Re-elect Assemblymember Mike Fong to keep AD-49 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Mike Fong’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-49 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Fong has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Education, workforce development, disability access, environmental protections, homelessness and housing, firearm safety, and technological infrastructure.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Fong’s priorities for AD-49 have included 22 bills about higher education, firearm safety, workforce development, and postsecondary education. Of these, ten have been successfully chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to provide official government emergency communication in more than one language, allow student members of community college boards an advisory vote, and improve retirement benefits for employees of the City of San Gabriel. He scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Fong has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote, and was designated as an Honorable Mention legislator in 2022 and 2023.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Fong currently sits on six committees, including Appropriations, Banking and Finance, and Budget. He serves as the chair of the Standing Committee on Higher Education, and the Select Committee on Racism, Hate, and Xenophobia.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Fong has served in this assembly seat since February 2022, when he won a special election with over 67% of the vote. In 2022, he won his full-term re-election against a Republican challenger by 34 points.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Fong served as director of policy and government relations for the City of Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, which he did to support local integration of public services. Before holding this role, Fong served as the East Area director for Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa. He also served as commissioner of the Alhambra Transportation Commission, and as an advisory board member for LA’s BEST Afterschool Enrichment Program. In 2020, he was elected to seat number 7 on the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees after earning 42% of the vote. Throughout his career, Fong has shown a commitment to supporting education initiatives and programs that allow young people to transition from the classroom through workforce-development opportunities and into meaningful careers in their communities.
Other background: Assm. Fong is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Mike Fong (D), Long “David” Liu (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Fong’s campaign has raised $474,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Long “David” Liu
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Liu’s campaign has raised $3,500 as of December 2023, and is funded entirely by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 49th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.
Voter registration: 46% Democrat, 18% Republican, and 30% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 28% Latino, 53% Asian, and 2% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Asian seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-49 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 36 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 26 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 Mike Fong to keep AD-49 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Mike Fong’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-49 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Fong has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Education, workforce development, disability access, environmental protections, homelessness and housing, firearm safety, and technological infrastructure.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Fong’s priorities for AD-49 have included 22 bills about higher education, firearm safety, workforce development, and postsecondary education. Of these, ten have been successfully chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to provide official government emergency communication in more than one language, allow student members of community college boards an advisory vote, and improve retirement benefits for employees of the City of San Gabriel. He scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Fong has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote, and was designated as an Honorable Mention legislator in 2022 and 2023.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Fong currently sits on six committees, including Appropriations, Banking and Finance, and Budget. He serves as the chair of the Standing Committee on Higher Education, and the Select Committee on Racism, Hate, and Xenophobia.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Fong has served in this assembly seat since February 2022, when he won a special election with over 67% of the vote. In 2022, he won his full-term re-election against a Republican challenger by 34 points.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Fong served as director of policy and government relations for the City of Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, which he did to support local integration of public services. Before holding this role, Fong served as the East Area director for Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa. He also served as commissioner of the Alhambra Transportation Commission, and as an advisory board member for LA’s BEST Afterschool Enrichment Program. In 2020, he was elected to seat number 7 on the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees after earning 42% of the vote. Throughout his career, Fong has shown a commitment to supporting education initiatives and programs that allow young people to transition from the classroom through workforce-development opportunities and into meaningful careers in their communities.
Other background: Assm. Fong is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Mike Fong (D), Long “David” Liu (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Fong’s campaign has raised $474,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Long “David” Liu
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Liu’s campaign has raised $3,500 as of December 2023, and is funded entirely by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 49th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.
Voter registration: 46% Democrat, 18% Republican, and 30% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 28% Latino, 53% Asian, and 2% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Asian seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-49 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 36 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 26 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.