Re-elect Assemblymember Mike Gipson to keep AD-65 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Gipson’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of AD-65. While he has received funding support from problematic interests and has not supported some significant legislation that made it to a vote, 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. Gipson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, AFSCME California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Public education, public safety, universal health care, homelessness and housing, green energy programs, reproductive justice, and transportation infrastructure.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Gipson’s priorities for AD-65 have included 30 bills about career and technical education, taxation and public funds, education, and health care. Of these, 11 have been successfully chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to provide foster children and homeless youth with priority access to intersession academic programs, amend the consequences for violating traffic laws, require that anyone using a 3-D printer to create a firearm be a state-licensed firearm manufacturer, and clarify housing law to allow property held by a non-profit public benefit corporation be exempt from taxation. He scores a CS of 77 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Gipson has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Gipson has failed to cast a vote on several important pieces of legislation, including bills to establish safe injection sites, increase greenhouse gas accountability for corporations, and guarantee that 90% of bail premiums be returned when charges are dismissed.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Gipson currently sits on four committees, including Business & Professions, Governmental Organization, Insurance, and Transportation. He is also the chair of the Select Committees on Police Reform, and Parts & Goods Movement. Assm. Gipson is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, and served as Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair until 2023. He is chair of Council of State Governments West, a non-profit organization that serves western state legislatures.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Gipson has served in the Assembly since 2014, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 24 points.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Gipson was a member of the Carson City Council for a decade, and served as the mayor pro tempore. He spent his early career as a police officer in the Maywood Police Department, which was ultimately disbanded after failed efforts at reform. While Assm. Gipson has had success in securing budget allocations to benefit youth services, education expansion, and mental health resources in his district, he also has concerning connections to police, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC donors. These affiliations raise questions about some of his legislative choices, including voting against environmental bills like SB100 and AB1328, which required a statewide transition to carbon energy, and addressed the environmental impact of oil wells, respectively. He has also withheld support for SB731, which aimed to make it more difficult for police officers found guilty of misconduct to be hired by another state law-enforcement agency, and for bills that sought to expand due process protections and provide counsel to minors during interrogation.
Other background: Assm. Gipson is from Los Angeles and is a longtime resident of Carson. He was raised by working parents and credits their determination with inspiring his interest in public service.
The Race
Primary election: Assm. Mike Gipsonn (D) is running unopposed in the March 5 primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Gipson’s campaign has raised $524,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, police, fossil fuel, and real estate interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 65th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.
Voter registration: 60% Democrat, 11% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 49% Latino, 9% Asian, and 29% Black.
Recent election results: AD-65 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 60 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 54 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 Gipson to keep AD-65 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Gipson’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of AD-65. While he has received funding support from problematic interests and has not supported some significant legislation that made it to a vote, 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. Gipson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, AFSCME California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Public education, public safety, universal health care, homelessness and housing, green energy programs, reproductive justice, and transportation infrastructure.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Gipson’s priorities for AD-65 have included 30 bills about career and technical education, taxation and public funds, education, and health care. Of these, 11 have been successfully chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to provide foster children and homeless youth with priority access to intersession academic programs, amend the consequences for violating traffic laws, require that anyone using a 3-D printer to create a firearm be a state-licensed firearm manufacturer, and clarify housing law to allow property held by a non-profit public benefit corporation be exempt from taxation. He scores a CS of 77 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Gipson has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Gipson has failed to cast a vote on several important pieces of legislation, including bills to establish safe injection sites, increase greenhouse gas accountability for corporations, and guarantee that 90% of bail premiums be returned when charges are dismissed.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Gipson currently sits on four committees, including Business & Professions, Governmental Organization, Insurance, and Transportation. He is also the chair of the Select Committees on Police Reform, and Parts & Goods Movement. Assm. Gipson is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, and served as Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair until 2023. He is chair of Council of State Governments West, a non-profit organization that serves western state legislatures.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Gipson has served in the Assembly since 2014, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 24 points.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Gipson was a member of the Carson City Council for a decade, and served as the mayor pro tempore. He spent his early career as a police officer in the Maywood Police Department, which was ultimately disbanded after failed efforts at reform. While Assm. Gipson has had success in securing budget allocations to benefit youth services, education expansion, and mental health resources in his district, he also has concerning connections to police, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC donors. These affiliations raise questions about some of his legislative choices, including voting against environmental bills like SB100 and AB1328, which required a statewide transition to carbon energy, and addressed the environmental impact of oil wells, respectively. He has also withheld support for SB731, which aimed to make it more difficult for police officers found guilty of misconduct to be hired by another state law-enforcement agency, and for bills that sought to expand due process protections and provide counsel to minors during interrogation.
Other background: Assm. Gipson is from Los Angeles and is a longtime resident of Carson. He was raised by working parents and credits their determination with inspiring his interest in public service.
The Race
Primary election: Assm. Mike Gipsonn (D) is running unopposed in the March 5 primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Gipson’s campaign has raised $524,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, police, fossil fuel, and real estate interests.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 65th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.
Voter registration: 60% Democrat, 11% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 49% Latino, 9% Asian, and 29% Black.
Recent election results: AD-65 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 60 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 54 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.