42nd Assembly District
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Voting has changed in Los Angeles County this year. The Voter’s Choice Act was enacted in the county to make voting more convenient. Changes include an expanded period of in-person early voting, every registered voter in the county will receive a vote-by-mail ballot, and every registered voter in the county is able to vote in-person at any Vote Center in their county. Also, in-person voters in Los Angeles County will have the opportunity to use the new Ballot Marking Device, a touchscreen with audio features, to mark their ballots. Have questions about the changes to voting in Los Angeles County? Find out how to vote in Los Angeles County.
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.
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.
City District Races
Depending on where you live, you may have the below city district races on your ballot.
City of Los Angeles, District 4
Courage California endorses Councilmember Nithya Raman for re-election to keep Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Councilmember Nithya Raman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 4 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Councilmember Raman has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, California Working Families Party, Abundant Housing LA, ACCE Action, and Fund Her. She has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA Supervisor Hilda Solis, LA Supervisor Holly Mitchell, LA City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.
Top issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, mental health support, renters’ rights, environmental protections and pollution reduction, cycling infrastructure, government transparency, reproductive justice, and parks improvement.
Key initiatives: Councilmember Raman has successfully supported emergency financial resources, the carbon-free standard for new construction, an expansion of bike lane infrastructure, the establishment of Los Angeles as an abortion care safe haven, new investments in Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Zoo, and the expansion of tenants’ rights, including eviction protections and relocation assistance. A dedicated advocate of housing reform, Councilmember Raman has increased the shelter capacity in her district, opened a hotel shelter in the community, secured an Encampment Resolution Grant from Gov. Newsom to move people indoors, expanded mental health and substance abuse support, and collaborated with Mayor Bass to support unhoused constituents. After her election in 2020, District 4 underwent the most significant change of any council seat, with Councilmember Raman receiving a 40% shift in her constituency after redistricting, a Council-led process that was the subject of much controversy. In response, she has introduced a ballot measure to allow voters to establish a fully independent redistricting commission. She has been a proactive, consistent, and progressive advocate for her constituents.
Governance and community leadership experience: Councilmember Raman has served in this seat since 2020, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote over the incumbent. Her victory constituted the most votes—over 70,000—that any council candidate has received in the city’s history.
Prior to her election to the City Council, Councilmember Raman was an urban planner and spent time working in India on initiatives to improve access to water, shelter, and economic mobility. After moving to Los Angeles, she co-founded SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a local neighborhood-based organization formed in response to the city’s inaction on homelessness. She also served as co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness Committee for several years. Raman recently served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, the women’s rights movement furthering equity and safety for women in the entertainment industry. Raman’s relationships in entertainment are strong, and her campaign has partnered with artists and performers to further its organizing efforts.
Other background: Councilmember Raman was born in India and raised in Massachusetts after her family immigrated to the United States. She is a graduate of Harvard and MIT.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Councilmember Nithya Raman, Levon Baronian, and Ethan Weaver. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Raman’s campaign has raised $260,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Ethan Weaver
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Weaver’s campaign has raised $141,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 4 includes the communities of The Hills, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Reseda, Van Nuys, Studio City, Cahuenga Pass, Los Feliz, and portions of Los Angeles.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Courage California endorses Councilmember Nithya Raman for re-election to keep Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Councilmember Nithya Raman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 4 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Councilmember Raman has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, California Working Families Party, Abundant Housing LA, ACCE Action, and Fund Her. She has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA Supervisor Hilda Solis, LA Supervisor Holly Mitchell, LA City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.
Top issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, mental health support, renters’ rights, environmental protections and pollution reduction, cycling infrastructure, government transparency, reproductive justice, and parks improvement.
Key initiatives: Councilmember Raman has successfully supported emergency financial resources, the carbon-free standard for new construction, an expansion of bike lane infrastructure, the establishment of Los Angeles as an abortion care safe haven, new investments in Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Zoo, and the expansion of tenants’ rights, including eviction protections and relocation assistance. A dedicated advocate of housing reform, Councilmember Raman has increased the shelter capacity in her district, opened a hotel shelter in the community, secured an Encampment Resolution Grant from Gov. Newsom to move people indoors, expanded mental health and substance abuse support, and collaborated with Mayor Bass to support unhoused constituents. After her election in 2020, District 4 underwent the most significant change of any council seat, with Councilmember Raman receiving a 40% shift in her constituency after redistricting, a Council-led process that was the subject of much controversy. In response, she has introduced a ballot measure to allow voters to establish a fully independent redistricting commission. She has been a proactive, consistent, and progressive advocate for her constituents.
Governance and community leadership experience: Councilmember Raman has served in this seat since 2020, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote over the incumbent. Her victory constituted the most votes—over 70,000—that any council candidate has received in the city’s history.
Prior to her election to the City Council, Councilmember Raman was an urban planner and spent time working in India on initiatives to improve access to water, shelter, and economic mobility. After moving to Los Angeles, she co-founded SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a local neighborhood-based organization formed in response to the city’s inaction on homelessness. She also served as co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness Committee for several years. Raman recently served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, the women’s rights movement furthering equity and safety for women in the entertainment industry. Raman’s relationships in entertainment are strong, and her campaign has partnered with artists and performers to further its organizing efforts.
Other background: Councilmember Raman was born in India and raised in Massachusetts after her family immigrated to the United States. She is a graduate of Harvard and MIT.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Councilmember Nithya Raman, Levon Baronian, and Ethan Weaver. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Raman’s campaign has raised $260,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Ethan Weaver
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Weaver’s campaign has raised $141,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 4 includes the communities of The Hills, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Reseda, Van Nuys, Studio City, Cahuenga Pass, Los Feliz, and portions of Los Angeles.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Endorsed By: Courage California
Courage California endorses Councilmember Nithya Raman for re-election to keep Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Councilmember Nithya Raman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of City Council District 4 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Councilmember Raman has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, California Working Families Party, Abundant Housing LA, ACCE Action, and Fund Her. She has also received the endorsement of many local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, LA Supervisor Hilda Solis, LA Supervisor Holly Mitchell, LA City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.
Top issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, mental health support, renters’ rights, environmental protections and pollution reduction, cycling infrastructure, government transparency, reproductive justice, and parks improvement.
Key initiatives: Councilmember Raman has successfully supported emergency financial resources, the carbon-free standard for new construction, an expansion of bike lane infrastructure, the establishment of Los Angeles as an abortion care safe haven, new investments in Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Zoo, and the expansion of tenants’ rights, including eviction protections and relocation assistance. A dedicated advocate of housing reform, Councilmember Raman has increased the shelter capacity in her district, opened a hotel shelter in the community, secured an Encampment Resolution Grant from Gov. Newsom to move people indoors, expanded mental health and substance abuse support, and collaborated with Mayor Bass to support unhoused constituents. After her election in 2020, District 4 underwent the most significant change of any council seat, with Councilmember Raman receiving a 40% shift in her constituency after redistricting, a Council-led process that was the subject of much controversy. In response, she has introduced a ballot measure to allow voters to establish a fully independent redistricting commission. She has been a proactive, consistent, and progressive advocate for her constituents.
Governance and community leadership experience: Councilmember Raman has served in this seat since 2020, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote over the incumbent. Her victory constituted the most votes—over 70,000—that any council candidate has received in the city’s history.
Prior to her election to the City Council, Councilmember Raman was an urban planner and spent time working in India on initiatives to improve access to water, shelter, and economic mobility. After moving to Los Angeles, she co-founded SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a local neighborhood-based organization formed in response to the city’s inaction on homelessness. She also served as co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness Committee for several years. Raman recently served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, the women’s rights movement furthering equity and safety for women in the entertainment industry. Raman’s relationships in entertainment are strong, and her campaign has partnered with artists and performers to further its organizing efforts.
Other background: Councilmember Raman was born in India and raised in Massachusetts after her family immigrated to the United States. She is a graduate of Harvard and MIT.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Councilmember Nithya Raman, Levon Baronian, and Ethan Weaver. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Raman’s campaign has raised $260,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Ethan Weaver
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Weaver’s campaign has raised $141,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 4 includes the communities of The Hills, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Reseda, Van Nuys, Studio City, Cahuenga Pass, Los Feliz, and portions of Los Angeles.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Endorsed By: Courage California
City of Los Angeles, District 10
Elect Eddie Anderson or Reggie Jones-Sawyer to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Progressive endorsements: Eddie Anderson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, and Run for Something.
Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several other labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Adam Schiff, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, and Assm. Eloise Gómez Reyes.
Key initiatives: Anderson is an ordained minister and an activist, which he does to bring leadership to issues of equity, dignity, and social justice that are impacting his community. He currently serves as senior pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation, and as the South LA Regional Community Organizer for LA Voice, a multifaith community organization working in Los Angeles County.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 this year have included 29 bills about criminal justice reform, drug law, homelessness, and firearm safety. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. During his time in the Assembly, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce recidivism, eliminate cash bail, and raise the minimum age requirement for becoming a police officer. He is a co-founder of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.
Governance and community leadership experience: Anderson has not run for public office previously.
Anderson has been a longtime advocate of statewide reform to housing and mental health-care services, and has been a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He was a commissioner for the recent Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, a board member of ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County, and has also served on LA County’s Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won an uncontested reelection with 100% of the vote.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.
Other background: Anderson is from Atlanta. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: This seat was vacated by former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in October 2021 after he was charged with bribery and fraud. After his conviction in March 2023, the seat was temporarily filled with the appointment of Councilmember Heather Hutt. This election will determine the next elected leader of the district. There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Eddie Anderson, Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt, Grace Yoo, and Aura Vasquez. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $51,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $179,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Councilmember Heather Hutt
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Hutt’s campaign has raised $174,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Grace Yoo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yoo’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Aura Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vasquez’s campaign has raised $90,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 10 includes the communities of Mid-City, Angelus Vista, Wilshire Vista, Jefferson Park, Cienega, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Reynier Village, Koreatown, and Little Bangladesh.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Elect Eddie Anderson or Reggie Jones-Sawyer to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Progressive endorsements: Eddie Anderson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, and Run for Something.
Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several other labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Adam Schiff, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, and Assm. Eloise Gómez Reyes.
Key initiatives: Anderson is an ordained minister and an activist, which he does to bring leadership to issues of equity, dignity, and social justice that are impacting his community. He currently serves as senior pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation, and as the South LA Regional Community Organizer for LA Voice, a multifaith community organization working in Los Angeles County.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 this year have included 29 bills about criminal justice reform, drug law, homelessness, and firearm safety. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. During his time in the Assembly, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce recidivism, eliminate cash bail, and raise the minimum age requirement for becoming a police officer. He is a co-founder of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.
Governance and community leadership experience: Anderson has not run for public office previously.
Anderson has been a longtime advocate of statewide reform to housing and mental health-care services, and has been a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He was a commissioner for the recent Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, a board member of ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County, and has also served on LA County’s Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won an uncontested reelection with 100% of the vote.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.
Other background: Anderson is from Atlanta. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: This seat was vacated by former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in October 2021 after he was charged with bribery and fraud. After his conviction in March 2023, the seat was temporarily filled with the appointment of Councilmember Heather Hutt. This election will determine the next elected leader of the district. There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Eddie Anderson, Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt, Grace Yoo, and Aura Vasquez. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $51,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $179,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Councilmember Heather Hutt
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Hutt’s campaign has raised $174,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Grace Yoo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yoo’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Aura Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vasquez’s campaign has raised $90,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 10 includes the communities of Mid-City, Angelus Vista, Wilshire Vista, Jefferson Park, Cienega, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Reynier Village, Koreatown, and Little Bangladesh.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Elect Eddie Anderson or Reggie Jones-Sawyer to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Progressive endorsements: Eddie Anderson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, and Run for Something.
Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several other labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Adam Schiff, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, and Assm. Eloise Gómez Reyes.
Key initiatives: Anderson is an ordained minister and an activist, which he does to bring leadership to issues of equity, dignity, and social justice that are impacting his community. He currently serves as senior pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation, and as the South LA Regional Community Organizer for LA Voice, a multifaith community organization working in Los Angeles County.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 this year have included 29 bills about criminal justice reform, drug law, homelessness, and firearm safety. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. During his time in the Assembly, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce recidivism, eliminate cash bail, and raise the minimum age requirement for becoming a police officer. He is a co-founder of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.
Governance and community leadership experience: Anderson has not run for public office previously.
Anderson has been a longtime advocate of statewide reform to housing and mental health-care services, and has been a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He was a commissioner for the recent Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, a board member of ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County, and has also served on LA County’s Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won an uncontested reelection with 100% of the vote.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.
Other background: Anderson is from Atlanta. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: This seat was vacated by former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in October 2021 after he was charged with bribery and fraud. After his conviction in March 2023, the seat was temporarily filled with the appointment of Councilmember Heather Hutt. This election will determine the next elected leader of the district. There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Eddie Anderson, Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt, Grace Yoo, and Aura Vasquez. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $51,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $179,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Councilmember Heather Hutt
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Hutt’s campaign has raised $174,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Grace Yoo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yoo’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Aura Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vasquez’s campaign has raised $90,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 10 includes the communities of Mid-City, Angelus Vista, Wilshire Vista, Jefferson Park, Cienega, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Reynier Village, Koreatown, and Little Bangladesh.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Elect Eddie Anderson or Reggie Jones-Sawyer to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Progressive endorsements: Eddie Anderson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, and Run for Something.
Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several other labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Adam Schiff, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, and Assm. Eloise Gómez Reyes.
Key initiatives: Anderson is an ordained minister and an activist, which he does to bring leadership to issues of equity, dignity, and social justice that are impacting his community. He currently serves as senior pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation, and as the South LA Regional Community Organizer for LA Voice, a multifaith community organization working in Los Angeles County.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 this year have included 29 bills about criminal justice reform, drug law, homelessness, and firearm safety. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. During his time in the Assembly, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce recidivism, eliminate cash bail, and raise the minimum age requirement for becoming a police officer. He is a co-founder of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.
Governance and community leadership experience: Anderson has not run for public office previously.
Anderson has been a longtime advocate of statewide reform to housing and mental health-care services, and has been a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He was a commissioner for the recent Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, a board member of ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County, and has also served on LA County’s Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won an uncontested reelection with 100% of the vote.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.
Other background: Anderson is from Atlanta. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: This seat was vacated by former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in October 2021 after he was charged with bribery and fraud. After his conviction in March 2023, the seat was temporarily filled with the appointment of Councilmember Heather Hutt. This election will determine the next elected leader of the district. There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Eddie Anderson, Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt, Grace Yoo, and Aura Vasquez. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $51,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $179,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Councilmember Heather Hutt
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Hutt’s campaign has raised $174,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Grace Yoo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yoo’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Aura Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vasquez’s campaign has raised $90,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 10 includes the communities of Mid-City, Angelus Vista, Wilshire Vista, Jefferson Park, Cienega, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Reynier Village, Koreatown, and Little Bangladesh.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Elect Eddie Anderson or Reggie Jones-Sawyer to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Progressive endorsements: Eddie Anderson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, and Run for Something.
Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several other labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Adam Schiff, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, and Assm. Eloise Gómez Reyes.
Key initiatives: Anderson is an ordained minister and an activist, which he does to bring leadership to issues of equity, dignity, and social justice that are impacting his community. He currently serves as senior pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation, and as the South LA Regional Community Organizer for LA Voice, a multifaith community organization working in Los Angeles County.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 this year have included 29 bills about criminal justice reform, drug law, homelessness, and firearm safety. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. During his time in the Assembly, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce recidivism, eliminate cash bail, and raise the minimum age requirement for becoming a police officer. He is a co-founder of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.
Governance and community leadership experience: Anderson has not run for public office previously.
Anderson has been a longtime advocate of statewide reform to housing and mental health-care services, and has been a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He was a commissioner for the recent Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, a board member of ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County, and has also served on LA County’s Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won an uncontested reelection with 100% of the vote.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.
Other background: Anderson is from Atlanta. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: This seat was vacated by former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in October 2021 after he was charged with bribery and fraud. After his conviction in March 2023, the seat was temporarily filled with the appointment of Councilmember Heather Hutt. This election will determine the next elected leader of the district. There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Eddie Anderson, Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt, Grace Yoo, and Aura Vasquez. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $51,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $179,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Councilmember Heather Hutt
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Hutt’s campaign has raised $174,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Grace Yoo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yoo’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Aura Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vasquez’s campaign has raised $90,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 10 includes the communities of Mid-City, Angelus Vista, Wilshire Vista, Jefferson Park, Cienega, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Reynier Village, Koreatown, and Little Bangladesh.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Elect Eddie Anderson or Reggie Jones-Sawyer to put Los Angeles on the right track for progress.
Progressive endorsements: Eddie Anderson has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA Voice Action, and Run for Something.
Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Abundant Housing Los Angeles, California Legislative Progressive Caucus, National Union of Healthcare Workers, and several other labor groups. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Rep. Adam Schiff, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, and Assm. Eloise Gómez Reyes.
Key initiatives: Anderson is an ordained minister and an activist, which he does to bring leadership to issues of equity, dignity, and social justice that are impacting his community. He currently serves as senior pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation, and as the South LA Regional Community Organizer for LA Voice, a multifaith community organization working in Los Angeles County.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s priorities for AD-57 this year have included 29 bills about criminal justice reform, drug law, homelessness, and firearm safety. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, one has been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. During his time in the Assembly, he has sponsored and passed legislation to reduce recidivism, eliminate cash bail, and raise the minimum age requirement for becoming a police officer. He is a co-founder of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus, and scores a CS of 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.
Governance and community leadership experience: Anderson has not run for public office previously.
Anderson has been a longtime advocate of statewide reform to housing and mental health-care services, and has been a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He was a commissioner for the recent Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, a board member of ARDI Advisory Body of Los Angeles County, and has also served on LA County’s Black People Experiencing Homelessness Committee.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer has served in the Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 52% of the vote. In 2022, he won an uncontested reelection with 100% of the vote.
Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assm. Jones-Sawyer was assistant deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Assm. Jones-Sawyer has been a longtime supporter of assisting the reentry into society of people who were formerly convicted of crimes.
Other background: Anderson is from Atlanta. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.
Assm. Jones-Sawyer is from Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: This seat was vacated by former Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in October 2021 after he was charged with bribery and fraud. After his conviction in March 2023, the seat was temporarily filled with the appointment of Councilmember Heather Hutt. This election will determine the next elected leader of the district. There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Eddie Anderson, Assm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt, Grace Yoo, and Aura Vasquez. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Anderson’s campaign has raised $51,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Jones-Sawyer’s campaign has raised $179,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Councilmember Heather Hutt
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Councilmember Hutt’s campaign has raised $174,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Grace Yoo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Yoo’s campaign has raised $186,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Aura Vasquez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Vasquez’s campaign has raised $90,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, real estate, or corporate PAC interests.
The District
City: Los Angeles is Los Angeles County’s most populous city. Los Angeles City Council District 10 includes the communities of Mid-City, Angelus Vista, Wilshire Vista, Jefferson Park, Cienega, Baldwin Hills, Baldwin Village, Reynier Village, Koreatown, and Little Bangladesh.
Governance structure: Los Angeles City Council oversees the needs of 3.8 million people and manages an estimated operating budget of $13 billion annually. Los Angeles is managed by a mayor-council-structured government.
The Position
Incorporated cities in California are generally governed by a five-person city council, although Los Angeles maintains a 15 district city council and a mayoral seat. A city council is responsible for establishing policy, passing local laws (called ordinances), voting on budget appropriations, and developing an overall vision for the city. City councilmembers in Los Angeles are limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Glendale Unified School District
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below school races on your ballot.
Elect Telly Tse to put Glendale Unified School District on the right track for progress.
Telly Tse’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive champion for the Glendale Unified School District community and will work effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Tse has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Glendale Teachers Association, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Our Schools USA, Equality California, and East Area Progressive Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Assm. Laura Friedman, Glendale Mayor Dan Brotman, and four current members of the Glendale Unified School District Board.
Electoral history: Tse has not run for public office before.
Top issues: Racial and social justice inclusion, smaller class sizes, restorative discipline practices, investment in educators and district staff, and improved community communication.
Governance and community leadership experience: Tse is a special education teacher, youth sports coach, and education advocate, which he does to bring leadership and community values to the local education system. Through several leadership roles, including terms as president of the Beverly Hills Education Association, board member for the California Teachers Association, board member for the National Education Association, and board member for the local AYSO, Tse has advocated for higher wages, improved benefits, greater support for student diversity, curriculum adjustments, and fair labor practices. He is a longtime supporter of initiatives designed to improve student learning through social equity and inclusive curriculum.
Other background: Tse is from Los Angeles. He is the son of immigrants from Hong Kong.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Telly Tse, Shant Kevorkian, and Jordan Henry. 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: Tse’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Neither of the challengers in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
The District
School system: Glendale Unified School District is located in Los Angeles County, which is California’s most populous county. Glendale Unified School District includes 7 high schools, 20 middle schools, 22 elementary schools serving a population of roughly 24,000 California students.
Governance structure: Glendale Unified School District has a five-person board that provides administrative oversight and manages a budget of $335 million annually.
The Position
Members of the Glendale Unified School District are elected in a districted race where the top candidate goes on to serve. Terms last four years, and members are limited to serving three terms in this position.
Elect Telly Tse to put Glendale Unified School District on the right track for progress.
Telly Tse’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive champion for the Glendale Unified School District community and will work effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Tse has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Glendale Teachers Association, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Our Schools USA, Equality California, and East Area Progressive Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Assm. Laura Friedman, Glendale Mayor Dan Brotman, and four current members of the Glendale Unified School District Board.
Electoral history: Tse has not run for public office before.
Top issues: Racial and social justice inclusion, smaller class sizes, restorative discipline practices, investment in educators and district staff, and improved community communication.
Governance and community leadership experience: Tse is a special education teacher, youth sports coach, and education advocate, which he does to bring leadership and community values to the local education system. Through several leadership roles, including terms as president of the Beverly Hills Education Association, board member for the California Teachers Association, board member for the National Education Association, and board member for the local AYSO, Tse has advocated for higher wages, improved benefits, greater support for student diversity, curriculum adjustments, and fair labor practices. He is a longtime supporter of initiatives designed to improve student learning through social equity and inclusive curriculum.
Other background: Tse is from Los Angeles. He is the son of immigrants from Hong Kong.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Telly Tse, Shant Kevorkian, and Jordan Henry. 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: Tse’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Neither of the challengers in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
The District
School system: Glendale Unified School District is located in Los Angeles County, which is California’s most populous county. Glendale Unified School District includes 7 high schools, 20 middle schools, 22 elementary schools serving a population of roughly 24,000 California students.
Governance structure: Glendale Unified School District has a five-person board that provides administrative oversight and manages a budget of $335 million annually.
The Position
Members of the Glendale Unified School District are elected in a districted race where the top candidate goes on to serve. Terms last four years, and members are limited to serving three terms in this position.
Elect Telly Tse to put Glendale Unified School District on the right track for progress.
Telly Tse’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive champion for the Glendale Unified School District community and will work effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Tse has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Glendale Teachers Association, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Our Schools USA, Equality California, and East Area Progressive Democrats. He has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including Assm. Laura Friedman, Glendale Mayor Dan Brotman, and four current members of the Glendale Unified School District Board.
Electoral history: Tse has not run for public office before.
Top issues: Racial and social justice inclusion, smaller class sizes, restorative discipline practices, investment in educators and district staff, and improved community communication.
Governance and community leadership experience: Tse is a special education teacher, youth sports coach, and education advocate, which he does to bring leadership and community values to the local education system. Through several leadership roles, including terms as president of the Beverly Hills Education Association, board member for the California Teachers Association, board member for the National Education Association, and board member for the local AYSO, Tse has advocated for higher wages, improved benefits, greater support for student diversity, curriculum adjustments, and fair labor practices. He is a longtime supporter of initiatives designed to improve student learning through social equity and inclusive curriculum.
Other background: Tse is from Los Angeles. He is the son of immigrants from Hong Kong.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Telly Tse, Shant Kevorkian, and Jordan Henry. 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: Tse’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Neither of the challengers in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
The District
School system: Glendale Unified School District is located in Los Angeles County, which is California’s most populous county. Glendale Unified School District includes 7 high schools, 20 middle schools, 22 elementary schools serving a population of roughly 24,000 California students.
Governance structure: Glendale Unified School District has a five-person board that provides administrative oversight and manages a budget of $335 million annually.
The Position
Members of the Glendale Unified School District are elected in a districted race where the top candidate goes on to serve. Terms last four years, and members are limited to serving three terms in this position.
Elect Neda Farid to put Glendale Unified School District on the right track for progress.
Neda Farid’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive champion for the Glendale Unified School District community and will work effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Farid has the endorsement of many groups, including Glendale Teachers Association, Glendale College Guild, National Women’s Political Caucus, and Stonewall Democratic Club Los Angeles. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including Assm. Laura Friedman, Glendale Mayor Dan Brotman, and three current members of the Glendale Unified School District Board.
Electoral history: Farid ran for this office in 2020, but lost to the incumbent after earning 33% of the vote.
Top issues: Student mental health services, arts funding, access for diverse students, improved teacher retention, and engage families and community in district success.
Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Farid is a longtime education volunteer and advocate, which she does to address disparities of access and inclusivity in schools. After serving as a classroom volunteer, she joined the local PTA and eventually became President of the Glendale Council PTA, which governs all of the school-level PTA’s in the district. Farid has used her leadership position to gain a better understanding of the cultural landscape of individual schools, promote social equity and diversity within the district, and contribute to the Restorative Justice Task Force, Education Foundation Board, and Facilities Advisory Committee.
Other background: Farid has lived in Glendale for over 30 years.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Neda Farid, and Aneta Krpekyan. 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: Neda Farid’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The challenger in this race has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
The District
School system: Glendale Unified School District is located in Los Angeles County, which is California’s most populous county. Glendale Unified School District includes 7 high schools, 20 middle schools, and 22 elementary schools serving a population of roughly 24,000 California students.
Governance structure: Glendale Unified School District has a five-person board that provides administrative oversight and manages a budget of $335 million annually.
The Position
Members of the Glendale Unified School District are elected in a district race where the top candidate goes on to serve. Terms last four years, and members are limited to serving three terms in this position.
Elect Neda Farid to put Glendale Unified School District on the right track for progress.
Neda Farid’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive champion for the Glendale Unified School District community and will work effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Farid has the endorsement of many groups, including Glendale Teachers Association, Glendale College Guild, National Women’s Political Caucus, and Stonewall Democratic Club Los Angeles. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including Assm. Laura Friedman, Glendale Mayor Dan Brotman, and three current members of the Glendale Unified School District Board.
Electoral history: Farid ran for this office in 2020, but lost to the incumbent after earning 33% of the vote.
Top issues: Student mental health services, arts funding, access for diverse students, improved teacher retention, and engage families and community in district success.
Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Farid is a longtime education volunteer and advocate, which she does to address disparities of access and inclusivity in schools. After serving as a classroom volunteer, she joined the local PTA and eventually became President of the Glendale Council PTA, which governs all of the school-level PTA’s in the district. Farid has used her leadership position to gain a better understanding of the cultural landscape of individual schools, promote social equity and diversity within the district, and contribute to the Restorative Justice Task Force, Education Foundation Board, and Facilities Advisory Committee.
Other background: Farid has lived in Glendale for over 30 years.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Neda Farid, and Aneta Krpekyan. 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: Neda Farid’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The challenger in this race has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
The District
School system: Glendale Unified School District is located in Los Angeles County, which is California’s most populous county. Glendale Unified School District includes 7 high schools, 20 middle schools, and 22 elementary schools serving a population of roughly 24,000 California students.
Governance structure: Glendale Unified School District has a five-person board that provides administrative oversight and manages a budget of $335 million annually.
The Position
Members of the Glendale Unified School District are elected in a district race where the top candidate goes on to serve. Terms last four years, and members are limited to serving three terms in this position.
Elect Neda Farid to put Glendale Unified School District on the right track for progress.
Neda Farid’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive champion for the Glendale Unified School District community and will work effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Farid has the endorsement of many groups, including Glendale Teachers Association, Glendale College Guild, National Women’s Political Caucus, and Stonewall Democratic Club Los Angeles. She has also received the endorsement of some local leaders, including Assm. Laura Friedman, Glendale Mayor Dan Brotman, and three current members of the Glendale Unified School District Board.
Electoral history: Farid ran for this office in 2020, but lost to the incumbent after earning 33% of the vote.
Top issues: Student mental health services, arts funding, access for diverse students, improved teacher retention, and engage families and community in district success.
Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Farid is a longtime education volunteer and advocate, which she does to address disparities of access and inclusivity in schools. After serving as a classroom volunteer, she joined the local PTA and eventually became President of the Glendale Council PTA, which governs all of the school-level PTA’s in the district. Farid has used her leadership position to gain a better understanding of the cultural landscape of individual schools, promote social equity and diversity within the district, and contribute to the Restorative Justice Task Force, Education Foundation Board, and Facilities Advisory Committee.
Other background: Farid has lived in Glendale for over 30 years.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Neda Farid, and Aneta Krpekyan. 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: Neda Farid’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The challenger in this race has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the city as of December 2023.
The District
School system: Glendale Unified School District is located in Los Angeles County, which is California’s most populous county. Glendale Unified School District includes 7 high schools, 20 middle schools, and 22 elementary schools serving a population of roughly 24,000 California students.
Governance structure: Glendale Unified School District has a five-person board that provides administrative oversight and manages a budget of $335 million annually.
The Position
Members of the Glendale Unified School District are elected in a district race where the top candidate goes on to serve. Terms last four years, and members are limited to serving three terms in this position.
State Senator, 27th District
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.
Re-elect State Senator Henry Stern to keep SD-27 on the right track for progress.
Sen. Henry Stern’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-27 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Sen. Stern has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Equality California, as well as labor unions like United Farm Workers, AFSCME, United Healthcare Workers West, and SEIU.
Top issues: Green energy, climate resiliency, public utilities, health care.
Priority bills: This year, Sen. Stern’s priorities for SD-27 have included 17 bills about reducing emissions, strengthening incentives for green energy for individuals, increasing penalties for polluting corporations, making health care (including medical marijuana) easier to access, and climate research. All currently remain in committee. He earned the designation as an All-Star on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, for authoring and voting on key bills in 2023. Stern scores a Lifetime Score of 86 out of 100 on Courage Score for supporting the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Stern has not supported and abstained from several votes on criminal justice reform in previous years.
Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Stern currently sits on 3 committees, including Judiciary, Natural Resources and Water, and Energy, Utilities, and Communications. He also chairs the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies.
Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Stern has served in this state Senate seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 55% of the vote. In 2020, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 20 points.
Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Stern was an environmental lawyer and high school teacher. He served as an attorney on Capitol Hill before pursuing civil rights and environmental law back in California. He is a longtime supporter of environmental protections, and has received annual recognition from Sierra Club and California Environmental Justice Alliance for his work in the legislature, and has authored legislation providing incentives and requirements for clean energy. As a state Senator, he serves as the Senate’s Ex Oficio member to the California Air Resources Board.
Other background: Sen. Stern is from New York and was raised in California. He earned his BA from Harvard and his law degree from UC Berkeley.
The Race
Primary election: There are 3 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Sen. Henry Stern (D), Lucie Volotzky (R), and Susan Collins (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Stern’s campaign has raised $181,901. He has accepted donations from corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, and the police.
Opposing candidate: Republicans Lucie Volotzky and Susan Collins
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Collins’s campaign has raised $62,211 and is funded by the police. She has also loaned more than $35,000 to her own campaign. Volotzky’s campaign has raised $6,912, nearly half of which she has loaned from her own pocket.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 27th State Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 47% Democrat, 24% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 18% Latino, 11% Asian, and 5% Black.
Recent election results: SD-27 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 21 points.
The Position
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.
Re-elect State Senator Henry Stern to keep SD-27 on the right track for progress.
Sen. Henry Stern’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-27 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Sen. Stern has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Equality California, as well as labor unions like United Farm Workers, AFSCME, United Healthcare Workers West, and SEIU.
Top issues: Green energy, climate resiliency, public utilities, health care.
Priority bills: This year, Sen. Stern’s priorities for SD-27 have included 17 bills about reducing emissions, strengthening incentives for green energy for individuals, increasing penalties for polluting corporations, making health care (including medical marijuana) easier to access, and climate research. All currently remain in committee. He earned the designation as an All-Star on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, for authoring and voting on key bills in 2023. Stern scores a Lifetime Score of 86 out of 100 on Courage Score for supporting the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Stern has not supported and abstained from several votes on criminal justice reform in previous years.
Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Stern currently sits on 3 committees, including Judiciary, Natural Resources and Water, and Energy, Utilities, and Communications. He also chairs the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies.
Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Stern has served in this state Senate seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 55% of the vote. In 2020, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 20 points.
Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Stern was an environmental lawyer and high school teacher. He served as an attorney on Capitol Hill before pursuing civil rights and environmental law back in California. He is a longtime supporter of environmental protections, and has received annual recognition from Sierra Club and California Environmental Justice Alliance for his work in the legislature, and has authored legislation providing incentives and requirements for clean energy. As a state Senator, he serves as the Senate’s Ex Oficio member to the California Air Resources Board.
Other background: Sen. Stern is from New York and was raised in California. He earned his BA from Harvard and his law degree from UC Berkeley.
The Race
Primary election: There are 3 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Sen. Henry Stern (D), Lucie Volotzky (R), and Susan Collins (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Stern’s campaign has raised $181,901. He has accepted donations from corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, and the police.
Opposing candidate: Republicans Lucie Volotzky and Susan Collins
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Collins’s campaign has raised $62,211 and is funded by the police. She has also loaned more than $35,000 to her own campaign. Volotzky’s campaign has raised $6,912, nearly half of which she has loaned from her own pocket.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 27th State Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 47% Democrat, 24% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 18% Latino, 11% Asian, and 5% Black.
Recent election results: SD-27 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 21 points.
The Position
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.
Re-elect State Senator Henry Stern to keep SD-27 on the right track for progress.
Sen. Henry Stern’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-27 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Sen. Stern has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters, Stonewall Democratic Club, and Equality California, as well as labor unions like United Farm Workers, AFSCME, United Healthcare Workers West, and SEIU.
Top issues: Green energy, climate resiliency, public utilities, health care.
Priority bills: This year, Sen. Stern’s priorities for SD-27 have included 17 bills about reducing emissions, strengthening incentives for green energy for individuals, increasing penalties for polluting corporations, making health care (including medical marijuana) easier to access, and climate research. All currently remain in committee. He earned the designation as an All-Star on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, for authoring and voting on key bills in 2023. Stern scores a Lifetime Score of 86 out of 100 on Courage Score for supporting the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Stern has not supported and abstained from several votes on criminal justice reform in previous years.
Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Stern currently sits on 3 committees, including Judiciary, Natural Resources and Water, and Energy, Utilities, and Communications. He also chairs the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies.
Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Stern has served in this state Senate seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 55% of the vote. In 2020, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 20 points.
Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Stern was an environmental lawyer and high school teacher. He served as an attorney on Capitol Hill before pursuing civil rights and environmental law back in California. He is a longtime supporter of environmental protections, and has received annual recognition from Sierra Club and California Environmental Justice Alliance for his work in the legislature, and has authored legislation providing incentives and requirements for clean energy. As a state Senator, he serves as the Senate’s Ex Oficio member to the California Air Resources Board.
Other background: Sen. Stern is from New York and was raised in California. He earned his BA from Harvard and his law degree from UC Berkeley.
The Race
Primary election: There are 3 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Sen. Henry Stern (D), Lucie Volotzky (R), and Susan Collins (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Stern’s campaign has raised $181,901. He has accepted donations from corporate PACs, the fossil fuel industry, the real estate industry, and the police.
Opposing candidate: Republicans Lucie Volotzky and Susan Collins
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Collins’s campaign has raised $62,211 and is funded by the police. She has also loaned more than $35,000 to her own campaign. Volotzky’s campaign has raised $6,912, nearly half of which she has loaned from her own pocket.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 27th State Senate District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 47% Democrat, 24% Republican, and 22% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 18% Latino, 11% Asian, and 5% Black.
Recent election results: SD-27 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 29 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 21 points.
The Position
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.
State Assembly, 42nd District
Re-elect Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to keep AD-42 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Jacqui Irwin has been a frequent recipient of donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Sempra Energy, McDonald’s Corporation, California Real Estate PAC, and California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC. Given Assm. Irwin’s connection to these groups, it is important that voters continue to hold her accountable to ensure that her legislative efforts remain in the best interests of AD-42 constituents instead of wealthy special interests.
Endorsements: Assm. Jacqui Irwin has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and AFSCME California. However, she has been a frequent recipient of support from police and law enforcement organizations and leaders, including 2022 endorsements from Los Angeles Police Protective League, Simi Valley Police Officers Association, and California Correctional Peace Officers Association.
Key initiatives: This year, Assm. Irwin’s priorities for AD-42 have included 29 bills, including those to adjust property taxation for individuals impacted by the 2018 wildfires, retroactively expand the public employees eligible for worker’s compensation death benefits, and set new requirements for the online footprint of government agencies. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She scores a CS of 48 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Irwin has supported a few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This session, she failed to cast a vote on several critical pieces of legislation, including bills to close loopholes for no-fault just-cause evictions, protect workers against discrimination and retaliation from their employers, allow a judge to recall a sentence when laws or circumstances change, and cap the amount a landlord can request as a security deposit to a single month of rent. Assm. Irwin is a member of the California Legislative Latino Caucus and the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan and bicameral group that claims that their collaborative work allows them to take a more holistic approach to evaluating legislation. In reality, the Problem Solvers Caucus actively works with problematic industries against progressive policies.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Irwin has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 10 points.
Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assm. Irwin spent ten years on the Thousand Oaks City Council, including two terms as mayor. In this local role, she worked for increased public safety and the preservation of open lands. She started her career in engineering, and has championed Assembly bills centered on the expansion of STEM education centers and improved cybersecurity policies.
Other background: Assm. Irwin has lived in Thousand Oaks for 20 years.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Assm. Jacqui Irwin (D), and Ted Nordblum (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Irwin’s campaign has raised $337,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, and fossil fuel interests.
Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Nordblum’s campaign has raised $27,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 42nd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 42% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Republicans held this seat until redistricting. In 2022, Assm. Jacqui Irwin won and flipped it from red to blue.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 9% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: AD-42 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 19 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 8 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
Re-elect Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to keep AD-42 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Jacqui Irwin has been a frequent recipient of donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Sempra Energy, McDonald’s Corporation, California Real Estate PAC, and California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC. Given Assm. Irwin’s connection to these groups, it is important that voters continue to hold her accountable to ensure that her legislative efforts remain in the best interests of AD-42 constituents instead of wealthy special interests.
Endorsements: Assm. Jacqui Irwin has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and AFSCME California. However, she has been a frequent recipient of support from police and law enforcement organizations and leaders, including 2022 endorsements from Los Angeles Police Protective League, Simi Valley Police Officers Association, and California Correctional Peace Officers Association.
Key initiatives: This year, Assm. Irwin’s priorities for AD-42 have included 29 bills, including those to adjust property taxation for individuals impacted by the 2018 wildfires, retroactively expand the public employees eligible for worker’s compensation death benefits, and set new requirements for the online footprint of government agencies. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She scores a CS of 48 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Irwin has supported a few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This session, she failed to cast a vote on several critical pieces of legislation, including bills to close loopholes for no-fault just-cause evictions, protect workers against discrimination and retaliation from their employers, allow a judge to recall a sentence when laws or circumstances change, and cap the amount a landlord can request as a security deposit to a single month of rent. Assm. Irwin is a member of the California Legislative Latino Caucus and the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan and bicameral group that claims that their collaborative work allows them to take a more holistic approach to evaluating legislation. In reality, the Problem Solvers Caucus actively works with problematic industries against progressive policies.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Irwin has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 10 points.
Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assm. Irwin spent ten years on the Thousand Oaks City Council, including two terms as mayor. In this local role, she worked for increased public safety and the preservation of open lands. She started her career in engineering, and has championed Assembly bills centered on the expansion of STEM education centers and improved cybersecurity policies.
Other background: Assm. Irwin has lived in Thousand Oaks for 20 years.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Assm. Jacqui Irwin (D), and Ted Nordblum (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Irwin’s campaign has raised $337,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, and fossil fuel interests.
Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Nordblum’s campaign has raised $27,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 42nd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 42% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Republicans held this seat until redistricting. In 2022, Assm. Jacqui Irwin won and flipped it from red to blue.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 9% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: AD-42 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 19 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 8 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
Re-elect Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to keep AD-42 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Jacqui Irwin has been a frequent recipient of donations from a variety of problematic funders, including Sempra Energy, McDonald’s Corporation, California Real Estate PAC, and California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC. Given Assm. Irwin’s connection to these groups, it is important that voters continue to hold her accountable to ensure that her legislative efforts remain in the best interests of AD-42 constituents instead of wealthy special interests.
Endorsements: Assm. Jacqui Irwin has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and AFSCME California. However, she has been a frequent recipient of support from police and law enforcement organizations and leaders, including 2022 endorsements from Los Angeles Police Protective League, Simi Valley Police Officers Association, and California Correctional Peace Officers Association.
Key initiatives: This year, Assm. Irwin’s priorities for AD-42 have included 29 bills, including those to adjust property taxation for individuals impacted by the 2018 wildfires, retroactively expand the public employees eligible for worker’s compensation death benefits, and set new requirements for the online footprint of government agencies. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law, four have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She scores a CS of 48 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting record. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Irwin has supported a few progressive bills that made it to a vote. This session, she failed to cast a vote on several critical pieces of legislation, including bills to close loopholes for no-fault just-cause evictions, protect workers against discrimination and retaliation from their employers, allow a judge to recall a sentence when laws or circumstances change, and cap the amount a landlord can request as a security deposit to a single month of rent. Assm. Irwin is a member of the California Legislative Latino Caucus and the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan and bicameral group that claims that their collaborative work allows them to take a more holistic approach to evaluating legislation. In reality, the Problem Solvers Caucus actively works with problematic industries against progressive policies.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Irwin has served in this assembly seat since 2014, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her reelection against a Republican challenger by 10 points.
Prior to her election to the State Assembly, Assm. Irwin spent ten years on the Thousand Oaks City Council, including two terms as mayor. In this local role, she worked for increased public safety and the preservation of open lands. She started her career in engineering, and has championed Assembly bills centered on the expansion of STEM education centers and improved cybersecurity policies.
Other background: Assm. Irwin has lived in Thousand Oaks for 20 years.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Assm. Jacqui Irwin (D), and Ted Nordblum (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Irwin’s campaign has raised $337,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, corporate PAC, real estate, and fossil fuel interests.
Candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Nordblum’s campaign has raised $27,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 42nd Assembly District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 42% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Republicans held this seat until redistricting. In 2022, Assm. Jacqui Irwin won and flipped it from red to blue.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 9% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: AD-42 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 19 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 8 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
Congress
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below congressional districts on your ballot.
26th Congressional District
Re-elect Congressional Representative Julia Brownley to keep CD-26 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Julia Brownley’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she is a member of the centrist New Democrat coalition. Voters should continue to hold her accountable while in office to make sure she represents the people of the district.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Brownley has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and League of Conservation Voters, as well as labor unions like United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Veterans’ affairs, sustainability and environmental protections, taxation.
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Brownley’s priorities for CD-26 have included 40 bills about services for veterans, mortgage taxes, and increasing sustainability in matters like navy vessels, drilling, and jet fuel. All currently remain in committee.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No.
Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Brownley currently sits on 2 committees, including the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where she ranks 2nd.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Brownley has served in this congressional seat since 2012, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 10 points.
Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Brownley served three terms in the State Assembly, representing AD-41. She also served as a school board member for three terms, and used her role to advocate for quality educational opportunities for all students, including those with special needs. Rep. Brownley’s early career was spent working in business and marketing. She is a longtime supporter of education reform and veterans’ services, and has been recognized for her legislative efforts in each of these policy areas. However, Rep. Brownley has maintained a moderate voting record, and has failed to promote progressive legislation on issues of importance to her district. Although she often talks about lowering the cost of health care for middle-class families and veterans, she has not publicly supported Medicare for All and accepts significant donations from health industry PACs. Although her district has experienced the effects of California’s wildfire seasons, she has not publicly supported the Green New Deal.
Other background: Rep. Brownley lives in Westlake Village. Prior to entering public service, she worked in marketing and the private business sector.
The Race
Primary election: There are 4 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Julia Brownley (D), Michael Koslow (R), Bruce Boyer (R), and Chris Anstead (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Brownley’s campaign has raised $631,731 and is not funded by the police. She is funded by the fossil fuel industry and the real estate industry. She has also accepted donations from corporate PACs, including $40,000 from arms weapons manufacturers.
Opposing candidate: Republican Michael Koslow
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Koslow’s campaign has raised $11,650. He has not pledged to refuse donations from the police, the fossil fuel or real estate industry, or corporate PACs.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 26th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 43% Democrat, 28% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 32% Latino, 9% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: CD-26 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 20 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 7 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.
Re-elect Congressional Representative Julia Brownley to keep CD-26 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Julia Brownley’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she is a member of the centrist New Democrat coalition. Voters should continue to hold her accountable while in office to make sure she represents the people of the district.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Brownley has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and League of Conservation Voters, as well as labor unions like United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Veterans’ affairs, sustainability and environmental protections, taxation.
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Brownley’s priorities for CD-26 have included 40 bills about services for veterans, mortgage taxes, and increasing sustainability in matters like navy vessels, drilling, and jet fuel. All currently remain in committee.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No.
Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Brownley currently sits on 2 committees, including the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where she ranks 2nd.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Brownley has served in this congressional seat since 2012, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 10 points.
Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Brownley served three terms in the State Assembly, representing AD-41. She also served as a school board member for three terms, and used her role to advocate for quality educational opportunities for all students, including those with special needs. Rep. Brownley’s early career was spent working in business and marketing. She is a longtime supporter of education reform and veterans’ services, and has been recognized for her legislative efforts in each of these policy areas. However, Rep. Brownley has maintained a moderate voting record, and has failed to promote progressive legislation on issues of importance to her district. Although she often talks about lowering the cost of health care for middle-class families and veterans, she has not publicly supported Medicare for All and accepts significant donations from health industry PACs. Although her district has experienced the effects of California’s wildfire seasons, she has not publicly supported the Green New Deal.
Other background: Rep. Brownley lives in Westlake Village. Prior to entering public service, she worked in marketing and the private business sector.
The Race
Primary election: There are 4 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Julia Brownley (D), Michael Koslow (R), Bruce Boyer (R), and Chris Anstead (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Brownley’s campaign has raised $631,731 and is not funded by the police. She is funded by the fossil fuel industry and the real estate industry. She has also accepted donations from corporate PACs, including $40,000 from arms weapons manufacturers.
Opposing candidate: Republican Michael Koslow
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Koslow’s campaign has raised $11,650. He has not pledged to refuse donations from the police, the fossil fuel or real estate industry, or corporate PACs.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 26th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 43% Democrat, 28% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 32% Latino, 9% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: CD-26 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 20 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 7 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.
Re-elect Congressional Representative Julia Brownley to keep CD-26 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Julia Brownley’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she is a member of the centrist New Democrat coalition. Voters should continue to hold her accountable while in office to make sure she represents the people of the district.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Brownley has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood, Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and League of Conservation Voters, as well as labor unions like United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Veterans’ affairs, sustainability and environmental protections, taxation.
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Brownley’s priorities for CD-26 have included 40 bills about services for veterans, mortgage taxes, and increasing sustainability in matters like navy vessels, drilling, and jet fuel. All currently remain in committee.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No.
Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Brownley currently sits on 2 committees, including the Transportation and Infrastructure committee, and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where she ranks 2nd.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Brownley has served in this congressional seat since 2012, when she was elected with over 52% of the vote. In 2022, she won her re-election against a Republican challenger by 10 points.
Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Brownley served three terms in the State Assembly, representing AD-41. She also served as a school board member for three terms, and used her role to advocate for quality educational opportunities for all students, including those with special needs. Rep. Brownley’s early career was spent working in business and marketing. She is a longtime supporter of education reform and veterans’ services, and has been recognized for her legislative efforts in each of these policy areas. However, Rep. Brownley has maintained a moderate voting record, and has failed to promote progressive legislation on issues of importance to her district. Although she often talks about lowering the cost of health care for middle-class families and veterans, she has not publicly supported Medicare for All and accepts significant donations from health industry PACs. Although her district has experienced the effects of California’s wildfire seasons, she has not publicly supported the Green New Deal.
Other background: Rep. Brownley lives in Westlake Village. Prior to entering public service, she worked in marketing and the private business sector.
The Race
Primary election: There are 4 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Julia Brownley (D), Michael Koslow (R), Bruce Boyer (R), and Chris Anstead (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Brownley’s campaign has raised $631,731 and is not funded by the police. She is funded by the fossil fuel industry and the real estate industry. She has also accepted donations from corporate PACs, including $40,000 from arms weapons manufacturers.
Opposing candidate: Republican Michael Koslow
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Koslow’s campaign has raised $11,650. He has not pledged to refuse donations from the police, the fossil fuel or real estate industry, or corporate PACs.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 26th Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 43% Democrat, 28% Republican, and 21% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 32% Latino, 9% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: CD-26 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 20 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 7 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.
32nd Congressional District
Re-elect Congressional Representative Brad Sherman to keep CD-32 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Sherman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of CD-32 and will govern effectively for this diverse district if he is subjected to increased community accountability.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Sherman has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: International relations and diplomacy, loosening regulations for the financial services and real estate industries, gun reform, and increasing regulations on cryptocurrency
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Sherman’s priorities for CD-32 have included 8 bills about financially sanctioning Russia and Belarus, bank regulation, and unionization. All of these bills remain in committee. His sponsored legislation includes bills to provide a nationwide right to organized labor, and to increase banking regulations related to interest rate increases.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.
Committee Leadership/Membership: Rep. Sherman currently sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services. He is a ranking member on the Subcommittee on Capital Markets.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Sherman has served in Congress since 1996, when he was elected with 49% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 38 points.
Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Sherman was an accountant, a tax specialist, and an attorney before being elected to the California Board of Equalization. Rep. Sherman has been a longtime supporter of diplomatic relations and strong fiscal policy. He helped found the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and has been a strong supporter of cryptocurrency regulation. Rep. Sherman was one of the first members of Congress to call for impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, and introduced articles of impeachment in both 2017 and 2019. In 2018, Rep. Sherman’s office was accused of allowing a toxic culture to flourish. A longtime staff member in his office were accused of sexual harassment and resigned from his position, although Rep. Sherman himself was not personally accused of any abusive acts. In response, Rep. Sherman adjusted the office’s policy around sexual harassment in the workplace and instituted more active measures to check in with staff and encourage reporting.
Other background: Rep. Sherman, a former accountant and attorney, is from Los Angeles. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a law degree from Harvard.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Brad Sherman (D), Dave Abbitt (D), Christopher Ahuja (D), James Bartley Shuster (R), and Larry Thompson (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Brad Sherman’s campaign has raised $627,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican James Bartley Shuster
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Shuster’s campaign has raised $1,500 as of October 2023, and is funded by individual donors.
Opposing candidate: Republican Larry Thompson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Thompson’s campaign has raised $181,000 as of October 2023, and is funded primarily by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 32nd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 12% Asian, and 5% Black.
Recent election results: CD-32 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 32 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.
Re-elect Congressional Representative Brad Sherman to keep CD-32 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Sherman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of CD-32 and will govern effectively for this diverse district if he is subjected to increased community accountability.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Sherman has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: International relations and diplomacy, loosening regulations for the financial services and real estate industries, gun reform, and increasing regulations on cryptocurrency
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Sherman’s priorities for CD-32 have included 8 bills about financially sanctioning Russia and Belarus, bank regulation, and unionization. All of these bills remain in committee. His sponsored legislation includes bills to provide a nationwide right to organized labor, and to increase banking regulations related to interest rate increases.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.
Committee Leadership/Membership: Rep. Sherman currently sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services. He is a ranking member on the Subcommittee on Capital Markets.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Sherman has served in Congress since 1996, when he was elected with 49% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 38 points.
Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Sherman was an accountant, a tax specialist, and an attorney before being elected to the California Board of Equalization. Rep. Sherman has been a longtime supporter of diplomatic relations and strong fiscal policy. He helped found the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and has been a strong supporter of cryptocurrency regulation. Rep. Sherman was one of the first members of Congress to call for impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, and introduced articles of impeachment in both 2017 and 2019. In 2018, Rep. Sherman’s office was accused of allowing a toxic culture to flourish. A longtime staff member in his office were accused of sexual harassment and resigned from his position, although Rep. Sherman himself was not personally accused of any abusive acts. In response, Rep. Sherman adjusted the office’s policy around sexual harassment in the workplace and instituted more active measures to check in with staff and encourage reporting.
Other background: Rep. Sherman, a former accountant and attorney, is from Los Angeles. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a law degree from Harvard.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Brad Sherman (D), Dave Abbitt (D), Christopher Ahuja (D), James Bartley Shuster (R), and Larry Thompson (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Brad Sherman’s campaign has raised $627,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican James Bartley Shuster
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Shuster’s campaign has raised $1,500 as of October 2023, and is funded by individual donors.
Opposing candidate: Republican Larry Thompson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Thompson’s campaign has raised $181,000 as of October 2023, and is funded primarily by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 32nd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 12% Asian, and 5% Black.
Recent election results: CD-32 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 32 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.
Re-elect Congressional Representative Brad Sherman to keep CD-32 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Sherman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative leader for the constituents of CD-32 and will govern effectively for this diverse district if he is subjected to increased community accountability.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Sherman has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: International relations and diplomacy, loosening regulations for the financial services and real estate industries, gun reform, and increasing regulations on cryptocurrency
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Sherman’s priorities for CD-32 have included 8 bills about financially sanctioning Russia and Belarus, bank regulation, and unionization. All of these bills remain in committee. His sponsored legislation includes bills to provide a nationwide right to organized labor, and to increase banking regulations related to interest rate increases.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: Yes.
Committee Leadership/Membership: Rep. Sherman currently sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services. He is a ranking member on the Subcommittee on Capital Markets.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Sherman has served in Congress since 1996, when he was elected with 49% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 38 points.
Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Sherman was an accountant, a tax specialist, and an attorney before being elected to the California Board of Equalization. Rep. Sherman has been a longtime supporter of diplomatic relations and strong fiscal policy. He helped found the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and has been a strong supporter of cryptocurrency regulation. Rep. Sherman was one of the first members of Congress to call for impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, and introduced articles of impeachment in both 2017 and 2019. In 2018, Rep. Sherman’s office was accused of allowing a toxic culture to flourish. A longtime staff member in his office were accused of sexual harassment and resigned from his position, although Rep. Sherman himself was not personally accused of any abusive acts. In response, Rep. Sherman adjusted the office’s policy around sexual harassment in the workplace and instituted more active measures to check in with staff and encourage reporting.
Other background: Rep. Sherman, a former accountant and attorney, is from Los Angeles. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a law degree from Harvard.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Rep. Brad Sherman (D), Dave Abbitt (D), Christopher Ahuja (D), James Bartley Shuster (R), and Larry Thompson (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Brad Sherman’s campaign has raised $627,000 as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, or corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican James Bartley Shuster
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Shuster’s campaign has raised $1,500 as of October 2023, and is funded by individual donors.
Opposing candidate: Republican Larry Thompson
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Thompson’s campaign has raised $181,000 as of October 2023, and is funded primarily by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 32nd Congressional District includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Voter registration: 52% Democrat, 19% Republican, and 23% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 12% Asian, and 5% Black.
Recent election results: CD-32 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 41 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 32 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.
Los Angeles County
Voting has changed in Los Angeles County this year. The Voter’s Choice Act was enacted in the county to make voting more convenient. Changes include an expanded period of in-person early voting, every registered voter in the county will receive a vote-by-mail ballot, and every registered voter in the county is able to vote in-person at any Vote Center in their county. Also, in-person voters in Los Angeles County will have the opportunity to use the new Ballot Marking Device, a touchscreen with audio features, to mark their ballots. Have questions about the changes to voting in Los Angeles County? Find out how to vote in Los Angeles County.
Re-elect District Attorney George Gascón to keep Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
District Attorney George Gascón’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: District Attorney Gascón has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
Top issues: Public safety, police accountability, criminal justice reform, reducing violent crime, immigration, climate justice, and ending mass incarceration.
Key initiatives: District Attorney Gascón has successfully returned the DA’s office to its pre-pandemic felony case filing rate, eliminated the death penalty from sentencing, and stopped the scheduling of executions for individuals previously sentenced to death. He has also reduced the frequency of transferring minors to adult court, and has recalled cases in which minors were sentenced. District Attorney Gascón has also reduced the frequency of sentence enhancements, a policy that saves California taxpayers millions of dollars in prison costs. After a March 2021 State Supreme Court decision that eliminated cash bail in the state for individuals who can’t afford it, District Attorney Gascón’s office stopped seeking bail for misdemeanor and nonviolent felonies, which has increased the equity of the criminal justice system.
District Attorney Gascón faced two recall efforts in 2021 and 2022, although neither gathered enough valid petition signatures to qualify for the ballot. A recall was supported by controversial former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, and District Attorney Gascón’s efforts to reform the dysfunctional and inequitable criminal justice system have been unpopular with rank-and-file law enforcement.
Governance and community leadership experience: District Attorney Gascón has served in this seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 53% of the vote.
Prior to his election in Los Angeles, District Attorney Gascón served two terms as San Francisco DA, where he increased the prosecution of sexual assault cases, and created a new law-enforcement unit focused on addressing child abuse and sexual assault. He implemented practices and resources that centered on survivors, and has proposed policies that protect undocumented, LGBTQIA+, and student survivors while prioritizing cultural and linguistic competency. He is a staunch opponent of the death penalty, often citing its disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities, and has implemented reformist sentencing policies since his election as Los Angeles DA. District Attorney Gascón’s track record and position on law-enforcement accountability is rare, particularly for someone with a law enforcement background. During his term as San Francisco DA, Gascón prosecuted more than 30 police officers for criminal conduct. In 2019, while many police, law-enforcement officials, and prosecutors fought against its passage, he advocated for Assembly Bill 392, also known as the Stephon Clark Bill, which created a stricter standard for police use of force. He remains the only law-enforcement official in California to advocate for this legislation and his willingness to pursue police brutality cases has been a highlight of his prosecutorial leadership.
Other background: District Attorney Gascón is from Cuba and immigrated to Los Angeles when he was 13. He has had a 40-year career in law enforcement, in which he started as a beat cop and rose through the ranks to serve as chief of police in San Francisco before pursuing elected office.
The Race
Primary election: There are 12 candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including District Attorney George Gascón, John McKinney, Maria Ramirez, Jonathan Hatami, and Nathan Hochman. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5 unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: District Attorney Gascón’s campaign has raised $100,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: John McKinney
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: McKinney’s campaign has raised $165,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Maria Ramirez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ramirez’s campaign has raised $166,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Jonathan Hatami
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hatami’s campaign has raised $240,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate, police, and fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Nathan Hochman
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hochman’s campaign has raised $645,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
The District
County: Los Angeles County is California's most populous county. Los Angeles County has a population of 9.7 million and a demographic breakdown of 49% Latino, 16% Asian, 9% Black.
Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s District Attorney oversees an office of nearly 1,000 deputy district attorneys, and the prosecution of criminal offenses across the county and unincorporated areas. It is the largest local district attorney office in the nation.
The Position
Each of the 58 counties in California elects a district Attorney to manage prosecution of criminal offenses related to the violation of state and county law. The district attorney has investigative authority, manages the apprehension of individuals identified through the investigative process, and holds charging and prosecutorial power. The work of the district attorney includes Municipal and Superior court operations, and serving as a legal liaison to the grand jury. The county Board of Supervisors provides financial oversight to the district attorney’s office, but holds no operational power over their work. District attorneys are elected to four-year terms in office.
Re-elect District Attorney George Gascón to keep Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
District Attorney George Gascón’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: District Attorney Gascón has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
Top issues: Public safety, police accountability, criminal justice reform, reducing violent crime, immigration, climate justice, and ending mass incarceration.
Key initiatives: District Attorney Gascón has successfully returned the DA’s office to its pre-pandemic felony case filing rate, eliminated the death penalty from sentencing, and stopped the scheduling of executions for individuals previously sentenced to death. He has also reduced the frequency of transferring minors to adult court, and has recalled cases in which minors were sentenced. District Attorney Gascón has also reduced the frequency of sentence enhancements, a policy that saves California taxpayers millions of dollars in prison costs. After a March 2021 State Supreme Court decision that eliminated cash bail in the state for individuals who can’t afford it, District Attorney Gascón’s office stopped seeking bail for misdemeanor and nonviolent felonies, which has increased the equity of the criminal justice system.
District Attorney Gascón faced two recall efforts in 2021 and 2022, although neither gathered enough valid petition signatures to qualify for the ballot. A recall was supported by controversial former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, and District Attorney Gascón’s efforts to reform the dysfunctional and inequitable criminal justice system have been unpopular with rank-and-file law enforcement.
Governance and community leadership experience: District Attorney Gascón has served in this seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 53% of the vote.
Prior to his election in Los Angeles, District Attorney Gascón served two terms as San Francisco DA, where he increased the prosecution of sexual assault cases, and created a new law-enforcement unit focused on addressing child abuse and sexual assault. He implemented practices and resources that centered on survivors, and has proposed policies that protect undocumented, LGBTQIA+, and student survivors while prioritizing cultural and linguistic competency. He is a staunch opponent of the death penalty, often citing its disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities, and has implemented reformist sentencing policies since his election as Los Angeles DA. District Attorney Gascón’s track record and position on law-enforcement accountability is rare, particularly for someone with a law enforcement background. During his term as San Francisco DA, Gascón prosecuted more than 30 police officers for criminal conduct. In 2019, while many police, law-enforcement officials, and prosecutors fought against its passage, he advocated for Assembly Bill 392, also known as the Stephon Clark Bill, which created a stricter standard for police use of force. He remains the only law-enforcement official in California to advocate for this legislation and his willingness to pursue police brutality cases has been a highlight of his prosecutorial leadership.
Other background: District Attorney Gascón is from Cuba and immigrated to Los Angeles when he was 13. He has had a 40-year career in law enforcement, in which he started as a beat cop and rose through the ranks to serve as chief of police in San Francisco before pursuing elected office.
The Race
Primary election: There are 12 candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including District Attorney George Gascón, John McKinney, Maria Ramirez, Jonathan Hatami, and Nathan Hochman. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5 unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: District Attorney Gascón’s campaign has raised $100,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: John McKinney
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: McKinney’s campaign has raised $165,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Maria Ramirez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ramirez’s campaign has raised $166,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Jonathan Hatami
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hatami’s campaign has raised $240,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate, police, and fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Nathan Hochman
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hochman’s campaign has raised $645,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
The District
County: Los Angeles County is California's most populous county. Los Angeles County has a population of 9.7 million and a demographic breakdown of 49% Latino, 16% Asian, 9% Black.
Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s District Attorney oversees an office of nearly 1,000 deputy district attorneys, and the prosecution of criminal offenses across the county and unincorporated areas. It is the largest local district attorney office in the nation.
The Position
Each of the 58 counties in California elects a district Attorney to manage prosecution of criminal offenses related to the violation of state and county law. The district attorney has investigative authority, manages the apprehension of individuals identified through the investigative process, and holds charging and prosecutorial power. The work of the district attorney includes Municipal and Superior court operations, and serving as a legal liaison to the grand jury. The county Board of Supervisors provides financial oversight to the district attorney’s office, but holds no operational power over their work. District attorneys are elected to four-year terms in office.
Re-elect District Attorney George Gascón to keep Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
District Attorney George Gascón’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: District Attorney Gascón has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
Top issues: Public safety, police accountability, criminal justice reform, reducing violent crime, immigration, climate justice, and ending mass incarceration.
Key initiatives: District Attorney Gascón has successfully returned the DA’s office to its pre-pandemic felony case filing rate, eliminated the death penalty from sentencing, and stopped the scheduling of executions for individuals previously sentenced to death. He has also reduced the frequency of transferring minors to adult court, and has recalled cases in which minors were sentenced. District Attorney Gascón has also reduced the frequency of sentence enhancements, a policy that saves California taxpayers millions of dollars in prison costs. After a March 2021 State Supreme Court decision that eliminated cash bail in the state for individuals who can’t afford it, District Attorney Gascón’s office stopped seeking bail for misdemeanor and nonviolent felonies, which has increased the equity of the criminal justice system.
District Attorney Gascón faced two recall efforts in 2021 and 2022, although neither gathered enough valid petition signatures to qualify for the ballot. A recall was supported by controversial former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, and District Attorney Gascón’s efforts to reform the dysfunctional and inequitable criminal justice system have been unpopular with rank-and-file law enforcement.
Governance and community leadership experience: District Attorney Gascón has served in this seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 53% of the vote.
Prior to his election in Los Angeles, District Attorney Gascón served two terms as San Francisco DA, where he increased the prosecution of sexual assault cases, and created a new law-enforcement unit focused on addressing child abuse and sexual assault. He implemented practices and resources that centered on survivors, and has proposed policies that protect undocumented, LGBTQIA+, and student survivors while prioritizing cultural and linguistic competency. He is a staunch opponent of the death penalty, often citing its disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities, and has implemented reformist sentencing policies since his election as Los Angeles DA. District Attorney Gascón’s track record and position on law-enforcement accountability is rare, particularly for someone with a law enforcement background. During his term as San Francisco DA, Gascón prosecuted more than 30 police officers for criminal conduct. In 2019, while many police, law-enforcement officials, and prosecutors fought against its passage, he advocated for Assembly Bill 392, also known as the Stephon Clark Bill, which created a stricter standard for police use of force. He remains the only law-enforcement official in California to advocate for this legislation and his willingness to pursue police brutality cases has been a highlight of his prosecutorial leadership.
Other background: District Attorney Gascón is from Cuba and immigrated to Los Angeles when he was 13. He has had a 40-year career in law enforcement, in which he started as a beat cop and rose through the ranks to serve as chief of police in San Francisco before pursuing elected office.
The Race
Primary election: There are 12 candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including District Attorney George Gascón, John McKinney, Maria Ramirez, Jonathan Hatami, and Nathan Hochman. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5 unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: District Attorney Gascón’s campaign has raised $100,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: John McKinney
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: McKinney’s campaign has raised $165,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Maria Ramirez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Ramirez’s campaign has raised $166,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Jonathan Hatami
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hatami’s campaign has raised $240,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by real estate, police, and fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate: Nathan Hochman
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Hochman’s campaign has raised $645,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests.
The District
County: Los Angeles County is California's most populous county. Los Angeles County has a population of 9.7 million and a demographic breakdown of 49% Latino, 16% Asian, 9% Black.
Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s District Attorney oversees an office of nearly 1,000 deputy district attorneys, and the prosecution of criminal offenses across the county and unincorporated areas. It is the largest local district attorney office in the nation.
The Position
Each of the 58 counties in California elects a district Attorney to manage prosecution of criminal offenses related to the violation of state and county law. The district attorney has investigative authority, manages the apprehension of individuals identified through the investigative process, and holds charging and prosecutorial power. The work of the district attorney includes Municipal and Superior court operations, and serving as a legal liaison to the grand jury. The county Board of Supervisors provides financial oversight to the district attorney’s office, but holds no operational power over their work. District attorneys are elected to four-year terms in office.
County District Races
Depending on where you live, you may have the below county-districted races on your ballot.
Los Angeles County, District 2
Courage California endorses Supervisor Holly Mitchell for re-election to keep Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Supervisor Mitchell has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles County Action Fund, Los Angeles Federation of Labor, Sierra Club, California Working Families Party, and The Black Women’s Democratic Club. She also has the endorsement of many elected leaders, including LA Mayor Karen Bass, Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, Sen. Laphonza Butler, Rep. Sydney Kamlager Dove, State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.
Top issues: Alleviating poverty, universal basic income, climate protections, reducing oil drilling within the county, mental health care response, equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and family and youth development.
Key initiatives: Supervisor Mitchell has used her first term to successfully pass several important motions, including a first in the nation phased ban of oil drilling in Los Angeles County, a plan to transition fossil fuel workers to clean-energy jobs, and a guaranteed basic income pilot program. She also presented and passed a motion to establish behavioral health care teams at the Restorative Care Villages, a housing and health-care collaboration between Los Angeles County and University of Southern California. These mental health response teams provide real-time preventative intervention for residents in crisis. Supervisor Mitchell has been a progressive presence on the Board, combining her knowledge of the legislative process with her interest in building a secure social safety net across the county to give all residents the resources they need to thrive.
Governance and community leadership experience: Supervisor Mitchell has served in this seat since 2020, when she was elected with over 60% of the vote.
Prior to her election to the Board of Supervisors, Sen. Mitchell was elected to the state Assembly in 2010 and moved to the state Senate in 2013. In the state Senate, she served as the first African American chair of the powerful Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. During her tenure, Sen. Mitchell was a strong proponent of criminal justice reform. She passed a set of criminal justice reforms that consisted of 10 laws to reduce barriers for Californians affected by the criminal justice system by reducing sentence enhancements for low-level drugs, removing court fees for the innocent, sealing arrest records for people not convicted, ending the sentencing of juveniles to life without parole, and other advancements. She was a notable progressive influence in other areas as well, with nearly 90 bills signed into law on issues that included homelessness, mental health, children’s rights, and job protections. Before holding elected office, Supervisor Mitchell was a longtime non-profit executive and ran Crystal Stairs, Inc., a youth and family development agency.
As a legislator, Supervisor Mitchell scored an overall 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and often earned the All-Star designation.
Other background: Supervisor Mitchell is a third-generation Angeleno, and continues to reside in Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Katrina Williams, Clint Carlton, and Daphne Bradford. 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: Supervisor Mitchell’s campaign has raised $153,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by fossil fuel or police interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the challengers in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the County Clerk as of December 2023.
The District
County: Los Angeles County is California’s most populous county. District 2 includes
Leimert Park, Carson, Compton, Culver City, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, portions of Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and unincorporated communities.
Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 9.7 million people and manages an estimated budget of $39 billion annually. According to the County Charter, Los Angeles County is governed by the Board of Supervisors, which has executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial authority. Voters also elect an assessor, a district attorney, and a sheriff, who work alongside the Board of Supervisors to govern within the county.
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.
Courage California endorses Supervisor Holly Mitchell for re-election to keep Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Supervisor Mitchell has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles County Action Fund, Los Angeles Federation of Labor, Sierra Club, California Working Families Party, and The Black Women’s Democratic Club. She also has the endorsement of many elected leaders, including LA Mayor Karen Bass, Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, Sen. Laphonza Butler, Rep. Sydney Kamlager Dove, State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.
Top issues: Alleviating poverty, universal basic income, climate protections, reducing oil drilling within the county, mental health care response, equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and family and youth development.
Key initiatives: Supervisor Mitchell has used her first term to successfully pass several important motions, including a first in the nation phased ban of oil drilling in Los Angeles County, a plan to transition fossil fuel workers to clean-energy jobs, and a guaranteed basic income pilot program. She also presented and passed a motion to establish behavioral health care teams at the Restorative Care Villages, a housing and health-care collaboration between Los Angeles County and University of Southern California. These mental health response teams provide real-time preventative intervention for residents in crisis. Supervisor Mitchell has been a progressive presence on the Board, combining her knowledge of the legislative process with her interest in building a secure social safety net across the county to give all residents the resources they need to thrive.
Governance and community leadership experience: Supervisor Mitchell has served in this seat since 2020, when she was elected with over 60% of the vote.
Prior to her election to the Board of Supervisors, Sen. Mitchell was elected to the state Assembly in 2010 and moved to the state Senate in 2013. In the state Senate, she served as the first African American chair of the powerful Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. During her tenure, Sen. Mitchell was a strong proponent of criminal justice reform. She passed a set of criminal justice reforms that consisted of 10 laws to reduce barriers for Californians affected by the criminal justice system by reducing sentence enhancements for low-level drugs, removing court fees for the innocent, sealing arrest records for people not convicted, ending the sentencing of juveniles to life without parole, and other advancements. She was a notable progressive influence in other areas as well, with nearly 90 bills signed into law on issues that included homelessness, mental health, children’s rights, and job protections. Before holding elected office, Supervisor Mitchell was a longtime non-profit executive and ran Crystal Stairs, Inc., a youth and family development agency.
As a legislator, Supervisor Mitchell scored an overall 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and often earned the All-Star designation.
Other background: Supervisor Mitchell is a third-generation Angeleno, and continues to reside in Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Katrina Williams, Clint Carlton, and Daphne Bradford. 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: Supervisor Mitchell’s campaign has raised $153,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by fossil fuel or police interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the challengers in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the County Clerk as of December 2023.
The District
County: Los Angeles County is California’s most populous county. District 2 includes
Leimert Park, Carson, Compton, Culver City, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, portions of Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and unincorporated communities.
Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 9.7 million people and manages an estimated budget of $39 billion annually. According to the County Charter, Los Angeles County is governed by the Board of Supervisors, which has executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial authority. Voters also elect an assessor, a district attorney, and a sheriff, who work alongside the Board of Supervisors to govern within the county.
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.
Endorsed By: Courage California
Courage California endorses Supervisor Holly Mitchell for re-election to keep Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Supervisor Mitchell has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Courage California, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles County Action Fund, Los Angeles Federation of Labor, Sierra Club, California Working Families Party, and The Black Women’s Democratic Club. She also has the endorsement of many elected leaders, including LA Mayor Karen Bass, Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, Sen. Laphonza Butler, Rep. Sydney Kamlager Dove, State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, and Assm. Isaac Bryan.
Top issues: Alleviating poverty, universal basic income, climate protections, reducing oil drilling within the county, mental health care response, equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and family and youth development.
Key initiatives: Supervisor Mitchell has used her first term to successfully pass several important motions, including a first in the nation phased ban of oil drilling in Los Angeles County, a plan to transition fossil fuel workers to clean-energy jobs, and a guaranteed basic income pilot program. She also presented and passed a motion to establish behavioral health care teams at the Restorative Care Villages, a housing and health-care collaboration between Los Angeles County and University of Southern California. These mental health response teams provide real-time preventative intervention for residents in crisis. Supervisor Mitchell has been a progressive presence on the Board, combining her knowledge of the legislative process with her interest in building a secure social safety net across the county to give all residents the resources they need to thrive.
Governance and community leadership experience: Supervisor Mitchell has served in this seat since 2020, when she was elected with over 60% of the vote.
Prior to her election to the Board of Supervisors, Sen. Mitchell was elected to the state Assembly in 2010 and moved to the state Senate in 2013. In the state Senate, she served as the first African American chair of the powerful Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. During her tenure, Sen. Mitchell was a strong proponent of criminal justice reform. She passed a set of criminal justice reforms that consisted of 10 laws to reduce barriers for Californians affected by the criminal justice system by reducing sentence enhancements for low-level drugs, removing court fees for the innocent, sealing arrest records for people not convicted, ending the sentencing of juveniles to life without parole, and other advancements. She was a notable progressive influence in other areas as well, with nearly 90 bills signed into law on issues that included homelessness, mental health, children’s rights, and job protections. Before holding elected office, Supervisor Mitchell was a longtime non-profit executive and ran Crystal Stairs, Inc., a youth and family development agency.
As a legislator, Supervisor Mitchell scored an overall 98 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and often earned the All-Star designation.
Other background: Supervisor Mitchell is a third-generation Angeleno, and continues to reside in Los Angeles.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Katrina Williams, Clint Carlton, and Daphne Bradford. 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: Supervisor Mitchell’s campaign has raised $153,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by fossil fuel or police interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the challengers in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the County Clerk as of December 2023.
The District
County: Los Angeles County is California’s most populous county. District 2 includes
Leimert Park, Carson, Compton, Culver City, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, portions of Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and unincorporated communities.
Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 9.7 million people and manages an estimated budget of $39 billion annually. According to the County Charter, Los Angeles County is governed by the Board of Supervisors, which has executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial authority. Voters also elect an assessor, a district attorney, and a sheriff, who work alongside the Board of Supervisors to govern within the county.
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.
Endorsed By: Courage California
Los Angeles County, District 5
Elect Chris Holden for Supervisor to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
Assm. Chris Holden’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Holden has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA County Democratic Party, and SEIU2015. He has also received the endorsement of many state and local leaders, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Sec. of State Dr. Shirley Weber, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Isaac Bryan, and several city councilmembers.
Electoral history: Assm. Holden has served in the State Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 58% of the vote. In 2022, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 20 points.
Top issues: Workforce development programs, worker protections, transportation, criminal justice reform, improving public services, and environmental protections.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Holden is a public official, and has used his positions to improve access to economic and educational opportunities for his constituents. As a member of the State Assembly, he has successfully passed legislation to improve worker conditions, fund local libraries and hiking trails, and invest in improved services for individuals with disabilities. He has also been a strong proponent of establishing dual enrollment options for high school students to reduce the time and financial burden of college and to increase access to local career pathways.
Assm. Holden scores a Lifetime CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has been designated as a Courage All-Star for his commitment to progressive values. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Holden has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote, although he has failed to cast a vote on bills related to charter school regulation, expanding single-use recyclables, and predatory lending protections.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Holden was a local elected official, serving for 24 years on the Pasadena City Council, including a turn as mayor. During this time, he also served as a member of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. Assm. Holden also owns a local real estate firm, CHMB Consulting. He is a longtime supporter of transportation expansion and college and career access for high school students. As a city councilmember and assemblymember, he has worked on initiatives to expand light rail and public transportation options for local constituents.
Other background: Assm. Holden is a lifelong resident of Pasadena.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Assm. Chris Holden, incumbent Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Konstantine Anthony, Perry Goldberg, and Marlon Marroquin. 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: Assm. Holden’s campaign has raised $663,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, real estate, fossil fuel, and police interests.
Opposing candidate: Supervisor Kathryn Barger
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Supervisor Barger’s campaign has raised $595,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, real estate, and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Konstantine Anthony
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Anthony’s campaign has raised $35,000 as of December 2023, and is funded entirely by individual donors.
The District
County: Los Angeles County is California's most populous county. District 5 includes Arcadia, Burbank, Claremont, Glendale, Glendora, La Verne, Lancaster, portions of Los Angeles, portions of Los Feliz, Monrovia, portions of North Hollywood, Palmdale, Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Porter Ranch, Shadow Hills, Universal Studios, Valley Village, and unincorporated communities.
Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 9.7 million people and manages an estimated budget of $39 billion annually. According to the County Charter, Los Angeles County is governed by the Board of Supervisors, which has executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial authority. Voters also elect an assessor, a district attorney, and a sheriff, who work alongside the Board of Supervisors to govern within the county.
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 Holden for Supervisor to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
Assm. Chris Holden’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Holden has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA County Democratic Party, and SEIU2015. He has also received the endorsement of many state and local leaders, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Sec. of State Dr. Shirley Weber, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Isaac Bryan, and several city councilmembers.
Electoral history: Assm. Holden has served in the State Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 58% of the vote. In 2022, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 20 points.
Top issues: Workforce development programs, worker protections, transportation, criminal justice reform, improving public services, and environmental protections.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Holden is a public official, and has used his positions to improve access to economic and educational opportunities for his constituents. As a member of the State Assembly, he has successfully passed legislation to improve worker conditions, fund local libraries and hiking trails, and invest in improved services for individuals with disabilities. He has also been a strong proponent of establishing dual enrollment options for high school students to reduce the time and financial burden of college and to increase access to local career pathways.
Assm. Holden scores a Lifetime CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has been designated as a Courage All-Star for his commitment to progressive values. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Holden has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote, although he has failed to cast a vote on bills related to charter school regulation, expanding single-use recyclables, and predatory lending protections.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Holden was a local elected official, serving for 24 years on the Pasadena City Council, including a turn as mayor. During this time, he also served as a member of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. Assm. Holden also owns a local real estate firm, CHMB Consulting. He is a longtime supporter of transportation expansion and college and career access for high school students. As a city councilmember and assemblymember, he has worked on initiatives to expand light rail and public transportation options for local constituents.
Other background: Assm. Holden is a lifelong resident of Pasadena.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Assm. Chris Holden, incumbent Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Konstantine Anthony, Perry Goldberg, and Marlon Marroquin. 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: Assm. Holden’s campaign has raised $663,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, real estate, fossil fuel, and police interests.
Opposing candidate: Supervisor Kathryn Barger
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Supervisor Barger’s campaign has raised $595,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, real estate, and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Konstantine Anthony
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Anthony’s campaign has raised $35,000 as of December 2023, and is funded entirely by individual donors.
The District
County: Los Angeles County is California's most populous county. District 5 includes Arcadia, Burbank, Claremont, Glendale, Glendora, La Verne, Lancaster, portions of Los Angeles, portions of Los Feliz, Monrovia, portions of North Hollywood, Palmdale, Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Porter Ranch, Shadow Hills, Universal Studios, Valley Village, and unincorporated communities.
Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 9.7 million people and manages an estimated budget of $39 billion annually. According to the County Charter, Los Angeles County is governed by the Board of Supervisors, which has executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial authority. Voters also elect an assessor, a district attorney, and a sheriff, who work alongside the Board of Supervisors to govern within the county.
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 Holden for Supervisor to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
Assm. Chris Holden’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will be a progressive voice for the constituents of Los Angeles County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Holden has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Working Families Party, LA County Democratic Party, and SEIU2015. He has also received the endorsement of many state and local leaders, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, Sec. of State Dr. Shirley Weber, Assm. Speaker Robert Rivas, Assm. Isaac Bryan, and several city councilmembers.
Electoral history: Assm. Holden has served in the State Assembly since 2012, when he was elected with 58% of the vote. In 2022, he won his reelection against a Republican challenger by 20 points.
Top issues: Workforce development programs, worker protections, transportation, criminal justice reform, improving public services, and environmental protections.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Holden is a public official, and has used his positions to improve access to economic and educational opportunities for his constituents. As a member of the State Assembly, he has successfully passed legislation to improve worker conditions, fund local libraries and hiking trails, and invest in improved services for individuals with disabilities. He has also been a strong proponent of establishing dual enrollment options for high school students to reduce the time and financial burden of college and to increase access to local career pathways.
Assm. Holden scores a Lifetime CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has been designated as a Courage All-Star for his commitment to progressive values. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Holden has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote, although he has failed to cast a vote on bills related to charter school regulation, expanding single-use recyclables, and predatory lending protections.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Holden was a local elected official, serving for 24 years on the Pasadena City Council, including a turn as mayor. During this time, he also served as a member of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. Assm. Holden also owns a local real estate firm, CHMB Consulting. He is a longtime supporter of transportation expansion and college and career access for high school students. As a city councilmember and assemblymember, he has worked on initiatives to expand light rail and public transportation options for local constituents.
Other background: Assm. Holden is a lifelong resident of Pasadena.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Assm. Chris Holden, incumbent Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Konstantine Anthony, Perry Goldberg, and Marlon Marroquin. 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: Assm. Holden’s campaign has raised $663,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by corporate PAC, real estate, fossil fuel, and police interests.
Opposing candidate: Supervisor Kathryn Barger
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Supervisor Barger’s campaign has raised $595,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, real estate, and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Konstantine Anthony
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Anthony’s campaign has raised $35,000 as of December 2023, and is funded entirely by individual donors.
The District
County: Los Angeles County is California's most populous county. District 5 includes Arcadia, Burbank, Claremont, Glendale, Glendora, La Verne, Lancaster, portions of Los Angeles, portions of Los Feliz, Monrovia, portions of North Hollywood, Palmdale, Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Porter Ranch, Shadow Hills, Universal Studios, Valley Village, and unincorporated communities.
Governance structure: Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 9.7 million people and manages an estimated budget of $39 billion annually. According to the County Charter, Los Angeles County is governed by the Board of Supervisors, which has executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial authority. Voters also elect an assessor, a district attorney, and a sheriff, who work alongside the Board of Supervisors to govern within the county.
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.
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Elect George Turner Jr. to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
George Turner Jr.’s track record and legal background demonstrate that he will use his judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Turner has the endorsement of some local groups, including LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148 and Culver City Democratic Club. He has also received endorsements from some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and LA Superior Court Judge Holly Hancock. Turner is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party.
Electoral history: Turner has not run for public office before.
Top issues: According to campaign materials, Turner is running for election to bring a democratized approach to the bench. He is interested in fairness, rehabilitation, and repairing a system that often does not support the rights and dignity of all.
Governance and community leadership experience: Turner has been a public defender in Los Angeles County for over 15 years, including working with defendants in juvenile and criminal trials. He has a strong interest in providing legal representation to vulnerable and marginalized communities, and currently works in a unit focused on individuals experiencing homelessness. Turner’s legal approach centers the equitable protection of human rights, especially for individuals who have been disadvantaged by broken social systems.
Other background: Turner is a lifelong resident of Inglewood.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including George Turner Jr., Ronda Dixon, Jacob Lee, and Steve Napolitano. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.
The District
County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county.
The Position
Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.
California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.
Elect George Turner Jr. to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
George Turner Jr.’s track record and legal background demonstrate that he will use his judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Turner has the endorsement of some local groups, including LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148 and Culver City Democratic Club. He has also received endorsements from some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and LA Superior Court Judge Holly Hancock. Turner is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party.
Electoral history: Turner has not run for public office before.
Top issues: According to campaign materials, Turner is running for election to bring a democratized approach to the bench. He is interested in fairness, rehabilitation, and repairing a system that often does not support the rights and dignity of all.
Governance and community leadership experience: Turner has been a public defender in Los Angeles County for over 15 years, including working with defendants in juvenile and criminal trials. He has a strong interest in providing legal representation to vulnerable and marginalized communities, and currently works in a unit focused on individuals experiencing homelessness. Turner’s legal approach centers the equitable protection of human rights, especially for individuals who have been disadvantaged by broken social systems.
Other background: Turner is a lifelong resident of Inglewood.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including George Turner Jr., Ronda Dixon, Jacob Lee, and Steve Napolitano. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.
The District
County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county.
The Position
Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.
California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.
Elect George Turner Jr. to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
George Turner Jr.’s track record and legal background demonstrate that he will use his judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Turner has the endorsement of some local groups, including LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148 and Culver City Democratic Club. He has also received endorsements from some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and LA Superior Court Judge Holly Hancock. Turner is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party.
Electoral history: Turner has not run for public office before.
Top issues: According to campaign materials, Turner is running for election to bring a democratized approach to the bench. He is interested in fairness, rehabilitation, and repairing a system that often does not support the rights and dignity of all.
Governance and community leadership experience: Turner has been a public defender in Los Angeles County for over 15 years, including working with defendants in juvenile and criminal trials. He has a strong interest in providing legal representation to vulnerable and marginalized communities, and currently works in a unit focused on individuals experiencing homelessness. Turner’s legal approach centers the equitable protection of human rights, especially for individuals who have been disadvantaged by broken social systems.
Other background: Turner is a lifelong resident of Inglewood.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including George Turner Jr., Ronda Dixon, Jacob Lee, and Steve Napolitano. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.
The District
County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county.
The Position
Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.
California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.
Elect Ericka Wiley for Superior Court to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
Ericka Wiley’s track record and legal background demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Wiley has the endorsement of some local groups, including SEIU Local 721, LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148, The National Women’s Political Caucus, and LA County Federation of Labor. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including nine current judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court, LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, and LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. Wiley is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party.
Electoral history: Wiley has not run for public office before.
Top issues: According to campaign materials, Wiley is running for election to bring fairness, patience, integrity, compassion, and a community approach to the bench. She will work to promote just sentencing, criminal justice reform, and breaking the cycle of recidivism through her judicial work.
Governance and community leadership experience: Wiley has been a public defender in Los Angeles County for over 20 years, which she does to bring advocacy and a restorative approach to the individuals she works with. With a strong understanding of the dysfunctions within the criminal justice system, she has worked to create resources and pathways to recovery for her clients. Wiley has worked within her community to educate young people about the legal system and the rights they hold as citizens, and has been a supervising and training attorney for new lawyers joining the Los Angeles County legal community.
Other background: Wiley is from Los Angeles, and returned to the city after attending college in Nashville and completing her law degree at the University of Cincinnati.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Ericka Wiley, Malik Burroughs, and Renee Rose. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.
The District
County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county.
The Position
Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.
California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.
Elect Ericka Wiley for Superior Court to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
Ericka Wiley’s track record and legal background demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Wiley has the endorsement of some local groups, including SEIU Local 721, LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148, The National Women’s Political Caucus, and LA County Federation of Labor. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including nine current judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court, LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, and LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. Wiley is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party.
Electoral history: Wiley has not run for public office before.
Top issues: According to campaign materials, Wiley is running for election to bring fairness, patience, integrity, compassion, and a community approach to the bench. She will work to promote just sentencing, criminal justice reform, and breaking the cycle of recidivism through her judicial work.
Governance and community leadership experience: Wiley has been a public defender in Los Angeles County for over 20 years, which she does to bring advocacy and a restorative approach to the individuals she works with. With a strong understanding of the dysfunctions within the criminal justice system, she has worked to create resources and pathways to recovery for her clients. Wiley has worked within her community to educate young people about the legal system and the rights they hold as citizens, and has been a supervising and training attorney for new lawyers joining the Los Angeles County legal community.
Other background: Wiley is from Los Angeles, and returned to the city after attending college in Nashville and completing her law degree at the University of Cincinnati.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Ericka Wiley, Malik Burroughs, and Renee Rose. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.
The District
County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county.
The Position
Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.
California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.
Elect Ericka Wiley for Superior Court to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
Ericka Wiley’s track record and legal background demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Wiley has the endorsement of some local groups, including SEIU Local 721, LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148, The National Women’s Political Caucus, and LA County Federation of Labor. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including nine current judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court, LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, and LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. Wiley is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party.
Electoral history: Wiley has not run for public office before.
Top issues: According to campaign materials, Wiley is running for election to bring fairness, patience, integrity, compassion, and a community approach to the bench. She will work to promote just sentencing, criminal justice reform, and breaking the cycle of recidivism through her judicial work.
Governance and community leadership experience: Wiley has been a public defender in Los Angeles County for over 20 years, which she does to bring advocacy and a restorative approach to the individuals she works with. With a strong understanding of the dysfunctions within the criminal justice system, she has worked to create resources and pathways to recovery for her clients. Wiley has worked within her community to educate young people about the legal system and the rights they hold as citizens, and has been a supervising and training attorney for new lawyers joining the Los Angeles County legal community.
Other background: Wiley is from Los Angeles, and returned to the city after attending college in Nashville and completing her law degree at the University of Cincinnati.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Ericka Wiley, Malik Burroughs, and Renee Rose. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote and wins outright in the primary.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.
The District
County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county.
The Position
Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.
California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.
Elect La Shae Henderson to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
La Shae Henderson’s track record and legal background demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Henderson has the endorsement of some local groups, including LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148 and Culver City Democratic Club. She has also received endorsements from some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and LA Superior Court Judge Holly Hancock. Henderson is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party.
Electoral history: Henderson has not run for public office before.
Top issues: According to campaign materials, Henderson is running for election to bring impartiality, fairness, equity, and accountability to the bench. She is committed to rendering verdicts based on the facts presented in the courtroom, and taking an unbiased approach to each case.
Governance and community leadership experience: Henderson was a public defender in Los Angeles County for 18 years, and now works in private practice. During her time as a public defender, she worked on cases in the civil contempt and racial justice unit, family law, and juvenile justice division. She is bilingual, and served as a training attorney for fellow lawyers interested in more legal strategies for working inside of the Racial Justice Act. She is experienced in case review and legal analysis, and is dedicated to ensuring that her analysis of the case before her is never predetermined or rooted in bias. Henderson has also long been involved in her community, including as a youth pastor at a local church, and as a professor at her alma mater, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.
Other background: Henderson has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including La Shae Henderson, Sam Abourched, and Sharon Ransom. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.
The District
County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county.
The Position
Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.
California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.
Elect La Shae Henderson to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
La Shae Henderson’s track record and legal background demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Henderson has the endorsement of some local groups, including LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148 and Culver City Democratic Club. She has also received endorsements from some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and LA Superior Court Judge Holly Hancock. Henderson is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party.
Electoral history: Henderson has not run for public office before.
Top issues: According to campaign materials, Henderson is running for election to bring impartiality, fairness, equity, and accountability to the bench. She is committed to rendering verdicts based on the facts presented in the courtroom, and taking an unbiased approach to each case.
Governance and community leadership experience: Henderson was a public defender in Los Angeles County for 18 years, and now works in private practice. During her time as a public defender, she worked on cases in the civil contempt and racial justice unit, family law, and juvenile justice division. She is bilingual, and served as a training attorney for fellow lawyers interested in more legal strategies for working inside of the Racial Justice Act. She is experienced in case review and legal analysis, and is dedicated to ensuring that her analysis of the case before her is never predetermined or rooted in bias. Henderson has also long been involved in her community, including as a youth pastor at a local church, and as a professor at her alma mater, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.
Other background: Henderson has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including La Shae Henderson, Sam Abourched, and Sharon Ransom. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.
The District
County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county.
The Position
Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.
California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.
Elect La Shae Henderson to put Los Angeles County on the right track for progress.
La Shae Henderson’s track record and legal background demonstrate that she will use her judicial prudence effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Henderson has the endorsement of some local groups, including LA County Public Defenders Union Local 148 and Culver City Democratic Club. She has also received endorsements from some local leaders, including LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, and LA Superior Court Judge Holly Hancock. Henderson is part of the three-candidate Defenders of Justice slate developed by La Defensa, Ground Game LA, and Working Families Party.
Electoral history: Henderson has not run for public office before.
Top issues: According to campaign materials, Henderson is running for election to bring impartiality, fairness, equity, and accountability to the bench. She is committed to rendering verdicts based on the facts presented in the courtroom, and taking an unbiased approach to each case.
Governance and community leadership experience: Henderson was a public defender in Los Angeles County for 18 years, and now works in private practice. During her time as a public defender, she worked on cases in the civil contempt and racial justice unit, family law, and juvenile justice division. She is bilingual, and served as a training attorney for fellow lawyers interested in more legal strategies for working inside of the Racial Justice Act. She is experienced in case review and legal analysis, and is dedicated to ensuring that her analysis of the case before her is never predetermined or rooted in bias. Henderson has also long been involved in her community, including as a youth pastor at a local church, and as a professor at her alma mater, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.
Other background: Henderson has lived in Los Angeles for 20 years.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including La Shae Henderson, Sam Abourched, and Sharon Ransom. The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: None of the candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with Los Angeles County as of December 2023.
The District
County: The Superior Court of Los Angeles County operates as the trial court for criminal, civil, and other cases filed in the county.
The Position
Judges of the California Superior Courts are elected in nonpartisan, county-wide elections to six-year terms. Once voted in, a judge can run for retention at the expiration of their term. A retention election is a process by which voters decide whether an incumbent judge should remain for another term. If the judge, when not facing an opponent, does not obtain a certain percentage of voters (often 50%), they are removed from the position. Many judges join the court through a gubernatorial appointment. If a judge is appointed, they compete in the next general election following the appointment.
California has 58 trial, or superior courts, one in each county. In the more than 450 courthouses of the superior courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witness testimony and other evidence. These courts hear civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The judge decides cases through the application of relevant law to the relevant facts.
Statewide Ballot Measures
Proposition 1 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.