Courage California Voter Guide

Re-elect State Assemblymember Luz Maria Rivas to keep AD-39 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 four-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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 39th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County and includes the cities of Mission Hills, Sunland-Tujunga, and Sylmar. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-39 voted for Clinton for president in 2016 and Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Rivas led Republican challenger Ricardo Benitez by a margin of 55.6 percent. Rivas’s campaign has raised $333,608.51, with labor organizations comprising much of her donor base. Rivas is not funded by fossil fuel money, but she has accepted police and corporate money. Benitez’s campaign has raised $1,454.59 from just two individuals and a Republican organization, and has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Rivas is from Northeast San Fernando Valley, and returned to Los Angeles after completing her master’s in education at Harvard University. She is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2018. According to campaign materials, Rep. Rivas is running for re-election to advocate for economic empowerment, independence, and self-efficacy.

In the Assembly, Rivas has worked on legislation to address California’s homeless student crisis, to ensure that post-secondary schools cannot refuse transcripts because of a student’s debt, and has authored the Share Our Values Film Tax, which would give tax credits to companies that decide to film in California instead of a state that have enacted anti-abortion legislation.

Prior to serving in the Assembly, Assemblymember Rivas was an electrical engineer and an educator, and strongly believes that an education in a STEM field can create opportunity and empower all people, particularly women and girls. She founded a nonprofit, DIY Girls, which teaches engineering and design skills, and was also appointed to the Los Angeles Board of Public Works in 2016.

Rivas has a lifetime score of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on this analysis, Assemblymember Rivas has consistently shown great courage and has advocated for the needs of constituents while facing down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians. She has demonstrated her progressive values in her commitment to equity, education, and supporting marginalized populations in her community.

Assemblymember Rivas is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. She is also endorsed by two police groups. According to our analysis, Assemblymember Rivas is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Chris Holden to keep AD-41 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 four-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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 41st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Democrats typically hold this district, and Holden has held this seat since 2012. The most recent election results show AD-41 voted for Clinton for president in 2016 and Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Holden led Republican challenger Robin Hvidston by a margin of 37.4 percent. Holden’s campaign has raised $490,608.45. His campaign has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and he has received funding from all three types of groups. Hvidston’s campaign has not made any FEC filings.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Chris Holden is a lifelong resident of Pasadena. He is the incumbent, having served as assemblymember for the 41st District in the State Assembly since 2012. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue to find solutions that create and protect jobs, preserve vital services, and strengthen the economic vitality of the San Gabriel Valley.

As an assemblymember, Holden has authored and led the passage of several bills to support small businesses and innovation, save developmental disability services, protect public health, and preserve civil rights. Assemblymember Holden currently chairs the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy.

Assemblymember Holden’s priorities for AD-41 this year include creating jobs and a strong economy, investing in quality education for children, improving transportation and infrastructure, and preserving natural resources. Holden scores a lifetime 93 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assemblymember Holden has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Holden has supported legislation to eliminate oversight of telecommunications companies.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Chris Holden served as a Pasadena City Councilmember and then as Pasadena City mayor. He has served Pasadena as councilmember the second-longest. Holden is a graduate of Pasadena High School and San Diego State University. In this position, Holden authored and pushed the passage of several bills, including legislation that expanded California’s small-business loan-guarantee program and reduced fees at UCs and CSUs by up to 40 percent for middle-class families.

Assemblymember Holden is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. The threat of anti-immigrant Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Hvidston’s potential policies greatly outweighs Holden’s less-than-ideal campaign financing. According to our analysis, Rep. Holden is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Laura Friedman to keep AD-43 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 four-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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 43rd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County and includes the cities of Glendale, Burbank, La Cañada Flintridge, and La Crescenta-Montrose. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-43 voted for Clinton for president in 2016 and Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Laura Friedman led Republican challenger Mike Graves by a margin of 54.9 percent. Friedman’s campaign has raised $408,291.69 and is not funded by fossil fuel money, although Sempra Energy, which is not on the No Fossil Fuel pledge list, thus technically not breaking her pledge, has contributed to her campaign. Friedman’s campaign has also accepted police and corporation money. No FEC filings have been made about opponent Graves’s campaign’s funding.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Laura Friedman is a longtime Glendale resident. She is the incumbent, having served as assemblymember for the 43rd District in the State Assembly since 2016. According to campaign materials, she is running for re-election to continue her work to raise the minimum wage, protect the environment, and advocate for universal health care and affordable housing.

As an assemblymember, Friedman has authored and led the passage of several bills related to small business and innovation, and has worked to save developmental disability services, protect public health, and preserve civil rights. Assemblymember Friedman currently serves as chair of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, which covers air quality, climate change, renewable energy, coastal protection, and other environmental issues. Prior to her election to the State Assembly, she served seven years on the Glendale City Council, including a term as the mayor of Glendale.

Assemblymember Friedman’s priorities for AD-43 this year include protecting vulnerable Californians, advocating for better and more efficient mass transit options, and combating the climate crisis. She has a lifetime score of 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assemblymember Friedman has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, she has not supported legislation that would increase oversight of telecommunications companies.

During her first term as assemblymember, Friedman authored a package of bills to institute landmark water-efficiency standards, strengthen environmental sustainability, and expand access to higher education, health care, and transportation alternatives. She is a longtime supporter of environmental causes.

Assemblymember Friedman is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Friedman is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to keep AD-44 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 four-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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 44th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Democrats typically hold this district, although a Republican held this seat from 2010 to 2014. The most recent election results show AD-44 voted for Clinton for president in 2016 and Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Irwin led Republican challenger Rob McCoy by a margin of 54.9 percent. Irwin’s campaign has raised $491,633.36. The campaign has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and is funded by police and corporate money, including from Monsanto, Facebook, and Johnson & Johnson. McCoy’s campaign has not made any FEC filings.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin currently resides in Thousand Oaks, CA. She is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2014. According to campaign materials, she is running to keep her seat to continue to create jobs, ensure that her community is safe, and advocate for fiscally responsible governance.

Assemblymember Irwin’s priorities for AD-44 this year include job creation. She has sponsored and co-sponsored two bills about gun violence prevention. Irwin scores a Lifetime Courage Score of 46 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Irwin has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, she has voted against key progressive bills on criminal-justice reform, labor rights, and increasing access to affordable housing.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Rep. Irwin served as mayor of Thousand Oaks. In her first term as assemblymember, she advanced legislation to increase funding for education and mental-health services, expand consumer protections, and address sexual harassment in the workplace. Irwin currently serves as chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Cybersecurity Select Committee, and sits on three additional committees.

Rep. Irwin is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. She is also endorsed by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter McCoy’s potential policies--especially as a pastor who made the news recently by defying a judge’s orders to stop in-person church services during the pandemic--greatly outweighs Irwin’s moderate voting record. According to our analysis, Rep. Irwin is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel to keep AD-45 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 45th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 67.4 percent of AD-45 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 67.3 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Jesse Gabriel led Republican challenger Jeffi Girgenti by a margin of 97.6 percent. Gabriel’s campaign has raised $706,389.49. Gabriel has pledged to refuse fossil fuel money, but has yet to pledge to refuse corporate PAC and police money. Gabriel’s campaign is funded mostly by labor groups and individuals, but has also accepted money from corporations like Facebook, Comcast Corporation, and AT&T. Opponent Girgenti’s campaign has not made any campaign finance filings.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel grew up in the Oak Park community in Ventura County and currently lives in the San Fernando Valley. He is the incumbent, having served as assemblymember for the 45th District in the State Assembly since 2018, where he was appointed by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendón to serve in the Assembly Leadership as assistant majority whip. According to campaign materials, he is running for re-election to continue to advance the legislative priorities of the Democratic Caucus in the State Assembly.

Assemblymember Gabriel is an advocate for stronger gun violence prevention legislation, protection against hate crimes, and bringing jobs and innovation to the San Fernando Valley. That said, he has voted against key progressive bills on such issues as criminal-justice reform and worker protections.

Assemblymember Gabriel currently sits on six committees, including the Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development. Rep. Gabriel has sponsored a bill about gun control this year, which passed into law. He scores a lifetime score of 74 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he worked as a constitutional rights and general litigation attorney. In this role, he sued the Trump administration to protect Dreamers who were promised protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Rep. Gabriel is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Rep. Gabriel is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian to keep AD-46 on the right track. 

About the Position

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 four-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 two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California’s 46th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Democratic Incumbent Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian has held this office since he was elected in 2012. The most recent election results show 76.2 percent of AD-46 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and 78 percent of AD-46 voted for Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat Incumbent Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian led Democratic challenger Lanira Murphy by a margin of 39.4 percent. Assemblymember Nazarian’s campaign has raised over $527,000 and is funded by fossil fuels, corporate PACs, and police money. Murphy’s campaign has received $1,376 in contributions and has committed to keeping corporate PAC money and police money out of her campaign. She has not signed the fossil fuel money pledge.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Nazarian was born in Iran and now lives in West Toluca Lake, CA. He previously served as Chief of Staff to former Assistant Majority Leader Paul Krekorian. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Nazarian is running for re-election to increase K–12 and higher learning aid, work with small businesses to keep film production jobs in the district, and improve transportation.

Assemblymember Nazarian’s priorities for AD-46 this year include lowering insulin copays for diabetic Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic and divesting from Turkish bonds. He currently sits on five standing committees: Aging and Long-Term Care (as chair), Arts, Budget, Health, and Transportation. Assemblymember Nazarian has sponsored 55 bills about taxation, wellness programs, health care, and education this year, of which 10 have been successfully chaptered into law.

His lifetime score is 86 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assemblymember Nazarian has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assemblymember Nazarian has not supported SB 1 (strengthening California environmental standards to pre-Trump federal levels), SB 136 (repealing sentencing enhancements for those with prior offenses), AB 1600 (expediting the process to obtain police misconduct records in a criminal trial), AB 290 (preventing dialysis companies from steering patients from Medi-Cal to boost corporate profits), SB 268 (offering voters more information on potentially progressive taxation measures), and AB 1279 (encouraging affordable housing production in “high-resource” areas that show patterns of exclusion). Additionally, Assemblymember Nazarian received a 100 percent score from the California Environmental Justice Alliance in 2019.

Assemblymember Nazarian is endorsed by a majority of progressive groups such as California Democratic Party, Equality California, and California Teachers Association. He is also endorsed by California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and the Peace Officers Research Association. We were unable to find any endorsements for challenger Murphy. Despite his problematic endorsements by law enforcement and occasional moderate voting history on key progressive legislation, Assemblymember Nazarian’s base of support in the district makes him the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Edwin Chau to keep AD-49 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 49th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-49 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Edwin Chau led Republican challenger Burton Brink by a margin of 27.4 percent. Chau’s campaign has raised $243,884 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Brink’s campaign has raised $24,886 and received over 50 percent of those funds from the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association, Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, and Arcadia Police Officers Association.

About the Candidate

Rep. Edwin Chau, a former lawyer and Montebello School Board member, is from Hong Kong and grew up in Los Angeles. According to campaign materials, Rep. Chau is running for re-election to continue his fight for internet privacy protections, improve the San Gabriel Valley’s groundwater sources, and address the affordable housing crisis.

Rep. Edwin Chau’s accomplishments in AD-49 include increasing public school funding, lowering class sizes, passing extensive consumer privacy protections, and making drone surveillance an invasion of privacy. He currently sits on five committees: the Appropriations, Economic Development, Judiciary, Natural Resources, and Privacy and Consumer Protections Committees. Rep. Chau has sponsored 221 bills on such topics as worker compensation for those infected with COVID-19, regulating drone usage for package delivery, and cybersecurity analysis of public school districts this year, of which over 10 percent have successfully passed. He scores a lifetime 92 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Chau has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Chau has not supported repealing sentencing enhancements for those with prior offenses or preventing dialysis companies from redirecting their patients away from Medi-Cal.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Rep. Edwin Chau worked as a programmer for IBM, operated his own law office, and served on the Montebello Unified School District board for twelve years, acting as president three times. He has served as AD-49’s assemblymember since 2012 and is a longtime supporter of data security and privacy protections for everyday internet users.

Rep. Edwin Chau is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He has previously taken money from the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and California Association of Highway Patrolmen. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Burton Brink’s potential policies greatly outweighs Rep. Chau’s lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Rep. Edwin Chau is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Richard Bloom to keep AD-50 on the right track. 

About the Position
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 two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent and one seat is currently vacant. 

About the District
California’s 50th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. Most recent election results show AD-50 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race
In the primary, Democrat Incumbent Representative Richard Bloom led Democratic challenger Will Hess by a margin of 64.2 percent. Bloom’s campaign has raised $352,401, has committed to no campaign finance pledges, and has won four previous races. Hess’s campaign has not made a significant impact on the race and champions an alt-right platform.

About the Candidate
Rep. Richard Bloom, former mayor of Santa Monica and four-time State Assemblymember, was raised in Altadena and West Los Angeles. According to campaign materials, Rep. Bloom is running for re-election to provide services for seniors and the disabled, end homelessness, and protect California’s environment.

Rep. Richard Bloom’s priorities for AD-50 this year include fostering local economic development and improving public school funding. He currently sits on seven committees: Arts Committee, Legislative Budget Committee, Business and Professions Committee, Appropriations Committee, Budget Committee, Higher Education Committee, and Local Government Committee. Rep. Bloom has sponsored 283 bills on such topics as gun violence prevention, rent control, reducing the use of force by police, and microfiber pollution this year, of which over 10% have successfully passed. This is about average for an assemblymember's bill passage rate in 2019.

He scores a lifetime 90 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Bloom has supported most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Bloom has not supported evaluating the economic impact of charter schools on local communities and standardizing out-of-pocket medical costs for emergency care.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Rep. Richard Bloom practiced family law for 30 years, assisting low-income clients at Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center and the homeless at PATH Partners. In 1999, he was first elected to the Santa Monica City Council, beginning a 21-year political career that includes his tenure as mayor of Santa Monica and as District 50’s State Assemblymember. A member of the California Coastal Commission, he is a longtime supporter of ending the captivity of marine animals for entertainment purposes and has passed such legislation into law.

Rep. Richard Bloom is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He is also funded by the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen. However, the threat of alt-right-friendly challenger Will Hess’s potential policies greatly outweighs Bloom’s moderate voting record, campaign contributions from police unions, and lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Rep. Richard Bloom is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.
 

Re-elect State Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo to keep AD-51 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County, and includes East Los Angeles and the neighborhoods of Lincoln Heights, Eagle Rock, and Chinatown. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show that 85 percent of AD-51 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 85.9 percent voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

Since the primary, Wendy Carrillo stands unchallenged in this election after she won 86.6 percent of the vote in the primaries. Carrillo’s campaign has raised $438,703.55. She has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money and has accepted funds from all three groups.

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo is from El Salvador and moved to the Boyle Heights neighborhood in 1985. She has lived in Los Angeles ever since, and first won her seat in 2017. According to campaign materials, Assemblymember Carrillo is running for re-election to fight for opportunity, equality, and fairness.

Assemblymember Carrillo’s priorities for AD-51 this year include improving access to quality education and health care, creating economic opportunity, and providing affordable housing. In the Assembly, Carrillo serves on nineteen committees, including Select Committees on Ending the School to Prison Pipeline and Uplifting Girls and Women of Color in California. She was recently a co-author of AB 1482, which protects renters from unjust evictions and unreasonable rent increases, and was signed into law in 2019. This year, Carrillo has co-sponsored three bills expanding access to affordable housing and providing medical leave protection for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. She scores a lifetime score of 90 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Carrillo has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, she has not supported legislation providing oversight of telecommunications companies.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assemblymember Carrillo was an award-winning journalist, writer, and producer. For ten years, she hosted a community-based radio program on Los Angeles Power 106 fm, discussing issues around access to higher education, environmental justice, and political transparency. More recently, she co-founded Reported.ly, an award-winning social media start-up covering human rights, global conflict, and social movements. She is a longtime supporter of labor rights, health care for all, and better conditions for caregivers.

Rep. Carrillo is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. According to our analysis, Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez to keep AD-52 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 52nd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties and the cities of Pomona, Ontario, and Chino. Democrats typically hold this district and Rodriguez has been the incumbent since 2013. The most recent election results show 65.8 percent of AD-52 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 64.1 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Rodriguez led Republican challenger Toni Holle by a margin of 37.7 percent. Neither candidate has pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. Rodriguez’s campaign has raised $460,048.63, including donations from corporations, like Pepsi Co.; police groups, like the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs’; and fossil fuel corporations, like Chevron Corp. Holle’s campaign has raised much less: $1,236.05, mostly from individuals.  

About the Candidate

Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez is from and continues to reside in Pomona, CA. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2013. According to campaign materials, he is running to continue to represent his district’s needs in Sacramento.

In the State Assembly, Rodriguez introduced legislation to extend public transportation and address public safety concerns. He sits on twelve committees, and chairs the Standing Committee on Public and Retirement as well as the Select Committee on Local Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he worked as an emergency responder and served on the Pomona City Council. He is a longtime supporter of job creation and public safety.

Rep. Rodriguez’s priorities for AD-52 this year include public safety, the economy, and education. He scores a 53 Lifetime Score of out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Rodriguez has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Rodriguez was absent on key votes pertaining to environmental protection, criminal-justice reform, and workers’ rights.

Rep. Rodriguez is endorsed by some progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by police organizations. Although we disagree with Rodriguez being absent for key votes on the issues named above, and know that a stronger progressive candidate would more accurately represent AD-52, Rodriguez is the most progressive candidate on the ballot. That said, we encourage more progressive candidates that will better reflect this community’s needs to run in future cycles.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove to keep AD-54 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent ,and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 54th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-54 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove led Democratic challenger Tracy Bernard Jones by a margin of 26.9 percent. Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s campaign has raised $456,755 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Jones’s campaign has not filed any apparent campaign finance records with the California Secretary of State and has not committed to any pledges.

About the Candidate

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, former district director for California State Senator and Courage California Endorsee Holly J. Mitchell, is from Chicago, IL, and has lived in Los Angeles since 1990. According to campaign materials, Rep. Kamlager-Dove is running for re-election to fight for more equitable and innovative neighborhoods.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove’s priorities for AD-54 this year include gun violence prevention, further developing her free preschool initiative, and reducing packaging waste. She currently sits on six committees: the Rules (State Assembly and Legislature), Communications and Conveyance, Insurance, Public Safety, and Arts/Entertainment/Sports/Tourism/Internet Media Committees. Rep. Kamlager-Dove has sponsored 235 bills on such topics as prohibiting no-rehire provisions, banning biometric surveillance in police body cameras, and prohibiting the state from charging admin fees to inmates seeking medical care this year, of which over 10 percent have successfully passed. She scores a lifetime 88 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Kamlager-Dove has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Kamlager-Dove has not supported funding public banks, equalizing out-of-pocket emergency health-care costs regardless of insurance coverage, and preventing dialysis companies from redirecting patients away from Medi-Cal. She has accepted $11,400 from DaVita Inc., a private company that commands 37 percent of the dialysis market.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove first worked for the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) in Venice, CA. In 2010, she worked on Courage California Endorsee Holly J. Mitchell’s State Assembly campaign, becoming district director after Mitchell’s victory. In 2015, Kamlager-Dove was elected to the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees, and in 2018, she entered the California State Assembly, winning the special election resulting from Sebastian Ridley-Thomas’s resignation. She holds an undergraduate degree in political science from USC, a master’s in arts management from Carnegie Mellon, sits on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and is a longtime supporter of recognizing and quashing racial and economic biases in the administration of California’s public services.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. She is also backed by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, California Association of Realtors, California Apartment Association, and the aforementioned DaVita Inc. However, we judge that her legislative accomplishments thus far outweigh her occasionally moderate voting record and lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove is the strongest choice for representative leadership in office.

Elect State Assemblymember Andrew Rodriguez to push AD-55 in the right direction.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 55th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties. Republicans typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 49.9 percent of AD-55 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 52.1 percent of the district voted for Cox for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat challenger Representative Rodriguez trailed Republican challenger Phillip Chen by a margin of 12.4 percent. Rodriguez’s campaign has raised $559,650.25. His campaign has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money, and has accepted funds from a police group. Opponent Chen’s campaign has raised $774,814.84 and has also not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and police money. Some of Chen’s biggest donors are police and corporate PACs.

About the Candidate

Andrew Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of the City of Walnut and the 55th State Assembly District. According to campaign materials, he is running for the position to be an accessible, transparent, and effective representative for his community in Sacramento.

Rodriguez is mayor pro tem of the city of Walnut. In this position, he has advocated for more housing in the district and smart growth strategies for the city, and he completed a general plan land-use update for the city for the first time in forty years. He has also worked as a land-use planner in the San Gabriel Valley and on several political campaigns, including then Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s successful U.S. Senate bid.

Rodriguez’s priorities for AD-55 this year include strengthening public education, expanding economic opportunity, and addressing housing and homelessness.

When he was sworn in as mayor of Walnut, Rodriguez was the youngest councilmember serving in Los Angeles County. During his term, Andrew and the city council have balanced the city's budget annually, and have worked to make Walnut one of the safest cities in California. In 2019, Walnut was ranked as one of the financially healthiest cities in California by the State Controller's Office.

Andrew Rodriguez is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. Assemblymember Chen has shown that he does not represent the needs of constituents in facing down corporate lobbyists and interest groups that exploit Californians. According to our analysis, Andrew Rodriguez is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer to keep AD-59 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 59th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-59 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Reggie Jones-Sawyer trailed Democratic challenger Efren Martinez by a margin of 5.7 percent. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $1,210,039 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Martinez’s campaign has raised $492,225, not committed to any pledges, and is endorsed by the Peace Officer Research Association of California. In a 2017 Los Angeles Times article, Martinez was connected to Huntington Park councilwoman Karina Macias, who has been accused of multiple ethics violations, having rewarded donors with political favors. Martinez paid commissions to Macias as a fundraiser for prospective campaigns in 2012 and 2016. On both occasions, Martinez did not use the money raised to run for office.

About the Candidate

Rep. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, a former labor organizer and lifelong public servant, is from Little Rock, AR, and has lived in South Los Angeles for many decades. According to campaign materials, Rep. Jones-Sawyer is running for re-election to further expand public services and continue serving working-class families in the district he has long called home.

Rep. Reggie Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-59 this year include fighting mass incarceration and police brutality, supporting renters’ and immigrants’ rights, and continuing to push his introduced legislation for free public college. He currently sits on five committees: the Public Safety (chair), Agriculture, Budget, Governmental Organization, and Labor and Employment Committees. Rep. Jones-Sawyer sponsored 242 bills on such topics as expanding public housing, eliminating admin fees for inmates seeking medical care, and tightening regulations on the use of deadly force by police this year, of which over 10 percent have successfully passed. He scores a lifetime 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Jones-Sawyer supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote during the 2019–2020 legislative year, abstaining from only one vote, requiring debt collectors to leave a final $1,724 in a bank account.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Rep. Reggie Jones-Sawyer was the vice president of SEIU's (Local 721) Los Angeles Professional Managers Association, and has served as director of Asset Management for the City of Los Angeles, assistant deputy mayor for the City of Los Angeles, chair of the Los Angeles County Small Business Commission, and statewide secretary of the California Democratic Party. His legislative accomplishments include securing nearly $100 million in grants to assist formerly incarcerated people in acquiring employment and education, prohibiting criminal records from being used as the basis for housing decisions, and prioritizing funding campus intervention workers, counselors, and other mental-health professionals over campus police. Jones-Sawyer is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, serving as chair from 2015–2016, and is a longtime supporter of immigrants’ rights, recidivism prevention through rehabilitation, and empowering social workers and other public servants.

Rep. Reggie Jones-Sawyer is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. He is also backed by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, PG&E, and the California Apartment Association. However, the threat of the extremely pro–law enforcement Efren Martinez’s potential policies greatly outweighs Jones-Sawyer’s lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Rep. Reggie Jones-Sawyer is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

About Courage California’s Endorsement

After a comprehensive interview with Reggie Jones-Sawyer, we have determined that he is committed to criminal justice reform, environmental justice, racial equity and justice, and immigrant rights. His track record as the founder and Chair of the California Progressive Caucus demonstrates his dedication to advancing progressive legislation. Jones-Sawyer announced he is no longer taking any more money from big tobacco, oil, and police money. He recently gave $4,700 back to the CA Correctional Supervisors Organization. One of the first policies Jones-Sawyer said he will champion in the 2021 legislative session is passing a statewide law around police decertification. Courage California is proud to endorse Reggie Jones-Sawyer for AD-59.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Autumn R. Burke to keep AD-62 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 62nd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-62 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Autumn R. Burke led Republican challenger Robert Steele by a margin of 68.8 percent. Rep. Burke’s campaign has raised $699,806 and has not committed to any campaign finance pledges. Steele’s campaign has raised $1,160, not committed to any pledges, and has failed to make a significant impact on the race.

About the Candidate

Rep. Autumn R. Burke, a former real estate agent, is from Los Angeles. According to campaign materials, Rep. Burke is running for re-election to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, end child poverty, and provide training for fossil fuel energy workers to transfer to careers in renewable energy.

Rep. Autumn R. Burke’s priorities for AD-62 this year include funding public transportation and housing, expanding access to maternal health care, and ensuring that reproductive rights remain secure. She currently sits on six committees: the Climate Change Policies Committee, Accountability and Administrative Review Committee, Banking and Finance Committee, Health Committee, Revenue and Taxation Committee, and Utilities and Energy Committee. Rep. Burke has sponsored 246 bills about such topics as increasing reimbursement for early-childhood education, reducing pay gaps in public service salaries, and training police officers on reducing the use of force this year, of which over 20 have successfully passed. She scores a lifetime 80 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Burke has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Rep. Burke has not supported reducing single-use packaging or preventing dialysis companies from redirecting treatment away from Medi-Cal. She has accepted $14,300 from DaVita Inc., a private company that commands 37 percent of the dialysis market.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Rep. Autumn R. Burke worked as a real estate agent. She says her experience balancing her career and raising her children informed her desire to guarantee a more equal work/life balance for working families. In 2017, Rep. Burke authored and passed AB 151, which strengthens California’s Cap and Trade program to mitigate the effects of climate change as we transition to a renewable energy economy. She is a longtime supporter of maternal mental health and investing in early-childhood education.

Rep. Autumn R. Burke is endorsed by a strong majority of progressive groups in the district. She is also backed by Chevron, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, California Correctional Peace Officers Association, and the aforementioned DaVita Inc. However, the threat of Republican challenger and strong Trump supporter Richard Steele’s potential policies greatly outweighs Rep. Burke’s lack of campaign finance pledges. According to our analysis, Rep. Autumn R. Burke is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

Re-elect State Assemblymember Anthony Rendón to keep AD-63 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 63rd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County and includes Bell Gardens and parts of Long Beach. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show 77.4 percent of AD-63 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 74.6 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Anthony Rendón led another Democratic challenger Maria Estrada by a margin of 16 percent. Rendón’s campaign has raised $1,343,191.78. His campaign has not committed to refusing corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, and is funded by all three groups. Estrada’s campaign has raised $27,581.76, the bulk of which comes from individual donors. While her campaign has not taken corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money, Estrada has yet to pledge to refuse such funds.

About the Candidate

Rep. Anthony Rendón, assemblymember since 2012 and speaker of the California State Assembly since 2016, is the son of working-class parents and grandson of Mexican immigrants.

He currently sits on the Arts Committee and the Rules Committee. As assemblymember, Rendón has passed key progressive legislation, including on environmental protections, gun violence prevention, affordable housing, and minimum wage.

He scores a lifetime score of 97 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Anthony Rendón has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, in 2017 Rep. Rendón used his power as speaker to sideline legislation that would have established single-payer health care in California after receiving $100,000 from pharmaceutical groups and $50,000 from medical insurance groups, so his Courage Score is misleading.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Rep. Rendón served as executive director of Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services, which provides child development, social, and medical services to families in Los Angeles County. He is a longtime supporter of child education.

Anthony Rendón is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by several police organizations. Although we disagree with Rendón’s ties to corporate, fossil fuel, and police interests, and know that a stronger progressive candidate would more accurately represent SD-15, Rendón is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office. That said, we encourage more progressive candidates that will better reflect this community’s needs to run formidable campaigns in future cycles.

Elect Fatima Iqbal-Zubair to push AD-64 in the right direction.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 64th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles Counties. Democrats typically hold this district. The most recent election results show AD-64 voted for Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democratic challenger Fatima Iqbal-Zubair trailed Democratic incumbent Representative Mike Gipson by a margin of 35 percent. Iqbal-Zubair’s campaign has pledged not to accept money from law enforcement or the fossil fuel industry. Gipson’s campaign has not committed to any such pledges and is backed by Chevron, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, Phillips 66, Valero, Tesoro, Gilead, DaVita Inc., and many more problematic organizations.

About the Candidate

Fatima Iqbal-Zubair is from Dubai and has lived in the United States since her teenage years. According to campaign materials, she is running for election to challenge systemic racism and ensure that progressive values are taken seriously in Sacramento. Her goals for the district include holding politicians responsible for serving oil and tobacco companies above their constituents, increasing funding for public schools and achieving free public college, cleaning the water supply, and securing housing as a right for all.

Fatima Iqbal-Zubair is an educator, having taught in the Watts public school system at both the high school and college levels. During her time in Watts’s high school system, she served as science department chair and started the first ever robotics team in the district, winning several team awards in the process. Teaching college courses introduced Iqbal-Zubair to students who were in foster care or homeless, and she discovered that the football field contained traces of toxic chemicals, spurring her move into politics to address the obvious disparities between neighborhoods in Los Angeles. She served as commissioner for her opponent, Rep. Mike Gipson, and says of her experience, “When I challenged the status quo and the way he voted, my voice wasn’t welcome. In this capacity, I saw that the voices of community activists were not truly heard or accounted for, in a way that could lead to real, systemic change.”

Fatima Iqbal-Zubair is endorsed by many local progressive groups in the district. Rep. Mike Gipson’s tenure in AD-64 has included numerous problematic votes and endorsements, earning him a lifetime 72 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. According to our analysis, Fatima Iqbal-Zubair is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.

About Courage California’s Endorsement

After a comprehensive interview with Fatima Iqbal-Zubair, we have determined that she is committed to criminal justice reform, environmental justice, racial equity and justice, and immigrant rights. Her experience in the community and pledges to refuse money from corporate PACs, police, and the fossil fuel industry are in alignment with the progressive future Courage California hopes to achieve in which special interests have no place in politics. Iqbal-Zubair’s ideas and proposals are thoroughly well-thought out and demonstrate her strong, structural grasp on the issues Californians face. We are confident that she will co-govern in the interests of all Californians and actively fight for anti-racist legislation. Courage California is proud to endorse Fatima Iqbal-Zubair for AD-64. 

Re-elect State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi to keep AD-66 on the right track.

About the Position

State Assembly Members form part of the California State Legislature, and work alongside the governor to establish laws and a state budget. They hold the power to pass bills that affect public policy, set state spending levels, raise and lower taxes, and uphold or override the governor’s vetoes. 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 and Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 61 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 17 seats. One seat is held by an Independent, and one seat is currently vacant.

About the District

California's 66th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County and the cities of Gardena, Redondo Beach, and Torrance. The district is somewhat purple, and Democrats have typically held this district, although it flipped to red when Muratsuchi lost to his Republican challenger in 2014. The most recent election results show 60 percent of AD-66 voted for Clinton for president in 2016, and 59.3 percent of the district voted for Newsom for governor in 2018.

About the Race

In the primary, Democrat incumbent Representative Muratsuchi led Republican challenger Arthur Schaper by a margin of 32.4 percent. Muratsuchi’s campaign has raised $344,833.35 and has not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money. His campaign has accepted funds from all three groups. Schaper’s campaign has raised much less than Muratsuchi’s--$1,861 in total, all from individual contributions. Schaper has also not pledged to refuse corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or police money.

About the Candidate

Rep. Muratsuchi, a former prosecutor and deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice, has lived in Southern California for nearly 25 years. He is the incumbent, having served in this position since 2016. According to campaign materials, he is for re-election to bring good jobs and quality education to his district, as well as improve environmental protections and veteran services.

In the Assembly, Muratsuchi has advanced legislation to keep aerospace jobs in the state, increase funding for public education, oppose oil drilling throughout California’s coastlines, and to improve the services provided to homeless and disabled veterans.  He currently sits on eight committees and chairs the select committee on Aerospace. Rep. Muratsuchi has co-sponsored two bills on gun violence prevention and consumer protection this year. He scores 64 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Muratsuchi has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, he has a clear history of casting bad votes on criminal-justice reform measures.

Rep. Maratsuchi is endorsed by many progressive groups in the district. He is also endorsed by police organizations. However, the threat of right-wing challenger and strong Trump supporter Schaper’s potential policies greatly outweighs Muratsuchi’s moderate voting record and inaction on justice reform. According to our analysis, Rep. Muratsuchi is the strongest choice for equitable and representative leadership in office.