Patrick Ahrens (listed in Progressive Voters Guide)

Re-elect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to keep America on track.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have a track record and policy positions that demonstrate that they will continue to govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse nation.

Progressive endorsements: President Biden and Vice President Harris have the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Sierra Club, Reproductive Freedom for All America, League of Conservation Voters, National Center for Transgender Equality, and Students Demand Action. They have also received the endorsement of a significant number of labor unions, including United Auto Workers, Actors’ Equity Association, AFL-CIO, IATSE, National Nurses United, and the American Federation of Teachers. President Biden and Vice President Harris also have the backing of the Democratic National Committee and a significant number of current and former Democratic officials, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Climate Envoy John Kerry, 14 current governors, 30 sitting U.S. senators, and over 70 members of the House of Representatives. This list includes California’s elected leaders Gov. Gavin Newsom, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Eric Swalwell, and LA Mayor Karen Bass.

Priority policies: The Biden administration has had policy successes across a diversity of issue areas during their first term. Immediately after taking office during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Biden worked to move the American Rescue Plan through Congress and successfully passed legislation to provide stimulus checks, boosts to unemployment payments, and increased funds for education and small-business loans. The plan also ramped up the distribution and administration of vaccines. This legislative effort was followed by the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law that made a $1 billion investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, national road and bridge repair, clean drinking water modifications, and power grid updates. In addition to these investments, the administration passed President Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act, an expansive bill to provide needed funding to cap prescription drug costs for the elderly, increase corporate taxes, invest in clean energy and climate protections, reduce the federal deficit, and increase tax accountability by provided additional funding to the IRS. The White House has indicated that nearly 170,000 clean energy jobs have been created by this legislation, clean energy investments have increased by $110 billion, and insulin has been capped at $35 a month. After years of inaction from the federal government, President Biden signed a significant gun-safety bill into law, which strengthens background check laws, incentivizes state-based red flag laws, and expands limitations on the acquisition of firearms by perpetrators of domestic abuse. President Biden also signed the CHIPS Act into law to increase domestic production of the semiconductors used in the manufacturing of many of the products Americans use daily.

The Biden administration’s economic policies have contributed to the lowest unemployment rate in over 50 years, at 3.4% as of January 2024, economic growth of 3.1% in 2023, and an inflation rate that dropped below 3% at the end of December. The administration has led the U.S. back into the Paris Climate Accord, forgiven $136 billion in education debt, and provided consistent support to striking labor unions across the country. While many of these accomplishments came during the first two years of the administration, when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress, President Biden and Vice President Harris have worked across the aisle to move impactful legislation forward for the American people with a divided Congress.

While the administration’s legislative successes have been substantial, they have been subject to significant criticism from progressives during this first term. While President Biden has maintained strong support for Israel during the October 7 Hamas attacks and the Israeli government’s retaliatory attacks on Palestinians in Gaza, the electorate and congressional representatives have expressed concerns about the U.S. government providing continued funding to the Israeli military, and activists and leaders have called on the Biden administration to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza. On immigration and the southern border, the federal government’s failure to act has effectively continued the anti-immigrant policies enacted under the Trump administration and caused big city mayors and Democratic governors to publicly request that the White House and Congress pass meaningful legislation to reform an increasingly overwhelmed asylum and immigration system. Under Republican control, Congress has not passed any immigration reforms, and Republican leaders have advocated for more punitive and inhumane immigration policies.

Governance and community leadership experience: President Biden and Vice President Harris have served in the White House since 2020, when they were elected on a joint ticket with 306 electoral votes and over 51% of the national popular vote. Their campaign won six critical swing states—Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona—to secure the electoral college victory.

Prior to his election, President Biden had a long and prominent political career. He served two terms as former President Barack Obama’s vice president and was responsible for managing the 2009 economic recovery, helping to expand health care through the Affordable Care Act, and acting as the administration’s liaison to the Senate. Before joining the Obama administration, he spent 36 years representing Delaware in the Senate. He was often critiqued as being an unremarkable, status quo Democrat, and mid-career votes in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act, anti-drug legislation, and the Iraq War reaffirm that characterization. In 1991, Vice President Biden was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and presided over the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Justice Clarence Thomas, who had been credibly accused of sexual harassment by a former colleague, Anita Hill. Vice President Biden’s mismanagement of the hearing resulted in a targeted and unfair character assassination of Anita Hill and remains a reminder of his complicity in the patriarchal and racist systems on which our American government is built.

Prior to her election, Vice President Harris was the first woman of color elected to represent California in the United States Senate. She sponsored legislation on climate and environmental protections, rental and housing protections, women’s health, and pandemic relief. She was also an original cosponsor of the progressive Green New Deal authored by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey. Before serving in the Senate, Vice President Harris had a long legal career in California, serving for 8 years in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office before transitioning to a role as a prosecutor in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. In 2003, she won her bid to become district attorney of the City and County of San Francisco, where she served two terms before being elected as the attorney general for the state of California in 2010. She was the first woman and the first person of color to hold this seat. Vice President Harris’s record was both progressive for the time and complicated by her moderate approach to policing and criminal justice. She has been criticized for failing to institute comprehensive police accountability measures, for not establishing meaningful prison reform, and for taking a hands-off approach to cases related to police misconduct. However, her lenient approach to policing was often punctuated by decidedly progressive support for social justice issues, including the establishment of an education and workforce reentry program designed to diminish recidivism.

Other background: President Biden is from Scranton, PA, and moved to Delaware with his family when he was 10 years old. He has been a resident of Wilmington, Delaware, for most of his adult life. Vice President Harris grew up in Berkeley, CA, and was a longtime resident of Los Angeles. She is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, who both emigrated to the Bay Area in the 1960s.

The Race

Primary election: Eight candidates are running in the March 5 Democratic primary, including incumbent President Joe Biden (D), Rep. Dean Phillips (D), and Marianne Williamson (D). The candidate who receives the most delegates in the national Democratic primary will formally become the party’s designated Presidential candidate in August 2024.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: President Biden’s campaign has raised $56 million as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Rep. Dean Phillips
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Rep. Phillips’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

Opposing candidate: Marianne Williamson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Williamson’s campaign has raised $2.6 million as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC interests. A significant amount of her campaign funding has been through candidate donations and loans taken out by the candidate.

The Position

The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch of the federal government, and the commander-in-chief for all branches of the armed forces. A president has the power to make diplomatic, executive, and judicial appointments, and can sign into law or veto legislation. Presidential administrations are responsible for both foreign and domestic policy priorities. Presidents are limited to serving two four-year terms in office.

Re-elect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to keep America on track.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have a track record and policy positions that demonstrate that they will continue to govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse nation.

Progressive endorsements: President Biden and Vice President Harris have the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Sierra Club, Reproductive Freedom for All America, League of Conservation Voters, National Center for Transgender Equality, and Students Demand Action. They have also received the endorsement of a significant number of labor unions, including United Auto Workers, Actors’ Equity Association, AFL-CIO, IATSE, National Nurses United, and the American Federation of Teachers. President Biden and Vice President Harris also have the backing of the Democratic National Committee and a significant number of current and former Democratic officials, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Climate Envoy John Kerry, 14 current governors, 30 sitting U.S. senators, and over 70 members of the House of Representatives. This list includes California’s elected leaders Gov. Gavin Newsom, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Eric Swalwell, and LA Mayor Karen Bass.

Priority policies: The Biden administration has had policy successes across a diversity of issue areas during their first term. Immediately after taking office during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Biden worked to move the American Rescue Plan through Congress and successfully passed legislation to provide stimulus checks, boosts to unemployment payments, and increased funds for education and small-business loans. The plan also ramped up the distribution and administration of vaccines. This legislative effort was followed by the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law that made a $1 billion investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, national road and bridge repair, clean drinking water modifications, and power grid updates. In addition to these investments, the administration passed President Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act, an expansive bill to provide needed funding to cap prescription drug costs for the elderly, increase corporate taxes, invest in clean energy and climate protections, reduce the federal deficit, and increase tax accountability by provided additional funding to the IRS. The White House has indicated that nearly 170,000 clean energy jobs have been created by this legislation, clean energy investments have increased by $110 billion, and insulin has been capped at $35 a month. After years of inaction from the federal government, President Biden signed a significant gun-safety bill into law, which strengthens background check laws, incentivizes state-based red flag laws, and expands limitations on the acquisition of firearms by perpetrators of domestic abuse. President Biden also signed the CHIPS Act into law to increase domestic production of the semiconductors used in the manufacturing of many of the products Americans use daily.

The Biden administration’s economic policies have contributed to the lowest unemployment rate in over 50 years, at 3.4% as of January 2024, economic growth of 3.1% in 2023, and an inflation rate that dropped below 3% at the end of December. The administration has led the U.S. back into the Paris Climate Accord, forgiven $136 billion in education debt, and provided consistent support to striking labor unions across the country. While many of these accomplishments came during the first two years of the administration, when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress, President Biden and Vice President Harris have worked across the aisle to move impactful legislation forward for the American people with a divided Congress.

While the administration’s legislative successes have been substantial, they have been subject to significant criticism from progressives during this first term. While President Biden has maintained strong support for Israel during the October 7 Hamas attacks and the Israeli government’s retaliatory attacks on Palestinians in Gaza, the electorate and congressional representatives have expressed concerns about the U.S. government providing continued funding to the Israeli military, and activists and leaders have called on the Biden administration to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza. On immigration and the southern border, the federal government’s failure to act has effectively continued the anti-immigrant policies enacted under the Trump administration and caused big city mayors and Democratic governors to publicly request that the White House and Congress pass meaningful legislation to reform an increasingly overwhelmed asylum and immigration system. Under Republican control, Congress has not passed any immigration reforms, and Republican leaders have advocated for more punitive and inhumane immigration policies.

Governance and community leadership experience: President Biden and Vice President Harris have served in the White House since 2020, when they were elected on a joint ticket with 306 electoral votes and over 51% of the national popular vote. Their campaign won six critical swing states—Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona—to secure the electoral college victory.

Prior to his election, President Biden had a long and prominent political career. He served two terms as former President Barack Obama’s vice president and was responsible for managing the 2009 economic recovery, helping to expand health care through the Affordable Care Act, and acting as the administration’s liaison to the Senate. Before joining the Obama administration, he spent 36 years representing Delaware in the Senate. He was often critiqued as being an unremarkable, status quo Democrat, and mid-career votes in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act, anti-drug legislation, and the Iraq War reaffirm that characterization. In 1991, Vice President Biden was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and presided over the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Justice Clarence Thomas, who had been credibly accused of sexual harassment by a former colleague, Anita Hill. Vice President Biden’s mismanagement of the hearing resulted in a targeted and unfair character assassination of Anita Hill and remains a reminder of his complicity in the patriarchal and racist systems on which our American government is built.

Prior to her election, Vice President Harris was the first woman of color elected to represent California in the United States Senate. She sponsored legislation on climate and environmental protections, rental and housing protections, women’s health, and pandemic relief. She was also an original cosponsor of the progressive Green New Deal authored by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey. Before serving in the Senate, Vice President Harris had a long legal career in California, serving for 8 years in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office before transitioning to a role as a prosecutor in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. In 2003, she won her bid to become district attorney of the City and County of San Francisco, where she served two terms before being elected as the attorney general for the state of California in 2010. She was the first woman and the first person of color to hold this seat. Vice President Harris’s record was both progressive for the time and complicated by her moderate approach to policing and criminal justice. She has been criticized for failing to institute comprehensive police accountability measures, for not establishing meaningful prison reform, and for taking a hands-off approach to cases related to police misconduct. However, her lenient approach to policing was often punctuated by decidedly progressive support for social justice issues, including the establishment of an education and workforce reentry program designed to diminish recidivism.

Other background: President Biden is from Scranton, PA, and moved to Delaware with his family when he was 10 years old. He has been a resident of Wilmington, Delaware, for most of his adult life. Vice President Harris grew up in Berkeley, CA, and was a longtime resident of Los Angeles. She is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, who both emigrated to the Bay Area in the 1960s.

The Race

Primary election: Eight candidates are running in the March 5 Democratic primary, including incumbent President Joe Biden (D), Rep. Dean Phillips (D), and Marianne Williamson (D). The candidate who receives the most delegates in the national Democratic primary will formally become the party’s designated Presidential candidate in August 2024.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: President Biden’s campaign has raised $56 million as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Rep. Dean Phillips
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Rep. Phillips’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

Opposing candidate: Marianne Williamson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Williamson’s campaign has raised $2.6 million as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC interests. A significant amount of her campaign funding has been through candidate donations and loans taken out by the candidate.

The Position

The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch of the federal government, and the commander-in-chief for all branches of the armed forces. A president has the power to make diplomatic, executive, and judicial appointments, and can sign into law or veto legislation. Presidential administrations are responsible for both foreign and domestic policy priorities. Presidents are limited to serving two four-year terms in office.

Re-elect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to keep America on track.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have a track record and policy positions that demonstrate that they will continue to govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse nation.

Progressive endorsements: President Biden and Vice President Harris have the endorsement of some progressive groups, including the Sierra Club, Reproductive Freedom for All America, League of Conservation Voters, National Center for Transgender Equality, and Students Demand Action. They have also received the endorsement of a significant number of labor unions, including United Auto Workers, Actors’ Equity Association, AFL-CIO, IATSE, National Nurses United, and the American Federation of Teachers. President Biden and Vice President Harris also have the backing of the Democratic National Committee and a significant number of current and former Democratic officials, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Climate Envoy John Kerry, 14 current governors, 30 sitting U.S. senators, and over 70 members of the House of Representatives. This list includes California’s elected leaders Gov. Gavin Newsom, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Eric Swalwell, and LA Mayor Karen Bass.

Priority policies: The Biden administration has had policy successes across a diversity of issue areas during their first term. Immediately after taking office during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Biden worked to move the American Rescue Plan through Congress and successfully passed legislation to provide stimulus checks, boosts to unemployment payments, and increased funds for education and small-business loans. The plan also ramped up the distribution and administration of vaccines. This legislative effort was followed by the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law that made a $1 billion investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, national road and bridge repair, clean drinking water modifications, and power grid updates. In addition to these investments, the administration passed President Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act, an expansive bill to provide needed funding to cap prescription drug costs for the elderly, increase corporate taxes, invest in clean energy and climate protections, reduce the federal deficit, and increase tax accountability by provided additional funding to the IRS. The White House has indicated that nearly 170,000 clean energy jobs have been created by this legislation, clean energy investments have increased by $110 billion, and insulin has been capped at $35 a month. After years of inaction from the federal government, President Biden signed a significant gun-safety bill into law, which strengthens background check laws, incentivizes state-based red flag laws, and expands limitations on the acquisition of firearms by perpetrators of domestic abuse. President Biden also signed the CHIPS Act into law to increase domestic production of the semiconductors used in the manufacturing of many of the products Americans use daily.

The Biden administration’s economic policies have contributed to the lowest unemployment rate in over 50 years, at 3.4% as of January 2024, economic growth of 3.1% in 2023, and an inflation rate that dropped below 3% at the end of December. The administration has led the U.S. back into the Paris Climate Accord, forgiven $136 billion in education debt, and provided consistent support to striking labor unions across the country. While many of these accomplishments came during the first two years of the administration, when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress, President Biden and Vice President Harris have worked across the aisle to move impactful legislation forward for the American people with a divided Congress.

While the administration’s legislative successes have been substantial, they have been subject to significant criticism from progressives during this first term. While President Biden has maintained strong support for Israel during the October 7 Hamas attacks and the Israeli government’s retaliatory attacks on Palestinians in Gaza, the electorate and congressional representatives have expressed concerns about the U.S. government providing continued funding to the Israeli military, and activists and leaders have called on the Biden administration to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza. On immigration and the southern border, the federal government’s failure to act has effectively continued the anti-immigrant policies enacted under the Trump administration and caused big city mayors and Democratic governors to publicly request that the White House and Congress pass meaningful legislation to reform an increasingly overwhelmed asylum and immigration system. Under Republican control, Congress has not passed any immigration reforms, and Republican leaders have advocated for more punitive and inhumane immigration policies.

Governance and community leadership experience: President Biden and Vice President Harris have served in the White House since 2020, when they were elected on a joint ticket with 306 electoral votes and over 51% of the national popular vote. Their campaign won six critical swing states—Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona—to secure the electoral college victory.

Prior to his election, President Biden had a long and prominent political career. He served two terms as former President Barack Obama’s vice president and was responsible for managing the 2009 economic recovery, helping to expand health care through the Affordable Care Act, and acting as the administration’s liaison to the Senate. Before joining the Obama administration, he spent 36 years representing Delaware in the Senate. He was often critiqued as being an unremarkable, status quo Democrat, and mid-career votes in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act, anti-drug legislation, and the Iraq War reaffirm that characterization. In 1991, Vice President Biden was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and presided over the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Justice Clarence Thomas, who had been credibly accused of sexual harassment by a former colleague, Anita Hill. Vice President Biden’s mismanagement of the hearing resulted in a targeted and unfair character assassination of Anita Hill and remains a reminder of his complicity in the patriarchal and racist systems on which our American government is built.

Prior to her election, Vice President Harris was the first woman of color elected to represent California in the United States Senate. She sponsored legislation on climate and environmental protections, rental and housing protections, women’s health, and pandemic relief. She was also an original cosponsor of the progressive Green New Deal authored by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey. Before serving in the Senate, Vice President Harris had a long legal career in California, serving for 8 years in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office before transitioning to a role as a prosecutor in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. In 2003, she won her bid to become district attorney of the City and County of San Francisco, where she served two terms before being elected as the attorney general for the state of California in 2010. She was the first woman and the first person of color to hold this seat. Vice President Harris’s record was both progressive for the time and complicated by her moderate approach to policing and criminal justice. She has been criticized for failing to institute comprehensive police accountability measures, for not establishing meaningful prison reform, and for taking a hands-off approach to cases related to police misconduct. However, her lenient approach to policing was often punctuated by decidedly progressive support for social justice issues, including the establishment of an education and workforce reentry program designed to diminish recidivism.

Other background: President Biden is from Scranton, PA, and moved to Delaware with his family when he was 10 years old. He has been a resident of Wilmington, Delaware, for most of his adult life. Vice President Harris grew up in Berkeley, CA, and was a longtime resident of Los Angeles. She is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, who both emigrated to the Bay Area in the 1960s.

The Race

Primary election: Eight candidates are running in the March 5 Democratic primary, including incumbent President Joe Biden (D), Rep. Dean Phillips (D), and Marianne Williamson (D). The candidate who receives the most delegates in the national Democratic primary will formally become the party’s designated Presidential candidate in August 2024.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: President Biden’s campaign has raised $56 million as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Rep. Dean Phillips
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Rep. Phillips’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

Opposing candidate: Marianne Williamson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Williamson’s campaign has raised $2.6 million as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC interests. A significant amount of her campaign funding has been through candidate donations and loans taken out by the candidate.

The Position

The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch of the federal government, and the commander-in-chief for all branches of the armed forces. A president has the power to make diplomatic, executive, and judicial appointments, and can sign into law or veto legislation. Presidential administrations are responsible for both foreign and domestic policy priorities. Presidents are limited to serving two four-year terms in office.

U.S. Senator

No Recommendation

There are 22 candidates running for California’s open U.S. Senate seat. Based on our analysis, three qualified candidates for this position have a distinct vision for the state. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.

The Race

Primary election: In October 2022, Governor Newsom appointed labor leader, political advisor, and former Emily’s List President Laphonza Butler to serve the remainder of the six-year term of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died September 2022 after serving in the U.S. Senate since 1992. There are 22 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Barbara Lee (D), Rep. Katie Porter (D), and Rep. Adam Schiff (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

The Candidates

Key Initiatives: Representative Barbara Lee is a longtime Congresswoman and has been a consistent progressive voice in Congress. She has been a prolific author of legislation related to ending AIDS/HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, has moved efforts to reduce poverty forward, and was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the attacks on September 11, 2001, a controversial position at the time. In recent legislative sessions, she has authored and sponsored legislation to curtail CEO overpay, improve research and public awareness of sickle cell disease, address the national backlog of unprocessed rape kits, and improve mental health resources for students. Prior to her election to the House of Representatives, Rep. Lee worked as a social worker and founded a mental-health service organization, Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, to benefit her local East Bay community. She then spent eleven years working on the staff of Rep. Ron Dellums, eventually serving as his chief of staff. After her tenure in congressional staffing, she founded a facilities-management company. A few years later, in 1990, Rep. Lee launched a successful bid for a seat in the California Assembly, where she served for six years, before she was elected to the state Senate.

Representative Katie Porter is an attorney and public servant and has been a strong advocate for consumer protection, corporate accountability, and government transparency. She has gained notoriety for her meticulous and expert style of questioning in congressional hearings, and exercises this skill during Oversight and Reform Committee sessions. Her legislative successes include bills to lower prescription drug prices, increase the fee oil and gas companies pay to drill on public lands, lower the income threshold for out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and extend mental healthcare coverage. She has also recently supported efforts to ban members of Congress and their families from trading stocks. Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Porter spent twenty years as a consumer-protection attorney. Ahead of the housing crisis in 2008, she issued early warnings of the financial system’s predatory lending, and has a strong track record of winning cases related to financial regulation. In 2012, then California Attorney General Kamala Harris appointed Rep. Porter to oversee banks as they returned over $18 billion to cheated homeowners in the state.

Representative Adam Schiff is an attorney and public official and has been a consistent legislator on issues of government accountability, voting access, healthcare, and voting access. He rose to prominence as the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee who led the first impeachment inquiry of the Trump Administration. He has had legislative success on bills to increase pension payments for teachers, expand labor organizing protections, secure nearly $200 million in funding to address affordable housing development and homelessness in the state, create the patient bill of rights, and limit corporate spending to influence elections. He is also the lead author of legislation to end the NRA and the gun industry’s immunity from liability, which prevented victims and their families from seeking legal recourse. Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Schiff worked as a law clerk and then as Assistant United States Attorney before being elected to California’s State Senate in 1996. He is a longtime supporter of progressive education, immigration, and environmental policies, but has cast unfavorable votes on issues pertaining to military spending and the use of military force, including a 2002 vote in favor of authorizing the use of military force against Iraq.

Community Leadership Experience, Fundraising, and Endorsements: Rep. Lee has served in Congress since 1998, when she was elected with over 66% of the vote. In 2022, she won her reelection to CD-12 over a Republican challenger by 81 points. Her campaign has raised $3.3 million as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. Rep. Lee has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, Black Women Organized for Political Action PAC, Gen Z for Change, Feminist Majority PAC, Our Revolution, and Reproductive Freedom for All California (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice California). She has also received the endorsement of some community and elected leaders, including Dolores Huerta, State Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Controller Malia Cohen, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

Rep. Porter has served in Congress since 2018, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 3 points. Her campaign has raised $22 million as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or real estate interests. Rep. Porter has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Labor Federation, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and Women in Leadership PAC. She has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Alex Lee, State Sen. Scott Wiener, Rep. Robert Garcia, and State Sen. Catherine Blakespear.

Rep. Schiff has served in Congress since 2000, when he was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won his reelection against a Democratic challenger by 42 points. His campaign has raised $21 million as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, or fossil fuel interests. Rep. Schiff has the endorsement of some labor groups, including IATSE California Council, IAFF, and Amalgamated Transit Union. He has also received the endorsement of many elected officials, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Kamlager-Dove, State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, Assm. Tina McKinnor, Assm. Rick Chavez Zbur, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.

Other background: Rep. Lee is from El Paso, TX, and moved to the San Fernando Valley when she was a child. She attended Mills College, where she served as president of the Black Student Union and invited Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm to speak on campus. Her interaction with Rep. Chisholm was an early inspiration for her pursuit of a career in public service.

Rep. Porter is from Fort Dodge, IA, and now resides in Irvine, CA. Along with her legal practice, she is a longtime tenured professor of law at University of California-Irvine.

Rep. Schiff is from the Bay Area. He holds a law degree from Harvard University.

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 39 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 22% have no party preference. Democrats have held the Governor’s seat in the state since 2011.

District demographics: 40% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 18 points. Sen. Feinstein won her 2018 reelection against now-Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León by 8 points.

The Position

Members of the Senate represent and advocate for the needs of their state constituency and share legislative responsibility with the House of Representatives. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues of national importance. Senators have the exclusive responsibility of providing advice and consent to the executive branch on treaties, and on the nomination and approval of cabinet secretaries, ambassadors, and federal judges. The Senate also has the sole authority to bring and try an impeachment of a high official, up to and including removal from office with a two-thirds majority vote.

Each state, regardless of population, is represented by two senators. Senate elections are statewide, and senators are elected to serve a six-year term. There is no term limit for this position.

There are 22 candidates running for California’s open U.S. Senate seat. Based on our analysis, three qualified candidates for this position have a distinct vision for the state. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.

The Race

Primary election: In October 2022, Governor Newsom appointed labor leader, political advisor, and former Emily’s List President Laphonza Butler to serve the remainder of the six-year term of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died September 2022 after serving in the U.S. Senate since 1992. There are 22 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Barbara Lee (D), Rep. Katie Porter (D), and Rep. Adam Schiff (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

The Candidates

Key Initiatives: Representative Barbara Lee is a longtime Congresswoman and has been a consistent progressive voice in Congress. She has been a prolific author of legislation related to ending AIDS/HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, has moved efforts to reduce poverty forward, and was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force after the attacks on September 11, 2001, a controversial position at the time. In recent legislative sessions, she has authored and sponsored legislation to curtail CEO overpay, improve research and public awareness of sickle cell disease, address the national backlog of unprocessed rape kits, and improve mental health resources for students. Prior to her election to the House of Representatives, Rep. Lee worked as a social worker and founded a mental-health service organization, Community Health Alliance for Neighborhood Growth and Education, to benefit her local East Bay community. She then spent eleven years working on the staff of Rep. Ron Dellums, eventually serving as his chief of staff. After her tenure in congressional staffing, she founded a facilities-management company. A few years later, in 1990, Rep. Lee launched a successful bid for a seat in the California Assembly, where she served for six years, before she was elected to the state Senate.

Representative Katie Porter is an attorney and public servant and has been a strong advocate for consumer protection, corporate accountability, and government transparency. She has gained notoriety for her meticulous and expert style of questioning in congressional hearings, and exercises this skill during Oversight and Reform Committee sessions. Her legislative successes include bills to lower prescription drug prices, increase the fee oil and gas companies pay to drill on public lands, lower the income threshold for out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and extend mental healthcare coverage. She has also recently supported efforts to ban members of Congress and their families from trading stocks. Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Porter spent twenty years as a consumer-protection attorney. Ahead of the housing crisis in 2008, she issued early warnings of the financial system’s predatory lending, and has a strong track record of winning cases related to financial regulation. In 2012, then California Attorney General Kamala Harris appointed Rep. Porter to oversee banks as they returned over $18 billion to cheated homeowners in the state.

Representative Adam Schiff is an attorney and public official and has been a consistent legislator on issues of government accountability, voting access, healthcare, and voting access. He rose to prominence as the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee who led the first impeachment inquiry of the Trump Administration. He has had legislative success on bills to increase pension payments for teachers, expand labor organizing protections, secure nearly $200 million in funding to address affordable housing development and homelessness in the state, create the patient bill of rights, and limit corporate spending to influence elections. He is also the lead author of legislation to end the NRA and the gun industry’s immunity from liability, which prevented victims and their families from seeking legal recourse. Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Schiff worked as a law clerk and then as Assistant United States Attorney before being elected to California’s State Senate in 1996. He is a longtime supporter of progressive education, immigration, and environmental policies, but has cast unfavorable votes on issues pertaining to military spending and the use of military force, including a 2002 vote in favor of authorizing the use of military force against Iraq.

Community Leadership Experience, Fundraising, and Endorsements: Rep. Lee has served in Congress since 1998, when she was elected with over 66% of the vote. In 2022, she won her reelection to CD-12 over a Republican challenger by 81 points. Her campaign has raised $3.3 million as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. Rep. Lee has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, Black Women Organized for Political Action PAC, Gen Z for Change, Feminist Majority PAC, Our Revolution, and Reproductive Freedom for All California (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice California). She has also received the endorsement of some community and elected leaders, including Dolores Huerta, State Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Controller Malia Cohen, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

Rep. Porter has served in Congress since 2018, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 3 points. Her campaign has raised $22 million as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or real estate interests. Rep. Porter has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Labor Federation, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and Women in Leadership PAC. She has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Alex Lee, State Sen. Scott Wiener, Rep. Robert Garcia, and State Sen. Catherine Blakespear.

Rep. Schiff has served in Congress since 2000, when he was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won his reelection against a Democratic challenger by 42 points. His campaign has raised $21 million as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, or fossil fuel interests. Rep. Schiff has the endorsement of some labor groups, including IATSE California Council, IAFF, and Amalgamated Transit Union. He has also received the endorsement of many elected officials, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Kamlager-Dove, State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, Assm. Tina McKinnor, Assm. Rick Chavez Zbur, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.

Other background: Rep. Lee is from El Paso, TX, and moved to the San Fernando Valley when she was a child. She attended Mills College, where she served as president of the Black Student Union and invited Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm to speak on campus. Her interaction with Rep. Chisholm was an early inspiration for her pursuit of a career in public service.

Rep. Porter is from Fort Dodge, IA, and now resides in Irvine, CA. Along with her legal practice, she is a longtime tenured professor of law at University of California-Irvine.

Rep. Schiff is from the Bay Area. He holds a law degree from Harvard University.

The District

State: California is the most populous state in the United States, and includes 58 counties and 39 million residents.

Voter registration: Of the 22 million registered voters in the state, 47% are Democrat, 24% are Republican, and 22% have no party preference. Democrats have held the Governor’s seat in the state since 2011.

District demographics: 40% Latino, 16% Asian, and 7% Black

Recent election results: California voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 18 points. Sen. Feinstein won her 2018 reelection against now-Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León by 8 points.

The Position

Members of the Senate represent and advocate for the needs of their state constituency and share legislative responsibility with the House of Representatives. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues of national importance. Senators have the exclusive responsibility of providing advice and consent to the executive branch on treaties, and on the nomination and approval of cabinet secretaries, ambassadors, and federal judges. The Senate also has the sole authority to bring and try an impeachment of a high official, up to and including removal from office with a two-thirds majority vote.

Each state, regardless of population, is represented by two senators. Senate elections are statewide, and senators are elected to serve a six-year term. There is no term limit for this position.

Congress

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below congressional districts on your ballot.

16th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat

Julie Lythcott-Haims

Website Endorsements

Elect Julie Lythcott-Haims to keep CD-16 on the right track for progress.

Julie Lythcott-Haims’ policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-16 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Lythcott-Haims has the endorsement of a few groups, including LPAC and Reach Coalition. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Sen. Cory Booker, San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, former Palo Alto Mayor Larry Klein, and PAUSD Board Member Jennifer DiBrienza.

Electoral history: Lythcott-Haims has run for office previously, and won her race for Palo Alto City Council in 2022 with 18% of the vote.

Top issues: Reproductive rights, climate change, cost of living, housing, Medicare for All, and gun-safety laws.

Priority bills: As a member of the Palo Alto City Council, Lythcott-Haims has been a strong supporter of efforts to increase affordable housing development, establish systems to support improved youth mental health care, and create community around third-place establishments.

Governance and community leadership experience: Lythcott-Haims is an author, attorney, and academic administrator, which she does to build community across boundaries in Silicon Valley. She practiced law for four years before entering leadership at Stanford University, first as an associate dean in the School of Law and later as the dean of Freshmen and Undergraduate Advising. She has published four books, and has been an influential motivational speaker on the topics of transitioning to adulthood, parenting, and human achievement. Lythcott-Haims has had a long involvement in community life, and is a board member with California College of the Arts, Black Women’s Health Imperative, and LeanIn.org.

Other background: Julia Lythcott-Haims is from Nigeria and immigrated to the United States as a child. She moved to Palo Alto to attend Stanford and settled there with her family after graduating. She is the only woman running in the candidate field for this seat.

The Race

Primary election: There are 11 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Julia Lythcott-Haims (D), Joby Bernstein (D), Peter Dixon (D), Rishi Kumar (D), former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D), Assm. Evan Low (D), Ahmed Mostafa (D), Peter Ohtaki (R), Karl Ryan (R), Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian (D), and Greg Tanaka (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Lythcott-Haims’ campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Rishi Kumar
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kumar’s campaign has raised $35,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Joe Simitian
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Simitian’s campaign has raised $135,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the other candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

The District

Counties in district: California’s Santa Clara Congressional District includes parts of San Mateo County.

Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 27% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 14% Latino, 26% Asian, and 3% Black.

Recent election results: CD-16 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 53 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 45 points.

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

Elect Julie Lythcott-Haims to keep CD-16 on the right track for progress.

Julie Lythcott-Haims’ policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-16 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Lythcott-Haims has the endorsement of a few groups, including LPAC and Reach Coalition. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Sen. Cory Booker, San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, former Palo Alto Mayor Larry Klein, and PAUSD Board Member Jennifer DiBrienza.

Electoral history: Lythcott-Haims has run for office previously, and won her race for Palo Alto City Council in 2022 with 18% of the vote.

Top issues: Reproductive rights, climate change, cost of living, housing, Medicare for All, and gun-safety laws.

Priority bills: As a member of the Palo Alto City Council, Lythcott-Haims has been a strong supporter of efforts to increase affordable housing development, establish systems to support improved youth mental health care, and create community around third-place establishments.

Governance and community leadership experience: Lythcott-Haims is an author, attorney, and academic administrator, which she does to build community across boundaries in Silicon Valley. She practiced law for four years before entering leadership at Stanford University, first as an associate dean in the School of Law and later as the dean of Freshmen and Undergraduate Advising. She has published four books, and has been an influential motivational speaker on the topics of transitioning to adulthood, parenting, and human achievement. Lythcott-Haims has had a long involvement in community life, and is a board member with California College of the Arts, Black Women’s Health Imperative, and LeanIn.org.

Other background: Julia Lythcott-Haims is from Nigeria and immigrated to the United States as a child. She moved to Palo Alto to attend Stanford and settled there with her family after graduating. She is the only woman running in the candidate field for this seat.

The Race

Primary election: There are 11 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Julia Lythcott-Haims (D), Joby Bernstein (D), Peter Dixon (D), Rishi Kumar (D), former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D), Assm. Evan Low (D), Ahmed Mostafa (D), Peter Ohtaki (R), Karl Ryan (R), Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian (D), and Greg Tanaka (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Lythcott-Haims’ campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Rishi Kumar
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kumar’s campaign has raised $35,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Joe Simitian
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Simitian’s campaign has raised $135,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the other candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

The District

Counties in district: California’s Santa Clara Congressional District includes parts of San Mateo County.

Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 27% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 14% Latino, 26% Asian, and 3% Black.

Recent election results: CD-16 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 53 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 45 points.

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

Elect Julie Lythcott-Haims to keep CD-16 on the right track for progress.

Julie Lythcott-Haims’ policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-16 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Lythcott-Haims has the endorsement of a few groups, including LPAC and Reach Coalition. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Sen. Cory Booker, San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, former Palo Alto Mayor Larry Klein, and PAUSD Board Member Jennifer DiBrienza.

Electoral history: Lythcott-Haims has run for office previously, and won her race for Palo Alto City Council in 2022 with 18% of the vote.

Top issues: Reproductive rights, climate change, cost of living, housing, Medicare for All, and gun-safety laws.

Priority bills: As a member of the Palo Alto City Council, Lythcott-Haims has been a strong supporter of efforts to increase affordable housing development, establish systems to support improved youth mental health care, and create community around third-place establishments.

Governance and community leadership experience: Lythcott-Haims is an author, attorney, and academic administrator, which she does to build community across boundaries in Silicon Valley. She practiced law for four years before entering leadership at Stanford University, first as an associate dean in the School of Law and later as the dean of Freshmen and Undergraduate Advising. She has published four books, and has been an influential motivational speaker on the topics of transitioning to adulthood, parenting, and human achievement. Lythcott-Haims has had a long involvement in community life, and is a board member with California College of the Arts, Black Women’s Health Imperative, and LeanIn.org.

Other background: Julia Lythcott-Haims is from Nigeria and immigrated to the United States as a child. She moved to Palo Alto to attend Stanford and settled there with her family after graduating. She is the only woman running in the candidate field for this seat.

The Race

Primary election: There are 11 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Julia Lythcott-Haims (D), Joby Bernstein (D), Peter Dixon (D), Rishi Kumar (D), former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D), Assm. Evan Low (D), Ahmed Mostafa (D), Peter Ohtaki (R), Karl Ryan (R), Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian (D), and Greg Tanaka (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Lythcott-Haims’ campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Rishi Kumar
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kumar’s campaign has raised $35,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Joe Simitian
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Simitian’s campaign has raised $135,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the other candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

The District

Counties in district: California’s Santa Clara Congressional District includes parts of San Mateo County.

Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 27% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 14% Latino, 26% Asian, and 3% Black.

Recent election results: CD-16 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 53 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 45 points.

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

17th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat

Ro Khanna

Website Endorsements

Re-elect Congressional Representative Ro Khanna to keep CD-17 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Ro Khanna’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-17 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Khanna has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Equality California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.

Top issues: Labor rights, environmental protections, green jobs, technology and digital security, and oil and gas taxation.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Khanna’s priorities for CD-17 have included 15 bills about farm system reform, oil and gas taxation, social programs, the food supply chain, and green energy. All are currently in committee. He has sponsored legislation to support state-based universal health-care systems, fortify the food-supply chain, establish Supreme Court term limits, and create protections for meatpacking factory workers. Rep. Khanna has been critical of recent harmful Supreme Court decisions, and introduced the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act, which would create 18-year term limits for Justices.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Rep. Khanna serves as a deputy whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Khanna currently sits on the Armed Services and Oversight Committees. He is a member of the Congressional Native American Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Khanna has served in this congressional seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 60% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 42 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Khanna served in the Obama administration as deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Commerce. He is a longtime supporter of labor and environmental causes, and advocates for investment in green jobs and digital infrastructure. He has also worked to increase and transform manufacturing jobs. In the House, he has been dedicated to digital security and modernization. He was tapped by Speaker Pelosi to draft an Internet Bill of Rights, which described the rights that digital citizens should have in terms of privacy, access, and equity online. He is an attorney and spent his early career as an economics professor at Stanford University.

Other background: Rep. Ro Khanna grew up in Philadelphia and now lives in Fremont, CA. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Chicago, and then earned a law degree from Yale University.

The Race

Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D), Anita Chen (R), Joe Dehn (LIB), and Ritesh Tandon (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Khanna’s campaign has raised $5 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Ritesh Tandon
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tandon’s campaign has raised $3,000 as of October 2023, and is funded by individual donors.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The other two candidates in this race have not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of October 2023.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 17th Congressional District includes parts of Santa Clara and Alameda Counties.

Voter registration: 50% Democrat, 15% Republican, and 31% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 15% Latino, 47% Asian, and 3% Black.

Recent election results: CD-17 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 47 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 41 points.

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Ro Khanna to keep CD-17 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Ro Khanna’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-17 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Khanna has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Equality California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.

Top issues: Labor rights, environmental protections, green jobs, technology and digital security, and oil and gas taxation.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Khanna’s priorities for CD-17 have included 15 bills about farm system reform, oil and gas taxation, social programs, the food supply chain, and green energy. All are currently in committee. He has sponsored legislation to support state-based universal health-care systems, fortify the food-supply chain, establish Supreme Court term limits, and create protections for meatpacking factory workers. Rep. Khanna has been critical of recent harmful Supreme Court decisions, and introduced the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act, which would create 18-year term limits for Justices.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Rep. Khanna serves as a deputy whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Khanna currently sits on the Armed Services and Oversight Committees. He is a member of the Congressional Native American Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Khanna has served in this congressional seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 60% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 42 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Khanna served in the Obama administration as deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Commerce. He is a longtime supporter of labor and environmental causes, and advocates for investment in green jobs and digital infrastructure. He has also worked to increase and transform manufacturing jobs. In the House, he has been dedicated to digital security and modernization. He was tapped by Speaker Pelosi to draft an Internet Bill of Rights, which described the rights that digital citizens should have in terms of privacy, access, and equity online. He is an attorney and spent his early career as an economics professor at Stanford University.

Other background: Rep. Ro Khanna grew up in Philadelphia and now lives in Fremont, CA. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Chicago, and then earned a law degree from Yale University.

The Race

Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D), Anita Chen (R), Joe Dehn (LIB), and Ritesh Tandon (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Khanna’s campaign has raised $5 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Ritesh Tandon
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tandon’s campaign has raised $3,000 as of October 2023, and is funded by individual donors.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The other two candidates in this race have not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of October 2023.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 17th Congressional District includes parts of Santa Clara and Alameda Counties.

Voter registration: 50% Democrat, 15% Republican, and 31% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 15% Latino, 47% Asian, and 3% Black.

Recent election results: CD-17 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 47 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 41 points.

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Ro Khanna to keep CD-17 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Ro Khanna’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-17 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Khanna has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Equality California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.

Top issues: Labor rights, environmental protections, green jobs, technology and digital security, and oil and gas taxation.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Khanna’s priorities for CD-17 have included 15 bills about farm system reform, oil and gas taxation, social programs, the food supply chain, and green energy. All are currently in committee. He has sponsored legislation to support state-based universal health-care systems, fortify the food-supply chain, establish Supreme Court term limits, and create protections for meatpacking factory workers. Rep. Khanna has been critical of recent harmful Supreme Court decisions, and introduced the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act, which would create 18-year term limits for Justices.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Rep. Khanna serves as a deputy whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Khanna currently sits on the Armed Services and Oversight Committees. He is a member of the Congressional Native American Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Khanna has served in this congressional seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 60% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 42 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Khanna served in the Obama administration as deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Commerce. He is a longtime supporter of labor and environmental causes, and advocates for investment in green jobs and digital infrastructure. He has also worked to increase and transform manufacturing jobs. In the House, he has been dedicated to digital security and modernization. He was tapped by Speaker Pelosi to draft an Internet Bill of Rights, which described the rights that digital citizens should have in terms of privacy, access, and equity online. He is an attorney and spent his early career as an economics professor at Stanford University.

Other background: Rep. Ro Khanna grew up in Philadelphia and now lives in Fremont, CA. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Chicago, and then earned a law degree from Yale University.

The Race

Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D), Anita Chen (R), Joe Dehn (LIB), and Ritesh Tandon (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Khanna’s campaign has raised $5 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Ritesh Tandon
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Tandon’s campaign has raised $3,000 as of October 2023, and is funded by individual donors.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The other two candidates in this race have not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of October 2023.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 17th Congressional District includes parts of Santa Clara and Alameda Counties.

Voter registration: 50% Democrat, 15% Republican, and 31% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 15% Latino, 47% Asian, and 3% Black.

Recent election results: CD-17 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 47 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 41 points.

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

18th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Democrat

Zoe Lofgren

Website

Re-elect Congressional Representative Zoe Lofgren to keep CD-18 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of CD-18 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Lofgren has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California and California Environmental Voters, as well as labor unions like United Healthcare Workers West.

Top issues: Immigration, the environment, safety, agriculture.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Lofgren’s priorities for CD-18 have included 9 bills about expanding pathways to citizenship and employment for immigrants, and prioritizing public safety in construction and development. All currently remain in committee.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Lofgren currently sits on 2 committees, including the House Committee on the Judiciary. She is also the ranking member on the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lofgren has served in this congressional seat since 1994, when she was elected with over 45% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 32 points.

Prior to her role as a member of Congress, she was an immigration lawyer, taught at Santa Clara Law School, and served as staff assistant to Congressman Don Edwards. Rep. Lofgren has been a longtime supporter of women’s rights, abortion protections, and LGBTQIA+ equity. In Congress, she helped pass the DREAM Act of 2019 (and 2010), and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the House. She has opposed the Trump administration's immigration policies, and has called for an end to the detention centers, and for foreign aid to end the instability in Central America that leads to people fleeing their homes. As the representative for the heart of Silicon Valley, she has been active on internet and technology issues. She fought the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the NSA surveillance of Americans, and recently introduced the Online Privacy Act. However, she has been criticized for not taking a stronger stance on holding Big Tech more accountable, even on antitrust bills that have bipartisan support and despite strong support from her constituents.

Other background: Rep. Lofgren was born and raised in the Bay Area, and attended Stanford and Santa Clara Law School.

The Race

Primary election: There are 4 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D), Peter Hernandez (R), Luele Kifle (D), and Lawrence Milan (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Lofgren’s campaign has raised $1,038,116 and is not funded by police money. She has accepted donations from the fossil fuel and real estate industries, as well as from corporate PACs.

Opposing candidate: Republican Peter Hernandez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hernandez’s campaign has raised $41,458. He has not pledged to refuse donations from the police, the fossil fuel industry, real estate industry, or corporate PACs. He is also funded by WinRed, a
Republican PAC backed by Donald Trump that came under fire in 2021 for
misleading donors by marking their one-time donations as recurring.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 18th Congressional District includes San Benito County and parts of Monterey, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties.

Voter registration: 54% Democrat, 17% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 51% Latino, 14% Asian, and 3% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-18 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 44 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 30 points.

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Zoe Lofgren to keep CD-18 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of CD-18 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Lofgren has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California and California Environmental Voters, as well as labor unions like United Healthcare Workers West.

Top issues: Immigration, the environment, safety, agriculture.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Lofgren’s priorities for CD-18 have included 9 bills about expanding pathways to citizenship and employment for immigrants, and prioritizing public safety in construction and development. All currently remain in committee.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Lofgren currently sits on 2 committees, including the House Committee on the Judiciary. She is also the ranking member on the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lofgren has served in this congressional seat since 1994, when she was elected with over 45% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 32 points.

Prior to her role as a member of Congress, she was an immigration lawyer, taught at Santa Clara Law School, and served as staff assistant to Congressman Don Edwards. Rep. Lofgren has been a longtime supporter of women’s rights, abortion protections, and LGBTQIA+ equity. In Congress, she helped pass the DREAM Act of 2019 (and 2010), and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the House. She has opposed the Trump administration's immigration policies, and has called for an end to the detention centers, and for foreign aid to end the instability in Central America that leads to people fleeing their homes. As the representative for the heart of Silicon Valley, she has been active on internet and technology issues. She fought the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the NSA surveillance of Americans, and recently introduced the Online Privacy Act. However, she has been criticized for not taking a stronger stance on holding Big Tech more accountable, even on antitrust bills that have bipartisan support and despite strong support from her constituents.

Other background: Rep. Lofgren was born and raised in the Bay Area, and attended Stanford and Santa Clara Law School.

The Race

Primary election: There are 4 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D), Peter Hernandez (R), Luele Kifle (D), and Lawrence Milan (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Lofgren’s campaign has raised $1,038,116 and is not funded by police money. She has accepted donations from the fossil fuel and real estate industries, as well as from corporate PACs.

Opposing candidate: Republican Peter Hernandez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hernandez’s campaign has raised $41,458. He has not pledged to refuse donations from the police, the fossil fuel industry, real estate industry, or corporate PACs. He is also funded by WinRed, a
Republican PAC backed by Donald Trump that came under fire in 2021 for
misleading donors by marking their one-time donations as recurring.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 18th Congressional District includes San Benito County and parts of Monterey, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties.

Voter registration: 54% Democrat, 17% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 51% Latino, 14% Asian, and 3% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-18 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 44 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 30 points.

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

Re-elect Congressional Representative Zoe Lofgren to keep CD-18 on the right track for progress.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of CD-18 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Lofgren has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California and California Environmental Voters, as well as labor unions like United Healthcare Workers West.

Top issues: Immigration, the environment, safety, agriculture.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Lofgren’s priorities for CD-18 have included 9 bills about expanding pathways to citizenship and employment for immigrants, and prioritizing public safety in construction and development. All currently remain in committee.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Lofgren currently sits on 2 committees, including the House Committee on the Judiciary. She is also the ranking member on the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lofgren has served in this congressional seat since 1994, when she was elected with over 45% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 32 points.

Prior to her role as a member of Congress, she was an immigration lawyer, taught at Santa Clara Law School, and served as staff assistant to Congressman Don Edwards. Rep. Lofgren has been a longtime supporter of women’s rights, abortion protections, and LGBTQIA+ equity. In Congress, she helped pass the DREAM Act of 2019 (and 2010), and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in the House. She has opposed the Trump administration's immigration policies, and has called for an end to the detention centers, and for foreign aid to end the instability in Central America that leads to people fleeing their homes. As the representative for the heart of Silicon Valley, she has been active on internet and technology issues. She fought the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the NSA surveillance of Americans, and recently introduced the Online Privacy Act. However, she has been criticized for not taking a stronger stance on holding Big Tech more accountable, even on antitrust bills that have bipartisan support and despite strong support from her constituents.

Other background: Rep. Lofgren was born and raised in the Bay Area, and attended Stanford and Santa Clara Law School.

The Race

Primary election: There are 4 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D), Peter Hernandez (R), Luele Kifle (D), and Lawrence Milan (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Lofgren’s campaign has raised $1,038,116 and is not funded by police money. She has accepted donations from the fossil fuel and real estate industries, as well as from corporate PACs.

Opposing candidate: Republican Peter Hernandez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hernandez’s campaign has raised $41,458. He has not pledged to refuse donations from the police, the fossil fuel industry, real estate industry, or corporate PACs. He is also funded by WinRed, a
Republican PAC backed by Donald Trump that came under fire in 2021 for
misleading donors by marking their one-time donations as recurring.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 18th Congressional District includes San Benito County and parts of Monterey, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties.

Voter registration: 54% Democrat, 17% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 51% Latino, 14% Asian, and 3% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-18 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 44 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 30 points.

The Position

Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.

The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.

State Assembly, 26th District

Member of the State Assembly

Democrat

Patrick Ahrens

Website Endorsements

Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

Progressive endorsements: Tara Sreekrishnan has the endorsement of many groups, including California Labor Federation, Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area Action, California Democratic Women’s Caucus, and California Women’s List. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including State Sen. Nancy Skinner, State Sen. Dave Cortese, Assm. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and Santa Clara Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg.

Patrick Ahrens has the endorsement of some groups, including California Labor Federation, Equality California, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, California Teachers Association, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. He also has the endorsement of many elected leaders, including outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low, Assm. Marc Berman, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, and Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein. He has also received a problematic endorsement from Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen.

Key initiatives: Sreekrishnan is an elected official and policy official, which she does to support local transformation through public systems. Since 2020, she has been serving as chief of staff and policy director for Sen. Dave Cortese, first on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and now in the state legislature. In these roles, she supports the creation and modification of legislation, and liaises with constituents across issues. Along with her policy work, she has served on the Santa Clara County Board of Education since 2022, where she advocates for youth development and educational equity for students in Cupertino, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Los Altos. Sreekrishnan has been an active member of her local community, founding Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, serving as a Citizens Advisory Board member for Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and as board president for Friends of Deer Hollow Farm.

Ahrens is an elected member of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board, where he has worked on initiatives to improve affordability and college access for members of the educational community. His efforts have included advocating for increased affordable housing development for faculty and students through a $200 million investment, and staff retention improvements. In addition to this work, Ahrens has served as an Assembly staffer for the last 10 years, most recently as a district director for outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low. Ahrens grew up in a family where there were significant substance abuse issues and periods of homelessness, and he recently lost his twin brother to illness. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on how to address the issues of homelessness and housing affordability, the addiction crisis, and poverty.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sreekrishnan ran unopposed for the Santa Clara County Board of Education Area 2 seat in 2022.

Ahrens won election to the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board in 2018, and was re-elected in 2022.

Other background: Sreekrishnan is a lifelong resident of Santa Clara County.

Ahrens is from Silicon Valley. He is a first-generation college student.

The Race

Primary election: There are six candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Tara Sreekrishnan (D), Patrick Ahrens (D), Omar Din (D), Sophie Yan Song (R), Bob Goodwyn (LIB), and Ashish Garg (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sreekrishnan’s campaign has raised $202,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ahrens’s campaign has raised $244,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Omar Din
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Din’s campaign has raised $316,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 26th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County.

Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 30% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 16% Latino, 36% Asian, and 4% Black.

Recent election results: AD-26 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 54 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 48 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.

Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

Progressive endorsements: Tara Sreekrishnan has the endorsement of many groups, including California Labor Federation, Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area Action, California Democratic Women’s Caucus, and California Women’s List. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including State Sen. Nancy Skinner, State Sen. Dave Cortese, Assm. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and Santa Clara Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg.

Patrick Ahrens has the endorsement of some groups, including California Labor Federation, Equality California, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, California Teachers Association, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. He also has the endorsement of many elected leaders, including outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low, Assm. Marc Berman, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, and Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein. He has also received a problematic endorsement from Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen.

Key initiatives: Sreekrishnan is an elected official and policy official, which she does to support local transformation through public systems. Since 2020, she has been serving as chief of staff and policy director for Sen. Dave Cortese, first on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and now in the state legislature. In these roles, she supports the creation and modification of legislation, and liaises with constituents across issues. Along with her policy work, she has served on the Santa Clara County Board of Education since 2022, where she advocates for youth development and educational equity for students in Cupertino, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Los Altos. Sreekrishnan has been an active member of her local community, founding Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, serving as a Citizens Advisory Board member for Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and as board president for Friends of Deer Hollow Farm.

Ahrens is an elected member of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board, where he has worked on initiatives to improve affordability and college access for members of the educational community. His efforts have included advocating for increased affordable housing development for faculty and students through a $200 million investment, and staff retention improvements. In addition to this work, Ahrens has served as an Assembly staffer for the last 10 years, most recently as a district director for outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low. Ahrens grew up in a family where there were significant substance abuse issues and periods of homelessness, and he recently lost his twin brother to illness. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on how to address the issues of homelessness and housing affordability, the addiction crisis, and poverty.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sreekrishnan ran unopposed for the Santa Clara County Board of Education Area 2 seat in 2022.

Ahrens won election to the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board in 2018, and was re-elected in 2022.

Other background: Sreekrishnan is a lifelong resident of Santa Clara County.

Ahrens is from Silicon Valley. He is a first-generation college student.

The Race

Primary election: There are six candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Tara Sreekrishnan (D), Patrick Ahrens (D), Omar Din (D), Sophie Yan Song (R), Bob Goodwyn (LIB), and Ashish Garg (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sreekrishnan’s campaign has raised $202,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ahrens’s campaign has raised $244,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Omar Din
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Din’s campaign has raised $316,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 26th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County.

Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 30% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 16% Latino, 36% Asian, and 4% Black.

Recent election results: AD-26 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 54 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 48 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.

Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

Progressive endorsements: Tara Sreekrishnan has the endorsement of many groups, including California Labor Federation, Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area Action, California Democratic Women’s Caucus, and California Women’s List. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including State Sen. Nancy Skinner, State Sen. Dave Cortese, Assm. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and Santa Clara Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg.

Patrick Ahrens has the endorsement of some groups, including California Labor Federation, Equality California, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, California Teachers Association, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. He also has the endorsement of many elected leaders, including outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low, Assm. Marc Berman, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, and Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein. He has also received a problematic endorsement from Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen.

Key initiatives: Sreekrishnan is an elected official and policy official, which she does to support local transformation through public systems. Since 2020, she has been serving as chief of staff and policy director for Sen. Dave Cortese, first on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and now in the state legislature. In these roles, she supports the creation and modification of legislation, and liaises with constituents across issues. Along with her policy work, she has served on the Santa Clara County Board of Education since 2022, where she advocates for youth development and educational equity for students in Cupertino, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Los Altos. Sreekrishnan has been an active member of her local community, founding Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, serving as a Citizens Advisory Board member for Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and as board president for Friends of Deer Hollow Farm.

Ahrens is an elected member of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board, where he has worked on initiatives to improve affordability and college access for members of the educational community. His efforts have included advocating for increased affordable housing development for faculty and students through a $200 million investment, and staff retention improvements. In addition to this work, Ahrens has served as an Assembly staffer for the last 10 years, most recently as a district director for outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low. Ahrens grew up in a family where there were significant substance abuse issues and periods of homelessness, and he recently lost his twin brother to illness. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on how to address the issues of homelessness and housing affordability, the addiction crisis, and poverty.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sreekrishnan ran unopposed for the Santa Clara County Board of Education Area 2 seat in 2022.

Ahrens won election to the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board in 2018, and was re-elected in 2022.

Other background: Sreekrishnan is a lifelong resident of Santa Clara County.

Ahrens is from Silicon Valley. He is a first-generation college student.

The Race

Primary election: There are six candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Tara Sreekrishnan (D), Patrick Ahrens (D), Omar Din (D), Sophie Yan Song (R), Bob Goodwyn (LIB), and Ashish Garg (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sreekrishnan’s campaign has raised $202,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ahrens’s campaign has raised $244,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Omar Din
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Din’s campaign has raised $316,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 26th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County.

Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 30% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 16% Latino, 36% Asian, and 4% Black.

Recent election results: AD-26 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 54 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 48 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.

Democrat

Tara Sreekrishnan

Website Endorsements

Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

Progressive endorsements: Tara Sreekrishnan has the endorsement of many groups, including California Labor Federation, Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area Action, California Democratic Women’s Caucus, and California Women’s List. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including State Sen. Nancy Skinner, State Sen. Dave Cortese, Assm. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and Santa Clara Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg.

Patrick Ahrens has the endorsement of some groups, including California Labor Federation, Equality California, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, California Teachers Association, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. He also has the endorsement of many elected leaders, including outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low, Assm. Marc Berman, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, and Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein. He has also received a problematic endorsement from Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen.

Key initiatives: Sreekrishnan is an elected official and policy official, which she does to support local transformation through public systems. Since 2020, she has been serving as chief of staff and policy director for Sen. Dave Cortese, first on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and now in the state legislature. In these roles, she supports the creation and modification of legislation, and liaises with constituents across issues. Along with her policy work, she has served on the Santa Clara County Board of Education since 2022, where she advocates for youth development and educational equity for students in Cupertino, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Los Altos. Sreekrishnan has been an active member of her local community, founding Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, serving as a Citizens Advisory Board member for Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and as board president for Friends of Deer Hollow Farm.

Ahrens is an elected member of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board, where he has worked on initiatives to improve affordability and college access for members of the educational community. His efforts have included advocating for increased affordable housing development for faculty and students through a $200 million investment, and staff retention improvements. In addition to this work, Ahrens has served as an Assembly staffer for the last 10 years, most recently as a district director for outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low. Ahrens grew up in a family where there were significant substance abuse issues and periods of homelessness, and he recently lost his twin brother to illness. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on how to address the issues of homelessness and housing affordability, the addiction crisis, and poverty.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sreekrishnan ran unopposed for the Santa Clara County Board of Education Area 2 seat in 2022.

Ahrens won election to the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board in 2018, and was re-elected in 2022.

Other background: Sreekrishnan is a lifelong resident of Santa Clara County.

Ahrens is from Silicon Valley. He is a first-generation college student.

The Race

Primary election: There are six candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Tara Sreekrishnan (D), Patrick Ahrens (D), Omar Din (D), Sophie Yan Song (R), Bob Goodwyn (LIB), and Ashish Garg (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sreekrishnan’s campaign has raised $202,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ahrens’s campaign has raised $244,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Omar Din
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Din’s campaign has raised $316,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 26th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County.

Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 30% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 16% Latino, 36% Asian, and 4% Black.

Recent election results: AD-26 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 54 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 48 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.

Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

Progressive endorsements: Tara Sreekrishnan has the endorsement of many groups, including California Labor Federation, Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area Action, California Democratic Women’s Caucus, and California Women’s List. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including State Sen. Nancy Skinner, State Sen. Dave Cortese, Assm. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and Santa Clara Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg.

Patrick Ahrens has the endorsement of some groups, including California Labor Federation, Equality California, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, California Teachers Association, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. He also has the endorsement of many elected leaders, including outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low, Assm. Marc Berman, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, and Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein. He has also received a problematic endorsement from Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen.

Key initiatives: Sreekrishnan is an elected official and policy official, which she does to support local transformation through public systems. Since 2020, she has been serving as chief of staff and policy director for Sen. Dave Cortese, first on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and now in the state legislature. In these roles, she supports the creation and modification of legislation, and liaises with constituents across issues. Along with her policy work, she has served on the Santa Clara County Board of Education since 2022, where she advocates for youth development and educational equity for students in Cupertino, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Los Altos. Sreekrishnan has been an active member of her local community, founding Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, serving as a Citizens Advisory Board member for Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and as board president for Friends of Deer Hollow Farm.

Ahrens is an elected member of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board, where he has worked on initiatives to improve affordability and college access for members of the educational community. His efforts have included advocating for increased affordable housing development for faculty and students through a $200 million investment, and staff retention improvements. In addition to this work, Ahrens has served as an Assembly staffer for the last 10 years, most recently as a district director for outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low. Ahrens grew up in a family where there were significant substance abuse issues and periods of homelessness, and he recently lost his twin brother to illness. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on how to address the issues of homelessness and housing affordability, the addiction crisis, and poverty.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sreekrishnan ran unopposed for the Santa Clara County Board of Education Area 2 seat in 2022.

Ahrens won election to the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board in 2018, and was re-elected in 2022.

Other background: Sreekrishnan is a lifelong resident of Santa Clara County.

Ahrens is from Silicon Valley. He is a first-generation college student.

The Race

Primary election: There are six candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Tara Sreekrishnan (D), Patrick Ahrens (D), Omar Din (D), Sophie Yan Song (R), Bob Goodwyn (LIB), and Ashish Garg (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sreekrishnan’s campaign has raised $202,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ahrens’s campaign has raised $244,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Omar Din
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Din’s campaign has raised $316,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 26th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County.

Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 30% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 16% Latino, 36% Asian, and 4% Black.

Recent election results: AD-26 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 54 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 48 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.

Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

Progressive endorsements: Tara Sreekrishnan has the endorsement of many groups, including California Labor Federation, Sierra Club, 350 Bay Area Action, California Democratic Women’s Caucus, and California Women’s List. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including State Sen. Nancy Skinner, State Sen. Dave Cortese, Assm. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and Santa Clara Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg.

Patrick Ahrens has the endorsement of some groups, including California Labor Federation, Equality California, Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, California Teachers Association, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. He also has the endorsement of many elected leaders, including outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low, Assm. Marc Berman, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, and Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein. He has also received a problematic endorsement from Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen.

Key initiatives: Sreekrishnan is an elected official and policy official, which she does to support local transformation through public systems. Since 2020, she has been serving as chief of staff and policy director for Sen. Dave Cortese, first on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and now in the state legislature. In these roles, she supports the creation and modification of legislation, and liaises with constituents across issues. Along with her policy work, she has served on the Santa Clara County Board of Education since 2022, where she advocates for youth development and educational equity for students in Cupertino, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and Los Altos. Sreekrishnan has been an active member of her local community, founding Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, serving as a Citizens Advisory Board member for Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and as board president for Friends of Deer Hollow Farm.

Ahrens is an elected member of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board, where he has worked on initiatives to improve affordability and college access for members of the educational community. His efforts have included advocating for increased affordable housing development for faculty and students through a $200 million investment, and staff retention improvements. In addition to this work, Ahrens has served as an Assembly staffer for the last 10 years, most recently as a district director for outgoing AD-26 Assm. Evan Low. Ahrens grew up in a family where there were significant substance abuse issues and periods of homelessness, and he recently lost his twin brother to illness. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on how to address the issues of homelessness and housing affordability, the addiction crisis, and poverty.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sreekrishnan ran unopposed for the Santa Clara County Board of Education Area 2 seat in 2022.

Ahrens won election to the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board in 2018, and was re-elected in 2022.

Other background: Sreekrishnan is a lifelong resident of Santa Clara County.

Ahrens is from Silicon Valley. He is a first-generation college student.

The Race

Primary election: There are six candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Tara Sreekrishnan (D), Patrick Ahrens (D), Omar Din (D), Sophie Yan Song (R), Bob Goodwyn (LIB), and Ashish Garg (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sreekrishnan’s campaign has raised $202,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ahrens’s campaign has raised $244,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Omar Din
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Din’s campaign has raised $316,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

The District

Counties in district: California’s 26th Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara County.

Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 30% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 16% Latino, 36% Asian, and 4% Black.

Recent election results: AD-26 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 54 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 48 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.

Statewide Ballot Measures

Proposition #1

No Position

Vote on Proposition 1

Proposition 1 will establish a $6.4 billion bond to fund an increase in the number of treatment beds and housing units the state provides to individuals struggling with mental health and addiction, and to direct counties to reallocate their Mental Health Services Act funding to address the local housing shortage.

In an effort to address an ongoing housing shortage and addiction crisis in the state, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills—SB326 and AB531—to send a $6.4 billion bond measure to voters in March. This bond would be used to increase capacity in health care and housing across the state by adding 6,800 behavioral health treatment beds, building 4,300 housing units, and creating 26,000 outpatient treatment slots for Californians. Proposition 1 would also require each county to redirect 30% of its Mental Health Services Act funding to housing, including creating new real estate development, and the provision of rental subsidies. Mental Health Services Act funds are raised through a tax on millionaires in the state, and the reallocated portion is expected to total $1 billion annually across the state. Overall, Proposition 1 aims to reduce homelessness and tent encampments, and provide support to individuals who do not have the resources to address behavioral health challenges.

Top support for Proposition 1:

- The legislation that sent Proposition 1 to voters received overwhelming support from the state legislature. SB326 received a unanimous floor vote in the Senate, and earned 68 floor votes in the Assembly. AB531 received 35 floor votes in the Senate, and 66 floor votes in the Assembly.
- YES ON 1 has received over $10.7 million in donations, primarily through Yes on Prop 1—Governor Newsom’s Ballot Measure Committee. The committee has received donations from police, fossil fuel, real estate, and corporate PAC interests, including from California Correctional Peace Officers Association Truth in American Government Fund, AirBnB, Google, and PG&E.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom has enthusiastically supported Proposition 1, arguing that the establishment of more treatment options and housing units has the potential to have a significant impact on marginalized populations within the state over time, and is a humane approach to this ongoing public health crisis.

Top opposition to Proposition 1:

- Groups like Disability Rights California and the League of Women Voters California are concerned that this policy could be interpreted to permit involuntary treatment of mental health and addiction patients in locked facilities. They argue that this aspect of the bill is regressive and is the result of hasty passage, a lack of meaningful legislative debate, and limited input from community groups. Republican activist Carl DeMaio, his conservative PAC Reform California, and the anti-tax Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association are also opposing Proposition 1.
- Some housing and homeless advocates have criticized Proposition 1’s narrow projected impact on a statewide homeless population that is estimated to include 180,000 people. With over half of the proposed new housing units earmarked for veterans, the number of homeless civilians who will benefit from this program is statistically insignificant.
- Proposition 1 has raised concerns among opponents—including several counties and county leaders—around its mandate that 30% of county Mental Health Services Act funding be allocated to address local housing shortages. Stripping funding out of this budget line to fund housing programs will disrupt existing and effective county mental health programs, many of which are tailored to serve marginalized local populations, including Indigenous communities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people of color.

Proposition 1 will establish a $6.4 billion bond to fund an increase in the number of treatment beds and housing units the state provides to individuals struggling with mental health and addiction, and to direct counties to reallocate their Mental Health Services Act funding to address the local housing shortage.

In an effort to address an ongoing housing shortage and addiction crisis in the state, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills—SB326 and AB531—to send a $6.4 billion bond measure to voters in March. This bond would be used to increase capacity in health care and housing across the state by adding 6,800 behavioral health treatment beds, building 4,300 housing units, and creating 26,000 outpatient treatment slots for Californians. Proposition 1 would also require each county to redirect 30% of its Mental Health Services Act funding to housing, including creating new real estate development, and the provision of rental subsidies. Mental Health Services Act funds are raised through a tax on millionaires in the state, and the reallocated portion is expected to total $1 billion annually across the state. Overall, Proposition 1 aims to reduce homelessness and tent encampments, and provide support to individuals who do not have the resources to address behavioral health challenges.

Top support for Proposition 1:

- The legislation that sent Proposition 1 to voters received overwhelming support from the state legislature. SB326 received a unanimous floor vote in the Senate, and earned 68 floor votes in the Assembly. AB531 received 35 floor votes in the Senate, and 66 floor votes in the Assembly.
- YES ON 1 has received over $10.7 million in donations, primarily through Yes on Prop 1—Governor Newsom’s Ballot Measure Committee. The committee has received donations from police, fossil fuel, real estate, and corporate PAC interests, including from California Correctional Peace Officers Association Truth in American Government Fund, AirBnB, Google, and PG&E.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom has enthusiastically supported Proposition 1, arguing that the establishment of more treatment options and housing units has the potential to have a significant impact on marginalized populations within the state over time, and is a humane approach to this ongoing public health crisis.

Top opposition to Proposition 1:

- Groups like Disability Rights California and the League of Women Voters California are concerned that this policy could be interpreted to permit involuntary treatment of mental health and addiction patients in locked facilities. They argue that this aspect of the bill is regressive and is the result of hasty passage, a lack of meaningful legislative debate, and limited input from community groups. Republican activist Carl DeMaio, his conservative PAC Reform California, and the anti-tax Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association are also opposing Proposition 1.
- Some housing and homeless advocates have criticized Proposition 1’s narrow projected impact on a statewide homeless population that is estimated to include 180,000 people. With over half of the proposed new housing units earmarked for veterans, the number of homeless civilians who will benefit from this program is statistically insignificant.
- Proposition 1 has raised concerns among opponents—including several counties and county leaders—around its mandate that 30% of county Mental Health Services Act funding be allocated to address local housing shortages. Stripping funding out of this budget line to fund housing programs will disrupt existing and effective county mental health programs, many of which are tailored to serve marginalized local populations, including Indigenous communities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people of color.

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Patrick Ahrens

Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

The Race

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Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

The Race

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Patrick Ahrens

Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

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26th Assembly District

Re-elect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to keep America on track.

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Re-elect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to keep America on track.

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Re-elect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to keep America on track.

The Race

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There are 22 candidates running for California’s open U.S. Senate seat. Based on our analysis, three qualified candidates for this position have a distinct vision for the state. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.

The Race

The Candidates

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There are 22 candidates running for California’s open U.S. Senate seat. Based on our analysis, three qualified candidates for this position have a distinct vision for the state. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.

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Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.

The Race

The District

The Position

Vote for Tara Sreekrishnan or Patrick Ahrens for State Assembly to keep AD-26 on the right track for progress.