28th Senate District

Nithya Raman lives in the Silverlake neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles. According to campaign materials, she is running to represent District 4 on the City Council to build a more inclusive and just Los Angeles.

Raman is a trained urban planner who is running on a strongly progressive platform that promises to center the voices and needs of underserved communities in Los Angeles. Her knowledge of policy is clearly demonstrated in her platform, which focuses on addressing housing and homelessness, responding to the climate emergency, and bringing Angelenos into the lawmaking process to increase transparency and accountability in city policymaking.

She is a co-founder of SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a local neighborhood-based organization formed in response to the city’s inaction on homelessness. She has also served as Co-Chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness Committee since 2017. Raman recently served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, the women’s rights movement furthering equity and safety for women in the entertainment industry. Raman’s relationships in entertainment are strong, and her campaign is based on partnering with artists and performers as a rallying force for its organizing efforts.

Raman is running against David Ryu, the incumbent who has failed to fulfill supportive housing commitments in the district. Other candidates include Sarah Levy. Raman is the strongest progressive choice because of her strong understanding of the challenges facing the city of Los Angeles as detailed in her policy platform, her track record of leading the way in standing up for communities under attack, and her ability to connect with and engage people currently outside of the political process.

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

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nury Martinez was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, the daughter of immigrants from Mexico. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to continue to fight for the families of the City of Los Angeles and the Sixth Council District in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.

Councilmember Martinez has served on the Los Angeles City Council since 2013. Her current agenda is bolstered by her new role as City Council President, which gives her decision making power on when new proposals are raised at council meetings and who sits on committees. Since January, she has articulated priorities including launching programs to help working families, support for foster youth to get employed, and a ban on building permits for private detention centers, including facilities that would hold unaccompanied immigrant minors. When it comes to housing and homelessness, Councilmember Martinez has over-delivered on her 2018 commitment to build supportive housing units in District 6.

Councilmember Martinez is the first Latina City Council President in the City Council's 170-year history. While recent City Council decisions have tended to be unanimous and presented as a united front, Councilmember Martinez has suggested that she is more open to open and transparent debate. Prior to her election to the LA City Council, she has a long history in public service, on the L.A. Unified School District Board from 2009 to 2013 and before that, on the City of San Fernando Council from 2003 to 2009.

Martinez is being challenged by Benito "Benny" Bernal and Bill Haller. Martinez is the strongest progressive choice because of her track record in representing the needs and interests of the residents in her district and her skillful leadership that has won the support of her colleagues on the council.

According to our analysis, Councilmember Nury Martinez is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
 

Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson was born and raised in South Los Angeles. He is the incumbent, having first been elected to represent District 8 in 2015. According to his official website, Councilmember Harris-Dawson’s priorities in office are to increase government responsiveness, develop economic opportunities, create equitable housing and transportation, and improve public safety. 

Councilmember Harris-Dawson’s approach to serving his district is influenced by his background as a community organizer. A primary priority is ensuring that community residents have open channels to contact him and his staff to voice any need or concern. His office launched a campaign to encourage residents to use MyLA311 to request the services needed in the community, which has resulted in a nearly threefold increase in calls over the past three years and increased responsiveness and quality of service from City service providers for the district. When it comes to housing and homelessness, Councilmember Harris-Dawson has over-delivered on his 2018 commitment to build supportive housing units in District 8.

Prior to joining the Los Angeles City Council, Councilmember Harris-Dawson worked at the nonprofit Community Coalition, renowned for its groundbreaking work in bringing together community residents to build safer neighborhoods. Original founder Karen Bass selected Harris-Dawson to replace her as head of the organization when she left to run for office, and, under Harris-Dawson, the organization saw a doubling of its budget and the purchase and renovation of a new building headquarters. 

Councilmember Harris-Dawson is running unopposed. Councilmember Harris-Dawson is a strong progressive leader because of his active engagement with community residents, his track record of strong financial management, and his keen understanding of the needs and priorities of his district. 

According to our analysis, Councilmember Harris-Dawson is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
 

Aura Vasquez was born and raised in Colombia before moving to the United States with her family. She worked nights and weekends as an undocumented student to put herself through college. According to campaign materials, she is running to represent District 10 on the City Council to be a bold leader who will focus on creating a more sustainable and equitable future for Los Angeles. 

Vasquez has a deep background in community organizing and public service. She worked with the city of Los Angeles and the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign to make L.A. coal-free by 2025 and helped establish the Feed & Tariff Initiative, the largest rooftop solar program in the country. Based on her work in environmental justice, Vasquez was appointed by Mayor Garcetti to the Board of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Vasquez was also a member of the Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council where she was the only non-Korean American to serve on the board. Vasquez, who identifies as Afro-Latina, also brings accomplishments in supporting students experiencing poverty and institutionalized racism to avoid dropping out of school in New York and fighting against the targeting of immigrants driving without a license in Orange County. 

Vasquez’s policy platform is informed by her organizing and advocacy experiences in Los Angeles. Her priorities include helping transition Los Angeles to 100% renewable energy, protecting the health of families by ending neighborhood oil drilling and reducing pollution, and making city services more responsive to residents. She also supports progressive economic solutions like tuition-free community college and a public bank that can inject investments back into neighborhoods. 

Vasquez is running for an open seat, as incumbent Councilmember Herb Wesson has served the maximum terms for the position. Other candidates include Channing Martinez, Melvin Snell, Grace Yoo, and Mark Ridley-Thomas. Notably, Mark Ridley-Thomas, who is currently on the LA County Board of Supervisors, has also termed out, and he and incumbent Wesson are running for each other's seats to maintain their hold on power. Ridley-Thomas is a longtime elected official who has been repeatedly investigated for misuse of campaign and taxpayer funds. 

Nearly 20 percent of Vasquez’s campaign funds come from donations of $100 or less, which far exceeds that of any other candidate in the race. In a crowded field of progressives, Vasquez is the strongest choice because of her track record in successfully advocating for progressive policy changes that reduce barriers and improve lives for many communities inclusively.

Loraine Lundquist was raised by a career army soldier and a middle school math teacher, living all over the country before settling in Northridge nine years ago. According to campaign materials, she is running to represent District 12 on the City Council to tackle the challenges of the district and the city as a whole. 

Loraine is a neighborhood council member, environmental activist, and astrophysicist. Currently, she is a Faculty Associate at the Institute for Sustainability at California State University, Northridge where she runs a program to provide science and sustainability education to local K-12 schools. She also serves on the advisory panel for LADWP long-range planning, and has testified before the California State Senate and Assembly. Lundquist served as the co-chair of the homelessness committee of Northridge East Neighborhood Council and was a founding member of the West Valley Neighborhood Alliance on Homelessness. 

Lundquist’s policy platform centers on taking action on homelessness, holding the DWP accountable, and resisting special interests. Lundquist says she voted for local measures to raise taxes to pay for housing and services to help ease homelessness and wants to use that money to build more homeless housing and shelters. She also wants comprehensive reform of the LA transit system that will balance the needs of commuters with the needs of local communities, and more investment in local water infrastructure. 

Lundquist is running against John S. Lee, the incumbent who has failed to fulfill supportive housing commitments in the district, and whose campaign has received funds from the fossil fuel industry. Lundquist lost to Lee, who is a Republican and was the chief of staff to the previous councilmember, in a special election held last year. This election presents an opportunity to elect a progressive champion to serve the district. Lundquist is the strongest progressive choice because of her commitment, expertise, and strong endorsements from progressive organizations and leaders. 

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

Kevin de León was born in Los Angeles and was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college. A former state Assemblymember and Senator, he also served as President pro tempore of the California State Senate from 2014 to 2018. According to campaign materials, he is running to represent the 14th District on the City Council to advance policies to reduce homelessness, improve clean air and water, and make sure that Los Angeles is a safe place to live, work, and play. 

During the years he was in the California Assembly and Senate, de León represented all or a portion of district 14. According to public reports, he successfully secured funding for parks, environmental cleanup initiatives and housing for homeless Angelenos in that time. As President of the Senate, de León has a historic set of progressive accomplishments from his time in office, including millions for the revitalization of the Los Angeles River, toxic waste clean up, and funding for more than a dozen new parks. As part of this effort, he authored Proposition 68, to keep drinking water clean and open new parks throughout the state. And as the author of Proposition 2, he was able to successfully launch an ambitious program to provide permanent supportive housing for Californians experiencing homelessness statewide. Notably, de León authored SB54, California’s Sanctuary Law, which prevents state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources on behalf of federal immigration enforcement agencies, including ICE. 

de León’s policy platform focuses on building homes for Angelenos experiencing homelessness, keeping the air clean, and reducing traffic and commute times. He also has a focus on quality education, fair treatment of teachers, and ensuring that Los Angeles is a safe place for families to live, work, and play.

Kevin de León is running against Mónica García, John Jimenez, Cyndi Otteson, and Raquel Zamora. de León stands out as the strongest progressive choice because of his remarkable track record as an elected official serving the residents of California and his progressive ideals which have led to significant progressive legislative reforms that have improved the lives of Californians across the state. 

According to our analysis, Kevin de León is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
 

Joy Silver is from Pennsylvania and has lived in Palm Springs since 2007. According to campaign materials she is running for State Senate because she was motivated after the 2016 Presidential election to use her experience in the healthcare and housing industries to fight for equity in her community.

Silver helped found Courageous Resistance of Palm Springs, a grassroots organization that was established to push back against the Trump administration’s immigration policies and their efforts to ease gun violence prevention legislation across the country. Throughout her career, she has worked to improve healthcare access, and to increase funding for affordable housing. Silver has emphasized sustainable growth and environmental protections, and has spoken out against the gas tax repeal effort. Under this platform, Silver came within 3% of flipping State Senate District 28 in the 2018 election. She lost the race to the incumbent, but was endorsed by Courage Campaign in her bid for the seat. Since that time the incumbent has accepted a position with Trump’s Department of Labor, prompting this special election.

Joy Silver is running against Elizabeth Romero (D), John Schwab (R), and Melissa Melendez (R) in this open race. According to recent election results, it's rare that Democrats win this seat, but Silver lost only narrowly in 2018. Silver stands out as the progressive choice because of her diverse track record of working for healthcare reform, social justice, and affordable housing.

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

Asm. Wendy Carrillo is from El Salvador and moved to the Boyle Heights neighborhood in 1985. She has lived in Los Angeles since and first won her seat in 2017. Her campaign materials cite educational opportunities, quality healthcare, living wage jobs, and social justice as her priorities in office.

In the Assembly, Carrillo serves on the Appropriations, Rules, Labor, Health and Utilities & Energy Committees. She was recently a co-author of AB1482, which protects renters from unjust evictions and unreasonable rent increases – it was signed into law in late 2019. Before serving in the Assembly, she was a journalist covering human rights and hosted a community-based progressive radio show.

Carrillo is running unopposed. In our Courage Score analysis, Carrillo earned a score of 90 out of 100 in 2019 and, prior to that, had a lifetime score of 100. She consistently demonstrates courage when advocating for constituents against corporate lobbyists and interest groups. 

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

Asm. Sydney Kamlager-Dove is from Chicago and moved to Los Angeles to attend USC in 1990. She has lived in California for most of the last 30 years. The incumbent, she was elected to the Assembly in early 2018.

Kamlager-Dove sits on Public Safety, Insurance, and Rules Committees. She has authored a number of renter protection measures and crucial criminal justice reforms, helping lead a movement to ban private prisons in California that culminated in Governor Newsom’s signing SB32 last October. Prior to her election she worked to help elect progressive Holly Mitchell to the Assembly, and served on the LA Community College Board of Trustees for two years.

Kamlager-Dove is challenged by Clinton Brown (D), Tracy Bernard Jones (D), and Glen Ratcliff (R). Kamlager-Dove earned an 88 out of 100 on our Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislator's progressive voting records, in both 2018 and 2019. She consistently demonstrates courage when advocating for constituents against corporate lobbyists and interest groups.

Based on our analysis, Kamlager-Dove is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.

Andrew Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of the City of Walnut and the 55th State Assembly District. According to campaign materials, he is running for the position to be an accessible, transparent, and effective representative for his community in Sacramento.

Rodriguez is Mayor Pro Tem of the city of Walnut. In this position, he has advocated for more housing in the district, smart growth strategies for the city, and he completed a general plan land use update for the city for the first time in forty years. He has also worked as a land use planner in San Gabriel Valley and on several political campaigns, including then Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s successful U.S. Senate bid.

Rodriguez is running against Phillip Chen (R), who is the incumbent and has held the seat since 2018. Assemblymember Chen has shown that he does NOT represent the needs of constituents in facing down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians. Rodriguez is the progressive choice because of his passion for urban revitalization, planning, and public administration and growing list of endorsements.

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

We're tracking this race. Please check back soon for an update. 

Assemblymember Jose Medina has been a resident of Riverside County for over 30 years, having received both his undergraduate degree, master's degree, and teaching credentials from UC Riverside. Medina is the incumbent and has served in this office since 2012. According to campaign materials, Medina is running for re-election to continue his efforts to provide affordable, quality higher education to California students.

During his time in the Assembly, Medina has authored a number of bills that provide financial assistance to students in need—including those with DACA status and those who are homeless. Medina currently serves as chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Medina was a teacher in the Riverside Unified School District, where he was also a member of the Riverside City Teachers Association and the state council of the California Teachers Association (CTA). Additionally, he served three terms on the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees and had previously been elected to the Jurupa Unified School District Board of Education. 

Medina’s commitment to progress is reflected in the bills he’s authored surround Californian’s access to affordable, quality higher education. That said, he’s abstained from voting on some progressive bills that address climate change and corporate transparency.

Medina is running against Ali Mazarei (R). According to recent election results, Democrats usually win this seat. Though we disagree with Medina abstaining from voting on issues having to do with corporate transparency and climate change, his commitment to education supports progressive momentum and makes him the strongest choice in this race.

Representative Brad Sherman was born and raised in Southern California and lives in Sherman Oaks, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. He is the incumbent and is currently serving his twelfth term in Congress. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue providing strong progressive leadership in Congress for the labor movement, human rights, animal rights, and the environment.  

As a congressional representative, Rep. Sherman has provided leadership in areas including fiscal policy and foreign relations and was among the first legislators to call for impeachment against the president in 2017 on the grounds of obstruction of justice. He is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Financial Services Committee. Prior to his election to Congress, he served on the California State Board of Equalization from 1991 to 1996. It is, however, important to note that Rep. Sherman has been called out by former aides for enabling a generally toxic workplace atmosphere, although he has not been accused of any specific abusive acts in or outside the workplace.

Rep. Sherman is being challenged by Courtney “CJ” Berina (D), Raji Rab (D), Brian Carroll (D), and Mark S. Reed (R), although none of them appear to meet our viability criteria. Despite the above concerns, Rep. Sherman stands out as the best choice because of his senior position in Congress, progressive voice, base of support in his district, and ability to successfully pass legislative reforms. 
 

Representative Jimmy Gomez is from Southern California and currently resides in Eagle Rock, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2017. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to advance progressive legislation to address environmental injustice, increase access to education and healthcare, as well as support reproductive and workers' rights. 

In Congress, he has co-sponsored over 200 pieces of legislation that focus on environmental justice, public health concerns, access to quality education and housing, domestic violence, sexual assault, campaign finance reform, civil rights, and reproductive rights. Rep. Gomez currently sits on Ways and Means and the Committee on Oversight and Reform. Prior to his election to Congress, he served in the state legislature and as a community organizer. 

Rep. Gomez is being challenged by David Kim (D), Frances Yasmeen Motiwalla (D), Keanakay Scott (D), and Joanne L. Wright (R). According to recent election results, Democrats usually win this seat. Opponents criticize Gomez for taking sizable campaign donations from special interests, as well as an immigration vote that resulted in funding increases to border patrol and ICE.  

Given the aforementioned concerns, Rep. Gomez is still the best progressive choice because of his committee positions, his commitment to championing progressive legislation that addresses issues facing his constituents. According to our analysis, Gomez is the strongest choice for progressive leadership in office.
 

Representative Raul Ruiz grew up in Coachella, CA, and currently resides in La Quinta, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2013. According to campaign materials, he is running to fulfill his pledge to serve his community and address the issues his district faces by being a strong advocate in Washington.

In Congress, Rep. Ruiz has utilized his knowledge as an emergency physician to make the case to save programs such as Medicare and Social Security. Furthermore, he has been a strong advocate for veterans, and a voice of opposition against the influence of special interests in Washington. Rep. Ruiz currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and sits on three additional subcommittees. Prior to his election to Congress, he worked as an emergency physician in the Coachella Valley and was the founder and director of the Coachella Valley Healthcare Initiative, where he successfully brought together members of his community to improve access to healthcare and address public health issues.

Rep. Ruiz has progressive positions when it comes to preserving the environment and ensuring access to affordable, quality healthcare. That said, he has voted against key progressive bills pertaining to military spending and other issues involving trade and earlier votes on the impeachment of the President.

Rep. Ruiz is being challenged by Erin Cruz (R), Patrice Kimbler (R), and Milo Stevanovich (R). According to recent election results, Democrats usually win this seat. Though we disagree with Rep. Ruiz’s votes on military spending, trade, and impeachment, his relationships with partners and position of power in Congress supports progressive momentum and makes him a strong choice in this race.
 

Representative Karen Bass is from Los Angeles. She is the incumbent, having served in Congress since 2011. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to continue to play a leading role in protecting voting rights, healthcare, jobs, education, criminal justice reform, and standing up to the Trump Administration.

In Congress, she has worked to protect peoples’ voting rights, access to healthcare, jobs, quality education, and to hold those in power accountable. She has also advanced progressive policies and instituted initiatives to help Congress better serve the people. Bass developed the Congressional Council, which provides her constituents with the ability to learn about issues in Congress and how they can become involved in the legislative process. Rep. Bass currently sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, and serves as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Prior to her election to Congress, she served in the State Assembly as the Speaker.

Rep. Bass is being challenged by Errol Webber (R) and Larry Thompson (NPP). Rep. Bass is the best progressive choice because of her proven track record of making government work better for the people it serves.

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

Representative Maxine Waters is from St. Louis, MO, and moved to Los Angeles in 1961. She is the incumbent, having served in Congress since 1991. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to continue to advocate for the needs of her district and to hold those in power accountable.

In Congress, Rep. Waters has secured $10 billion in Section 108 loan guarantees, spurred economic and infrastructure development, and played a pivotal role in establishing the “Youth Fair Chance” program, which provides unemployed youth with skills training for well paying jobs. Rep. Waters currently serves as Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, where she leads the fight to hold financial institutions accountable for predatory behavior. Prior to being elected to Congress, she served in the State Assembly.

Rep. Waters is being challenged by Omar Navarro (R), and Joe Collins III (R). Rep. Waters is the best progressive choice because of her grassroots philosophy of listening to the people she serves and fighting on their behalf.

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

George Gascón, a Cuban immigrant and longtime LAPD police officer, is known as a groundbreaking progressive leader in criminal justice reform in the country. Gascón is running for District Attorney in Los Angeles because he believes the way the criminal justice system operates in Los Angeles must change.

George Gascón moved back to L.A. to run for District Attorney because of his passion for the city, leaving his role as District Attorney in San Francisco, where he was appointed district attorney in 2011 and was re-elected twice. As SF District Attorney, Gascón led a slate of progressive reforms including lowering incarceration rates, expunging more than 9,000 marijuana convictions dating back to 1975, and launching a first-of-its-kind website that provides data on prosecutions, caseloads, and trial outcomes in order to increase accountability and transparency in the criminal justice system.

Gascón started his career as a beat cop in Los Angeles. His trajectory took him to the top of the LAPD, where as Assistant Chief, he oversaw operations the more than 9,000 officers in the LAPD. Throughout his career, Gascón has demonstrated the ability to think in new ways about seemingly intractable problems in criminal justice, and to create meaningful change in the culture and operations of police departments including the LAPD, the Mesa Police Department, and the SFPD. In 2011, then-California Attorney General Gavin Newsom tapped Gascón to be San Francisco District Attorney where he has become known as a visionary in criminal justice reform.

Gascón is challenging incumbent Jackie Lacey, who has consistently resisted public pressure to hold police accountable for the more than 550 people who have been killed by police in Los Angeles County since her election in 2013. Other candidates include public defender, Rachel A. Rossi. Gascón is the strongest progressive choice for district attorney because of his visionary leadership and outstanding track record in criminal justice reform, as well as his experience and demonstrated ability to adapt.

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

State Senator Holly Mitchell is a third-generation Angeleno and continues to live in Los Angeles, where she serves as a State Senator for California's 30th Senate District. According to campaign materials, Mitchell is running to represent District 2 on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in order to meet the real needs of local communities in Los Angeles County -- the largest county in the nation, with over 10 million residents.

Senator Mitchell was elected to the state Assembly in 2010 and moved to the Senate in 2013. She is currently serving her final term as a State Senator, where she serves as Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. During her tenure, Senator Mitchell proposed a set of criminal justice reforms that were signed into law. Together, these 10 laws reduce barriers for Californias impacted by the criminal justice system by reducing sentence enhancements for low-level drugs, removing court fees for the innocent, sealing arrest records for people not convicted, ending the sentencing of juveniles to life without parole, and other advancements. She has been a notable progressive influence in other areas as well, including homelessness, mental health, children’s rights, and job protections. 

In office, Senator Mitchell has scored an overall 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of a legislator's progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Senator Mitchell has consistently shown great courage advocating for the needs of constituents and facing down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians. Most recently, Senator Mitchell has taken a stand on a problematic statewide housing bill, working with a coalition representing low-income communities to demand stronger protections for low-income people, people of color, and other vulnerable people most strongly affected by the housing crisis. 

Senator Mitchell is running against Herb Wesson, president of the Los Angeles City Council, and Jan Perry, a former council member who once ran for mayor. Other candidates include Jorge Nuño, Albert Robles, Rene Rigard, and Jake Jeong. In a crowded field, Senator Mitchell is the best progressive choice because of her track record as a champion for underrepresented and marginalized communities in California and her reputation as an unapologetically progressive legislator.

Voting for Senator Mitchell is an opportunity to elect a transformational leader as supervisor, one who will courageously represent the perspective and priorities of her district in LA County. One day she would make an excellent candidate for Governor of California. Courage California strongly endorses Senator Mitchell for Supervisor.
 

Janice Hahn was born and raised in Los Angeles. After a brief stint in Texas and New York, Hahn moved back to Southern California and raised her family in Los Angeles. She currently lives in San Pedro, CA. According to campaign materials, Hahn is running for re-election to represent District 4 on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to continue her agenda of reforms that prioritize the needs of working families, women, children, seniors, and young people across the 4th District.

Supervisor Hahn was raised in a family of prominent Los Angeles politicians. After a career in the private sector, she was elected to represent the 15th District on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission where she fought for many reforms now included in the new charter: Area Planning Commissions, local citizen representation on commissions governing Los Angeles International Airport and the Port of Los Angeles, and a system of neighborhood councils.

Supervisor Hahn then served on the Los Angeles City Council followed by three years in the U.S. House of Representatives before she retired to run successfully to represent District 4 on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. In this role, Hahn has been a forceful advocate for addressing homelessness, has worked to protect workers at the port, and has implemented reforms to ensure residents receive safe, clean drinking water. Hahn also successfully brokered a deal to secure long-term affordable housing in Marina del Rey that prevented tenant evictions and secured millions of dollars for District 4 school funding, public safety, and water infrastructure to combat run-off of toxic pollutants while increasing environmental protections.

Supervisor Hahn is being challenged by Desiree T. Washington. Hahn is the strongest progressive choice because of her long track record and effective approach to brokering deals that balance the needs of the many stakeholder communities in District 4.

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

Los Angeles County Bar Association ranking: QUALIFIED

Emily Cole has spent 13 years as a Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County. She was born and raised in Los Angeles County and received her undergraduate degree at San Francisco State University and her law degree from Golden Gate University. 

Cole currently specializes in the prosecution of sex crimes and domestic violence and has tried high profile cases, including the prosecution of Dino Guglielmelli, a wealthy businessman that tired to hire a hitman to kill his wife. She also led the prosecution of Shehada Issa in 2017, who was found guilty of murdering his wife and son and was sentenced to life in prison. 

This is an open seat, and Cole is running against one challenger: “Judge” Mike Cummins, who is a retired judge and attorney. Cummins has been rated as NOT QUALIFIED by the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Cummins has run unsuccessfully for numerous offices, including San Luis Obispo County District Attorney in 2018. 

According to our analysis, Cole represents the best choice for judge in this race.