Rick Chavez Zbur (listed in Progressive Voters Guide)

Democrat
Rick Chavez Zbur

Website Endorsements

Share
Rick Chavez Zbur

Elect Rick Chavez Zbur to push AD-51 in the right direction.

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 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 12% are Republican and 58% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 points.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur and Democrat Louis Abramson. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $856,000, and has received donations from real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests. Abramson’s campaign has raised $125,000, and is entirely funded by individual donors.

Our Endorsement

Rick Chavez Zbur, a longtime civil rights leader and environmental advocate, is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to bring equitable leadership and bold change to the issues of homelessness, economic recovery, and civil rights in the district. Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.

Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to work that would more directly benefit social service access for underserved populations. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader.

Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur is a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles. Chavez Zbur also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.

Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom. Based on our analysis, Chavez Zbur’s track record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Rick Chavez Zbur

Elect Rick Chavez Zbur to push AD-51 in the right direction.

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 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 12% are Republican and 58% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 points.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur and Democrat Louis Abramson. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $856,000, and has received donations from real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests. Abramson’s campaign has raised $125,000, and is entirely funded by individual donors.

Our Endorsement

Rick Chavez Zbur, a longtime civil rights leader and environmental advocate, is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to bring equitable leadership and bold change to the issues of homelessness, economic recovery, and civil rights in the district. Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.

Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to work that would more directly benefit social service access for underserved populations. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader.

Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur is a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles. Chavez Zbur also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.

Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom. Based on our analysis, Chavez Zbur’s track record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Rick Chavez Zbur

Elect Rick Chavez Zbur to push AD-51 in the right direction.

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 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 12% are Republican and 58% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 points.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur and Democrat Louis Abramson. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $856,000, and has received donations from real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests. Abramson’s campaign has raised $125,000, and is entirely funded by individual donors.

Our Endorsement

Rick Chavez Zbur, a longtime civil rights leader and environmental advocate, is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to bring equitable leadership and bold change to the issues of homelessness, economic recovery, and civil rights in the district. Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.

Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to work that would more directly benefit social service access for underserved populations. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader.

Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur is a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles. Chavez Zbur also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.

Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom. Based on our analysis, Chavez Zbur’s track record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Endorsed By: Courage California

Elect Rick Chavez Zbur to push AD-51 in the right direction.

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 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 12% are Republican and 58% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 points.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur and Democrat Louis Abramson. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $856,000, and has received donations from real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests. Abramson’s campaign has raised $125,000, and is entirely funded by individual donors.

Our Endorsement

Rick Chavez Zbur, a longtime civil rights leader and environmental advocate, is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to bring equitable leadership and bold change to the issues of homelessness, economic recovery, and civil rights in the district. Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.

Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to work that would more directly benefit social service access for underserved populations. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader.

Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur is a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles. Chavez Zbur also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.

Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom. Based on our analysis, Chavez Zbur’s track record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Last updated: 2022-06-07

Democrat
Rick Chavez Zbur

Website Endorsements
Elect Rick Chavez Zbur to push AD-51 in the right direction.

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 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 12% are Republican and 58% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 points.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur and Democrat Louis Abramson. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $856,000, and has received donations from real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests. Abramson’s campaign has raised $125,000, and is entirely funded by individual donors.

Our Endorsement

Rick Chavez Zbur, a longtime civil rights leader and environmental advocate, is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to bring equitable leadership and bold change to the issues of homelessness, economic recovery, and civil rights in the district. Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.

Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to work that would more directly benefit social service access for underserved populations. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader.

Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur is a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles. Chavez Zbur also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.

Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom. Based on our analysis, Chavez Zbur’s track record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Last updated: 2022-06-07

Endorsed By: Courage California

City of Los Angeles

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

Los Angeles Mayor

Non-Partisan
Karen Bass

Website Endorsements

Share
Karen Bass

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

Karen Bass

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

Karen Bass

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

Endorsed By: Courage California

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-07

Non-Partisan
Karen Bass

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-07

Endorsed By: Courage California

State Assembly, 51st District

Member of the State Assembly

Democrat
Rick Chavez Zbur

Website Endorsements

Share
Rick Chavez Zbur

Elect Rick Chavez Zbur to push AD-51 in the right direction.

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 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 12% are Republican and 58% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 points.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur and Democrat Louis Abramson. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $856,000, and has received donations from real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests. Abramson’s campaign has raised $125,000, and is entirely funded by individual donors.

Our Endorsement

Rick Chavez Zbur, a longtime civil rights leader and environmental advocate, is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to bring equitable leadership and bold change to the issues of homelessness, economic recovery, and civil rights in the district. Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.

Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to work that would more directly benefit social service access for underserved populations. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader.

Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur is a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles. Chavez Zbur also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.

Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom. Based on our analysis, Chavez Zbur’s track record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Rick Chavez Zbur

Elect Rick Chavez Zbur to push AD-51 in the right direction.

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 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 12% are Republican and 58% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 points.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur and Democrat Louis Abramson. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $856,000, and has received donations from real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests. Abramson’s campaign has raised $125,000, and is entirely funded by individual donors.

Our Endorsement

Rick Chavez Zbur, a longtime civil rights leader and environmental advocate, is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to bring equitable leadership and bold change to the issues of homelessness, economic recovery, and civil rights in the district. Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.

Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to work that would more directly benefit social service access for underserved populations. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader.

Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur is a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles. Chavez Zbur also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.

Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom. Based on our analysis, Chavez Zbur’s track record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Rick Chavez Zbur

Elect Rick Chavez Zbur to push AD-51 in the right direction.

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 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 12% are Republican and 58% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 points.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur and Democrat Louis Abramson. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $856,000, and has received donations from real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests. Abramson’s campaign has raised $125,000, and is entirely funded by individual donors.

Our Endorsement

Rick Chavez Zbur, a longtime civil rights leader and environmental advocate, is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to bring equitable leadership and bold change to the issues of homelessness, economic recovery, and civil rights in the district. Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.

Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to work that would more directly benefit social service access for underserved populations. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader.

Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur is a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles. Chavez Zbur also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.

Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom. Based on our analysis, Chavez Zbur’s track record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Endorsed By: Courage California

Elect Rick Chavez Zbur to push AD-51 in the right direction.

The Position

The District

The Race

Our Endorsement

Last updated: 2022-06-07

Democrat
Rick Chavez Zbur

Website Endorsements
Elect Rick Chavez Zbur to push AD-51 in the right direction.

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 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 12% are Republican and 58% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, AD-51 is 5% more Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 64 points.

The Race

There are two candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Rick Chavez Zbur and Democrat Louis Abramson. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $856,000, and has received donations from real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests. Abramson’s campaign has raised $125,000, and is entirely funded by individual donors.

Our Endorsement

Rick Chavez Zbur, a longtime civil rights leader and environmental advocate, is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. According to campaign materials, he is running for election to bring equitable leadership and bold change to the issues of homelessness, economic recovery, and civil rights in the district. Chavez Zbur ran for Congress in 1996, but lost the election to the Republican incumbent by a ten-point margin.

Chavez Zbur is an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to work that would more directly benefit social service access for underserved populations. His work with Equality California dovetailed with the organization’s transition to civil rights advocacy, and he supported the passage of over 90 bills related to LGBTQIA+ justice during his time in leadership. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community would benefit him as a legislative leader.

Beyond civil rights issues, Chavez Zbur is a strong supporter of workers’ rights and economic reform, and views this as a gateway to more equitable access to housing, health care, education, and public services. His platform supports further increases to minimum wage, collective bargaining, and supported overtime, and lays out an ambitious vision of establishing a youth corps to connect homeless individuals with wraparound resources. He has also served as president and chair of California Environmental Voters, and would be a strong supporter of statewide efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels, subsidies to transition away from natural gas, and the governor’s goal of reducing gas-powered vehicles. Chavez Zbur also currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and has taken a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his organizational work.

Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of a strong majority of progressive groups, including Heart of LA Democratic Club, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, California Labor Federation, California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Westside Young Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of state and local leaders, including L.A. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Senator Alex Padilla, Congressmember Katie Porter, and Governor Gavin Newsom. Based on our analysis, Chavez Zbur’s track record of coalition-building and equity-focused work demonstrates that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Last updated: 2022-06-07

Endorsed By: Courage California

Congress

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

30th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat
Adam Schiff

Website

Share
Adam Schiff

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

Adam Schiff

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

Adam Schiff

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

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Democrat
Adam Schiff

Website
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

32nd Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat
Shervin Aazami

Website Endorsements

Share
Shervin Aazami

Elect Shervin Aazami to push CD-32 in the right direction.

Shervin Aazami

Elect Shervin Aazami to push CD-32 in the right direction.

Shervin Aazami

Elect Shervin Aazami to push CD-32 in the right direction.

Elect Shervin Aazami to push CD-32 in the right direction.

The Position

The District

California’s 32nd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 19% are Republican and 50% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 20% Latino, 12% Asian, and 5% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, CD-32 is 1% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that CD-32 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 39 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 40 points.

The Race

There are six candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Shervin Aazami and Democratic Incumbent Representative Brad Sherman and Republican Challenger Melissa Toomin. Rep. Sherman’s campaign has not committed to any pledges and is funded by the real estate industry, defense manufacturers, and corporate interests, like Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs. He has also accepted thousands of dollars in corporate PAC money from the banking, investment banking, financial services, and payday-lending industries, respectively. Aazami’s campaign has raised $134,148 and is not funded by fossil fuel money, real estate money, police unions, or corporate PAC money.

The Recommendation

Shervin Aazami, a public-health advocate, was born in Italy to Iranian refugees, and moved to Canoga Park in the San Fernando Valley when he was a toddler. According to campaign materials, he is running for election because he thinks corporate-backed politicians like incumbent Brad Sherman have done little to protect and support the most vulnerable populations, and actively oppose meaningful progressive change. Aazami has not run for office previously.

Aazami works in public health and also worked in national Indigenous health-care advocacy, helping to pass legislation that reduced the financial burden of health care for Native American veterans, devoted funding to opioid-related care and behavioral health, and secured direct funding for tribal governments to respond to COVID-19. Aazami’s platform supports progressive policies like Medicare for All, criminal-justice reform, decriminalizing immigration, and the Green New Deal. His policy proposals also center racial and economic justice, from calling for reparations to abolishing cash bail and civil-asset forfeiture to outlawing exclusionary zoning to raising the federal minimum wage to $15.

Aazami has the endorsement of many progressive groups in the district, including Progressive Democrats of America, Ground Game LA, Healthcare for All LA, Sunrise Movement LA, and Youth Climate Strike LA. Based on our analysis, Aazami’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of CD-32 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Democrat
Shervin Aazami

Website Endorsements
Elect Shervin Aazami to push CD-32 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 32nd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. Of the registered voters in this district, 19% are Republican and 50% are Democrat, and the district’s demographic breakdown is 20% Latino, 12% Asian, and 5% Black. After the 2021 redistricting process, CD-32 is 1% less Democratic than it was during the 2020 general election cycle. The most recent election results show that CD-32 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 39 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018 by 40 points.

The Race

There are six candidates running for this seat, including Democrat Shervin Aazami and Democratic Incumbent Representative Brad Sherman and Republican Challenger Melissa Toomin. Rep. Sherman’s campaign has not committed to any pledges and is funded by the real estate industry, defense manufacturers, and corporate interests, like Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs. He has also accepted thousands of dollars in corporate PAC money from the banking, investment banking, financial services, and payday-lending industries, respectively. Aazami’s campaign has raised $134,148 and is not funded by fossil fuel money, real estate money, police unions, or corporate PAC money.

The Recommendation

Shervin Aazami, a public-health advocate, was born in Italy to Iranian refugees, and moved to Canoga Park in the San Fernando Valley when he was a toddler. According to campaign materials, he is running for election because he thinks corporate-backed politicians like incumbent Brad Sherman have done little to protect and support the most vulnerable populations, and actively oppose meaningful progressive change. Aazami has not run for office previously.

Aazami works in public health and also worked in national Indigenous health-care advocacy, helping to pass legislation that reduced the financial burden of health care for Native American veterans, devoted funding to opioid-related care and behavioral health, and secured direct funding for tribal governments to respond to COVID-19. Aazami’s platform supports progressive policies like Medicare for All, criminal-justice reform, decriminalizing immigration, and the Green New Deal. His policy proposals also center racial and economic justice, from calling for reparations to abolishing cash bail and civil-asset forfeiture to outlawing exclusionary zoning to raising the federal minimum wage to $15.

Aazami has the endorsement of many progressive groups in the district, including Progressive Democrats of America, Ground Game LA, Healthcare for All LA, Sunrise Movement LA, and Youth Climate Strike LA. Based on our analysis, Aazami’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive champion for the constituents of CD-32 and will govern effectively in the best interest of this diverse district.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

36th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat
Ted Lieu

Website Endorsements

Share
Ted Lieu

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

Ted Lieu

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

Ted Lieu

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

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

The 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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Democrat
Ted Lieu

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

37th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat
Sydney Kamlager

Website Endorsements

Share
Sydney Kamlager

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

Sydney Kamlager

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

Sydney Kamlager

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

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

The Position

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Democrat
Sydney Kamlager

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Los Angeles County

Voting has changed in Los Angeles County this year. The Voter’s Choice Act was enacted in the county to make voting more convenient. Changes include an expanded period of in-person early voting, every registered voter in the county will receive a vote-by-mail ballot, and every registered voter in the county is able to vote in-person at any Vote Center in their county. Also, in-person voters in Los Angeles County will have the opportunity to use the new Ballot Marking Device, a touchscreen with audio features, to mark their ballots. Have questions about the changes to voting in Los Angeles County? Find out how to vote in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles Sheriff

No Recommendation

LA County Sheriff -- No rec

Based on our analysis, four of the challengers for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the challenger who best aligns with your values in this race.

LA County Sheriff -- No rec

Based on our analysis, four of the challengers for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the challenger who best aligns with your values in this race.

The Position

Each of the 58 counties in California elects a sheriff to police unincorporated areas of a county, to manage county jails, and to act as security in local government buildings. The sheriff is a constitutionally elected official. A sheriff’s role can vary from county to county, but they tend to be sworn peace officers with the power to make arrests, serve before a magistrate or a judge, serve warrants for arrest, and give tickets and citations. Sheriffs are elected to four-year terms in office.

The District

Los Angeles is California’s most populous county, with a population of 10 million. Los Angeles County’s sheriff is responsible for policing cities and unincorporated areas that span approximately 4,100 square miles. The sheriff’s department manages 911 services, seven inmate facilities, and security for the Superior Court, community college system, and 216 facilities and clinics. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is the largest in the country, with a staff of 18,000 and an annual budget of $3.5 billion. Los Angeles County has a demographic breakdown of 48% Latino, 15% Asian, and 8% Black.

The Race

There are nine candidates running for this nonpartisan seat, including incumbent Sheriff Alex Villanuevo, Robert Luna, Cecil Rhambo, Matt Rodriguez, and Eli Vera. Sheriff Villanuevo’s campaign has raised $1.8 million and has not received donations from fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or police interests. Luna’s campaign has raised $260,000 and has not received donations from police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. Rhambo’s campaign has raised $291,000 and has not received donations from police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. Vera’s campaign has raised $217,000 and has not received donations from police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

No Recommendation

Sheriff Alex Villanueva, a veteran and longtime law-enforcement official, grew up in Puerto Rico and has lived in Los Angeles for most of his adult life. He is running for reelection to continue his efforts to restore the California dream through departmental reforms. Sheriff Villanueva defeated incumbent Sheriff Jim McDonnell by a margin of six points to win his first term in 2018.

Sheriff Villanueva served as a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, including as a lieutenant and a sergeant, for 35 years before his election in 2018. He holds a doctor of public administration degree, and was a criminal-justice professor at Cal State University-Long Beach for several years. He is the first Spanish-speaking sheriff in the department’s history, and is the first Democrat to hold this seat in 140 years. Sheriff Villanueva ran a progressive race in 2018, but has since become a provocative and controversial figure in the community. During his tenure, he has evaded accountability and oversight by refusing to comply with subpoenas, failing to enforce vaccination mandates for the department, issuing veiled threats to journalists for reporting on use of force, and has not complying with the Brady List requirement that deputy misconduct be formally reported. This defiance has been coupled with general corruption, and his shift to the right has earned him airtime on Fox News. He has reinstated a deputy accused of misconduct, has failed to eradicate deputy gangs in the police force, has been antagonistic in his criticism of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, and has openly and aggressively targeted his political enemies.

Villanueva is endorsed by the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs and many Republican and Democratic local leaders. The Los Angeles County Democratic Party has called for his resignation.

Robert Luna, a retired police chief, grew up in East Los Angeles and is a longtime resident of Long Beach. He is running for election to bring order and community-centered policing back to the sheriff’s department. He has not run for public office before, and is the only candidate in this race who is outside the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Chief Luna had a 36-year career with the Long Beach Police Department, in which he held positions of increasing rank until he was named chief in 2014. He credits his experience of growing up in an East Los Angeles neighborhood that was patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department with demonstrating both the good and bad effects of policing, and inspiring his career path. He holds a master’s in public administration from Cal State University-Long Beach, has graduated from the FBI National Executive Institute and National Academy, and has completed Harvard University’s program for senior executives in state and local government. Chief Luna maintains a straightforward agenda centered on community-based policing, relationship-building, crime prevention, and prison reform. He has affirmed his interest in leading the department back toward full coordination with the board of supervisors and the LAPD to reestablish accountability and transparency in the department. However, his time with the LAPD was not without controversy. Under his leadership, interviews after officer-involved shootings were eliminated, 61 excessive-force lawsuits were settled, laws around record retention were intentionally evaded, and he supported a specialized unit designated to target gay men for lewd conduct. He has also expressed concerning views about criminalizing homelessness while simultaneously indicating that the sheriff’s department should be directly involved in resolving the housing crisis.

Luna is endorsed by the Los Angeles Times, East Area Progressive Democrats, and San Fernando Valley Young Democrats. He is also endorsed by many local and state leaders, including Representative Alan Lowenthal, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, and State Senator Lena Gonzalez.

Cecil Rhambo, a career law-enforcement officer, is from South Los Angeles. He is running for election to clean up and reform the department. He has not run for public office before.

Rhambo is currently the chief of Airport Police at the Los Angeles International Airport, and rose through the ranks of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office during a 33-year career with the department. He has experience in narcotics, undercover work, as the head of the Asian Crime Task Force, and as captain of Compton patrol. Rhambo has touted his involvement in a variety of initiatives to demonstrate his aptitude for reform, including the establishment of an internal-misconduct database, community policing and gang reduction in Compton, and outreach partnerships to address homelessness. However, his track record also demonstrates a complicity in departmental corruption. He has interpersonal ties to deputy gang members and has been listed in multiple lawsuits for staying silent on misconduct perpetrated by deputy gangs, he proposes no reforms to the current management of fatal officer-involved shootings, and has been reluctant to speak on the issue of excessive force.

Rhambo is endorsed by local SEIUs, UNITE HERE Local 11, Los Angeles African American Women PAC, Westside Young Democrats, and several Democratic clubs. He is also endorsed by many local and state leaders, including Representative Maxine Waters, Senator Sydney Kamlager, and L.A. Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

Matt Rodriguez, a career law-enforcement officer, is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles County. He is running for election to bring conservative leadership and values back to the sheriff’s department. He has not run for public office before.

Rodriguez retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department with 25 years of service in roles of increasing responsibility, served as the interim chief of police for Santa Paula, was deputy director of Transit Security for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, and was director of Public Safety for the City of Commerce. He holds a master’s in executive leadership from the USC School of Public Policy and a master’s in Public Administration from Cal State University-Long Beach. Rodriguez is an outspoken supporter of the Second Amendment, and his platform includes a promise that he will simplify conceal-carry access for licensed gun owners. He is a self-described conservative Republican and Trump supporter, and has puppeted a variety of right-wing talking points, including claims that the sheriff’s department has been defunded and a vow to not enforce vaccine mandates for department staff. He has also advocated for the recall of District Attorney George Gascon.

Rodriguez has not publicly listed any endorsements.

Eli Vera, a veteran and career law-enforcement officer, is from Los Angeles. He is running for election to strengthen the connection between local residents and the sheriff’s department. He has not run for public office before.

Vera is a 33-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and has served in roles of increasing responsibility across several jurisdictions during his career. Prior to beginning his police training, he served in the Marine Corps. He has close ties to incumbent Sheriff Villanueva, who appointed him to a task force that ultimately reinstated an officer who had been credibly accused of domestic abuse, and he has been named in lawsuits related to ongoing deputy gang harassment. Vera was one of two officers involved in the fatal shooting of Julio Castillo in 1999. He favors an expansion of authority for the sheriff’s office that would give them jurisdiction over homelessness, job-placement programs, and youth programs.

Vera is endorsed by AFSCME Local 119 and LA County Professional Peace Officers Association. He is also endorsed by some local elected leaders.

Each candidate brings a unique approach and vision to the campaign for the Los Angeles County sheriff’s seat. Many groups have opted not to endorse in this race, though there is broad opposition to Villanueva’s reelection. We encourage you to select the challenger who best aligns with your values and who you believe will govern in the best interest of the diverse constituents of the district.

Last updated: 2022-06-02

Statewide

U.S. Senator

Democrat
Alex Padilla

Website Endorsements

Share
Alex Padilla

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

Read more about Alex Padilla

Alex Padilla

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

Read more about Alex Padilla

Alex Padilla

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

Read more about Alex Padilla

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-07

Democrat
Alex Padilla

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-07

Governor

Democrat
Gavin Newsom

Website

Share
Gavin Newsom

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

Read more about Gavin Newsom

Gavin Newsom

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

Read more about Gavin Newsom

Gavin Newsom

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

Read more about Gavin Newsom

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.

Last updated: 2022-05-27

Democrat
Gavin Newsom

Website
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.

Last updated: 2022-05-27

Lt. Governor

Democrat
Eleni Kounalakis

Website Endorsements

Share
Eleni Kounalakis

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

Read more about Eleni Kounalakis

Eleni Kounalakis

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

Read more about Eleni Kounalakis

Eleni Kounalakis

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

Read more about Eleni Kounalakis

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Democrat
Eleni Kounalakis

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Attorney General

Democrat
Rob Bonta

Website Endorsements

Share
Rob Bonta

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

Read more about Rob Bonta

Rob Bonta

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

Read more about Rob Bonta

Rob Bonta

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

Read more about Rob Bonta

Endorsed By: Courage California

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Democrat
Rob Bonta

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Endorsed By: Courage California

Secretary of State

Democrat
Shirley Weber

Website

Share
Shirley Weber

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

Read more about Shirley Weber

Shirley Weber

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

Read more about Shirley Weber

Shirley Weber

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

Read more about Shirley Weber

Endorsed By: Courage California

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Democrat
Shirley Weber

Website
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Endorsed By: Courage California

State Treasurer

Democrat
Fiona Ma

Website Endorsements

Share
Fiona Ma

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

Read more about Fiona Ma

Fiona Ma

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

Read more about Fiona Ma

Fiona Ma

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

Read more about Fiona Ma

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-07

Democrat
Fiona Ma

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-07

State Controller

Democrat
Malia Cohen

Website Endorsements

Share
Malia Cohen

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

Read more about Malia Cohen

Malia Cohen

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

Read more about Malia Cohen

Malia Cohen

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

Read more about Malia Cohen

Endorsed By: Courage California

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-03

Democrat
Malia Cohen

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-03

Endorsed By: Courage California

Board of Equalization, District 1

Democrat
Braden Murphy

Website Endorsements

Share
Braden Murphy

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

Read more about Braden Murphy

Braden Murphy

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

Read more about Braden Murphy

Braden Murphy

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

Read more about Braden Murphy

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Democrat
Braden Murphy

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Board of Equalization, District 2

Democrat
Sally Lieber

Website Endorsements

Share
Sally Lieber

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

Read more about Sally Lieber

Sally Lieber

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

Read more about Sally Lieber

Sally Lieber

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

Read more about Sally Lieber

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

The Position

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Democrat
Sally Lieber

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Board of Equalization, District 4

Democrat
David Dodson

Website Endorsements

Share
David Dodson

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

Read more about David Dodson

David Dodson

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

Read more about David Dodson

David Dodson

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

Read more about David Dodson

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

The Position

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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01

Democrat
David Dodson

Website Endorsements
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.

Last updated: 2022-06-01