Re-elect Assemblymember Ash Kalra to keep AD-25 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Ash Kalra’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-25 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Kalra has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, Sierra Club California, AFSCME California, and California Environmental Voters.
Top issues: Labor and employment, environmental protections, health coverage, education, and housing.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Kalra’s priorities for AD-25 have included 34 bills about universal health care, labor and worker protections, school safety, and deforestation. Of these, 15 have been successfully chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. This session, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce penalties for unpaid parking tickets, eliminate the use of bench warrants for minor infractions, limit the use of solitary confinement in prisons, and increase the monthly data-reporting requirements for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He scores a CS of 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Assm. Kalra has frequently received the Courage Score All-Star distinction and has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. During the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, Assm. Kalra was a committed advocate for establishing a single-payer health-care system in the state, and was a lead author on AB1400, which ultimately died without a floor vote, to create a guaranteed health care for all program. However, this session he was a vocal and active opponent against SB770, which moves single-payer forward by engaging diverse stakeholders and elected leaders on discussions on program and funding, and was a priority bill for Courage California and allied organizations in the Healthy California Now coalition.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Kalra currently sits on 13 committees, including Housing and Community Development, Transportation, and Water, Parks, and Wildlife. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Judiciary, and chair of the Select Committee on the Future of Work and Workers. Assm. Kalra is also the Chair Emeritus of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and a member of the California AAPI Legislative Caucus.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Kalra has served in the Assembly since 2016, when he was elected with over 53% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 40 points.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Kalra served two terms as a member of the San Jose City Council, and was the first Indian-American elected to the body. Before entering public service, he spent 11 years as a Santa Clara County Public Defender, and taught law courses at Lincoln Law School. He is a longtime supporter of public safety, and improving local economic and transportation development for the betterment of his San Jose community.
Other background: Assm. Kalra is a longtime resident of San Jose.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Ash Kalra (D), Lan Ngo (D), and Ted Stroll (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Kalra’s campaign has raised $226,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Neither of the challengers in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 25th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County.
Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 27% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat.
District demographics: 34% Latino, 38% Asian, and 4% Black.
Recent election results: AD-25 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 43 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 40 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.
Re-elect Assemblymember Ash Kalra to keep AD-25 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Ash Kalra’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-25 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Kalra has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, Sierra Club California, AFSCME California, and California Environmental Voters.
Top issues: Labor and employment, environmental protections, health coverage, education, and housing.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Kalra’s priorities for AD-25 have included 34 bills about universal health care, labor and worker protections, school safety, and deforestation. Of these, 15 have been successfully chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. This session, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce penalties for unpaid parking tickets, eliminate the use of bench warrants for minor infractions, limit the use of solitary confinement in prisons, and increase the monthly data-reporting requirements for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He scores a CS of 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Assm. Kalra has frequently received the Courage Score All-Star distinction and has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. During the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, Assm. Kalra was a committed advocate for establishing a single-payer health-care system in the state, and was a lead author on AB1400, which ultimately died without a floor vote, to create a guaranteed health care for all program. However, this session he was a vocal and active opponent against SB770, which moves single-payer forward by engaging diverse stakeholders and elected leaders on discussions on program and funding, and was a priority bill for Courage California and allied organizations in the Healthy California Now coalition.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Kalra currently sits on 13 committees, including Housing and Community Development, Transportation, and Water, Parks, and Wildlife. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Judiciary, and chair of the Select Committee on the Future of Work and Workers. Assm. Kalra is also the Chair Emeritus of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and a member of the California AAPI Legislative Caucus.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Kalra has served in the Assembly since 2016, when he was elected with over 53% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 40 points.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Kalra served two terms as a member of the San Jose City Council, and was the first Indian-American elected to the body. Before entering public service, he spent 11 years as a Santa Clara County Public Defender, and taught law courses at Lincoln Law School. He is a longtime supporter of public safety, and improving local economic and transportation development for the betterment of his San Jose community.
Other background: Assm. Kalra is a longtime resident of San Jose.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Ash Kalra (D), Lan Ngo (D), and Ted Stroll (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Kalra’s campaign has raised $226,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Neither of the challengers in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 25th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County.
Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 27% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this seat.
District demographics: 34% Latino, 38% Asian, and 4% Black.
Recent election results: AD-25 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 43 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 40 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.