Progressive Voters Guide Powered by Courage California

Courage California recommends that voters DO NOT sign circulating petitions for the recalls of Councilmember Lopez and Councilmember Phan. 

 

About the Recall Effort

Two members of the Santa Ana City Council – Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Jessie Lopez (Ward 3) and Councilmember Thai Viet Phan (Ward 1) – are being  targeted for a recall effort led by the Santa Ana Police Officers Association (SAPOA).

 

In December 2022, four of the seven members of the City Council voted in favor of limiting police officer salary raises to 3%. This salary deal is estimated to cost the city $1.23 million, while previous proposals the SAPAO were advocating for were estimated to cost the city as much as $25 million. The deal also required that SAPAO president, Gerry Serrano, spend at least 50% of his time on police duties. Although four members of the City Council voted in favor of the smaller salary package, Serrano and SAPOA have targeted only the two women of color for this recall effort. 

 

This is not the first time the police union has led a recall effort against a member of the city council. In 2020, the union advocated for the successful recall of Councilmember Cecilia Iglesias after she publicly opposed a multi-million dollar salary increase for the police union. 

 

The SAPOA was recently forced by an Orange County Superior Court to pay the City of Santa Ana over $40,000 for filing frivolous claims against city employees.

 

Top Funders in Support

The SAPOA is the primary funder of the two recall committees - Residents for Responsible Leadership in Support of the Recall of Jessie Lopez and Residents for Responsible Leadership in Support of the Recall of Thai Viet Phan. Total donations of over $370,000 have been issued through the SAPOA Independent Expenditure Committee since the recall effort was established in December 2022. The Independent Expenditure Committee is primarily funded through the donations of individuals affiliated with the police department, but has also received funds from Apartment Association of Orange County PAC. 

 

Both committees are chaired by Tim Rush, a local real estate professional, who has spoken out in support of real estate interests on several recent City Council decisions, including a 2021 rent control policy, limiting landlord rights, housing development fees, and vacancy taxation on empty rental properties. 

 

Top Funders in Opposition

Councilmember Lopez has the support of two committees - Santa Ana Taxpayers Against the Corrupt Recall of Jessie Lopez and Working Families Against the Recall of Jessie Lopez - that have raised $7,000 from individual donors as of the March campaign finance filing. She has the sponsorship of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324. 

 

The committee supporting Councilmember Phan, Santa Ana Taxpayers Against Corrupt Recall of Councilmember Thai Viet Phan, has raised $14,000 primarily from individual donors. She has also received contributions from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324. 

 

Organizations Opposing the Recall

Councilmember Lopez has received support from California Working Families Party, Chispa, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324, OC Action, Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, and SAUSD President Carolyn Torres. She has also received previous campaign endorsements from Run for Something, and Orange County Young Democrats.

 

Councilmember Phan has received support from California Working Families Party, OC Action, and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324. She has also received previous campaign endorsements from PIVOT (The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization), YIMBY Action, and Orange County Democrats. 

 

Misinformation About the Recall

  • There are FALSE assertions from those in favor of the recall that recent policy decisions from Councilmember Lopez and Councilmember Phan have encouraged landlords to increase local rents by an average of 15%. In reality, they each voted in favor of a rent control measure in 2021 that capped rent increases at 3% annually.
  • Councilmember Lopez and Councilmember Phan have supported a vacancy tax on empty buildings in an effort to incentivize owners to develop their properties, contribute to improving the housing crisis, and diminish blight in local communities. Claims that this taxation is designed to further the housing affordability crisis are FALSE.
  • The narrative that Councilmember Lopez and Councilmember Phan have supported a full defunding of the police is FALSE. In October 2021, they each supported a new program designed to route some 911 calls to mental health providers, and supported reductions in some corrupt and ineffective violent crime divisions. These reforms were necessary after the Santa Ana Police Department was ranked among the worst in the state in a 2019 report based on incidents of brutality and the operating expense to taxpayers. 

 

Our Recommendation

Supporters of the recall are required to gather signatures from 20% of registered voters in each ward by early August to qualify for the ballot. Courage California’s analysis shows this recall to be a bad faith effort by law enforcement and real estate developers to secure a City Council more favorable to their interests. This effort has been launched in direct opposition to the will of the voters who elected these two members to the City Council in 2020. We recommend that voters decline to sign circulating petitions for the recall of Councilmember Lopez and Councilmember Phan. 

Courage California recommends that voters DO NOT sign circulating petitions for the recalls of Councilmember Lopez and Councilmember Phan. 

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Election Day November 4, 2025
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Statewide Ballot Measures

Proposition #50

VOTE YES

Vote YES on Proposition 50 to approve new congressional district lines and give Californians another pathway to fight back against the Trump administration.

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Since day one, Californians have been on the frontlines of protecting our communities under attack by the Trump administration and his MAGA Republicans. With Proposition 50, California voters have another opportunity to fight back against the Republican cuts to healthcare, the rising cost of living under tariffs and corporate price gouging, and the cruel abductions and forced removals of immigrants. 

Proposition 50 isn’t a permanent change to California’s elections, but rather a direct response to a Republican power grab orchestrated by President Trump and state leaders in Texas, who redrew Congressional district lines to gain five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Proposition 50 proposes new lines for many of California’s 52 congressional districts, which would negate the five Republican seats drawn by Texas. If passed, the new California congressional districts would be in effect solely for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections, after which redistricting would be returned to the state’s independent redistricting commission following the 2030 census. Under the proposed lines, Democrats could gain up to 5 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. With a majority in the House, Democrats can fight back against Trump and Republicans’ MAGA agenda. 

While the new Texas districts minimize the power of voters – especially voters of color and people who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 – and were passed without any public input, the proposed California map was drawn with public input, and it is ultimately up to voters to approve.

Why voting YES on Proposition 50 matters

  • Trump has been able to achieve much of his agenda due to the current regime’s narrow majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives (219-212) and Senate (51-49), which has refused to put checks on his power.
  • In July, Trump used those narrow Republican House and Senate majorities to pass a federal budget that will cut healthcare coverage for 15 million people, cut renter support by more than half, raise the cost of student loans for nearly 43 million student loan borrowers, defund Planned Parenthood, and much more – all to pay for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy and triple the budget for inhumane attacks on immigrant communities. All of this was done against the will of the people, 2 in 3 of whom opposed the new budget, which is why Trump and MAGA Republicans are trying to rig the midterm elections in favor of Republicans. In contrast, House and Senate Democrats have authored bills to expand Medicare to provide health insurance to all Americans, fund more affordable housing, make public colleges and universities tuition-free, protect abortion nationwide, and provide a pathway to citizenship – none of which will pass with Republican majorities.
  • California is currently represented by 43 Democrats and 9 Republicans in the House, and 2 Democrats in the Senate. All nine Republicans voted in favor of the federal budget, and all Democrats voted against it. If voters pass Proposition 50, California House representation could shift to 48 Democrats and 4 Republicans, and determine majority control of the House.
  • This special election is ultimately about Californians defending our democracy –  leading the nation as Trump and Republican leaders try to erase the voting power of Black and Latino voters in Texas and other states. In red states, mid-decade redistricting is being led by political legislators ignoring the will of the people, but in California, voters will have the final say on the new map and on how we want our leaders to stand up for our state and nation. And then we can fight back against the billionaire-backed raids on our communities, our social safety net, and our wallets.
     

Support for Proposition 50:

  • Yes on Prop 50 is supported by California and national Democrats and progressives, including former President Barack Obama, former Attorney General and chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee Eric Holder, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
  • California groups and leaders, like Courage California, SEIU California, the California Labor Federation, California Teachers Association, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California Working Families Party, and organizations that worked on the Census and redistricting in 2020, like Inland Empire United and Communities for a New California Action Fund.
  • Supporters back Proposition with the understanding that it is a temporary solution and that redistricting will return to the independent redistricting commission in 2030.
  • The Stop Election Rigging Response Act ballot measure committee of Governor Newsom in support of Prop 50 has raised over $13 million, with significant contributions from Governor Newsom’s campaign committees, House Majority PAC, California Teachers Association, SEIU California, and California Labor Federation, several business and tech executives, and other individual donors. 
     

Opposition to Proposition 50: 

  • No on Prop 50 is supported by California and national Republicans, some of whom helped establish the independent redistricting commission, like former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Republican megadonor Charles Munger Jr.
  • Several state Republicans and Democrats have expressed opposition or doubt about Proposition 50, as well as concerns about how mid-decade redistricting would play out across the nation and in the long term.
  • Munger – who has supported Republican candidates, anti-abortion centers, and anti-LBGTQ+ groups – established the Protect Voters First committee and is the primary funder of the committee, having committed $30 million to oppose Prop 50.
  • The Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab committee is led by former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former California Republican Party Chair Jessica Millan Patterson. 
     

Disinformation about Proposition 50:

  • Mid-decade redistricting in California is in the hands of the voters and is NOT a threat to our democracy and fair elections – the real threat is an authoritarian president attacking our cities and communities, dismantling the programs and services we all depend on, and instructing Republican state leaders to rig their elections without any voter input.
  • Proposition 50 does NOT dismantle or attack the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The ballot measure gives voters the choice on whether or not to adopt a new, temporary congressional map until the commission resumes redistricting on its usual timeline after the 2030 census.
  • The proposed maps have NOT been secret. The state legislature published interactive maps, held public hearings, and welcomed public comment on the maps before they voted to put Proposition 50 on the ballot in August. Voters will have the final say on our congressional map. None of the Republican-led states considering mid-decade redistricting has given its voters any opportunity to weigh in on new maps.
  • Misleading No on Prop 50 flyers have included quotes from organizations that support election reforms and voter rights, like California Common Cause and the League of Women Voters California. Neither organization opposes Proposition 50. In fact, Common Cause has judged that California’s redistricting ballot measure meets its fairness criteria, while Texas’s does not.
     

Key Special Election Dates

The last day to register to vote: October 20, 2025

For eligible citizens who miss the voter registration deadline, Same Day Voter Registration is available at county elections offices, polling places, or vote centers.

All California registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot from your county elections office starting October 6, 2025.

Return your vote-by-mail ballots by mail, at a drop-off location, or your county elections office.

  • Ballot drop-off locations open on October 7
  • Vote centers open for early in-person voting in Voter’s Choice Act counties beginning October 25
  • Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by November 12 to be counted. Get your ballot in early to make sure it gets counted!
     

Go to Your Power is Your Vote to register to vote, check your voter registration, and sign up for election reminders. Sign up to track your ballot directly through the California Secretary of State’s BallotTrax.  

>> Make sure you are registered to vote, and return your Yes on Proposition 50 ballot by November 4, 2025! <<

Since day one, Californians have been on the frontlines of protecting our communities under attack by the Trump administration and his MAGA Republicans. With Proposition 50, California voters have another opportunity to fight back against the Republican cuts to healthcare, the rising cost of living under tariffs and corporate price gouging, and the cruel abductions and forced removals of immigrants. 

Proposition 50 isn’t a permanent change to California’s elections, but rather a direct response to a Republican power grab orchestrated by President Trump and state leaders in Texas, who redrew Congressional district lines to gain five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Proposition 50 proposes new lines for many of California’s 52 congressional districts, which would negate the five Republican seats drawn by Texas. If passed, the new California congressional districts would be in effect solely for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections, after which redistricting would be returned to the state’s independent redistricting commission following the 2030 census. Under the proposed lines, Democrats could gain up to 5 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. With a majority in the House, Democrats can fight back against Trump and Republicans’ MAGA agenda. 

While the new Texas districts minimize the power of voters – especially voters of color and people who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 – and were passed without any public input, the proposed California map was drawn with public input, and it is ultimately up to voters to approve.

Why voting YES on Proposition 50 matters

  • Trump has been able to achieve much of his agenda due to the current regime’s narrow majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives (219-212) and Senate (51-49), which has refused to put checks on his power.
  • In July, Trump used those narrow Republican House and Senate majorities to pass a federal budget that will cut healthcare coverage for 15 million people, cut renter support by more than half, raise the cost of student loans for nearly 43 million student loan borrowers, defund Planned Parenthood, and much more – all to pay for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy and triple the budget for inhumane attacks on immigrant communities. All of this was done against the will of the people, 2 in 3 of whom opposed the new budget, which is why Trump and MAGA Republicans are trying to rig the midterm elections in favor of Republicans. In contrast, House and Senate Democrats have authored bills to expand Medicare to provide health insurance to all Americans, fund more affordable housing, make public colleges and universities tuition-free, protect abortion nationwide, and provide a pathway to citizenship – none of which will pass with Republican majorities.
  • California is currently represented by 43 Democrats and 9 Republicans in the House, and 2 Democrats in the Senate. All nine Republicans voted in favor of the federal budget, and all Democrats voted against it. If voters pass Proposition 50, California House representation could shift to 48 Democrats and 4 Republicans, and determine majority control of the House.
  • This special election is ultimately about Californians defending our democracy –  leading the nation as Trump and Republican leaders try to erase the voting power of Black and Latino voters in Texas and other states. In red states, mid-decade redistricting is being led by political legislators ignoring the will of the people, but in California, voters will have the final say on the new map and on how we want our leaders to stand up for our state and nation. And then we can fight back against the billionaire-backed raids on our communities, our social safety net, and our wallets.
     

Support for Proposition 50:

  • Yes on Prop 50 is supported by California and national Democrats and progressives, including former President Barack Obama, former Attorney General and chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee Eric Holder, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
  • California groups and leaders, like Courage California, SEIU California, the California Labor Federation, California Teachers Association, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California Working Families Party, and organizations that worked on the Census and redistricting in 2020, like Inland Empire United and Communities for a New California Action Fund.
  • Supporters back Proposition with the understanding that it is a temporary solution and that redistricting will return to the independent redistricting commission in 2030.
  • The Stop Election Rigging Response Act ballot measure committee of Governor Newsom in support of Prop 50 has raised over $13 million, with significant contributions from Governor Newsom’s campaign committees, House Majority PAC, California Teachers Association, SEIU California, and California Labor Federation, several business and tech executives, and other individual donors. 
     

Opposition to Proposition 50: 

  • No on Prop 50 is supported by California and national Republicans, some of whom helped establish the independent redistricting commission, like former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Republican megadonor Charles Munger Jr.
  • Several state Republicans and Democrats have expressed opposition or doubt about Proposition 50, as well as concerns about how mid-decade redistricting would play out across the nation and in the long term.
  • Munger – who has supported Republican candidates, anti-abortion centers, and anti-LBGTQ+ groups – established the Protect Voters First committee and is the primary funder of the committee, having committed $30 million to oppose Prop 50.
  • The Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab committee is led by former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former California Republican Party Chair Jessica Millan Patterson. 
     

Disinformation about Proposition 50:

  • Mid-decade redistricting in California is in the hands of the voters and is NOT a threat to our democracy and fair elections – the real threat is an authoritarian president attacking our cities and communities, dismantling the programs and services we all depend on, and instructing Republican state leaders to rig their elections without any voter input.
  • Proposition 50 does NOT dismantle or attack the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The ballot measure gives voters the choice on whether or not to adopt a new, temporary congressional map until the commission resumes redistricting on its usual timeline after the 2030 census.
  • The proposed maps have NOT been secret. The state legislature published interactive maps, held public hearings, and welcomed public comment on the maps before they voted to put Proposition 50 on the ballot in August. Voters will have the final say on our congressional map. None of the Republican-led states considering mid-decade redistricting has given its voters any opportunity to weigh in on new maps.
  • Misleading No on Prop 50 flyers have included quotes from organizations that support election reforms and voter rights, like California Common Cause and the League of Women Voters California. Neither organization opposes Proposition 50. In fact, Common Cause has judged that California’s redistricting ballot measure meets its fairness criteria, while Texas’s does not.
     

Key Special Election Dates

The last day to register to vote: October 20, 2025

For eligible citizens who miss the voter registration deadline, Same Day Voter Registration is available at county elections offices, polling places, or vote centers.

All California registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot from your county elections office starting October 6, 2025.

Return your vote-by-mail ballots by mail, at a drop-off location, or your county elections office.

  • Ballot drop-off locations open on October 7
  • Vote centers open for early in-person voting in Voter’s Choice Act counties beginning October 25
  • Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by November 12 to be counted. Get your ballot in early to make sure it gets counted!
     

Go to Your Power is Your Vote to register to vote, check your voter registration, and sign up for election reminders. Sign up to track your ballot directly through the California Secretary of State’s BallotTrax.  

>> Make sure you are registered to vote, and return your Yes on Proposition 50 ballot by November 4, 2025! <<