55th Assembly District

Elect Karen Bass as mayor to push Los Angeles in the right direction. 

The Position

Los Angeles uses a mayor–city council government structure, in which the mayor is elected at large and acts as chair of the 15-member city council and as the city’s chief executive officer. The city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. The mayor of Los Angeles has veto and emergency powers and is responsible for managing dozens of departments and agencies. They also carry out ordinances, ensure coordination among different branches of city government, and submit an annual budget proposal to the L.A. City Council. In Los Angeles, a mayor is elected to a four-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms. 

The District

Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles’s mayor and City Council oversee the needs of 3.9 million people and manage an estimated operating budget of $11.2 billion annually. As of the 2020 Census, Los Angeles had a demographic breakdown of 48% Latino, 12% Asian, and 9% Black. The most recent election results for Los Angeles County, which includes the city of Los Angeles, show that it voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 44 points.

The Race

There are 12 candidates running for this seat, including Congressmember Karen Bass, real estate developer Rick Caruso, City Councilmember Kevin de Leon, City Councilmember Joe Buscaino, and LA City Attorney Mike Feuer. Rep. Bass’s campaign has raised $4.1 million, and has not received donations from police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. Caruso’s campaign has raised $500,000 through individual donations. He has also loaned an additional $22.5 million to his own campaign. De Leon’s campaign has raised $3.2 million, and has received donations from real estate and fossil fuel interests. Buscaino’s campaign has raised $1.3 million, and has received donations from real estate interests. Feuer’s campaign has raised $1.8 million, and has received donations from real estate interests. 

Our Endorsement

Congressmember Karen Bass, a member of the House of Representatives, is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to use her demonstrated track record of progressive success to address issues of social and economic inequality in her home city.  Bass has been in elected leadership since 2004, when she won her first term in the California State Assembly. In 2012, she was elected to the United States Congress, and won her most recent reelection in 2020 by 72 points against Republican challenger Errol Webber.

Rep. Bass started her career as a nurse and a physician’s assistant, and was moved to action by the intimate view that her work provided of the crack epidemic in Los Angeles. In 1990, she founded Community Coalition, an organization she is still involved with today, to identify local solutions to the economic inequities that contribute to  crime, addiction, violence, and poverty. Rep. Bass joined the State Assembly in 2004, and rose to the Speaker’s seat in 2008, as California was facing a severe recession. She was instrumental in negotiating a federal stimulus for Californians, and passing legislation that secured affordable health care and improved child welfare services. During her ten years in Congress, Rep. Bass has established herself as an effective progressive leader, focusing much of her work on equity legislation. She has passed bills to protect LGBTQIA+ community, founded and co-chairs the bipartisan Caucus on Foster Youth, and authored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to transform policing. These experiences in health care, coalition-building, economic recovery, and racial-justice reform are the foundation of her approach to moving Los Angeles forward as mayor. Through a collaborative approach, her administration would focus on eliminating bureaucratic barriers to affordable housing development, working with individual communities to address local safety issues and hate-crime prevention, and tailoring interventions to support local economic recovery from COVID-19. In a city with both extreme wealth and extreme poverty, Rep. Bass’s policies would aim to narrow the economic gap and return dignity to individuals who have been failed by inefficient public systems. She is a longtime supporter of social equity and justice initiatives, and remains actively involved as a board member with the National Foster Youth Institute, which she co-founded. 

Rep. Bass’s priorities for her congressional district, CD-37, this year have included 31 bills about crime and law enforcement, health care, foster care, and child welfare. Of these, nearly all are currently in committee.  She currently serves on the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees. Rep. Bass is former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and a member of a variety of legislative groups, including Medicare for All Caucus; Congressional Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus; Congressional Progressive Caucus; and Congressional Social Work Caucus. This year, Rep. Bass has voted 100% of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 96% of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. 

Bass is endorsed by many progressive groups, including LA Voice Action, California Women’s List, California Black Women’s Democratic Club, ACCE Action, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats, as well as the Los Angeles Times. She has also received the endorsement of many elected officials, including Senator Cory Booker, Rep. Katie Porter, State Senator Sydney Kamlager, and L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman. Based on our analysis, Bass’s extensive experience and policy successes demonstrate that she is uniquely qualified to lead and will continue to be a progressive champion for the constituents of Los Angeles. She will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Elect Eunisses Hernandez to push Los Angeles in the right direction for progress. 

The Position

Los Angeles is governed by a fifteen-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to a maximum of three terms with four years in each term, or twelve years in office total. 

The District

Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.5 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of over $11.2 billion dollars annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council government structure. Los Angeles’s District 1 includes the neighborhoods of Glassell Park, Mount Washington, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights, and Chinatown.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Eunisses Hernandez and incumbent Gil Cedillo. Hernandez’s campaign has raised $161,000 and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate money. Cedillo’s campaign is backed by real estate money. Cedillo has a track record of working with developers on luxury projects that displace low-income residents. He has also used LAMC 41.18 to criminalize sitting, lying, and sleeping in 28 zones in the district. 

The Recommendation

Hernandez, a public policy advocate, was born and raised in the district. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to fight against what a negligent city council has allowed for decades: an unprecedented housing crisis, the nation’s largest jail population, and severely underfunded social services. Hernandez is running to support alternatives to incarceration and expanded social services that protect Angelenos from the violence of poverty.

Hernandez has more than five years’ experience working with local and state legislators and communities most affected by criminalization, the war on drugs, and mass incarceration. Hernandez’s experiences inform her policy-analysis work in developing and implementing alternatives to incarceration. She is a longtime opponent of carceral policies that disproportionately affect communities of color. Hernandez has piloted a program called Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), in which more than two-thirds of the initial participants have said they had stopped or cut back on drug use after enrolling. She was appointed as a voting member to the Los Angeles County Alternatives to Incarceration Work Group and is co-chair of the Community Based System of Care Ad Hoc. Hernandez has led campaigns, coalitions, and commissions that have effectively held politicians accountable and transformed policies that were separating families and putting youth behind bars. She has spearheaded major policy wins, such as Measure J and Care First, Jails Last, which have put hundreds of millions of dollars into expanding and creating access to community-based services, housing, and support for young people in L.A. County.

Hernandez is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups and leaders, including California Working Families Party, Ground Game LA, Los Angeles County Public Defenders Union, LA Forward Action, Democratic Socialists of America-Los Angeles, Heart of LA Democratic Club, Dolores Huerta, and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan. Based on our analysis, Hernandez’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive champion for the constituents of Los Angeles and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Elect City Councilmember Erin Darling to push Los Angeles in the right direction for progress. 

The Position

Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to a maximum of three terms with four years in each term, or twelve years in office total. 

The District

Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.5 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of over $11.2 billion dollars annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council government structure. Los Angeles’s District 11 includes the neighborhoods of West Los Angeles, Brentwood, Venice, and Marina Del Rey.

The Race

There are eight candidates running for this seat, including Darling and Allison Holdorff Polhill, Greg Good, Traci Park, Mike Newhouse, Jim Murez, Mat Smith, and Midsanon “Soni” Lloyd. Incumbent Mike Bonin is not running for reelection. Darling’s campaign has raised around $128,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate money. Good has said he supports increasing law-enforcement funding, and his campaign is funded by corporate money. Mat Smith’s campaign calls for “refunding” the police, Park’s campaign is endorsed by several police groups, and Jim Murez’s platform includes expanded policing.

The Recommendation

Erin Darling, a civil rights attorney, grew up in Venice, CA, and continues to live there. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to increase rental subsidies, strengthen the L.A. rent-stabilization ordinance, and make it easier for tenants facing eviction to access legal counsel. 

Darling is a civil rights and criminal defense attorney. He is a longtime supporter of tenant rights, housing for all, and of protecting the environment. After graduating from law school, Darling began working at a local nonprofit called Eviction Defense Network, where he represented low-income tenants facing eviction. He later worked for Public Counsel, focusing on large class actions, including on behalf of the United Farm Workers and individual General Relief recipients. Darling has also worked as a deputy federal public defender in the Central District of California. Currently, Darling is in private practice and focusing on civil rights, where has co-counseled with the ACLU of Southern California, as well as the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). He has also represented women who were sexually assaulted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies and Probation Department employees while in custody. Locally, Darling has served on the Venice Neighborhood Council and Beaches and Harbor Commission. 

Darling is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. Based on our analysis, Darling’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of Los Angeles and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Elect Lola Smallwood-Cuevas to push SD-28 in the right direction.

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 congressional 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 the Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.

The District

California’s 28th Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Republicans typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 8% are Republican and 65% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 33% Latino, 9% Asian, and 29% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, SD-28 is 2% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that SD-28 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 71 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 72 points.

The Race

There are five candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, Democrat Cheryl Turner, Democrat Jamaal Gulledge, Democrat Kamilah Victoria Moore, and Republican Joe Lisuzzo. Smallwood-Cuevas’s campaign has raised $262,000, and has not received any donations from police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests. Turner’s campaign has raised $16,000, and is primarily self-funded. Lisuzzo’s campaign has raised $6,000 primarily through individual donors. Gulledge’s and Moore’s campaigns have not recorded any fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State. 

Our Endorsement

Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, a labor organizer and community advocate, has lived in the district for twenty years. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to bring her coalition-based approach to the continued work of improving workers’ rights, reforming the criminal justice system, and addressing the housing crisis. Smallwood-Cuevas has not run for public office before, but was appointed to the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board in 2021 and elected by her fellow commissioners to serve as secretary/treasurer. 

Smallwood-Cuevas has spent her career supporting the development of organized labor and currently serves as project director at the UCLA Labor Center. She directs projects for the Center for the Advancement of Racial Equity Work and focuses on furthering policies that benefit working families. She has received national recognition for this work from Labor Secretary Tom Perez and former President Barack Obama. She currently serves as treasurer of the LA County Workforce Development Board, and has also served as a researcher and political organizer with SEIU Local 1877, plus co-founded the LA Black Worker Center to increase employment equity. 

Smallwood-Cuevas sees workers’ rights as the clear intersection of racial equity, economic insecurity, health-care access, education, and the housing crisis. It’s through this lens of worker dignity and protection that she would approach social equity legislation in the State Senate. She has proposed a public employment benefit for those returning from incarceration, a two-year jobs bill to create quality employment opportunities during the COVID-19 recovery, a reinstatement of pandemic sick leave and hero pay, and increased funding for affordable housing initiatives. In supporting workers’ rights, Smallwood-Cuevas hopes her approach would dismantle wealth inequality and create improved health, education, and economic outcomes across generations. She has frequently collaborated with local organizations and lawmakers, including labor unions, Working Families Partnership, and Community Coalition, and would bring this coalition approach to her work in the State Senate. 

Smallwood-Cuevas has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including UNITE HERE Local 11, Heart of LA, SEIU California, and Working Families Party. She has also received the endorsement of many local elected officials, including Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, and State Senator Sydney Kamlager. Based on our analysis, Smallwood-Cuevas’s track record of community organizing and policy advocacy demonstrates that she will be a progressive champion for the constituents of SD-28 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.
 

Reelect State Assemblymember Isaac Bryan to keep AD-55 on the right track for progress. 

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 the Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 56 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats. One seat is held by an Independent and four seats are currently vacant. 

The District

California’s 55th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Prior to redistricting, Republicans typically held this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 8% are Republican and 65% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 25% Latino, 11% Asian, and 29% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, the advantage that Democrats held during the 2020 general election cycle is unchanged. The most recent election results show that AD-55 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 71 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 73 points.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Incumbent Representative Isaac Bryan and Republican Keith Cascio. Assm. Bryan’s campaign has raised $475,000 and is not funded by fossil fuel, police, or real estate money. Cascio’s campaign has not recorded any fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State. 

The Recommendation

Assm. Isaac Bryan, a policy analyst and an organizer, lives in Jefferson Park. According to campaign materials, he is running for reelection to continue to use his lived experience and knowledge of coalition-building to bring intersectional change to his constituent communities. Assm. Bryan currently represents AD-54, a seat he won outright in a special primary election held in May 2021. In that race, he received over 50% of the vote against four Democratic opponents.

Assm. Bryan’s priorities for AD-54 this year have included 24 bills about housing, child welfare, climate change, and criminal justice. Of these, two have been chaptered into law and one has died, and the remaining bills are in committee. Assm. Bryan currently sits on five committees, including Appropriations, Governmental Organization, Human Services, and Public Safety, and serves as the chair of the Elections Committee. He scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Bryan has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote this year. He received an Honorable Mention distinction from Courage Score this year for his commitment to progressive leadership. 

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Bryan developed his political acumen as a published academic, earning a master of public policy degree from UCLA. After graduating, he became founding director of the UCLA Black Policy Project, which aims to address racial inequity through policy analysis and advocacy. His work there allowed him to focus on research regarding the resources needed for successful reentry after incarceration, and larger issues with youth-justice policy. Assm. Bryan’s interest in issues of equity is personal. As one of nine adopted children in a family of 15, he encountered significant academic challenges and observed his siblings struggling with houselessness, addiction, and mental health. Assm. Bryan is a longtime supporter of policy that addresses the intersections of these complex social issues. He co-chaired the committee supporting Measure J, which amended the Los Angeles County charter to require that 10% of local revenue be reinvested in the community and in alternatives to incarcerations. The measure was passed by voters in November 2020, and brings meaningful local investment to the county. 

Assm. Bryan has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including California Teachers Association, California League of Conservation Voters, and ACCE Action. He has also received the endorsement of many progressive lawmakers, including Congresswoman Karen Bass, LA Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman. Based on our analysis, Assm. Bryan’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-55 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Reelect Congressional Representative Adam Schiff to keep CD-30 on the right track for progress.

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.

The District

California’s 30th Congressional District is in Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 17% are Republican and 52% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 20% Latino, 13% Asian, and 5% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, CA-30 is 3% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show the CD-30 voted for Biden for president in 2020 by 44 points and Newsom for governor in 2018 by 54 points.

The Race

There are eight candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Incumbent Representative Schiff, Democrat G. “Maebe A Girl” Pudlo, and Republicans Ronda Kennedy and Johnny Nalbandian. Schiff’s campaign has raised over $9 million and is not funded by police money. He has received donations from corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and real estate interests.

The Recommendation

Rep. Schiff, a longtime public servant, has lived in California since 1972. According to campaign materials, Rep. Schiff is running for reelection to continue to fight for the core of America’s democracy. Rep. Schiff won their 2020 reelection against a Republican challenger by 46 points.

Rep. Schiff’s priorities for CD-30 this year have included 26 bills about criminal justice, civil liberties, and immigration, all of which have successfully passed the House. He currently chairs the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. This year, Rep. Schiff has voted 100% of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 95% of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Schiff voted to pass the New North American Trade Agreement, while Ocasio-Cortez voted against it.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Schiff worked as a law clerk and then as Assistant United States Attorney before being elected to California’s State Senate in 1996. He is a longtime supporter of progressive education, immigration, and environmental policies. That said, he has cast unfavorable votes on issues pertaining to military spending and the use of military force.

Rep. Schiff isn’t a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, but has the endorsement of some progressive groups. Based on our analysis, Rep. Schiff’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive champion for the constituents of CD-30 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Reelect Congressional Representative Ted Lieu to keep CA-36 on the right track for progress.

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.

The District

California’s 36th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 20% are Republican and 50% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 14% Latino, 17% Asian, and 5% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, CA-36 is 3% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that CD-36 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 44 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 39 points.

The Race

There are eight candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Incumbent Representative Ted Lieu, Republican Joe Collins III, one Democrat, two Independents, and three Republicans. Rep. Lieu’s campaign has raised $871,000 and is not funded by police money. He has received donations from fossil fuel, corporate PAC, and real estate interests. Rep. Collins has raised $1.8 million, and is funded primarily through individual contributions. He has also received donations from corporate PAC interests. The other six candidates have raised insignificant funds, or have not recorded any fundraising with the FEC.

The Recommendation

Rep. Ted Lieu, a public servant and an Air Force veteran, was born in Taiwan, raised in Cleveland, OH, and is a longtime resident of Torrance, CA. According to campaign materials, he is running for reelection to continue to advance progressive legislation and ensure that our government represents the needs of all Americans. Rep. Lieu currently represents the 33rd District, and won his 2020 reelection for that seat against Republican James Bradley by 35 points.

Rep. Lieu’s priorities for CA-33 this year have included 49 bills about crime and law enforcement, international affairs, and economic growth. Nearly all of these remain in committee. He currently serves on two committees: Judiciary and Foreign Affairs. Rep. Lieu also serves on many congressional caucuses, including those focused on STEAM education and LGBTQIA+ equality. This year, Rep. Lieu has voted 100% of the time with Nancy Pelosi and 96% of the time with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He voted in favor of the INVEST in America Act, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY22, and the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act, while Rep. Ocasio-Cortez voted in opposition.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Lieu had a long track record of public service. After earning his law degree at Georgetown University, he started his political career as a member of the Torrance City Council in 2002. He then served three terms in the State Assembly before being elected to the State Senate in 2011. Rep. Lieu served four years of active duty with the United States Air Force JAG Corps, and was a reservist before retiring in 2021. Rep. Lieu holds an undergraduate degree in computer science, and has been involved in legislation related to cybersecurity and innovation throughout his career. He has also long been involved in climate work, authoring the Global Warming Solutions Act.

Rep. Lieu is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and has the endorsement of many progressive groups in the district. Based on our analysis, Rep. Lieu’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of CA-36 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Elect Sydney Kamlager to push CD-37 in the right direction.

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. There is no term limit for this position.  

The District

California’s 37th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 7% are Republican and 66% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 39% Latino, 7% Asian, and 36% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, CD-37 is 3% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that CD-37 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 73 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 77 points.

The Race

There are seven candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Sydney Kamlager, Democrat Daniel Lee, Democrat Sandra Mendoza, two additional Democrats, and two Republicans. Kamlager’s campaign has raised $304,000, and has received real estate and corporate PAC donations. Lee’s campaign has raised $35,000, and is also funded entirely by individual donors. Mendoza’s campaign has raised $17,000, and is primarily funded by individual donors. 

The Recommendation

Sydney Kamlager, a state senator, is from Chicago and moved to Los Angeles in 1990. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to bring her consensus-oriented approach to the fight for social change, including voting rights, universal health care, and criminal-justice reform. Kamlager currently represents State Senate District 30, winning the seat with 69% of the vote and Courage California’s endorsement in a March 2021 special election. 

Kamlager has long been involved in California politics, an interest that was seeded during her experience of the riots that resulted from the Rodney King verdict in 1992, when she was an undergraduate student at USC. She spent her early career working in the nonprofit and public sectors on job creation, arts programs, and childcare and early education. Kamlager was a district director for L.A. Sup. Holly Mitchell during her time in the Assembly and the Senate before launching her own political career with a successful run for the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees in 2015. In 2018, Kamlager won a special election for the 54th State Assembly District, and used her time in the seat to author legislation on plastic-packaging reduction, lowering caps on probation terms, and transitioning emergency response from police to community-based organizations. She has continued her progressive work in the Senate, ushering through bills to return reusable plastic bottles (AB 962), and support local solutions to community emergencies (AB 118). Both were signed by the governor during Kamlager’s first six months in office. She scores a Lifetime CS of 93 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Kamlager has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Kamlager has not supported funding public banks, equalizing out-of-pocket emergency health-care costs regardless of insurance coverage, and preventing dialysis companies from redirecting patients away from Medi-Cal.

Sydney Kamlager has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Black Women’s Democratic Club, Equality California, L.A. County Federation of Labor, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. She has also received the endorsement of many elected officials, including Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Karen Bass, L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, and Attorney General Rob Bonta. Based on our analysis, Kamlager’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive champion for the constituents of CD-37 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Elect Henry Stern to push Los Angeles County in the right direction for progress. 

The Position

Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person board of supervisors. A board of supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by boards of supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.

The District

Los Angeles is California’s most populous county. Los Angeles County’s board of supervisors oversees the needs of 10 million people and manages an estimated budget of $36.2 billion annually. According to the County Charter, Los Angeles County is governed by a five-member board of supervisors, a county assessor, a district attorney, and a sheriff. District 3 includes the areas of Universal City, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica Mountains North Area, Westhills, Franklin Canyon, and Malibu Coastal Zone. 

The Race

There are six candidates running for this seat, including State Senator Henry Stern, State Senator Robert Hertzberg, West Hollywood City Councilmember Lindsey Horvath, Craig Brill, Jeffi Girgenti, and Roxanne Beckford Hoge. Sen. Stern’s campaign has raised $60,000 and is not funded by fossil fuel, real estate, police, or corporate PAC interests. Sen. Hertzberg’s campaign has raised over $150,000 and is not funded by fossil fuel, real estate, police, or corporate PAC interests. Horvath’s campaign has raised over $40,000 and is not funded by fossil fuel, real estate, police, or corporate PAC interests. The campaigns for Brill, Girgenti, and Hoge have raised insignificant funds. 

The Recommendation

Henry Stern, an attorney and a state senator, was raised in Los Angeles. According to campaign materials, Sen. Stern is running for election to bring his state government experience to the real-time crises of homelessness and public safety facing Los Angeles County residents. In 2016, Sen. Stern won his first election for State Senate District 27 by 12 points over Republican Steve Fazio. 

Sen. Stern started his career as a high school teacher and a juvenile-justice investigator, which inspired him to pursue his law degree at UC-Berkeley. He served as an attorney on Capitol Hill before pursuing civil rights and environmental law back in California. He is a longtime supporter of environmental protections, and has received annual recognition from Sierra Club and California Environmental Justice Alliance for his work in the legislature. 

As a legislator, Sen. Stern’s priorities for SD-27 this year have included 46 bills about environmental protections, homelessness and housing, and education. Of these, one has been chaptered into law, ten have died, and the majority of the others remain in committee. He currently serves on four committees, and is chair of the Natural Resources and Water Committee, and chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management. He scores a Lifetime CS of 81 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Sen. Stern has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he failed to vote to codify California’s carbon neutrality goal.

Henry Stern is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district, including LA League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, and United Teachers of Los Angeles. He is also endorsed by many local elected officials, including State Senator Maria Elena Durazo and State Senator Connie Leyva. Based on our analysis, Stern’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Reelect Senator Alex Padilla to the United States Senate to keep California on the right track for progress. 

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.

The District

California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents. The demographic breakdown of the total residential population is 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black. Since 1992, Democrats have steadily held both California Senate seats. Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. The most recent election results show that California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.

The Race

This Senate race will appear twice on primary ballots: as a special election marked as the “Unexpired/Partial Term,” which will fill the seat from November 2022 to January 2023, and as a regular full-term election for a six-year term that begins in January 2023. Sen. Alex Padilla is the recommended candidate for your vote in both of these races. 

Senator Alex Padilla was appointed to fill the remainder of the term for the Senate seat vacated by then Senator Kamala Harris after she was elected to the vice presidency in November 2020. Sen. Padilla is now running for his first full elected term in the United States Senate. There are 23 candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Incumbent Senator Alex Padilla and Republican Mark Meuser. Sen. Padilla’s campaign has raised $9.5 million, and has received donations from fossil fuel, real estate, and corporate PAC interests. Meuser’s campaign has raised $330,000 and is primarily funded by individual donors.

The Recommendation

Sen. Padilla, a longtime public official, is from the San Fernando Valley. According to campaign materials, he is running for reelection to continue his efforts to protect voting rights, defend democracy, and support working families. Sen. Padilla was appointed to the Senate by Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2021, which will make this his first electoral campaign for the seat. He was previously elected to serve as the California Secretary of State in 2014, winning his 2018 reelection bid over Republican Mark Meuser by 29 points.

Sen. Padilla’s priorities for California this year have included 32 bills about environmental and water protections, the economy, immigration, and child welfare. Of these, all are currently in committee. He 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. 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.

Prior to his appointment, Sen. Padilla served Californians in several elected roles, including two terms each in 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. 

Sen. Padilla has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Equality California, NARAL Pro-Choice California, 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, and Attorney General Rob Bonta. Based on our analysis, Sen. Padilla’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive champion for the constituents of California and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.
 

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

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.

The District

California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents. The demographic breakdown of the total residential population is 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black. Democrats have held the governorship since 2011. Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. The most recent election results show that California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points.

The Race

There are 26 candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom, Republican State Senator Brian Dahle, and Republican businesswoman Jenny Rae Le Roux. Gov. Newsom’s campaign has raised $14.4 million and has not received donations from fossil fuel, police, or corporate PAC interests. Sen. Dahle’s campaign has raised $1.2 million and has not received donations from fossil fuel, police, or corporate PAC interests. Le Roux’s campaign has raised $1.3 million and has not received donations from fossil fuel, police, corporate PAC, or real estate interests. 

The Recommendation

Gov. Newsom, a career public official, is from San Francisco. According to campaign materials, he is running for reelection to continue to provide steady crisis leadership for California through policy reform on economic, environmental, education, and criminal-justice issues. He was elected to serve as the California governor in 2018, winning his bid over Republican John Cox by 24 points. He defeated a Republican-backed recall election by the same margin in 2021.

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 4-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 has also failed to take strong action on several important issues, including replacing police with mental-health professionals, reforming the state taxation system, bringing new financial reporting standards to public education, and establishing a single-payer health-care system. 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 was the target of a recall campaign in fall 2021. 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, and 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. 

Gov. Newsom has the endorsement of many progressive groups in the state, including NARAL Pro-Choice, California Teachers Association, and California Labor Federation. Based on our analysis, Gov. Newsom’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive champion for the constituents of California and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.
 

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

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.

The District

California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents. The demographic breakdown of the total residential population is 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black. Democrats have held the Lieutenant Governor seat since 2011. Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. The most recent election results show that California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.

The Race

There are eight candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and Republican Angela Underwood Jacobs. Lt. Gov. Kounalakis’s campaign has raised $3.9 million and has received donations from fossil fuel, police, and corporate PAC interests. Underwood Jacobs’s campaign has raised $23,000 and is funded entirely by individual donors. None of the other candidates have filed fundraising receipts with the secretary of state.

The Recommendation

Lt. Gov. Kounalakis, a businessperson and former U.S. ambassador, is from Sacramento. According to campaign materials, she is running for reelection to continue to use her business acumen and public experience to guide California to a better economic path. She was elected to serve as California’s lieutenant governor in 2018, winning her bid over Democrat Edward Hernandez by 14 points, and is the first woman in state history to be elected to this role. 

Lt. Gov. Kounalakis has provided administrative and political support for the governor’s agenda this term, 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, her 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, or 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. 

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.

Lt. Gov. Kounalakis has the endorsement of many progressive groups in the state, including Equality California and EMILY’s List. Based on our analysis, Lt. Gov. 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.
 

Reelect Attorney General Rob Bonta to keep California on the right track for progress.

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.

Democrat incumbent Rob Bonta was appointed to this seat by Governor Gavin Newsom in March 2021, after Secretary Becerra was appointed to the Biden administration’s cabinet. Attorney General Bonta is the first Filipino American to serve in this role. The most recent election results show that Becerra won the statewide election in 2018 with 64% of the vote.

The Race

There are four candidates running in the primary for attorney general: Democrat Incumbent Attorney General Rob Bonta, Independent challenger and Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, and Republican challengers Nathan Hochman and Eric Early. Attorney General Bonta’s campaign has raised over $2 million, and is not funded by fossil fuel, police, or real estate donations. Schubert’s campaign has raised $833,000, and has received donations from over ten police organizations across the state. She has also received significant donations from billionaire Angelo Tsakopoulos and his family, who work in real estate development. Hochman’s campaign has raised $900,000 and has not committed to refuse fossil fuel, police, or corporate PAC money. He is backed by a significant number of individual donors with connections to real estate, and has also received over $20,000 from companies connected to Jeong Hwan Kim, who pled guilty to tax crimes in 2017 in a case prosecuted by the attorney general’s office. Early’s campaign has raised $235,000, and has not committed to refuse fossil fuel, police, corporate PAC, or real estate money in his campaign. He previously ran for attorney general in 2018.

Our Endorsement

Attorney General Rob Bonta, a civil rights attorney, is from Alameda, CA. Prior to his appointment to the attorney general’s office, he was elected to serve three terms in the California State Assembly as the representative from the 18th District. According to campaign materials, Attorney General Bonta is running for reelection to continue his focus on resolving systemic injustice across the state through action on environmental justice, labor rights, and corporate accountability.

Attorney General Bonta’s priorities for California this year include 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.

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. This office is designed to advance equity, and to ensure that the work of the attorney general’s office is inclusive for diverse perspectives. Nationally, he 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).

During his time in the State Assembly, he 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.

Attorney General Bonta has received the endorsement of an overwhelming number of elected officials across the state, including U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, State Controller Betty Yee, State Senator Sydney Kamlager, and State Senator Scott Weiner. He is also endorsed by several progressive groups, including SEIU CA, NARAL Pro-Choice CA, and California Teachers Association. According to our analysis, Attorney General Bonta is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office. Based on our analysis, Attorney General 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.

Reelect Secretary of State Shirley Weber to keep California on the right track for progress.

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 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 advance 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, and most recently by current U.S. Senator Alex Padilla.

Democrat incumbent Shirley Weber was appointed to this seat by Governor Gavin Newsom in December 2020, after he appointed Sen. Padilla to fill Vice President Kamala Harris’s open Senate seat. Secretary Weber is the first Black person to hold this position. The most recent election results show that Padilla won the statewide election in 2018 with 64% of the vote.

The Race

At this time, Democrat Secretary of State Shirley Weber is running unopposed to maintain her seat. Secretary Weber’s campaign has raised over $490,000, and is not funded by corporate PAC money. She has not publicly refused to take fossil fuel donations, and has received police donations from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association PAC, and real estate donations from the California Real Estate PAC.

Our Endorsement

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. According to campaign materials, Secretary Weber is running for reelection to further strengthen election integrity and transparency in the state, and to work toward expanded access to voting for all Californians.

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.

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.

In 1972, early in her career, Secretary Weber founded the Department of Africana Studies at San Diego State University, 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.

According to our analysis, Secretary Weber is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office. Based on our analysis, Secretary Weber’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive champion for all Californians and will execute her responsibilities effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

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

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.

The District

California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 331 million residents. The demographic breakdown of the total residential population is 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black. Democrats have held the Treasurer’s seat since 1999. Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. The most recent election results show that California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 24 points.

The Race

There are four candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Incumbent Treasurer Fiona Ma and Republican Andrew Do. Treasurer Ma’s campaign has raised $3.3 million and has received donations from corporate PAC, real estate, and police interests. Do’s campaign has raised $203,000 and has not received donations from fossil fuel, police, real estate, or corporate PAC interests. 

The Recommendation

Treasurer Ma, a certified public accountant and public official, has lived in California for most of her adult life. According to campaign materials, she is running for reelection to continue to provide fiscal leadership on economic, environmental, and educational reforms in the state. She was elected to serve as the California treasurer in 2018, winning her bid over Republican Greg Conlon by 28 points. 

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. 

Prior to her election in 2018, Treasurer Ma served in positions across state and local governments. 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. Prior to seeking elected office, Treasurer Ma worked as a licensed certified public accountant in California. 

Treasurer Ma has the endorsement of many progressive groups in the state, including SEIU California, Equality California, and California Labor Federation. Based on our analysis, Treasurer Ma’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a champion for the constituents of California and will manage effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.
 

Elect Malia Cohen to be the next state controller to keep California on the right track for progress.

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. The most recent election results show that Controller Yee won the statewide election in 2018 with 65% of the vote.

The Race

There are four candidates running for this seat, including Democrats Malia Cohen, Yvonne Yiu, and Ron Galperin, and Republican Lanhee Chen. Cohen’s campaign has raised $316,000, and is not funded by police money or corporate PAC money. Democratic opponent Yiu has raised $548,000, of which $455,000 has been self-donated. She has had an additional nine donors to her campaign, and has not received police, corporate PAC, or real estate donations. Democratic opponent Galperin has raised $26,000, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, or fossil fuel money. Republican Chen’s campaign has raised $945,000, and has received funding from a real estate organization. The remainder of his fundraising has come almost entirely from large-dollar individual donors.

Our Endorsement

Malia Cohen, a member of the California State Board of Equalization, is a lifelong Californian. According to campaign materials, Cohen is running for election to pursue a more equitable economic foundation for Californians through investments in housing, job programs, health care, and education. She believes that accountability and transparency in fiscal leadership is essential to closing the state’s significant equity gap, and that she can play a critical role in guiding financial decisions that will benefit previously neglected communities.

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.

Cohen has an extensive resume and significant experience in fiscal oversight. As a current member of the California State Board of Equalization representing District 2, Cohen has experience administering statewide policy related to property tax, alcoholic beverage tax, and tax on insurers. Prior to holding this role, 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 San Francisco Employee Retirement System (SFERS), which manages the city’s municipal pension fund. In each of these positions, Cohen has kept equity in focus and has worked to leverage her role to create opportunities to establish more inclusive policies. In her elected roles, 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 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.

Democrat Yvonne Yiu, the current mayor of Monterey Park, is running on a platform that centers on financial-information security and expanding financial-skills training to reach young people, immigrants, women, and other diverse communities through the creation of a new Office of Financial Empowerment. While she is dedicated to using the authority of the office to advocate for issues related to climate, the LGBTQIA+ community, and racial injustice, she has not provided a comprehensive outline for how her work as controller would benefit these progressive priorities beyond the creation of the Office of Financial Empowerment.

Malia Cohen 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. She has also received the endorsement of some progressive groups in the district, including NARAL Pro-Choice California PAC, California Federation of Teachers, Elect Black Women PAC, and a variety of trade organizations, including UNITE Here PAC. Based on our analysis, Cohen’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive champion for Californians and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse state.

Elect Braden Murphy to the Board of Equalization to keep California on the right track for progress. 

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. 

The 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 1 including approximately 10 million Californians. The demographic breakdown of the total residential population is 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black. Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. The most recent election results show that California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points.

The Race

District 1 is currently represented by incumbent Republican Ted Gaines, who is running for reelection and was a candidate to replace Gov. Newsom during the 2021 recall campaign. There are four candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Braden Murphy and incumbent Republican Ted Gaines. Murphy’s campaign has raised $25,000 and has not received any donations from police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. Board Member Gaines’s campaign has raised $186,000 and has received donations from police and real estate interests. 

The Recommendation

Braden Murphy, a policy advocate, lives in Folsom. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to bring fairness to California’s property tax system. He has not run for public office before. 

Murphy was born with cerebral palsy and has been an advocate for universal health care and universal early childhood education. His platform draws a connection between the property tax burden on homeowners and the crisis of home ownership and homelessness in the state, and emphasizes the importance of ensuring that low corporate taxation doesn’t shift additional burden on to middle-class property owners. Additionally, Murphy sees the intersections of health-care access, education policy, and homeownership, and how the failure to transition to universal models can limit the capacity of families and individuals with disabilities to transition to a middle-class lifestyle. He would bring this knowledge to his equity efforts as a member of the board of equalization. 

Murphy is endorsed by some progressive groups, including California Nurses Association and the California Democratic Party. He has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including former Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty. Based on our analysis, Murphy’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of District 1 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

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

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. 

The 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. The demographic breakdown of the total residential population is 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black. Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. The most recent election results show that California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points.

The Race

The current member representing District 2, Malia Cohen, is seeking election to be California State Controller in 2022, leaving the seat open this cycle. There are three candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Sally Lieber, Democrat Michela Alioto-Pier, and Republican Peter Verbica. Lieber’s campaign has raised $165,000 and has not received donations from police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests. Alioto-Pier’s campaign has raised $217,000 and has not received donations from police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. Verbica’s campaign has raised $35,000 and is primarily funded by individual donors. 

The Recommendation

Sally Lieber, a public official, has lived in California for over 40 years. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to prioritize the needs of everyday Californians over the corporations and big money interests that are often centered in tax law. She ran for the 13th district state Senate seat in 2020, but lost to Senator Josh Becker in the primary by a margin of 7 points. 

Lieber has long been involved in advocacy and local politics. 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. Lieber also served two 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. 

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. Based on our analysis, Lieber’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive champion for the constituents of District 2 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

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

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. 

The 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 4 including approximately 10 million Californians. The demographic breakdown of the total residential population is 39% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black. Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 23% have no party preference. The most recent election results show that California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points.

The Race

District 4 is currently represented by incumbent Democrat Mike Schaefer, who is running for reelection. 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. 

There are seven candidates running for this seat, including Democrat David Dodson, incumbent Democrat Mike Schaefer, and Republican Denis Bilodeau. Dodson’s campaign has raised $2,000 and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC donors. Board Member Schaefer’s campaign has raised $127,000 and is entirely self-funded. Bilodeau’s campaign has raised $31,000 and has received donations from real estate interests. 

The Recommendation

David Dodson, a property tax appraiser, lives in Dana Point. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to leverage his unique tax expertise to serve the community and to guide board decisions that center constituents. He ran for this seat in 2018, but lost in the primary after earning only 15% of the vote.

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. 

Dodson is endorsed by some progressive groups in the state, including Progressive Democrats of California. He has also received the endorsement of some local political leaders. Based on our analysis, Dodson’s track record and professional knowledge demonstrate that he will be a progressive leader for the constituents of District 4 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.