Re-elect Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula to keep AD-31 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Joaquin Arambula’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-31. While he has not supported some significant progressive legislation during his time in the Assembly, our analysis shows that he will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district if he is subject to increased community accountability.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Arambula has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including AFSCME California, Equality California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Health care, environmental conservation, education, and disability access.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Arambula’s priorities for AD-31 have included 19 bills about community college and post-secondary education, air pollution, health-care benefit plans, and disability rights. Of these, three have been chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to create inclusive programs at state universities for students with disabilities, provide a 5-year extension for the Robert F. Kennedy Farmworkers Medical Plan, and improve the campus social services available to students at public universities. He scores a CS of 84 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Arambula has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. This session, he avoided votes on several significant bills, including legislation to allow resentencing for individuals disadvantaged by firearm enhancements, to prohibit warrantless searches, and to require that concealed-carry permit applicants pass a written exam.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Arambula currently sits on four committees, including Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, Health, Higher Education, and Human Services. He is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and the California Legislative Latino Caucus.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Arambula has served in this assembly seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 22 points.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Arambula was an emergency department doctor. This work revealed how ruinous the cost of medical treatment could be for families in his community, and inspired his longtime support of expanding access to health care.
Other background: Assm. Arambula is from Delano.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Joaquin Arambula (D), and Solomon Verduzco (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Arambula’s campaign has raised $133,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Solomon Verduzco
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Verduzco’s campaign has not filed any campaign finance receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 31st Assembly District includes parts of Fresno County.
Voter registration: 47% Democrat, 22% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 54% Latino, 11% Asian, and 8% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-31 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 30 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 14 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 Joaquin Arambula to keep AD-31 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Joaquin Arambula’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-31. While he has not supported some significant progressive legislation during his time in the Assembly, our analysis shows that he will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district if he is subject to increased community accountability.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Arambula has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including AFSCME California, Equality California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Health care, environmental conservation, education, and disability access.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Arambula’s priorities for AD-31 have included 19 bills about community college and post-secondary education, air pollution, health-care benefit plans, and disability rights. Of these, three have been chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to create inclusive programs at state universities for students with disabilities, provide a 5-year extension for the Robert F. Kennedy Farmworkers Medical Plan, and improve the campus social services available to students at public universities. He scores a CS of 84 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Arambula has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. This session, he avoided votes on several significant bills, including legislation to allow resentencing for individuals disadvantaged by firearm enhancements, to prohibit warrantless searches, and to require that concealed-carry permit applicants pass a written exam.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Arambula currently sits on four committees, including Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, Health, Higher Education, and Human Services. He is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and the California Legislative Latino Caucus.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Arambula has served in this assembly seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 22 points.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Arambula was an emergency department doctor. This work revealed how ruinous the cost of medical treatment could be for families in his community, and inspired his longtime support of expanding access to health care.
Other background: Assm. Arambula is from Delano.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Joaquin Arambula (D), and Solomon Verduzco (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Arambula’s campaign has raised $133,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Solomon Verduzco
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Verduzco’s campaign has not filed any campaign finance receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 31st Assembly District includes parts of Fresno County.
Voter registration: 47% Democrat, 22% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 54% Latino, 11% Asian, and 8% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-31 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 30 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 14 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.