Skip to main content

City of Hesperia

Not in City of Hesperia? Find your state's guide.

RETURN YOUR BALLOT BY TUESDAY, MARCH 5

Welcome to the Progressive Voters Guide! The Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. Please share this guide with your friends and family!

Have questions about voting in San Bernardino County? Find out how to vote in San Bernardino County.

Federal

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.


 

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.

23rd Congressional District

Elect Derek Marshall to Congress to put CD-23 on the right track for progress.



Derek Marshall’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-23 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Marshall has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Stonewall Democrats, and the National Education Association. 

Electoral history: Marshall has run for office previously, and lost his race for this congressional seat against the Republican incumbent by 22 points.

Top issues: Climate justice, universal health care, labor, and LGBTQIA+ protections.

Governance and community leadership experience: Marshall is a political organizer who is motivated by having witnessed extreme inequality while working in a mutual-aid organization with his family when he was growing up. After studying politics and international relations, Marshall moved to Europe to help found a global research initiative that worked with the UN to hold states accountable for their health and human rights commitments. After returning to California, Marshall helped establish Ground Game LA, an organization that works on housing justice. He also partnered with local community groups to organize arts and culture events to raise money for LGBTQIA+ issues. 

Other background: Derek Marshall was raised in a small town. Prior to running for this office, Marshall pursued electoral organizing, working on local Democratic campaigns as well as staffing Sanders’s 2020 presidential campaign in Nevada, helping to deliver the senator’s largest victory in the primary. 

The Race


Primary election: There are 4 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Derek Marshall (D), incumbent Jay Obernolte (R), Matthew Favro (D), and Miguel Arceo (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Derek Marshall’s campaign has raised $191,935 and is not funded by corporations, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or the police.

Opposing candidate: Republican Jay Obernolte
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Obernolte’s campaign has raised $527,576 and is funded by the police and the real estate industry. He is also funded by corporations, and has accepted nearly $25,000 from the pharmaceutical industry and $15,000 from weapons manufacturers. He has accepted nearly $40,000 from the fossil fuel industry.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 23rd Congressional District includes parts of Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties.

Voter registration: 34% Democrat, 36% Republican, and 20% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.

District demographics: 33% Latino, 4% Asian, and 9% Black. 

Recent election results: CD-23 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 10 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 21 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 Derek Marshall to Congress to put CD-23 on the right track for progress.



Derek Marshall’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-23 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Marshall has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, Stonewall Democrats, and the National Education Association. 

Electoral history: Marshall has run for office previously, and lost his race for this congressional seat against the Republican incumbent by 22 points.

Top issues: Climate justice, universal health care, labor, and LGBTQIA+ protections.

Governance and community leadership experience: Marshall is a political organizer who is motivated by having witnessed extreme inequality while working in a mutual-aid organization with his family when he was growing up. After studying politics and international relations, Marshall moved to Europe to help found a global research initiative that worked with the UN to hold states accountable for their health and human rights commitments. After returning to California, Marshall helped establish Ground Game LA, an organization that works on housing justice. He also partnered with local community groups to organize arts and culture events to raise money for LGBTQIA+ issues. 

Other background: Derek Marshall was raised in a small town. Prior to running for this office, Marshall pursued electoral organizing, working on local Democratic campaigns as well as staffing Sanders’s 2020 presidential campaign in Nevada, helping to deliver the senator’s largest victory in the primary. 

The Race


Primary election: There are 4 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Derek Marshall (D), incumbent Jay Obernolte (R), Matthew Favro (D), and Miguel Arceo (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Derek Marshall’s campaign has raised $191,935 and is not funded by corporations, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or the police.

Opposing candidate: Republican Jay Obernolte
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Obernolte’s campaign has raised $527,576 and is funded by the police and the real estate industry. He is also funded by corporations, and has accepted nearly $25,000 from the pharmaceutical industry and $15,000 from weapons manufacturers. He has accepted nearly $40,000 from the fossil fuel industry.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 23rd Congressional District includes parts of Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties.

Voter registration: 34% Democrat, 36% Republican, and 20% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.

District demographics: 33% Latino, 4% Asian, and 9% Black. 

Recent election results: CD-23 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 10 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 21 points.

The Position


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

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


State Assembly

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

State Assembly, 34th District

Elect Ricardo Ortega for State Assembly to put AD-34 on the right track for progress. 



Ricardo Ortega’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-34 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Ortega has the endorsement of some groups, including California Latino Legislative Caucus, Equality California, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. He has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Assm. Luz Rivas, Assembly Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon, and State Sen. María Elena Durazo.

Electoral history: Ortega has not run for office before.

Top issues: Sustainable economic growth, public safety, infrastructure investments, health-care access and facilities, and improving the child welfare system.

Governance and community leadership experience: Ortega is a youth advocate, which he does to support the ongoing improvement and equity of the systems supporting underserved young people and their communities. In roles with Children’s Institute, California Youth Connection, and Children’s Law Center of California, Ortega has supported social-emotional development, crisis intervention, family communication, and client documentation. He has also served in a variety of public roles, including as a Los Angeles County Youth Commissioner, a member of the state’s Mental Health Board for Transitional Age Youth, and a member of the Huntington Park Civil Service Commission. Ortega experienced homelessness in his youth, and has been a committed advocate for legislation and policies that ease foster youth placements and other public support for this vulnerable population. 

Other background: Ortega is from Los Angeles County.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary: Ricardo Ortega (D) and incumbent Assm. Tom Lackey (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ortega’s campaign has raised $23,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Assm. Tom Lackey
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Assm. Lackey’s campaign has raised $131,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, and real estate interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 34th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Kern Counties.

Voter registration: 32% Democrat, 39% Republican, and 20% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.

District demographics: 28% Latino, 4% Asian, and 9% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-34 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 56 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 26 points.

The Position


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

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


Elect Ricardo Ortega for State Assembly to put AD-34 on the right track for progress. 



Ricardo Ortega’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of AD-34 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Ortega has the endorsement of some groups, including California Latino Legislative Caucus, Equality California, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. He has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Assm. Luz Rivas, Assembly Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon, and State Sen. María Elena Durazo.

Electoral history: Ortega has not run for office before.

Top issues: Sustainable economic growth, public safety, infrastructure investments, health-care access and facilities, and improving the child welfare system.

Governance and community leadership experience: Ortega is a youth advocate, which he does to support the ongoing improvement and equity of the systems supporting underserved young people and their communities. In roles with Children’s Institute, California Youth Connection, and Children’s Law Center of California, Ortega has supported social-emotional development, crisis intervention, family communication, and client documentation. He has also served in a variety of public roles, including as a Los Angeles County Youth Commissioner, a member of the state’s Mental Health Board for Transitional Age Youth, and a member of the Huntington Park Civil Service Commission. Ortega experienced homelessness in his youth, and has been a committed advocate for legislation and policies that ease foster youth placements and other public support for this vulnerable population. 

Other background: Ortega is from Los Angeles County.

The Race


Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary: Ricardo Ortega (D) and incumbent Assm. Tom Lackey (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Ortega’s campaign has raised $23,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Assm. Tom Lackey
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Assm. Lackey’s campaign has raised $131,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, and real estate interests.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 34th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Kern Counties.

Voter registration: 32% Democrat, 39% Republican, and 20% No Party Preference. Republicans typically hold this district.

District demographics: 28% Latino, 4% Asian, and 9% Black. 

Recent election results: AD-34 voted for Donald Trump for president in 2020 by 56 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 26 points.

The Position


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

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


State Assembly, 39th District

Re-elect Assemblymember Juan Carrillo to keep AD-39 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Juan Carrillo’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-39. While he has maintained concerning ties to problematic police organizations and has not supported some significant progressive legislation that has 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. Carrillo has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, AFSCME California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West. He has also received problematic donations from a variety of organizations, including California Real Estate PAC, Edison International, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and Amazon.com Services.

Top issues: Pandemic recovery, worker equity, homelessness and housing, clean energy and pollution protections, wildlife and water conservation, early childhood education, and transportation.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Carrillo’s priorities for AD-39 have included 16 bills about clean energy and pollution, housing policy, wildlife conservation, and health care. Of these, five have been successfully chaptered into law, three have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to create more efficiency in broadband permitting and installation, establish a system for the preapproval of accessory dwelling unit plans, and build data, modeling, and analytic tools to support sustainable transportation initiatives in the state. He scores a CS of 73 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Carrillo has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Carrillo failed to cast a vote on several critical pieces of legislation, including bills to set a $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers, increase grant-fund reporting requirements for charter schools, and create protections from retaliation for workers who report labor violations or unequal pay. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Carrillo currently sits on nine committees, including Education, Military and Veterans Affairs, and Transportation. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Local Government, and as chair of the Select Committee on Mobility in the Golden State. Assm. Carrillo 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. Carrillo has served in this assembly seat since 2022, when he was elected with over 57% of the vote. 

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Carrillo served as a member of the Palmdale City Council and the Palmdale School District Board of Trustees. As a community leader, he was a strong supporter of efforts to create greater local equity in education, housing, and health care. As part of his policy work, he supported the establishment of a plan for $5,000 of local rental assistance. Before entering public service, he spent 10 years as a city planner in Palmdale.

Other background: Assm. Carrillo is from Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. He attended an ESL program when he was 15, after his immigration to the United States.

The Race


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

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Carrillo’s campaign has raised $430,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Paul Marsh
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Marsh’s campaign has raised $[NUMBER] and is funded by [PLEDGES].

The District


Counties in district: California’s 39th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.

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

District demographics: 50% Latino, 4% Asian, and 17% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-39 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 25 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 10 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 Juan Carrillo to keep AD-39 on the right track for progress. 



Assm. Juan Carrillo’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-39. While he has maintained concerning ties to problematic police organizations and has not supported some significant progressive legislation that has 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. Carrillo has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, AFSCME California, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West. He has also received problematic donations from a variety of organizations, including California Real Estate PAC, Edison International, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and Amazon.com Services.

Top issues: Pandemic recovery, worker equity, homelessness and housing, clean energy and pollution protections, wildlife and water conservation, early childhood education, and transportation.

Priority bills: This year, Assm. Carrillo’s priorities for AD-39 have included 16 bills about clean energy and pollution, housing policy, wildlife conservation, and health care. Of these, five have been successfully chaptered into law, three have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to create more efficiency in broadband permitting and installation, establish a system for the preapproval of accessory dwelling unit plans, and build data, modeling, and analytic tools to support sustainable transportation initiatives in the state. He scores a CS of 73 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Carrillo has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Carrillo failed to cast a vote on several critical pieces of legislation, including bills to set a $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers, increase grant-fund reporting requirements for charter schools, and create protections from retaliation for workers who report labor violations or unequal pay. 

Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Carrillo currently sits on nine committees, including Education, Military and Veterans Affairs, and Transportation. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Local Government, and as chair of the Select Committee on Mobility in the Golden State. Assm. Carrillo 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. Carrillo has served in this assembly seat since 2022, when he was elected with over 57% of the vote. 

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Carrillo served as a member of the Palmdale City Council and the Palmdale School District Board of Trustees. As a community leader, he was a strong supporter of efforts to create greater local equity in education, housing, and health care. As part of his policy work, he supported the establishment of a plan for $5,000 of local rental assistance. Before entering public service, he spent 10 years as a city planner in Palmdale.

Other background: Assm. Carrillo is from Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. He attended an ESL program when he was 15, after his immigration to the United States.

The Race


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

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Carrillo’s campaign has raised $430,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Republican Paul Marsh
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Marsh’s campaign has raised $[NUMBER] and is funded by [PLEDGES].

The District


Counties in district: California’s 39th Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.

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

District demographics: 50% Latino, 4% Asian, and 17% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Latino seats in the California Assembly delegation.

Recent election results: AD-39 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 25 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 10 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, 41st District

Based on our analysis, two 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.



Progressive endorsements: Dr. Phlunté Riddle has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including SEIU California, Planned Parenthood, National Women’s Political Caucus California, and California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including Treasurer Fiona Ma, and outgoing AD-41 Assm. Chris Holden. She has also received endorsements from problematic stakeholders, including AFSCME Deputy Probation Officers Union. 

Jed Leano has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing LA, Housing Action Coalition, Reproductive Freedom for All California (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice California), and YIMBY Action. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including State Sen. Scott Wiener, Assm. Alex Lee, and Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan. He has received endorsements from problematic stakeholders, including Claremont Police Officers Association.

Key initiatives: Dr. Riddle is a longtime public servant, which she does to provide representative leadership and create resources for marginalized communities. For 30 years, she served as an officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and community liaison with the Pasadena Police Department. In many of her ranks, she was the first African American woman in the department, and experienced systemic discrimination in several of her roles. She is a longtime supporter of reducing recidivism and creating pathways to success for justice involved individuals. As the Board of Juvenile Hearings Commissioner she created pipelines between the justice system and education, mental health treatment, job training, and workforce-development programs. As district director for outgoing Assm. Chris Holden, she supported college and career pathway programs, public transit expansion, and clean energy initiatives. Dr. Riddle is also an organizational consultant, and an adjunct professor of criminal justice. 

Notably, Dr. Riddle was briefly named in a wrongful death lawsuit by the family of an unarmed Black man, Kendrec McDade, who was killed by police in 2012. While Riddle was not present on the night of the shooting, she served as the police spokesperson for the case, and the family felt that she was slow to correct the record on inaccurate reports that McDade was armed or had committed a crime on the night of his death.

Leano has been an outspoken advocate of improved housing policy as a member of the Claremont City Council. He has been proactive in securing significant funding to create a housing navigator program, provide transitional housing options, increase the shelter bed availability, supply motel vouchers to families, and create intervention programs to help individuals and families avoid experiencing homelessness. Leano has also worked to establish a low-income affordable housing development, and the Psychiatric Assessment Care Team to provide wraparound social service support for local residents. He serves as a representative of the city council on the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Homelessness Committee, and as chair of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust Board. A small-business owner, he has also provided leadership on economic relief and revitalization throughout the pandemic years. 

In addition to his work on the city council, Leano is an immigration attorney and has had his own practice in Pasadena for 15 years. The son of Filipino immigrants, he works to help immigrant families legally navigate threats of deportation, and pursue refugee status and naturalization in the United States. In 2009, he helped found the Neighborhood Immigration Clinic to provide pro bono services, and later served a two-year term as board chair. Apart from his law practice, he has been very involved in his local community, serving on the Tournament of Roses post-parade committee, as vice chair of the Community and Human Services Commission, and as founding chair of Housing Claremont. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Dr. Riddle ran for the SD-25 seat in 2016, but failed to advance to the general election after receiving only 7% of the vote.  

Leano was elected to the Claremont City Council in 2018 with over 21% of the vote. He was re-elected to the 4th district seat in 2022 after earning over 57% of the vote. He has served a term as mayor during his time on the council.

Other background: Dr. Riddle is from Altadena and has lived in Pasadena for over 30 years. She holds a doctoral degree in psychology and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico. 

Leano is from Anaheim and is a longtime resident of the San Gabriel Valley. He is the son of Filipino immigrants and a first-generation American. 

The Race


Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Dr. Phlunté Riddle (D), Jed Leano (D), John Harabedian (D), and Michelle Del Rosario Martinez (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Dr. Riddle’s campaign has raised $341,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Leano’s campaign has raised $176,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Harabedian’s campaign has raised $69,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 41st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.

Voter registration: 45% Democrat, 28% Republican, and 20% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 26% Latino, 13% Asian, and 8% Black.

Recent election results: AD-41 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 25 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 17 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.


Based on our analysis, two 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.



Progressive endorsements: Dr. Phlunté Riddle has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including SEIU California, Planned Parenthood, National Women’s Political Caucus California, and California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including Treasurer Fiona Ma, and outgoing AD-41 Assm. Chris Holden. She has also received endorsements from problematic stakeholders, including AFSCME Deputy Probation Officers Union. 

Jed Leano has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing LA, Housing Action Coalition, Reproductive Freedom for All California (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice California), and YIMBY Action. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including State Sen. Scott Wiener, Assm. Alex Lee, and Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan. He has received endorsements from problematic stakeholders, including Claremont Police Officers Association.

Key initiatives: Dr. Riddle is a longtime public servant, which she does to provide representative leadership and create resources for marginalized communities. For 30 years, she served as an officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and community liaison with the Pasadena Police Department. In many of her ranks, she was the first African American woman in the department, and experienced systemic discrimination in several of her roles. She is a longtime supporter of reducing recidivism and creating pathways to success for justice involved individuals. As the Board of Juvenile Hearings Commissioner she created pipelines between the justice system and education, mental health treatment, job training, and workforce-development programs. As district director for outgoing Assm. Chris Holden, she supported college and career pathway programs, public transit expansion, and clean energy initiatives. Dr. Riddle is also an organizational consultant, and an adjunct professor of criminal justice. 

Notably, Dr. Riddle was briefly named in a wrongful death lawsuit by the family of an unarmed Black man, Kendrec McDade, who was killed by police in 2012. While Riddle was not present on the night of the shooting, she served as the police spokesperson for the case, and the family felt that she was slow to correct the record on inaccurate reports that McDade was armed or had committed a crime on the night of his death.

Leano has been an outspoken advocate of improved housing policy as a member of the Claremont City Council. He has been proactive in securing significant funding to create a housing navigator program, provide transitional housing options, increase the shelter bed availability, supply motel vouchers to families, and create intervention programs to help individuals and families avoid experiencing homelessness. Leano has also worked to establish a low-income affordable housing development, and the Psychiatric Assessment Care Team to provide wraparound social service support for local residents. He serves as a representative of the city council on the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Homelessness Committee, and as chair of the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust Board. A small-business owner, he has also provided leadership on economic relief and revitalization throughout the pandemic years. 

In addition to his work on the city council, Leano is an immigration attorney and has had his own practice in Pasadena for 15 years. The son of Filipino immigrants, he works to help immigrant families legally navigate threats of deportation, and pursue refugee status and naturalization in the United States. In 2009, he helped found the Neighborhood Immigration Clinic to provide pro bono services, and later served a two-year term as board chair. Apart from his law practice, he has been very involved in his local community, serving on the Tournament of Roses post-parade committee, as vice chair of the Community and Human Services Commission, and as founding chair of Housing Claremont. 

Governance and community leadership experience: Dr. Riddle ran for the SD-25 seat in 2016, but failed to advance to the general election after receiving only 7% of the vote.  

Leano was elected to the Claremont City Council in 2018 with over 21% of the vote. He was re-elected to the 4th district seat in 2022 after earning over 57% of the vote. He has served a term as mayor during his time on the council.

Other background: Dr. Riddle is from Altadena and has lived in Pasadena for over 30 years. She holds a doctoral degree in psychology and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico. 

Leano is from Anaheim and is a longtime resident of the San Gabriel Valley. He is the son of Filipino immigrants and a first-generation American. 

The Race


Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Dr. Phlunté Riddle (D), Jed Leano (D), John Harabedian (D), and Michelle Del Rosario Martinez (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Dr. Riddle’s campaign has raised $341,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Leano’s campaign has raised $176,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by real estate, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Harabedian’s campaign has raised $69,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 41st Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.

Voter registration: 45% Democrat, 28% Republican, and 20% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.

District demographics: 26% Latino, 13% Asian, and 8% Black.

Recent election results: AD-41 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 25 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 17 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 Senator, 23rd District

Elect Kipp Mueller for State Senate to put SD-23 on the right track for progress. 



Kipp Mueller’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-23 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Mueller has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Inland Empire United, Safer CA, and Abundant Housing LA, as well as labor unions like LA County Federation of Labor, California Faculty Association, United Healthcare Workers West, and SEIU. He has also been endorsed by elected officials like Attorney General Rob Bonta, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, State Controller Malia Cohen, Assm. Eloise Gomez Reyes, Assm. Buffy Wicks, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

Electoral history: Mueller has run for office previously, and lost a close 2020 race for state Senate against the Republican incumbent by 2 points.

Top issues: Economic growth, education, health care, ending homelessness, climate change, and green energy.

Governance and community leadership experience: Kipp Mueller is a labor and immigration attorney, which he does because of his commitment to putting real people over corporations. Mueller has successfully represented union workers who have experienced fatal work accidents, and worked as a pro bono asylum attorney at an ICE detention center in Adelanto. Following law school, he served in the Consumer Protections branch of the Obama’s administration’s Department of Justice. He now sits on the Access to Justice committee for the LA County Bar Association.

Other background: Mueller is from Sacramento. He earned his BA from UC Berkeley, and his law degree from Columbia University.

The Race


Primary election: There are 5 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Kipp Mueller (D), Suzette Valladares (R), and James “DJ” Hamburger (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Mueller’s campaign has raised $469,020 and is not funded by corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or the police.

Opposing candidate: Republicans Suzette Valladares and DJ Hamburger
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Valladares’ campaign has raised $415,355 and is funded by corporate PACs and the fossil fuel industry. She has also accepted more than $30,000 from both the real estate industry and the police. Hamburger has raised $54,094, although he has loaned $50,000 of his own dollars to his campaign.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 23rd State Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.

Voter registration: 41% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. This district is typically competitive.

District demographics: 38% Latino, 6% Asian, and 11% Black. 

Recent election results: SD-23 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 8 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 7 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.


Elect Kipp Mueller for State Senate to put SD-23 on the right track for progress. 



Kipp Mueller’s policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-23 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Mueller has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Inland Empire United, Safer CA, and Abundant Housing LA, as well as labor unions like LA County Federation of Labor, California Faculty Association, United Healthcare Workers West, and SEIU. He has also been endorsed by elected officials like Attorney General Rob Bonta, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, State Controller Malia Cohen, Assm. Eloise Gomez Reyes, Assm. Buffy Wicks, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

Electoral history: Mueller has run for office previously, and lost a close 2020 race for state Senate against the Republican incumbent by 2 points.

Top issues: Economic growth, education, health care, ending homelessness, climate change, and green energy.

Governance and community leadership experience: Kipp Mueller is a labor and immigration attorney, which he does because of his commitment to putting real people over corporations. Mueller has successfully represented union workers who have experienced fatal work accidents, and worked as a pro bono asylum attorney at an ICE detention center in Adelanto. Following law school, he served in the Consumer Protections branch of the Obama’s administration’s Department of Justice. He now sits on the Access to Justice committee for the LA County Bar Association.

Other background: Mueller is from Sacramento. He earned his BA from UC Berkeley, and his law degree from Columbia University.

The Race


Primary election: There are 5 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Kipp Mueller (D), Suzette Valladares (R), and James “DJ” Hamburger (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.

Candidate fundraising and pledges: Mueller’s campaign has raised $469,020 and is not funded by corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, or the police.

Opposing candidate: Republicans Suzette Valladares and DJ Hamburger
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Valladares’ campaign has raised $415,355 and is funded by corporate PACs and the fossil fuel industry. She has also accepted more than $30,000 from both the real estate industry and the police. Hamburger has raised $54,094, although he has loaned $50,000 of his own dollars to his campaign.

The District


Counties in district: California’s 23rd State Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.

Voter registration: 41% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. This district is typically competitive.

District demographics: 38% Latino, 6% Asian, and 11% Black. 

Recent election results: SD-23 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 8 points and Brian Dahle for governor in 2022 by 7 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.


San Bernardino County, District 3

Depending on where you live, you may have the below county-districted races on your ballot.

Elect Chris Carrillo for Supervisor to put San Bernardino County on the right track for progress. 



Chris Carrillo’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of San Bernardino County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Carrillo has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including IE United, Sierra Club, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several local firefighter unions. He has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Assm. James Ramos, and San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran.

Electoral history: Carrillo has held public office previously, and was appointed to the East Valley Water District in 2014. He won election to the seat in 2015, and was reelected in 2020 with 29% of the vote.

Top issues: Public safety and disaster preparedness, homelessness and affordable housing development, government transparency, land use and rural policy, and a balanced county budget.

Governance and community leadership experience: Carrillo is an employment attorney in private practice, which he does to provide service and strategic guidance to members of his community. He has successfully tried cases related to wrongful termination in public employment, discrimination against individuals with disabilities, and small-business law. In addition to his law career, Carrillo has held several public positions, including as a field representative for former Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and as a deputy chief of staff to former San Bernardino County Sup. James Ramos, who now serves in the State Assembly. As a member of the East Valley Water Board, he has advocated for water independence and improved water infrastructure in the Inland Empire.

Other background: Carrillo is from Redlands. 

The Race


Primary election: There are four candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Chris Carrillo, incumbent Sup. Dawn Rowe, Graham Smith, and Robert Block. 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: Carrillo’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the county as of January 2024.

Opposing candidate: Sup. Dawn Rowe
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Sup. Rowe’s campaign has raised $325,000 as of January 2024, and is funded by real estate, fossil fuel, and police interests. She has also received donations from the San Bernardino County Republican Party. 

Opposing candidate: Graham Smith
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Smith’s campaign has raised $46,000 as of January 2024, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Robert Block
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Block’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the county as of January 2024.

The District


County: San Bernardino County is California's 5th most populous county. District 3 includes Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, Big Bear City, Lake Arrowhead, Yucaipa, Redlands, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, Highland, San Bernardino, Barstow, Harvard, Minneola, Needles, Calzona, and Vidal Junction. 

Governance structure: San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 2.1 million people and manages an estimated budget of $9.4 billion annually. According to the County Charter, San Bernardino County is governed by the five-member Board of Supervisors and the chief executive officer, who acts as their agent.

The Position


Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person Board of Supervisors. A Board of Supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total. 


Elect Chris Carrillo for Supervisor to put San Bernardino County on the right track for progress. 



Chris Carrillo’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of San Bernardino County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.

Progressive endorsements: Carrillo has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including IE United, Sierra Club, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several local firefighter unions. He has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Assm. James Ramos, and San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran.

Electoral history: Carrillo has held public office previously, and was appointed to the East Valley Water District in 2014. He won election to the seat in 2015, and was reelected in 2020 with 29% of the vote.

Top issues: Public safety and disaster preparedness, homelessness and affordable housing development, government transparency, land use and rural policy, and a balanced county budget.

Governance and community leadership experience: Carrillo is an employment attorney in private practice, which he does to provide service and strategic guidance to members of his community. He has successfully tried cases related to wrongful termination in public employment, discrimination against individuals with disabilities, and small-business law. In addition to his law career, Carrillo has held several public positions, including as a field representative for former Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and as a deputy chief of staff to former San Bernardino County Sup. James Ramos, who now serves in the State Assembly. As a member of the East Valley Water Board, he has advocated for water independence and improved water infrastructure in the Inland Empire.

Other background: Carrillo is from Redlands. 

The Race


Primary election: There are four candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Chris Carrillo, incumbent Sup. Dawn Rowe, Graham Smith, and Robert Block. 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: Carrillo’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the county as of January 2024.

Opposing candidate: Sup. Dawn Rowe
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Sup. Rowe’s campaign has raised $325,000 as of January 2024, and is funded by real estate, fossil fuel, and police interests. She has also received donations from the San Bernardino County Republican Party. 

Opposing candidate: Graham Smith
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Smith’s campaign has raised $46,000 as of January 2024, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.

Opposing candidate: Robert Block
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Block’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the county as of January 2024.

The District


County: San Bernardino County is California's 5th most populous county. District 3 includes Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, Big Bear City, Lake Arrowhead, Yucaipa, Redlands, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, Highland, San Bernardino, Barstow, Harvard, Minneola, Needles, Calzona, and Vidal Junction. 

Governance structure: San Bernardino County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 2.1 million people and manages an estimated budget of $9.4 billion annually. According to the County Charter, San Bernardino County is governed by the five-member Board of Supervisors and the chief executive officer, who acts as their agent.

The Position


Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person Board of Supervisors. A Board of Supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically ‎limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total. 


Statewide Ballot Measures

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.