Progressive Voters Guide Powered by Courage California

No Recommendation

Based on our analysis, these three candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.



Endorsements: Assm. Wendy Carrillo has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including EMILYs List. In previous elections, she has also received the endorsement of AFSCME California, California Labor Federation, Equality California, and Planned Parenthood. 

Assm. Miguel Santiago has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County Action Fund, and many labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Tina McKinnor, Assm. Rick Chavez Zbur, and LA County Sup. Janice Hahn.

Ysabel Jurado has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Women’s List, ACCE Action, Ground Game LA, and Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, LAUSD Board President Jackie Goldberg, and Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony.

Key initiatives: Assm. Carrillo’s priorities for AD-52 have included 27 bills about affordable housing, health care, and oil and gas. Of these, 12 have been chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. This session, she has authored and supported legislation to improve the efficiency of clearing rehabilitative service providers to work with the Department of Corrections, create digital data protections for individuals researching reproductive health care, and establish increased accountability plans for the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency. She scores a lifetime CS of 96 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Carrillo has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. 

Assm. Santiago’s priorities for AD-54 have included 22 bills about government and civil service, criminal justice reform, and post-secondary education. Of these, 9 have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. This session, he authored AB958 to restore visitation rights for incarcerated individuals, and AB785 to create exemptions in the California Environmental Quality Act for affordable and transitional housing development. He scores a lifetime CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has been designated as an All-Star this legislative session. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Santiago has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. 

Jurado is a tenants’ rights attorney and housing affordability activist, which she does to leverage her legal expertise to support increased social equity in her community. In her work, she has defended community members and small businesses against eviction and rent hikes, and has been a strong advocate of establishing achievable pathways to homeownership, and protecting affordability. During the pandemic, she witnessed the policy failures that resulted in housing instability for local residents, and is running for this seat to provide representative leadership for her neighbors. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Carrillo has served in the Assembly since 2017, when she was elected with 54% of the vote. In 2022, she won reelection against a Democratic challenger after earning over 56% of the vote.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Carrillo was a journalist who hosted radio and digital media. Assm. Carrillo has been a longtime supporter of workers’ rights.

Assm. Santiago has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2022, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 58 points.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Santiago was involved in community organizing, and worked on expanding affordable health care and housing. He is a longtime supporter of education, just immigration policies, and economic development.

Jurado has not run for public office before.

Before running for City Council, Jurado established herself as a respected local leader. She earned both her bachelor’s and JD degrees at UCLA, and worked in the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office for three years before entering legal practice. Corruption in the City Council motivated her run for office, and she views the racist rhetoric and blatant gerrymandering that has characterized city government in recent years as antithetical to the needs and interests of Council District 14 constituents. As an attorney and a lifelong resident of the district, her service on the council would focus on social justice, housing affordability, and support for working families.

Other background: Assm. Carrillo grew up in Boyle Heights and City Terrace. As a child, she came to the US as an undocumented refugee from El Salvador.

Assm. Santiago is from Los Angeles. 

Jurado is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles. She is the daughter of Filipino immigrants. 

The Race


Primary election: There are eight candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Wendy Carrillo, Assm. Miguel Santiago, Ysabel Jurado, incumbent Councilmember Kevin DeLeón, Teresa Hillery, Nadine Diaz, Genny Guerrero, and Eduardo Vargas. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Wendy Carrillo’s campaign has raised $181,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Miguel Santiago’s campaign has raised $1.6 million as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, and fossil fuel interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ysabel Jurado’s campaign has raised $101,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Councilmember Kevin DeLeón
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember DeLeón’s campaign has raised $56,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Teresa Hillery
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hillery’s campaign has raised $73,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Nadine Diaz
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Diaz’s campaign has raised $5,000 as of December 2023, and is funded entirely by individual donors.

Opposing candidate: Eduardo Vargas
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vargas’s campaign has raised $21,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

The District


City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles’s City Council District 14 includes Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, Downtown LA, El Sereno, and Northeast LA. 

Governance Structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to three terms, or 12 years in office total. 


Based on our analysis, these three candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.



Endorsements: Assm. Wendy Carrillo has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including EMILYs List. In previous elections, she has also received the endorsement of AFSCME California, California Labor Federation, Equality California, and Planned Parenthood. 

Assm. Miguel Santiago has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County Action Fund, and many labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Tina McKinnor, Assm. Rick Chavez Zbur, and LA County Sup. Janice Hahn.

Ysabel Jurado has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Women’s List, ACCE Action, Ground Game LA, and Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, LAUSD Board President Jackie Goldberg, and Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony.

Key initiatives: Assm. Carrillo’s priorities for AD-52 have included 27 bills about affordable housing, health care, and oil and gas. Of these, 12 have been chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. This session, she has authored and supported legislation to improve the efficiency of clearing rehabilitative service providers to work with the Department of Corrections, create digital data protections for individuals researching reproductive health care, and establish increased accountability plans for the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency. She scores a lifetime CS of 96 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Carrillo has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. 

Assm. Santiago’s priorities for AD-54 have included 22 bills about government and civil service, criminal justice reform, and post-secondary education. Of these, 9 have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. This session, he authored AB958 to restore visitation rights for incarcerated individuals, and AB785 to create exemptions in the California Environmental Quality Act for affordable and transitional housing development. He scores a lifetime CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has been designated as an All-Star this legislative session. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Santiago has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. 

Jurado is a tenants’ rights attorney and housing affordability activist, which she does to leverage her legal expertise to support increased social equity in her community. In her work, she has defended community members and small businesses against eviction and rent hikes, and has been a strong advocate of establishing achievable pathways to homeownership, and protecting affordability. During the pandemic, she witnessed the policy failures that resulted in housing instability for local residents, and is running for this seat to provide representative leadership for her neighbors. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Carrillo has served in the Assembly since 2017, when she was elected with 54% of the vote. In 2022, she won reelection against a Democratic challenger after earning over 56% of the vote.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Carrillo was a journalist who hosted radio and digital media. Assm. Carrillo has been a longtime supporter of workers’ rights.

Assm. Santiago has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2022, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 58 points.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Santiago was involved in community organizing, and worked on expanding affordable health care and housing. He is a longtime supporter of education, just immigration policies, and economic development.

Jurado has not run for public office before.

Before running for City Council, Jurado established herself as a respected local leader. She earned both her bachelor’s and JD degrees at UCLA, and worked in the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office for three years before entering legal practice. Corruption in the City Council motivated her run for office, and she views the racist rhetoric and blatant gerrymandering that has characterized city government in recent years as antithetical to the needs and interests of Council District 14 constituents. As an attorney and a lifelong resident of the district, her service on the council would focus on social justice, housing affordability, and support for working families.

Other background: Assm. Carrillo grew up in Boyle Heights and City Terrace. As a child, she came to the US as an undocumented refugee from El Salvador.

Assm. Santiago is from Los Angeles. 

Jurado is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles. She is the daughter of Filipino immigrants. 

The Race


Primary election: There are eight candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Wendy Carrillo, Assm. Miguel Santiago, Ysabel Jurado, incumbent Councilmember Kevin DeLeón, Teresa Hillery, Nadine Diaz, Genny Guerrero, and Eduardo Vargas. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Wendy Carrillo’s campaign has raised $181,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Miguel Santiago’s campaign has raised $1.6 million as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, and fossil fuel interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ysabel Jurado’s campaign has raised $101,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Councilmember Kevin DeLeón
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember DeLeón’s campaign has raised $56,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Teresa Hillery
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hillery’s campaign has raised $73,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Nadine Diaz
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Diaz’s campaign has raised $5,000 as of December 2023, and is funded entirely by individual donors.

Opposing candidate: Eduardo Vargas
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vargas’s campaign has raised $21,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

The District


City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles’s City Council District 14 includes Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, Downtown LA, El Sereno, and Northeast LA. 

Governance Structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to three terms, or 12 years in office total. 


City of Los Angeles

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Election Day March 5, 2024
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President and Vice President

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris photo
Democrat

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

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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.

City District Races

Depending on where you live, you may have the below city district races on your ballot.

City of Los Angeles, District 4

Los Angeles City Council, District 4

Nithya Raman photo
Non-Partisan

Nithya Raman

Website Endorsements
Endorsed by Courage California

Courage California endorses Councilmember Nithya Raman for re-election to keep Los Angeles on the right track for progress. 



Councilmember Nithya Raman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 4 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Councilmember Raman has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, California Working Families Party, Abundant Housing LA, ACCE Action, and Fund Her. She has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA Supervisor Hilda Solis, LA Supervisor Holly Mitchell, LA City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.

Top issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, mental health support, renters’ rights, environmental protections and pollution reduction, cycling infrastructure, government transparency, reproductive justice, and parks improvement.

Key initiatives: Councilmember Raman has successfully supported emergency financial resources, the carbon-free standard for new construction, an expansion of bike lane infrastructure, the establishment of Los Angeles as an abortion care safe haven, new investments in Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Zoo, and the expansion of tenants’ rights, including eviction protections and relocation assistance. A dedicated advocate of housing reform, Councilmember Raman has increased the shelter capacity in her district, opened a hotel shelter in the community, secured an Encampment Resolution Grant from Gov. Newsom to move people indoors, expanded mental health and substance abuse support, and collaborated with Mayor Bass to support unhoused constituents. After her election in 2020, District 4 underwent the most significant change of any council seat, with Councilmember Raman receiving a 40% shift in her constituency after redistricting, a Council-led process that was the subject of much controversy. In response, she has introduced a ballot measure to allow voters to establish a fully independent redistricting commission. She has been a proactive, consistent, and progressive advocate for her constituents.

Governance and community leadership experience: Councilmember Raman has served in this seat since 2020, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote over the incumbent. Her victory constituted the most votes—over 70,000—that any council candidate has received in the city’s history. 

Prior to her election to the City Council, Councilmember Raman was an urban planner and spent time working in India on initiatives to improve access to water, shelter, and economic mobility. After moving to Los Angeles, she co-founded SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a local neighborhood-based organization formed in response to the city’s inaction on homelessness. She also served as co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness Committee for several years. Raman recently served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, the women’s rights movement furthering equity and safety for women in the entertainment industry. Raman’s relationships in entertainment are strong, and her campaign has partnered with artists and performers to further its organizing efforts. 

Other background: Councilmember Raman was born in India and raised in Massachusetts after her family immigrated to the United States. She is a graduate of Harvard and MIT.

The Race


Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Councilmember Nithya Raman, Levon Baronian, and Ethan Weaver. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary. 

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Raman’s campaign has raised $260,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Ethan Weaver
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Weaver’s campaign has raised $141,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

The District


City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 4 includes the communities of The Hills, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Reseda, Van Nuys, Studio City, Cahuenga Pass, Los Feliz, and portions of Los Angeles.  

Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total. 

Courage California endorses Councilmember Nithya Raman for re-election to keep Los Angeles on the right track for progress. 



Councilmember Nithya Raman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 4 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Councilmember Raman has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, California Working Families Party, Abundant Housing LA, ACCE Action, and Fund Her. She has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA Supervisor Hilda Solis, LA Supervisor Holly Mitchell, LA City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.

Top issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, mental health support, renters’ rights, environmental protections and pollution reduction, cycling infrastructure, government transparency, reproductive justice, and parks improvement.

Key initiatives: Councilmember Raman has successfully supported emergency financial resources, the carbon-free standard for new construction, an expansion of bike lane infrastructure, the establishment of Los Angeles as an abortion care safe haven, new investments in Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Zoo, and the expansion of tenants’ rights, including eviction protections and relocation assistance. A dedicated advocate of housing reform, Councilmember Raman has increased the shelter capacity in her district, opened a hotel shelter in the community, secured an Encampment Resolution Grant from Gov. Newsom to move people indoors, expanded mental health and substance abuse support, and collaborated with Mayor Bass to support unhoused constituents. After her election in 2020, District 4 underwent the most significant change of any council seat, with Councilmember Raman receiving a 40% shift in her constituency after redistricting, a Council-led process that was the subject of much controversy. In response, she has introduced a ballot measure to allow voters to establish a fully independent redistricting commission. She has been a proactive, consistent, and progressive advocate for her constituents.

Governance and community leadership experience: Councilmember Raman has served in this seat since 2020, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote over the incumbent. Her victory constituted the most votes—over 70,000—that any council candidate has received in the city’s history. 

Prior to her election to the City Council, Councilmember Raman was an urban planner and spent time working in India on initiatives to improve access to water, shelter, and economic mobility. After moving to Los Angeles, she co-founded SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a local neighborhood-based organization formed in response to the city’s inaction on homelessness. She also served as co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness Committee for several years. Raman recently served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, the women’s rights movement furthering equity and safety for women in the entertainment industry. Raman’s relationships in entertainment are strong, and her campaign has partnered with artists and performers to further its organizing efforts. 

Other background: Councilmember Raman was born in India and raised in Massachusetts after her family immigrated to the United States. She is a graduate of Harvard and MIT.

The Race


Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Councilmember Nithya Raman, Levon Baronian, and Ethan Weaver. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary. 

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Raman’s campaign has raised $260,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Ethan Weaver
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Weaver’s campaign has raised $141,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

The District


City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 4 includes the communities of The Hills, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Reseda, Van Nuys, Studio City, Cahuenga Pass, Los Feliz, and portions of Los Angeles.  

Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total. 

Endorsed By: Courage California

City of Los Angeles, District 10

Los Angeles City Council, District 10

Eddie Anderson photo
Non-Partisan

Eddie Anderson

Website

Elect Eddie Anderson or Reggie Jones-Sawyer to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress. 



Progressive endorsements: Eddie Anderson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, and Run for Something. 

Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several other labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Adam Schiff, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, and Assm. Eloise Gómez Reyes.

Key initiatives: Anderson is an ordained minister and an activist, which he does to bring leadership to issues of equity, dignity, and social justice that are impacting his community. He currently serves as senior pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation, and as the South LA Regional Community Organizer for LA Voice, a multifaith community organization working in Los Angeles County.

Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 this year have included 29 bills about criminal justice reform, drug law, homelessness, and firearm safety. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. During his time in the Assembly, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce recidivism, eliminate cash bail, and raise the minimum age requirement for becoming a police officer. He is a co-founder of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Anderson has not run for public office previously.

Anderson has been a longtime advocate of statewide reform to housing and mental health-care services, and has been a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He was a commissioner for the recent Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, a board member of ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County, and has also served on LA County’s Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee. 

Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won an uncontested reelection with 100% of the vote.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.

Other background: Anderson is from Atlanta. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.

Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles.

The Race


Primary election: This seat was vacated by former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in October 2021 after he was charged with bribery and fraud. After his conviction in March 2023, the seat was temporarily filled with the appointment of Councilmember Heather Hutt. This election will determine the next elected leader of the district. There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Eddie Anderson, Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt, Grace Yoo, and Aura Vasquez. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $51,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $179,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Councilmember Heather Hutt
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Hutt’s campaign has raised $174,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Grace Yoo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yoo’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Aura Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vasquez’s campaign has raised $90,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

The District


City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 10 includes the communities of Mid-City, Angelus Vista, Wilshire Vista, Jefferson Park, Cienega, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Reynier Village, Koreatown, and Little Bangladesh. 

Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total. 


Elect Eddie Anderson or Reggie Jones-Sawyer to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress. 



Progressive endorsements: Eddie Anderson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, and Run for Something. 

Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several other labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Adam Schiff, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, and Assm. Eloise Gómez Reyes.

Key initiatives: Anderson is an ordained minister and an activist, which he does to bring leadership to issues of equity, dignity, and social justice that are impacting his community. He currently serves as senior pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation, and as the South LA Regional Community Organizer for LA Voice, a multifaith community organization working in Los Angeles County.

Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 this year have included 29 bills about criminal justice reform, drug law, homelessness, and firearm safety. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. During his time in the Assembly, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce recidivism, eliminate cash bail, and raise the minimum age requirement for becoming a police officer. He is a co-founder of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Anderson has not run for public office previously.

Anderson has been a longtime advocate of statewide reform to housing and mental health-care services, and has been a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He was a commissioner for the recent Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, a board member of ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County, and has also served on LA County’s Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee. 

Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won an uncontested reelection with 100% of the vote.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.

Other background: Anderson is from Atlanta. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.

Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles.

The Race


Primary election: This seat was vacated by former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in October 2021 after he was charged with bribery and fraud. After his conviction in March 2023, the seat was temporarily filled with the appointment of Councilmember Heather Hutt. This election will determine the next elected leader of the district. There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Eddie Anderson, Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt, Grace Yoo, and Aura Vasquez. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $51,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $179,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Councilmember Heather Hutt
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Hutt’s campaign has raised $174,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Grace Yoo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yoo’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Aura Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vasquez’s campaign has raised $90,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

The District


City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 10 includes the communities of Mid-City, Angelus Vista, Wilshire Vista, Jefferson Park, Cienega, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Reynier Village, Koreatown, and Little Bangladesh. 

Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total. 


Reggie Jones-Sawyer photo
Non-Partisan

Reggie Jones-Sawyer

Website Endorsements

Elect Eddie Anderson or Reggie Jones-Sawyer to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress. 



Progressive endorsements: Eddie Anderson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, and Run for Something. 

Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several other labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Adam Schiff, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, and Assm. Eloise Gómez Reyes.

Key initiatives: Anderson is an ordained minister and an activist, which he does to bring leadership to issues of equity, dignity, and social justice that are impacting his community. He currently serves as senior pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation, and as the South LA Regional Community Organizer for LA Voice, a multifaith community organization working in Los Angeles County.

Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 this year have included 29 bills about criminal justice reform, drug law, homelessness, and firearm safety. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. During his time in the Assembly, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce recidivism, eliminate cash bail, and raise the minimum age requirement for becoming a police officer. He is a co-founder of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Anderson has not run for public office previously.

Anderson has been a longtime advocate of statewide reform to housing and mental health-care services, and has been a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He was a commissioner for the recent Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, a board member of ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County, and has also served on LA County’s Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee. 

Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won an uncontested reelection with 100% of the vote.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.

Other background: Anderson is from Atlanta. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.

Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles.

The Race


Primary election: This seat was vacated by former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in October 2021 after he was charged with bribery and fraud. After his conviction in March 2023, the seat was temporarily filled with the appointment of Councilmember Heather Hutt. This election will determine the next elected leader of the district. There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Eddie Anderson, Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt, Grace Yoo, and Aura Vasquez. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $51,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $179,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Councilmember Heather Hutt
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Hutt’s campaign has raised $174,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Grace Yoo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yoo’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Aura Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vasquez’s campaign has raised $90,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

The District


City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 10 includes the communities of Mid-City, Angelus Vista, Wilshire Vista, Jefferson Park, Cienega, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Reynier Village, Koreatown, and Little Bangladesh. 

Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total. 

Elect Eddie Anderson or Reggie Jones-Sawyer to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress. 



Progressive endorsements: Eddie Anderson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, and Run for Something. 

Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several other labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Adam Schiff, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, and Assm. Eloise Gómez Reyes.

Key initiatives: Anderson is an ordained minister and an activist, which he does to bring leadership to issues of equity, dignity, and social justice that are impacting his community. He currently serves as senior pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation, and as the South LA Regional Community Organizer for LA Voice, a multifaith community organization working in Los Angeles County.

Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 this year have included 29 bills about criminal justice reform, drug law, homelessness, and firearm safety. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. During his time in the Assembly, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce recidivism, eliminate cash bail, and raise the minimum age requirement for becoming a police officer. He is a co-founder of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Anderson has not run for public office previously.

Anderson has been a longtime advocate of statewide reform to housing and mental health-care services, and has been a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He was a commissioner for the recent Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, a board member of ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County, and has also served on LA County’s Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee. 

Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won an uncontested reelection with 100% of the vote.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.

Other background: Anderson is from Atlanta. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.

Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles.

The Race


Primary election: This seat was vacated by former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in October 2021 after he was charged with bribery and fraud. After his conviction in March 2023, the seat was temporarily filled with the appointment of Councilmember Heather Hutt. This election will determine the next elected leader of the district. There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Eddie Anderson, Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt, Grace Yoo, and Aura Vasquez. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $51,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $179,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Councilmember Heather Hutt
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Hutt’s campaign has raised $174,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Grace Yoo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yoo’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Aura Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vasquez’s campaign has raised $90,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

The District


City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 10 includes the communities of Mid-City, Angelus Vista, Wilshire Vista, Jefferson Park, Cienega, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Reynier Village, Koreatown, and Little Bangladesh. 

Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total. 

City of Los Angeles, District 14

Los Angeles City Council, District 14

No Recommendation

Based on our analysis, these three candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.



Endorsements: Assm. Wendy Carrillo has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including EMILYs List. In previous elections, she has also received the endorsement of AFSCME California, California Labor Federation, Equality California, and Planned Parenthood. 

Assm. Miguel Santiago has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County Action Fund, and many labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Tina McKinnor, Assm. Rick Chavez Zbur, and LA County Sup. Janice Hahn.

Ysabel Jurado has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Women’s List, ACCE Action, Ground Game LA, and Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, LAUSD Board President Jackie Goldberg, and Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony.

Key initiatives: Assm. Carrillo’s priorities for AD-52 have included 27 bills about affordable housing, health care, and oil and gas. Of these, 12 have been chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. This session, she has authored and supported legislation to improve the efficiency of clearing rehabilitative service providers to work with the Department of Corrections, create digital data protections for individuals researching reproductive health care, and establish increased accountability plans for the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency. She scores a lifetime CS of 96 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Carrillo has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. 

Assm. Santiago’s priorities for AD-54 have included 22 bills about government and civil service, criminal justice reform, and post-secondary education. Of these, 9 have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. This session, he authored AB958 to restore visitation rights for incarcerated individuals, and AB785 to create exemptions in the California Environmental Quality Act for affordable and transitional housing development. He scores a lifetime CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has been designated as an All-Star this legislative session. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Santiago has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. 

Jurado is a tenants’ rights attorney and housing affordability activist, which she does to leverage her legal expertise to support increased social equity in her community. In her work, she has defended community members and small businesses against eviction and rent hikes, and has been a strong advocate of establishing achievable pathways to homeownership, and protecting affordability. During the pandemic, she witnessed the policy failures that resulted in housing instability for local residents, and is running for this seat to provide representative leadership for her neighbors. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Carrillo has served in the Assembly since 2017, when she was elected with 54% of the vote. In 2022, she won reelection against a Democratic challenger after earning over 56% of the vote.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Carrillo was a journalist who hosted radio and digital media. Assm. Carrillo has been a longtime supporter of workers’ rights.

Assm. Santiago has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2022, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 58 points.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Santiago was involved in community organizing, and worked on expanding affordable health care and housing. He is a longtime supporter of education, just immigration policies, and economic development.

Jurado has not run for public office before.

Before running for City Council, Jurado established herself as a respected local leader. She earned both her bachelor’s and JD degrees at UCLA, and worked in the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office for three years before entering legal practice. Corruption in the City Council motivated her run for office, and she views the racist rhetoric and blatant gerrymandering that has characterized city government in recent years as antithetical to the needs and interests of Council District 14 constituents. As an attorney and a lifelong resident of the district, her service on the council would focus on social justice, housing affordability, and support for working families.

Other background: Assm. Carrillo grew up in Boyle Heights and City Terrace. As a child, she came to the US as an undocumented refugee from El Salvador.

Assm. Santiago is from Los Angeles. 

Jurado is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles. She is the daughter of Filipino immigrants. 

The Race


Primary election: There are eight candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Wendy Carrillo, Assm. Miguel Santiago, Ysabel Jurado, incumbent Councilmember Kevin DeLeón, Teresa Hillery, Nadine Diaz, Genny Guerrero, and Eduardo Vargas. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Wendy Carrillo’s campaign has raised $181,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Miguel Santiago’s campaign has raised $1.6 million as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, and fossil fuel interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ysabel Jurado’s campaign has raised $101,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Councilmember Kevin DeLeón
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember DeLeón’s campaign has raised $56,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Teresa Hillery
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hillery’s campaign has raised $73,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Nadine Diaz
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Diaz’s campaign has raised $5,000 as of December 2023, and is funded entirely by individual donors.

Opposing candidate: Eduardo Vargas
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vargas’s campaign has raised $21,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

The District


City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles’s City Council District 14 includes Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, Downtown LA, El Sereno, and Northeast LA. 

Governance Structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to three terms, or 12 years in office total. 


Based on our analysis, these three candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.



Endorsements: Assm. Wendy Carrillo has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including EMILYs List. In previous elections, she has also received the endorsement of AFSCME California, California Labor Federation, Equality California, and Planned Parenthood. 

Assm. Miguel Santiago has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County Action Fund, and many labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Tina McKinnor, Assm. Rick Chavez Zbur, and LA County Sup. Janice Hahn.

Ysabel Jurado has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Women’s List, ACCE Action, Ground Game LA, and Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, LAUSD Board President Jackie Goldberg, and Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony.

Key initiatives: Assm. Carrillo’s priorities for AD-52 have included 27 bills about affordable housing, health care, and oil and gas. Of these, 12 have been chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. This session, she has authored and supported legislation to improve the efficiency of clearing rehabilitative service providers to work with the Department of Corrections, create digital data protections for individuals researching reproductive health care, and establish increased accountability plans for the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency. She scores a lifetime CS of 96 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Carrillo has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. 

Assm. Santiago’s priorities for AD-54 have included 22 bills about government and civil service, criminal justice reform, and post-secondary education. Of these, 9 have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. This session, he authored AB958 to restore visitation rights for incarcerated individuals, and AB785 to create exemptions in the California Environmental Quality Act for affordable and transitional housing development. He scores a lifetime CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has been designated as an All-Star this legislative session. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Santiago has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. 

Jurado is a tenants’ rights attorney and housing affordability activist, which she does to leverage her legal expertise to support increased social equity in her community. In her work, she has defended community members and small businesses against eviction and rent hikes, and has been a strong advocate of establishing achievable pathways to homeownership, and protecting affordability. During the pandemic, she witnessed the policy failures that resulted in housing instability for local residents, and is running for this seat to provide representative leadership for her neighbors. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Carrillo has served in the Assembly since 2017, when she was elected with 54% of the vote. In 2022, she won reelection against a Democratic challenger after earning over 56% of the vote.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Carrillo was a journalist who hosted radio and digital media. Assm. Carrillo has been a longtime supporter of workers’ rights.

Assm. Santiago has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2022, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 58 points.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Santiago was involved in community organizing, and worked on expanding affordable health care and housing. He is a longtime supporter of education, just immigration policies, and economic development.

Jurado has not run for public office before.

Before running for City Council, Jurado established herself as a respected local leader. She earned both her bachelor’s and JD degrees at UCLA, and worked in the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office for three years before entering legal practice. Corruption in the City Council motivated her run for office, and she views the racist rhetoric and blatant gerrymandering that has characterized city government in recent years as antithetical to the needs and interests of Council District 14 constituents. As an attorney and a lifelong resident of the district, her service on the council would focus on social justice, housing affordability, and support for working families.

Other background: Assm. Carrillo grew up in Boyle Heights and City Terrace. As a child, she came to the US as an undocumented refugee from El Salvador.

Assm. Santiago is from Los Angeles. 

Jurado is a lifelong resident of Los Angeles. She is the daughter of Filipino immigrants. 

The Race


Primary election: There are eight candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Wendy Carrillo, Assm. Miguel Santiago, Ysabel Jurado, incumbent Councilmember Kevin DeLeón, Teresa Hillery, Nadine Diaz, Genny Guerrero, and Eduardo Vargas. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Wendy Carrillo’s campaign has raised $181,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Miguel Santiago’s campaign has raised $1.6 million as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, and fossil fuel interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ysabel Jurado’s campaign has raised $101,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Councilmember Kevin DeLeón
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember DeLeón’s campaign has raised $56,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Teresa Hillery
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hillery’s campaign has raised $73,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Nadine Diaz
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Diaz’s campaign has raised $5,000 as of December 2023, and is funded entirely by individual donors.

Opposing candidate: Eduardo Vargas
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vargas’s campaign has raised $21,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

The District


City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles’s City Council District 14 includes Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, Downtown LA, El Sereno, and Northeast LA. 

Governance Structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.

The Position


Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15-person city council. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are ‎limited to three terms, or 12 years in office total. 


State Senate

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.

State Senator, 27th District

Member of the State Senate

Henry Stern photo
Democrat

Henry Stern

Re-elect State Senator Henry Stern to keep SD-27 on the right track for progress. 



Sen. Henry Stern’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-27 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Sen. Stern has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Equality California, as well as labor unions like United Farm Workers, AFSCME, United Healthcare Workers West, and SEIU. 

Top issues: Green energy, climate resiliency, public utilities, health care.

Priority bills: This year, Sen. Stern’s priorities for SD-27 have included 17 bills about reducing emissions, strengthening incentives for green energy for individuals, increasing penalties for polluting corporations, making health care (including medical marijuana) easier to access, and climate research. All currently remain in committee. He earned the designation as an All-Star on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, for authoring and voting on key bills in 2023. Stern scores a Lifetime Score of 86 out of 100 on Courage Score for supporting the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Stern has not supported and abstained from several votes on criminal justice reform in previous years. 

Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Stern currently sits on 3 committees, including Judiciary, Natural Resources and Water, and Energy, Utilities, and Communications. He also chairs the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Stern has served in this state Senate seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 55% of the vote. In 2020, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 20 points.

Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Stern was an environmental lawyer and high school teacher. He served as an attorney on Capitol Hill before pursuing civil rights and environmental law back in California. He is a longtime supporter of environmental protections, and has received annual recognition from Sierra Club and California Environmental Justice Alliance for his work in the legislature, and has authored legislation providing incentives and requirements for clean energy. As a state Senator, he serves as the Senate’s Ex Oficio member to the California Air Resources Board.

Other background: Sen. Stern is from New York and was raised in California. He earned his BA from Harvard and his law degree from UC Berkeley.

The Race


Primary election: There are 3 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Sen. Henry Stern (D), Lucie Volotzky (R), and Susan Collins (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Stern’s campaign has raised $181,901. He has accepted donations from corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, and the police. 

Opposing candidate: Republicans Lucie Volotzky and Susan Collins
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Collins’s campaign has raised $62,211 and is funded by the police. She has also loaned more than $35,000 to her own campaign. Volotzky’s campaign has raised $6,912, nearly half of which she has loaned from her own pocket.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 27th State Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Voter registration: 47% Democrat, 24% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 18% Latino, 11% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: SD-27 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 21 points.

The Position


State senators 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 Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. 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 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.


Re-elect State Senator Henry Stern to keep SD-27 on the right track for progress. 



Sen. Henry Stern’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-27 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Sen. Stern has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Equality California, as well as labor unions like United Farm Workers, AFSCME, United Healthcare Workers West, and SEIU. 

Top issues: Green energy, climate resiliency, public utilities, health care.

Priority bills: This year, Sen. Stern’s priorities for SD-27 have included 17 bills about reducing emissions, strengthening incentives for green energy for individuals, increasing penalties for polluting corporations, making health care (including medical marijuana) easier to access, and climate research. All currently remain in committee. He earned the designation as an All-Star on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, for authoring and voting on key bills in 2023. Stern scores a Lifetime Score of 86 out of 100 on Courage Score for supporting the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Stern has not supported and abstained from several votes on criminal justice reform in previous years. 

Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Stern currently sits on 3 committees, including Judiciary, Natural Resources and Water, and Energy, Utilities, and Communications. He also chairs the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Stern has served in this state Senate seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 55% of the vote. In 2020, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 20 points.

Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Stern was an environmental lawyer and high school teacher. He served as an attorney on Capitol Hill before pursuing civil rights and environmental law back in California. He is a longtime supporter of environmental protections, and has received annual recognition from Sierra Club and California Environmental Justice Alliance for his work in the legislature, and has authored legislation providing incentives and requirements for clean energy. As a state Senator, he serves as the Senate’s Ex Oficio member to the California Air Resources Board.

Other background: Sen. Stern is from New York and was raised in California. He earned his BA from Harvard and his law degree from UC Berkeley.

The Race


Primary election: There are 3 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Sen. Henry Stern (D), Lucie Volotzky (R), and Susan Collins (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Stern’s campaign has raised $181,901. He has accepted donations from corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, and the police. 

Opposing candidate: Republicans Lucie Volotzky and Susan Collins
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Collins’s campaign has raised $62,211 and is funded by the police. She has also loaned more than $35,000 to her own campaign. Volotzky’s campaign has raised $6,912, nearly half of which she has loaned from her own pocket.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 27th State Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Voter registration: 47% Democrat, 24% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 18% Latino, 11% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: SD-27 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 21 points.

The Position


State senators 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 Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. 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 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.


State Senator, 35th District

Member of the State Senate

Michelle Chambers photo
Democrat

Michelle Chambers

Website Endorsements
Endorsed by Courage California

Courage California endorses Michelle Chambers for state Senate to put SD-35 on the right track for progress. 



Michelle Chambers’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-35 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Chambers has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including LA Voice Action, SEIU California, and California Environmental Voters. She has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, Assm. Tina McKinnor, and LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell.

Electoral history: Chambers has run for office previously, and won her 2019 race for Compton City Council District 1 against the incumbent with over 65% of the vote. She resigned from the seat midway through her first term in March 2022 to work in Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office.

Top issues: Quality of life improvement, homelessness and housing, health care, economic improvement, public safety, senior and veteran services, and creating employment opportunities

Governance and community leadership experience: Chambers is a public policy professional, which she does to support services and systems that improve quality of life for members of the community. Aside from her tenure on the Compton City Council, Chambers has served in a variety of leadership positions in the state, including as external affairs manager to Attorney General Rob Bonta, special assistant to Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang, and senior field deputy to Assm. Mike Gipson. Over a 30-year career, she has supported the work of state legislative leaders, congressional offices, local public works, and organized labor. These positions have provided Chambers with a comprehensive understanding of the public sector, and how to create positive outcomes across communities. 

Other background: Michelle Chambers is a longtime resident of Compton.

 

The Race


Primary election: There are seven candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Michelle Chambers (D), Lamar Lyons (D), Nilo Michelin (D), Alex Monteiro (D), Laura Richardson (D), Pierre Homer Tijerino (D), and Jennifer Trichelle-Marie Williams (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Chambers’s campaign has raised $60,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by real estate, fossil fuel, police, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Nilo Michelin
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Michelin’s campaign has raised $50,000 as of October 2023, and is entirely self-funded.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Alex Monteiro
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Monteiro’s campaign has raised $96,000 as of October 2023, and has received donations from real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Laura Richardson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Richardson’s campaign has raised $285,000 as of October 2023, and is primarily self-funded. She has not received any donations from problematic funders.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Jennifer Trichelle-Marie Williams
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Williams’s campaign has raised $104,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

 

The District


Counties in district: California’s 35th State Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 61% Democrat, 11% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 47% Latino, 9% Asian, and 31% Black. 

Recent election results: SD-35 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 61 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 54 points.

 

The Position


State senators 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 Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. 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 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.


 

Courage California endorses Michelle Chambers for state Senate to put SD-35 on the right track for progress. 



Michelle Chambers’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-35 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Chambers has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including LA Voice Action, SEIU California, and California Environmental Voters. She has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, Assm. Tina McKinnor, and LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell.

Electoral history: Chambers has run for office previously, and won her 2019 race for Compton City Council District 1 against the incumbent with over 65% of the vote. She resigned from the seat midway through her first term in March 2022 to work in Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office.

Top issues: Quality of life improvement, homelessness and housing, health care, economic improvement, public safety, senior and veteran services, and creating employment opportunities

Governance and community leadership experience: Chambers is a public policy professional, which she does to support services and systems that improve quality of life for members of the community. Aside from her tenure on the Compton City Council, Chambers has served in a variety of leadership positions in the state, including as external affairs manager to Attorney General Rob Bonta, special assistant to Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang, and senior field deputy to Assm. Mike Gipson. Over a 30-year career, she has supported the work of state legislative leaders, congressional offices, local public works, and organized labor. These positions have provided Chambers with a comprehensive understanding of the public sector, and how to create positive outcomes across communities. 

Other background: Michelle Chambers is a longtime resident of Compton.

 

The Race


Primary election: There are seven candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Michelle Chambers (D), Lamar Lyons (D), Nilo Michelin (D), Alex Monteiro (D), Laura Richardson (D), Pierre Homer Tijerino (D), and Jennifer Trichelle-Marie Williams (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Chambers’s campaign has raised $60,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by real estate, fossil fuel, police, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Nilo Michelin
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Michelin’s campaign has raised $50,000 as of October 2023, and is entirely self-funded.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Alex Monteiro
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Monteiro’s campaign has raised $96,000 as of October 2023, and has received donations from real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Laura Richardson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Richardson’s campaign has raised $285,000 as of October 2023, and is primarily self-funded. She has not received any donations from problematic funders.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Jennifer Trichelle-Marie Williams
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Williams’s campaign has raised $104,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

 

The District


Counties in district: California’s 35th State Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 61% Democrat, 11% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 47% Latino, 9% Asian, and 31% Black. 

Recent election results: SD-35 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 61 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 54 points.

 

The Position


State senators 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 Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. 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 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.


 

Endorsed By: Courage California

State Assembly

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Assembly races on your ballot.

State Assembly, 40th District

Member of the State Assembly

Pilar Schiavo photo
Democrat

Pilar Schiavo

Website

Re-elect Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo to keep AD-40 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Schiavo’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-40 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Schiavo has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, Sierra Club California, and California Environmental Voters. 

Top issues: Economy and jobs creation, Health Care for All, homelessness and housing, mutual aid, women’s issues, and environmental protections.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Schiavo’s priorities for AD-40 have included 24 bills about PFAS and product safety, worker benefits, homelessness and housing, and childcare. Of these, five have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored and passed legislation to update standards for reporting and investigating elder abuse, establish an Affordable Housing Finance Workgroup, end the pipeline between the foster-care system and homelessness, and update the standards for providing annual sick leave to health-care workers. She scores a CS of 75 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Schiavo has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Schiavo failed to cast a vote on several important pieces of legislation this session, including ACA13 to amend the threshold for passing ballot measures, AB600 to allow a judge to recall a sentence if there is a change to the law after sentencing, and AB12 to cap the security deposit amount a landlord can require to one month of rent.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Schiavo currently sits on 11 committees, including Emergency Management, Public Employment and Retirement, Utilities and Energy, Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management, and Water, Parks, and Wildlife. She serves as chair of the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, and chair of the Select Committee on Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Schiavo has served in this assembly seat since 2022, when she was elected with 50.2% of the vote, a margin of just 500 votes over her Republican opponent.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Schiavo was long involved in labor-organizing work. She served as political director for the San Francisco Labor Council, which guaranteed health care in San Francisco. Schiavo also recruited and trained new organizers at the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute and represented mental-health workers for SEIU in Massachusetts, where she also did low-income tenant organizing. She spent 13 years with the California Nurses Association (CNA), where she worked closely with nurses to organize a statewide coalition for a single-payer system in California, including coordinating the field campaign for SB 562. Her work with CNA also involved time as a field coordinator to deploy nurses for disasters and humanitarian missions to hurricane sites, border shelters, California wildfires, and a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in South Los Angeles. Assm. Schiavo has worked with APEN and a broad coalition in the East Bay on environmental issues, and with Jobs with Justice SF, the Chinese Progressive Association, and various SEIU Local and unions in San Francisco while at the San Francisco Labor Council. In her more recent organizing, Schiavo co-founded West Valley Homes YES! (WVHY) to fight for housing for unhoused neighbors. In 2020, the organization became the largest mutual-aid program in the San Fernando Valley. 

Other background: Assm. Schiavo is from Southern California’s West Valley and currently lives in Chatsworth.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Pilar Schiavo (D), and Patrick Lee Gipson (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Schiavo’s campaign has raised $745,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by fossil fuel, or police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Patrick Lee Gipson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Gipson’s campaign has raised $47,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 40th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 42% Democrat, 29% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. This district was held by Republicans until 2018 when James Ramos won and flipped it from red to blue. 

District demographics: 27% Latino, 15% Asian, and 6% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-40 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 16 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 6 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


Re-elect Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo to keep AD-40 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Schiavo’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-40 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Schiavo has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, Sierra Club California, and California Environmental Voters. 

Top issues: Economy and jobs creation, Health Care for All, homelessness and housing, mutual aid, women’s issues, and environmental protections.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Schiavo’s priorities for AD-40 have included 24 bills about PFAS and product safety, worker benefits, homelessness and housing, and childcare. Of these, five have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored and passed legislation to update standards for reporting and investigating elder abuse, establish an Affordable Housing Finance Workgroup, end the pipeline between the foster-care system and homelessness, and update the standards for providing annual sick leave to health-care workers. She scores a CS of 75 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Schiavo has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Schiavo failed to cast a vote on several important pieces of legislation this session, including ACA13 to amend the threshold for passing ballot measures, AB600 to allow a judge to recall a sentence if there is a change to the law after sentencing, and AB12 to cap the security deposit amount a landlord can require to one month of rent.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Schiavo currently sits on 11 committees, including Emergency Management, Public Employment and Retirement, Utilities and Energy, Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management, and Water, Parks, and Wildlife. She serves as chair of the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, and chair of the Select Committee on Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Schiavo has served in this assembly seat since 2022, when she was elected with 50.2% of the vote, a margin of just 500 votes over her Republican opponent.

Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Schiavo was long involved in labor-organizing work. She served as political director for the San Francisco Labor Council, which guaranteed health care in San Francisco. Schiavo also recruited and trained new organizers at the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute and represented mental-health workers for SEIU in Massachusetts, where she also did low-income tenant organizing. She spent 13 years with the California Nurses Association (CNA), where she worked closely with nurses to organize a statewide coalition for a single-payer system in California, including coordinating the field campaign for SB 562. Her work with CNA also involved time as a field coordinator to deploy nurses for disasters and humanitarian missions to hurricane sites, border shelters, California wildfires, and a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in South Los Angeles. Assm. Schiavo has worked with APEN and a broad coalition in the East Bay on environmental issues, and with Jobs with Justice SF, the Chinese Progressive Association, and various SEIU Local and unions in San Francisco while at the San Francisco Labor Council. In her more recent organizing, Schiavo co-founded West Valley Homes YES! (WVHY) to fight for housing for unhoused neighbors. In 2020, the organization became the largest mutual-aid program in the San Fernando Valley. 

Other background: Assm. Schiavo is from Southern California’s West Valley and currently lives in Chatsworth.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Pilar Schiavo (D), and Patrick Lee Gipson (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Schiavo’s campaign has raised $745,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by fossil fuel, or police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Patrick Lee Gipson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Gipson’s campaign has raised $47,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 40th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 42% Democrat, 29% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. This district was held by Republicans until 2018 when James Ramos won and flipped it from red to blue. 

District demographics: 27% Latino, 15% Asian, and 6% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-40 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 16 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 6 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.


State Assembly, 42nd District

Member of the State Assembly

Jacqui Irwin photo
Democrat

Jacqui Irwin

Website Endorsements

Re-elect Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to keep AD-42 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Jacqui Irwin has been a frequent recipient of donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Sempra Energy, McDonald’s Corporation, California Real Estate PAC, and California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC. Given Assm. Irwin’s connection to these groups, it is important that voters continue to hold her accountable to ensure that her legislative efforts remain in the best interests of AD-42 constituents instead of wealthy special interests. 

Endorsements: Assm. Jacqui Irwin has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and AFSCME California. However, she has been a frequent recipient of support from police and law enforcement organizations and leaders, including 2022 endorsements from Los Angeles Police Protective League, Simi Valley Police Officers Association, and California Correctional Peace Officers Association. 

Key initiatives: This year, Assm. Irwin’s priorities for AD-42 have included 29 bills, including those to adjust property taxation for individuals impacted by the 2018 wildfires, retroactively expand the public employees eligible for worker’s compensation death benefits, and set new requirements for the online footprint of government agencies. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She scores a CS of 48 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Irwin has supported a few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This session, she failed to cast a vote on several critical pieces of legislation, including bills to close loopholes for no-fault just-cause evictions, protect workers against discrimination and retaliation from their employers, allow a judge to recall a sentence when laws or circumstances change, and cap the amount a landlord can request as a security deposit to a single month of rent. Assm. Irwin is a member of the California Legislative Latino Caucus and the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan and bicameral group that claims that their collaborative work allows them to take a more holistic approach to evaluating legislation. In reality, the Problem Solvers Caucus actively works with problematic industries against progressive policies.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Irwin has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 10 points.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assm. Irwin spent ten years on the Thousand Oaks City Council, including two terms as mayor. In this local role, she worked for increased public safety and the preservation of open lands. She started her career in engineering, and has championed Assembly bills centered on the expansion of STEM education centers and improved cybersecurity policies.

Other background: Assm. Irwin has lived in Thousand Oaks for 20 years.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Assm. Jacqui Irwin (D), and Ted Nordblum (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Irwin’s campaign has raised $337,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, and fossil fuel interests.

Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Nordblum’s campaign has raised $27,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 42nd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Voter registration: 42% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Republicans held this seat until redistricting. In 2022, Assm. Jacqui Irwin won and flipped it from red to blue.

District demographics: 14% Latino, 9% Asian, and 2% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-42 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 19 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 8 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


Re-elect Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to keep AD-42 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Jacqui Irwin has been a frequent recipient of donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Sempra Energy, McDonald’s Corporation, California Real Estate PAC, and California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC. Given Assm. Irwin’s connection to these groups, it is important that voters continue to hold her accountable to ensure that her legislative efforts remain in the best interests of AD-42 constituents instead of wealthy special interests. 

Endorsements: Assm. Jacqui Irwin has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and AFSCME California. However, she has been a frequent recipient of support from police and law enforcement organizations and leaders, including 2022 endorsements from Los Angeles Police Protective League, Simi Valley Police Officers Association, and California Correctional Peace Officers Association. 

Key initiatives: This year, Assm. Irwin’s priorities for AD-42 have included 29 bills, including those to adjust property taxation for individuals impacted by the 2018 wildfires, retroactively expand the public employees eligible for worker’s compensation death benefits, and set new requirements for the online footprint of government agencies. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She scores a CS of 48 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Irwin has supported a few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This session, she failed to cast a vote on several critical pieces of legislation, including bills to close loopholes for no-fault just-cause evictions, protect workers against discrimination and retaliation from their employers, allow a judge to recall a sentence when laws or circumstances change, and cap the amount a landlord can request as a security deposit to a single month of rent. Assm. Irwin is a member of the California Legislative Latino Caucus and the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan and bicameral group that claims that their collaborative work allows them to take a more holistic approach to evaluating legislation. In reality, the Problem Solvers Caucus actively works with problematic industries against progressive policies.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Irwin has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 10 points.

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assm. Irwin spent ten years on the Thousand Oaks City Council, including two terms as mayor. In this local role, she worked for increased public safety and the preservation of open lands. She started her career in engineering, and has championed Assembly bills centered on the expansion of STEM education centers and improved cybersecurity policies.

Other background: Assm. Irwin has lived in Thousand Oaks for 20 years.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Assm. Jacqui Irwin (D), and Ted Nordblum (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Irwin’s campaign has raised $337,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, and fossil fuel interests.

Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Nordblum’s campaign has raised $27,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 42nd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Voter registration: 42% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Republicans held this seat until redistricting. In 2022, Assm. Jacqui Irwin won and flipped it from red to blue.

District demographics: 14% Latino, 9% Asian, and 2% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-42 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 19 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 8 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.


State Assembly, 43rd District

Member of the State Assembly

Celeste Rodriguez photo
Democrat

Celeste Rodriguez

Website Endorsements

Elect Celeste Rodriguez to keep AD-43 on the right track for progress. 



Celeste Rodriguez’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-43 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rodriguez has received the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Legislative Women’s Caucus, Equality California, and SEIU California. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Monique Limón, Assm. Luz Rivas, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.

Electoral history: Rodriguez narrowly won her race for San Fernando City Council in 2020 with 25% of the vote. She currently serves as mayor.

Top issues: Economic empowerment and growth, homelessness and housing, and environmental justice.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rodriguez is a public servant and elected official, which she does to create responsive and effective public programs to support local communities. She currently serves as the head of the Community Services Section of the Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD), where she leads a team working on local initiatives to help alleviate poverty and financial hardship. This work includes children’s savings accounts, a local guaranteed income pilot, and stability support programs. Rodriguez has also worked for former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City of Los Angeles on homelessness initiatives, veterans’ affairs, and economic development. She has also served as the Racial Equity Officer for CIFD and the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department. She won election to the San Fernando City Council in 2020, and has served as mayor since 2022. In her first elected role, Rodriguez has focused on initiatives to fund and implement economic development, infrastructure improvements, and affordability. 

Other background: Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley.

The Race


Primary election: There are six candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Celeste Rodriguez (D), Victoria Garcia (R), Walter Garcia (D), Saul Hurtado (D), Carmelina Minasova (NPP), and Felicia Novick (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rodriguez’s campaign has raised $49,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the challengers in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 43rd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 64% Latino, 9% Asian, and 5% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-43 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 50 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 42 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.


Elect Celeste Rodriguez to keep AD-43 on the right track for progress. 



Celeste Rodriguez’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-43 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rodriguez has received the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Legislative Women’s Caucus, Equality California, and SEIU California. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Monique Limón, Assm. Luz Rivas, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.

Electoral history: Rodriguez narrowly won her race for San Fernando City Council in 2020 with 25% of the vote. She currently serves as mayor.

Top issues: Economic empowerment and growth, homelessness and housing, and environmental justice.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rodriguez is a public servant and elected official, which she does to create responsive and effective public programs to support local communities. She currently serves as the head of the Community Services Section of the Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD), where she leads a team working on local initiatives to help alleviate poverty and financial hardship. This work includes children’s savings accounts, a local guaranteed income pilot, and stability support programs. Rodriguez has also worked for former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City of Los Angeles on homelessness initiatives, veterans’ affairs, and economic development. She has also served as the Racial Equity Officer for CIFD and the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department. She won election to the San Fernando City Council in 2020, and has served as mayor since 2022. In her first elected role, Rodriguez has focused on initiatives to fund and implement economic development, infrastructure improvements, and affordability. 

Other background: Rodriguez is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley.

The Race


Primary election: There are six candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Celeste Rodriguez (D), Victoria Garcia (R), Walter Garcia (D), Saul Hurtado (D), Carmelina Minasova (NPP), and Felicia Novick (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rodriguez’s campaign has raised $49,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the challengers in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 43rd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 64% Latino, 9% Asian, and 5% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-43 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 50 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 42 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.


State Assembly, 44th District

Member of the State Assembly

Nick Schultz photo
Democrat

Nick Schultz

Website Endorsements

Elect Nick Schultz to put AD-44 on the right track for progress. 



Nick Schultz’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-44 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Schultz has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Legislative Progressive Caucus, Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Environmental Voters, Smart Justice California, and SEIU California. He has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including outgoing AD-44 Assm. Laura Friedman, and Burbank Vice Mayor Nikki Perez. 

Electoral history: Schultz has run for office previously, and won his race for Burbank City Council in 2020 after earning over 15% of the vote. As of December 2023, he is serving as mayor. 

Top issues: Climate protections, criminal justice reform, homelessness and housing affordability, economic growth, and health care for all

Governance and community leadership experience: Schultz is a public official and a public servant, which he does to use his knowledge and leadership to support community initiatives. As a member of the Burbank City Council, he has worked to support economic development and stimulation through the challenging pandemic years, support hero pay for grocery and other essential workers, steward a pollution-reduction plan designed to lead the city to eventual carbon neutrality, and establish 1,000 new housing units within the city. Schultz is an attorney, and currently serves as deputy attorney general for the California Department of Justice. As a Special Prosecutions AG, he primarily prosecutes cases of public corruption, tax evasion, human trafficking, and police misconduct. He has helped improve policy at the DOJ by assisting in the creation of a Post-Conviction Review Unit to evaluate potential wrongful convictions in the state. Long involved in local politics, Schultz currently serves as vice chair of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley. 

Other background: Schultz lives in Burbank. He is a first-generation college student. 

The Race


Primary election: There are seven candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Nick Schultz (D), Elen Asatryan (D), Ed Han (D), Carmenita Helligar (D), Steve Pierson (D), Adam Pryor (D), and Adam Summer (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Nick Schultz’s campaign has raised $290,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Elen Asatryan
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Asatryan’s campaign has raised $206,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Ed Han
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Han’s campaign has raised $138,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Steve Pierson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Pierson’s campaign has raised $193,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Adam Summer
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Summer’s campaign has raised $12,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 44th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 51% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 18% Latino, 11% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-44 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 39 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 40 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.


Elect Nick Schultz to put AD-44 on the right track for progress. 



Nick Schultz’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-44 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Schultz has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Legislative Progressive Caucus, Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Environmental Voters, Smart Justice California, and SEIU California. He has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including outgoing AD-44 Assm. Laura Friedman, and Burbank Vice Mayor Nikki Perez. 

Electoral history: Schultz has run for office previously, and won his race for Burbank City Council in 2020 after earning over 15% of the vote. As of December 2023, he is serving as mayor. 

Top issues: Climate protections, criminal justice reform, homelessness and housing affordability, economic growth, and health care for all

Governance and community leadership experience: Schultz is a public official and a public servant, which he does to use his knowledge and leadership to support community initiatives. As a member of the Burbank City Council, he has worked to support economic development and stimulation through the challenging pandemic years, support hero pay for grocery and other essential workers, steward a pollution-reduction plan designed to lead the city to eventual carbon neutrality, and establish 1,000 new housing units within the city. Schultz is an attorney, and currently serves as deputy attorney general for the California Department of Justice. As a Special Prosecutions AG, he primarily prosecutes cases of public corruption, tax evasion, human trafficking, and police misconduct. He has helped improve policy at the DOJ by assisting in the creation of a Post-Conviction Review Unit to evaluate potential wrongful convictions in the state. Long involved in local politics, Schultz currently serves as vice chair of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley. 

Other background: Schultz lives in Burbank. He is a first-generation college student. 

The Race


Primary election: There are seven candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Nick Schultz (D), Elen Asatryan (D), Ed Han (D), Carmenita Helligar (D), Steve Pierson (D), Adam Pryor (D), and Adam Summer (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Nick Schultz’s campaign has raised $290,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Elen Asatryan
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Asatryan’s campaign has raised $206,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Ed Han
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Han’s campaign has raised $138,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Steve Pierson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Pierson’s campaign has raised $193,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Adam Summer
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Summer’s campaign has raised $12,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 44th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 51% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 18% Latino, 11% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-44 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 39 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 40 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.


State Assembly, 46th District

Member of the State Assembly

Jesse Gabriel photo
Democrat

Jesse Gabriel

Website Endorsements

Re-elect Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel to keep AD-46 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Jesse Gabriel’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-46 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Gabriel has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, AFSCME California, and California Environmental Voters. He has also received problematic endorsements during past campaigns, including from California Correctional Peace Officers Association.

Top issues: Police officer training, green economy infrastructure, justice reform, voting rights, and housing.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Gabriel’s priorities for AD-46 have included 32 bills about electric vehicle infrastructure, consumer protections, criminal justice reform, and firearm safety. Of these, ten have been successfully chaptered into law, three have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to expedite housing services for homeless veterans, extend the outdoor dining options that were permitted during the early days of the pandemic, regulate company carbon offsets, and ban dangerous food additives. He scores a CS of 86 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Gabriel has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Gabriel has failed to cast a vote on several significant pieces of legislation, including bills to create overdose-prevention programs in select counties, protect homeowners from pandemic-related foreclosures, ban facial-recognition software from police body cameras, and prevent children under 12 from being tried in juvenile court. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Gabriel currently sits on ten committees, including Appropriations, Banking & Finance, Higher Education, and Housing and Community Development. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Budget, and as chair of the Select Committee on Jobs and Innovation in the San Fernando Valley. Assm. Gabriel is also a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and co-chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Gabriel has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he won a special election with over 65% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 30 points.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Gabriel was counselor to former US Senator Evan Bayh. Assm. Gabriel has been a longtime supporter of expanding legal services to low-income Californians.

Other background: Assm. Gabriel, an attorney, is from Berkeley. He represented survivors of abuse and other notable groups, like Holocaust survivors, in his legal practice at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Jesse Gabriel (D), and Tracey Schroeder (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Gabriel’s campaign has raised $447,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, and fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Schroeder’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 46th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Voter registration: 51% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 29% Latino, 12% Asian, and 6% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-46 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 38 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 32 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


Re-elect Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel to keep AD-46 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Jesse Gabriel’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-46 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Gabriel has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, AFSCME California, and California Environmental Voters. He has also received problematic endorsements during past campaigns, including from California Correctional Peace Officers Association.

Top issues: Police officer training, green economy infrastructure, justice reform, voting rights, and housing.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Gabriel’s priorities for AD-46 have included 32 bills about electric vehicle infrastructure, consumer protections, criminal justice reform, and firearm safety. Of these, ten have been successfully chaptered into law, three have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to expedite housing services for homeless veterans, extend the outdoor dining options that were permitted during the early days of the pandemic, regulate company carbon offsets, and ban dangerous food additives. He scores a CS of 86 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Gabriel has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Gabriel has failed to cast a vote on several significant pieces of legislation, including bills to create overdose-prevention programs in select counties, protect homeowners from pandemic-related foreclosures, ban facial-recognition software from police body cameras, and prevent children under 12 from being tried in juvenile court. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Gabriel currently sits on ten committees, including Appropriations, Banking & Finance, Higher Education, and Housing and Community Development. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Budget, and as chair of the Select Committee on Jobs and Innovation in the San Fernando Valley. Assm. Gabriel is also a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and co-chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Gabriel has served in this assembly seat since 2018, when he won a special election with over 65% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 30 points.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Gabriel was counselor to former US Senator Evan Bayh. Assm. Gabriel has been a longtime supporter of expanding legal services to low-income Californians.

Other background: Assm. Gabriel, an attorney, is from Berkeley. He represented survivors of abuse and other notable groups, like Holocaust survivors, in his legal practice at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Jesse Gabriel (D), and Tracey Schroeder (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Gabriel’s campaign has raised $447,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, and fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Schroeder’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 46th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Voter registration: 51% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 29% Latino, 12% Asian, and 6% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-46 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 38 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 32 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.


State Assembly, 51st District

Member of the State Assembly

Rick Chavez Zbur photo
Democrat

Rick Chavez Zbur

Website Endorsements
All-Star

Re-elect Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur to keep AD-51 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Rick Chavez Zbur’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, Sierra Club California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West. 

Top issues: Economic reform, reproductive justice, workers’ rights, civil rights, gun safety, homelessness and housing, transportation infrastructure, and climate protections.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Chavez Zbur’s priorities for AD-51 have included 12 bills about housing, transportation, sustainability, education, and social services. Of these, four have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to improve housing security for individuals who are disabled, protect bargaining rights for individuals who are temporarily employed in a unionized workforce, and provide infrastructure and resources to develop offshore wind projects near the California coast. He scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Chavez Zbur has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote, and authored AB14, a critical workers’ rights bill. He has been designated as a Courage All-Star for his legislative work this session. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Chavez Zbur currently sits on 14 committees, including Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, Natural Resources, Public Safety, and Revenue and Taxation. He is a Democratic alternate on the Standing Committee on Rules, and serves as chair of the Select Committee on Retail Theft. He is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, the California Legislative Latino Caucus, and the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Chavez Zbur has served in this assembly seat since 2022, when he was elected with over 54% of the vote. 

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Chavez Zbur was an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to this work. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community have benefitted him as their elected representative. Assm. Chavez Zbur has a long history of progressive community engagement, including serving on the boards of Lambda Legal Defense, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, and working to elect former President Bill Clinton and former Senator Barbara Boxer. 

Other background: Assm. Chavez Zbur is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. He has worked to maintain a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his advocacy work.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Chavez Zbur (D), Stephen Hohil (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $419,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate: Independent Stephen Hohil
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hohil’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 59% Democrat, 12% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 54 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


Re-elect Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur to keep AD-51 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Rick Chavez Zbur’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-51 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Chavez Zbur has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, Sierra Club California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West. 

Top issues: Economic reform, reproductive justice, workers’ rights, civil rights, gun safety, homelessness and housing, transportation infrastructure, and climate protections.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Chavez Zbur’s priorities for AD-51 have included 12 bills about housing, transportation, sustainability, education, and social services. Of these, four have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to improve housing security for individuals who are disabled, protect bargaining rights for individuals who are temporarily employed in a unionized workforce, and provide infrastructure and resources to develop offshore wind projects near the California coast. He scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Chavez Zbur has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote, and authored AB14, a critical workers’ rights bill. He has been designated as a Courage All-Star for his legislative work this session. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Chavez Zbur currently sits on 14 committees, including Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, Natural Resources, Public Safety, and Revenue and Taxation. He is a Democratic alternate on the Standing Committee on Rules, and serves as chair of the Select Committee on Retail Theft. He is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, the California Legislative Latino Caucus, and the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Chavez Zbur has served in this assembly seat since 2022, when he was elected with over 54% of the vote. 

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Chavez Zbur was an attorney and a nonprofit executive, working in private practice for 25 years before transitioning to serve as executive director of Equality California. He has cited his sister’s battle with ALS and his own experience as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis as inspiring his transition to this work. AD-51 has the highest concentration of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Southern California, and Chavez Zbur’s network and understanding of the issues facing this community have benefitted him as their elected representative. Assm. Chavez Zbur has a long history of progressive community engagement, including serving on the boards of Lambda Legal Defense, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, and working to elect former President Bill Clinton and former Senator Barbara Boxer. 

Other background: Assm. Chavez Zbur is from New Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. He has worked to maintain a coalition approach to effect change in his leadership roles across his advocacy work.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Chavez Zbur (D), Stephen Hohil (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Chavez Zbur’s campaign has raised $419,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate: Independent Stephen Hohil
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hohil’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 51st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 59% Democrat, 12% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 14% Latino, 13% Asian, and 6% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-51 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 54 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


State Assembly, 52nd District

Member of the State Assembly

Jessica Caloza photo
Democrat

Jessica Caloza

Website Endorsements

Elect Jessica Caloza for State Assembly to put AD-52 on the right track for progress. 



Caloza’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-52 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Caloza has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, California Environmental Voters, Reproductive Freedom for All CA, Equality California, Abundant Housing LA, Housing Action Coalition, YIMBY Action, as well as labor unions like SEIU, California Federation of Teachers, AFSCME, and United Healthcare Workers West. She has also been endorsed by elected officials like Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Controller Malia Cohen, and Assemblymembers Mia Bonta and Reggie Jones-Sawyer.  

Electoral history: Caloza has not run for office previously.

Top issues: Reproductive rights, clean air and water, public education, and affordable housing and housing protections.

Governance and community leadership experience: Caloza is a longtime political staffer, which she does to expand economic opportunity, gender equity, and public safety. She currently serves as deputy chief of staff to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. She has previously served as Los Angeles Public Works Commissioner, supporting the delivery of city services, like infrastructure improvement and housing development to LA residents, and as a policy analyst in President Obama’s Department of Education. She has been a longtime supporter of efforts to increase representation for the Filipino-American and Asian-American communities. She was a delegate in the Filipino Youth Leadership Program, and served on the board of organizations like KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress and the Leadership Council of the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment.

Other background: Caloza is from the Philippines. She earned a bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego. She is a first-generation immigrant, and the first Filipina-American to serve on the Los Angeles Board of Public Works.

The Race


Primary election: There are 10 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Jessica Caloza (D), Ari Ruiz (D), David Giron (D), Carlos Leon (D), and Franky Carrillo. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Caloza’s campaign has raised $324,600 and is not funded by the police. She has accepted donations from the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, and corporate PACs.

Opposing candidate: Democrats Ari Ruiz, David Giron, Carlos Leon, and Franky Carillo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ruiz’s campaign has raised $118,062 and is funded by the fossil fuel industry and the real estate industry. Giron’s campaign has raised $127,484. Leon’s campaign has raised $55,989 and is funded by the police. Carrillo’s campaign has raised $266,00, but he has donated $250,000 of those funds himself.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 52nd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 62% Democrat, 10% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 50% Latino, 15% Asian, and 3% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-52 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 63 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 67 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.


Elect Jessica Caloza for State Assembly to put AD-52 on the right track for progress. 



Caloza’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-52 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Caloza has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, California Environmental Voters, Reproductive Freedom for All CA, Equality California, Abundant Housing LA, Housing Action Coalition, YIMBY Action, as well as labor unions like SEIU, California Federation of Teachers, AFSCME, and United Healthcare Workers West. She has also been endorsed by elected officials like Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Controller Malia Cohen, and Assemblymembers Mia Bonta and Reggie Jones-Sawyer.  

Electoral history: Caloza has not run for office previously.

Top issues: Reproductive rights, clean air and water, public education, and affordable housing and housing protections.

Governance and community leadership experience: Caloza is a longtime political staffer, which she does to expand economic opportunity, gender equity, and public safety. She currently serves as deputy chief of staff to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. She has previously served as Los Angeles Public Works Commissioner, supporting the delivery of city services, like infrastructure improvement and housing development to LA residents, and as a policy analyst in President Obama’s Department of Education. She has been a longtime supporter of efforts to increase representation for the Filipino-American and Asian-American communities. She was a delegate in the Filipino Youth Leadership Program, and served on the board of organizations like KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress and the Leadership Council of the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment.

Other background: Caloza is from the Philippines. She earned a bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego. She is a first-generation immigrant, and the first Filipina-American to serve on the Los Angeles Board of Public Works.

The Race


Primary election: There are 10 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Jessica Caloza (D), Ari Ruiz (D), David Giron (D), Carlos Leon (D), and Franky Carrillo. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Caloza’s campaign has raised $324,600 and is not funded by the police. She has accepted donations from the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, and corporate PACs.

Opposing candidate: Democrats Ari Ruiz, David Giron, Carlos Leon, and Franky Carillo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ruiz’s campaign has raised $118,062 and is funded by the fossil fuel industry and the real estate industry. Giron’s campaign has raised $127,484. Leon’s campaign has raised $55,989 and is funded by the police. Carrillo’s campaign has raised $266,00, but he has donated $250,000 of those funds himself.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 52nd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 62% Democrat, 10% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 50% Latino, 15% Asian, and 3% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-52 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 63 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 67 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.


State Assembly, 54th District

Member of the State Assembly

Mark Gonzalez photo
Democrat

Mark Gonzalez

Website Endorsements

Elect Mark Gonzalez to put AD-54 on the right track for progress. 



Gonzalez’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-54 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Gonzalez has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, Reproductive Freedom for All, and Abundant Housing LA, as well as labor unions like SEIU, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, California Faculty Association, California Federation of Teachers, IATSE, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. He has also been endorsed by elected officials like Gavin Newsom, Reps. Adam Schiff and Maxine Waters, and Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Electoral history: Gonzalez has not run for office previously.

Top issues: Reproductive rights, economic justice, health care, civil rights, public safety, and housing.

Governance and community leadership experience: Mark Gonzalez is a longtime political organizer who previously worked on several Democratic presidential campaigns, and currently serves as district director for Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, the incumbent in AD-54. He does this to utilize his own experiences and struggles to guide policymaking. He chairs the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and has been a longtime supporter of voting access, spearheading a series of voter-registration drives for new citizens. He organized around reproductive rights in 2022, helping to pass a constitutional amendment in California protecting abortion access, and organized in 2023 to raise the minimum wage for health-care workers.

Other background: Gonzalez is from Los Angeles. He earned his BA from California State University Northridge.

The Race


Primary election: There are 3 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Mark Gonzalez (D), Elaine Alaniz (R), and John Yi (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Gonzalez’s campaign has raised $584,149 and is not funded by the police. He has accepted donations from the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, and corporate PACs.

Opposing candidate: Democrat John Yi and Republican Elaine Alaniz
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yi’s campaign has raised $60,550. As of January 2024, Alaniz has not filed any donation receipts for the current election cycle.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 54th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 59% Democrat, 11% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 54% Latino, 24% Asian, and 8% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-54 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 59 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 58 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.


Elect Mark Gonzalez to put AD-54 on the right track for progress. 



Gonzalez’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-54 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Gonzalez has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, Reproductive Freedom for All, and Abundant Housing LA, as well as labor unions like SEIU, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, California Faculty Association, California Federation of Teachers, IATSE, and National Union of Healthcare Workers. He has also been endorsed by elected officials like Gavin Newsom, Reps. Adam Schiff and Maxine Waters, and Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Electoral history: Gonzalez has not run for office previously.

Top issues: Reproductive rights, economic justice, health care, civil rights, public safety, and housing.

Governance and community leadership experience: Mark Gonzalez is a longtime political organizer who previously worked on several Democratic presidential campaigns, and currently serves as district director for Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, the incumbent in AD-54. He does this to utilize his own experiences and struggles to guide policymaking. He chairs the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and has been a longtime supporter of voting access, spearheading a series of voter-registration drives for new citizens. He organized around reproductive rights in 2022, helping to pass a constitutional amendment in California protecting abortion access, and organized in 2023 to raise the minimum wage for health-care workers.

Other background: Gonzalez is from Los Angeles. He earned his BA from California State University Northridge.

The Race


Primary election: There are 3 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Mark Gonzalez (D), Elaine Alaniz (R), and John Yi (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Gonzalez’s campaign has raised $584,149 and is not funded by the police. He has accepted donations from the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, and corporate PACs.

Opposing candidate: Democrat John Yi and Republican Elaine Alaniz
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yi’s campaign has raised $60,550. As of January 2024, Alaniz has not filed any donation receipts for the current election cycle.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 54th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 59% Democrat, 11% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 54% Latino, 24% Asian, and 8% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-54 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 59 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 58 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.


State Assembly, 55th District

Member of the State Assembly

Isaac Bryan photo
Democrat

Isaac Bryan

Website Endorsements
All-Star

Re-elect Assemblymember Isaac Bryan to keep AD-55 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Isaac Bryan’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-55 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Bryan has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, AFSCME California, Sierra Club California, and Equality California.

Top issues: Homelessness and housing, workforce development programs, child welfare and social services, election security, and incarceration and justice reform.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Bryan’s priorities for AD-55 have included 28 bills about election protections and redistricting, housing, workforce development, and criminal justice reform. Of these, seven have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to increase post-incarceration access to restorative justice programs, update meeting and vote requirements for presidential electors, amend the standards for state redistricting every 10 years, and expand the use of College Access Tax Credit Funds to support student transfers to HBCU institutions. He scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Bryan has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote, and has earned the Courage All-Star designation for his legislative work. He was the author of two critical pieces of progressive legislation this session: AB421 to clarify the ballot language for statewide referendum, and ACA4 to restore voting rights to individuals incarcerated in prisons. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Bryan currently sits on 12 committees, including Appropriations, Government Organization, Human Services, and Public Safety. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, and as chair of the Select Committee on Poverty and Economic Inclusion. Assm. Bryan is Treasurer of the California Legislative Black Caucus and a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and previously as the Assembly Majority Leader.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Bryan has served in the Assembly since May 2021, when he won a special election for the AD-54 seat. After redistricting, he won a full term in the general election for AD-55 with 84% of the vote.  

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Bryan developed his political acumen as a published academic, earning a master’s of public policy degree from UCLA. After graduating, he became founding director of the UCLA Black Policy Project, which aims to address racial inequity through policy analysis and advocacy. His work there allowed him to focus on research regarding the resources needed for successful reentry after incarceration, and larger issues with youth-justice policy. Assm. Bryan’s interest in issues of equity is personal. As one of nine adopted children in a family of 15, he encountered significant academic challenges and observed his siblings struggling with houselessness, addiction, and mental health issues. Assm. Bryan is a longtime supporter of policy that addresses the intersections of these complex social issues. He co-chaired the committee supporting Measure J, which amended the Los Angeles County charter to require that 10% of local revenue be reinvested in the community and in alternatives to incarcerations. The measure was passed by voters in November 2020, and brings meaningful local investment to the county. 

Other background: Assm. Isaac Bryan lives in Jefferson Park. 

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Isaac Bryan (D), and Keith Cascio (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Bryan’s campaign has raised $432,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Keith Cascio
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Cascio’s campaign has not filed any fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 55th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 66% Democrat, 8% Republican, and 20% No Party Preference.

District demographics: 25% Latino, 11% Asian, and 29% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-55 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 71 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 66 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


Re-elect Assemblymember Isaac Bryan to keep AD-55 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Isaac Bryan’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-55 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Bryan has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, AFSCME California, Sierra Club California, and Equality California.

Top issues: Homelessness and housing, workforce development programs, child welfare and social services, election security, and incarceration and justice reform.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Bryan’s priorities for AD-55 have included 28 bills about election protections and redistricting, housing, workforce development, and criminal justice reform. Of these, seven have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to increase post-incarceration access to restorative justice programs, update meeting and vote requirements for presidential electors, amend the standards for state redistricting every 10 years, and expand the use of College Access Tax Credit Funds to support student transfers to HBCU institutions. He scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Bryan has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote, and has earned the Courage All-Star designation for his legislative work. He was the author of two critical pieces of progressive legislation this session: AB421 to clarify the ballot language for statewide referendum, and ACA4 to restore voting rights to individuals incarcerated in prisons. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Bryan currently sits on 12 committees, including Appropriations, Government Organization, Human Services, and Public Safety. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, and as chair of the Select Committee on Poverty and Economic Inclusion. Assm. Bryan is Treasurer of the California Legislative Black Caucus and a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and previously as the Assembly Majority Leader.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Bryan has served in the Assembly since May 2021, when he won a special election for the AD-54 seat. After redistricting, he won a full term in the general election for AD-55 with 84% of the vote.  

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Bryan developed his political acumen as a published academic, earning a master’s of public policy degree from UCLA. After graduating, he became founding director of the UCLA Black Policy Project, which aims to address racial inequity through policy analysis and advocacy. His work there allowed him to focus on research regarding the resources needed for successful reentry after incarceration, and larger issues with youth-justice policy. Assm. Bryan’s interest in issues of equity is personal. As one of nine adopted children in a family of 15, he encountered significant academic challenges and observed his siblings struggling with houselessness, addiction, and mental health issues. Assm. Bryan is a longtime supporter of policy that addresses the intersections of these complex social issues. He co-chaired the committee supporting Measure J, which amended the Los Angeles County charter to require that 10% of local revenue be reinvested in the community and in alternatives to incarcerations. The measure was passed by voters in November 2020, and brings meaningful local investment to the county. 

Other background: Assm. Isaac Bryan lives in Jefferson Park. 

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Isaac Bryan (D), and Keith Cascio (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Bryan’s campaign has raised $432,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Keith Cascio
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Cascio’s campaign has not filed any fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 55th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 66% Democrat, 8% Republican, and 20% No Party Preference.

District demographics: 25% Latino, 11% Asian, and 29% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-55 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 71 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 66 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.


State Assembly, 57th District

Member of the State Assembly

Sade Elhawary photo
Democrat

Sade Elhawary

Website Endorsements
Endorsed by Courage California

Courage California endorses Sade Elhawary for State Assembly to put AD-57 on the right track for progress. 



Elhawary’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-57 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Elhawary has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, Planned Parenthood, Smart Justice California, California Environmental Justice Alliance Action, California Environmental Voters, California Democratic Renters Council, Equality California, and California Working Families Party, as well as labor unions like AFSCME, California Labor Federation, California Federation of Teachers, California Nurses Association, and SEIU. She has also been endorsed by elected officials like Mayor Karen Bass, LA County Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Hilda Solis, and Assemblymembers Mia Bonta, Akilah Weber, and more. 

Electoral history: Elhawary has not run for office previously.

Top issues: Housing, education, youth workforce development, community safety, healthcare, reproductive rights, protecting immigrants, and equality.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sade Elhawary is a community organizer and an educator, which she does because hopes to dismantle systems of oppression and improve outcomes for women and youth of color. In her current role at Community Coalition, she focuses on youth and community engagement, and helped build the Center for Community Organizing. Elhawary helped organize and pass the School Climate Bill of Rights to reduce racial profiling in Los Angeles schools, as well as the CRISES Act, which provided for community teams to respond to non-violent emergencies rather than police. She also served as Youth Engagement Campaign Manager on Karen Bass’ mayoral campaign. As a Black Latina, Elhawary is committed to creating lasting Black and Brown solidarity. 

Other background: Elhawary is from Los Angeles. She is the third generation of her family to live in this district, and raised a foster daughter from the district. Elhawary earned her BA from UCLA and a master’s in education from Harvard, and was a history teacher and college counselor to high school students. She helped launch the Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice in Brooklyn, New York. 

 

The Race


Primary election: There are 5 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Sade Elhawary (D), Efren Martinez (D), Greg Akili (D), and Dulce Vasquez (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Elhawary’s campaign has raised $354,133 and is not funded by corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or the police.

Opposing candidate: Democrats Efren Martinez, Greg Akili, and Dulce Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Martinez’s campaign has raised $326,621 and is funded by corporate PACs and the real estate industry. He has also accepted more than $25,000 from police lobbying groups and the fossil fuel industry respectively. Vasquez’s campaign has raised $166,199. Akili has raised $68,710.

 

The District


Counties in district: California’s 57th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 63% Democrat, 7% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 57% Latino, 4% Asian, and 30% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-57 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 73 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 69 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.


 

Courage California endorses Sade Elhawary for State Assembly to put AD-57 on the right track for progress. 



Elhawary’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-57 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Elhawary has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, Planned Parenthood, Smart Justice California, California Environmental Justice Alliance Action, California Environmental Voters, California Democratic Renters Council, Equality California, and California Working Families Party, as well as labor unions like AFSCME, California Labor Federation, California Federation of Teachers, California Nurses Association, and SEIU. She has also been endorsed by elected officials like Mayor Karen Bass, LA County Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Hilda Solis, and Assemblymembers Mia Bonta, Akilah Weber, and more. 

Electoral history: Elhawary has not run for office previously.

Top issues: Housing, education, youth workforce development, community safety, healthcare, reproductive rights, protecting immigrants, and equality.

Governance and community leadership experience: Sade Elhawary is a community organizer and an educator, which she does because hopes to dismantle systems of oppression and improve outcomes for women and youth of color. In her current role at Community Coalition, she focuses on youth and community engagement, and helped build the Center for Community Organizing. Elhawary helped organize and pass the School Climate Bill of Rights to reduce racial profiling in Los Angeles schools, as well as the CRISES Act, which provided for community teams to respond to non-violent emergencies rather than police. She also served as Youth Engagement Campaign Manager on Karen Bass’ mayoral campaign. As a Black Latina, Elhawary is committed to creating lasting Black and Brown solidarity. 

Other background: Elhawary is from Los Angeles. She is the third generation of her family to live in this district, and raised a foster daughter from the district. Elhawary earned her BA from UCLA and a master’s in education from Harvard, and was a history teacher and college counselor to high school students. She helped launch the Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice in Brooklyn, New York. 

 

The Race


Primary election: There are 5 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Sade Elhawary (D), Efren Martinez (D), Greg Akili (D), and Dulce Vasquez (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Elhawary’s campaign has raised $354,133 and is not funded by corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or the police.

Opposing candidate: Democrats Efren Martinez, Greg Akili, and Dulce Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Martinez’s campaign has raised $326,621 and is funded by corporate PACs and the real estate industry. He has also accepted more than $25,000 from police lobbying groups and the fossil fuel industry respectively. Vasquez’s campaign has raised $166,199. Akili has raised $68,710.

 

The District


Counties in district: California’s 57th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 63% Democrat, 7% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 57% Latino, 4% Asian, and 30% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-57 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 73 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 69 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.


 

Endorsed By: Courage California

State Assembly, 61st District

Member of the State Assembly

Tina McKinnor photo
Democrat

Tina McKinnor

Website Endorsements
All-Star

Re-elect Assemblymember Tina McKinnor to keep AD-61 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. McKinnor’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-61 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. McKinnor has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and AFSCME California. 

Top issues: Housing, criminal-justice reform, climate protections, health care, and equity in the cannabis industry.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. McKinnor’s priorities for AD-61 have included 27 bills about social services, housing, aging and disability resources, and collective bargaining. Of these, six have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored and passed legislation to allow some legislative staff members to unionize, make it easier for individuals released from incarceration to obtain a state-issued ID, extend the window for a family to be reunited in family court by 6 months, and remove old laws that promote segregation and discrimination in housing. She scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. McKinnor has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote. She has been designated as a Courage All-Star this session, and is the author of two criminal justice reform bills evaluated for our scorecard, AB1028 and AB1310.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. McKinnor currently sits on 16 committees, including Business and Professions, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, and Governmental Organization. She serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Public Employment and Retirement, Select Committees on 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games, and Select Committee on Restorative Justice. Assm. McKinnor is also secretary of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. McKinnor has served in this assembly seat since June 2022, when she was elected with over 53% of the vote in a special election to replace AD-62 Assm. Autumn Burke after her mid-term retirement. In the 2022 general election, she won her re-election against a Democratic challenger by 28 points.

Prior to joining the Assembly, Assm. McKinnor was the civic-engagement director for LA Voice and LA Voice Action, an interfaith organization that works with 59 connected congregations in Los Angeles County to bring progressive change to criminal justice, immigration, election reform, and housing reform. She did this work to find diverse and comprehensive solutions to community issues through local collaboration. Assm. McKinnor founded the McKinnor Group, a consulting firm that offers a full spectrum of campaign services to elected officials, candidates, ballot-measure efforts, corporations, non-profits, lobbyists, and other political groups. She has served as a board member with Partnership for Growth LA, and was the operational director for the California Democratic Party. Assm. McKinnor is a collaborative leader, and often seeks input and guidance from individuals and groups that have been directly affected by an issue. She has built a strong network in both the legislative and organizing communities, and has leveraged her deep knowledge of fiscal and people management to create meaningful change. 

Other background: Assm. McKinnor has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 30 years.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Tina McKinnor (D) and Alfonso Hernandez (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. McKinnor’s campaign has raised $605,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Alfonso Hernandez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hernandez’s campaign has not filed any campaign finance receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 61st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 63% Democrat, 10% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 34% Latino, 6% Asian, and 34% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-61 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 68 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 60 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


Re-elect Assemblymember Tina McKinnor to keep AD-61 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. McKinnor’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-61 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. McKinnor has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and AFSCME California. 

Top issues: Housing, criminal-justice reform, climate protections, health care, and equity in the cannabis industry.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. McKinnor’s priorities for AD-61 have included 27 bills about social services, housing, aging and disability resources, and collective bargaining. Of these, six have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored and passed legislation to allow some legislative staff members to unionize, make it easier for individuals released from incarceration to obtain a state-issued ID, extend the window for a family to be reunited in family court by 6 months, and remove old laws that promote segregation and discrimination in housing. She scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. McKinnor has supported all progressive bills that made it to a vote. She has been designated as a Courage All-Star this session, and is the author of two criminal justice reform bills evaluated for our scorecard, AB1028 and AB1310.

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. McKinnor currently sits on 16 committees, including Business and Professions, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, and Governmental Organization. She serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Public Employment and Retirement, Select Committees on 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games, and Select Committee on Restorative Justice. Assm. McKinnor is also secretary of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. McKinnor has served in this assembly seat since June 2022, when she was elected with over 53% of the vote in a special election to replace AD-62 Assm. Autumn Burke after her mid-term retirement. In the 2022 general election, she won her re-election against a Democratic challenger by 28 points.

Prior to joining the Assembly, Assm. McKinnor was the civic-engagement director for LA Voice and LA Voice Action, an interfaith organization that works with 59 connected congregations in Los Angeles County to bring progressive change to criminal justice, immigration, election reform, and housing reform. She did this work to find diverse and comprehensive solutions to community issues through local collaboration. Assm. McKinnor founded the McKinnor Group, a consulting firm that offers a full spectrum of campaign services to elected officials, candidates, ballot-measure efforts, corporations, non-profits, lobbyists, and other political groups. She has served as a board member with Partnership for Growth LA, and was the operational director for the California Democratic Party. Assm. McKinnor is a collaborative leader, and often seeks input and guidance from individuals and groups that have been directly affected by an issue. She has built a strong network in both the legislative and organizing communities, and has leveraged her deep knowledge of fiscal and people management to create meaningful change. 

Other background: Assm. McKinnor has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 30 years.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Tina McKinnor (D) and Alfonso Hernandez (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. McKinnor’s campaign has raised $605,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Alfonso Hernandez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hernandez’s campaign has not filed any campaign finance receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 61st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 63% Democrat, 10% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 34% Latino, 6% Asian, and 34% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-61 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 68 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 60 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.


State Assembly, 65th District

Member of the State Assembly

Mike Gipson photo
Democrat

Mike Gipson

Website Endorsements

Re-elect Assemblymember Mike Gipson to keep AD-65 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Gipson’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of AD-65. While he has received funding support from problematic interests and has not supported some significant legislation that made it to a vote, our analysis shows that he will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district if he is subject to increased community accountability.  

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Gipson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, AFSCME California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West. 

Top issues: Public education, public safety, universal health care, homelessness and housing, green energy programs, reproductive justice, and transportation infrastructure.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Gipson’s priorities for AD-65 have included 30 bills about career and technical education, taxation and public funds, education, and health care. Of these, 11 have been successfully chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to provide foster children and homeless youth with priority access to intersession academic programs, amend the consequences for violating traffic laws, require that anyone using a 3-D printer to create a firearm be a state-licensed firearm manufacturer, and clarify housing law to allow property held by a non-profit public benefit corporation be exempt from taxation. He scores a CS of 77 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Gipson has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Gipson has failed to cast a vote on several important pieces of legislation, including bills to establish safe injection sites, increase greenhouse gas accountability for corporations, and guarantee that 90% of bail premiums be returned when charges are dismissed. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Gipson currently sits on four committees, including Business & Professions, Governmental Organization, Insurance, and Transportation. He is also the chair of the Select Committees on Police Reform, and Parts & Goods Movement. Assm. Gipson is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, and served as Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair until 2023. He is chair of Council of State Governments West, a non-profit organization that serves western state legislatures. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Gipson has served in the Assembly since 2014, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 24 points.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Gipson was a member of the Carson City Council for a decade, and served as the mayor pro tempore. He spent his early career as a police officer in the Maywood Police Department, which was ultimately disbanded after failed efforts at reform. While Assm. Gipson has had success in securing budget allocations to benefit youth services, education expansion, and mental health resources in his district, he also has concerning connections to police, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC donors. These affiliations raise questions about some of his legislative choices, including voting against environmental bills like SB100 and AB1328, which required a statewide transition to carbon energy, and addressed the environmental impact of oil wells, respectively. He has also withheld support for SB731, which aimed to make it more difficult for police officers found guilty of misconduct to be hired by another state law-enforcement agency, and for bills that sought to expand due process protections and provide counsel to minors during interrogation. 

Other background: Assm. Gipson is from Los Angeles and is a longtime resident of Carson. He was raised by working parents and credits their determination with inspiring his interest in public service.

The Race


Primary election: Assm. Mike Gipsonn (D) is running unopposed in the March 5 primary.  

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Gipson’s campaign has raised $524,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, police, fossil fuel, and real estate interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 65th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 60% Democrat, 11% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 49% Latino, 9% Asian, and 29% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-65 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 60 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 54 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


Re-elect Assemblymember Mike Gipson to keep AD-65 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Gipson’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of AD-65. While he has received funding support from problematic interests and has not supported some significant legislation that made it to a vote, our analysis shows that he will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district if he is subject to increased community accountability.  

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Gipson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, AFSCME California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West. 

Top issues: Public education, public safety, universal health care, homelessness and housing, green energy programs, reproductive justice, and transportation infrastructure.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Gipson’s priorities for AD-65 have included 30 bills about career and technical education, taxation and public funds, education, and health care. Of these, 11 have been successfully chaptered into law, two have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to provide foster children and homeless youth with priority access to intersession academic programs, amend the consequences for violating traffic laws, require that anyone using a 3-D printer to create a firearm be a state-licensed firearm manufacturer, and clarify housing law to allow property held by a non-profit public benefit corporation be exempt from taxation. He scores a CS of 77 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Gipson has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Gipson has failed to cast a vote on several important pieces of legislation, including bills to establish safe injection sites, increase greenhouse gas accountability for corporations, and guarantee that 90% of bail premiums be returned when charges are dismissed. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Gipson currently sits on four committees, including Business & Professions, Governmental Organization, Insurance, and Transportation. He is also the chair of the Select Committees on Police Reform, and Parts & Goods Movement. Assm. Gipson is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, and served as Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair until 2023. He is chair of Council of State Governments West, a non-profit organization that serves western state legislatures. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Gipson has served in the Assembly since 2014, when he was elected with over 63% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 24 points.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Gipson was a member of the Carson City Council for a decade, and served as the mayor pro tempore. He spent his early career as a police officer in the Maywood Police Department, which was ultimately disbanded after failed efforts at reform. While Assm. Gipson has had success in securing budget allocations to benefit youth services, education expansion, and mental health resources in his district, he also has concerning connections to police, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC donors. These affiliations raise questions about some of his legislative choices, including voting against environmental bills like SB100 and AB1328, which required a statewide transition to carbon energy, and addressed the environmental impact of oil wells, respectively. He has also withheld support for SB731, which aimed to make it more difficult for police officers found guilty of misconduct to be hired by another state law-enforcement agency, and for bills that sought to expand due process protections and provide counsel to minors during interrogation. 

Other background: Assm. Gipson is from Los Angeles and is a longtime resident of Carson. He was raised by working parents and credits their determination with inspiring his interest in public service.

The Race


Primary election: Assm. Mike Gipsonn (D) is running unopposed in the March 5 primary.  

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Gipson’s campaign has raised $524,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, police, fossil fuel, and real estate interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 65th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 60% Democrat, 11% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 49% Latino, 9% Asian, and 29% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-65 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 60 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 54 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


State Assembly, 66th District

Member of the State Assembly

Al Muratsuchi photo
Democrat

Al Muratsuchi

Website Endorsements

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



Assm. Al Muratsuchi has been a frequent recipient of donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Calpine Corporation, Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC, California Correctional Peace Officers Association PAC, and Edison International. Given Assm. Muratsuchi’s connection to these groups, it is important that voters continue to hold him accountable to ensure that his legislative efforts remain in the best interest of AD-66 constituents instead of wealthy special interests. 

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Muratsuchi has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Teachers Association, California Environmental Voters, SEIU California, and Equality California. He has also received problematic endorsements from several police organizations, including Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, and California Association of Highway Patrolmen.

Top issues: Public utilities, environmental and climate protections, education and workforce development, military and veterans, and homelessness and housing.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Muratsuchi’s priorities for AD-66 have included 29 bills about environmental protection, education, and homelessness. Of these, six have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to prohibit the sale of baby food that does not comply with toxic element label guidelines, require the creation of a public awareness campaign to market teaching careers in the state, and improve air quality around some wastewater treatment facilities. He scores a CS of 80 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Muratsuchi has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Muratsuchi has failed to cast a vote on several critical pieces of legislation, including bills to authorize a judge to recall a sentence in response to changes in the law, increase fairness by not allowing an incarcerated person’s demographics to be considered in decisions about parole, and block other states from being able to access digital data for patients seeking abortion or gender-affirming care in California. He has also voted down two important criminal justice reform bills, AB1310 and AB1306, evaluated for our scorecard. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Muratsuchi currently sits on 15 committees, including Budget, Military & Veterans Affairs, Natural Resources, and Utilities & Energy. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Education, and the Select Committee on Aerospace. In his role with the Select Committee on Aerospace, he has supported the problematic local growth and success of SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, and Northrop Grumman, a defense contractor. Assm. Muratsuchi is a member of the California AAPI Legislative Caucus.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Muratsuchi was originally elected to the Assembly in 2012, but lost his 2014 reelection bid to Republican David Hadley by a narrow margin. He regained his seat in the 2016 election, and won his 2020 reelection against Republican Arthur Schaper by 26 points. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 20 points.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Muratsuchi served as a deputy district attorney with the California Department of Justice. A longtime supporter of education reform, he served on the Torrance School Board, and has authored legislation to increase funding for the K–12 system, and to support career technical education. He was recognized as Legislator of the Year in 2019 by the California School Boards Association for his efforts to improve the education landscape for students and families. Assm. Muratsuchi has also partnered with police to construct criminal-justice bills.

Other background: Assm. Al Muratsuchi is a longtime resident of the South Bay of Los Angeles County.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Al Muratsuchi (D) and George Barks (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Muratsuchi’s campaign has raised $163,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican George Barks
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Barks’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 66th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 44% Democrat, 26% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 19% Latino, 22% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-66 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 28 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 14 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


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



Assm. Al Muratsuchi has been a frequent recipient of donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Calpine Corporation, Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC, California Correctional Peace Officers Association PAC, and Edison International. Given Assm. Muratsuchi’s connection to these groups, it is important that voters continue to hold him accountable to ensure that his legislative efforts remain in the best interest of AD-66 constituents instead of wealthy special interests. 

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Muratsuchi has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Teachers Association, California Environmental Voters, SEIU California, and Equality California. He has also received problematic endorsements from several police organizations, including Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, and California Association of Highway Patrolmen.

Top issues: Public utilities, environmental and climate protections, education and workforce development, military and veterans, and homelessness and housing.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Muratsuchi’s priorities for AD-66 have included 29 bills about environmental protection, education, and homelessness. Of these, six have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to prohibit the sale of baby food that does not comply with toxic element label guidelines, require the creation of a public awareness campaign to market teaching careers in the state, and improve air quality around some wastewater treatment facilities. He scores a CS of 80 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Muratsuchi has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Muratsuchi has failed to cast a vote on several critical pieces of legislation, including bills to authorize a judge to recall a sentence in response to changes in the law, increase fairness by not allowing an incarcerated person’s demographics to be considered in decisions about parole, and block other states from being able to access digital data for patients seeking abortion or gender-affirming care in California. He has also voted down two important criminal justice reform bills, AB1310 and AB1306, evaluated for our scorecard. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Muratsuchi currently sits on 15 committees, including Budget, Military & Veterans Affairs, Natural Resources, and Utilities & Energy. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Education, and the Select Committee on Aerospace. In his role with the Select Committee on Aerospace, he has supported the problematic local growth and success of SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, and Northrop Grumman, a defense contractor. Assm. Muratsuchi is a member of the California AAPI Legislative Caucus.

Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Muratsuchi was originally elected to the Assembly in 2012, but lost his 2014 reelection bid to Republican David Hadley by a narrow margin. He regained his seat in the 2016 election, and won his 2020 reelection against Republican Arthur Schaper by 26 points. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 20 points.

Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Muratsuchi served as a deputy district attorney with the California Department of Justice. A longtime supporter of education reform, he served on the Torrance School Board, and has authored legislation to increase funding for the K–12 system, and to support career technical education. He was recognized as Legislator of the Year in 2019 by the California School Boards Association for his efforts to improve the education landscape for students and families. Assm. Muratsuchi has also partnered with police to construct criminal-justice bills.

Other background: Assm. Al Muratsuchi is a longtime resident of the South Bay of Los Angeles County.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Al Muratsuchi (D) and George Barks (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Muratsuchi’s campaign has raised $163,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican George Barks
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Barks’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 66th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 44% Democrat, 26% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 19% Latino, 22% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-66 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 28 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 14 points.

The Position


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

The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.


Congress

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

27th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

George Whitesides photo
Democrat

George Whitesides

Website Endorsements

Elect George Whitesides for Congress to put CD-27 on the right track for progress.



George Whitesides’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a representative voice for the constituents of CD-27 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has designated this district as a priority flip in 2024 after it was won narrowly by Republican Rep. Mike Garcia in 2022. 

Progressive endorsements: Whitesides has the endorsement of many groups, including California Environmental Voters, 3.14 Action Fund, Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, and AFL-CIO. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Adam Schiff, Assm. Pilar Schiavo, and State Treasurer Fiona Ma. 

Electoral history: Whitesides has not run for public office before.

Top issues: Economic growth and job creation, wildfire protections and response, reproductive justice, and safeguarding Social Security and Medicare.

Governance and community leadership experience: Whitesides is an aerospace professional and a local leader, which he does to support innovation and local job creation, and contribute to solving problems on the ground in his community. He served in leadership at NASA during the Obama Administration before spending ten years as the first CEO of Virgin Galactic, a space innovation and exploration company founded by Richard Branson. Under Whitesides’s leadership, the company grew its operations in the Antelope Valley, created over 700 local jobs, and ran their first commercial space flights. In 2022, he became a co-founder of Megafire Action, a non-profit that seeks to use science, policy, and technology to reduce the number of wildfires annually. As a local leader, Whitesides created collaboration between the aerospace industry and the health-care community during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and serves on the board of directors for the Antelope Valley Economic Development & Growth Enterprise.

Other background: George Whitesides is originally from Massachusetts and is a longtime resident of the Antelope Valley. He holds degrees from Princeton University and Cambridge University, and was a Fulbright Scholar.

The Race


Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including George Whitesides (D), and incumbent Rep. Mike Garcia (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: George Whitesides’s campaign has raised $2.2 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. He has donated over $2.1 million to his own campaign. 

Opposing candidate: Republican Rep. Mike Garcia
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Rep. Garcia’s campaign has raised $2.4 million as of October 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and real estate interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 27th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.
Voter registration: 42% Democrat, 29% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically held this seat until it was redistricted in 2022. 

District demographics: 33% Latino, 10% Asian, and 11% Black. 

Recent election results: CD-27 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 12 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 2 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 George Whitesides for Congress to put CD-27 on the right track for progress.



George Whitesides’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a representative voice for the constituents of CD-27 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has designated this district as a priority flip in 2024 after it was won narrowly by Republican Rep. Mike Garcia in 2022. 

Progressive endorsements: Whitesides has the endorsement of many groups, including California Environmental Voters, 3.14 Action Fund, Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, and AFL-CIO. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Adam Schiff, Assm. Pilar Schiavo, and State Treasurer Fiona Ma. 

Electoral history: Whitesides has not run for public office before.

Top issues: Economic growth and job creation, wildfire protections and response, reproductive justice, and safeguarding Social Security and Medicare.

Governance and community leadership experience: Whitesides is an aerospace professional and a local leader, which he does to support innovation and local job creation, and contribute to solving problems on the ground in his community. He served in leadership at NASA during the Obama Administration before spending ten years as the first CEO of Virgin Galactic, a space innovation and exploration company founded by Richard Branson. Under Whitesides’s leadership, the company grew its operations in the Antelope Valley, created over 700 local jobs, and ran their first commercial space flights. In 2022, he became a co-founder of Megafire Action, a non-profit that seeks to use science, policy, and technology to reduce the number of wildfires annually. As a local leader, Whitesides created collaboration between the aerospace industry and the health-care community during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and serves on the board of directors for the Antelope Valley Economic Development & Growth Enterprise.

Other background: George Whitesides is originally from Massachusetts and is a longtime resident of the Antelope Valley. He holds degrees from Princeton University and Cambridge University, and was a Fulbright Scholar.

The Race


Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including George Whitesides (D), and incumbent Rep. Mike Garcia (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: George Whitesides’s campaign has raised $2.2 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests. He has donated over $2.1 million to his own campaign. 

Opposing candidate: Republican Rep. Mike Garcia
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Rep. Garcia’s campaign has raised $2.4 million as of October 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, fossil fuel, and real estate interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 27th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.
Voter registration: 42% Democrat, 29% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically held this seat until it was redistricted in 2022. 

District demographics: 33% Latino, 10% Asian, and 11% Black. 

Recent election results: CD-27 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 12 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 2 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.


28th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Judy Chu photo
Democrat

Judy Chu

Website Endorsements

Re-elect Congressional Representative Judy Chu to keep CD-28 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Judy Chu’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-28 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Chu has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and California Environmental Voters. 

Top issues: Civil liberty, reproductive rights, women’s healthcare, taxation, disaster relief, LGBTQIA+ rights, entrepreneurship and small business support, and immigration protections.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Chu’s priorities for CD-28 have included 24 bills about small-business investment, women’s health, environmental protections, and mental health care. Of these, one has been passed through to the Senate, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored legislation to raise the amount of banking capital that can be invested in SBICs, protect victims of labor violations from removal by the Department of Homeland Security, create resources to destigmatize mental health issues, and prohibit governmental restrictions on abortion care before fetal viability. 

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Chu currently sits on two committees, Ways and Means, and Small Business. She serves as the chair of the Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Creative Rights Caucus, which supports copyright protections of those in the creative industries.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Chu has served in this congressional seat since 2012, when she was elected with over 64% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 32 points.

Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Chu served as mayor of Monterey Park from 1989 to 1994. In 2001, she was elected to the State Assembly, where she served two terms. She served as the 4th District representative on the California State Board of Equalization from 2007 to 2009, before transitioning to her Congressional seat. She was elected to Congress in 2009, becoming the first Chinese American to serve in the institution. Rep. Chu has been a longtime supporter of civil liberties and reproductive rights.

Other background: Rep. Chu grew up in Los Angeles. 

The Race


Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Judy Chu (D), Kerry Lewis (R), Robert George Lucero (R), April Verlato (R), and Bonnie Wallace (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Chu’s campaign has raised $687,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: As of October 2023, none of the Republican challengers in this race have filed any campaign finance receipts with the FEC.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 28th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.

Voter registration: 47% Democrat, 22% Republican, and 26% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 24% Latino, 35% Asian, and 5% Black.

Recent election results: CD-28 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 34 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 26 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 Judy Chu to keep CD-28 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Judy Chu’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-28 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Chu has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and California Environmental Voters. 

Top issues: Civil liberty, reproductive rights, women’s healthcare, taxation, disaster relief, LGBTQIA+ rights, entrepreneurship and small business support, and immigration protections.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Chu’s priorities for CD-28 have included 24 bills about small-business investment, women’s health, environmental protections, and mental health care. Of these, one has been passed through to the Senate, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored legislation to raise the amount of banking capital that can be invested in SBICs, protect victims of labor violations from removal by the Department of Homeland Security, create resources to destigmatize mental health issues, and prohibit governmental restrictions on abortion care before fetal viability. 

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Chu currently sits on two committees, Ways and Means, and Small Business. She serves as the chair of the Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Creative Rights Caucus, which supports copyright protections of those in the creative industries.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Chu has served in this congressional seat since 2012, when she was elected with over 64% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 32 points.

Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Chu served as mayor of Monterey Park from 1989 to 1994. In 2001, she was elected to the State Assembly, where she served two terms. She served as the 4th District representative on the California State Board of Equalization from 2007 to 2009, before transitioning to her Congressional seat. She was elected to Congress in 2009, becoming the first Chinese American to serve in the institution. Rep. Chu has been a longtime supporter of civil liberties and reproductive rights.

Other background: Rep. Chu grew up in Los Angeles. 

The Race


Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Judy Chu (D), Kerry Lewis (R), Robert George Lucero (R), April Verlato (R), and Bonnie Wallace (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Chu’s campaign has raised $687,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: As of October 2023, none of the Republican challengers in this race have filed any campaign finance receipts with the FEC.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 28th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.

Voter registration: 47% Democrat, 22% Republican, and 26% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 24% Latino, 35% Asian, and 5% Black.

Recent election results: CD-28 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 34 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 26 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.


29th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Luz Rivas photo
Democrat

Luz Rivas

Website Endorsements

Elect Luz Rivas for Congress to keep CD-29 on the right track for progress.



Assemblymember Luz Rivas’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-29 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Rivas has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, SEIU California, and LA County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO. She has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including current CD-29 Rep. Tony Cardenas, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Sen. Alex Padilla, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon, Assm. Isaac Bryan, and Supervisor Hilda Solis. 

Electoral history: Assm. Rivas has served in the State Assembly since 2018, when she was elected with over 70% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 50 points.

Top issues: Economic growth and opportunity, social security and Medicare protections, and climate justice.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Rivas’s priorities for her district, AD-43, have included 18 bills about public health, school nutrition, transportation, and homelessness and housing. Of these, four have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored and passed legislation to create standards for dual-language learners in public preschool, amend use tax laws, and expand LGBTQIA+ protections to include intersex people. She scores a Lifetime CS of 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Rivas has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Rivas failed to cast a vote in recent years on bills related to giving school districts discretion in evaluating charter school applications and providing public access to police misconduct records. Assm. Rivas currently sits on 15 committees, including Budget, Communications and Conveyance, and Revenue and Taxation. She serves as the chair of the Select Committee on the Non-Profit Sector. She is also a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and the California Legislative Latino Caucus. 

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assm. Rivas spent her early career as an electrical engineer, where she developed a strong interest in early STEM education. She completed a master of education program before, in 2011, founding DIY Girls, which is a nonprofit organization that partners with local schools to expose girls to STEM programming. Before winning election to the Assembly in 2018, she served as Public Works commissioner for the City of Los Angeles. 

Other background: Assm. Rivas is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley. She is a longtime supporter of science and technology education.

The Race


Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Luz Rivas (D), Angélica María Dueñas (D), and Benito Bernal (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Rivas’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Angélica María Dueñas
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Dueñas’s campaign has raised $7,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Benito Bernal
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Bernal’s campaign has raised $8,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, or fossil fuel interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 29th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 13% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 54% Latino, 9% Asian, and 6% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-29 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 51 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 46 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 Luz Rivas for Congress to keep CD-29 on the right track for progress.



Assemblymember Luz Rivas’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-29 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Rivas has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, SEIU California, and LA County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO. She has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including current CD-29 Rep. Tony Cardenas, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Sen. Alex Padilla, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon, Assm. Isaac Bryan, and Supervisor Hilda Solis. 

Electoral history: Assm. Rivas has served in the State Assembly since 2018, when she was elected with over 70% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 50 points.

Top issues: Economic growth and opportunity, social security and Medicare protections, and climate justice.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Rivas’s priorities for her district, AD-43, have included 18 bills about public health, school nutrition, transportation, and homelessness and housing. Of these, four have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored and passed legislation to create standards for dual-language learners in public preschool, amend use tax laws, and expand LGBTQIA+ protections to include intersex people. She scores a Lifetime CS of 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Rivas has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Rivas failed to cast a vote in recent years on bills related to giving school districts discretion in evaluating charter school applications and providing public access to police misconduct records. Assm. Rivas currently sits on 15 committees, including Budget, Communications and Conveyance, and Revenue and Taxation. She serves as the chair of the Select Committee on the Non-Profit Sector. She is also a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and the California Legislative Latino Caucus. 

Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assm. Rivas spent her early career as an electrical engineer, where she developed a strong interest in early STEM education. She completed a master of education program before, in 2011, founding DIY Girls, which is a nonprofit organization that partners with local schools to expose girls to STEM programming. Before winning election to the Assembly in 2018, she served as Public Works commissioner for the City of Los Angeles. 

Other background: Assm. Rivas is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley. She is a longtime supporter of science and technology education.

The Race


Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Luz Rivas (D), Angélica María Dueñas (D), and Benito Bernal (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Rivas’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Angélica María Dueñas
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Dueñas’s campaign has raised $7,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Benito Bernal
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Bernal’s campaign has raised $8,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, or fossil fuel interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 29th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 13% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 54% Latino, 9% Asian, and 6% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-29 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 51 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 46 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.


30th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Laura Friedman photo
Democrat

Laura Friedman

Website Endorsements

Elect Assm. Laura Friedman for Congress to keep CD-30 on the right track for progress.



Assm. Laura Friedman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-30 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Friedman has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Women’s Political Caucus, and Abundant Housing Los Angeles. She has also received the endorsement of many elected officials, including Rep. Judy Chu, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Isaac Bryan, Assm. Alex Lee, and LA Councilmember Nithya Raman.

Electoral history: Friedman was first elected to the State Assembly in 2016, when she won with over 64% of the vote. She was re-elected in 2022 after defeating a Republican challenger by a 42 point margin.

Top issues: Improving health-care access, climate protections and clean energy, reproductive justice, affordable housing, public transit infrastructure, civil rights, and labor and worker protections.

Priority bills: As a member of the Assembly, Assm. Friedman has been a strong supporter of bills to improve funding for transportation infrastructure, climate protections and biodiversity, and affordable housing. In recent years, she has secured millions of dollars to fund local cycling infrastructure and transportation projects in her Los Angeles area district. She has also sponsored legislation to encourage property owners to build accessory dwellings on their property, and to create tax exemptions for nonprofit home builders who construct owner-occupied homes for low-income families. This session, she has authored 27 bills focused on transportation, affordable housing, and coastal and water conservation. Of these, ten have been chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She scores a Lifetime CS of 99 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Friedman has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote during her time in the Assembly.

Governance and community leadership experience: Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Friedman was a member of the Glendale City Council, and served a term as mayor. Before entering public service, she worked in the private sector as a vice president of development in the film and television industry. Assm. Friedman has been a longtime supporter of health-care access, active transportation, and environmental justice.

Other background: Assm. Friedman is from South Florida and has lived in Glendale for over fifteen years. 

The Race


Primary election: There are 18 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Laura Friedman (D), Mike Feuer (D), Nick Melvoin (D), State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D), Jirair Ratevosian (D), Ben Savage (D), and Sepi Shyne (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Friedman’s campaign has raised $782,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Mike Feuer
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Feuer’s campaign has raised $1.1 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Nick Melvoin
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Melvoin’s campaign has raised $943,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat State Sen. Anthony Portantino
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Sen. Portantino’s campaign has raised $1.2 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Jirair Ratevosian
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ratevosian’s campaign has raised $199,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Ben Savage
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Savage’s campaign has raised $1.1 million as of October 2023, with over $1 million loaned directly by the candidate.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Sepi Shyne
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Shyne’s campaign has raised $333,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 30th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 55% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 20% Latino, 13% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: CD-30 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 46 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 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 Assm. Laura Friedman for Congress to keep CD-30 on the right track for progress.



Assm. Laura Friedman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-30 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Assm. Friedman has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Women’s Political Caucus, and Abundant Housing Los Angeles. She has also received the endorsement of many elected officials, including Rep. Judy Chu, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Isaac Bryan, Assm. Alex Lee, and LA Councilmember Nithya Raman.

Electoral history: Friedman was first elected to the State Assembly in 2016, when she won with over 64% of the vote. She was re-elected in 2022 after defeating a Republican challenger by a 42 point margin.

Top issues: Improving health-care access, climate protections and clean energy, reproductive justice, affordable housing, public transit infrastructure, civil rights, and labor and worker protections.

Priority bills: As a member of the Assembly, Assm. Friedman has been a strong supporter of bills to improve funding for transportation infrastructure, climate protections and biodiversity, and affordable housing. In recent years, she has secured millions of dollars to fund local cycling infrastructure and transportation projects in her Los Angeles area district. She has also sponsored legislation to encourage property owners to build accessory dwellings on their property, and to create tax exemptions for nonprofit home builders who construct owner-occupied homes for low-income families. This session, she has authored 27 bills focused on transportation, affordable housing, and coastal and water conservation. Of these, ten have been chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She scores a Lifetime CS of 99 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Friedman has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote during her time in the Assembly.

Governance and community leadership experience: Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Friedman was a member of the Glendale City Council, and served a term as mayor. Before entering public service, she worked in the private sector as a vice president of development in the film and television industry. Assm. Friedman has been a longtime supporter of health-care access, active transportation, and environmental justice.

Other background: Assm. Friedman is from South Florida and has lived in Glendale for over fifteen years. 

The Race


Primary election: There are 18 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Laura Friedman (D), Mike Feuer (D), Nick Melvoin (D), State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D), Jirair Ratevosian (D), Ben Savage (D), and Sepi Shyne (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Friedman’s campaign has raised $782,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Mike Feuer
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Feuer’s campaign has raised $1.1 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Nick Melvoin
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Melvoin’s campaign has raised $943,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat State Sen. Anthony Portantino
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Sen. Portantino’s campaign has raised $1.2 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Jirair Ratevosian
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ratevosian’s campaign has raised $199,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Ben Savage
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Savage’s campaign has raised $1.1 million as of October 2023, with over $1 million loaned directly by the candidate.

Opposing candidate: Democrat Sepi Shyne
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Shyne’s campaign has raised $333,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 30th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 55% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 20% Latino, 13% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: CD-30 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 46 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 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.


32nd Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Brad Sherman photo
Democrat

Brad Sherman

Website Endorsements

Re-elect Congressional Representative Brad Sherman to keep CD-32 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Sherman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of CD-32 and will govern effectively for this diverse district if he is subjected to increased community accountability.

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

Top issues: International relations and diplomacy, loosening regulations for the financial services and real estate industries, gun reform, and increasing regulations on cryptocurrency

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Sherman’s priorities for CD-32 have included 8 bills about financially sanctioning Russia and Belarus, bank regulation, and unionization.  All of these bills remain in committee. His sponsored legislation includes bills to provide a nationwide right to organized labor, and to increase banking regulations related to interest rate increases. 

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee Leadership/Membership: Rep. Sherman currently sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services. He is a ranking member on the Subcommittee on Capital Markets. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Sherman has served in Congress since 1996, when he was elected with 49% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 38 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Sherman was an accountant, a tax specialist, and an attorney before being elected to the California Board of Equalization. Rep. Sherman has been a longtime supporter of diplomatic relations and strong fiscal policy. He helped found the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and has been a strong supporter of cryptocurrency regulation. Rep. Sherman was one of the first members of Congress to call for impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, and introduced articles of impeachment in both 2017 and 2019. In 2018, Rep. Sherman’s office was accused of allowing a toxic culture to flourish. A longtime staff member in his office were accused of sexual harassment and resigned from his position, although Rep. Sherman himself was not personally accused of any abusive acts. In response, Rep. Sherman adjusted the office’s policy around sexual harassment in the workplace and instituted more active measures to check in with staff and encourage reporting.

Other background: Rep. Sherman, a former accountant and attorney, is from Los Angeles. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a law degree from Harvard. 

The Race


Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Brad Sherman (D), Dave Abbitt (D), Christopher Ahuja (D), James Bartley Shuster (R), and Larry Thompson (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Brad Sherman’s campaign has raised $627,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican James Bartley Shuster
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Shuster’s campaign has raised $1,500 as of October 2023, and is funded by individual donors.

Opposing candidate: Republican Larry Thompson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Thompson’s campaign has raised $181,000 as of October 2023, and is funded primarily by individual donors.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 32nd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 20% Latino, 12% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: CD-32 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 32 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 Brad Sherman to keep CD-32 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Sherman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of CD-32 and will govern effectively for this diverse district if he is subjected to increased community accountability.

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

Top issues: International relations and diplomacy, loosening regulations for the financial services and real estate industries, gun reform, and increasing regulations on cryptocurrency

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Sherman’s priorities for CD-32 have included 8 bills about financially sanctioning Russia and Belarus, bank regulation, and unionization.  All of these bills remain in committee. His sponsored legislation includes bills to provide a nationwide right to organized labor, and to increase banking regulations related to interest rate increases. 

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee Leadership/Membership: Rep. Sherman currently sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services. He is a ranking member on the Subcommittee on Capital Markets. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Sherman has served in Congress since 1996, when he was elected with 49% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 38 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Sherman was an accountant, a tax specialist, and an attorney before being elected to the California Board of Equalization. Rep. Sherman has been a longtime supporter of diplomatic relations and strong fiscal policy. He helped found the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and has been a strong supporter of cryptocurrency regulation. Rep. Sherman was one of the first members of Congress to call for impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, and introduced articles of impeachment in both 2017 and 2019. In 2018, Rep. Sherman’s office was accused of allowing a toxic culture to flourish. A longtime staff member in his office were accused of sexual harassment and resigned from his position, although Rep. Sherman himself was not personally accused of any abusive acts. In response, Rep. Sherman adjusted the office’s policy around sexual harassment in the workplace and instituted more active measures to check in with staff and encourage reporting.

Other background: Rep. Sherman, a former accountant and attorney, is from Los Angeles. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a law degree from Harvard. 

The Race


Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Brad Sherman (D), Dave Abbitt (D), Christopher Ahuja (D), James Bartley Shuster (R), and Larry Thompson (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Brad Sherman’s campaign has raised $627,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican James Bartley Shuster
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Shuster’s campaign has raised $1,500 as of October 2023, and is funded by individual donors.

Opposing candidate: Republican Larry Thompson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Thompson’s campaign has raised $181,000 as of October 2023, and is funded primarily by individual donors.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 32nd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 20% Latino, 12% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: CD-32 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 32 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.


34th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

No Recommendation

Based on our analysis, two Democratic candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.



Rep. Jimmy Gomez has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, California Environmental Voters, End Citizens United, and Equality California, as well as labor unions like California Labor Federation, Unite HERE, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and SEIU. 

David Kim has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Our Revolution LA County, as well as elected officials like LA Controller Kenneth Mejia.

Key initiatives: Rep. Gomez has successfully extended the COVID-19 eviction moratorium, as well as passed legislation to expand paid family leave. This year, he has provided leadership in moving the district forward, improving the economic situation for students and increasing the housing supply (including affordable housing). Rep. Gomez has been a longtime supporter of renter protections, and founded and chairs the Congressional Renters Caucus.

Kim advocates for campaign finance reform, and has pledged not to accept donations from corporate PACs or special-interest groups. He supports universal basic income, Medicare for All, and more affordable housing options through measures like increased construction, expanded access, and rent control.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Jimmy Gomez has served in this congressional seat since 2017, when he was elected with over 59% of the vote in a special election. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 6 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Gomez was a California Assemblymember and labor organizer. While in the State Assembly, Rep. Gomez earned recognition and accolades from Planned Parenthood and Green California for his legislative efforts on reproductive justice and environmental protections respectively. However, he has received criticism as a Congressman for ineffective action on the housing crisis in Los Angeles, his support of charter schools, and accepting thousands of dollars from corporate PACs and special-interest groups.

David Kim has run for this congressional seat before, and lost to incumbent Rep. Jimmy Gomez in 2022 by 2 points.

Kim is an immigration and entertainment attorney, which he does because of his desire to seek equal justice for underserved communities. He is a longtime supporter of progressive policies like the Green New Deal, decriminalizing marijuana and addiction, providing more humane and straightforward pathways to citizenship for immigrants and Dreamers, and canceling student loan debt.

Other background: Rep. Gomez is from Southern California. 

Kim is from Arizona, and has lived in Los Angeles for twelve years. 

 

The Race


Primary election: There are 5 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D), David Kim (D), Calvin Lee (R), and David Ferrell (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Gomez’s campaign has raised $798,544 and is not funded by the police. He has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in donations from the real estate industry, the fossil fuel industry, and corporate PACs.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Kim’s campaign has raised $85,092 and is not funded by corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or the police. 

Opposing candidate: Democrat David Ferrell and Republican Calvin Lee
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ferrell’s campaign has raised $3,505. Lee’s campaign has not filed any campaign receipts for the current election cycle.

 

The District


Counties in district: California’s 34th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 62% Democrat, 9% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 56% Latino, 20% Asian, and 7% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-34 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 64 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 64 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.


 

Based on our analysis, two Democratic candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.



Rep. Jimmy Gomez has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, California Environmental Voters, End Citizens United, and Equality California, as well as labor unions like California Labor Federation, Unite HERE, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and SEIU. 

David Kim has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Our Revolution LA County, as well as elected officials like LA Controller Kenneth Mejia.

Key initiatives: Rep. Gomez has successfully extended the COVID-19 eviction moratorium, as well as passed legislation to expand paid family leave. This year, he has provided leadership in moving the district forward, improving the economic situation for students and increasing the housing supply (including affordable housing). Rep. Gomez has been a longtime supporter of renter protections, and founded and chairs the Congressional Renters Caucus.

Kim advocates for campaign finance reform, and has pledged not to accept donations from corporate PACs or special-interest groups. He supports universal basic income, Medicare for All, and more affordable housing options through measures like increased construction, expanded access, and rent control.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Jimmy Gomez has served in this congressional seat since 2017, when he was elected with over 59% of the vote in a special election. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 6 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Gomez was a California Assemblymember and labor organizer. While in the State Assembly, Rep. Gomez earned recognition and accolades from Planned Parenthood and Green California for his legislative efforts on reproductive justice and environmental protections respectively. However, he has received criticism as a Congressman for ineffective action on the housing crisis in Los Angeles, his support of charter schools, and accepting thousands of dollars from corporate PACs and special-interest groups.

David Kim has run for this congressional seat before, and lost to incumbent Rep. Jimmy Gomez in 2022 by 2 points.

Kim is an immigration and entertainment attorney, which he does because of his desire to seek equal justice for underserved communities. He is a longtime supporter of progressive policies like the Green New Deal, decriminalizing marijuana and addiction, providing more humane and straightforward pathways to citizenship for immigrants and Dreamers, and canceling student loan debt.

Other background: Rep. Gomez is from Southern California. 

Kim is from Arizona, and has lived in Los Angeles for twelve years. 

 

The Race


Primary election: There are 5 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D), David Kim (D), Calvin Lee (R), and David Ferrell (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Gomez’s campaign has raised $798,544 and is not funded by the police. He has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in donations from the real estate industry, the fossil fuel industry, and corporate PACs.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Kim’s campaign has raised $85,092 and is not funded by corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or the police. 

Opposing candidate: Democrat David Ferrell and Republican Calvin Lee
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ferrell’s campaign has raised $3,505. Lee’s campaign has not filed any campaign receipts for the current election cycle.

 

The District


Counties in district: California’s 34th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 62% Democrat, 9% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 56% Latino, 20% Asian, and 7% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-34 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 64 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 64 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.


 

36th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Ted Lieu photo
Democrat

Ted Lieu

Website Endorsements

Re-elect Congressional Representative Ted Lieu to keep CD-36 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Lieu’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-36 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Lieu has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and California Environmental Voters. 

Top issues: Environmental protection, economic improvement and commerce, election security, technology and artificial intelligence, renewable energy, homelessness and housing, and international affairs.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Lieu’s priorities for CD-36 have included 43 bills about hate crimes, nuclear weapons and the Russian war in Ukraine, AI regulation, and renewable energy. Of these, one is ready for a vote on the floor of the House and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored legislation to increase services and resources to address the housing crisis, to officially identify Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, and to codify the use of renewable energy and energy storage in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Rep. Lieu has also sponsored legislation to formally designate a commission of tech stakeholders and experts to determine the best regulations and guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence and facial-recognition software.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Lieu currently sits on three committees, including Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space, and Technology. He is a member of the Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Native American Caucus. He also serves as the assistant whip for the House Democratic Caucus.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lieu has served in Congress since 2014, when he was elected with over 59% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 40 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Lieu had a long track record of public service. His political career began when he won a seat on the Torrance City Council in 2002. He then served three terms in the State Assembly before being elected to the state Senate in 2011. Rep. Lieu served four years of active duty with the United States Air Force JAG Corps, and was a reservist before retiring in 2021. Rep. Lieu holds an undergraduate degree in computer science, and has been involved in legislation related to cybersecurity and innovation throughout his career. He has also long been involved in climate work, authoring the Global Warming Solutions Act.  

Other background: Rep. Ted Lieu was born in Taiwan, raised in Cleveland, OH, and is a longtime resident of Torrance, CA. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University before launching his political career. 

The Race


Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Ted Lieu (D), Michael James Cheaure (D), Ariana Hakami (R), Claire Anderson (R), and Leah Melissa Toomim (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Lieu’s campaign has raised $898,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Claire Anderson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $8,500 as of October 2023, and is primarily self-funded.

Opposing candidate: Republican Leah Melissa Toomim
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Toomim’s campaign has raised $8,000 and is primarily funded by individual donors.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 36th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 51% Democrat, 20% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 14% Latino, 17% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: CD-36 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 44 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 34 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 Ted Lieu to keep CD-36 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Lieu’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-36 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Lieu has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and California Environmental Voters. 

Top issues: Environmental protection, economic improvement and commerce, election security, technology and artificial intelligence, renewable energy, homelessness and housing, and international affairs.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Lieu’s priorities for CD-36 have included 43 bills about hate crimes, nuclear weapons and the Russian war in Ukraine, AI regulation, and renewable energy. Of these, one is ready for a vote on the floor of the House and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored legislation to increase services and resources to address the housing crisis, to officially identify Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, and to codify the use of renewable energy and energy storage in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Rep. Lieu has also sponsored legislation to formally designate a commission of tech stakeholders and experts to determine the best regulations and guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence and facial-recognition software.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Lieu currently sits on three committees, including Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space, and Technology. He is a member of the Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Native American Caucus. He also serves as the assistant whip for the House Democratic Caucus.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Lieu has served in Congress since 2014, when he was elected with over 59% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 40 points.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Lieu had a long track record of public service. His political career began when he won a seat on the Torrance City Council in 2002. He then served three terms in the State Assembly before being elected to the state Senate in 2011. Rep. Lieu served four years of active duty with the United States Air Force JAG Corps, and was a reservist before retiring in 2021. Rep. Lieu holds an undergraduate degree in computer science, and has been involved in legislation related to cybersecurity and innovation throughout his career. He has also long been involved in climate work, authoring the Global Warming Solutions Act.  

Other background: Rep. Ted Lieu was born in Taiwan, raised in Cleveland, OH, and is a longtime resident of Torrance, CA. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University before launching his political career. 

The Race


Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Ted Lieu (D), Michael James Cheaure (D), Ariana Hakami (R), Claire Anderson (R), and Leah Melissa Toomim (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Lieu’s campaign has raised $898,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Claire Anderson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $8,500 as of October 2023, and is primarily self-funded.

Opposing candidate: Republican Leah Melissa Toomim
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Toomim’s campaign has raised $8,000 and is primarily funded by individual donors.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 36th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 51% Democrat, 20% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 14% Latino, 17% Asian, and 5% Black. 

Recent election results: CD-36 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 44 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 34 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.


37th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Sydney Kamlager-Dove photo
Democrat

Sydney Kamlager-Dove

Website Endorsements

Re-elect Congressional Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove to keep CD-37 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-37 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Kamlager-Dove has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Stonewall Democrats, the National Education Association, and League of Conservation Voters, as well as labor unions like United Healthcare Workers West. 

Top issues: Justice reform, racial equity, foster care, and foreign affairs.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s priorities for CD-37 have included 14 bills about improving services for foster youth and incarcerated women, and public statements about domestic and international affairs. All currently remain in committee. 

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Kamlager-Dove currently sits on two committees, including the Natural Resources and Foreign Affairs Committees.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Kamlager-Dove has served in this congressional seat since 2022, when she was elected with over 60% of the vote.

Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Kamlager-Dove was first a California assemblymember and then a state senator. Rep. Kamlager-Dove has been a longtime supporter of justice reform, education, and youth services. She helped get the CRISES Act signed to ensure that community-led teams respond to nonviolent 911 calls. She has worked to reduce prison sentences, including for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Kamlager-Dove has previously served as president of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees and district director for former State Senator Holly Mitchell. As a state senator, she scored a lifetime score of 94 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 during her term. 

Other background: Rep. Kamlager-Dove, a Planned Parenthood Los Angeles board member, is from Chicago. She previously worked for the non-profit childcare corporation Crystal Stairs.

The Race


Primary election: There are six candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Kamlager-Dove (D), Baltazar Fedalizo (R), and John Thompson Parker (PAF). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s campaign has raised $490,291 and is not funded by the real estate industry or the police. However, she has accepted donations from other problematic sources, including corporate PACs and the fossil fuel industry.

Opposing candidate: Peace and Freedom John Thompson Parker
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Parker’s campaign has raised $6,156. No other candidates have filed any fundraising receipts for the current election cycle.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 37th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 66% Democrat, 7% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 7% Asian, and 36% Black. This district contains several of Los Angeles’ historic Black neighborhoods. 

Recent election results: CD-37 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 73 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 70 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 Sydney Kamlager-Dove to keep CD-37 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-37 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Kamlager-Dove has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Stonewall Democrats, the National Education Association, and League of Conservation Voters, as well as labor unions like United Healthcare Workers West. 

Top issues: Justice reform, racial equity, foster care, and foreign affairs.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s priorities for CD-37 have included 14 bills about improving services for foster youth and incarcerated women, and public statements about domestic and international affairs. All currently remain in committee. 

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Kamlager-Dove currently sits on two committees, including the Natural Resources and Foreign Affairs Committees.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Kamlager-Dove has served in this congressional seat since 2022, when she was elected with over 60% of the vote.

Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Kamlager-Dove was first a California assemblymember and then a state senator. Rep. Kamlager-Dove has been a longtime supporter of justice reform, education, and youth services. She helped get the CRISES Act signed to ensure that community-led teams respond to nonviolent 911 calls. She has worked to reduce prison sentences, including for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Kamlager-Dove has previously served as president of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees and district director for former State Senator Holly Mitchell. As a state senator, she scored a lifetime score of 94 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 during her term. 

Other background: Rep. Kamlager-Dove, a Planned Parenthood Los Angeles board member, is from Chicago. She previously worked for the non-profit childcare corporation Crystal Stairs.

The Race


Primary election: There are six candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Kamlager-Dove (D), Baltazar Fedalizo (R), and John Thompson Parker (PAF). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Kamlager-Dove’s campaign has raised $490,291 and is not funded by the real estate industry or the police. However, she has accepted donations from other problematic sources, including corporate PACs and the fossil fuel industry.

Opposing candidate: Peace and Freedom John Thompson Parker
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Parker’s campaign has raised $6,156. No other candidates have filed any fundraising receipts for the current election cycle.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 37th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 66% Democrat, 7% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 39% Latino, 7% Asian, and 36% Black. This district contains several of Los Angeles’ historic Black neighborhoods. 

Recent election results: CD-37 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 73 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 70 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.


43rd Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Maxine Waters photo
Democrat

Maxine Waters

Re-elect Congressional Representative Maxine Waters to keep CD-43 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Waters’ track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-43 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Waters has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, Equality California, League of Conservation Voters, and California Environmental Voters. 

Top issues: Financial development, economic equity, and housing.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Waters’ priorities for CD-43 have included 16 bills about ending homelessness, creating pathways to homeownership and housing, economic regulations, and economic opportunity for underserved populations. All currently remain in committee.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Waters currently serves as chair of the Financial Services Committee.

Governance and community leadership Experience: Rep. Maxine Waters has served in this congressional seat since 1990, when she was elected with over 79% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 55 points.

Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Waters served for 14 years in the California State Assembly, where she was Democratic Caucus chair. She joined the DNC in 1980, worked on five Democratic presidential campaigns between 1980 and 1996, and was involved in the DNC’s establishment of the National Development and Voting Rights Institute. She is a longtime supporter of economic development, health-care access, and housing support. Rep. Waters has worked to fund youth workforce and adult skills-training programs, to increase funding for HIV/AIDS research and treatment, and to shore up grants to reduce foreclosures and homelessness.

Other background: Rep. Waters is from St. Louis, MO. She moved to Los Angeles in 1961.

The Race


Primary election: There are 6 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Maxine Waters (D), Steve Williams (R), Chris Wiggins (D), and David Knight (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Waters’ campaign has raised $318,436 and is not funded by the police. She is funded by the fossil fuel industry as well as corporate PACs. She has also accepted more than $25,000 from the real estate industry.

Opposing candidate: Republicans Steve Williams and David Knight
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: As of January 2024, no challengers have filed any campaign receipts for the current election cycle.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 43rd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 64% Latino, 9% Asian, and 5% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-43 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 50 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 Maxine Waters to keep CD-43 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Waters’ track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-43 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Waters has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, Equality California, League of Conservation Voters, and California Environmental Voters. 

Top issues: Financial development, economic equity, and housing.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Waters’ priorities for CD-43 have included 16 bills about ending homelessness, creating pathways to homeownership and housing, economic regulations, and economic opportunity for underserved populations. All currently remain in committee.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Waters currently serves as chair of the Financial Services Committee.

Governance and community leadership Experience: Rep. Maxine Waters has served in this congressional seat since 1990, when she was elected with over 79% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 55 points.

Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Waters served for 14 years in the California State Assembly, where she was Democratic Caucus chair. She joined the DNC in 1980, worked on five Democratic presidential campaigns between 1980 and 1996, and was involved in the DNC’s establishment of the National Development and Voting Rights Institute. She is a longtime supporter of economic development, health-care access, and housing support. Rep. Waters has worked to fund youth workforce and adult skills-training programs, to increase funding for HIV/AIDS research and treatment, and to shore up grants to reduce foreclosures and homelessness.

Other background: Rep. Waters is from St. Louis, MO. She moved to Los Angeles in 1961.

The Race


Primary election: There are 6 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Maxine Waters (D), Steve Williams (R), Chris Wiggins (D), and David Knight (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Waters’ campaign has raised $318,436 and is not funded by the police. She is funded by the fossil fuel industry as well as corporate PACs. She has also accepted more than $25,000 from the real estate industry.

Opposing candidate: Republicans Steve Williams and David Knight
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: As of January 2024, no challengers have filed any campaign receipts for the current election cycle.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 43rd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 24% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 64% Latino, 9% Asian, and 5% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-43 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 50 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.


44th Congressional District

Member of the House of Representatives

Nanette Barragán photo
Democrat

Nanette Barragán

Website Endorsements

Re-elect Congressional Representative Nanette Barragán to keep CD-44 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Nanette Barragán’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-44 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Barragán has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Stonewall Democratic Club, League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, and California Environmental Voters. 

Top issues: Health care, sustainability, public lands.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Barragán’s priorities for CD-44 have included 12 bills about accessibility of public lands to underrepresented groups, expanding green energy options, increasing access to dental and health care, and expanding health-care coverage for children. All currently remain in committee.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Barragán currently sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Barragán has served in this congressional seat since 2016, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 44 points.

Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Barragán led outreach efforts for African Americans in the Office of Public Liaison for the Clinton White House and worked on racial health disparities for the NAACP. Rep. Barragán also previously fought for low-income families at the Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation. She is a longtime supporter of environmental justice and battling health disparities. 

Other background: Rep. Barragán was born and raised in the Harbor Area. She began her career in public service in the late 1990s. Prior to practicing law, Barragán served as an extern to Justice Carlos Moreno of the Supreme Court of California.

The Race


Primary election: There are 2 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Nanette Barragán (D) and Roger Groh (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Barragán’s campaign has raised $421,686 and is not funded by the police. She has accepted donations from the fossil fuel industry as well as the real estate industry. She has also accepted donations from corporate PACs, including more than $35,000 from big pharma.

Opposing candidate: Republican Roger Groh
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: As of January 2024, Groh’s campaign has not filed any donation receipts for the current election cycle.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 44th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 15% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 51% Latino, 13% Asian, and 15% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-44 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 48 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 40 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 Nanette Barragán to keep CD-44 on the right track for progress. 



Rep. Nanette Barragán’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-44 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Rep. Barragán has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Stonewall Democratic Club, League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, and California Environmental Voters. 

Top issues: Health care, sustainability, public lands.

Priority bills: This year, Rep. Barragán’s priorities for CD-44 have included 12 bills about accessibility of public lands to underrepresented groups, expanding green energy options, increasing access to dental and health care, and expanding health-care coverage for children. All currently remain in committee.

Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.

Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Barragán currently sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Barragán has served in this congressional seat since 2016, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 44 points.

Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Barragán led outreach efforts for African Americans in the Office of Public Liaison for the Clinton White House and worked on racial health disparities for the NAACP. Rep. Barragán also previously fought for low-income families at the Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation. She is a longtime supporter of environmental justice and battling health disparities. 

Other background: Rep. Barragán was born and raised in the Harbor Area. She began her career in public service in the late 1990s. Prior to practicing law, Barragán served as an extern to Justice Carlos Moreno of the Supreme Court of California.

The Race


Primary election: There are 2 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Nanette Barragán (D) and Roger Groh (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Barragán’s campaign has raised $421,686 and is not funded by the police. She has accepted donations from the fossil fuel industry as well as the real estate industry. She has also accepted donations from corporate PACs, including more than $35,000 from big pharma.

Opposing candidate: Republican Roger Groh
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: As of January 2024, Groh’s campaign has not filed any donation receipts for the current election cycle.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 44th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles County.

Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 15% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 51% Latino, 13% Asian, and 15% Black. This district is considered to be one of the 16 strong Latino seats in the California congressional delegation.

Recent election results: CD-44 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 48 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 40 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.


Los Angeles County

Voting has changed in Los Angeles County this year. The Voter’s Choice Act was enacted in the county to make voting more convenient. Changes include an expanded period of in-person early voting, every registered voter in the county will receive a vote-by-mail ballot, and every registered voter in the county is able to vote in-person at any Vote Center in their county. Also, in-person voters in Los Angeles County will have the opportunity to use the new Ballot Marking Device, a touchscreen with audio features, to mark their ballots. Have questions about the changes to voting in Los Angeles County? Find out how to vote in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles District Attorney

George Gascón photo
Non-Partisan

George Gascón

Website Endorsements

Re-elect District Attorney George Gascón to keep Los Angeles County on the right track for progress. 



District Attorney George Gascón’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: District Attorney Gascón has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. 

Top issues: Public safety, police accountability, criminal justice reform, reducing violent crime, immigration, climate justice, and ending mass incarceration.

Key initiatives: District Attorney Gascón has successfully returned the DA’s office to its pre-pandemic felony case filing rate, eliminated the death penalty from sentencing, and stopped the scheduling of executions for individuals previously sentenced to death. He has also reduced the frequency of transferring minors to adult court, and has recalled cases in which minors were sentenced. District Attorney Gascón has also reduced the frequency of sentence enhancements, a policy that saves California taxpayers millions of dollars in prison costs. After a March 2021 State Supreme Court decision that eliminated cash bail in the state for individuals who can’t afford it, District Attorney Gascón’s office stopped seeking bail for misdemeanor and nonviolent felonies, which has increased the equity of the criminal justice system. 

District Attorney Gascón faced two recall efforts in 2021 and 2022, although neither gathered enough valid petition signatures to qualify for the ballot. A recall was supported by controversial former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, and District Attorney Gascón’s efforts to reform the dysfunctional and inequitable criminal justice system have been unpopular with rank-and-file law enforcement.

Governance and community leadership experience: District Attorney Gascón has served in this seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 53% of the vote. 

Prior to his election in Los Angeles, District Attorney Gascón served two terms as San Francisco DA, where he increased the prosecution of sexual assault cases, and created a new law-enforcement unit focused on addressing child abuse and sexual assault. He implemented practices and resources that centered on survivors, and has proposed policies that protect undocumented, LGBTQIA+, and student survivors while prioritizing cultural and linguistic competency. He is a staunch opponent of the death penalty, often citing its disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities, and has implemented reformist sentencing policies since his election as Los Angeles DA. District Attorney Gascón’s track record and position on law-enforcement accountability is rare, particularly for someone with a law enforcement background. During his term as San Francisco DA, Gascón prosecuted more than 30 police officers for criminal conduct. In 2019, while many police, law-enforcement officials, and prosecutors fought against its passage, he advocated for Assembly Bill 392, also known as the Stephon Clark Bill, which created a stricter standard for police use of force. He remains the only law-enforcement official in California to advocate for this legislation and his willingness to pursue police brutality cases has been a highlight of his prosecutorial leadership. 

Other background: District Attorney Gascón is from Cuba and immigrated to Los Angeles when he was 13. He has had a 40-year career in law enforcement, in which he started as a beat cop and rose through the ranks to serve as chief of police in San Francisco before pursuing elected office. 

The Race


Primary election: There are 12 candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including District Attorney George Gascón, John McKinney, Maria Ramirez, Jonathan Hatami, and Nathan Hochman. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5 unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: District Attorney Gascón’s campaign has raised $100,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: John McKinney
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: McKinney’s campaign has raised $165,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Maria Ramirez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ramirez’s campaign has raised $166,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Jonathan Hatami
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hatami’s campaign has raised $240,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate, police, and fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Nathan Hochman
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hochman’s campaign has raised $645,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

The District


County: Los Angeles County is California's most populous county. Los Angeles County has a population of 9.7 million and a demographic breakdown of 49% Latino, 16% Asian, 9% Black.

Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s District Attorney oversees an office of nearly 1,000 deputy district attorneys, and the prosecution of criminal offenses across the county and unincorporated areas. It is the largest local district attorney office in the nation.

The Position


Each of the 58 counties in California elects a district Attorney to manage prosecution of criminal offenses related to the violation of state and county law. The district attorney has investigative authority, manages the apprehension of individuals identified through the investigative process, and holds charging and prosecutorial power. The work of the district attorney includes Municipal and Superior court operations, and serving as a legal liaison to the grand jury. The county Board of Supervisors provides financial oversight to the district attorney’s office, but holds no operational power over their work. District attorneys are elected to four-year terms in office. 

Re-elect District Attorney George Gascón to keep Los Angeles County on the right track for progress. 



District Attorney George Gascón’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: District Attorney Gascón has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. 

Top issues: Public safety, police accountability, criminal justice reform, reducing violent crime, immigration, climate justice, and ending mass incarceration.

Key initiatives: District Attorney Gascón has successfully returned the DA’s office to its pre-pandemic felony case filing rate, eliminated the death penalty from sentencing, and stopped the scheduling of executions for individuals previously sentenced to death. He has also reduced the frequency of transferring minors to adult court, and has recalled cases in which minors were sentenced. District Attorney Gascón has also reduced the frequency of sentence enhancements, a policy that saves California taxpayers millions of dollars in prison costs. After a March 2021 State Supreme Court decision that eliminated cash bail in the state for individuals who can’t afford it, District Attorney Gascón’s office stopped seeking bail for misdemeanor and nonviolent felonies, which has increased the equity of the criminal justice system. 

District Attorney Gascón faced two recall efforts in 2021 and 2022, although neither gathered enough valid petition signatures to qualify for the ballot. A recall was supported by controversial former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, and District Attorney Gascón’s efforts to reform the dysfunctional and inequitable criminal justice system have been unpopular with rank-and-file law enforcement.

Governance and community leadership experience: District Attorney Gascón has served in this seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 53% of the vote. 

Prior to his election in Los Angeles, District Attorney Gascón served two terms as San Francisco DA, where he increased the prosecution of sexual assault cases, and created a new law-enforcement unit focused on addressing child abuse and sexual assault. He implemented practices and resources that centered on survivors, and has proposed policies that protect undocumented, LGBTQIA+, and student survivors while prioritizing cultural and linguistic competency. He is a staunch opponent of the death penalty, often citing its disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities, and has implemented reformist sentencing policies since his election as Los Angeles DA. District Attorney Gascón’s track record and position on law-enforcement accountability is rare, particularly for someone with a law enforcement background. During his term as San Francisco DA, Gascón prosecuted more than 30 police officers for criminal conduct. In 2019, while many police, law-enforcement officials, and prosecutors fought against its passage, he advocated for Assembly Bill 392, also known as the Stephon Clark Bill, which created a stricter standard for police use of force. He remains the only law-enforcement official in California to advocate for this legislation and his willingness to pursue police brutality cases has been a highlight of his prosecutorial leadership. 

Other background: District Attorney Gascón is from Cuba and immigrated to Los Angeles when he was 13. He has had a 40-year career in law enforcement, in which he started as a beat cop and rose through the ranks to serve as chief of police in San Francisco before pursuing elected office. 

The Race


Primary election: There are 12 candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including District Attorney George Gascón, John McKinney, Maria Ramirez, Jonathan Hatami, and Nathan Hochman. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5 unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: District Attorney Gascón’s campaign has raised $100,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: John McKinney
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: McKinney’s campaign has raised $165,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Maria Ramirez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ramirez’s campaign has raised $166,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Jonathan Hatami
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hatami’s campaign has raised $240,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate, police, and fossil fuel interests.

Opposing candidate: Nathan Hochman
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hochman’s campaign has raised $645,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.

The District


County: Los Angeles County is California's most populous county. Los Angeles County has a population of 9.7 million and a demographic breakdown of 49% Latino, 16% Asian, 9% Black.

Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s District Attorney oversees an office of nearly 1,000 deputy district attorneys, and the prosecution of criminal offenses across the county and unincorporated areas. It is the largest local district attorney office in the nation.

The Position


Each of the 58 counties in California elects a district Attorney to manage prosecution of criminal offenses related to the violation of state and county law. The district attorney has investigative authority, manages the apprehension of individuals identified through the investigative process, and holds charging and prosecutorial power. The work of the district attorney includes Municipal and Superior court operations, and serving as a legal liaison to the grand jury. The county Board of Supervisors provides financial oversight to the district attorney’s office, but holds no operational power over their work. District attorneys are elected to four-year terms in office. 

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Los Angeles County, Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #39

George Turner Jr. photo

George Turner Jr.

Website

Elect George Turner Jr. to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress. 



George Turner Jr.’s track record and legal background demonstrate that he will use his judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Turner has the endorsement of some local groups, including LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148 and Culver City Democratic Club. He has also received endorsements from some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and LA Superior Court Judge Holly Hancock. Turner is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party. 

Electoral history: Turner has not run for public office before.

Top issues: According to campaign materials, Turner is running for election to bring a democratized approach to the bench. He is interested in fairness, rehabilitation, and repairing a system that often does not support the rights and dignity of all. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Turner has been a public defender in Los Angeles County for over 15 years, including working with defendants in juvenile and criminal trials. He has a strong interest in providing legal representation to vulnerable and marginalized communities, and currently works in a unit focused on individuals experiencing homelessness. Turner’s legal approach centers the equitable protection of human rights, especially for individuals who have been disadvantaged by broken social systems. 

Other background: Turner is a lifelong resident of Inglewood.

 

The Race


Primary election: There are four candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including George Turner Jr., Ronda Dixon, Jacob Lee, and Steve Napolitano. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.

 

The District


County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county. 

 

The Position


Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.

California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts. 


 

Elect George Turner Jr. to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress. 



George Turner Jr.’s track record and legal background demonstrate that he will use his judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Turner has the endorsement of some local groups, including LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148 and Culver City Democratic Club. He has also received endorsements from some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and LA Superior Court Judge Holly Hancock. Turner is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party. 

Electoral history: Turner has not run for public office before.

Top issues: According to campaign materials, Turner is running for election to bring a democratized approach to the bench. He is interested in fairness, rehabilitation, and repairing a system that often does not support the rights and dignity of all. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Turner has been a public defender in Los Angeles County for over 15 years, including working with defendants in juvenile and criminal trials. He has a strong interest in providing legal representation to vulnerable and marginalized communities, and currently works in a unit focused on individuals experiencing homelessness. Turner’s legal approach centers the equitable protection of human rights, especially for individuals who have been disadvantaged by broken social systems. 

Other background: Turner is a lifelong resident of Inglewood.

 

The Race


Primary election: There are four candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including George Turner Jr., Ronda Dixon, Jacob Lee, and Steve Napolitano. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.

 

The District


County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county. 

 

The Position


Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.

California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts. 


 

Los Angeles County, Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #48

Ericka Wiley photo

Ericka Wiley

Website Endorsements

Elect Ericka Wiley for Superior Court to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress. 



Ericka Wiley’s track record and legal background demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Wiley has the endorsement of some local groups, including SEIU Local 721, LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148, The National Women’s Political Caucus, and LA County Federation of Labor. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including nine current judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court, LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, and LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. Wiley is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party. 

Electoral history: Wiley has not run for public office before.

Top issues: According to campaign materials, Wiley is running for election to bring fairness, patience, integrity, compassion, and a community approach to the bench. She will work to promote just sentencing, criminal justice reform, and breaking the cycle of recidivism through her judicial work.

Governance and community leadership experience: Wiley has been a public defender in Los Angeles County for over 20 years, which she does to bring advocacy and a restorative approach to the individuals she works with. With a strong understanding of the dysfunctions within the criminal justice system, she has worked to create resources and pathways to recovery for her clients. Wiley has worked within her community to educate young people about the legal system and the rights they hold as citizens, and has been a supervising and training attorney for new lawyers joining the Los Angeles County legal community. 

Other background: Wiley is from Los Angeles, and returned to the city after attending college in Nashville and completing her law degree at the University of Cincinnati. 

 

The Race


Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Ericka Wiley, Malik Burroughs, and Renee Rose. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.

 

The District


County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county. 

 

The Position


Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.

California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts. 


 

Elect Ericka Wiley for Superior Court to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress. 



Ericka Wiley’s track record and legal background demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Wiley has the endorsement of some local groups, including SEIU Local 721, LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148, The National Women’s Political Caucus, and LA County Federation of Labor. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including nine current judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court, LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, and LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. Wiley is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party. 

Electoral history: Wiley has not run for public office before.

Top issues: According to campaign materials, Wiley is running for election to bring fairness, patience, integrity, compassion, and a community approach to the bench. She will work to promote just sentencing, criminal justice reform, and breaking the cycle of recidivism through her judicial work.

Governance and community leadership experience: Wiley has been a public defender in Los Angeles County for over 20 years, which she does to bring advocacy and a restorative approach to the individuals she works with. With a strong understanding of the dysfunctions within the criminal justice system, she has worked to create resources and pathways to recovery for her clients. Wiley has worked within her community to educate young people about the legal system and the rights they hold as citizens, and has been a supervising and training attorney for new lawyers joining the Los Angeles County legal community. 

Other background: Wiley is from Los Angeles, and returned to the city after attending college in Nashville and completing her law degree at the University of Cincinnati. 

 

The Race


Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Ericka Wiley, Malik Burroughs, and Renee Rose. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.

 

The District


County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county. 

 

The Position


Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.

California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts. 


 

Los Angeles County, Judge of the Superior Court, Seat #97

La Shae Henderson photo

La Shae Henderson

Website

Elect La Shae Henderson to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress. 



La Shae Henderson’s track record and legal background demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Henderson has the endorsement of some local groups, including LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148 and Culver City Democratic Club. She has also received endorsements from some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and LA Superior Court Judge Holly Hancock. Henderson is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party. 

Electoral history: Henderson has not run for public office before.

Top issues: According to campaign materials, Henderson is running for election to bring impartiality, fairness, equity, and accountability to the bench. She is committed to rendering verdicts based on the facts presented in the courtroom, and taking an unbiased approach to each case. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Henderson was a public defender in Los Angeles County for 18 years, and now works in private practice. During her time as a public defender, she worked on cases in the civil contempt and racial justice unit, family law, and juvenile justice division. She is bilingual, and served as a training attorney for fellow lawyers interested in more legal strategies for working inside of the Racial Justice Act. She is experienced in case review and legal analysis, and is dedicated to ensuring that her analysis of the case before her is never predetermined or rooted in bias. Henderson has also long been involved in her community, including as a youth pastor at a local church, and as a professor at her alma mater, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.

Other background: Henderson has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years. 

 

The Race


Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including La Shae Henderson, Sam Abourched, and Sharon Ransom. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.

 

The District


County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county. 

 

The Position


Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.

California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts. 


 

Elect La Shae Henderson to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress. 



La Shae Henderson’s track record and legal background demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Henderson has the endorsement of some local groups, including LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148 and Culver City Democratic Club. She has also received endorsements from some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and LA Superior Court Judge Holly Hancock. Henderson is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party. 

Electoral history: Henderson has not run for public office before.

Top issues: According to campaign materials, Henderson is running for election to bring impartiality, fairness, equity, and accountability to the bench. She is committed to rendering verdicts based on the facts presented in the courtroom, and taking an unbiased approach to each case. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Henderson was a public defender in Los Angeles County for 18 years, and now works in private practice. During her time as a public defender, she worked on cases in the civil contempt and racial justice unit, family law, and juvenile justice division. She is bilingual, and served as a training attorney for fellow lawyers interested in more legal strategies for working inside of the Racial Justice Act. She is experienced in case review and legal analysis, and is dedicated to ensuring that her analysis of the case before her is never predetermined or rooted in bias. Henderson has also long been involved in her community, including as a youth pastor at a local church, and as a professor at her alma mater, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.

Other background: Henderson has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years. 

 

The Race


Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including La Shae Henderson, Sam Abourched, and Sharon Ransom. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.

 

The District


County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county. 

 

The Position


Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.

California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts. 


 

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.