Democrat

Pamela Price

Courage California endorses Pamela Price for district attorney to put Alameda County on the right track for progress.

Pamela Price’s experience and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Alameda County and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Price has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, Alameda Progressives, Bay Rising Action, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, Coalition for Police Accountability, and California Working Families Party. She has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including scholar, author, and activist Dr. Angela Davis, actor and activist Danny Glover, Berkeley City Council member Ben Bartlett, and Restorative Justice of Oakland (RJOY) co-founder Fania Davis.

Electoral history: Price won election to the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee in 2016, and was reelected in 2020. In 2014, she came in third in the primary race for Assembly District 15. In 2018, she lost a primary race for Alameda County district attorney, and then lost a general race for Oakland mayor.

Top issues: Public trust and transparency, violence prevention and public safety, fair and restorative justice, reduce the criminalization of youth, abolish the death penalty, police accountability, prosecutorial accountability, investment in reentry programs, and revive social-service funding.

Governance and community leadership experience: Price is an attorney and started her professional career as a criminal defense lawyer in San Francisco. In 1991, she started her own firm in Oakland, and for 30 years represented victims of wrongful termination and sexual assault, as well as discrimination based on sex, age, religion, disability, and race. She is a longtime supporter of gender, racial justice, and abortion rights and reproductive justice. As a community activist, Price co-founded the Bay Area Defense Committee for Battered Women and was appointed to serve on the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, which protects the rights of poor and immigrant communities. Price has received multiple congressional awards for her community service.

Other background: Pamela Price is a longtime resident of the Bay Area. She is a survivor of the Ohio juvenile justice and foster-care systems, going on to graduate from Yale and UC Berkeley Law School.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Pamela Price, 40%; Terry Wiley, 31%; Jimmie Wilson, 21%; and Seth Steward, 9%. Pamela Price and Terry Wiley will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Price’s campaign has raised $330,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Terry Wiley

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Wiley’s campaign has raised $659,000 and is funded by real estate interests and individual employees of the district attorney’s office. He is a deputy district attorney for current Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, who has been criticized for not holding police accountable for crimes and actively campaigning against reforms. Wiley is endorsed by DA O’Malley and law-enforcement associations. Wiley has not taken a stance on abortion rights and reproductive justice or LGBTQIA+ rights.

The District

County: Alameda is California’s seventh most populous county. It is home to a population of 1.6 million people, with a demographic breakdown of 22% Latino, 26% Asian, and 13% Black.

Governance structure: Alameda’s district attorney oversees an office of 150 deputy district attorneys, and the prosecution of criminal offenses across the county and unincorporated areas.

The Position

Each of the 58 counties in California elects a district attorney to manage the prosecution of criminal offenses related to the violation of state and county laws. The district attorney has investigative authority, manages the apprehension of individuals identified through the investigative process, and holds charging and prosecutorial power. The work of the district attorney includes Municipal and Superior Court operations, and serving as a legal liaison to the grand jury. The county Board of Supervisors provides financial oversight to the district attorney’s office, but holds no operational power over their work. District attorneys are elected to four-year terms in office.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Courage California endorses Pamela Price for district attorney to put Alameda County on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

Courage California endorses Pamela Price for district attorney to put Alameda County on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

Alameda County

Not in Alameda County? Find your state's guide.

Election Day November 8, 2022

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Ballot Drop Boxes

Federal

U.S. Senator

Democrat

Alex Padilla

Website Endorsements

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Congress

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below congressional districts on your ballot.

10th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat

Mark DeSaulnier

Website Endorsements

Reelect Congressional Representative Mark DeSaulnier to keep CD-10 on the right track for progress.

Rep. DeSaulnier’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-10 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. DeSaulnier has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, Equality California, the Human Rights Campaign, the Progressive Turnout Project, and California Environmental Voters, as well as labor unions, like the California Labor Federation, United Farm Workers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and IBEW Local Union 302, and from progressive leaders including Representative Ayanna Pressley.

Top issues: Rep. DeSaulnier has focused on improving infrastructure, including building up sustainable industries and jobs, as well as expanding public transportation in his district. He has also sponsored legislation that benefits local voters, including extending protection to more acres of natural land in Contra Costa County and expanding local control of canal infrastructure in the district.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. DeSaulnier’s priorities for CD-10 have included 36 bills about transportation, infrastructure, disability access, health care and mental health, labor standards, and green energy. Of these, one has successfully been passed by the House. He has sponsored and passed legislation to increase access to baby formula, increase protected parklands, improve and expand educational services for students with disabilities, and create jobs in the transition to carbon neutral transportation.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. DeSaulnier currently sits on four committees, including Oversight and Reform, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, and House Rules.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. DeSaulnier has served in this congressional seat since 2014, when he was elected with over 70% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 46 points.

Prior to his work as a civil servant, Rep. DeSaulnier was first a union member with Teamsters International and Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International, and then a restaurant manager and owner. He maintains strong connections with organized labor. He was elected to the city council of Concord, CA, in 1991, served as mayor from 1993 to 1994, and was then appointed to the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, on which he served until 2002. DeSaulnier was then elected to the California State Assembly for one year, followed by the state Senate for one year.

Other background: Rep. DeSaulnier is a small-business owner and former mayor and local elected official, is originally from Massachusetts, and now lives in Concord, CA.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Mark DeSaulnier (D), 84.9%, and Michael Kerr (G), 15.1%. DeSaulnier and Kerr will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. DeSaulnier’s campaign has raised $478,162 and is not funded by the police. He has accepted donations from the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, and corporate PACs.

Opposing candidate: Green Party Michael Kerr

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kerr’s campaign has not filed any receipts for the current election cycle.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 10th Congressional District includes parts of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

Voter registration: 50% Democrat, 22% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 2006. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-10 is 10% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 13% Latino, 17% Asian, and 5% Black.

Recent election results: CD-10 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 39 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 28 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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Congressional Representative Mark DeSaulnier to keep CD-10 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Congressional Representative Mark DeSaulnier to keep CD-10 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

12th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat

Barbara Lee

Website Endorsements

Reelect Congressional Representative Barbara Lee to keep CD-12 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Barbara Lee’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-12 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Lee has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Black Women Organized for Political Action, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Sierra Club, and many trade union organizations. She has also received the endorsement of state leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, US Senator Alex Padilla, and Assemblymember Mia Bonta. Additionally, she has received donations from several problematic groups, including Realtors PAC, Edison International PAC, and Amazon PAC.

Top issues: Economic equality, corporate taxation, sustainable development, healthcare access, civil rights and liberties, HIV/AIDS awareness.

Priority bills: Rep. Lee’s priorities for CD-12 this year have included 56 bills about health care, international development, equity, and nondiscrimination. The majority of these are currently in committee or referred to committee. Among her sponsored legislation this term are bills that seek to support climate change education, support international sustainable development, remove confederate monuments, improve the taxation of Wall Street, and support mental-health care access.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes, currently serving as chair emeriti.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Lee currently sits on the Budget and Appropriations committees, and serves as co-chair of the Policy and Steering Committee. She serves as co-chair of the subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; the Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Care Task Force; the Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity; the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus; and the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. She is the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is the highest-ranking African American woman in Democratic leadership.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lee has served in Congress since 1998, when she was elected with over 66% of the vote. Prior to redistricting, Rep. Lee represented CD-13, and won her 2020 reelection against Republican Nikka Piterman by 80 points.

Rep. Lee had a long career in politics before winning her seat. As a young social worker, she founded a mental-health service organization, Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, to benefit her local East Bay community. She then spent eleven years working on the staff of Congressmember Ron Dellums, eventually serving as his chief of staff. After her tenure in congressional staffing, she founded a facilities-management company. A few years later, in 1990, Rep. Lee launched a successful bid for a seat in the California Assembly, where she served for six years, before she was elected to the state Senate. In 1998, she won a special election for her current congressional seat. In her 24-year tenure in Congress, Rep. Lee has been outspoken on a variety of important progressive issues, including ending poverty, and has been a prolific author of legislation related to ending AIDS/HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. She was also the only Congressmember to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the attacks on September 11, 2001, a controversial position at the time.

Other background: Rep. Lee, a community advocate and elected official, is from El Paso, TX, and moved to the San Fernando Valley when she was a child. She attended Mills College, where she served as president of the Black Student Union and invited Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm to speak on campus. Her interaction with Rep. Chisholm was an early inspiration for her pursuit of a career in public service.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rep. Barbara Lee (D), 88%; Stephen Slauson (R), 5%; Glenn Kaplan (I), 3%; Eric Wilson (D), 2%; and Ned Nuerge (R), 1%. Incumbent Rep. Barbara Lee and Stephen Slauson will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Lee’s campaign has raised $1.5 million and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Stephen Slauson

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Slauson’s campaign has not recorded any fundraising receipts with the FEC as of September 2022.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 12th Congressional District includes parts of Alameda County.

Voter registration: 70% Democrat, 5% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-12 is 1% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 15% Latino, 21% Asian, and 20% Black.

Recent election results: The most recent election results show that CD-12 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 81 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 81 points.

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Congressional Representative Barbara Lee to keep CD-12 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Congressional Representative Barbara Lee to keep CD-12 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

14th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat

Eric Swalwell

Website

Reelect Congressional Representative Eric Swalwell to keep CD-14 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Swalwell’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of CD-14 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Swalwell has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, Human Rights Campaign, Equality California, the California Labor Federation, National Nurses United, and SEIU.

Top issues: Rep. Swalwell is a longtime supporter of election and government reform, as well as gun control. He has also paid special attention to the issues that affect young people: he helped found the Future Forum Caucus, a group of congressional millennials who are focused on addressing the issues affecting their age group—student debt in particular. Swalwell opposes the progressive position of breaking up tech monopolies. He advocates instead for limited oversight of major tech companies and against antitrust legislation for those corporations.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Swalwell’s priorities for CD-14 this year have included 24 bills about cybersecurity, biosecurity, genomic testing, drug safety, gun safety, campaign finance, and student loan forgiveness. Of these, two have successfully been passed by the House. He has sponsored legislation to strengthen reporting requirements for campaign donations and foreign gifts, to use genetic testing to refine medical care, to improve intelligence regarding biological threats, to expand student loan forgiveness programs and 0% interest loan options, and to remove guns from people with a history of domestic abuse. Swalwell previously passed legislation to incentivize charitable giving in the wake of the natural disaster in the Philippines.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Swalwell currently sits on three committees, including the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. He chairs the Intelligence Modernization and Readiness Subcommittee on the House Intelligence Committee.

Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Rep. Swalwell has served in this congressional seat since 2012, when he was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2020, he won his 2020 reelection against a Republican challenger by 42 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Swalwell worked as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney’s office and served as a member of the Dublin City Council. During Donald Trump’s second impeachment hearing in 2021, Swalwell served as an impeachment manager.

Other background: Rep. Swalwell is originally from Iowa and now lives in Dublin, CA. He earned his bachelor’s degree and JD at the University of Maryland.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Eric Swalwell (D), 64%; Alison Hayden (R), 10%; Tom Wong (R), 9%; Steve Iyer (R), 9%; and James Andrew Peters (D), 5%. Eric Swalwell and Alison Hayden will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Swalwell’s campaign has raised $3,038,935 and is not funded by police money. He has accepted donations from the real estate industry and the fossil fuel industry. He has also accepted donations from corporate PACs, including close to $20,000 from defense manufacturers, as well as from the pharmaceutical industry.

Opposing candidate: Republican Alison Hayden

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hayden’s campaign has not filed any fundraising receipts for the current election cycle.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 14th Congressional District includes parts of Alameda County.

Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 26% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 2000. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-14 is 2% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 19% Latino, 32% Asian, and 7% Black.

Recent election results: CD-14 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 45 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 39 points.

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Congressional Representative Eric Swalwell to keep CD-14 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Congressional Representative Eric Swalwell to keep CD-14 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

17th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat

Ro Khanna

Website Endorsements

Reelect Congressional Representative Ro Khanna to keep CD-17 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Khanna’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-17 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Khanna has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Sierra Club, Equality California, and Planned Parenthood, as well as publications like the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, and the Oakland Tribune, and labor unions, like the California Nurses Association, National Nurses United, California Labor Federation, and SEIU. He is also endorsed by federal, state, and local elected officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Senator Padilla, and many mayors, city councilmembers, and school board members.

Top issues: Rep. Khanna is a longtime supporter of labor and environmental causes, and advocates for more green jobs. He has also paid special attention to digital security and modernization.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Khanna’s priorities for CD-17 have included 26 bills about taxing corporations, technological innovation, public health, 21st century jobs, and labor conditions. Of these, two have successfully been passed by the House. He has sponsored and passed legislation to improve accessibility and user experience on government websites and to create digital “centers for excellence” to guide cyber-security decisions in federal IT systems.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Khanna currently sits on three committees, including the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, and Oversight and Reform. On the Oversight and Reform Committee, he chairs the subcommittee on the Environment.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Khanna has served in this congressional seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 60% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 43 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Khanna served in the Obama administration as deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Commerce and as an attorney. He is a longtime supporter of labor and environmental causes, and advocates for investment in green jobs and digital infrastructure. He has also worked to increase and transform manufacturing jobs. In the House, he has been dedicated to digital security and modernization. He was tapped by Speaker Pelosi to draft an Internet Bill of Rights, which described the rights that digital citizens should have in terms of privacy, access, and equity online.

Other background: Rep. Ro Khanna, a former lawyer, university lecturer, and member of President Obama’s cabinet, is from Philadelphia, PA, and now lives in Fremont, CA. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Chicago, and then earned a law degree from Yale University.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Ro Khanna (D), 66%; Ritesh Tandon (R), 25%; Stephen Forbes (D), 5%; and Rao Ravul (D), 2%. Rep. Khanna and Tandon will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Khanna’s campaign has raised $5,095,722 and is not funded by the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or police money. He has accepted donations from corporate PACs, including from prolific polluters like United Airlines.

Opposing candidate: Republican Ritesh Tandon
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tandon’s campaign has raised $38,597.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 17th Congressional District includes parts of Santa Clara and Alameda Counties.

Voter registration: 50% Democrat, 15% Republican, and 31% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 1990. Since the 2021 redistricting process, CD-17 is largely unchanged, just half a percent more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 15% Latino, 47% Asian, and 3% Black.

Recent election results: CD-17 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 48 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 44 points.

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Congressional Representative Ro Khanna to keep CD-17 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Congressional Representative Ro Khanna to keep CD-17 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

State Assembly

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Assembly races on your ballot.

State Assembly, 14th District

Member of the State Assembly

Democrat

Buffy Wicks

Website Endorsements

Reelect Assemblymember Wicks to keep AD-14 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Wicks’ track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-14 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Wicks has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Moms Demand Action, Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 5, Ironworkers Local 378 Oakland, and others.

Top issues: Assm. Wicks notes in her campaign materials that she has authored and passed legislation to provide housing security, expanded paid medical leave, and target debt settlements.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Wicks’s priorities for AD-14 have included 45 bills about health care, anti-hunger, and gun violence. Of these, 12 have been successfully chaptered into law. She authored SB 6, legislation to streamline the building of housing in commercial zones. Assm. Wicks has also led on reproductive justice, telling her abortion story on the assembly floor in 2019 and working on package of reproductive-justice bills in the state. She scores a Lifetime CS of 100 out of 100 and is an All-Star on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Wicks has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Wicks currently sits on six standing committees and four select committees, including chairing the Housing and Community Development Committee and the Select Committee on Social Housing.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Wicks has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when she was elected with over 53.6% of the vote. In 2020, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 69 points.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Wicks was deputy director of the Office of Public Engagement at the White House during President Obama’s presidency. She also worked in Hillary Clinton’s campaign as its California state director. Assm. Wicks has been a longtime supporter of women’s rights and health care.

Other background: Assm. Wicks, a former labor activist and children’s rights advocate, is from Foresthill.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Wicks (D), 100%; and a write-in candidate, Rich Kinney, a Republican who got 37 votes. Wicks and Kinney will compete in the November 8 run-off election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Wicks’s campaign has raised $536,641 and is not funded by fossil fuel interests. She has received contributions from corporate PACs, real estate, and correctional peace officers.

Opposing candidate: Republican Rich Kinney

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kinney’s campaign has not filed any fundraising disclosures with the Secretary of State’s office for this race.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 14th Assembly District includes parts of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties

Voter registration: 70% Democrat, 6% Republican, and 20% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-14 is about 1% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 17% Latino, 21% Asian, and 14% Black.

Recent election results: AD-14 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 80 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 77 points.

The Position

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

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

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Assemblymember Wicks to keep AD-14 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Assemblymember Wicks to keep AD-14 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

State Assembly, 16th District

Member of the State Assembly

Democrat

Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

Website Endorsements

Reelect Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan to keep AD-16 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Bauer-Kahan’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-16 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Bauer-Kahan has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Labor Federation, NARAL Pro-Choice California, and Sierra Club. She has also received endorsements from problematic stakeholders, including the Peace Officers Research Association of California.

Top issues: Environment, gender discrimination, and clean energy.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Bauer-Kahan’s priorities for AD-16 have included 11 bills about banning certain pesticides, expanding mental-health services, and further criminalizing domestic terrorism. Of these, six have successfully been passed by the Assembly. She has sponsored and passed legislation to fight the increase in harassment and “doxing” of patients at reproductive-health clinics, supporting a quicker and fairer process for small businesses and employees to resolve disputes around paid family leave, and adding nonbinary options for gender identity on death certificates. She has a score of 92 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Bauer-Kahan has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Bauer-Kahan currently sits on five committees, and chairs the Water, Parks, and Wildlife committee.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Bauer-Kahan has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when she was elected with 51% of the vote. In 2020, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 31 points.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Bauer-Kahan was an environmental advocate, a community volunteer, and a law professor. Assm. Bauer-Kahn has been a longtime supporter of intellectual property rights.

Other background: Assm. Bauer-Kahan is from the Bay Area. She oversaw and grew her office’s pro bono program and, under her leadership, the office expanded its efforts to include civil rights, immigration, homelessness, and domestic violence. She also specialized in ensuring that major corporations comply with environmental laws and regulations by leading internal investigations to improve their environmental practices while maintaining profitability.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Bauer-Kahan (D), 67%; and Joseph Rubay (R), 33%. Bauer-Kahan and Rubay will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Bauer-Kahan’s campaign has raised $511,000 and is not funded by real estate money.

Opposing candidate: Republican Joseph Rubay

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Rubay’s campaign has raised $4,800 and is funded by individual donors.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 16th Assembly District includes parts of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.

Voter registration: 47]% Democrat, 23% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 2018.

District demographics: 9% Latino, 21% Asian, and 2% Black.

Recent election results: AD-16 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 40 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 26 points.

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan to keep AD-16 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan to keep AD-16 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

State Assembly, 18th District

Member of the State Assembly

Democrat

Mia Bonta

Website Endorsements

Reelect Assemblymember Bonta to keep AD-18 on the right track for progress.

Assm. Bonta’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-18 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Bonta has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Black Women Organized for Political Action, the California Federation of Teachers, Equality California, and the Bayard Rustin LGBTQ Coalition.

Top issues: Gun-violence prevention, and reentry of formerly incarcerated people, housing.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Bonta’s priorities for AD-18 have included 28 bills about gun violence and street-harassment prevention. Of these, 11 have been successfully chaptered into law. She has sponsored and passed legislation to require a heightened finding that a minor is not amenable to rehabilitation before the minor can be transferred to criminal court. Assm. Bonta does not have a Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, but she earned our Courage Score Honorable Mention this year for being a reliable progressive vote in her first months in office in 2021.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Bonta currently serves on four standing committees, including the Rules Committee and the Human Services Committee.

Governance and community leadership Experience: Assm. Bonta has served in this assembly seat since 2021, when she was elected with 57% of the vote.
Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Bonta was a nonprofit executive at Oakland Promise, a nonprofit focused on low-income students. Assm. Bonta has been a longtime supporter of making the district more affordable and inclusive.

Other background: Assm. Bonta, a former Alameda School Board member, is from the Bronx.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Bonta (D), 100%; and a write-in candidate, Mindy Pechenuk (R). Bonta and Pechenuk will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Bonta’s campaign has raised $606,533 and is not funded by police or fossil fuel.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 18th Assembly District includes parts of San Francisco and Alameda Counties.

Voter registration: 68.6% Democrat, 5.2% Republican, and 21.6% No Party Preference. This safe district has been held by Democrats since at least 2012. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-18 is 4% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 16.1% Latino, 20.8% Asian, and 26.8% Black.

Recent election results: AD-18 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 75.17 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 81.44 points.

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Assemblymember Bonta to keep AD-18 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Assemblymember Bonta to keep AD-18 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

State Assembly, 20th District

Member of the State Assembly

Democrat

Liz Ortega

Website Endorsements

Courage California endorses Liz Ortega for State Assembly to put AD-20 on the right track for progress.

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

Progressive endorsements: Ortega has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Teachers Association, Planned Parenthood, California Legislative Women’s Caucus, and many labor organizations. In addition, she has received the endorsement of many elected officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Board of Equalization Member Malia Cohen, Assm. Alex Lee, and labor leader Dolores Huerta. She has also recently received the endorsement of her primary competitor, Jennifer Esteen.

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

Top issues: Job creation and economic growth, homelessness and housing, education, public safety, and environmental justice.

Priority bills: Ortega has more than two decades of experience in labor leadership and working with progressive Democratic leaders and community organizations. As statewide political director for AFSCME Local 3299, the University of California’s largest employee union, Ortega ensured the passage of state legislation to preserve and protect essential service jobs at every UC campus. She is the first Latina elected as executive secretary–treasurer of the Alameda Labor Council, and in this role has fought for an equitable minimum wage to support working families. As a member of the Alameda County Workforce Investment Board, she helped job-seekers develop workplace skills and find employment. Ortega serves on the Alameda County Vaccine Equity Task Force, where she has secured paid sick leave and hazard pay for essential public safety, health providers, and frontline workers. During the pandemic, she focused her work on testing and vaccination efforts to ensure the safety of frontline workers.

Governance and community leadership experience: Ortega is a labor organizer and community activist, which she does to form coalitions and develop strategies necessary to build union power. She was elected delegate to the Alameda Democratic Central Committee in 2014, and, in the two years that she served in that role, facilitated meetings and discussions between Democrats and labor leaders on issues facing their members.

Other background: Ortega is a lifelong resident of the East Bay and currently lives in San Leandro. She came to the United States at the age of three, and understands the unique challenges that immigrant families face in attaining the American dream.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Liz Ortega (D), 32%; Shawn Kumagai (D), 24%; Jennifer Esteen (D), 22%; and Joseph Grcar (R) 22%. Liz Ortega and Shawn Kumagai will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ortega’s campaign has raised $611,000 and is not funded by fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or police donors.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Shawn Kumagai

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kumagai’s campaign has raised $432,000 and is funded by a significant number of real estate donors, including California Real Estate PAC, Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association PAC, Shea Homes, and Novin Development Corporation.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 20th Assembly District includes parts of Alameda County.

Voter registration: 57% Democrat, 13% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-20 is 1% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 24% Latino, 32% Asian, and 10% Black

Recent election results: AD-20 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 52 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 50 points.

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Courage California endorses Liz Ortega for State Assembly to put AD-20 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

Courage California endorses Liz Ortega for State Assembly to put AD-20 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

State Assembly, 24th District

Member of the State Assembly

Democrat

Alex Lee

Website Endorsements

Courage California endorses Assemblymember Lee for reelection to keep AD-24 on the right track for progress.

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

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Lee has the endorsement of many progressive groups in the district, such as Courage California, California Working Families Party, Sunrise Silicon Valley, South Bay Progressive Alliance, and East Bay for Everyone.
He has also received the endorsement of a number of elected officials across the state, including U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, State Assemblymember Ash Kalra, State Senator Scott Weiner, and the API and LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucuses.

Top issues: Housing, economic justice, public safety, education, seniors, and corporate accountability.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Lee’s priorities for AD-24 have included 41 bills about criminal-justice reform, elections, and other areas. Of these, 16 have been chaptered into law. They were passed by the Senate and two were vetoed. Four were signed into law. He has sponsored and passed legislation to limit light pollution and prevent the theft of service animals. He has supported extended paid sick leave for essential workers and probation reform for youth, among other things. He scores a 100 out of 100 and an All-Star on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Lee has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Lee currently sits on five committees, including the Committee on Education and the Committee on Budget. He chairs the Select Committee on Social Housing.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Lee served in the AD-25 assembly seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 70% of the vote.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Lee interned at the district office of former Congressman Mike Honda and several California legislators. He is a longtime champion of public safety, education, housing, and seniors.

Other background: Assm. Lee is from San Jose. He became California’s youngest and the first openly bisexual legislator upon his election to this seat.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Alex Lee (D), 39%; Bob Brunton (R), 21%; and Kansen Chu (D), 18%. Lee and Brunton will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Lee’s campaign has raised $943,910 and is not funded by corporate PACs, fossil fuel money, or police money.

Opposing candidate: Republican Bob Brunton

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Brunton’s campaign has not filed any fundraising disclosures with the secretary of state’s office for this race.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 24th Assembly District includes parts of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties.

Voter registration: 50% Democrat, 15% Republican, and 31% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 2012. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-24 is 1% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 16% Latino, 54% Asian, and 4% Black.

Recent election results: AD-24 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 43 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 40 points.

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Courage California endorses Assemblymember Lee for reelection to keep AD-24 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

Courage California endorses Assemblymember Lee for reelection to keep AD-24 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

State Senator, 10th District

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.

Member of the State Senate

Democrat

Aisha Wahab

Website Endorsements

Courage California endorses Aisha Wahab for state Senate to put SD-10 on the right track for progress.

Aisha Wahab’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-10 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Wahab has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, Sierra Club, California Environmental Justice Alliance, California Working Families Party, and NARAL Pro-Choice California. She is also endorsed by Attorney General Rob Bonta, Rep. Ro Khanna, Assm. Alex Lee, Assm. Lorena Gonzalez, Sen. Jim Beall, and many other state and local leaders. Wahab has been endorsed by outgoing Sen. Bob Wieckowski, who has held this seat since 2014.

Electoral history: Wahab has run for office previously, and most recently won her 2018 bid for the at-large Hayward City Council with 27% of the vote. She also ran for the CD-15 seat in 2020, but withdrew her candidacy before the election.

Top issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, small businesses and supporting the local economy, public safety, mental-health care, climate action, universal healthcare, and education.

Priority bills: As a Hayward councilmember and mayor pro tempore, Aisha Wahab has worked to ensure housing for low-income individuals, has worked to combat climate change, and has supported small businesses. Wahab raised the minimum wage to $15, and she passed broad tenant protections, including strengthened protections for seniors and renters with disabilities.

Governance and community leadership experience: Wahab is an organizer, and her advocacy work has been directly inspired by her own experiences with foster care, adoption, and unstable housing in the Bay Area community. Over her career, she has served and held leadership roles on the Alameda County Human Relations Commission, Afghan Coalition, Abode Services, and Tri-City Volunteers. She was also the Alameda County Public Health Commissioner, and joined a White House Roundtable of Afghan-American leaders during the Obama Administration. She is a longtime advocate of community service, and was honored by Senator Bob Wieckowski with the Unity Award in 2017 and named Woman of the Year by Assemblymember Bill Quirk in 2019.

Other background: Wahab is from Fremont and has lived in Hayward for most of her adult life. She is the first Afghan-American woman to be elected to public office in the United States.

The Race

Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Lily Mei (D), 33%; Aisha Wahab (D), 30%; Paul Pimental (R), 22%; Jamal Khan (D), 7%; Raymond Liu (D), 5%; and Jim Canova (D), 3%. Aisha Wahab and Lily Mei will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Wahab’s campaign has raised $800,000 and is not funded by real estate, fossil fuel, or police donors.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Lily Mei

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Mei’s campaign has raised $300,000 and is funded by real estate, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Her donors include Fremont Police Association, Edison International, and California Apartment Association PAC.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 10th State Senate District includes parts of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties.

Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 29% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat. Since the 2021 redistricting process, SD-10 is equally as Democratic as it was during the 2020 general election cycle.

District demographics: 19% Latino, 45% Asian, and 6% Black

Recent election results: SD-10 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 49 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 47 points.

The Position

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

The California State Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Courage California endorses Aisha Wahab for state Senate to put SD-10 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

Courage California endorses Aisha Wahab for state Senate to put SD-10 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

Statewide

Governor

Democrat

Gavin Newsom

Website

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

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

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The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Lt. Governor

Democrat

Eleni Kounalakis

Website Endorsements

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

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

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The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Attorney General

Democrat

Rob Bonta

Website Endorsements

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

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

Secretary of State

Democrat

Dr. Shirley Weber

Website Endorsements

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

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

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

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

The Race

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

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

State Treasurer

Democrat

Fiona Ma

Website Endorsements

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

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

State Controller

Democrat

Malia Cohen

Website Endorsements

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

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

Insurance Commissioner

Democrat

Ricardo Lara

Website Endorsements

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

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Non-Partisan

Tony Thurmond

Website Endorsements

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

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Board of Equalization, District 1

Democrat

Jose Altamirano

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Board of Equalization, District 2

Democrat

Sally Lieber

Website Endorsements

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Board of Equalization, District 3

Democrat

Tony Vazquez

Website Endorsements

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

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.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Board of Equalization, District 4

Democrat

David Dodson

Website Endorsements

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

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Alameda County

Have questions about voting in Alameda County? Read our guide to voting in Alameda County.

Alameda District Attorney

Democrat

Pamela Price

Website Endorsements

Courage California endorses Pamela Price for district attorney to put Alameda County on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Courage California endorses Pamela Price for district attorney to put Alameda County on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

Courage California endorses Pamela Price for district attorney to put Alameda County on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Courage California

Statewide Ballot Measures

Proposition #1

VOTE YES

Vote YES on Prop 1

Vote YES on Proposition 1 to enshrine abortion rights into the California State Constitution.

After the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, the California State Legislature moved quickly to place Proposition 1 on the ballot. Although there is a right to privacy in the California State Constitution that has been historically interpreted to cover the right to choose to have an abortion, that right is not explicitly written into the State Constitution. Proposition 1 would amend the State Constitution to enshrine the right to reproductive freedom, including the right to choose to have an abortion and the right to choose or refuse contraception.

Why voting YES on Proposition 1 matters:

The California state legislature and governorship are currently controlled by Democrats. However, should that change, the reproductive freedom protections currently in place may be threatened. Enshrining the rights to abortion and contraceptives is a critical step Californians can take now to ensure that reproductive freedom remains a right in California, regardless of which party is in power. In order to remove such a protection from the State Constitution, Republicans would need to place another measure on the ballot, whether through the legislature or by citizen referendum, and convince California voters to vote for it.
The Supremacy Clause of the federal Constitution usually gives federal law precedence over state statutes and constitutions. Although Prop. 1 would probably not be enough to stop a national ban, the courts would first have to strike down the constitutional language.

Top funders of Proposition 1:

Yes on Prop 1: The top funders of the ballot measure committee supporting Proposition 1 are Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and M. Quinn Delaney, a wealthy liberal philanthropist and co-founder of the Akonadi Foundation. As of August 1, the Yes on Prop 1 committee has raised $355,112 and spent $79,000 since Jan. 1, 2022. The California Democratic Party has also endorsed Proposition 1.

No on Prop 1: The recently formed No on Proposition 1 committee has raised $134,798 since August 1, and data has yet to be made available on how the committee has spent its funds. In addition, the California Republican Party came out in opposition to the ballot measure. The California Catholic Conference has also come out in opposition to Proposition 1, with the Archbishop of San Francisco stating that “the California bishops have made defeating Prop. 1 our number one priority for this year.”

Misinformation about Proposition 1 includes:

The California Catholic Conference claims that Prop. 1 would “over-ride current law” to allow for “taxpayer-funded” abortion care. Prop. 1 simply makes explicit the current, common interpretation of the California State Constitution that already allows for abortion care and state assistance for those seeking to receive such health care. Also, because these rights already exist in California, the proposition would have no direct fiscal effect, meaning it would not create increased costs to taxpayers.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Vote YES on Proposition 1 to enshrine abortion rights into the California State Constitution.

Why voting YES on Proposition 1 matters:

Top funders of Proposition 1:

Misinformation about Proposition 1 includes:

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By Courage California

Proposition #26

No Position

Vote on Proposition 26

Proposition 26 would legalize in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and specific horse tracks.

California state law currently limits some types of gambling. Prop. 26 would legalize in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and specific privately owned horse tracks. The measure would also require that racetracks pay into a new California Sports Wagering Fund to fund annual state spending on K–12 schools and community colleges, as well as contribute to gambling addiction and mental-health programs, sports betting regulation enforcement costs, and the state’s General Fund.

After funds from the California Sports Wagering Fund are used for annual minimum required education spending, 70 percent of the remaining funds would be required to go toward the state’s General Fund, 15 percent for gambling addiction and mental-health programs and grants, and the last 15 percent for sports betting and gambling enforcement costs. While the actual fiscal impact of Prop. 26 remains uncertain, state analysts estimate that increases in state revenues from Prop. 26 could reach tens of millions of dollars annually, and enforcement costs are expected to be in the low millions of dollars annually.

A YES vote on Proposition 26 means:

If Proposition 26 is approved by voters, tribal casinos could offer in-person sports betting, roulette, and dice games through tribal agreements with the state. Four horse racetracks would be able to offer in-person sports betting; the revenue would pay into a new fund that would go toward public school spending, mental-health programs, sports betting regulation enforcement costs, and the California State General Fund.

A NO vote on Proposition 26 means:

If Proposition 26 fails, no changes would be made to the enforcement of current state gambling and betting laws.

Top funders of Proposition 26:

Yes on Prop 26: The top funders of the ballot measure committee simultaneously supporting Proposition 26 and opposing Proposition 27 are the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, the Pechanga Band of Indians, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. As of August 1, the Yes on 26, No on 27 ballot measure committee has raised $60 million and spent $31 million since Jan. 1, 2022. The coalition supporting the ballot measure includes thirty-one tribes and tribal organizations, such as the California Nations Indian Gaming Association. Other organizations supporting Prop. 26 include the Dolores Huerta Community Foundation, Peace Officers Research Association of California, and the American Indian Chamber of Commerce.

No on Prop 26: The top funders of the ballot measure committee opposing Proposition 26 are the non-tribal cardrooms and cardroom operators at California Commerce Club, Hawaiian Gardens Casino, and Knighted Ventures. As of August 1, the No on 26 committee has raised $17 million and spent $2 million since Jan. 1, 2022. In addition, organizations including the California Republican Party, the Los Angeles County Business Federation, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) California also oppose Prop. 26.

Proposition 26 and Proposition 27:

Prop. 26 focuses on in-person betting, while Prop. 27 focuses on online betting. If both Props. 26 and 27 pass, they will likely both go into effect, as neither ballot measure technically conflicts with the other. The authors of Prop. 27 explicitly wrote into the measure that “Proposition 27 does not conflict with Proposition 26,” but whether the courts will find that both measures can operate simultaneously remains to be seen. If the courts find that they don't conflict, the two measures will both take full effect. If the courts find that the two measures do conflict with each other, whichever measure receives the most votes in the election will be the one that goes into effect. Opponents of each measure may leverage the issue of potential conflict and voter support in court to defeat one of the measures post-election, should they both be approved by voters.

So far, the ballot measure committees involved in the Props. 26 and 27 contests have in total raised $218 million and spent $65 million, making the two measures among the most expensive ballot measure contests on record.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Proposition 26 would legalize in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and specific horse tracks.

A YES vote on Proposition 26 means:

A NO vote on Proposition 26 means:

If Proposition 26 fails, no changes would be made to the enforcement of current state gambling and betting laws.

Top funders of Proposition 26:

Proposition 26 and Proposition 27:

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Proposition #27

VOTE NO

Vote NO on Proposition 27

Vote NO on Proposition 27 to prevent the legalization of online sports betting through large online betting platforms and certified tribes.

California state law currently limits some types of gambling. Proposition 27 would allow Californians to engage in online sports betting through large online betting companies and certified tribes.

Prop. 27 would require those offering online sports betting to pay 10 percent of the bets into a new fund that will go first toward paying for regulatory costs, then toward homelessness and gambling addiction programs, then towards tribes. Analysis from the Legislative Analyst's Office estimates that potential revenues for the state from Prop. 27 will likely not exceed $500 million and some will go towards regulatory costs. Those offering online betting would retain 90 percent of the profits, which are estimated to be in the billions.

Why voting NO on Proposition 27 matters:

A vast majority of the profits generated through Prop. 27 would leave the state of California and benefit large, wealthy corporations. Only a fraction of the bets would be paid to the state. Online gambling remains difficult to regulate, and Prop. 27 is not likely to mitigate the issue of unregulated online sports betting. The measure would make gambling accessible to anyone with a device that connects to the internet, including those who may be more susceptible to developing gambling addictions such as young people.

Top funders of Proposition 27:

Yes on Prop 27: The top funders of the ballot measure committee supporting Proposition 27 are online betting companies FanDuel, DraftKings, and Penn Interactive Ventures, all three of which are based on the east coast of the U.S. Although the Yes on 27 committee has not reported raising funds this year so far, the committee received $100 million in 2021. As of August 1, the Yes on 27 committee has spent $23 million.

No on Prop 27: The top funders of the main ballot measure committee opposing Proposition 27 are the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, and Pala Casino Spa Resort. On August 1, the committee reported having raised $41 million and spent $32 million since Jan. 1, 2022. There is also a ballot measure committee that is simultaneously supporting Prop. 26 and opposing Prop. 27, which is funded primarily by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, the Pechanga Band of Indians, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. As of August 1, the Yes on 26, No on 27 ballot measure committee has raised $60 million and spent $31 million since Jan. 1, 2022.

Both the California Democratic Party and the California Republican Party oppose Prop. 27.

So far, the ballot measure committees involved in the Props. 26 and 27 contests have in total raised $218 million and spent $65 million, making the two measures among the most expensive ballot measure contests on record.

Misinformation about Proposition 27 includes:

The proponents of Prop. 27 claim it will provide “hundreds of millions of dollars every year to fund mental health treatment and solutions to homelessness and addiction.” However, while state analysis of the measure’s potential effects estimates that it may produce up to $500 million in revenue, that revenue is first dedicated to covering regulatory and enforcement costs.

The proponents of Prop. 27 describe their coalition of supporters as primarily including “housing and mental health experts, tribes, and citizens.” Two tribes are currently listed as supporters of Prop. 27: Big Valley Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians and the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians. For comparison purposes, the list of Prop. 26 supporters includes thirty-one tribes and tribal organizations.

Proposition 27 and Proposition 26:

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Vote NO on Proposition 27 to prevent the legalization of online sports betting through large online betting platforms and certified tribes.

Why voting NO on Proposition 27 matters:

Top funders of Proposition 27:

Misinformation about Proposition 27 includes:

Proposition 27 and Proposition 26:

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Proposition #28

VOTE YES

Vote YES on Proposition 28

Vote YES on Proposition 28 to provide additional funding to arts education in public schools.

California’s PK-12 public school students are disproportionately from low-income households, and the availability of quality arts education remains highly variable across school sites and districts. Proposition 28 would require the state to set aside about $1 billion of its existing annual revenue for arts education, particularly for hiring new arts-education staff in school districts with large shares of low-income students.

Why voting YES on Proposition 28 matters:

California has over 6 million public school students, and about 60 percent of them are from low-income households. While students in wealthier areas are more likely to enjoy extensive arts programs, students in lower-income neighborhoods are much less likely to have access to quality arts education. Guaranteeing an ongoing source of funding for arts education in California’s public schools is crucial to helping to close this gap in access to quality arts education.

Since the state’s arts-education requirements are much looser than requirements for other disciplines, such as math or language arts education, all arts education is funded based on the discretion of local school governing boards. Whether a school has arts education programming, whether the district hires arts educators and what those programs look like are ultimately up to who sits on school boards, which currently face intense scrutiny and attention from Republican and other conservative groups.

Top funders of Proposition 28:

Yes on Prop 28: The top funders of the ballot measure committee supporting Proposition 28 are former Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent Austin Beutner, Fender Musical Instruments, and the California Teachers Association. As of August 1, the Yes on 28 committee has raised $7 million and spent $8 million since Jan. 1, 2022, although the committee also started the year with additional funds raised during the previous reporting period. Numerous notable artists have also come out in support of the measure, including Al Yankovich, Christina Aguilera, Dr. Dre, Jason Momoa, will.i.am, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

No on Prop 28: There are not funders or endorsements in opposition of Proposition 28.

Misinformation about Proposition 28 includes:

Proposition 28 does not require that a new tax be levied. Instead, it directs the state to set aside a portion of existing annual revenue to fund arts education in public schools.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Vote YES on Proposition 28 to provide additional funding to arts education in public schools.

Why voting YES on Proposition 28 matters:

Top funders of Proposition 28:

Misinformation about Proposition 28 includes:

Proposition 28 does not require that a new tax be levied. Instead, it directs the state to set aside a portion of existing annual revenue to fund arts education in public schools.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Proposition #29

VOTE YES

Vote YES on Proposition 29

Vote YES on Proposition 29 would help ensure that patients receive safe treatment in dialysis clinics under the care of a trained clinician.

California’s dialysis treatment industry makes billions in revenue each year, yet a lack of onsite staffing requirements leaves patients vulnerable to complications during the treatment process. Proposition 29 would require each dialysis clinic to have at least one physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner onsite at the clinic during the hours that patients are treated. This proposition has appeared on the ballot twice before and was rejected by voters both times after dialysis clinics poured millions of dollars into defeating the measures.

A YES vote on Proposition 29 means:

Dialysis clinics would be required to have a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner onsite during hours of treatment.

A NO vote on Proposition 29 means:

No changes would be made to current regulations regarding dialysis clinic staffing.

More information:

Proposition 29 requires each dialysis clinic to have, at its expense, at least one physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant onsite during all the hours that patients receive treatments at that clinic.
Prop. 29 would require clinics to secure state approval before closing or reducing services, ensuring that patients do not abruptly lose access to treatment. The measure would also require that a clinic disclose information about physicians who own at least 5% of the clinic. There are about 650 dialysis clinics in California, and a vast majority of them are owned or operated by DaVita Inc. and Fresenius Medical Care, who enjoy about $3.5 billion annually in revenue from them. Prop. 29 would increase transparency and accountability in an industry that is dominated by these two large, wealthy corporations.

Top funders of Proposition 29:

Yes on Prop 29: The measure was placed on the ballot by Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare West. As of August 1, the primary ballot measure committee supporting Proposition 29, also sponsored by SEIU-UHW, has raised $7 million and has spent $7 million since Jan. 1, 2022. In addition, a separate SEIU-UHW committee supporting Prop. 29 has raised and spent $7 million since Jan. 1, 2022. Notable supporters of Proposition 29 include the California Democratic Party and the California Labor Federation.

No on Prop. 29: The top funders of the ballot measure committee opposing Proposition 29 are DaVita, Fresenius Medical Care, and U.S. Renal Care. As of August 1, the No on 29 committee has raised $36 million and spent $3 million since Jan. 1, 2022. Notable opposition to Proposition 29 includes the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Republican Party.

Misinformation about Proposition 29 includes:

The California Republican Party claims that Prop. 29 is focused on “unionizing kidney dialysis clinics.” The ballot measure language does not mention unionization. Opponents of Prop. 29 claim it will negatively affect patients’ access to care. However, the measure requires that clinics receive state approval before closing or reducing services, which would prevent clinics from abruptly shuttering or otherwise slashing treatment options.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Vote YES on Proposition 29 would help ensure that patients receive safe treatment in dialysis clinics under the care of a trained clinician.

A YES vote on Proposition 29 means:

Dialysis clinics would be required to have a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner onsite during hours of treatment.

A NO vote on Proposition 29 means:

No changes would be made to current regulations regarding dialysis clinic staffing.

More information:

Top funders of Proposition 29:

Misinformation about Proposition 29 includes:

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Proposition #30

VOTE YES

Vote YES on Prop 30

Vote YES on Proposition 30 to fund wildfire prevention, sustain wildfire-fighting resources, and reduce air pollution by expanding access to electric vehicles.

Californians face health-threatening pollution and deadly wildfires every day. Piecemeal environmental reforms are important for mitigating some of climate change’s devastating effects, but our state must make bold investments if we’re going to make significant progress in our fight against climate change. Proposition 30 would tax the wealthiest Californians to fund wildfire prevention and help slash emissions statewide by expanding electric-vehicle access for all Californians, especially those living in heavily polluted and low-income communities.

Why voting YES on Proposition 30 matters:

The state’s Air Resources Board has planned and set targets for 100 percent of new cars sold in California to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2035. However, access to electric vehicles remains out of reach for many low- and middle-income Californians. The current average electric-vehicle owner in California is a white homeowner who makes $190,000 a year. Funding electric-vehicle infrastructure and providing rebates, grants, and financial assistance to make electric vehicles affordable is one major way that California can advance its statewide commitment to slashing emissions. At least half of the funds generated by Prop. 30 must be spent on projects that benefit heavily polluted and/or low-income communities.

Proposition 30 would impose a 1.75% personal income tax increase on the wealthiest Californians—those who make more than $2 million per year—to fund wildfire prevention, wildfire fighting, and electric-vehicle access programs. Forty-five percent of the funding from Prop. 30 would go toward helping families, businesses, and local governments pay for zero-emissions vehicles; 35 percent would go toward installing and operating zero-emissions vehicle charging stations; and 20 percent would go toward wildfire prevention and fighting efforts, with the state being required to prioritize spending to hire, train, and retain firefighters. Per state analysts, Prop. 30 is estimated to increase state funding for electric-vehicle access and infrastructure by $2.8 billion to $4 billion annually, and the measure is also estimated to increase state funding for wildfire prevention and fighting by $700 million to $1 billion annually.

As Californians are already experiencing, extreme wildfires are expected to increase by 50% worldwide by the end of the century, according to the United Nations, and the U.N. also warns that governments must do much more to address the issue. State analysts stated in a recent report earlier this year that additional wildfire funds are “merited” because of “the worsening pattern of large and severe wildfires in recent years.”

Top funders of Proposition 30:

The top funders of the main ballot measure committee supporting Proposition 30 are the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Lyft, and Zinc Collective. As of August 1, the Yes on 30 Clean Air California committee has raised $16 million and spent $14 million since Jan. 1, 2022. Other major supporters include the California Democratic Party, California Environmental Voters, the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, Natural Resources Defense Council, and IE United.

The recently formed No on 30 campaign has raised $9 million since August 1, 2022, mostly from billionaires Catherine Dean, Mark Heising, and Michael Mortiz. Other notable opposition to Proposition 30 includes the California Chamber of Commerce, Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Teachers Association, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Misinformation about Proposition 30 includes:

The California Chamber of Commerce claims that Proposition 30 is unnecessary because California has the “highest personal income tax rate in the country at 13.3%.” However, only Californians making over $1 million a year are taxed at that rate, and the average household income in 2020 dollars in California is $78,672.

The California Teachers Association opposes Proposition 30 because funds raised from the measure would be exempt from a requirement that half of any new state revenues go to public education. Prop. 30 does not affect the current school-funding formula.

The Yes on 30 committee does receive major funding from Lyft. The state requires ride-sharing companies to use more zero-emissions vehicles to provide ride-sharing services, so increasing the number of electric vehicles driven by Californians generally could indirectly help companies like Lyft reach their zero-emissions vehicle goals as mandated by the state. However, the ballot measure itself was written by environmental organizations, including California Environmental Voters, and the ballot measure language makes no mention of rideshare companies.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Vote YES on Proposition 30 to fund wildfire prevention, sustain wildfire-fighting resources, and reduce air pollution by expanding access to electric vehicles.

Why voting YES on Proposition 30 matters:

Top funders of Proposition 30:

Misinformation about Proposition 30 includes:

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By Courage California

Proposition #31

VOTE YES

Vote YES on Proposition 31

Vote YES on Proposition 31 to uphold the current state law banning the sale and marketing of flavored tobacco products.

In 2020, California’s state legislators passed a bipartisan bill to end the sale and marketing of candy-flavored tobacco products. The law is intended to help curb youth tobacco use. Now tobacco corporations are spending millions to stop the law from going into effect. Prop. 31 would uphold the law, ensure that it goes into effect, and penalize candy-flavored tobacco product sales in California with a $250 fine against stores per violation.

Why voting YES on Proposition 31 matters:

Candy-flavored tobacco products are especially appealing to children and young adults. A 2021 CDC survey found that over 70% of middle- and high-school students were exposed to tobacco ads, and 80% who use tobacco use flavored tobacco. According to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, youth who use flavorings such as fruit or candy flavoring vape more compared to those who use “traditional” flavors of tobacco. Passing Prop. 31 and upholding the ban on the sale of candy-flavored tobacco products is critical for reducing youth tobacco use.

The California State Legislature passed SB 793 in 2020 to end the sale and marketing of candy-flavored tobacco products in the state. By placing Prop. 31 on the ballot, the tobacco industry has effectively been able to use its wealth and resources to keep SB 793 from taking effect for two years. Now tobacco companies like Philip Morris are spending millions against the measure to further delay and ultimately overturn the ban.

Top funders of Proposition 31:

The top funders of the ballot measure committee supporting Proposition 31 are Michael Bloomberg, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and the Hospitals, and the California Teachers Association Issues PAC. As of August 1, the Yes on 31 committee has raised $3 million and spent $2 million since Jan. 1, 2022. Other supporters include the American Lung Association and Governor Gavin Newsom.

The top funders of the ballot measure committee opposition Proposition 31 are tobacco companies R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Philip Morris USA, and ITG Brands. As of August 1, the No on 31 committee has raised $15 million and spent $743,566 since Jan. 1, 2022. The California Republican Party is also opposed to Prop. 31.

Misinformation about Proposition 31 includes:

Tobacco companies claim that Prop. 31 is discriminatory because it criminalizes the sale of menthol cigarettes “preferred” by people of color. However, tobacco companies have been systematically targeting Black youth for decades with candy-flavored tobacco products. The share of Black Americans who smoke using minty menthols has dramatically increased since the 1950s because of tobacco corporations’ predatory marketing in Black communities.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Vote YES on Proposition 31 to uphold the current state law banning the sale and marketing of flavored tobacco products.

Why voting YES on Proposition 31 matters:

Top funders of Proposition 31:

Misinformation about Proposition 31 includes:

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By Courage California

Oakland Ballot Measures

Depending on where you live, you may have the following city measures on your ballot.

City Proposition W

VOTE YES

Vote YES on Measure W to increase transparency in local elections and promote small-donor participation.

The vast majority of Oakland residents don’t contribute to political campaigns, which means that a small affluent minority are funding and influencing local elections. To promote participation in elections by all residents and to ensure that candidates do not have to rely on big donors, Measure W would enact a new system of public financing for Oakland elections. Oakland voters would receive a set of four $25 vouchers that can be donated to local campaigns of their choosing. The candidates then redeem those vouchers for public campaign funds. Measure W would also require increased disclosure of local election spending, double the length of the ban on lobbying by former city officials from one year to two years, and limit campaign contributions for candidates who use public funds.

Measure W would not levy a new tax. Instead, the funds for programs created through Measure W would come from the city’s General Fund.

Why voting YES on Measure W matters:

Oakland residents deserve more transparent elections. Measure W would require the disclosure of top funders for local campaign advertisements for both candidates and ballot measures.
Campaigns are expensive. Hiring staff, gaining access to voter data, printing mailers, launching digital advertisements, and other campaign operations require funds. The vast majority of Americans do not make political contributions, including in Oakland, and those who do are often higher-income and older. More affluent voters who are able to contribute to campaigns gain additional access to candidates–which can look like attendance at private events or heightened access to direct communication with them–since these donors finance the campaigns’ daily operations. In short, this creates an ecosystem in which campaigns are encouraged to engage with affluent voters who are likely to fund their campaigns, helping them get elected and continuing to keep them in office. The voucher program enacted through Measure W would incentivize campaigns to engage with all voters, not just a select few, since through the program, all voters are more likely to become small donors to the candidates’ campaigns.
By doubling the length of the ban on lobbying by former Oakland city officials from one to two years, Measure W helps to close the “revolving door” of top officials becoming lobbyists.

Top funders of Measure W:

The ballot measure committee supporting Measure W is primarily funded by the ACLU of Northern California Issues Committee and philanthropic organization Voqal, and the measure is sponsored by California Common Cause, the ACLU of Northern California, Oakland Rising Action, Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Asian Law Caucus, Bay Rising Action, League of Women Voters of Oakland, and MapLight.
No ballot measure committee has been formed yet in opposition to Measure W.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Vote YES on Measure W to increase transparency in local elections and promote small-donor participation.

Why voting YES on Measure W matters:

Top funders of Measure W:

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By Courage California

City of Oakland

Depending on where you live, you may have the below city races on your ballot.

Oakland Mayor

No Recommendation

Based on our analysis, the ten candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. Of the five candidates reviewed here, we recommend that you select the one who best aligns to your values in this race.

Endorsements: Councilmember Sheng Thao is endorsed by many local union organizations, California Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood, and Everytown for Gun Safety. She has also received the endorsement of Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, and Oakland Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan. Gregory Hodge is endorsed by California Working Families Party and some local leaders, including State Senator Josh Becker, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and affordable housing advocate Patricia Wells. Allyssa Victory is endorsed by California Working Families Party, Communications Workers of America Local 9415, San Leandro Vice Mayor Victor Aguilar, Run for Something, and Our Revolution East Bay. Loren Taylor is endorsed by many local leaders, including Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett, and Oakland NAACP Vice President Cynthia Adams. Treva Reid has been endorsed by Assemblymember Mia Bonta and some labor groups.

Key initiatives: Since winning her seat on the council in 2018, Councilmember Thao has been instrumental in several progressive initiatives. She brokered a collaboration between labor and business to establish an increase in corporate taxation to generate revenue to address affordable housing and homelessness. She worked to pass a paid sick-leave guarantee for city employees, and created layoff protections during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also successfully championed wildfire-mitigation measures, increasing the budget for infrastructure updates, and supporting the funding of violence-prevention programming and police academies.

Hodge is a longtime community advocate, particularly on issues related to young people in the Black community. He serves in a leadership role for the Brotherhood of Elders Network, which offers intergenerational mentoring to Black men, and has been actively involved with Executive Alliance for Boys and Young Men of Color, Safe Passages, Urban Strategies Council, COVID-19 Racial Disparities Task Force, and Equal Voice for America’s Families Campaign during his 40 years in the East Bay.

Victory is a criminal-justice attorney with the ACLU of Northern California and serves as legal counsel for union and labor organizations. She has litigation experience in wage theft, housing rights, employment discrimination, and criminal-justice law, and has used her expertise to advise the cities of San Francisco and Oakland on public banking. She has been a strong supporter of the diversification of the legal field, and has provided bar-exam tutoring to nontraditional law students.

As a member of the Oakland City Council, Taylor has worked on initiatives related to affordable-housing development, a local entrepreneurship incubator, funding for public works projects, and COVID-19 relief programs. He currently serves on the board of directors for two local organizations, West Oakland Health Council and 100 Black Men of the Bay Area.

Reid has a long history of public work, which includes her time spent as a senior aide to Sen. Nancy Skinner when she was a member of the State Assembly. On the city council, Reid has activated mass vaccination sites during the COVID-19 pandemic and allocated budget funding for workforce development and violence-prevention programs.

Governance and community leadership experience: Councilmember Thao has served on the Oakland City Council since 2018, when she won her seat with over 54% of the vote.

Prior to launching her own political career, Councilmember Thao served as chief of staff to Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan. She is the daughter of refugees, and her family received social services and benefitted from public housing while she was growing up. Her young adulthood was plagued by abuse and homelessness as she navigated single parenthood, and through welfare and the use of Head Start for her son, she was able to support her family while putting herself through college.

Hodge ran for Oakland City Council in 2008 but did not win.

In addition to his local advocacy work, Hodge has also served Oaklanders through his law and consulting practice, which has worked with clients across a range of civic issues. He is a racial-equity facilitator, an artist, and a healing practitioner. During his career, he has worked with the Workforce Investment Board, Rockwood Leadership Institute, and California Funders for Boys and Men of Color.

Victory has not run for public office before.

Victory has a long history of engagement in Oakland that dates back to her childhood, including food distribution, organizing with Oakland’s Youth Together, and teaching STEM with Girls, Inc. When she was a child, her working-class family experienced housing insecurity, and this experience shaped her interest in community engagement and supporting unions through her legal work. As a law student, she worked with the Oakland City Attorney’s Office and the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California. She has also served as the head of service programs for the Afrikan Black Coalition and as an instructor with the Prison University Project.

Taylor ran for Oakland City Council’s 6th district seat in 2018 and won the race with more than 64% of the vote.

Taylor founded Custom Taylor Solutions to provide consulting to organizations that are working to improve the experiences of disadvantaged communities, focusing particularly on issues related to poverty and economic inequality.

Reid ran for Oakland City Council’s 7th district seat in 2020 and won the race with over 60% of the vote.

Reid has overcome significant challenges in her life, including violence, abuse, poverty, and housing instability, and her personal understanding of social inequity and resource limitations informs her approach to public policy. Reid has also served on the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, served as a state policy advisor for Black Women Organized for Political Action, and is an alumna of Emerge California.

Other background: Councilmember Thao was raised in Stockton and has lived in the East Bay area since attending college at UC-Berkeley. Gregory Hodge has lived in Oakland for 40 years. Allyssa Victory is a lifelong resident of Oakland and has lived in every district of the city. Loren Taylor is a lifelong resident of Oakland. Treva Reid lives in Oakland.

The Race

Primary election results: This race did not have a June primary election. There are ten candidates vying for this seat in November, including Councilmember Sheng Thao, Gregory Hodge, Allyssa Victory, Loren Taylor, and Treva Reid.

Candidate: Sheng Thao
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Thao’s campaign has raised $169,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Candidate: Gregory Hodge
Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hodge’s campaign has raised $81,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Candidate: Allyssa Victory
Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Victory’s campaign has raised $5,000 and is funded entirely by individual donors.

Candidate: Loren Taylor
Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Taylor’s campaign has raised $138,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Candidate: Treva Reid
Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Reid’s campaign has raised $79,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

The District

City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s mayor and city council oversee the needs of 440,000 people and manage an estimated operating budget of $1.7 billion annually.

District demographics: As of the 2020 Census, Oakland had a demographic breakdown of 27% Latino, 16% Asian, and 23% Black.

Recent election results: Alameda County, which includes the city of Oakland, voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 62 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 62 points.

The Position

Oakland is governed by a city council of eight elected representatives. 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. These bodies are often augmented by two additional seats held by a mayor and a vice mayor. Oakland uses the mayor-council government structure, so a mayor is elected at large and acts as chair of the city council and the city’s chief executive officer. The Oakland mayor does not hold any special legislative power. In Oakland, the mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two terms.

Based on our analysis, the ten candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. Of the five candidates reviewed here, we recommend that you select the one who best aligns to your values in this race.

The Race

The District

The Position

City District Races

Depending on where you live, you may have the below city district races on your ballot.

City of Oakland, District 2

Oakland City Council, District 2

Non-Partisan

Nikki Fortunato Bas

Website Endorsements

Reelect Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas to keep Oakland on the right track for progress.

Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas’s experience and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of Oakland City Council District 2 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Councilmember Bas has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including ACCE Action, APEN Action, East Bay Democratic Socialists of America, Oakland Tenants Union, and many labor organizations. She has also received the endorsement of many leaders, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Alex Lee, State Board of Equalization Member Malia Cohen, and Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin.

Electoral history: Councilmember Bas ran for this seat in 2018 and won with 54% of the vote.

Top issues: Affordable housing and homelessness, public safety and violence prevention, workforce development, and local business growth.

Governance and community leadership experience: Councilmember Bas is a community organizer and public official, which she does to advocate for policies that will bring progressive change to the Oakland community. During her first term on the city council, Councilmember Bas has supported several housing initiatives, including the establishment of robust eviction protections, the opening of a tiny-home program for unhoused residents, and the creation of a fund to support first-time homeownership. She has worked to improve the function of emergency personnel by launching a nonviolent crisis-response program, and improving violence-prevention programs in the community. She has also supported funding for youth-development programs, a progressive taxation ballot measure, and infrastructure improvements. Prior to her elected service, Councilmember Bas advocated for change through her nonprofit leadership roles with Partnership for Working Families and East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy. She is a longtime supporter of economic improvements, including minimum-wage increases, paid sick leave, and creating local jobs through redevelopment.

Other background: Councilmember Bas has been a resident of Oakland’s 2nd City Council District for over 20 years.

The Race

Primary election results: There was no primary race for this election. Two candidates have qualified for the November ballot, including Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas and Harold Lowe.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Bas’s campaign has raised $12,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Harold Lowe

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Lowe’s campaign has not filed campaign-finance disclosures with the city as of September 2022.

The District

City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s City Council District 2 includes Eastlake, Grand Lake, San Antonio, and Chinatown.

Governance Structure: Oakland City Council oversees the needs of 440,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $3.85 billion annually. Oakland is managed by a mayor-council structured government.

The Position

Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a city council, which in Oakland includes 7 districted and 1 at-large seat. 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 council members in Oakland serve 4-year terms and are not subject to term limits.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas to keep Oakland on the right track for progress.

The Race

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Last updated: 2023-04-05

Reelect Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas to keep Oakland on the right track for progress.

The Race

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Last updated: 2023-04-05

City of Oakland, District 4

Oakland City Council, District 4

No Recommendation

Based on our analysis, the two candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.

Progressive endorsements: Janani Ramachandran has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Our Revolution East Bay, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Oakland Tenants Union, and Latino Task Force. She has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Rep. Ro Khanna, Assemblymember Alex Lee, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, and Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin. Nenna Joiner has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including LPAC. She has also received the endorsement of many leaders, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Mia Bonta, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.

Electoral history: Ramachandran ran for the 18th Assembly District seat in a 2021 special election, but lost to Assm. Mia Bonta by 14 points. Joiner has not run for office before.

Governance and community leadership experience: Ramachandran is a social-justice attorney, which she does to empower her community to work toward accountable and equitable justice. As the child of working-class parents, she cites her family’s access to public union jobs as laying the foundation for her success. Ramachandran began her social-justice work as a teenager, when she founded a nonprofit to provide library resources to schools that did not have literacy funding. After college, she worked with survivors of domestic violence, and individuals experiencing gaps in maternity care. This work inspired her pursuit of a legal degree, and she has used her expertise to pursue a more equitable playing field for her clients. She has most recently practiced in labor law, supporting the rights of immigrants in cases pertaining to wage theft. Her local involvement has included serving as commissioner of the City of Oakland Public Ethics Commission, working as a member of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, working with Family Violence Appellate Project, and working as a member of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee.

Joiner is a local business owner, which she says has given her a strong sense of the interests of the community on issues of safety, public works, and infrastructure. She has grown frustrated with the slow response of the city’s service model and has built a platform based on actionable and measurable change. As a member of the city council, Joiner would seek to establish policy for homelessness and housing, budget accountability, urban renewal through beautification and maintenance, public safety and violence prevention, and economic development. She has been involved with a variety of local groups, including serving as an Alameda County Democratic Central Committee member, a DNC Delegate for Hillary Clinton, a Measure Y Prevention Board member, and a Landmarks Preservation Board member.

Other background: Ramachandran is a lifelong resident of the East Bay. Joiner has lived in Oakland for nearly 30 years.

The Race

Primary election results: There was no primary race for this election. Two candidates have qualified for the November ballot: Janini Ramachandran and Nenna Joiner.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ramachandran’s campaign has raised $75,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Joiner’s campaign has not filed campaign-finance disclosures with the city as of September 2022.

The District

City: Oakland is Alameda County’s most populous city. Oakland’s City Council District 4 includes Oakland Hills, Panoramic Hill, Glen Highlands, Dimond, Oakmore, Lincoln Highlands, Glenview, Laurel, Redwood Heights, Montclair, Crestmont, and Allendale.

Governance structure: The Oakland City Council oversees the needs of 440,000 people and manages an estimated operating budget of $3.85 billion annually. Oakland is managed by a mayor-council structured government.

The Position

Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a city council; in Oakland, this includes seven districted and one at-large seat. 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 council members in Oakland serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits.

Based on our analysis, the two candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.

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Pamela Price

Courage California endorses Pamela Price for district attorney to put Alameda County on the right track for progress.

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Courage California endorses Pamela Price for district attorney to put Alameda County on the right track for progress.

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Selected Endorsements

Pamela Price

Courage California endorses Pamela Price for district attorney to put Alameda County on the right track for progress.

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Selected Endorsements

Alameda County

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

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

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

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Reelect Congressional Representative Mark DeSaulnier to keep CD-10 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Mark DeSaulnier to keep CD-10 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Mark DeSaulnier to keep CD-10 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Barbara Lee to keep CD-12 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Barbara Lee to keep CD-12 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Barbara Lee to keep CD-12 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Eric Swalwell to keep CD-14 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Eric Swalwell to keep CD-14 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Eric Swalwell to keep CD-14 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Ro Khanna to keep CD-17 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Ro Khanna to keep CD-17 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Congressional Representative Ro Khanna to keep CD-17 on the right track for progress.

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Reelect Assemblymember Wicks to keep AD-14 on the right track for progress.

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