Reelect Assemblymember Chris Ward to keep AD-78 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Chris Ward’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-78 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Ward has the endorsement of many groups, including Planned Parenthood, California Environmental Justice Alliance Action, YIMBY California, as well as labor unions, like SEIU, CA Federation of Teachers, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Treasurer Fiona Ma, Assm. Anthony Rendon, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
Top issues: Housing, education, and environmental research and protections.
Priority bills: This legislative session, Assm. Ward’s priorities for AD-78 have included 45 bills about expanding housing options, environmental and climate protections, practical education for high school and college students, simplifying the name- and gender-change process, and protecting majority votes on ballot measures. Of these, 14 have been successfully chaptered into law, three have died, and the rest remain in committee. In 2023, he sponsored and passed legislation to increase the development of ADU’s as affordable housing, protect transgender youth by automatically sealing any name change or sex-identifier change requests that are filed by individuals under the age of 18, provide compensation to youth who serve on a school board, and establish a pilot program to install bike lane cameras in some cities to collect safety data and improve infrastructure. He also authored ACA 13 to ensure that a simple majority vote remains the standard for passing a ballot measure, which will go to a statewide vote in 2026. In 2024, he proposed legislation to limit bulk home purchases by institutional investors, eliminate barriers for CSU in developing affordable housing for faculty, staff, and students, and create a civil structure by which individuals who have been doxxed can receive restitution. He authored AB 1955, the Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today’s Youth Act (SAFETY Act), which prohibits school districts from adopting policies that forcibly out LGBTQIA+ students and was signed into law in July 2024. Assm. Ward scored a 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and earned the distinction of being a Courage All-Star. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Ward supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote last year.
Member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus?: Yes
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Ward currently sits on 6 committees, including Labor and Employment, Transportation, Privacy and Consumer Protection, and Local Government. He serves as chair of the standing committee on Housing and Community Development, and as chair of the select committee on Biotechnology. He is the vice chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
Governance and community leadership Experience: Assm. Ward has served in this assembly seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 55% of the vote against a Democratic challenger.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Ward served on the San Diego City Council. He has also worked as chief of staff to Democratic State Senator Marty Block and as an environmental planner. He is an advocate for conservation and environmental protections, and has written several Assembly bills to strengthen public transit, make renewable energy more accessible, and improve California’s response to climate change. As a city councilmember, he helped ban styrofoam and single-use plastics. Ward is also a supporter of “housing first” strategies to address the housing crisis, and chairs the San Diego County Regional Task Force on the Homeless. Assm. Ward is one of six openly LGBTQIA+ members of the Assembly. While on the city council, he drafted San Diego’s Equal Pay Ordinance, and served on the board of two organizations focused on supporting and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community: the San Diego LGBT Center and the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation.
Other background: Assm. Chris Ward is from Germany and moved to San Diego as an adult. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins, and his master’s in public policy and urban planning from Harvard.
The Race
Primary election results: The March 2024 results included incumbent Assm. Chris Ward (D) 100%. Assm. Chris Ward is running unopposed in the November 5 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Ward’s campaign has raised $757,000 and is funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, and real estate interests. His problematic donors include Edison International, California Real Estate PAC, California Correctional Peace Officers Association Local PAC, and AirBnB Inc.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 38th Assembly District includes parts of San Diego County.
Voter registration: 48% Democrat, 21% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 18% Latino, 16% Asian, and 6% Black.
Recent election results: AD-78 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 39 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 33 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 62 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats and one seat is vacant.
Reelect Assemblymember Chris Ward to keep AD-78 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Chris Ward’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-78 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Ward has the endorsement of many groups, including Planned Parenthood, California Environmental Justice Alliance Action, YIMBY California, as well as labor unions, like SEIU, CA Federation of Teachers, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Treasurer Fiona Ma, Assm. Anthony Rendon, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
Top issues: Housing, education, and environmental research and protections.
Priority bills: This legislative session, Assm. Ward’s priorities for AD-78 have included 45 bills about expanding housing options, environmental and climate protections, practical education for high school and college students, simplifying the name- and gender-change process, and protecting majority votes on ballot measures. Of these, 14 have been successfully chaptered into law, three have died, and the rest remain in committee. In 2023, he sponsored and passed legislation to increase the development of ADU’s as affordable housing, protect transgender youth by automatically sealing any name change or sex-identifier change requests that are filed by individuals under the age of 18, provide compensation to youth who serve on a school board, and establish a pilot program to install bike lane cameras in some cities to collect safety data and improve infrastructure. He also authored ACA 13 to ensure that a simple majority vote remains the standard for passing a ballot measure, which will go to a statewide vote in 2026. In 2024, he proposed legislation to limit bulk home purchases by institutional investors, eliminate barriers for CSU in developing affordable housing for faculty, staff, and students, and create a civil structure by which individuals who have been doxxed can receive restitution. He authored AB 1955, the Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today’s Youth Act (SAFETY Act), which prohibits school districts from adopting policies that forcibly out LGBTQIA+ students and was signed into law in July 2024. Assm. Ward scored a 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and earned the distinction of being a Courage All-Star. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Ward supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote last year.
Member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus?: Yes
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Ward currently sits on 6 committees, including Labor and Employment, Transportation, Privacy and Consumer Protection, and Local Government. He serves as chair of the standing committee on Housing and Community Development, and as chair of the select committee on Biotechnology. He is the vice chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
Governance and community leadership Experience: Assm. Ward has served in this assembly seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 55% of the vote against a Democratic challenger.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Ward served on the San Diego City Council. He has also worked as chief of staff to Democratic State Senator Marty Block and as an environmental planner. He is an advocate for conservation and environmental protections, and has written several Assembly bills to strengthen public transit, make renewable energy more accessible, and improve California’s response to climate change. As a city councilmember, he helped ban styrofoam and single-use plastics. Ward is also a supporter of “housing first” strategies to address the housing crisis, and chairs the San Diego County Regional Task Force on the Homeless. Assm. Ward is one of six openly LGBTQIA+ members of the Assembly. While on the city council, he drafted San Diego’s Equal Pay Ordinance, and served on the board of two organizations focused on supporting and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community: the San Diego LGBT Center and the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation.
Other background: Assm. Chris Ward is from Germany and moved to San Diego as an adult. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins, and his master’s in public policy and urban planning from Harvard.
The Race
Primary election results: The March 2024 results included incumbent Assm. Chris Ward (D) 100%. Assm. Chris Ward is running unopposed in the November 5 general election.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Ward’s campaign has raised $757,000 and is funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, and real estate interests. His problematic donors include Edison International, California Real Estate PAC, California Correctional Peace Officers Association Local PAC, and AirBnB Inc.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 38th Assembly District includes parts of San Diego County.
Voter registration: 48% Democrat, 21% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 18% Latino, 16% Asian, and 6% Black.
Recent election results: AD-78 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 39 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 33 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 62 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats and one seat is vacant.