42nd 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 Julia Brownley to keep CD-26 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Brownley maintains a moderate track record in Congress, and has been a frequent recipient of donations from problematic police, fossil fuel, and real estate funders. Given these associations, it is critical that voters continue to hold her accountable, to ensure that her legislative efforts remain in the best interests of her district and constituents. Based on our analysis, Rep. Brownley’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of CD-26 and will govern effectively for this diverse district if she is subjected to increased community accountability.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Brownley has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Equality California, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. However, she has also received the formal endorsement of Peace Officers Research Association of California, and has received funds from a variety of problematic donors, including Sempra Energy PAC, National Association of Realtors PAC, Lockheed Martin Corporation PAC, and Edison International PAC.

Top issues: Veterans’ services and supports, transportation improvements, environmental protections in infrastructure and transportation, and taxation.

Priority bills: Rep. Brownley’s priorities for CD-26 this year have included 56 bills about the military and national security, transportation, and taxes. During this term, she has sponsored legislation that aims to reduce veteran homelessness, increase grants for local transportation, improve veteran access to health care, and establish energy-efficient solutions in infrastructure.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No

Committee Leadership/Membership: Rep. Brownley currently serves on four committees, including Veterans’ Affairs, on which she ranks second, and Transportation and Infrastructure, on which she ranks fourth. She serves as chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, and as co-chair of six caucuses, including Black Maternal Health, Congressional Dyslexia, and E-2D Hawkeye.

Governance and community leadership Experience: Rep. Brownley has served in this congressional seat since 2012, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2020, she won her reelection against Republican challenger Ronda Kennedy by 22 points.

Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Brownley served three terms in the State Assembly, representing AD-41. She also served as a school board member for three terms, and used her role to advocate for quality educational opportunities for all students, including those with special needs. Rep. Brownley’s early career was spent working in business and marketing. She is a longtime supporter of education reform and veterans’ services, and has been recognized for her legislative efforts in each of these policy areas. However, Rep. Brownley has maintained a moderate voting record, and has failed to promote progressive legislation on issues of importance to her district. Although she often talks about lowering the cost of health care for middle-class families and veterans, she has not publicly supported Medicare for All and accepts significant donations from health industry PACs. Although her district has experienced the effects of California’s wildfire seasons, she has not publicly supported the Green New Deal.

Other background: Rep. Brownley, a former state assemblymember, lives in Westlake Village. Prior to entering public service, she worked in marketing and the private business sector.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rep. Julia Brownley (D), 54%; Matt Jacobs (R), 38%; Paul Nathan Taylor (R), 3%; Dave Goodman (I), 2%; and Fadde Mikhail (R), 2%. Incumbent Rep. Julia Brownley and Matt Jacobs will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Brownley’s campaign has raised $1.4 million and is funded by fossil fuel, real estate, and corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Matt Jacobs

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Jacobs’s campaign has raised $1.6 million and is not funded by real estate, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police interests.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 26th Congressional District includes parts of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

Voter registration: 43% Democrat, 29% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Republicans held this district until 2012, when Julia Brownley won and flipped CD-26 from red to blue. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-26 is 3% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 32% Latino, 9% Asian, and 2% Black

Recent election results: CD-26 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 20 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 10 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 Brad Sherman to keep CD-32 on the right track for progress.

Based on our analysis, Rep. Sherman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of CD-32 and will govern effectively for this diverse district if he is subjected to increased community accountability.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Sherman has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, the Sierra Club, and Planned Parenthood, as well as labor unions, like LA County Federation of Labor, National Nurses United, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and SEIU. He is also endorsed by federal, state, and local elected officials, including U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, California Controller Betty Yee, and several L.A. city councilmembers and LAUSD board members.

Top issues: Rep. Sherman’s top issues include strengthening sanctions on Russia, loosening regulations for the financial services and real estate industries, and increasing regulations on cryptocurrency.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Sherman’s priorities for CD-32 have included 24 bills about finance and the financial sector, the real estate industry, international affairs, cryptocurrency. Of these, two have successfully been passed by the House. He has sponsored legislation to create a free online tax filing system, close crypto loopholes in Russian sanctions, report on curriculum in Palestinian schools for censorship, lessen credit-lending limits for credit unions and reporting requirements for investment firms during COVID-19, and enter into diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Sherman currently sits on three committees, including the Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space, and Technology Committees.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Sherman has served in this congressional seat since 1996, when he was elected with 49% of the vote. In 2020, he won his 2020 reelection against a Republican challenger by 39 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Sherman was an accountant, a tax specialist, and an attorney, and then was elected to the California Board of Equalization. Rep. Sherman has been a longtime supporter of diplomatic relations and strong fiscal policy, and helped found the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. He is also a supporter of cryptocurrency regulation. Rep. Sherman was one of the first members of Congress to call for impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, and introduced articles of impeachment in both 2017 and 2019. In 2018, Rep. Sherman’s office has been accused of allowing a toxic culture to flourish, and staffers in his office have been accused of sexual harassment and his office has been called out, although Rep. Sherman himself has not been personally accused of any abusive acts.

Other background: Rep. Sherman, a former accountant and attorney, is from Los Angeles. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA, and a law degree from Harvard.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Brad Sherman (D), 53.7%; Lucie Volotzky (R), 19.7%; Shervin Aazami (D), 9.2%; and Melissa Toomim (R), 8.5%. Rep. Brad Sherman and Lucie Volotzky will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Brad Sherman’s campaign has raised $2,131,753 and is not funded by the police. He has accepted donations from the fossil fuel industry, as well as more than $40,000 from the real estate industry. He has also accepted donations from corporate PACs, including more than $30,000 from defense contractors, nearly $50,000 from the insurance industry, and more than $300,000 from banks and the financial services industry.

Opposing candidate: Republican Lucie Volotzky

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Volotzky’s campaign has raised $20,211 and has not committed to refusing donations from the police.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 32nd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-32 is 1% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 20% Latino, 12% Asian, and 5% Black.

Recent election results: CD-32 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 40 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 Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to keep AD-42 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Jacqui Irwin’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of AD-42. While she has opposed some significant progressive legislation during her time in the Assembly, our analysis shows that she will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district if she is subject to increased community accountability.

Progressive Endorsements: Assm. Irwin has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and California Labor Federation. She has also received the endorsement of many state and local elected officials, including Senator Alex Padilla, State Senator Henry Stern, and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis. However, she is also endorsed and funded by many police leaders and organizations, including California Correctional Peace Officers’ Association, Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, and Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs Association. She is the recipient of campaign donations from many problematic donors across industries, including Sempra Energy, PG&E Corporation, Facebook, California Real Estate PAC, and Fox Corporation.

Top issues: Technology and information security, pandemic recovery, economic growth, public health and health care, and STEM education.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Irwin’s priorities for her current district, AD-44, have included 47 bills about health care, technology and information security, and education. Of these, twelve have been chaptered into law, eleven are enrolled, seven have died, and the majority of the others remain in committee. Assm. Irwin scores a Lifetime CS of 47 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Irwin has supported few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This term, she failed to vote on reductions to youth probation, a retroactive implementation of the California Racial Justice Act of 2020, and limitations on law-enforcement agencies acquiring military equipment. She also voted against several criminal-justice reform bills, including those to seal criminal records for individuals who have completed sentences, repealing loitering laws to reduce the harassment of sex workers, and removing mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug crimes.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Irwin currently serves on five standing committees, including as chair of Revenue and Taxation. She also serves as chair of the Select Committee on Cybersecurity.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Irwin has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2020, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 22 points.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assm. Irwin spent ten years on the Thousand Oaks City Council, including two terms as mayor. In this local role, she worked for increased public safety and the preservation of open lands. She started her career in engineering, and has championed Assembly bills centered on the expansion of STEM education centers and improved cybersecurity policies.

Other background: Assm. Irwin, an engineer and a public official, has lived in Thousand Oaks for 20 years.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Assm. Jacqui Irwin (D), 56%; Lori Mills (R), 29%; and Ted Nordblum (R), 15%. Assm. Jacqui Irwin and Lori Mills will contend in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Irwin’s campaign has raised $899,000 and has received donations from many problematic organizations, including those in the police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, and real estate industries.

Opposing candidate: Republican Lori Mills

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Mills’s campaign has raised $81,000 and is funded by real estate interests.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 42nd Assembly District includes parts of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

Voter registration: 41% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Republicans and Independents typically hold this seat. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-42 is 5% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 14% Latino, 9% Asian, and 2% Black

Recent election results: AD-42 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 19 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by ten 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 State Senate Representative Ben Allen to keep SD-24 on the right track for progress.

Sen. Ben Allen’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-24 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Sen. Ben Allen has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including NARAL Pro-Choice, Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and labor unions, like California Labor Federation, United Healthcare Workers, National Nurses United, and SEIU.

Top issues: Sen. Allen’s top issues include environmental protections, investment in green infrastructure, transparency in campaign finance, and addressing the housing shortage.

Priority bills: This year, Sen. Allen’s priorities for SD-24 have included 46 bills about environmental protection and conservation, election reform, education, and housing. Of these, 34 have successfully been passed by the state Senate. He has sponsored and passed legislation to facilitate and fund affordable housing, increase transparency in campaign finance, improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure, improve the accuracy of products labeled recyclable, and outfit communities against rising sea levels and climate change. He scores a lifetime Courage Score of 91 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Sen. Allen has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.

Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Allen currently sits on four committees, including the committees on Governmental Organization, Transportation, and Natural Resources and Water. He chairs the committee on Environmental Quality.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Allen has served in this state senate seat since 2014, when he was elected with over 60% of the vote. In 2018, he won his reelection against an Independent challenger by 54 points.

Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Allen was an attorney, a university lecturer, and president of the Santa Monica-Malibu School District. Sen. Allen has been a longtime supporter of environmental protections, education, and housing. In the state Senate, he has authored several pieces of legislation to limit or ban pollutants, and most recently sponsored and passed legislation that will reduce single-use plastics in California. In 2019, Sen. Allen introduced legislation to repeal a constitutional limit on affordable housing construction. Though the measure failed, he has continued to author legislation that promotes affordable housing and increases funding for homelessness-prevention programs.

Other background: Sen. Ben Allen, a former attorney and school board president, is from Santa Monica. He earned his BA from Harvard, a master’s degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Cambridge, and a law degree from UC Berkeley.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Ben Allen (D), 96%; and Kristina Irwin (R), 4%. Irwin withdrew her campaign prior to the primary election, so Ben Allen will be running unopposed in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Ben Allen’s campaign has raised $417,294 and is not funded by the police, although he has accepted donations from the correctional officers union. He has accepted nearly $20,000 from the real estate industry, and nearly $10,000 from the fossil fuel industry. He is also funded by corporate PACs, including nearly $10,000 from the financial services industry.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 24th State Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 51% Democrat, 20% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district. Since the 2021 redistricting process, SD-24 is 3% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 13% Latino, 16% Asian, and 5% Black.

Recent election results: SD-24 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 43 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 39 points.
 

The Position

State senators 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 Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. 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 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.

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

Elect Anna Slotky Reitano for LA Superior Court judge to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.

Anna Slotky Reitano’s policy positions demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Reitano has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Sunrise Movement Los Angeles, Progressive Asian Network for Action, California Working Families Party, San Gabriel Valley Progressives, and Stonewall Democratic Club. She has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including LA City Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Mike Bonin, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, and Assemblymember Laura Friedman.

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

Top issues: According to campaign materials, Reitano is running for election to bring balance, transparency, and a respect for the evolving ideals of the law to the bench.

Governance and community leadership experience: Reitano is a public defender, which she does to bring representation to low-income and vulnerable community members. She has worked jury trials for the public defender’s office, spent three years representing children in the juvenile-justice system, and serves as the treasurer of the Public Defender’s Association. Reitano clerked with the district attorney’s office, interned with the Screen Actors Guild, and spent her first years after law school working for a private firm that supported LA County Sheriff’s Deputies in civil matters. She is a longtime supporter of legal approaches that center rehabilitation and diversion, particularly for individuals experiencing mental-health crises. Reitano has campaigned alongside three other female candidates—two public defenders and a plaintiff attorney—running for Los Angeles Superior Judicial seats, with the hope of bringing transformational representation to four of the judiciary's nine seats.

Other background: Reitano, a deputy public defender, is a longtime California resident. She is the descendent of Holocaust survivors, and worked as an actor before pursuing her law degree.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Abby Baron, 30%; Anna Slotky Reitano, 28%; Sharon Ransom, 22%; Troy Slaten, 10%; and Mark Rosenfeld, 9%. Anna Slotky Reitano and Abby Baron will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising information is not publicly available for this race.
 

The District

County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in Los Angeles County.
 

The Position

Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.

California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.

Read More

Elect Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes for LA Superior Court judge to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.

Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes policy positions demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Lashley-Haynes has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including National Women’s Political Caucus, Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains Club, Stonewall Democratic Club, and San Gabriel Progressives. She has also received the endorsement of many state and local leaders, including State Senator María Elena Durazo, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, and Assemblymember Laura Friedman.

Electoral history: Lashley-Haynes has not run for office before.

Top issues: According to campaign materials, Lashley-Haynes is running for election to bring dignity and respect to all individuals in the courtroom, an awareness of equal justice under the law, and judicial compassion to the bench. As a judge, she would seek to center public safety, restorative justice, and reentry programs for individuals interacting with the justice system.

Governance and community leadership experience: Lashley-Haynes has served as a public defender for nearly 20 years, which she does to bring representation and justice to members of the community. She cites her experience as a law clerk with the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York as inspiring her time as a public defender, and notes that both opportunities have helped her develop a complex understanding of the criminal-justice system. She has been an active member of her community, serving on the board of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, and coordinating local support for children affected by the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Lashley-Haynes has campaigned alongside three other female candidates—two public defenders and a plaintiff attorney—running for Los Angeles Superior Judicial seats, with the hope of bringing transformational representation to four of the judiciary's nine seats.

Other background: Lashley-Haynes, an attorney, grew up in the Midwest and on the East Coast, and is a longtime resident of Los Angeles County. She has had personal interaction with the legal system through her advocacy for her child with disabilities, and as an adoptive parent.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes, 37%; Fernanda Maria Barreto, 36%; and Ryan Dibble, 27%. Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes and Fernanda Maria Barreto will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising information is not publicly available for this race.
 

The District

County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in Los Angeles County.
 

The Position

Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.

California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.

Read More

Elect Holly Hancock for LA Superior Court Judge to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.

Holly Hancock’s track record demonstrates that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive Endorsements: Hancock has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including National Women’s Political Caucus, Stonewall Democratic Club, Unite Here! Local 11, and Martin Luther King Jr. Democratic Club. She has also received the endorsement of many state and local leaders, including LA Councilmember Mike Bonin, Assemblymember Ash Kalra, and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan.

Electoral History: Hancock ran for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in 2018, but lost her bid to Judge Tony Cho by a 12 point margin.

Top issues: According to campaign materials, Hancock is running for election to bring diverse representation, a deference to existing law, equanimity, and universal respect to the bench.

Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Hancock has served as a public defender for the last 15 years, which she does to bring fair and just representation to the courtroom. A public defender has never served on the Superior Court bench, and Hancock has campaigned on a platform that highlights the equity benefits of having public defenders fill judicial seats. She currently serves as the Deputy-In-Charge of the Criminal Record Clearing Unit in the Office of the Public Defender, and has long been critical of the ways that sentencing can fail to consider re-entry. Hancock has had an 80% rate of success across 65 jury trials in securing acquittals or reductions. Hancock has campaigned alongside three other female candidates - two public defenders and a plaintiff attorney - running for Los Angeles Superior Judicial seats, with the hope of bringing transformational representation to four of the judiciary's nine seats.

Other background: Hancock, an attorney, has lived in Los Angeles for most of her adult life. She began her career as a flight attendant, and served in elected leadership for the Los Angeles Local Council 12 organization of the Association of Flight Attendants.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Holly Hancock 47%, Renee Yolande Chang 32%, Randy Fudge 9%, Eric Alfonso Torices 7%, Matthew Vodnoy 5%. Holly Hancock and Renee Yolande Chang will contend in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising information is not publicly available for this race.
 

The District

County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in Los Angeles County.
 

The Position

Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.

California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.

Read More

Elect Carolyn “Jiyoung” Park for LA Superior Court judge to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.

Carolyn “Jiyoung” Park’s policy positions demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Park has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Working Families Party, Our Revolution-Feel the Bern Los Angeles County, LA Forward, and many trade unions. She has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, and Assemblymember Ash Kalra.

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

Top issues: According to campaign materials, Park is running for election to bring common sense fairness, a diverse perspective, and an equity lens to the bench.

Governance and community leadership experience: Park is a plaintiff attorney in private practice, which she does to provide representation to individuals pursuing civil rights, labor, tenant, and social-impact cases. Prior to entering private practice, Park was a public sector union attorney working to represent the interests of union members before a variety of boards, with a particular focus on collective bargaining. She is a member of the inaugural cohort for the Just Transition Lawyering Institute and a Sustainable Economies Legal Fellow. She is a longtime supporter of marginalized groups, and has worked to support people with disabilities, asylum seekers, First Amendment clients, and individuals seeking expungement upon reentry. Park has campaigned alongside three other female candidates—all public defenders—running for Los Angeles Superior Judicial seats, with the hope of bringing transformational representation to four of the judiciary's nine seats.

Other background: Park, an attorney, is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles. She is a first-generation American.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Melissa Hammond, 30%; Carolyn “Jiyoung” Park, 23%; Keith Koyano, 17%; Georgia Huerta, 15%; Klint McKay, 14%; and S. (Shawn) Thever, 2%. Carolyn “Jiyoung” Park and Melissa Hammond will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising information is not publicly available for this race.
 

The District

County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in Los Angeles County.
 

The Position

Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.

California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.

Read More

Elect Lindsey Horvath for Board of Supervisors to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.

Lindsey Horvath’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Horvath has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project of Los Angeles, LA League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, and California Women’s List. She has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, State Senator Sydney Kamlager, and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan.

Electoral history: Horvath’s public service began in 2009, when she was appointed to fill the last two years of a city council term. In 2015, she ran for that seat on the West Hollywood City Council and won with 43% of the vote. She won reelection to the seat in 2019.

Top issues: Homelessness and housing, clean energy and environmental protections, transportation infrastructure, public safety, and economic recovery and growth.

Governance and community leadership experience: Horvath is a public official, which she does to bring results to neglected and disenfranchised communities. As a member of the West Hollywood City Council, she has championed action to help guide the community through the COVID-19 pandemic. Horvath supported small-business relief, rental support to ensure that families were not pushed from their homes, and public-private partnerships designed to provide resources to residents. She has served two terms as mayor, in 2015 and 2020, and used her leadership role to solidify wage and worker protections, and connect unhoused neighbors with support services. From 2011–2015, she served as the city’s transportation commissioner, working to increase pedestrian safety and bicycle infrastructure. Outside her elected roles, Horvath established the Hollywood branch of the National Organization for Women and serves on the board of the National League of Cities.

Other background: Horvath, a public official, is from Ohio, and has lived in Los Angeles all of her adult life.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Robert Hertzberg, 31%; Lindsey Horvath, 28%; Henry Stern, 24%; Jeffi Girgenti, 8%; Roxanne Beckford Hoge, 7%; and Craig Brill 2%. Robert Hertzberg and Lindsey Horvath will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Horvath’s campaign has raised $167,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: State Senator Robert Hertzberg

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Sen. Hertzberg’s campaign has raised over $200,000 and is funded by real estate and police interests. Sen. Hertzberg scores a Lifetime score of 83 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. He received a Courage Score Dishonorable Mention for blocking a bill that would have banned new oil and gas drilling near homes, hospitals, and schools in 2021. Sen. Hertzberg is actively campaigning for his son, Daniel Hertzberg, to replace him in the state Senate. Courage California has endorsed Caroline Menjivar, a veteran, an EMT, and a community leader for the SD-20 seat.
 

The District

County: Los Angeles is California’s most populous county. District 3 includes the areas of Universal City, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica Mountains North Area, Westhills, Franklin Canyon, and Malibu Coastal Zone.

Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 10 million people and manages an estimated budget of $36.2 billion annually. According to the County Charter, Los Angeles County is governed by a five-member board of supervisors, a county assessor, a district attorney, and a sheriff.
 

The Position

Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person board of supervisors. A board of supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities which are administered by their own city councils and unincorporated areas which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.

Read More

Elect Claudia Bill-de la Pena as Ventura County supervisor to put Ventura on the right track for progress.

Claudia Bill-de la Pena’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Ventura County and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district. Notably, Bill-de la Pena’s challenger in this race is a Republican, and her election to this seat would maintain the Democrat-Republican balance of the Board of Supervisors.

Progressive endorsements: Bill-de la Pena is endorsed by some progressive groups, including Sierra Club, Conejo Climate Coalition, and several local SEIUs. She has also received the endorsement of state and local elected leaders, including Rep. Salud Carbajal, State Senator Monique Limon, and State Senator Henry Stern. She is endorsed by two sitting members of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, Carmen Ramirez and Matt LaVere, and by outgoing District 2 Supervisor Linda Parks. She has also received the endorsement of the National Latino Peace Officers Association Advocacy.

Electoral history: Bill-de la Pena was first elected to the Thousand Oaks City Council in 2002. She was most recently reelected in 2018 after earning the highest vote share, 20%, in the race.

Top issues: Public safety, economic growth, environmental protections, arts programming, housing, and infrastructure.

Governance and community leadership experience: Bill-de la Pena has been a member of the Thousand Oaks City Council since 2002, and has served four terms as mayor. She currently serves on four committees, including Homelessness, Economic Development, Master Plan, and Cultural Arts Review. Prior to joining the city council, she was an appointed member of the city’s Planning Commission. She has done this work to bring scrutiny, accountability, and transparency to local reforms related to the expansion of the biotech industry, protections for families affected by wildfires, and supporting housing and local infrastructure projects. She has received particular support for her environmental work in protecting oak trees, reinforcing public-safety responses to wildfires, and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from municipal structures. Bill-de la Pena has also had a 25-year career in television newswriting for a Los Angeles station, and has won an Emmy Award for her work.

Other background: Claudia Bill-de la Pena has lived in Thousand Oaks for over 25 years.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Bill-de la Pena, 47%; Jeff Gorell, 37%; and Tim McCarthy, 16%. Claudia Bill-de la Pena and Jeff Gorell will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Bill-de la Pena’s campaign has raised $92,000 and is not funded by corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police interests.

Opposing candidate: Jeff Gorell

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Gorell’s campaign has raised $237,000 and is funded by fossil fuel and real estate interests.
 

The District

County: Ventura County is California’s 12th most populous county. District 2 includes Thousand Oaks, parts of Camarillo, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Oak Park, Hidden Valley, Lake Sherwood, Somis, Lake Posas Valley, Camarillo Springs, Camarillo Heights, Casa Conejo, Santa Rosa Valley, Ventu Park, and South Coast.

Governance structure: Ventura County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 840,000 people and manages an estimated budget of $2.7 billion annually. According to the County Charter, Ventura County is governed by an elected Board of Supervisors, and a county clerk, a sheriff, a district attorney, a clerk-recorder, an assessor, and a treasurer, each of whom oversees their respective civil departments.
 

The Position

Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person Board of Supervisors. A Board of Supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.

Read More

Elect Faisal Gill to put the city of Los Angeles on the right track for progress.

Faisal Gill’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles and will work effectively for the best interests of this diverse city.

Progressive endorsements: Gill has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including LA Forward Action, Abundant Housing LA, and many local union organizations. He has also received the endorsement of elected leaders, including Congressmember Ilhan Omar, Congressmember Ro Khanna, State Senator Sydney Kamlager, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, and LA City Council member Mike Bonin.

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

Top issues: Criminal-justice reform, police reform, homelessness and housing, accountability across corporations and government, environmental justice, protecting civil rights, and consumer protection.

Governance and community leadership experience: Gill is a civil rights attorney, which he does to provide advocacy for individuals who are experiencing discrimination from governments or law-enforcement systems. After law school, he served as a JAG Corp officer in the United States Navy before transitioning to government work with the Office of Personnel Management during the George W. Bush administration. Gill later learned that as a result of his Muslim faith and political engagement, he had been unlawfully surveiled by the NSA. This experience contributed to his interest in providing civil rights legal support and advocating on the behalf of marginalized groups.

Gill’s campaign platform has a strong progressive foundation, including police reform, ending cash bail, ending the criminalization of homelessness, and protecting residents from corporate pollution and worker exploitation. He has encountered some controversy for his proposed 100-day moratorium on the prosecution of new misdemeanor crimes, with exceptions for time-sensitive and egregious crimes, to review policies and consider diversion. Notably, Gill ran for office in Virginia in 2007 as a Republican, argued against LGBTQIA+ marriage equality during that race, and had ties to the Federalist Society, a conservative legal community. He changed his registration to Democrat in 2007 when he connected the religious and racial discrimination he faced to broader civil rights issues, and now supports marriage equality.

Other background: Gill immigrated from Pakistan as a child, grew up near Washington, DC, and has lived in California for many years.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Faisal Gill, 24%; Hydee Feldstein Soto, 20%; Marina Torres, 20%; Richard Kim, 17%; Kevin James, 9%; Sherri Onica Valle Cole, 5%; and Teddy Kapur, 5%. Faisal Gill and Hydee Feldstein Soto will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Gill’s campaign has raised $1.5 million and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Hydee Feldstein Soto

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Feldstein Soto’s campaign has raised $816,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
 

The District

City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 3.9 million people and manage an estimated operating budget of $11.2 billion annually.

District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Los Angeles had a demographic breakdown of 48% Latino, 12% Asian, and 9% Black.

Recent election results: Los Angeles County, which includes the city of Los Angeles, voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 44 points.
 

The Position

The Los Angeles city attorney acts as the lead prosecutor for the city. The city attorney writes municipal law, provides legal advice to the mayor and city council, liaises with city departments and commissions, and serves as defense for the city during litigation. The work of the city attorney includes the prosecution of misdemeanor crimes, and engaging in legal work to protect consumers and the environment. City attorneys are elected to four-year terms and may serve no more than two terms, or eight years, in office.

Read More

Elect Kenneth Mejia for LA city controller to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress.

Kenneth Mejia’s experience and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse city.

Progressive endorsements: Mejia has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, Youth Climate Strike LA, and Grassroots Law Project. He has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, Assemblymember Alex Lee, Alhambra Mayor Sasha Renée Pérez, and many local organizers and activists.

Electoral history: Mejia has run for the 34th congressional seat three times, including general elections in 2016 and 2018 and a special election in 2017. In 2017 and 2018, he ran as a Green Party candidate, and advanced to the general election only in 2018. He lost that race to incumbent Rep. Jimmy Gomez by 45 points.

Top issues: Homelessness and housing, climate and environmental protections, transportation and infrastructure, public safety, and animal welfare.

Governance and community leadership experience: Mejia is a certified public accountant, which he does to ensure that public and private companies are held to account for their financial transactions. In 2016, he became involved in housing justice as a founding member of the We Can Make a Difference LA community group, and as a member of the LA Tenants Union. Both groups seek to provide resources and advocacy on behalf of unhoused people, and those experiencing injustice through slum landlords, evictions, and rental increases. Mejia built on this work with a brief stint on the board of the Neighborhood Council, where he advocated for housing justice before the Los Angeles City Council. During his campaign, he has demonstrated his interest in creating greater transparency in governance by providing the public with information and analysis on the city budget and Los Angeles Police Department traffic stops.

Mejia’s campaign has faced some notable criticism. His CPA license was inactive or expired from 2016 to January 2022. Some of Mejia’s campaign associates have disrupted mayoral and city council events throughout the campaign cycle. Mejia has also faced a controversy over now-deleted 2020 Twitter posts that criticized President Joe Biden.

Other background: Mejia is from the San Fernando Valley. He was raised by a single mother in a working-class neighborhood, and cites his upbringing as inspiring his efforts to advocate for marginalized communities.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Kenneth Mejia, 43%; Councilmember Paul Koretz, 24%; Stephanie Clements, 16%; David Vahedi, 7%; J. Carolan O’Gabhann, 4%; Reid Lidow, 4%; and Rob Wilcox, 2%. Kenneth Mejia and Paul Koretz will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Mejia’s campaign has raised $685,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Councilmember Paul Koretz
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Koretz’s campaign has raised $1.1 million and is funded by real estate, corporate PAC, and police interests.
 

The District

City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 3.9 million people and manage an estimated operating budget of $11.2 billion annually. The Los Angeles city controller provides audit and oversight for the spending of those budget funds.

District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Los Angeles had a demographic breakdown of 48% Latino, 12% Asian, and 9% Black.

Recent election results: Los Angeles County, which includes the city of Los Angeles, voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 44 points.
 

The Position

The Los Angeles city controller serves as the elected paymaster, auditor, and chief accounting officer of the city’s budget. The city controller oversees Audit Services, Accounting Operations, and the Financial Reporting and Analysis divisions, including 160 municipal employees who process payroll, create financial reports, and conduct city audits. The city controller is elected every four years, and can serve no more than two terms, or eight years, in office.

Read More

Courage California endorses Karen Bass for LA mayor to keep Los Angeles on the right track for progress.

Bass’s extensive experience and policy successes demonstrate that she is uniquely qualified to lead and will continue to be a progressive champion and govern in the best interest of this diverse city.

Progressive endorsements: Bass is endorsed by many progressive groups, including Courage California, California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, California Women’s List, California Black Women’s Democratic Club, ACCE Action, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats, as well as the Los Angeles Times. She has also received the endorsement of many elected officials, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Katie Porter, State Senator Sydney Kamlager, and L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman.

Top issues: Homelessness and housing, workforce development, mental-health care access, public safety and criminal-justice reform, economic growth, clean energy, and sustainable environmental policy.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Bass’s priorities for her congressional district, CD-37, have included 37 bills about crime and law enforcement, health care, foster care, and child welfare. Of these, nearly all are currently in committee.

Committee leadership/membership: In Congress, Rep. Bass currently serves on the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees, and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Rep. Bass is former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and a member of a variety of legislative groups, including Medicare for All Caucus; Congressional Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus; Congressional Progressive Caucus; and Congressional Social Work Caucus.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Bass has served in Congress since 2010, when she was elected with over 86% of the vote. In 2020, she won her reelection against Republican challenger Errol Webber by 72 points.

Rep. Bass started her career as a nurse and a physician’s assistant, and was moved to action by the intimate view that her work provided of the crack epidemic in Los Angeles. In 1990, she founded Community Coalition, an organization she is still involved with today, to identify local solutions to the economic inequities that contribute to crime, addiction, violence, and poverty. Rep. Bass joined the State Assembly in 2004, and rose to the Speaker’s seat in 2008, as California was facing a severe recession. She was instrumental in negotiating a federal stimulus for Californians and passing legislation that secured affordable health care and improved child welfare services. During her six terms in Congress, Rep. Bass has established herself as an effective progressive leader, focusing much of her work on equity legislation. She has passed bills to protect the LGBTQIA+ community, has founded and co-chairs the bipartisan Caucus on Foster Youth, and has authored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to transform policing.

These experiences in health care, coalition-building, economic recovery, and racial-justice reform are the foundation of her approach to moving Los Angeles forward as mayor. Through a collaborative approach, her administration would focus on eliminating bureaucratic barriers to affordable housing development, working with individual communities to address local safety issues and hate-crime prevention, and tailoring interventions to support local economic recovery from COVID-19. In a city with both extreme wealth and extreme poverty, Rep. Bass’s policies would aim to narrow the economic gap and return dignity to individuals who have been failed by inefficient public systems. She is a longtime supporter of social equity and justice initiatives, and remains actively involved as a board member with the National Foster Youth Institute, which she co-founded.

Other background: Rep. Karen Bass is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rep. Karen Bass, 43%; Rick Caruso, 36%; Kevin de León, 8%; and Gina Viola, 7%. Rep. Karen Bass and Rick Caruso will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Bass’s campaign has raised $5 million and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC donors.

Opposing candidate: Rick Caruso

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Caruso’s campaign has raised $41 million, including $40 million that he has donated personally to his campaign. He has not disclosed funding from any problematic donors. Caruso is a billionaire real estate developer who switched his registration from Republican to Democrat in January 2022, prior to announcing his mayoral campaign. He contributed $50,000 to the failed effort to recall LA District Attorney George Gascón earlier this year, and has given to anti-abortion candidates and leaders, including Republicans Senator Mitch McConnell and Rep. Kevin McCarthy.
 

The District

City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 3.9 million people and manage an estimated operating budget of $11.2 billion annually.

District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Los Angeles had a demographic breakdown of 48% Latino, 12% Asian, and 9% Black.

Recent election results: Los Angeles County, which includes the city of Los Angeles, voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 44 points.
 

The Position

Los Angeles uses a mayor–city council government structure, in which the mayor is elected at large and acts as chair of the 15-member city council and as the city’s chief executive officer. The city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. The mayor of Los Angeles has veto and emergency powers and is responsible for managing dozens of departments and agencies. They also carry out ordinances, ensure coordination among different branches of city government, and submit an annual budget proposal to the L.A. City Council. In Los Angeles, a mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms.

Read More

Elect Erin Darling for LA City Council to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress.

Erin Darling’s experience and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of District 11 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Darling has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, Sierra Club, Our Revolution LA, Stonewall Democratic Club, and many labor unions. He has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, outgoing LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin, and labor organizer Dolores Huerta.

Electoral history: Darling has not run for elected office before.

Top issues: Housing and homelessness, small-business supports, affordable housing and urban accessibility for seniors, reproductive justice, transportation and infrastructure, climate protections, and gun and public safety.

Governance and community leadership experience: Darling is a civil rights and criminal defense attorney. He is a longtime supporter of tenant rights, housing for all, and protecting the environment. After graduating from law school, Darling began working at a local nonprofit called Eviction Defense Network, where he represented low-income tenants facing eviction. He later worked for Public Counsel, focusing on large class actions, including on behalf of the United Farm Workers and individual General Relief recipients. Darling has also worked as a deputy federal public defender in the Central District of California. He currently works in private practice with a focus on civil rights, where he has co-counseled with the ACLU of Southern California and the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). He has also represented women who were sexually assaulted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies and Probation Department employees while in custody. Locally, Darling has served on the Venice Neighborhood Council and Beaches and Harbor Commission.

Other background: Darling is a lifelong resident of Venice.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Erin Darling, 33%; Traci Park, 30%; Greg Good, 10%; Allison Holdorff Polhill, 9%; Mike Newhouse, 7%; Jim Murez, 5%; Mat Smith, 4%; and Midsanon Lloyd 2%. Erin Darling and Traci Park will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Darling’s campaign has raised $228,000 and is not funded by fossil fuel, police, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Traci Park

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Park’s campaign has raised $735,000 and is funded by police and real estate interests.
 

The District

City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 3.9 million people and manage an estimated operating budget of $11.2 billion annually. The 11th city council district includes the west side neighborhoods of Brentwood, Del Rey, Ladera, Mar Vista, Pacific Palisades, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Venice, West Los Angeles, Sawtelle, and Westchester.

District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Los Angeles had a demographic breakdown of 48% Latino, 12% Asian, and 9% Black.

Recent election results: Los Angeles County, which includes the city of Los Angeles, voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 44 points.
 

The Position

Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council. Due to its size and population, Los Angeles maintains a 15-person city council. The city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. In Los Angeles, council-passed ordinances are subject to approval or veto by the mayor. City council members in Los Angeles are ‎limited to three terms, or 12 years in office total.

Read More

Elect Hugo Soto-Martinez for LA City Council to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress.

Soto-Martinez’s organizing experience and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 13 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Soto-Martinez has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, Unite Here! Local 11, Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles, Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, CHIRLA Action Fund, and many labor organizations. He has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including labor organizer Dolores Huerta, LA City Council member Nithya Raman, and State Senator María Elena Durazo.

Electoral history: Soto-Martinez has not run for public office before.

Top issues: Homelessness and housing, climate and water protections, mental-health care, transit and infrastructure, immigration reform, reproductive justice, and labor protections.

Governance and community leadership experience: Soto-Martinez has spent his career as an organizer with UNITE Here! Local 11, which he does improve access and opportunity for workers. He was inspired to this work when, as a college student, he helped form a union at a hotel where he had worked since high school, resulting in greater employment dignity for the staff. During his career, Soto-Martinez has organized against law enforcement, including leading a campaign to unseat corrupt Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona, and working to expose deputy gangs in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He has also worked with DSA-LA and the NOlympics LA campaign, which has allowed him to advocate on some of the issues that affect local communities the most, including homelessness and housing, and immigration. Through his organizing work, Soto-Martinez has gained a strong understanding of how to effectively organize community power around important issues, and would seek to bring that expertise to his representation of constituents on the city council.

Other background: Soto-Martinez, a labor organizer, is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles. He is a first-generation American.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Hugo Soto-Martinez, 38%; Mitch O’Farrell, 34%; Kate Pynoos, 15%; Steve Johnson, 8%; and Albert Corado, 4%. Hugo Soto-Martinez and incumbent Mitch O’Farrell will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Soto-Martinez’s campaign has raised $493,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Incumbent Mitch O’Farrell

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: O’Farrell’s campaign has raised $2.4 million and is funded by corporate PAC and police interests, and a significant number of real estate organizations.
 

The District

City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 3.9 million people and manage an estimated operating budget of $11.2 billion annually. The 13th city council district includes the neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Echo Park, Elysian Valley, Glassell Park, Hollywood, Filipinotown, Little Armenia, Mid-Wilshire/Koreatown, Silver Lake, and Thai Town.

District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Los Angeles had a demographic breakdown of 48% Latino, 12% Asian, and 9% Black.

Recent election results: Los Angeles County, which includes the city of Los Angeles, voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 44 points.
 

The Position

Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council. Due to its size and population, Los Angeles maintains a 15-person city council. The city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. In Los Angeles, council passed ordinances are subject to approval or veto by the Mayor. City council members in Los Angeles are ‎limited to three terms, or 12 years in office total.

Read More