No Recommendation
AD33 - No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, two candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
Endorsements: Ruben Macareno has not received any significant progressive endorsements.
Angel Ruiz has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Dolores Huerta Action Fund, California Labor Federation, California Legislative Latino Caucus, and Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte.
Key initiatives: Macareno has been a longtime supporter of agricultural growth and support for farmworkers, affordable housing development, and improving local infrastructure. He has worked to bring facilities updates to local schools, and to advocate for programs that help students discover pathways to meaningful careers.
Ruiz has dedicated his career to labor organizing and advocating for worker power and community development.
Governance and community leadership experience: Macareno ran for state Assembly in 2014, 2016, and 2022, but failed to advance out of the primary. He ran for state Senate in 2018, again failing to advance beyond the primary. He won election to the Farmersville City Council in 2018 with 19% of the vote, and is currently an elected member of the Farmersville Unified School District Board of Trustees.
In addition to several runs for political office, Macareno has had a career in media and public policy. He worked for the Los Angeles Times for 20 years, including stints in news, community relations, and public affairs. In addition to this work, he has had a long career in public service, working on congressional campaigns, chairing the Tulare County Democratic Party, serving as a delegate to the DNC, and holding local elected positions on the City Council and the school Board of Trustees.
Ruiz has not run for public office before.
Ruiz is a labor and civil rights advocate. He began his organizing career with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, and now works on labor rights with SEIU. He is interested in the intersections of labor, education, and improved public services.
Other background: Macareno is from the San Joaquin Valley. He was a migrant farmworker in his youth.
Ruiz is from Guatemala, and lives in Tulare. He is a first-generation college graduate.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Ruben Macareno (D), Angel Ruiz (D), Xavier Avila (R), and Alexandra Macedo (R). Lindsay Mayor Hipolito Angel Cerros (D) will be listed on the ballot, but dropped out of the race in January 2024. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the Democratic candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate: Xavier Avila
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Avila’s campaign has raised $43,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Alexandra Macedo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Macedo’s campaign has raised $136,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 33rd Assembly District includes Kings County and parts of Tulare and Fresno Counties.
Voter registration: 35% Democrat, 35% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.
District demographics: 54% Latino, 4% Asian, and 3% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-33 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 4 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 25 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
AD33 - No Recommendation
Based on our analysis, two candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
Endorsements: Ruben Macareno has not received any significant progressive endorsements.
Angel Ruiz has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Dolores Huerta Action Fund, California Labor Federation, California Legislative Latino Caucus, and Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte.
Key initiatives: Macareno has been a longtime supporter of agricultural growth and support for farmworkers, affordable housing development, and improving local infrastructure. He has worked to bring facilities updates to local schools, and to advocate for programs that help students discover pathways to meaningful careers.
Ruiz has dedicated his career to labor organizing and advocating for worker power and community development.
Governance and community leadership experience: Macareno ran for state Assembly in 2014, 2016, and 2022, but failed to advance out of the primary. He ran for state Senate in 2018, again failing to advance beyond the primary. He won election to the Farmersville City Council in 2018 with 19% of the vote, and is currently an elected member of the Farmersville Unified School District Board of Trustees.
In addition to several runs for political office, Macareno has had a career in media and public policy. He worked for the Los Angeles Times for 20 years, including stints in news, community relations, and public affairs. In addition to this work, he has had a long career in public service, working on congressional campaigns, chairing the Tulare County Democratic Party, serving as a delegate to the DNC, and holding local elected positions on the City Council and the school Board of Trustees.
Ruiz has not run for public office before.
Ruiz is a labor and civil rights advocate. He began his organizing career with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, and now works on labor rights with SEIU. He is interested in the intersections of labor, education, and improved public services.
Other background: Macareno is from the San Joaquin Valley. He was a migrant farmworker in his youth.
Ruiz is from Guatemala, and lives in Tulare. He is a first-generation college graduate.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Ruben Macareno (D), Angel Ruiz (D), Xavier Avila (R), and Alexandra Macedo (R). Lindsay Mayor Hipolito Angel Cerros (D) will be listed on the ballot, but dropped out of the race in January 2024. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the Democratic candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate: Xavier Avila
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Avila’s campaign has raised $43,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Alexandra Macedo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Macedo’s campaign has raised $136,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 33rd Assembly District includes Kings County and parts of Tulare and Fresno Counties.
Voter registration: 35% Democrat, 35% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.
District demographics: 54% Latino, 4% Asian, and 3% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-33 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 4 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 25 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.