City of Los Angeles

Courage California endorses Pilar Schiavo for State Assembly to put AD-40 on the right track for progress.

Pilar Schiavo’s policy positions and organizing experience demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-40 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Schiavo has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including AFSCME California, UNITE HERE!, California Stonewall Democratic Club, Daybreak PAC, and Project Super Bloom. She has also received the endorsement of many elected officials, including U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, Board of Equalization member Malia Cohen, State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, Assm. Laura Friedman, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.

Electoral history: Schiavo has not run for public office before.

Top issues: Economy and jobs creation, Health Care for All, homelessness and housing, mutual aid, women’s issues, and environmental protections.

Priority bills: Schiavo has long been involved in labor-organizing work. She served as political director for the San Francisco Labor Council, which guaranteed health care in San Francisco. Schiavo also recruited and trained new organizers at the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute and represented mental-health workers for SEIU in Massachusetts, where she also did low-income tenant organizing. While with the California Nurses Association (CNA), she worked closely with nurses to organize a statewide coalition for a single-payer system in California, including coordinating the field campaign for SB 562. Her work with CNA also involved time as a field coordinator to deploy nurses for disasters and humanitarian missions to hurricane sites, border shelters, California wildfires, and a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in South Los Angeles. In her more recent organizing, Schiavo co-founded West Valley Homes YES! (WVHY) to fight for housing for unhoused neighbors. In 2020, the organization became the largest mutual-aid program in the San Fernando Valley.

Governance and community leadership experience: Schiavo has worked in the labor movement for two decades and for the California Nurses Association (CNA) for almost 13 years, which she does to uplift working families and ensure that all people have access to housing, health care, and a good-paying job. She also has extensive experience in organizations outside her district, including organizing for Healthy California Now and Medicare for All in California. Moreover, she has worked with APEN and a broad coalition in the East Bay on environmental issues, and with Jobs with Justice SF, the Chinese Progressive Association, and various SEIU Local and unions in San Francisco while at the San Francisco Labor Council. Schiavo co-founded the West Valley People’s Alliance to advocate for racial justice, affordable housing, and environmental justice.

Other background: Schiavo is from Southern California’s West Valley and currently lives in Chatsworth.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Assm. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R), 47%; Pilar Schiavo (D), 34%; and Annie Cho (D), 19%. Pilar Schiavo and Suzette Martinez Valladares will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Shiavo’s campaign has raised $754,000 and is not funded by fossil fuel, real estate, corporate PAC, or police donors.

Opposing candidate: Republican Assm. Suzette Martinez Valladares

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Assm. Martinez Valladares’s campaign has raised $1.2 million and is funded by corporate PAC, real estate, police, and fossil fuel interests. Her problematic donors include Chevron Policy Government and Public Affairs, California Real Estate PAC, California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC, and AT&T Services Inc.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 40th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 42% Democrat, 29% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Republicans held this district until 2018 when James Ramos won and flipped it from red to blue. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-40 is 8% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 27% Latino, 15% Asian, and 6% Black

Recent election results: AD-40 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 16 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 10 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.

Reelect Assemblymember Friedman to keep AD-44 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Friedman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-44 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Friedman has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including SEIU California, Emily’s List, NARAL Pro-Choice California, and others.

Top issues: Housing, health care, environment, and working families.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Friedman’s priorities for AD-44 have included 40 bills about firearm safety, wildfires, and housing and development. Of these, 19 have been chaptered into law. She has sponsored and passed legislation to encourage property owners to build accessory dwellings on their property. She scores a Lifetime CS of 99 out of 100 and is an All-Star on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Friedman has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Friedman has also supported a bill to remove critical oversight of telecom companies.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Friedman currently serves on five standing committees, two subcommittees, and twelve subcommittees, including chairing the Transportation Committee, the Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response Subcommittee, and the Select Committee on Urban Development to Combat Climate Change.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Friedman has served in this assembly seat since 2016, when she was elected with 29% of the vote. In 2020, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 30 points.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Friedman was a member of the Glendale City Council. Assm. Friedman has been a longtime supporter of health care and environmental justice.

Other background: Assm. Friedman, a former vice president of development at a film production company, is from South Florida. She also served a term as the mayor of Glendale.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Friedman (D), 73.2%; and Barry Jacobsen (R), 26.8%. Friedman and Jacobsen will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Friedman’s campaign has raised $662,414.40 and is not funded by police.

Opposing candidate: Republican Barry Jacobsen

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Jacobsen’s fundraising is not available this cycle.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 44th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 50% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 2014. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-44 is 2% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 18% Latino, 11% Asian, and 5% Black.

Recent election results: AD-44 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 38 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 42 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.

Reelect Assemblymember Gabriel to keep AD-46 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Gabriel’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-46 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Gabriel has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Sierra Club California, California Labor Federation, and Planned Parenthood.

Top issues: Police officer training, voting rights, and housing.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Gabriel’s priorities for AD-46 have included 54 bills about pandemic relief, wildfires, and homelessness. Of these, 21 have been successfully chaptered into law. He has sponsored and passed legislation to make social media more transparent, and to require violence-prevention services to be covered by insurance. He scores a Lifetime CS of 84 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Gabriel has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Gabriel has not supported the repeal of sentencing enhancements for those with prior offenses.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Gabriel currently serves on five standing committees and four select committees, including chairing the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee and the Select Committee on Jobs and Innovation in the San Fernando Valley.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Gabriel has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he was elected with 70% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 33 points.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Gabriel was counselor to former US Senator Evan Bayh. Assm. Gabriel has been a longtime supporter of expanding legal services to low-income Californians.

Other background: Assm. Gabriel, a former lawyer for the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, is from Berkeley. He represented survivors of abuse and other notable groups, like Holocaust survivors, in his legal practice.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Jesse Gabriel (D), 67%; and Dana Caruso (R), 33%. Gabriel and Caruso will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Gabriel’s campaign has raised $1,045,320.79 and is not funded by fossil fuel money.

Opposing candidate: Republican Dana Caruso

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Caruso’s fundraising is not available.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 46th Assembly District includes parts of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

Voter registration: 51% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since at least 2012. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-46 is 4% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 29% Latino, 12% Asian, and 6% Black.

Recent election results: AD-46 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 35 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 40 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 two-thirds supermajority of 56 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats. One seat is held by an Independent and four seats are currently vacant.

Reelect Assemblymember Miguel Santiago to keep AD-54 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Santiago’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-54 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Santiago has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Equality California, and NARAL Pro-Choice California.

Top issues: Tax, health care, and environment.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Santiago’s priorities for AD-54 have included 68 bills about taxes, health care, and the environment. Of these, 25 have successfully been passed by the Assembly. He has sponsored and passed legislation to support education and free tax-assistance grants, better labeling for compostable and biodegradable products, and to provide health care for all. He scores a Lifetime CS of 93 out of 100 and is an All-Star on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Santiago has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.

He authored AB 19, a law passed in 2017 that made community college free in California for the first year. In 2019, he authored and passed AB 2, which added a second year of free community college. Santiago has also delivered millions of dollars for legal services to support unaccompanied minors facing deportation, and those affected by the White House’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Santiago currently sits on five committees, and chairs the Governmental Organization Committee.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Santiago has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Democratic challenger by 12 points.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Santiago was involved in community organizing, and worked on expanding affordable health care and housing. He is a longtime supporter of education, just immigration policies, and economic development.

Other background: Assm. Santiago is from Los Angeles.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Miguel Santiago (D), 100%; and Elaine Alaniz (R), 0%. Santiago and Alaniz will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Santiago’s campaign has raised $1.5 million and is not funded by real estate money.

Opposing candidate: Republican Elaine Alaniz

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Alaniz’s campaign has not filed campaign finances.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 54th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 60% Democrat, 10% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since at least 2002. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-54 is 2% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 54% Latino, 24% Asian, and 8% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-54 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 59 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 66 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.

Reelect Assemblymember Isaac Bryan to keep AD-55 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Isaac Bryan’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-55 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Bryan has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including California Teachers Association, California League of Conservation Voters, ACCE Action, and many union organizations. He has also received the endorsement of many progressive lawmakers, including Congressmember Karen Bass, LA Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman.

Top issues: Climate change, child welfare, education, health care, criminal-justice reform, homelessness and housing, and workforce development and reentry.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Bryan’s priorities for his current district, AD-54, have included 24 bills about housing, child welfare, climate change, and criminal justice. Of these, two have been chaptered into law and one has died, and the remaining bills are in committee. He scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Bryan has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote this year. He received an Honorable Mention distinction from Courage Score this year for his commitment to progressive leadership.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Bryan currently sits on five committees, including Appropriations, Governmental Organization, Human Services, and Public Safety, and serves as the chair of the Elections Committee.

Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Assm. Bryan has served in this assembly seat since 2021, when he won a special election with over 50% of the vote.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Bryan developed his political acumen as a published academic, earning a master’s of public policy degree from UCLA. After graduating, he became founding director of the UCLA Black Policy Project, which aims to address racial inequity through policy analysis and advocacy. His work there allowed him to focus on research regarding the resources needed for successful reentry after incarceration, and larger issues with youth-justice policy. Assm. Bryan’s interest in issues of equity is personal. As one of nine adopted children in a family of 15, he encountered significant academic challenges and observed his siblings struggling with houselessness, addiction, and mental health. Assm. Bryan is a longtime supporter of policy that addresses the intersections of these complex social issues. He co-chaired the committee supporting Measure J, which amended the Los Angeles County charter to require that 10% of local revenue be reinvested in the community and in alternatives to incarcerations. The measure was passed by voters in November 2020, and brings meaningful local investment to the county.

Other background: Assm. Isaac Bryan lives in Jefferson Park.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Assm. Isaac Bryan (D), 86%; and Keith Girolamo Cascio (R), 14%. Incumbent Assm. Isaac Bryan and Keith Girolamo Cascio will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Bryan’s campaign has raised $716,000 and is not funded by police or fossil fuel interests. However, he has received donations from problematic funders, including Fox Corporation, California Real Estate PAC, and AT&T.

Opposing candidate: Republican Keith Girolamo Cascio

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

The District

Counties in district: California’s 55th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 65% Democrat, 8% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Prior to redistricting, Republicans typically held this district. Since the 2021 redistricting process, the advantage that Democrats held during the 2020 general election cycle is unchanged.

District demographics: 25% Latino, 11% Asian, and 29% Black

Recent election results: AD-55 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 71 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 73 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.

Reelect Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer to keep AD-57 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-57 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the California Environmental Voters, Equality California, Brady United Against Gun Violence, and Los Angeles County Labor Federation.

Top issues: Justice reform, health care, and education.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 have included 39 bills about a pilot program for public postsecondary education and a bill related to perjury by police officers. Of these, 19 have been successfully chaptered into law. He has sponsored and passed legislation to count the number of low-income housing credits given to LGBTQIA+ people, women, and minorities. He scores a Lifetime CS of 96 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Jones-Sawyer has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Jones-Sawyer did not vote to protect homeowners and renters from foreclosure and eviction due to circumstances related to COVID-19.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Jones-Sawyer currently sits on five standing committees, one subcommittee, and six select committees, including chairing the Public Safety Committee and the Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in this Assembly seat since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 15 points.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.

Other background: Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles. He helped change the city’s complex regulations surrounding housing development.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Jones-Sawyer (D), 100%. He is not facing a challenger.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $558,913 and is not funded by real estate money.

Opposing candidate: Republican N/A

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: N/A
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 57th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 64% Democrat, 6% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since at least 2012. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-57 is 1% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 57% Latino, 4% Asian, and 30% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-57 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 74 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 77 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.

Courage California endorses Fatima Iqbal-Zubair for State Assembly to push AD-65 in the right direction.

Fatima Iqbal-Zubair’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-65 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Iqbal-Zubair has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Courage California, California Working Families Party, Communities for a Better Environment Action, California Progressive Alliance, Democratic Socialists of America-Los Angeles, Daybreak PAC, Health Care for All LA, and Project Super Bloom PAC. She is also endorsed by California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus Chair Amar Shergill and LA City Council member Mike Bonin.

Electoral history: Iqbal-Zubair ran for State Assembly in AD-64 in 2020 and lost to Democratic incumbent Assm. Mike Gipson by 19 points.

Top issues: equitable education, clean air and water, affordable housing, and universal health care for all.

Governance and community leadership experience: Iqbal-Zubair is a chemistry and environmental sciences teacher in Watts, a role in which she cultivates a strong relationship with her students and builds community. She founded an award-winning FIRST Robotics team and served as director of the Department of Science. Iqbal-Zubair became an advocate for the environment when she and her students studied air pollution from local refineries, water pollution from contaminated pipes, and soil contamination in gardens, play areas, and their own football field. She is active in local organizations, such as the Watts Rising Leadership Council. After performing well in the 2020 elections, she was appointed to the executive board of the California Democratic Party.

Iqbal-Zubair is running for election because she sees the struggles faced by her students and the district and because she believes in a government that works for all, not just a select few.

Other background: Iqbal-Zubair immigrated from Dubai.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Assm. Mike Gipson (D), 71%; and Fatima Iqbal-Zubair (D), 27%, and Lydia Gutierrez (R), a write-in candidate, 2%. Assm. Mike Gipson and Fatima Iqbal-Zubair will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Iqbal-Zubair’s campaign has raised over $469,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC or fossil fuel money. Her campaign funding consists almost entirely of individual contributions.

Opposing candidate: Democratic incumbent Assm. Mike Gipson

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Assm. Gipson’s campaign has raised over $1.4 million and is funded by police groups, real estate, corporate PAC, and fossil fuel money. Assm. Gipson scores a lifetime score of 73 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Gipson has failed to support bills on tenant protections, single-use plastic bans, oil-drilling setbacks from schools and other sensitive areas, and worker protections.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 65th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 61% Democrat, 11% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-65 is 3% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 49% Latino, 9% Asian, and 29% Black

Recent election results: The most recent election results show that AD-65 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 61 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 63 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.

Reelect Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi to keep AD-66 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Al Muratsuchi has been a frequent recipient of donations from a variety of problematic funders, including AT&T Services, PG&E Corporation, Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC, and California Correctional Peace Officers Association PAC. Given Assm. Muratsuchi’s connection to these groups, it is important that voters continue to hold him accountable to ensure that his legislative efforts remain in the best interest of constituents instead of wealthy special interests. Based on our analysis, Assm. Muratsuchi’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a leader for the constituents of AD-66 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Muratsuchi has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Federation of Teachers, Equality California, and California Environmental Voters. However, he has received donations from problematic stakeholders with corporate PAC and law enforcement interests.

Top issues: Public utilities, environmental and climate protections, education and workforce development, military and veterans, and homelessness and housing.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Muratsuchi’s priorities for AD-66 have included 46 bills about education, pollution, and climate protections. Of these, one has been chaptered into law, one was vetoed, ten have died, and the rest are currently in committee. In his role with the Select Committee on Aerospace, he has supported the local growth and success of SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, and Northrop Grumman, a defense contractor. He scores a Lifetime CS of 61 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Muratsuchi has supported few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This term, he has primarily opposed or failed to vote on bills related to criminal-justice reform. He voted against protecting individuals eligible for prison release from being transferred to immigration detention, limiting disruptions to rehabilitative programs in prisons, and sealing the records of individuals who have fulfilled their sentences.

Committee leadership/membership: He currently serves on six standing committees, including Budget, Natural Resources, and Utilities and Energy. He serves as chair of the select committee on Aerospace, and as chair of the joint committee on Climate Change Policies.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Muratsuchi was originally elected to the Assembly in 2012, but lost his 2014 reelection bid to Republican David Hadley by a narrow margin. He regained his seat in the 2016 election, and won his 2020 reelection against Republican Arthur Schaper by 26 points.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Muratsuchi served as a deputy district attorney with the California Department of Justice. A longtime supporter of education reform, he served on the Torrance School Board, and has authored legislation to increase funding for the K–12 system, and to support career technical education. He was recognized as Legislator of the Year in 2019 by the California School Boards Association for his efforts to improve the education landscape for students and families. Assm. Muratsuchi has also partnered with police to construct criminal-justice bills.

Other background: Assm. Al Muratsuchi is a longtime resident of the South Bay of Los Angeles County.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Assm. Al Muratsuchi (D), 62%; and George Barks (R), 38%. Incumbent Assm. Al Muratsuchi and George Barks will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Muratsuchi’s campaign has raised $405,000 and has received donations from police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests. His problematic donors include Sempra Energy, Amazon.com, Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs State PAC, and California Real Estate PAC.

Opposing candidate: Republican George Barks

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

The District

Counties in district: California’s 66th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 44% Democrat, 27% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-66 is equally as Democratic as it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 19% Latino, 22% Asian, and 5% Black

Recent election results: AD-66 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 28 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 17 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.