71st Assembly 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 Mark Takano is from Riverside, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2013. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue to fight for his district’s progressive priorities and be an advocate for veterans, seniors, students, local businesses and hardworking families.

In Congress, Rep. Takano has authored and advanced legislation to limit for-profit colleges’ abusive practices, protect veterans earned benefits, and increase access to vocational training programs. He currently serves as Chairman on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and sits on the Education and Workforce Committee, as well as four additional subcommittees. Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Takano served on the Riverside Community College District’s Board of Trustees, where he increased access to higher education and job skills training programs for adults seeking new careers. Furthermore, Rep. Takano’s public service in the Riverside community includes positions on the Community Advisory Board of the Children’s Spine Foundation, as well as the mayor of Riverside’s Task Force on the Digital Divide, and he served as Chairman for the Asain Pacific Islander Caucus of the California Democratic Party.

Rep. Takano is being challenged by Grace Williams (D) and Aja Smith (R). Rep. Takano stands out as the best progressive choice because of his track record of public service in Riverside county and his reputation of successfully advancing his district’s progressive priorities.

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

Rep. Harley Rouda has lived in California since 2007 and is a resident of Laguna Beach. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2019. According to campaign materials, Rep. Rouda is running for re-election to be a Congressional representative who is accessible and unifying, and to provide leadership that is puts country over party and service above self.

In Congress, Rep. Rouda has authored legislation to protect vulnerable coastal communities impacted by the climate crisis, ensure fair lending to LGBTQ-owned businesses, and to hold manufacturing polluters accountable for water contamination. He currently serves as Chair of the Oversight and Reform’s Subcommittee on Environment. Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Rouda worked as a lawyer and was an active supporter of Orange County charities working to address issues including domestic violence and homelessness.

Rep. Rouda is being challenged by John Thomas Schuesler (R), Michelle Steel (R), Richard Mata (AI), Brian Burley (R), and James Brian Griffin (R). According to recent election results, it's rare that Democrats wins this seat, as Rep. Rouda did in 2018. In fact, he is the first Democrat to win since the district was created in 1992.

Rep. Rouda’s track record of fighting for important environmental protections, his work to protect communities under attack, and his strong base in the district he managed to flip in 2018 make him the strongest choice for progressive leadership in this race.
 

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.
 

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.