60th Assembly District

Reelect US Senator Alex Padilla to keep California on the right track for progress.

Sen. Alex Padilla’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of California and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

Progressive endorsements: Sen. Padilla has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Equality California, NARAL Pro-Choice California, Giffords PAC, and many labor unions. He is also endorsed by a broad coalition of federal and local elected officials, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Karen Bass, Rep. Katie Porter, Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and many California mayors.

Top issues: Voter protections, economic growth, police reform, immigration, environmental protections, education, consumer and worker protections, homelessness and housing, and water conservation.

Priority bills: This year, Sen. Padilla’s priorities for California have included 50 bills about environmental and water protections, the economy, immigration, and child welfare. Of these, nearly all are currently in committee or referred to committee. In his brief time in the Senate, Sen. Padilla has signed on as a sponsor of the Green New Deal and Medicare for All, and has been a strong supporter of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. He has also secured federal funding for housing, infrastructure, education, and employment projects in Southern California, and over $11 million for statewide health-care facilities and mental-health services.

Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Padilla currently serves on five committees, including Judiciary, Budget, and Environment and Public Works. He serves as chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Padilla was appointed to the Senate by Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2021, which will make this his first general-election campaign for the seat. He was previously elected to serve as the California’s secretary of state in 2014, winning his 2018 reelection bid over Republican Mark Meuser by 29 points.

Prior to his appointment, Sen. Padilla served Californians in several elected roles, including two terms each on the Los Angeles City Council, in the state Senate, and as the California secretary of state. Sen. Padilla is a longtime supporter of environmental justice, and credits his parents with introducing him to activism around this issue in the Los Angeles community where he was raised. Sen. Padilla has also been a longtime supporter of voting rights and democratic protections, which was the cornerstone of his work as secretary of state. In the Senate, he co-authored the Freedom to Vote Act, and was a strong supporter of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Other background: Sen. Padilla, a longtime public official, is from the San Fernando Valley. He grew up in a tough and underserved neighborhood of Los Angeles, and his public service was inspired by his community and his parents, who engaged him in the organizing process at a young age.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results to fill the last few months of the current term had ten candidates, and the results included incumbent Sen. Alex Padilla (D), 55%; Mark Meuser (R), 22%; James Bradley (R), 7%; and Jon Elist (R), 6%.

The June 2022 results to seat the next full six-year term had 27 candidates, and the results included Sen. Alex Padilla (D), 54%; Mark Meuser (R), 15%; Cordie Williams (R), 7%; Jon Elist (R), 4%; Chuck Smith (R), 4%; James Bradley (R), 3%; and Douglas Howard Pierce (D), 2%.

Sen. Alex Padilla and Mark Meuser will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election in both the current-term and next-term races.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Padilla’s campaign has raised $10.6 million and is not funded by police interests. His problematic donors include Mortgage Bankers Association PAC, Google LLC, FedEx Corporation PAC, Edison International PAC, and Comcast Corporation. He has also received donations from defense contractors, including Employees of Northrop Grumman Corporation PAC and Lockheed Martin Employees’ PAC.

Opposing candidate: Republican Mark Meuser

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Meuser’s campaign has raised $495,000 and is funded almost entirely by individual donors.
 

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

Members of the Senate represent and advocate for the needs of their state constituency and share legislative responsibility with the House of Representatives. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues of national importance. Senators have the exclusive responsibility of providing advice and consent to the executive branch on treaties, and on the nomination and approval of cabinet secretaries, ambassadors, and federal judges. The Senate also has the sole authority to bring and try an impeachment of a high official, up to and including removal from office with a two-thirds majority vote.

Each state, regardless of population, is represented by two senators. Senate elections are statewide, and senators are elected to serve a six-year term. There is no term limit for this position.

Read More

Reelect Congressional Representative Raul Ruiz to keep CD-25 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Raul Ruiz’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-25 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Ruiz has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Everytown, Planned Parenthood, and California Environmental Voters, as well as labor unions like United Farm Workers, United Healthcare Workers, and SEIU.

Top issues: Rep. Ruiz supports improving public health, in particular the public health concerns that plague his district, such as exposed burn pits, contaminated drinking water, drought, and shrinking lakes, like the Salton Sea. He has also worked to simplify and extend access to Medicare and Medicaid, and to improve health care and digital infrastructure in tribal communities.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Ruiz’s priorities for CD-25 have included 52 bills about public health, tribal health, conservation, military and veteran services, and immigration. Of these, three have successfully been passed by the House. He has sponsored legislation to expand paid-leave options for family care; increase diversity in the armed forces, in higher education, and in the scientific field; improve public health and quality of care in tribal communities; and expand the reach and outcomes of public-health programs.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Ruiz currently sits on two committees, including the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Rep. Ruiz has served in this congressional seat since 2012, when he was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2020, he won his 2020 reelection against a Republican challenger by 20 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Ruiz served as an ER doctor, helped to found the Coachella Valley Healthcare Initiative, and worked as an assistant dean of the UC Riverside School of Medicine. Rep. Ruiz has been a longtime supporter of affordable health care, including expanding Medicare, although he does not champion Medicare for All. He has also helped lead talks and drafted immigration reform bills in the House. Ruiz also in general opposes perks for members of Congress, including sponsoring legislation to prohibit politicians from using their funds for first-class airfare or using their position for personal profit.

Other background: Rep. Ruiz, a former emergency physician and university administrator, is from Coachella, CA. He earned his bachelor's degree from UCLA, and three advanced degrees from Harvard, including his medical degree.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Rep. Raul Ruiz (D), 56%; Brian E. Hawkins (R), 16%; Brian M. Tyson (R), 15%; James Francis Gibson (R), 6%; and Burt Thakur (R), 3%. Rep. Ruiz and Brian E. Hawkins will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Ruiz’s campaign has raised $1,857,120 and is not funded by the police. He has accepted donations from corporate PACs, including more than $10,000 from defense manufacturers, nearly $40,000 from the insurance industry, and nearly $70,000 from the pharmaceutical industry. He has also accepted over $25,000 from the fossil fuel industry, and over $10,000 from the real estate industry.

Opposing candidate: Republican Brian E. Hawkins

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hawkin’s campaign has raised $411,368 and has accepted donations from corporate PACs, and has not committed to refusing donations from police unions. He is also funded by WinRed, a Republican PAC backed by Donald Trump that came under fire in 2021 for misleading donors by marking their one-time donations as recurring.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 25th Congressional District includes parts of Riverside, Imperial, and San Bernardino Counties.

Voter registration: 44% Democrat, 27% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 2000. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-25 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 53% Latino, 3% Asian, and 5% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-25 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 15 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 9 points.
 

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

Read More

Reelect Congressional Representative Mark Takano to keep CD-39 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Takano’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-39 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Takano has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and the California Labor Federation.

Top issues: Armed forces and national security, immigration, Congress, civil rights and liberties and minority issues, and crime and law enforcement.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Takano’s priorities for CD-39 have included 38 bills about protecting immigrants, ensuring support for veterans, and protection for consumers. Of these, the majority are either in or referred to committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to protect immigrants from violence, ensure social support for veterans, and ensure protection for consumers. Much of his work in Congress is related to civil liberties and protecting veterans, sponsoring legislation to protect noncitizen veterans from deportation, understanding disparities with regards to compensation benefits for veterans, and supporting psychological support for veterans.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes

Committee Leadership/Membership: Rep. Takano chairs the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Takano has served in this congressional seat since 2013, when he was elected with over 59% of the vote. In 2020, he won his 2020 reelection against a Republican challenger by 28 points.

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. 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. He also served as chair for the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of the California Democratic Party. Rep. Takano has been a longtime supporter of education.

Other background: Rep. Takano, a classroom teacher of 20 years, was born and raised in Riverside. As a student, he bussed tables to support himself. After being elected to the Riverside Community College District’s Board of Trustees, he worked to improve higher education for youth and job training for adults.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Mark Takano (D), 57%; Aja Smith (R), 13%; and Bill Spinney (R), 10%. Takano and Smith will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Takano’s campaign has raised $963,000 and is not funded by police money.

Opposing candidate: Republican Aja Smith
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Smith’s campaign has raised $123,000 and is funded by individuals.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 39th Congressional District includes parts of Riverside County.

Voter registration: 48% Democrat, 24% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 2012. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-39 is 1% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 51% Latino, 6% Asian, and 11% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-39 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 26 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 20 points.
 

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

Read More

Elect Will Rollins to put CD-41 on the right track for progress.

Will Rollins’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-41 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district. This is a Republican-held seat that Democrats have prioritized to flip to maintain control of the House.

Progressive endorsements: Rollins has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Inland Empire Labor Council, Equality PAC, and Progressive Turnout Project. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders in the state, including, Lt. Gov. Kounalakis, Rep. Adam Schiff, and Rep. Mark Takano.

Electoral History: Rollins has not run for public office before.

Top issues: Preventing misinformation in politics, voting rights, campaign finance, gun-violence prevention, education reform, and expanding health care and abortion access.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rollins is a former federal prosecutor who specialized in counterterrorism and counterintelligence. After clerking for two federal judges in California, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney, prosecuting white-collar financial crimes, before joining the National Security Division of the Department of Justice. He has worked on cases involving the illegal trading of missile-guidance microchips, Iranian sanctions violations, and a Port of Los Angeles attack by a QAnon following. Recently, he has been involved in the prosecution of some insurrectionists who were involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rollins pursued this work after being inspired to action by the September 11, 2001, attacks, and he has been continuously motivated by the very real and increasing threat of domestic extremism.

Other background: Will Rollins, an attorney, lives in Canyon Lake. He is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and cites the inequality facing his community as a foundation of his longtime interest in justice work.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rep. Ken Calvert (R), 48%; Will Rollins (D), 30%; Shrina Kurani (D), 16%; John Michael Lucio (R), 5%; and Anna Nevenic (I), 1%. Rep. Ken Calvert and Will Rollins will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rollins’s campaign has raised $1.4 million and is not funded by real estate, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Ken Calvert

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Rep. Calvert’s campaign has raised $2.1 million and is funded by corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and real estate interests. Notably, Rep. Calvert has publicly supported the insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, and voted against certifying the 2020 election results for President Joe Biden. During his 30 years in Congress, Rep. Calvert has worked against the interests of LGBTQIA+ communities, opposed the recent bipartisan infrastructure bill, and has not supported common-sense gun legislation. As an outspoken MAGA Republican, Rep. Calvert presents a serious threat to progressive values in this district.
 

The District

30% Latino, 7% Asian, and 6% Black.

Counties in district: California’s 41st Congressional District includes parts of Riverside County.

Voter registration: 36% Democrat, 36% Republican, and 20% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-41 is 5% less Republican than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 30% Latino, 7% Asian, and 6% Black

Recent election results: CD-41 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by one point and John Cox for governor in 2018 by ten points.
 

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 53 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

Read More

Courage California endorses Corey Jackson for State Assembly to put AD-60 on the right track for progress.

Corey Jackson’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-60 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Jackson has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, Equality California, Inland Empire United, California Working Families Party, Voice for Progress, and the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and labor unions, like California Nurses Association, United Domestic Workers, SEIU. He is also endorsed by a broad set of federal, state, and local elected officials, including U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, and Riverside County Supervisors Chuck Washington and Jeff Hewitt.

Electoral history: Jackson has run for office previously, and won his race for the Riverside Board of Education by 31 points.

Top issues: Jackson’s platform centers education and youth advocacy measures, like universal childcare, trauma-informed practices in school, and education reform. He also supports an affordable housing guarantee and campaign-finance reform.

Governance and community leadership Experience: Jackson serves on the Riverside County School Board, advocating to increase mental-health services in schools and to eliminate the criminalization of children. He also founded the nonprofit SBX Youth and Family Services, which aims to disrupt the cycle of poverty through mentorship, education, and community organizing. He also holds leadership positions in the Riverside NAACP.

Other background: Corey A. Jackson is from Rialto, CA, and has lived in Riverside County for more than ten years. He earned his bachelor’s at CSU San Bernardino and his master’s of social work from California Baptist University.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Corey A. Jackson (D), 27%; Hector Diaz Nava (R), 39.9%; Esther Portillo (D), 19.9%; and Jasmin Rubio (D), 13.2%. Corey Jackson and Hector Diaz-Nava will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Jackson’s campaign has raised $292,970 and is not funded by police unions, although he has accepted donations from the real estate industry, the fossil fuel industry, and corporate PACs.

Opposing candidate: Republican Hector Diaz Nava

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Nava’s campaign has raised $31,000 and has not committed to refusing donations from the police or the fossil fuel industry. His campaign is also principally self-funded.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 60th Assembly District includes parts of Riverside County.

Voter registration: 48% Democrat, 23% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-60 is largely unchanged, and maintains a Democratic registration advantage of 25%.

District demographics: 51% Latino, 5% Asian, and 15% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-60 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 26 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 19 points.
 

The Position

State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.

Read More

Reelect Governor Gavin Newsom to keep California on the right track for progress.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of California and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

Progressive endorsements: Gov. Newsom has the endorsement of many progressive groups in the state, including NARAL Pro-Choice, California Teachers Association, and California Labor Federation.

Top issues: Economic recovery and growth, health-care access, early-childhood education, police reform, consumer and worker protections, climate protections, statewide wildfire response, and reproductive choice.

Priority policies: Gov. Newsom’s priorities for California this term have included action on issues across the policy spectrum. On criminal-justice reform, he has paused executions across the state, and established new limitations on police use of force. On education reform, he has expanded early-childhood education to include four-year-olds, established updated standards and guidelines for charter schools, and provided free school meals to all public schools during the pandemic. On the economy, he has used federal pandemic money to provide the largest economic stimulus package in state history, and signed legislation that provided protections for individuals working in the gig economy. On climate protections, he has moved the state closer to an eventual full ban on fracking, and ordered a ban on gas-powered cars by 2035. Gov. Newsom has also advanced an executive order to use state agencies to store and remove carbon from the atmosphere, and to establish a first-in-the-nation goal of conserving 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal water by 2030. Gov. Newsom’s administration has expended significant resources for responding to some of the state’s worst wildfire seasons, and has worked with local governments as they pursue resolutions to the ongoing homelessness crisis across the state.

Gov. Newsom has failed to take strong action on several important issues, however, including replacing police with mental-health professionals, bringing new financial-reporting standards to public education, establishing a single-payer health-care system, and supporting safe drug-injection site pilot programs in the state. He has also been criticized for aligning with wealthy donors and special interests, including on some environmental policies.

Governance and community leadership experience: Gov. Newsom has served as governor since 2018, when he was elected with over 61% of the vote. In the fall of 2021, Gov. Newsom was the target of a recall campaign. The recall was backed by a right-wing coalition eager to capitalize on the perception of political weakness that had resulted from the ongoing economic impact of his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The recall effort was unsuccessful, with 61% voting to retain Gov. Newsom. Running the special election a year ahead of the 2022 election cycle is estimated to have cost California taxpayers an additional $200 million.

Prior to his election in 2018, Gov. Newsom served in positions across state and local governments. He served two terms as lieutenant governor under former Gov. Jerry Brown, two terms as mayor of San Francisco, and two terms as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Other background: Gov. Newsom, a career public official, is from San Francisco.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), 56%; Brian Dahle (R), 18%; Michael Shellenberger (I), 4%; Anthony Trimino (R), 4%; Jenny Rae Le Roux (R), 4%; Shawn Collins (R), 3%; Luis Javier Rodriguez (I), 2%; and over 20 other candidates who each received less than 2% of the vote. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Brian Dahle will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Gov. Newsom’s campaign has raised $19.8 million and is not funded by fossil fuel interests. He has received problematic donations from California Correctional Peace Officers Association PAC, 21st Century Fox American Inc., Google Inc., and Shorenstein Realty Services Inc.

Opposing candidate: Republican Brian Dahle

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Dahle’s campaign has raised $1.7 million and is funded by police, real estate, and fossil fuel interests.
 

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

Governors serve as the chief executive officer of a state, and have the authority to sign and implement state laws. They are responsible for overseeing the operations of the executive branch of the state government, and advancing statewide initiatives and programs through executive orders, legislative proposals, or executive budgets. Governors have the exclusive authority to nominate or appoint officials, including agency heads, cabinet secretaries, and state court judges. Gubernatorial power varies across states, as each state government operates under the guidance of a state constitution.

Each governor is elected by popular vote in a statewide election. In California, governors are elected to serve a four-year term, and are limited to two terms in office.

Read More

Reelect Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis to keep California on the right track for progress.

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a champion for the constituents of California and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

Progressive endorsements: Lt. Gov. Kounalakis has the endorsement of many progressive groups in the state, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice California, and EMILY’s List. She has also received the endorsement of many elected officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Alex Padilla, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Board of Equalization member Malia Cohen.

Top issues: Housing and homelessness, police reform, environmental protections, economic recovery and growth, and reproductive freedom

Priority policies: This term, Lt. Gov. Kounalakis has provided administrative and political support for the governor’s agenda, including action related to pausing executions, placing limitations on police use of force, incremental efforts to ban fracking, distributing the largest stimulus package in state history, and expanding access to early childhood education. However, their administration has failed to take significant action on several progressive priorities, including transitioning to first responders with a mental-health focus, reforming the state tax system, establishing a single-payer health-care system, and significantly reducing the population of homeless individuals in the state. More recently, Lt. Gov. Kounalakis had the individual responsibility of setting the date for the 2021 recall election, and worked in support of Gov. Newsom’s successful campaign to defeat the recall. She has also been outspoken about new efforts to ensure that abortion remains legal in California, including potentially establishing sanctuary protections for women who seek abortion care in the state. In 2022, she became the first woman in state history to sign a bill into law after she authorized an eviction-protection extension bill while Gov. Newsom was abroad.

Governance and community leadership experience: Lt. Gov. Kounalakis has served in this seat since 2018, when she was elected with over 56% of the vote.

Prior to serving in this role, Lt. Gov. Kounalakis held a variety of positions in public service and the private sector. She served under Gov. Jerry Brown as chair of the California Advisory Council for International Trade and Investment, was a fellow at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Hungary under former President Barack Obama. Before her public service, Lt. Gov. Kounalakis was a businessperson who served as president of AKT Development, a housing- and land-development firm founded by her father. The firm is the largest in the Sacramento area, and primarily focuses on residential master-planned communities.

Other background: Lt. Gov. Kounalakis is from Sacramento. She is the first woman to serve as lieutenant governor in the state.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (D), 53%; Angela Underwood Jacobs (R), 20%; David Fennell (R), 13%; Clint Saunders (R), 5%; Jeffrey Highbear Morgan (D), 3%; Mohammad Arif (I), 3%; William Cavett “Skee” Saacke (D), 3%; David Hillberg (I), 2%; and James Orlano Ogle (I), 0%. Lt. Gov. Kounalakis and Angela Underwood Jacobs will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Lt. Gov. Kounalakis’s campaign has raised $4.5 million and is not funded by fossil fuel interests. She has received problematic donations from real estate, corporate PAC, and police interests, including Spanos Corporation, Airbnb Inc., AT&T, and California Correctional Peace Officers Association PAC.

Opposing candidate: Republican Angela Underwood Jacobs

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Underwood Jacobs’s campaign has raised $107,000 and is funded by real estate interests.
 

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

Lieutenant governors serve as the second-highest executive officer of a state. They are responsible for acting as governor in the case that the sitting governor is temporarily absent, incapacitated, or removed from office, and have additional responsibilities that vary by state. In California, this position chairs the Commission for Economic Development and the State Lands Commission, and provides guidance to the governor on issues across state policy. The lieutenant governor serves as president of the state Senate, and casts a vote in the case of a tie. The lieutenant governor also holds a variety of leadership roles, including as a voting member of the Board of Regents of the University of California, and the Board of Trustees of the California University System.

Each lieutenant governor is elected by popular vote in a statewide election. In California, lieutenant governors are elected to serve a four-year term, and are limited to two terms in office.

Read More

Courage California endorses Attorney General Rob Bonta for reelection to keep California on the right track for progress.

Attorney General Rob Bonta’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive champion for all Californians and will execute his responsibilities effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

Progressive Endorsements: Attorney General Bonta has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, SEIU CA, NARAL Pro-Choice CA, and California Teachers Association. He has also received the endorsement of an overwhelming number of elected officials across the state, including U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Governor Gavin Newsom, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, State Controller Betty Yee, State Senator Sydney Kamlager, and State Senator Scott Weiner.

Top issues: Hate-crime victim protections, consumer protections, corporate transparency, homelessness and housing, reproductive freedom, gun-violence protections, and climate justice.

Priority policies: This year, Attorney General Bonta’s priorities for California have included establishing stronger protections for victims of hate crimes, working toward regulations that protect consumers from unjust corporate behavior, and creating a more equitable criminal-justice system. His office recently secured a judgment requiring Amazon to pay a $500,000 fine and adhere to a stricter process of reporting workplace COVID-19 prevention efforts and recorded infections to the company’s employees and the state. Attorney General Bonta has been outspoken about other forms of consumer and workplace protections, including recent efforts to curb robocalls and spearheading a nationwide investigation into targeted marketing tactics from Instagram and Meta Inc. He has also taken aim at the housing crisis with the creation of the Housing Strike Force and an online Housing Portal designed to address access, affordability, and equity. These new initiatives will enforce housing-development laws, reaffirm tenant rights, provide consumer protection and alerts, and provide legal advocacy for the right to housing. Attorney General Bonta has also recently brought charges against over 50 California Highway Patrol officers for an ongoing overtime fraud scheme.

In his first several months in office, Attorney General Bonta has demonstrated a collaborative approach to his work locally, and an interest in leveraging his position for national impact. In California, he has established the Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement (CARE) to communicate directly with underrepresented community and advocacy groups in the state. The attorney general’s office is designed to advance equity, and to ensure that the work is inclusive of diverse perspectives. Nationally, Attorney General Bonta has been proactive in partnering with state attorney generals across the country to file briefs on legislation of national importance, including a public opposition to Texas’s recent abortion ban (SB 8).

Governance and community leadership experience: Attorney General Bonta was first elected to the State Assembly in 2012, winning with over 50% of the vote and serving for nine years in the legislature. In 2020, he was reelected to his seat over Republican challenger Stephen Slauson by a 76-point margin. In 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed him to serve as state attorney general after the seat was vacated by Xavier Beccera upon his confirmation to serve in the Biden Administration.

During his time in the State Assembly, Attorney General Bonta was an effective legislator who worked on bills related to climate protections, criminal justice and prison reform, immigrant rights, and housing protections. Bonta scored a lifetime score of 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, he supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Attorney General Bonta served as a deputy city attorney for both the City and County of San Francisco, as an elected member of the Alameda Health Care District Board of Directors, as board president for the Social Service Human Relations board, as board president for Alternatives in Action, and as chair of the Economic Development Commission. He is a longtime activist in the ongoing fight for racial, economic, and social justice.

Other background: Attorney General Rob Bonta, a civil rights attorney, is from Alameda, CA. He is the son of farmworkers who provided leadership to the labor movement, and is the first Filipino American to serve as California’s attorney general.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Attorney General Rob Bonta (D), 54%; Nathan Hochman (R), 18%; Eric Early (R), 17%; Anne Marie Schubert (I), 8%; and Dan Kapelovitz (I), 3%. Attorney General Bonta and Nathan Hochman will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Attorney General Bonta’s campaign has raised $5.7 million and is not funded by police interests. He has received problematic donations from the fossil fuel, real estate, and corporate PAC industries, including Triple S Oil LLC, 7-Eleven Inc., Avaasa Realty Inc., and California Biz Realty Inc.

Opposing candidate: Republican Nathan Hochman

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hochman’s campaign has raised $2.8 million and is funded by real estate interests.
 

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

The state attorney general acts as the lead attorney and law-enforcement official for the state of California, and has oversight of over 4,500 state-employed district attorneys, investigators, police officers, and administrators. The attorney general executes a variety of responsibilities in the state, including representing the people of California in criminal and civil matters in court, coordinating statewide law-enforcement efforts, providing legal counsel to state agencies, and managing special projects to protect the rights of Californians. California has 58 elected district attorneys who report to the attorney general, one for every county in the state. The attorney general is elected for a four-year term and may serve a maximum of two terms in office. This office has traditionally been held by Democrats, including current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, and current Vice President Kamala Harris.

Read More

Courage California endorses Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber for reelection to keep California on the right track for progress.

Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive champion for all Californians and will execute her responsibilities effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.
Progressive endorsements: Secretary Weber has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California NARAL Pro-Choice California, Elect Black Women PAC, National Women’s Political Caucus, and Smart Justice California. She has also received the endorsement of a broad coalition of state leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Senator Sydney Kamlager, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, and LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell.

Top issues: Inclusive and transparent election systems, expanding the right to vote, election security, improving campaign finance systems, increasing voter outreach and education, and monitoring and solidifying state cybersecurity.

Priority policies: Secretary Weber’s priorities this year include increased outreach to formerly incarcerated Californians to align election practices to the recently passed Proposition 17, which returns voting rights to parolees, to strengthen businesses across the state, and to upgrade the cybersecurity system to ensure that all California elections are protected from interference. As a public servant, Sec. Weber has established herself as a collaborative leader focused on supporting communities that have been under-resourced. In her first months in office, Secretary Weber has worked to establish connections with groups working to improve election information and engagement, including education professionals who can reach young voters and formerly incarcerated individuals now eligible to vote.

Governance and community leadership experience: Secretary Weber was first elected to the State Assembly in 2012, winning her seat with over 61% of the vote. In 2020, she won her reelection against Republican challenger John Moore by 30 points. In December 2020, she was appointed to serve as secretary of state by Governor Gavin Newsom after Alex Padilla was appointed to serve the rest of Vice President Kamala Harris’s Senate term.

As a member of the State Assembly, she sponsored bills on a variety of issues, including school safety, full-day kindergarten, reducing the use of deadly force by police, and strengthening the CalFresh program. Her successes also included environmental cleanup, increasing food access for food-insecure communities, establishing protections for residents of long-term nursing facilities, and lowering the cost of childcare. She scored a lifetime 93 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Sec. Weber supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, prior to her appointment to the secretary of state seat, she did not support lowering the voting age to 17.

Prior to serving in public office, Secretary Weber founded the Department of Africana Studies at San Diego State University in 1972, and taught there for forty years. She also served as president of the National Council for Black Studies from 2002 to 2006, as president of the San Diego Board of Education from 1988 to 1996, and as chairperson of San Diego’s Citizens Equal Opportunity Commission. Secretary Weber holds three degrees from UCLA and has been a longtime champion of the power of well-funded and well-staffed public education.

Other background: Secretary Shirley Weber, a former San Diego State University professor and longtime member of the California State Assembly, is originally from Los Angeles, and lived in the greater San Diego area for over 30 years. She is the daughter of an Arkansas sharecropper, and came to California at the age of three as her family fled racist persecution from white farmers.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Secretary Dr. Shirley Weber (D), 59%; Rob Bernosky (R), 19%; Rachel Hamm (R), 12%; James Paine (R), 4%; Gary Blenner (I), 3%; Raul Rodriguez Jr. (R), 3%, Matthew Cinquanta (I), 1%; and Desmond Silveira (I), 0%. Secretary Weber and Rob Bernosky will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Secretary Weber’s campaign has raised $1.1 million and has received donations from corporate PAC, fossil fuel, real estate, and police interests. Her problematic donors include Sempra Energy, Meta Platforms Inc., California Correctional Peace Officers Association PAC, and California Real Estate PAC.

Opposing candidate: Republican Rob Bernosky

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Bernosky’s campaign has not recorded any fundraising receipts with the secretary of state’s office as of September 2022.
 

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the Lieutenant Governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

The secretary of state acts as the lead records officer for the state of California, and manages an office of 500 civil-service employees who are responsible for ensuring transparency and accessibility in elections, campaigning, business records, and legislative advocacy. The secretary of state’s office has a significant responsibility for election implementation and integrity, as it produces information pamphlets for voters in ten languages, provides statewide testing and approval for voting equipment, maintains the voter database, and certifies the official candidate lists and the official election results. The secretary of state’s office also oversees the filing and disclosure of campaign-finance information, the management of business records, the safeguarding of statewide address confidentiality, and the maintenance of registries for domestic partnerships and advanced health-care directives. The secretary of state is elected for a four-year term and may serve a maximum of two terms in office. This office has traditionally been held by Democrats.

Read More

Reelect Treasurer Fiona Ma to keep California on the right track for progress.

Fiona Ma’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a champion for Californians and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

Progressive endorsements: Treasurer Ma has the endorsement of many progressive groups in the state, including SEIU California, Equality California, and California Labor Federation.

Top issues: Economic recovery and growth, climate protections, education funding, affordable housing, veterans’ services, and health-care access.

Key initiatives: Treasurer Ma’s priorities for California this term have included action on a variety of issues. Her office worked to distribute small-business loans and to expand health-care access in response to the community effects of COVID-19, and to establish new clean-energy initiatives, including financing for the purchase of low-emissions trucks and equipment. Treasurer Ma was also a strong supporter of AB 132, which provides funding for the establishment of college savings accounts for low-income students at every grade level across the state. Although she has made progress on a collaborative initiative to create more affordable housing in the state, there has been a measurable increase in homelessness since she assumed office.

Treasurer Ma has been accused of sexual harassment and wrongful termination by a former staff member in a complaint that cites lewd behavior and excessive gifting by the treasurer. The complainant indicates that the circumstances produced a hostile work environment prior to her abrupt termination. Treasurer Ma has denied the accusations.

Governance and community leadership experience: Treasurer Ma has served in this seat since 2018, when she was elected with over 64% of the vote. This was the largest vote share that a treasurer candidate has ever received in the state.

Prior to her election in 2018, Treasurer Ma served in positions across state and local government. She served one term on the California Board of Equalization, three terms in the State Assembly, and one term on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She has held a variety of leadership positions, including serving as the speaker pro tempore and the majority whip during her time in the Assembly, as chair of the National Association of State Treasurers ABLE Committee, and as president of Women in California Politics.

Other background: Treasurer Ma has lived in California for most of her adult life. Prior to seeking elected office, Treasurer Ma worked as a licensed certified public accountant in California.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Treasurer Fiona Ma (D), 57%; Jack Guerrero (R), 22%; Andrew Do (R), 17%; and Meghann Adams (I), 4%. Treasurer Fiona Ma and Jack Guerrero will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Treasurer Ma’s campaign has raised $3.7 million and is not funded by corporate PAC donors. She has received problematic donations from real estate, police, and fossil fuel interests, including Sempra Energy, California Correctional Peace Officers Association PAC, California Real Estate PAC, and Empress Real Estate Inc.

Opposing candidate: Republican Jack Guerrero

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Guerrero’s campaign has raised $1.9 million, but has filed limited financial disclosures with the secretary of state’s office.
 

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

Treasurers serve as a state’s chief banker, overseeing revenue and finances for schools, roads, housing, levees, public-health facilities, and infrastructure projects. They can be responsible for pension administration, public employee payroll, and fraud oversight. Treasurers manage the state’s investments and the sale of state bonds, and serve as the trustee of the state’s debt portfolio. In California, the state treasurer manages the banking for the world’s fifth-largest economy and typically oversees around $2.5 trillion in banking transactions during each fiscal year.

The California state treasurer is elected by popular vote in a statewide election. The state treasurer is elected to serve four-year terms, and is limited to two terms in office.

Read More

Courage California endorses Malia Cohen to serve as the next State Controller to keep California on the right track for progress.

Malia Cohen’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of California and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

Progressive endorsements: Cohen has received the endorsement of many progressive groups in the district, including Courage California, NARAL Pro-Choice California PAC, California Federation of Teachers, Elect Black Women PAC, and a variety of trade organizations, including UNITE Here PAC. She also has the endorsement of many elected officials in the state, including Congresswoman Karen Bass, current State Controller Betty Yee, State Attorney General Rob Bonta, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, State Senator Sydney Kamlager, and State Senator Scott Weiner.

Electoral history: Cohen currently serves as chair of the California State Board of Equalization, and has held this seat since she won with over 72% of the vote in 2018. She also served two terms on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, winning her first race in 2010.

Top issues: Economic recovery and growth, equity, accountability and transparency, homelessness and affordable housing, corporate accountability, reproductive freedom, climate protections, and affordable health care.

Priority policies: As a current member of the California State Board of Equalization representing District 2, Cohen has experience in administering statewide policy related to property tax, alcoholic beverage tax, and tax on insurers. In this and other positions, Cohen has kept equity in focus and has worked to leverage her role to create opportunities to establish more inclusive policies. She was instrumental in implementing a free community college program in San Francisco, co-authored the Fair Chance Ordinance for individuals reentering the workforce after incarceration, and championed the creation of a Department of Officer Accountability for the San Francisco Police Department. She also worked to divest the San Francisco Employee Retirement System (SFERS) investments from fossil fuels and thermal coal investments to bring a more ethical foundation to the pension system. These and other efforts demonstrate her deft ability to use her knowledge and authority to return benefits to communities that have been historically marginalized and disadvantaged by fiscal and public policy. As controller, Cohen hopes to create a more efficient system to connect unclaimed property to individuals who have ownership rights, streamline financial services for Californians who are unbanked, and create a Golden State Stimulus program that will ensure that residents have the resources they need to cover their basic living expenses.

Governance and community leadership experience: Cohen is a public official, a role she inhabits to redistribute state funding in a way that establishes a more equitable economic foundation for all constituents. Prior to joining the Board of Equalization, she served two terms as a member and president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where she chaired the Budget and Finance Committee. Cohen has also served as commissioner of the SFERS, which manages the city’s municipal pension fund.

Other background: Cohen is a lifelong Californian. She is the first Black woman to be elected to the California State Board of Equalization.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Lanhee Chen (R), 37%; Malia Cohen (D), 23%; Yvonne Yiu (D), 15%; Steve Glazer (D), 11%; Ron Galperin (D), 10%; and Laura Wells (I), 4%. Malia Cohen and Lanhee Chen will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Cohen’s campaign has raised $1.6 million and is not funded by fossil fuel or police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Lanhee Chen

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Chen’s campaign has raised $3.4 million and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests. Chen has also received a donation from Cotton for Senate, Inc., a campaign committee connected to the Koch family that aims to reelect MAGA Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Missouri.
 

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

The state controller acts as the lead fiscal authority for the state of California, which is the fifth-largest economy in the world. The state controller manages an office of 1,400 public servants responsible for the disbursement of financial resources across the state. The state controller’s office oversees audits of funds distributed to state agencies and programs, acts as a steward for unclaimed property that falls to state possession, provides accounting and reporting services for government entities, and manages payroll accounting and data for state employees. The state controller also serves as a policy liaison to a variety of finance organizations, including the state’s two pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS, and the California Franchise Tax Board. The state controller is elected for a four-year term and may serve a maximum of two terms in office. This office has traditionally been held by Democrats, and is currently held by two-term Controller Betty Yee.

Read More

Reelect Ricardo Lara as insurance commissioner to keep California on the right track for progress.

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has had a problematic track record of ethical scandals, including accepting contributions from insurance companies and paying for a Sacramento apartment with taxpayers’ money. However, the threat of Republican challenger Robert Howell, who presents voters with no specific policy ideas and who describes himself as a “Reagan Republican,” outweighs Commissioner Lara’s questionable record. We recommend that voters reelect Commissioner Lara and commit to holding him accountable for representing constituents, not corporate or personal interests.

Progressive endorsements: Commissioner Lara has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Labor Federation, Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and many local labor unions. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Rep. Karen Bass, and State Senator Sydney Kamlager.

Key initiatives: Commissioner Lara has successfully worked to provide pandemic insurance returns to Californians, protected home insurance coverage for individuals residing in the path of wildfires, and created a Climate and Sustainability Branch inside the Department of Insurance. He also wrote an insurance law, SB 30, which creates a working group of climate researchers and insurance experts to create recommendations to reduce insurance costs related to wildfires, extreme heat, and flooding.

While he has taken steps to protect consumer interests, he has also received criticism for his deference to insurance companies, including recent remarks at a private insurance industry meeting that implied he would be supportive of providing private citizens’ vehicle data to insurance companies so that rates could be tied to driving habits. Notably, after his first campaign for this seat in 2018, Commissioner Lara returned thousands of dollars in campaign donations from insurance industry stakeholders, acknowledging the conflict of interest presented by accepting donations from the industry he was tasked with regulating. Recently, it was revealed that he is under investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for allegedly diverting insurance industry donations through independent groups that are working in support of his reelection campaign. A final determination about the accuracy of the allegations has not been made.

Governance and community leadership experience: Commissioner Lara has served in this seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 52% of the vote. Prior to his election to the Department of Insurance, Lara served one term in the State Assembly and two terms in the state Senate, where he focused on legislation related to the expansion of health-insurance access, environmental protections, and juvenile-justice reform. He had noted success in his final year in the State Senate, when 34 of his sponsored bills were signed into law.

Other background: Commissioner Lara is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles County. He is the first openly gay person to be elected to statewide office in California.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Commissioner Ricardo Lara (D), 36%; Robert Howell (R), 18%; Marc Levine (D), 18%; Greg Conlon (R), 16%; Vinson Eugene Allen (D), 4%; Nathalie Hrizi (I), 3%; Veronika Fimbres (I), 2%; Jasper Jackson (D), 2%; and Robert Molner (I), 1%. Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Robert Howell will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Commissioner Lara’s campaign has raised $1.5 million and has received donations from real estate, fossil fuel, and police interests. His problematic donors include Sempra Energy, Southern California Edison, Peace Officers Research Association of California PAC, and California Real Estate PAC.

Opposing candidate: Republican Robert Howell

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Howell’s campaign has not filed any campaign-finance receipts with the secretary of state’s office as of September 2022.
 

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

The state insurance commissioner acts as the head of the Department of Insurance, a consumer-protection agency that regulates the state’s insurance marketplace. The commissioner directs the Department of Insurance to ensure that Californians receive fair and indiscriminate insurance rates, timely claim payments, regulated brokerage, and effective complaint and fraud investigations. The insurance commissioner leads a department of 1,400 employees, and provides oversight to over 450,000 insurance industry professionals. The Department of Insurance routinely recovers over $84 million for consumers annually.

Read More

Reelect Superintendent Tony Thurmond to keep California on the right track for progress.

Superintendent Tony Thurmond’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the students and families of California and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

Progressive endorsements: Superintendent Thurmond has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Federation of Teachers, NARAL Pro-Choice California, California Labor Federation, and Equality California. He has also received the endorsement of many state leaders, including Senator Alex Padilla, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and State Senator Sydney Kamlager.

Top issues: Student mental-health care, the expansion of educational enrichment programming, improving student literacy, expanding ESL, workforce development, STEAM education, universal pre-K, bias prevention, and publicly funded meal programs for students.

Key initiatives: When he took office, Superintendent Thurmond established eight task-force groups to address a variety of education issues, including technology gaps, literacy, and the achievement gap. The guidance provided by experts through these groups was critical in the creation of SB 1229, which provides more mental-health professionals in schools and in guiding budget allocations. He has also increased grant allocations for financial literacy courses and worked with State Treasurer Fiona Ma to implement the new California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS), which creates a college savings account funded with a minimum of $500 for low-income students in the public education system.

During his time at the Department of Education, Superintendent Thurmond has faced criticism for significant staff turnover and accusations of a toxic work environment, much of which coincided with the educational complexities created by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also notably absent from much of Governor Newsom’s early public response to pandemic remote learning, which led to a reduction in the Department of Education’s role in guiding schools through pandemic policies.

Governance and community leadership experience: Superintendent Thurmond has served in this seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 50% of the vote. Prior to serving in this role, he held the 15th State Assembly seat for two terms, winning his 2016 reelection campaign against a Republican challenger by 78 points.

Prior to his election, Superintendent Thurmond spent four years as a member of the State Assembly, where he focused on legislation related to labor protections, social services, and education, including bills that addressed special education, school accountability, teacher training, and dual-language programs. He has long been involved in politics, and served on both the Richmond City Council and the West Contra Costa County Unified School Board before being elected to the Assembly. Before launching his public career, Superintendent Thurmond worked with at-risk students in after-school programs, and with youth mental-health initiatives.

Other background: Supervisor Thurmond, an educator and a public official, is from San Jose. He is the first Afro-Latino to serve in this position in California.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Superintendent Tony Thurmond, 46%; Lance Ray Christensen, 12%; Ainye Long, 11%; George Yang, 11%; Marco Amaral, 9%; Jim Gibson, 8%; and Joseph Guy Campbell, 4%. Superintendent Tony Thurmond and Lance Ray Christensen will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Superintendent Thurmond’s campaign has raised $2.8 million and is not funded by real estate or police interests. He has received problematic donations from General Motors Company and Sempra Energy.

Opposing candidate: Lance Ray Christensen

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Christensen’s campaign has raised $84,000 and is funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, and fossil fuel interests. Christensen is an education-policy executive at a conservative think tank that has advocated for charter school expansion, supported the reopening of schools at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provided resources to support public employees seeking to leave their unions. His employer, California Policy Center, has also partnered with Let Them Breathe, a conservative nonprofit that has provided resources for the recent parents’ rights movement that has affected school curriculums across the country.
 

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

The state superintendent of public instruction serves as the head of the California Department of Education (CDE) and oversees its 1,500 employees. The superintendent works to implement the policies of the California Board of Education, which serves as the governing body of public education within the state, and the education-related laws enacted by the state legislature. The superintendent can work to bring attention to significant issues affecting the education landscape, and can use their influence to urge legislative or policy action within the state. The superintendent is also responsible for administrative leadership of education operations, including teacher licensure and facilities maintenance. Superintendents hold a constitutionally elected position and are limited to two terms or eight years in office.

Read More

Elect Jose Altamirano for the Board of Equalization to keep District 1 on the right track for progress.

Jose Altamirano’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a representative voice for the constituents of District 1 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this district.

Progressive endorsements: Jose Altamirano has no public endorsements, but has received the support of two publications, the Sacramento Bee and the Bakersfield Californian.

Incumbent Ted Gaines does not have any progressive endorsements. He has the endorsement of the California Republican Party and 25 Republican members across the State Assembly and the state Senate.

Key initiatives: Altamirano has spent over 30 years with the State Compensation Insurance Fund, where he has worked to provide affordable insurance options to individuals and businesses. He has a record of professional advancement, which has provided him with an understanding of how economic circumstances affect everyday Californians. He would bring this understanding to tax policy as a member of the Board of Equalization.

Governance and community leadership experience: Altamirano has long been an engaged citizen and currently serves as the chair of the UC Davis Health Community Advisory Board. He is also the Secretary for Cottage Housing, and a mentor with the Latinx leadership program Nueva Epoca. Previously, he served a four-year term as commissioner for the City of West Sacramento. Altamirano views himself as having achieved the American Dream and cites his successful experience with the California public education system as part of his interest in supporting the economic goals of fellow Californians through work on the Board of Equalization. Altamirano has not run for public office before.

Other background: Altamirano is a longtime resident of California.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent board member Ted Gaines (R), 55%; Jose Altamirano (D), 22%; Braden Murphy (D), 15%; and Nader Shahatit (D), 9%. Board Member Ted Gaines and Jose Altamirano will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Altamirano’s campaign has raised $3,000 and is funded entirely through individual donations.

Opposing candidate: Republican Incumbent Board Member Ted Gaines

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Board Member Ted Gaines campaign has raised $210,000 and has received donations from police and real estate interests.

Board Member Gaines has been a strong supporter of Proposition 13, a 1978 measure aimed to limit property tax increases. In the years since, data has shown that Proposition 13 has had a measurable negative impact on the widening wealth gap and on homelessness and the housing shortage, and created severe limitations in public education funding. Gaines is a frequent guest columnist and uses his platform to share problematic views, including that upward economic mobility can be achieved by making friends through church, and that nuclear and natural gas are preferable to the state’s transition to clean energy and electric cars.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 1st Board of Equalization district spans across most of inland California, from San Bernardino County to the Oregon border, and includes over 60% of California’s land area. California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents, with District 3 including approximately 10 million Californians.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

The California Board of Equalization is composed of four members elected by popular vote to represent individual districts within the state. It is the only elected tax board in the country. The state controller serves in an at-large capacity as the 5th member. The Board of Equalization is responsible for managing taxation in the state, including in the areas of property, alcoholic beverage, and insurance. This includes oversight of valuation assessments on public utility and railroad property, mapping and assigning tax rates to geographic areas in the state, conducting assessment surveys and compliance audits, and administering tax exemptions. In California, board members meet each month in Sacramento to execute their duties of oversight, policy setting, and regulation to guide the work of the appointed executive director and Board of Equalization staff.

Board members are elected to four-year terms in office and cannot serve more than two terms.

Read More

Elect Sally Lieber to the Board of Equalization to keep California on the right track for progress.

Sally Lieber’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of District 2 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Lieber is endorsed by many progressive groups, including Equality California, California Teachers Association, and Sierra Club. She has also received the endorsement of many political leaders, including activist Dolores Huerta, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, and Senator Josh Becker.

Electoral history: Lieber has served as a Mountain View City Council member since she won her election in 2020 with the second-highest vote total for the at-large seat. This is Lieber’s second turn on the city council, where she first served as mayor and vice mayor after winning election in 1998. She was then elected to the 22nd Assembly District seat in 2002, and won reelection in 2004 and 2006. Lieber ran for the 13th state Senate seat in 2012, but lost to Senator Jerry Hill. She ran again for this seat in 2020, but lost to Senator Josh Becker in the primary by a margin of 7 points.

Top issues: Environmental protections, public safety and victims’ protections, worker rights, reproductive freedom, homelessness and housing, and immigration.

Priority bills: Lieber served three terms as the assemblymember for the 22nd district. While in the legislature, she worked on bills that increased the minimum wage, addressed sea-level rise, codified human trafficking as a felony, and created the Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights. Her platform for the Board of Equalization seeks to build on these legislative successes by pursuing a coalition approach to highlighting equity and fairness, accountability, and climate protections in her approach to tax implementation.

Governance and community leadership experience: Lieber has long been involved in advocacy and local politics, and is a longtime supporter of communities in need. She has recently returned to the Mountain View City Council, where she had previously served terms as a councilmember and as mayor. In this role, she has worked on committees for finance, inclusion, transportation, and youth services. Her current term expires in 2025, and she could maintain the seat while also serving on the Board of Equalization until that time.

Other background: Sally Lieber, a public official, has lived in California for over 40 years.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Sally Lieber (D), 53%; Peter Coe Verbica (R), 28%; and Michela Alioto-Pier (D), 19%. Sally Lieber and Peter Coe Verbica will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Lieber’s campaign has raised $176,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC donors. She has personally contributed $126,000 to her campaign.

Opposing candidate: Republican Peter Coe Verbica
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Coe Verbica’s campaign has raised $43,000 and is funded almost entirely by individual donors.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 2nd Board of Equalization district contains parts of 23 counties, spanning from Del Norte to Santa Barbara. California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents, with District 2 including approximately 10 million Californians.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the Lieutenant Governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

The California Board of Equalization is composed of four members elected by popular vote to represent individual districts within the state. It is the only elected tax board in the country. The state controller serves in an at-large capacity as the 5th member. The board of equalization is responsible for managing taxation in the state, including in the areas of property, alcoholic beverage, and insurance. This includes oversight of valuation assessments on public utility and railroad property, mapping and assigning tax rates to geographic areas in the state, conducting assessment surveys and compliance audits, and administering tax exemptions. In California, board members meet each month in Sacramento to execute their duties of oversight, policy setting, and regulation to guide the work of the appointed executive director and board of equalization staff.

Board members are elected to four-year terms in office and cannot serve more than two terms.

Read More

Reelect Board of Equalization Member Tony Vazquez to keep California on the right track for progress.

Board Member Tony Vazquez’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of California and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

Progressive endorsements: Board Member Vazquez has the endorsement of many progressive leaders in the state, including Senator Alex Padilla, State Controller Betty Yee, State Senator María Elena Durazo, and State Senator Lena Gonzalez.

Top issues: Economic recovery and relief, taxation, homelessness and housing, and transportation and infrastructure.

Key initiatives: Over the course of the pandemic, Board Member Vazquez supported efforts to provide taxation relief to constituents. This has included the extension of tax filing and appeal deadlines, and the cancellation of tax penalties for small-business and property owners who had experienced economic hardship. He has worked to establish himself as an informational leader by developing a team that can provide resources and information about tax requirements and the tax-paying process. Member Vazquez began serving as chairman of the board in January 2020.

Governance and community leadership experience: Board Member Vazquez has served in this seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 69% of the vote.

Board Member Vazquez is a community advocate and a longtime elected leader. He joined the Santa Monica City Council in 1990, and supported local efforts to revitalize the Third Street Promenade business district and create more transportation routes connecting the community to downtown Los Angeles. He was a district director for a Los Angeles City Council member, and had the opportunity to bring his understanding of business to the redevelopment of a General Motors plant in the district. Board Member Vazquez also served as the Southern California regional director for California Futures Network, and as a community planner for the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. These roles allowed him to invest in a variety of education and youth programming in the district. He later returned to the Santa Monica City Council and served as both mayor pro tempore and mayor, where he was a strong advocate for continued business development and affordable housing.

Other background: Board Member Antonio Vazquez is from Los Angeles County and has lived in Santa Monica for nearly 40 years.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Tony Vazquez (D), 67%; Y. Marie Manvel (I), 22%; John Mendoza (D), 11%; and G. Rick Marshall (W/I), 1%. Board Member Tony Vazquez and Marie Manvel will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Board Member Vazquez’s campaign has raised $114,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Marie Manvel

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Manvel’s campaign has not filed any fundraising receipts with the secretary of state’s office.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 3rd Board of Equalization district contains parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Bernardino Counties. California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents, with District 3 including approximately 10 million Californians.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

The California Board of Equalization is composed of four members elected by popular vote to represent individual districts within the state. It is the only elected tax board in the country. The state controller serves in an at-large capacity as the 5th member. The board of equalization is responsible for managing taxation in the state, including in the areas of property, alcoholic beverage, and insurance. This includes oversight of valuation assessments on public utility and railroad property, mapping and assigning tax rates to geographic areas in the state, conducting assessment surveys and compliance audits, and administering tax exemptions. In California, board members meet each month in Sacramento to execute their duties of oversight, policy setting, and regulation to guide the work of the appointed executive director and board of equalization staff.

Read More

Elect David Dodson for the Board of Equalization to put California on the right track for progress.

David Dodson’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of California and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

Progressive endorsements: Dodson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Labor Federation, SEIU California, Progressive Democrats of California.

Electoral history: Dodson ran for this seat in the 2018 election cycle. He earned 15% of the vote in the primary, but did not advance to the general election.

Top issues: Homeownership protections, taxation and taxpayer rights, and supporting assessors and the administrative functions of the department.

Governance and community leadership experience: Dodson has spent his 30-year career working in property tax appraisal. He worked for the Los Angeles County assessor, and now leads the Southern California office of the Board of Equalization. He cites this work as having allowed him to develop a strong expertise of this specialized field, and a particular understanding of the changes needed to make the system work for all taxpayers in the state. Over the course of his career, he has developed a deep network of colleagues with whom he could liaise as a member of the board of equalization. Dodson is a longtime union member, and has supported union lobbying efforts throughout his career.

Other background: David Dodson lives in Dana Point.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Board Member Mike Schaefer (D), 36%; David Dodson (D), 15%; Denis Bilodeau (R), 14%; Matthew Harper (R), 11%; Erik Peterson (R), 11%; Randell Economy (R), 7%; and John Kelly (R), 6%. Incumbent Board Member Mike Shaefer and David Dodson will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Dodson’s campaign has raised $35,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Board Member Mike Schaefer

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Schaefer’s campaign has raised $127,000 and is entirely self-funded. Notably, board member Schaefer has been disbarred in both California and Nevada, was convicted of spousal abuse in 1993, and was successfully sued for being a slumlord in Los Angeles in the 1980s. In addition, his campaign dishonestly indicated that he had received 2022 endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, although neither has formally endorsed his candidacy.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 4th Board of Equalization district contains portions of San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial Counties. California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents, with District 3 including approximately 10 million Californians.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
 

The Position

The California Board of Equalization is composed of four members elected by popular vote to represent individual districts within the state. It is the only elected tax board in the country. The state controller serves in an at-large capacity as the 5th member. The Board of Equalization is responsible for managing taxation in the state, including in the areas of property, alcoholic beverage, and insurance. This includes oversight of valuation assessments on public utility and railroad property, mapping and assigning tax rates to geographic areas in the state, conducting assessment surveys and compliance audits, and administering tax exemptions. In California, board members meet each month in Sacramento to execute their duties of oversight, policy setting, and regulation to guide the work of the appointed executive director and Board of Equalization staff.

Read More