is the best progressive choice because of her positions of power in Congress, relationship with partners, and her track record of advocating for her constituents and vulnerable communities. According to analysis, Rep. Roybal-Allard is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
 

Representative Katie Porter is from Fort Dodge, IA, and now resides in Irvine, CA. She is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2019. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to hold Republicans and their special interests in Washington accountable.

In Congress, Rep. Porter has played an instrumental role in advancing reforms that have helped American families have a fair economic opportunity by helping pass legislation to fight against abusive credit card fees. Towards the end of 2019, she gained a position on the Committee on Oversight and Reform due to her expert questioning style in Congressional hearings. She also sits on the Committee on Financial Services where she serves on the Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, as well as the Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets subcommittees. Prior to Rep. Porter’s election to Congress, she was a law professor at UC Irvine and a consumer rights advocate, where she defended working families against predatory banking practices.

Rep. Porter is running against Greg Raths (R), Don Sedwick (R), Lisa Sparks, Rhonda Furin (R), Christopher J. Gonzales (R), Peggy Huang (R). According to recent election results, it's rare that Democrats win this seat. Porter's ability to flip this seat, her pledge to always put working-class families first, and her relationships with progressive partners, help to build progressive momentum and makes her the strong choice in this race. 

Rep. Lou Correa was born and raised in Anaheim, California. He is the incumbent, having first been elected to this position in 2016. According to campaign materials he is running to help families throughout Orange County live better lives and have a shot at the middle class. 

During his tenure in Congress representing District 46, Rep. Correa has continuously worked to protect immigrants, refugees, and DREAMers through solutions such as providing legal counsel to those at risk of being deported, and demanding that more attention be paid to understanding and combatting domestic terrorism. Rep. Correa was recently appointed to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security and the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. He also serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security and House Veterans Affairs Committee. With his recent appointments, Congressman Correa has the potential to be a strong voice in crafting laws governing immigration, and the enforcement of those laws by the Department of Homeland Security.

Rep. Correa first ran for office in 1996 and has held positions in the California State Assembly where he served three terms and represented the first District on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, where he was the first Democrat to be elected in nearly 20 years. He also served two terms in the California State Senate from 2006-20014. 

Rep. Correa is being challenged by Pablo Mendiolea (D), James Waters (R), Will Johnson (NPP), and Ed Rushman (NPP). Challenger critiques of Correa include concerns about his sizeable campaign donations from the real estate industry. According to recent election results, Democrats typically safely win this seat as Rep. Correa did in 2018 and 2016. 

Rep. Correa’s strong voice on immigration policy and complementary committee positions make him the strongest choice for progressive leadership in this District. 
 

Representative Alan Lowenthal is from Queens, NY, and moved to Long Beach, CA, in 1969. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2013. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to advocate for his community’s needs and to defend all of his constituents’ rights and dignity.

In Congress, Rep. Lowenthal has advanced initiatives to address climate change and pushed for adopting sustainable renewable energy. Throughout his tenure, he has also continuously fought for everyone’s human rights, increasing access to quality education, and reinvesting in the nation’s infrastructure. He currently serves on the House Committees on Natural Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure, as well as seven subcommittees. Prior to his election to Congress, he served on the Long Beach City Council, in the California State Legislature, and as a psychology professor at California State University, Long Beach.

Rep. Lowenthal is being challenged by Peter Mathews (D), Jalen Dupree McLeod (D), John Briscoe (R), Sou Moua (R), and Amy Phan West (R). According to recent election results, Democrats usually win this seat. Rep. Lowenthal is the progressive choice because of his track record defending human rights and his leadership position in the fight against climate change.

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

Representative Mike Levin was raised in South Orange County and Los Angeles before moving away briefly for university and law school. He has returned to live in Orange County, where he currently represents District 49 in Congress.

Rep. Levin was elected to Congress in 2018 and he has been a champion on issues of sustainability and climate change. He is a member of the Natural Resources and Veterans Affairs Committees, as well as the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. He has sponsored legislation across a broad range of progressive issues, including electoral reforms, protection of voting rights, protection against discrimination, pay equity, and environmental protections. Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Levin was a bold advocate for clean energy and sustainability in Orange County, San Diego, and beyond.

Rep. Levin is being challenged by Brian Maryott (R), a conservative businessman and mayor of San Juan Capistrano. Rep. Levin stands out as a strong progressive voice in Congress who has had significant impact in his first term. According to recent election results, this has been a tough race for Democrats to win, as Levin did in 2018. His strong progressive track record and ability to keep this flipped district make him the strongest choice in this race.
 

Asm. Reginald Jones-Sawyer is originally from Arkansas, but has lived in Los Angeles for decades, serving in a number of local government positions, including the Mayor’s Office, before winning his Assembly seat in 2012.

Jones-Sawyer chairs the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee and serves on the Agriculture, Budget and Labor & Employment Committees. He has authored several influential progressive bills – among them, legislation to improve funding for the courts and a bill to stop housing discrimination against the previously incarcerated. He has also procured millions of dollars in grant funds for programs to help previously incarcerated people become productive members of their communities.

He is opposed by Efren Martinez (D) and Marcello Villeda (R). In 2019, Jones-Sawyer was a reliable progressive vote, earning a 95 of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of a legislator's progressive voting record. This shows a track record of advocating for constituents against corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians.

According to our analysis, Asm. Jones-Sawyer is the strongest choice to provide progressive leadership in this office.
 

Jerry Carlos has been a resident of Lake Elsinore since 1999 and worked in the district in the 1970s. While we do not have sufficient information about this candidate to confirm his viability, we recommend supporting Carlos as a potentially progressive candidate running for this open seat. 

Carlos has run for office in the past, running on a platform of expanding educational and recreational opportunities for city residents, as well as promising to include residents in the policy decision making process. Carlos has worked in public service in law enforcement, fire department administration, and recreational services. He has also worked as a tennis coach in local public schools and is a small business owner. 

Carlos is running against Steve Manos (R), Nick Pardue (R), Kelly Seyarto (R), and Jeremy Smith (R) for this open seat. According to recent election results, it's a long shot for a Democrat to win this seat.

According to our analysis, Jerry Carlos has the potential to provide strong progressive leadership in office. 
 

Melissa Fox is from Orange County and currently resides in Irvine, CA. According to campaign materials, she is running for Assembly to be the leader her district needs to represent their interests and values in the capital.

Fox currently serves on the Irvine City Council and on the board of the Orange County Fire Authority, where she strives to improve the quality of life and safety of those in her community. Fox has also served as Chair of the Irvine Community Land Trust, Vice Chair of the Orange County Great Park, and was the founder of The Fox Firm. Through these positions she has increased access to affordable housing, successfully represented businesses in court, and fought fraudulent activities.

Fox is running against Steven “Steve” Choi (R), who is the incumbent and has held the seat since 2016, as well as Eugene Fields (D), and Benjamin Yu (R). According to recent election results, it's difficult for Democrats to win this seat. Fox is the best progressive choice because of her vision to enact progressive policies that will grow the middle-class, preserve the environment, addressing public safety concerns, and hold government accountable.

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

Elizabeth Lavertu lives in Spring Valley, CA. According to campaign materials she is running for State Assembly because she wants to reinvest taxes in the community to improve schools, infrastructure, healthcare, and affordable housing.

Elizabeth Lavertu is a Co-Chair of the Spring Valley Community Planning Group, where she uses the position to improve roads and other infrastructure and bring economic development to the community. In this role, she has been an advocate for preserving arts programs in schools, and raised over $100,000 for an outdoor fitness circuit at the Jamacha Elementary School. She has also vocally opposed the Cottonwood Sand Mine developments over concerns about the health impacts to students and residents nearby.

Lavertu is running against candidate Randy Voepel (R), who is the incumbent and has held the seat since 2016. According to recent election results, it's rare that Democrats win this seat. Elizabeth Lavertu is the best the progressive choice because of her commitment to universal healthcare, quality education and a living wage.

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

Diedre Nguyen is from Saigon, Vietnam, and has resided in Garden Grove, CA since 1995. According to campaign materials, she is running for Assembly to represent her community’s working class interests by fighting to increase access to economic opportunities.

Diedre Nguyen is a member of the Garden Grove City Council and a Laboratory Cancer Scientist, which she does to advance cancer research, improve access to quality education, spur local business growth, increase job opportunities, and address public safety concerns. Diedre Nguyen has also served on the boards of the Lunar New Year TET Parade, Vietnamese Young Marines, and as Vice-Chair of the Hurricane Haiyan Philippines Fundraiser, and has been appointed to various other Vietnamese community positions where she successfully worked to bring her community together to solve issues and promote diversity.

Diedre Nguyen is running against Tyler Diep (R), who is the incumbent and has held the seat since 2018, as well as Bijan Mohseni (D) and Janet Nguyen (R). According to recent election results, it's challenging for that Democrats to win this seat. Diedre Nguyen is the best progressive choice because of her track record of community service in the Garden Grove community, as well as her vision to fight for an economy that works for everyone in her district, not just those at the top.

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

Scott Rhinehart is from West Virginia and has lived in Orange County for 16 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for State Assembly to be an advocate for his community and to increase access to economic opportunities, quality healthcare, and preserve the environment.

Rhinehart owns his own real estate brokerage. His firm provides programs for first time-buyers, seniors, and veterans, which help address the hardships middle-class families and small businesses face in today’s economy. Rhinehart has also worked as a political advocate, where he successfully helped beat the Briggs Initiative, an effort to ban members of the LGBTQ+ community from being employed in California’s public schools, and to increase investments for HIV and AIDS prevention.

Rhinehart is running against William “Bill” Brough (R) who is the incumbent and has held the seat since 2014. Other candidates include Chris Duncan (D), Laurie Davies (R), and Ed Sachs (R). According to recent election results, it's challenging for Democrats to win this seat. Rhinehart is the best progressive choice because of his track record of fighting for all American's rights and his vision of creating an economy that works for everyone, ensuring people have healthcare coverage and addressing issues of climate change.

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

Representative Cottie Petrie-Norris is from San Diego County and currently resides in Laguna Beach, CA. She is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2018. According to campaign materials, she is running to keep her seat to address quality of life issues and support her community in the State Legislature.

In the State Assembly, she has authored bills that have been signed into law that aimed to improve access to water, elderly support services, and establish environmental protections. Rep. Petrie-Norris currently serves as Chair on the Accountability & Administrative Review Committee. Prior to her election to the State Assembly, she worked in finance and technology for startups, small companies, and Fortune 500 corporations.

Rep. Petrie-Norris has progressive economic, education, environment, and healthcare stances. That said, she has voted against key progressive bills on increasing access to affordable housing and issues pertaining to criminal justice reform.

Rep. Petrie-Norris is being challenged by Diane Dixon (R) and Kelly Ernbym (R). In 2020 she scored a 34 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of a legislator's progressive voting records. According to recent election results, it's challenging for Democrats to win this seat. Though we disagree with Rep. Petrie-Norris’ stance on affordable housing and reforms to our criminal justice system, her relationships with partners and strong base in a recently flipped district helps advance progressive policies and makes her a strong choice in this race.