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Robert Rivas
Reelect Assemblymember Robert Rivas to keep AD-29 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Rivas’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-29 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Rivas has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including AFSCME California, California Environmental Voters, and California Labor Federation. He has also received endorsements from problematic stakeholders, including a police group.
Top issues: Environment, income tax, and reproductive rights.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Rivas’s priorities for AD-29 have included 66 bills about the environment, income tax, and reproductive rights. Of these, 24 have successfully been passed by the Assembly. He has sponsored and passed legislation to limit small off-road engines, provide income tax credits for low-income housing, and protect abortion rights. He scores a Lifetime CS of 94 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Rivas has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.
Assm. Rivas secured the enactment of the first-in-the-nation COVID-19 Farmworker Relief Package, which included access to PPE and testing, temporary housing, and access to health care and the courts. He also championed the Farmworker Housing Act, which streamlines the process to build quality housing for farmworkers and their families. Rivas also won passage of the $89 million Golden State Teacher Grant Program, which provides $20,000 scholarships to teachers who commit to teach high-need subjects—like STEM, special education, and bilingual education—in schools that face a shortage of qualified teachers.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Rivas currently sits on five committees, and chairs the Agriculture Committee.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Rivas has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 68% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 40 points.
Earlier this year, Assm. Rivas announced he had the votes to become the next Speaker of the Assembly. Current Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon terms out of the legislature in 2024, and it is unclear who will have the votes to be Speaker after newly elected Assemblymembers are seated in December 2022.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Rivas served on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. He has been a longtime supporter of the environment.
Other background: Assm. Rivas lives in Hollister.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Robert Rivas (D), 69%; and Gregory Swett (R), 31%. Rivas and Swett will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Rivas’s campaign has raised $1.4 million and is funded by real estate, corporate, fossil fuel, and police money.
Opposing candidate: Republican Gregory Swett
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Swett’s campaign has raised $2000 and is funded by three individuals, including himself.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 29th Assembly District includes parts of Monterey, Santa Clara, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties.
Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 1998. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-29 is 2% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 55% Latino, 6% Asian, and 2% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-29 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 38 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 31 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.Robert Rivas
Reelect Assemblymember Robert Rivas to keep AD-29 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Rivas’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-29 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Rivas has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including AFSCME California, California Environmental Voters, and California Labor Federation. He has also received endorsements from problematic stakeholders, including a police group.
Top issues: Environment, income tax, and reproductive rights.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Rivas’s priorities for AD-29 have included 66 bills about the environment, income tax, and reproductive rights. Of these, 24 have successfully been passed by the Assembly. He has sponsored and passed legislation to limit small off-road engines, provide income tax credits for low-income housing, and protect abortion rights. He scores a Lifetime CS of 94 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Rivas has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.
Assm. Rivas secured the enactment of the first-in-the-nation COVID-19 Farmworker Relief Package, which included access to PPE and testing, temporary housing, and access to health care and the courts. He also championed the Farmworker Housing Act, which streamlines the process to build quality housing for farmworkers and their families. Rivas also won passage of the $89 million Golden State Teacher Grant Program, which provides $20,000 scholarships to teachers who commit to teach high-need subjects—like STEM, special education, and bilingual education—in schools that face a shortage of qualified teachers.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Rivas currently sits on five committees, and chairs the Agriculture Committee.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Rivas has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 68% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 40 points.
Earlier this year, Assm. Rivas announced he had the votes to become the next Speaker of the Assembly. Current Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon terms out of the legislature in 2024, and it is unclear who will have the votes to be Speaker after newly elected Assemblymembers are seated in December 2022.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Rivas served on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. He has been a longtime supporter of the environment.
Other background: Assm. Rivas lives in Hollister.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Robert Rivas (D), 69%; and Gregory Swett (R), 31%. Rivas and Swett will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Rivas’s campaign has raised $1.4 million and is funded by real estate, corporate, fossil fuel, and police money.
Opposing candidate: Republican Gregory Swett
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Swett’s campaign has raised $2000 and is funded by three individuals, including himself.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 29th Assembly District includes parts of Monterey, Santa Clara, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties.
Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 1998. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-29 is 2% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 55% Latino, 6% Asian, and 2% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-29 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 38 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 31 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.Robert Rivas
Reelect Assemblymember Robert Rivas to keep AD-29 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Rivas’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-29 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Rivas has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including AFSCME California, California Environmental Voters, and California Labor Federation. He has also received endorsements from problematic stakeholders, including a police group.
Top issues: Environment, income tax, and reproductive rights.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Rivas’s priorities for AD-29 have included 66 bills about the environment, income tax, and reproductive rights. Of these, 24 have successfully been passed by the Assembly. He has sponsored and passed legislation to limit small off-road engines, provide income tax credits for low-income housing, and protect abortion rights. He scores a Lifetime CS of 94 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Rivas has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.
Assm. Rivas secured the enactment of the first-in-the-nation COVID-19 Farmworker Relief Package, which included access to PPE and testing, temporary housing, and access to health care and the courts. He also championed the Farmworker Housing Act, which streamlines the process to build quality housing for farmworkers and their families. Rivas also won passage of the $89 million Golden State Teacher Grant Program, which provides $20,000 scholarships to teachers who commit to teach high-need subjects—like STEM, special education, and bilingual education—in schools that face a shortage of qualified teachers.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Rivas currently sits on five committees, and chairs the Agriculture Committee.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Rivas has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 68% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 40 points.
Earlier this year, Assm. Rivas announced he had the votes to become the next Speaker of the Assembly. Current Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon terms out of the legislature in 2024, and it is unclear who will have the votes to be Speaker after newly elected Assemblymembers are seated in December 2022.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Rivas served on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. He has been a longtime supporter of the environment.
Other background: Assm. Rivas lives in Hollister.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Robert Rivas (D), 69%; and Gregory Swett (R), 31%. Rivas and Swett will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Rivas’s campaign has raised $1.4 million and is funded by real estate, corporate, fossil fuel, and police money.
Opposing candidate: Republican Gregory Swett
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Swett’s campaign has raised $2000 and is funded by three individuals, including himself.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 29th Assembly District includes parts of Monterey, Santa Clara, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties.
Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 1998. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-29 is 2% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 55% Latino, 6% Asian, and 2% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-29 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 38 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 31 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.Robert Rivas
Reelect Assemblymember Robert Rivas to keep AD-29 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Rivas’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-29 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Rivas has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including AFSCME California, California Environmental Voters, and California Labor Federation. He has also received endorsements from problematic stakeholders, including a police group.
Top issues: Environment, income tax, and reproductive rights.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Rivas’s priorities for AD-29 have included 66 bills about the environment, income tax, and reproductive rights. Of these, 24 have successfully been passed by the Assembly. He has sponsored and passed legislation to limit small off-road engines, provide income tax credits for low-income housing, and protect abortion rights. He scores a Lifetime CS of 94 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Rivas has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote.
Assm. Rivas secured the enactment of the first-in-the-nation COVID-19 Farmworker Relief Package, which included access to PPE and testing, temporary housing, and access to health care and the courts. He also championed the Farmworker Housing Act, which streamlines the process to build quality housing for farmworkers and their families. Rivas also won passage of the $89 million Golden State Teacher Grant Program, which provides $20,000 scholarships to teachers who commit to teach high-need subjects—like STEM, special education, and bilingual education—in schools that face a shortage of qualified teachers.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Rivas currently sits on five committees, and chairs the Agriculture Committee.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Rivas has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he was elected with over 68% of the vote. In 2020, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 40 points.
Earlier this year, Assm. Rivas announced he had the votes to become the next Speaker of the Assembly. Current Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon terms out of the legislature in 2024, and it is unclear who will have the votes to be Speaker after newly elected Assemblymembers are seated in December 2022.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Rivas served on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. He has been a longtime supporter of the environment.
Other background: Assm. Rivas lives in Hollister.
The Race
Primary election results: The June 2022 results included Robert Rivas (D), 69%; and Gregory Swett (R), 31%. Rivas and Swett will compete in a run-off in the November 8 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Rivas’s campaign has raised $1.4 million and is funded by real estate, corporate, fossil fuel, and police money.
Opposing candidate: Republican Gregory Swett
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Swett’s campaign has raised $2000 and is funded by three individuals, including himself.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 29th Assembly District includes parts of Monterey, Santa Clara, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties.
Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats have held this district since 1998. Since the 2021 redistricting process, AD-29 is 2% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle.
District demographics: 55% Latino, 6% Asian, and 2% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-29 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 38 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 31 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.