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Rick Chavez Zbur
Courage California endorses Rick Chavez Zbur for State Assembly to put AD-51 on the right track for progress.
Rick Chavez Zbur’s record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom.
Electoral history: Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.
Top issues: Economic reform, reproductive justice, workers’ rights, civil rights, gun safety, homelessness and housing, and climate protections.
Priority bills: As a nonprofit and community leader, Chavez Zbur has been a strong supporter of social-service access for underserved populations and economic revitalization. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur has been a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles.
Governance and community leadership experience: Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to this work. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader. He also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.
Other background: Rick Chavez Zbur is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. Chavez Zbur has a long history of progressive community engagement, including serving on the boards of Lambda Legal Defense and Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, and working to elect former President Bill Clinton and former Senator Barbara Boxer.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rick Chavez Zbur (D), 62%; and Louis Abramson (D), 38%. Rick Chavez Zbur and Louis Abramson will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $1.2 million and is not funded by police interests. He has received problematic donations from Edison International, California Real Estate PAC, and AT&T.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Louis Abramson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Abramson’s campaign has raised $220,000 and is funded almost entirely by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.
Voter registration: 58% Democrat, 12% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black
Recent election results: AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 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.
Rick Chavez Zbur
Courage California endorses Rick Chavez Zbur for State Assembly to put AD-51 on the right track for progress.
Rick Chavez Zbur’s record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom.
Electoral history: Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.
Top issues: Economic reform, reproductive justice, workers’ rights, civil rights, gun safety, homelessness and housing, and climate protections.
Priority bills: As a nonprofit and community leader, Chavez Zbur has been a strong supporter of social-service access for underserved populations and economic revitalization. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur has been a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles.
Governance and community leadership experience: Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to this work. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader. He also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.
Other background: Rick Chavez Zbur is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. Chavez Zbur has a long history of progressive community engagement, including serving on the boards of Lambda Legal Defense and Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, and working to elect former President Bill Clinton and former Senator Barbara Boxer.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rick Chavez Zbur (D), 62%; and Louis Abramson (D), 38%. Rick Chavez Zbur and Louis Abramson will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $1.2 million and is not funded by police interests. He has received problematic donations from Edison International, California Real Estate PAC, and AT&T.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Louis Abramson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Abramson’s campaign has raised $220,000 and is funded almost entirely by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.
Voter registration: 58% Democrat, 12% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black
Recent election results: AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 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.
Rick Chavez Zbur
Courage California endorses Rick Chavez Zbur for State Assembly to put AD-51 on the right track for progress.
Rick Chavez Zbur’s record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom.
Electoral history: Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.
Top issues: Economic reform, reproductive justice, workers’ rights, civil rights, gun safety, homelessness and housing, and climate protections.
Priority bills: As a nonprofit and community leader, Chavez Zbur has been a strong supporter of social-service access for underserved populations and economic revitalization. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur has been a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles.
Governance and community leadership experience: Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to this work. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader. He also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.
Other background: Rick Chavez Zbur is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. Chavez Zbur has a long history of progressive community engagement, including serving on the boards of Lambda Legal Defense and Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, and working to elect former President Bill Clinton and former Senator Barbara Boxer.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rick Chavez Zbur (D), 62%; and Louis Abramson (D), 38%. Rick Chavez Zbur and Louis Abramson will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $1.2 million and is not funded by police interests. He has received problematic donations from Edison International, California Real Estate PAC, and AT&T.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Louis Abramson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Abramson’s campaign has raised $220,000 and is funded almost entirely by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.
Voter registration: 58% Democrat, 12% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black
Recent election results: AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 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.
Rick Chavez Zbur
Courage California endorses Rick Chavez Zbur for State Assembly to put AD-51 on the right track for progress.
Rick Chavez Zbur’s record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom.
Electoral history: Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.
Top issues: Economic reform, reproductive justice, workers’ rights, civil rights, gun safety, homelessness and housing, and climate protections.
Priority bills: As a nonprofit and community leader, Chavez Zbur has been a strong supporter of social-service access for underserved populations and economic revitalization. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur has been a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles.
Governance and community leadership experience: Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to this work. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader. He also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.
Other background: Rick Chavez Zbur is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. Chavez Zbur has a long history of progressive community engagement, including serving on the boards of Lambda Legal Defense and Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, and working to elect former President Bill Clinton and former Senator Barbara Boxer.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Rick Chavez Zbur (D), 62%; and Louis Abramson (D), 38%. Rick Chavez Zbur and Louis Abramson will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $1.2 million and is not funded by police interests. He has received problematic donations from Edison International, California Real Estate PAC, and AT&T.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Louis Abramson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Abramson’s campaign has raised $220,000 and is funded almost entirely by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.
Voter registration: 58% Democrat, 12% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black
Recent election results: AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
Alex Padilla
Reelect US Senator Alex Padilla to keep California on the right track for progress.
Sen. Alex Padilla’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of California and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.
Progressive endorsements: Sen. Padilla has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Equality California, NARAL Pro-Choice California, Giffords PAC, and many labor unions. He is also endorsed by a broad coalition of federal and local elected officials, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Karen Bass, Rep. Katie Porter, Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and many California mayors.
Top issues: Voter protections, economic growth, police reform, immigration, environmental protections, education, consumer and worker protections, homelessness and housing, and water conservation.
Priority bills: This year, Sen. Padilla’s priorities for California have included 50 bills about environmental and water protections, the economy, immigration, and child welfare. Of these, nearly all are currently in committee or referred to committee. In his brief time in the Senate, Sen. Padilla has signed on as a sponsor of the Green New Deal and Medicare for All, and has been a strong supporter of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. He has also secured federal funding for housing, infrastructure, education, and employment projects in Southern California, and over $11 million for statewide health-care facilities and mental-health services.
Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Padilla currently serves on five committees, including Judiciary, Budget, and Environment and Public Works. He serves as chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety.
Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Padilla was appointed to the Senate by Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2021, which will make this his first general-election campaign for the seat. He was previously elected to serve as the California’s secretary of state in 2014, winning his 2018 reelection bid over Republican Mark Meuser by 29 points.
Prior to his appointment, Sen. Padilla served Californians in several elected roles, including two terms each on the Los Angeles City Council, in the state Senate, and as the California secretary of state. Sen. Padilla is a longtime supporter of environmental justice, and credits his parents with introducing him to activism around this issue in the Los Angeles community where he was raised. Sen. Padilla has also been a longtime supporter of voting rights and democratic protections, which was the cornerstone of his work as secretary of state. In the Senate, he co-authored the Freedom to Vote Act, and was a strong supporter of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Other background: Sen. Padilla, a longtime public official, is from the San Fernando Valley. He grew up in a tough and underserved neighborhood of Los Angeles, and his public service was inspired by his community and his parents, who engaged him in the organizing process at a young age.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results to fill the last few months of the current term had ten candidates, and the results included incumbent Sen. Alex Padilla (D), 55%; Mark Meuser (R), 22%; James Bradley (R), 7%; and Jon Elist (R), 6%.
The June 2022 results to seat the next full six-year term had 27 candidates, and the results included Sen. Alex Padilla (D), 54%; Mark Meuser (R), 15%; Cordie Williams (R), 7%; Jon Elist (R), 4%; Chuck Smith (R), 4%; James Bradley (R), 3%; and Douglas Howard Pierce (D), 2%.
Sen. Alex Padilla and Mark Meuser will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election in both the current-term and next-term races.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Padilla’s campaign has raised $10.6 million and is not funded by police interests. His problematic donors include Mortgage Bankers Association PAC, Google LLC, FedEx Corporation PAC, Edison International PAC, and Comcast Corporation. He has also received donations from defense contractors, including Employees of Northrop Grumman Corporation PAC and Lockheed Martin Employees’ PAC.
Opposing candidate: Republican Mark Meuser
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Meuser’s campaign has raised $495,000 and is funded almost entirely by individual donors.
The District
State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents.
Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. Democrats have held the lieutenant governor seat since 2011.
District demographics: 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black
Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.
The Position
Members of the Senate represent and advocate for the needs of their state constituency and share legislative responsibility with the House of Representatives. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues of national importance. Senators have the exclusive responsibility of providing advice and consent to the executive branch on treaties, and on the nomination and approval of cabinet secretaries, ambassadors, and federal judges. The Senate also has the sole authority to bring and try an impeachment of a high official, up to and including removal from office with a two-thirds majority vote.
Each state, regardless of population, is represented by two senators. Senate elections are statewide, and senators are elected to serve a six-year term. There is no term limit for this position.
