16th Senate 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

Elect Marisa Wood to put CD-20 on the right track for progress.

Wood’s policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-20 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Wood has the endorsement of progressive groups in the district, including the Tulare County Stonewall Democrats, the California Labor Federation, and the California Teachers Association.

Electoral history: Wood has not run for office previously.

Top issues: Education, health care, economy, reproductive rights, veterans’ rights, and homelessness.

Governance and community leadership experience: Wood is a public schoolteacher, which she does to serve her community and to work with children. She has fought to include parent and student voices in decisions that affect children’s education and to prevent cuts from classrooms.

Other background: Wood, a veteran public schoolteacher, was born in Danville, CA, and has lived in Kern County for 35 years. She teaches English at a public school where many students are underprivileged, and for a large portion, English is a second language. She mentors, counsels, and supports her students.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Kevin McCarthy (R), 59%; Marisa Wood (D), 25%; and Ben Dewell (D), 7%. McCarthy and Wood will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Wood’s campaign has raised $728,000 and is not funded by corporate, real estate, fossil fuel, or police money.

Opposing candidate: Republican Kevin McCarthy

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: McCarthy’s campaign has raised $21,000 and is funded by fossil fuel, real estate, and corporate PAC money. As former speaker of the House, Rep. McCarthy spread disinformation around the 2020 presidential election, voted against certifying the election results on January 6, 2021, and refused to comply with the January 6 panel request to voluntarily testify about the attack on the U.S. Capitol. While publicly stating his disapproval for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s declarations of support for political violence and her extreme anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic comments, McCarthy also opposed the vote to remove her from her committees. Similarly, McCarthy defended Rep. Lauren Boebart after her islamophobic remarks.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 20th Congressional District includes parts of Kern, Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties.

Voter registration: 27% Democrat, 47% Republican, and 19% No Party Preference. Republicans have held this district since 2012. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-20 is 9% less Republican than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 25% Latino, 7% Asian, and 4% Black.

Recent election results: CD-20 voted for Trump for president in 2020 by 17 points and Cox for governor in 2018 by 33 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 Jim Costa to keep CD-21 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Jim Costa maintains a centrist track record in Congress, and has been a frequent recipient of donations from problematic corporate and fossil fuel funders. Given these associations, it is critical that voters continue to hold him accountable to ensure that his legislative efforts remain in the best interests of the district and constituents. In the general election cycle, the threat of Republican challenger Michael Maher’s potential policies greatly outweighs Rep. Costa’s moderate approach to legislating. Based on our analysis, Rep. Costa’s policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of CD-21 and will govern effectively for this diverse district if he is subjected to increased community accountability.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Costa has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including CHC BOLD PAC. He has also received the endorsement of several state leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Alex Padilla, and Senator Dianne Feinstein. However, Rep. Costa has also received donations from big oil companies and a variety of other problematic donors, including PG&E Corporation, National Association of Realtors, Koch Industries, Halliburton Company, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy PAC.

Top issues: Tax credits for biodiesel, water infrastructure improvements, flood control, foreign affairs and collaboration, and child abuse and crime victims’ rights.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Costa’s priorities for his current district, CD-16, have included 18 bills about water resources, international affairs, and law enforcement. All of these sponsored bills are currently in committee or referred to committee. Included in his sponsored bills this term is legislation that seeks to provide grants to expand medical schools, reauthorize federal grants for high-speed rail development, establish international legislative collaborations, and raise awareness for crime victims’ rights. Rep. Costa has also sponsored legislation that aims to reduce accountability for fossil fuel and oil companies, many of which provide his campaign with financial support, including legislation to give income tax credits for biodiesel fuels.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Costa currently serves on three committees: Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Foreign Affairs. He is the chair of the subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. Rep. Costa is a member of the Blue Dog Democrats, a centrist and fiscally conservative coalition.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Costa has served in this congressional seat since 2004, when he was elected with over 60% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against Republican challenger Kevin Cookingham by 18 points.

He has been involved in public service since 1978 and has served eight terms in the California State Assembly, four terms in the state Senate, and nine terms in Congress. He is a third-generation farmer, and, despite his ties to Big Oil, has been a persistent proponent of water conservation, air-pollution control, and securing agricultural resources for the San Joaquin Valley.

Other background: Rep. Jim Costa, a career public official, is a lifelong resident of the San Joaquin Valley. He attended California State University–Fresno, and has leveraged his agricultural knowledge and local connections to legislate on behalf of the local farming community.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rep. Jim Costa (D), 47%; Michael Maher (R), 26%; Matt Stoll (R), 17%; and Eric Garcia (D), 10%. Incumbent Rep. Jim Costa and Michael Maher will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Costa’s campaign has raised $1.5 million and is not funded by police interests. He has received significant donations from problematic stakeholders, including Sempra Energy, Phillips 66 PAC, National Apartment Association PAC, Google Netpac, ExxonMobil Corporation PAC, and Amazon PAC.

Opposing candidate: Republican Michael Maher

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Maher’s campaign has raised $61,000 and is primarily funded by individual donors.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 21st Congressional District includes parts of Fresno and Tulare Counties.

Voter registration: 44% Democrat, 26% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district, although it was briefly held by Democrats in 2018, when TJ Cox won and flipped it for a single term. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-21 is 2% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 53% Latino, 10% Asian, and 6% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-21 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 20 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 13 points.
 

The Position

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

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

Read More

Elect Rudy Salas to put CD-22 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Rudy Salas has had a moderate and sometimes problematic track record during his time as a member of the state legislature. However, the importance of retaining Democratic control of the House is critical, and Salas is the only Democrat in this race to flip this seat from Republican. We recommend that voters elect Salas and commit to holding him accountable for representing the constituents, not the corporate interests he has long supported in the State Assembly.

Progressive Endorsements: Assm. Salas has received the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, CHC BOLD PAC, and California Labor Federation. Additionally, he has been a frequent recipient of funds from a variety of problematic donors during his time in the Assembly, including Big Oil, police, and real estate organizations.

Electoral History: Assm. Salas has served in the State Assembly since 2012, and won his 2020 reelection race against Republican challenger Todd Cotta by 20 points.

Top issues: Military and veteran supports, health-care access, education and teacher resources, zoning and utilities, and clean water.

Priority bills: This term, Assm. Salas has sponsored 48 bills about health care, education, and veteran assistance. Of these, 11 have been chaptered into law, fie have died, and most others remain in committee. Assm. Salas scores a Lifetime CS of 24 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of state legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Salas has supported few progressive bills that made it to a vote, opposing legislation related to criminal-justice reforms, corporate housing transparency, and accountability this term. He has been listed in the Courage Score Hall of Shame for the last seven years, and accepts donations from a variety of problematic funders. Assm. Salas sits on four Assembly committees, including Veterans’ Affairs; Water, Parks, and Wildlife; Governmental Organization; and Business and Professions. He chairs the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the Select Committee on Early Childhood Development.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Salas has been a longtime public servant, including serving as an Assembly legislative staff member and a district director for the Central Valley prior to his election to the Assembly. Assm. Salas has shown a legislative commitment to civic and educational investment for constituents. He recently helped secure $15 million through the state budget for the establishment of the Dolores Huerta Peace and Justice Cultural Center in Bakersfield. He has also introduced AB 58, which seeks to provide resources and training to schools to better support students who are at risk for suicide and self-harm. Concerningly, he has also been named Legislator of the Year by California 9-1-1 Emergency Dispatchers and the California Police Chiefs Association.

Other background: Assm. Salas, a career public servant, is from Bakersfield. He attended local schools before enrolling at UCLA to study political science. Salas worked on Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 2000, before serving in a variety of legislative roles in state government. He was the first Latino ever elected to the Bakersfield City Council before winning a seat in the State Assembly in 2012.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Assm. Rudy Salas (D), 45%; Rep. David Valadao (R), 26%; Chris Mathys (R), 23%; and Adam Medeiros (R), 26%. Assm. Rudy Salas and incumbent Rep. David Valadao will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Salas’s campaign has raised $988,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican David Valadao

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Rep. Valadao’s campaign has raised $2.5 million and is funded by corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and real estate interests. He has also received donations from problematic funders that include Koch Industries, Employees of Northrop Grumman Corporate PAC, and Lockheed Martin Employees PAC. Notably, incumbent Rep. David Valadao was initially elected to Congress in 2012, lost reelection in 2018, and successfully returned to the seat in 2020. He voted with former President Trump 99% of the time, including a vote against H.R. 1, which would have reformed campaign-finance laws to get dark money out of politics. Despite his nonprogressive record, Rep. Valadao is a moderate Republican, and one of only ten GOP congressional members to vote in favor of impeaching former President Trump after the January 6 insurrection.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 22nd Congressional District includes parts of Kern, Tulare, and Kings Counties.

Voter registration: 44% Democrat, 26% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district. After the 2021 redistricting process, CD-22 is 1% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 59% Latino, 4% Asian, and 6% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation. This seat is a top flip priority for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to retain control of the House.

Recent election results: CD-22 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 13 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 9 points.
 

The Position

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

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

Read More

Elect Jose Sigala for State Assembly to put AD-33 on the right track for progress.

Jose Sigala’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-33 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Sigala has the endorsement of some progressive groups and leaders, including Dolores Huerta, California Federation of Labor, and the California Teachers Association. He is also endorsed by California State Controller Betty Yee, State Senator Maria Elena Durazo, and Assemblymember Anthony Rendon.

Top Issues: Immigration and community equity

Electoral history: Sigala was elected to the Tulare City Council in 2016. He was reelected to Tulare City Council in 2020. Sigala previously ran for State Assembly against Republican incumbent Assm. Devon Mathis in 2018, losing in the general election by 16 points.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sigala has over 25 years of experience working in the California State Legislature and local government. Sigala served as Tulare’s first Latino mayor from 2018–2020.
 

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Devon Mathis (R), 65%; Jose Sigala (D), 20%; and Ruben Macareno (D), 15%. Sigala and Mathis will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sigala’s campaign has raised $74,701 and is not funded by police money, corporate PACs, real estate money, and fossil fuel money.

Opposing candidate: Republican incumbent Assm. Devon Mathis

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Assm. Mathis’ campaign has raised $430,243 and is funded by police money, corporate PACs, real estate money, and fossil fuel money. He has also received endorsements from problematic stakeholders, including Tulare County Deputy Sheriffs Association and Visalia Police Officers Association. Assm. Mathis scores a Lifetime score of 0 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.
 

The District

Counties in district: California’s 33rd Assembly District includes all of Kings County and parts of Tulare and Fresno Counties.

Voter registration: 35% Democrat, 35% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Republicans have held this district since at least 2012. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-33 is 6% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 54% Latino, 4% Asian, and 3% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-33 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 4 points and John Cox for governor in 2018 by 11 points.
 

The Position

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

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Republican Brian Dahle

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Republican Angela Underwood Jacobs

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Republican Nathan Hochman

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Republican Rob Bernosky

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Republican Jack Guerrero

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Republican Lanhee Chen

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Republican Robert Howell

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Lance Ray Christensen

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other background: Altamirano is a longtime resident of California.
 

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Republican Incumbent Board Member Ted Gaines

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

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Race

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

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

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Marie Manvel

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other background: David Dodson lives in Dana Point.
 

The Race

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

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

Opposing candidate: Republican Board Member Mike Schaefer

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

The District

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

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

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

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

The Position

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

Read More

Reelect Councilmember Bryan Osorio to keep Delano on the right track for progress.

Councilmember Bryan Osorio’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of Delano and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Councilmember Osorio has many progressive endorsements, including from Dolores Huerta, Community Water Center Action Fund, California Working Families Party, and United Farm Workers.

Top issues: Water infrastructure, homelessness and housing, public safety, youth and workforce development, immigration, and economic development.

Key initiatives: As mayor of Delano, Osorio has been a strong proponent of immigration protections, supporting the declaration of Delano as a Sanctuary City and opposing data-sharing with ICE. He also supported a variety of initiatives to lessen the economic impact of the pandemic on his community’s most vulnerable residents.

Governance and community leadership experience: Councilmember Osorio has served on the Delano City Council since 2018, when he was elected with over 32% of the vote. He was appointed mayor in 2020. Councilmember Osorio ran in the 2022 primary election for the 16th Senate District seat, but did not advance to the general election.

Councilmember Osorio is a community solutions advocate for the Community Water Center, where he brings attention and solutions to water-contamination issues in the Central Valley. This work, and his experience working with the ACLU of Northern California, has informed his approach to coalition-building, and he cites uniting the loose progressive base in this rural region of the state as one of his electoral goals.

Other background: Councilmember Osorio has lived in Delano, CA most of his life. He is a 2018 graduate of UC-Berkeley, and leverages his millennial perspective in pursuing meaningful policy change.
 

The Race

Primary election results: This race did not have a June primary election. There are four candidates vying for this seat in November, including Councilmember Bryan Osorio, Councilmember Liz Morris, Mario Nunez, Jr, and Claribel Gutierrez.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Osorio’s campaign-finance disclosures are not publicly available.
 

The District

City: Delano is Kern County’s second most populous city. Delano’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 has 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. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Delano are elected at large and are ‎limited to two terms, or eight years, in office.

Read More

Elect Manpreet Kaur for city council to put Bakersfield on the right track for progress.

Manpreet Kaur’s organizing experience and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 7 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Manpreet Kaur has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Democratic Women of Kern and California Young Democrats, as well as labor unions, like SEIU and Kern Inyo Mono Labor Council. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, such as labor organizer Dolores Huerta.

Electoral history: Manpreet Kaur has not run for office previously.

Top issues: Kaur’s campaign is centered on community investment, particularly in communities that have experienced systematic disinvestment. She has advocated in particular for increasing services offered within the community, including medical clinics, mental-health care, farmers markets, support services for small businesses, and more programs to engage community members. She helped lead the 2021 redistricting campaign in Bakersfield, and worked specifically to ensure that the Sikh community is equitably represented. She has worked at many levels of the education system in Kern County and the state of California, including the Early Childhood Council, the Kern High School District, the State Department of Education, and the California Department of Social Services. Her current platform includes several ideas to increase leadership and civic engagement opportunities for youth.

Governance and community leadership experience: Manpreet Kaur is an urban planner and community organizer, which she does because of her passion for community involvement, desire to improve the lives of others, and belief in policy as a tool to improve lives and communities. She has worked in education at the district, county, and state levels, developing practices to address service gaps, increase language options and honors offerings in high schools, and increase equity in schooling. She is a leader in the Punjabi Sikh community in Bakersfield, and founded the Kern County chapter of the Jakara Movement, a grassroots community-advocacy organization that serves the Sikh population, particularly youth.

Other background: Manpreet Kaur, an urban planner, policy analyst, and community organizer, grew up in Bakersfield and returned following her college studies. She earned her BA from UC San Diego and a joint MPA and MS from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is a first-generation American.
 

The Race

Primary election results: Three candidates have qualified for the November 8 general election, including Manpreet Kaur, Tim Collins, and Raj Gill.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Manpreet Kaur’s campaign has raised $33,500 and is not funded by corporate PACs, the real estate industry, or the police. She has accepted donations from the fossil fuel industry.

Opposing candidates: Tim Collins and Raj Gill

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Collins’s campaign has raised $15,500. Gill’s campaign has not filed any fundraising receipts for the current election cycle.
 

The District

City: Bakersfield is Kern County’s most populous city. Bakersfield City Council District 7 includes a large Punjabi Sikh population, and portions of the Greenfield, Bannister, and Panama neighborhoods.

Governance structure: Bakersfield City Council oversees the needs of 405,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $735.5 million annually. Bakersfield is managed by a council-manager structured government.
 

The Position

Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five- or seven-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Bakersfield serve overlapping four-year terms and are not term-limited.

Read More

Reelect Board Member Randy Villegas to keep Visalia on the right track for progress. 

Board member Randy Villegas’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the Visalia School District community and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Villegas has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the California Working Families Party and several labor unions.  

Top issues: Increasing transparency, accountability, and student success.

Key initiatives: Board Member Villegas has provided leadership in moving the district forward on mental health, saving taxpayer money, and achieving more transparency. He has pushed for transparency, supporting a policy to grant the public access to previous and future meeting recordings and voted to refinance Measure E, leading to a savings of $6 million for the district’s taxpayers. Villegas has also supported the hiring of more counselors and psychologists for students’ mental health. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Board Member Villegas has served in this seat since 2021, as the result of a provisional appointment.

Prior to his appointment to the school board, Board Member Villegas was a journalist and an organizer. He has been a longtime supporter of public education and equity. Board Member Villegas serves on the board of several nonprofit organizations, including Power California. 

Other background: Villegas, an Associate Professor of Political Science at College of the Sequoias, is from the Central Valley. 

The Race

Primary election results: There was no primary race for this election. Two candidates have qualified for the November ballot: Incumbent Randy Villegas and Jonelle Murphy.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Villegas’s campaign has raised $6,000 and is not funded by corporate PAC, real estate, or fossil fuel money. 

Opposing candidate: Jonelle Murphy. Murphy opposed masking in schools and supported the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom. 
 

The District

School system: Visalia is located in Tulare County, which is California’s 18th most populous county. Visalia includes eight high schools, 14 middle schools, 29 elementary schools, and three adult-education centers serving a population of roughly 134,000 Californians. 

Governance structure: Visalia has a five-person board that provides administrative oversight and manages a budget of $442 million annually.  

The Position

Members of the Visalia School Board are elected in a districted race. Terms last four years, and members are limited to serving two terms in this position.
 

Read More