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James Ramos
Reelect Assemblymember James Ramos to keep AD-45 on the right track for progress.
Assm. James Ramos has a problematic track record and policy positions. However, the threat of a Republican winning this seat outweighs Ramos’s opposition to the majority of progressive bills. We recommend that voters reelect Assm. James Ramos for AD-45 and hold him accountable to better represent this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Ramos has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Labor Federation and United Farmworkers. He has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders in the state, including Senator Alex Padilla and State Senator Connie Leyva. However, he has also received the endorsement of many police organizations, and has received donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Edison International, PG&E Corporation, Peace Officers Research Association of California, and California Real Estate PAC.
Top issues: Mental-health care, child welfare, public safety and violence prevention, education, and economic recovery.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Ramos’s priorities for his current district, AD-40, have included 47 bills about mental health, child welfare, education, and public safety. Of these, 13 have been chaptered into law, seven have been enrolled, 11 have died, and most others remain in committee. He scores a Lifetime CS of 18 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Ramos has supported very few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This cycle, he has failed to cast a vote on legislation related to housing transparency and accountability, racial and criminal justice reform, public banking, environmental protections, and worker protections. He has also voted against bills that aimed to reduce the profiling and harassment of sex workers, decouple gang allegations from other charges at trial, and prohibit single-use packaging in retail.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Ramos currently sits on six committees, including Budget and Governmental Organization. He serves as the chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Native American Affairs, and the Select Committee on Youth Homelessness in San Bernardino County.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Ramos has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 59% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 16 points.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Ramos served his community in a variety of leadership roles. He has been a member of the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors since 2012, where he has served as chair, and was a member of the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees. Assm. Ramos was appointed to serve on the State Native American Heritage Commission and to the State Board of Education. He has also served as chair of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and has been a committed steward of California’s Indian culture. He grew up in an impoverished region of San Bernardino County, and has been a longtime supporter of anti-bullying, youth mental-health support, and suicide-prevention efforts.
Other background: Assm. Ramos has lived on the San Manuel Indian Reservation in San Bernardino all his life.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Assm. James Ramos (D), 64%; and Joseph Martinez (R), 36%. Assm. James Ramos and Joseph Martinez will contend in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Ramos’s campaign has raised $979,000 and has received donations from police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Joseph Martinez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Martinez’s campaign has raised $5,000 and is primarily self-funded.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 45th Assembly District includes parts of San Bernardino County. Democrats typically hold this district.
Voter registration: 48% Democrat, 22% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-45 is 13% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 55% Latino, 5% Asian, and 16% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-45 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 31 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 28 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.
James Ramos
Reelect Assemblymember James Ramos to keep AD-45 on the right track for progress.
Assm. James Ramos has a problematic track record and policy positions. However, the threat of a Republican winning this seat outweighs Ramos’s opposition to the majority of progressive bills. We recommend that voters reelect Assm. James Ramos for AD-45 and hold him accountable to better represent this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Ramos has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Labor Federation and United Farmworkers. He has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders in the state, including Senator Alex Padilla and State Senator Connie Leyva. However, he has also received the endorsement of many police organizations, and has received donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Edison International, PG&E Corporation, Peace Officers Research Association of California, and California Real Estate PAC.
Top issues: Mental-health care, child welfare, public safety and violence prevention, education, and economic recovery.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Ramos’s priorities for his current district, AD-40, have included 47 bills about mental health, child welfare, education, and public safety. Of these, 13 have been chaptered into law, seven have been enrolled, 11 have died, and most others remain in committee. He scores a Lifetime CS of 18 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Ramos has supported very few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This cycle, he has failed to cast a vote on legislation related to housing transparency and accountability, racial and criminal justice reform, public banking, environmental protections, and worker protections. He has also voted against bills that aimed to reduce the profiling and harassment of sex workers, decouple gang allegations from other charges at trial, and prohibit single-use packaging in retail.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Ramos currently sits on six committees, including Budget and Governmental Organization. He serves as the chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Native American Affairs, and the Select Committee on Youth Homelessness in San Bernardino County.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Ramos has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 59% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 16 points.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Ramos served his community in a variety of leadership roles. He has been a member of the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors since 2012, where he has served as chair, and was a member of the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees. Assm. Ramos was appointed to serve on the State Native American Heritage Commission and to the State Board of Education. He has also served as chair of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and has been a committed steward of California’s Indian culture. He grew up in an impoverished region of San Bernardino County, and has been a longtime supporter of anti-bullying, youth mental-health support, and suicide-prevention efforts.
Other background: Assm. Ramos has lived on the San Manuel Indian Reservation in San Bernardino all his life.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Assm. James Ramos (D), 64%; and Joseph Martinez (R), 36%. Assm. James Ramos and Joseph Martinez will contend in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Ramos’s campaign has raised $979,000 and has received donations from police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Joseph Martinez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Martinez’s campaign has raised $5,000 and is primarily self-funded.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 45th Assembly District includes parts of San Bernardino County. Democrats typically hold this district.
Voter registration: 48% Democrat, 22% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-45 is 13% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 55% Latino, 5% Asian, and 16% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-45 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 31 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 28 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.
James Ramos
Reelect Assemblymember James Ramos to keep AD-45 on the right track for progress.
Assm. James Ramos has a problematic track record and policy positions. However, the threat of a Republican winning this seat outweighs Ramos’s opposition to the majority of progressive bills. We recommend that voters reelect Assm. James Ramos for AD-45 and hold him accountable to better represent this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Ramos has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Labor Federation and United Farmworkers. He has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders in the state, including Senator Alex Padilla and State Senator Connie Leyva. However, he has also received the endorsement of many police organizations, and has received donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Edison International, PG&E Corporation, Peace Officers Research Association of California, and California Real Estate PAC.
Top issues: Mental-health care, child welfare, public safety and violence prevention, education, and economic recovery.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Ramos’s priorities for his current district, AD-40, have included 47 bills about mental health, child welfare, education, and public safety. Of these, 13 have been chaptered into law, seven have been enrolled, 11 have died, and most others remain in committee. He scores a Lifetime CS of 18 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Ramos has supported very few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This cycle, he has failed to cast a vote on legislation related to housing transparency and accountability, racial and criminal justice reform, public banking, environmental protections, and worker protections. He has also voted against bills that aimed to reduce the profiling and harassment of sex workers, decouple gang allegations from other charges at trial, and prohibit single-use packaging in retail.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Ramos currently sits on six committees, including Budget and Governmental Organization. He serves as the chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Native American Affairs, and the Select Committee on Youth Homelessness in San Bernardino County.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Ramos has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 59% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 16 points.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Ramos served his community in a variety of leadership roles. He has been a member of the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors since 2012, where he has served as chair, and was a member of the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees. Assm. Ramos was appointed to serve on the State Native American Heritage Commission and to the State Board of Education. He has also served as chair of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and has been a committed steward of California’s Indian culture. He grew up in an impoverished region of San Bernardino County, and has been a longtime supporter of anti-bullying, youth mental-health support, and suicide-prevention efforts.
Other background: Assm. Ramos has lived on the San Manuel Indian Reservation in San Bernardino all his life.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Assm. James Ramos (D), 64%; and Joseph Martinez (R), 36%. Assm. James Ramos and Joseph Martinez will contend in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Ramos’s campaign has raised $979,000 and has received donations from police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Joseph Martinez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Martinez’s campaign has raised $5,000 and is primarily self-funded.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 45th Assembly District includes parts of San Bernardino County. Democrats typically hold this district.
Voter registration: 48% Democrat, 22% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-45 is 13% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 55% Latino, 5% Asian, and 16% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-45 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 31 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 28 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.
James Ramos
Reelect Assemblymember James Ramos to keep AD-45 on the right track for progress.
Assm. James Ramos has a problematic track record and policy positions. However, the threat of a Republican winning this seat outweighs Ramos’s opposition to the majority of progressive bills. We recommend that voters reelect Assm. James Ramos for AD-45 and hold him accountable to better represent this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Ramos has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Labor Federation and United Farmworkers. He has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders in the state, including Senator Alex Padilla and State Senator Connie Leyva. However, he has also received the endorsement of many police organizations, and has received donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Edison International, PG&E Corporation, Peace Officers Research Association of California, and California Real Estate PAC.
Top issues: Mental-health care, child welfare, public safety and violence prevention, education, and economic recovery.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Ramos’s priorities for his current district, AD-40, have included 47 bills about mental health, child welfare, education, and public safety. Of these, 13 have been chaptered into law, seven have been enrolled, 11 have died, and most others remain in committee. He scores a Lifetime CS of 18 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Ramos has supported very few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This cycle, he has failed to cast a vote on legislation related to housing transparency and accountability, racial and criminal justice reform, public banking, environmental protections, and worker protections. He has also voted against bills that aimed to reduce the profiling and harassment of sex workers, decouple gang allegations from other charges at trial, and prohibit single-use packaging in retail.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Ramos currently sits on six committees, including Budget and Governmental Organization. He serves as the chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Native American Affairs, and the Select Committee on Youth Homelessness in San Bernardino County.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Ramos has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 59% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 16 points.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Ramos served his community in a variety of leadership roles. He has been a member of the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors since 2012, where he has served as chair, and was a member of the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees. Assm. Ramos was appointed to serve on the State Native American Heritage Commission and to the State Board of Education. He has also served as chair of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and has been a committed steward of California’s Indian culture. He grew up in an impoverished region of San Bernardino County, and has been a longtime supporter of anti-bullying, youth mental-health support, and suicide-prevention efforts.
Other background: Assm. Ramos has lived on the San Manuel Indian Reservation in San Bernardino all his life.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included incumbent Assm. James Ramos (D), 64%; and Joseph Martinez (R), 36%. Assm. James Ramos and Joseph Martinez will contend in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Ramos’s campaign has raised $979,000 and has received donations from police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Joseph Martinez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Martinez’s campaign has raised $5,000 and is primarily self-funded.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 45th Assembly District includes parts of San Bernardino County. Democrats typically hold this district.
Voter registration: 48% Democrat, 22% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-45 is 13% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 55% Latino, 5% Asian, and 16% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-45 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 31 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 28 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.
Alex Padilla
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.
