8th Assembly District

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.

Representative Mike Thompson is from St. Helena, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 1999. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election because he understands how to bring people together to solve his district’s needs. 

In Congress, Rep. Thompson has advanced efforts to rebuild the middle-class, increase access to healthcare, ensure seniors and veterans aren’t left behind and preserve the environment. He currently sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, as well as the Health Subcommittee and serves as Chair of the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee. Prior to his election to Congress, he worked in the California State Senate and the United States Army, where he was recognized with a purple heart for his service.

Rep. Thompson has progressive positions when it comes to gun safety legislation and increasing access to affordable healthcare. That said, he has unfavorable positions when it comes to immigration and is a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition. 

Rep. Thompson is being challenged by Jason Kishineff (D), John Wesley Tyler (D), and Scott Giblin (R).  According to recent election results, Democrats usually win this seat. Though we disagree with Rep. Thompson's stances on immigration and his affiliation with the Blue Dog Coalition, his relationships with partners, his position of power in Congress, his progressive position on issues like gun safety, and his Democratic opponents' lack of viability makes Thompson the strongest choice in this race.

Representative Lee is from El Paso, TX, and moved to California in 1960. She is the incumbent, having served in Congress since 2013. According to campaign literature, Rep. Lee is running for re-election to continue her fight for everyone’s equal rights and to be the advocate her district needs in Congress.

In Congress, Rep. Lee has advanced initiatives to address issues of poverty and inequality. She was also one of the leading voices of opposition against the authorization for the use of military force following September 11th. Rep. Lee currently sits on the House Committee on Appropriations and the House Committee on the Budget. Prior to Rep. Lee’s election to Congress, she served in the California State Assembly and State Senate, where she authored over 60 pieces of legislation on issues pertaining to public safety, access to affordable and quality education, LGBT rights, environmental protections, and criminal justice reform.

Rep. Lee is running against Nikka Pitterman (R). Rep. Lee is the best progressive choice because of her legislative track record and her continued efforts to fight for equality for all.

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

Rep. Cox was born in Walnut Creek, California and grew up in the Central Valley, the son of immigrants. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2019. According to campaign materials he is running to keep his seat to continue serving the working families of the Central Valley. 

In his first term in Congress, Rep. Cox has worked to secure funds for essential water infrastructure improvements in the Central Valley, to improve healthcare delivery and asthma treatment in rural communities, and to extend clean energy tax credits for business owners. He has also proposed legislation that could help dozens of cities in his district achieve safe drinking water standards, working closely with cities and environmental justice groups across the Valley to draft the bill. Rep. Cox currently chairs a subcommittee of the House Committee on Natural Resources. Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Cox was an engineer and also created the Central Valley Fund, which raises money for projects located in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods throughout the Central Valley.

Rep. Cox has shown strong support for farmers, rural communities, and veterans in Congress. That said, he has at times voted in support of amendments that have the effect of weakening progressive legislation. 

Unfortunately, Rep. Cox isn’t without complications. His eyebrow-raising business history and practices have come under scrutiny and lawsuits have surfaced accusing Rep. Cox of committing fraud and owing money to investors.

Rep. Cox is being challenged by David Valadao (R), who he bested in 2018 by less than 1,000 votes (and has his own questionable financial history). He is also challenged by Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente (R) and Ricardo De La Fuente (D). According to recent election results, it's rare that Democrats win this seat as Rep. Cox did in 2018. His track record of fighting for Central Valley families and his strong base in a recently flipped district makes 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.
 

Andrew Janz was raised in the Central Valley, and returned to the region after completing his J.D. at Southwestern Law School. According to campaign materials, he is running for City of Fresno Mayor to use his local influence to establish effective policy responses to homelessness and housing, public safety issues, and public spaces.

Janz is a Deputy District Attorney with the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Janz has founded the Voter Protection Project to reinforce voter rights, and challenged Congressman Devin Nunez in the 2018 midterm elections. Janz raised $9.2 million dollars, more than any other congressional candidate, and came within 6 points of unseating Nunez, an incumbent Republican in an historically red district. Janz has worked on statewide initiatives related to higher education and voter registration, was a member of the Law Review at Southwestern, and worked as a law clerk for District Court Judge Carolyn Ellsworth in Nevada.

Janz is running against candidates Brian E. Jefferson, Nickolas Wildstar, Floyd D. Harris Jr., Johnny W. Nelum, Bill Gates, Jerry Dyer, and Richard B. Renteria. Janz stands out as the progressive choice because of his impressive 2018 house run, his commitment to homelessness and public safety, and his principled refusal to accept developer donations in his Mayoral campaign.

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