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Welcome to the Progressive Voters Guide! The Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. Please share this guide with your friends and family!
Voting has changed in San Mateo 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. Have questions about the changes to voting in San Mateo County? Find out how to vote in San Mateo 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.
Congress
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below congressional districts on your ballot.
15th Congressional District
Re-elect Congressional Representative Kevin Mullin to keep CD-15 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Kevin Mullin’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-15 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Mullin has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and Clean Water Action as well as labor unions like AFL-CIO and United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Climate change resilience.
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Mullin’s priorities for CD-15 have included 4 bills about assisting low-income individuals to outfit their homes for climate resilience, as well as expanding supports for underserved populations including veterans. All 4 bills currently remain in committee.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No.
Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Mullin currently sits on 2 committees, including the Natural Resources, and Science, Space, and Technology Committees.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Kevin Mullin has served in this congressional seat since 2022, when he was elected with over 55% of the vote.
Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Mullin was a San Mateo County Assemblymember first elected in 2012. He authored more than 60 bills that were eventually signed into law during his tenure, and was a longtime supporter of affordable housing, improving public transit, and elections reform. He authored the nation’s first DISCLOSE Act to stop dark money and reveal the true backers of ballot measures and candidates. He also passed universal vote-by-mail legislation, which resulted in record participation and turnout. He also co-authored landmark legislation to automatically register Californians to vote. Rep. Mullin passed bills to prioritize local affordable housing for state housing funds and made it easier to build housing for teachers. As a member of the state legislature, he scored a lifetime 96 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Mullin has supported most progressive bills that made it to a vote during his term.
Other background: Rep. Mullin is from San Mateo County.
The Race
Primary election: There are 2 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Kevin Mullin (D) and Anna Cheng Kramer (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Mullin’s campaign has raised $305,383 and is not funded by the police or the fossil fuel industry. He has accepted donations from the real estate industry and corporate PACs, including nearly $50,000 from the pharmaceutical industry.
Opposing candidate: Republican Anna Cheng Kramer
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kramer’s campaign has raised $1,943. She has not pledged to refuse donations from the police, the fossil fuel industry, real estate industry, or corporate PACs.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 15th Congressional District includes parts of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 13% Republican, and 26% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 37% Asian, and 4% Black.
Recent election results: CD-15 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 57 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 51 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 Kevin Mullin to keep CD-15 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Kevin Mullin’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-15 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Mullin has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and Clean Water Action as well as labor unions like AFL-CIO and United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Climate change resilience.
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Mullin’s priorities for CD-15 have included 4 bills about assisting low-income individuals to outfit their homes for climate resilience, as well as expanding supports for underserved populations including veterans. All 4 bills currently remain in committee.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No.
Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Mullin currently sits on 2 committees, including the Natural Resources, and Science, Space, and Technology Committees.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Kevin Mullin has served in this congressional seat since 2022, when he was elected with over 55% of the vote.
Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Mullin was a San Mateo County Assemblymember first elected in 2012. He authored more than 60 bills that were eventually signed into law during his tenure, and was a longtime supporter of affordable housing, improving public transit, and elections reform. He authored the nation’s first DISCLOSE Act to stop dark money and reveal the true backers of ballot measures and candidates. He also passed universal vote-by-mail legislation, which resulted in record participation and turnout. He also co-authored landmark legislation to automatically register Californians to vote. Rep. Mullin passed bills to prioritize local affordable housing for state housing funds and made it easier to build housing for teachers. As a member of the state legislature, he scored a lifetime 96 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Mullin has supported most progressive bills that made it to a vote during his term.
Other background: Rep. Mullin is from San Mateo County.
The Race
Primary election: There are 2 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Kevin Mullin (D) and Anna Cheng Kramer (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Mullin’s campaign has raised $305,383 and is not funded by the police or the fossil fuel industry. He has accepted donations from the real estate industry and corporate PACs, including nearly $50,000 from the pharmaceutical industry.
Opposing candidate: Republican Anna Cheng Kramer
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kramer’s campaign has raised $1,943. She has not pledged to refuse donations from the police, the fossil fuel industry, real estate industry, or corporate PACs.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 15th Congressional District includes parts of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 13% Republican, and 26% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 37% Asian, and 4% Black.
Recent election results: CD-15 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 57 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 51 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 Kevin Mullin to keep CD-15 on the right track for progress.
Rep. Kevin Mullin’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-15 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Rep. Mullin has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and Clean Water Action as well as labor unions like AFL-CIO and United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Climate change resilience.
Priority bills: This year, Rep. Mullin’s priorities for CD-15 have included 4 bills about assisting low-income individuals to outfit their homes for climate resilience, as well as expanding supports for underserved populations including veterans. All 4 bills currently remain in committee.
Member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus?: No.
Committee leadership/membership: Rep. Mullin currently sits on 2 committees, including the Natural Resources, and Science, Space, and Technology Committees.
Governance and community leadership experience: Rep. Kevin Mullin has served in this congressional seat since 2022, when he was elected with over 55% of the vote.
Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Mullin was a San Mateo County Assemblymember first elected in 2012. He authored more than 60 bills that were eventually signed into law during his tenure, and was a longtime supporter of affordable housing, improving public transit, and elections reform. He authored the nation’s first DISCLOSE Act to stop dark money and reveal the true backers of ballot measures and candidates. He also passed universal vote-by-mail legislation, which resulted in record participation and turnout. He also co-authored landmark legislation to automatically register Californians to vote. Rep. Mullin passed bills to prioritize local affordable housing for state housing funds and made it easier to build housing for teachers. As a member of the state legislature, he scored a lifetime 96 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Rep. Mullin has supported most progressive bills that made it to a vote during his term.
Other background: Rep. Mullin is from San Mateo County.
The Race
Primary election: There are 2 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including incumbent Rep. Kevin Mullin (D) and Anna Cheng Kramer (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Rep. Mullin’s campaign has raised $305,383 and is not funded by the police or the fossil fuel industry. He has accepted donations from the real estate industry and corporate PACs, including nearly $50,000 from the pharmaceutical industry.
Opposing candidate: Republican Anna Cheng Kramer
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kramer’s campaign has raised $1,943. She has not pledged to refuse donations from the police, the fossil fuel industry, real estate industry, or corporate PACs.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 15th Congressional District includes parts of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 13% Republican, and 26% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 37% Asian, and 4% Black.
Recent election results: CD-15 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 57 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 51 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.
16th Congressional District
Elect Julie Lythcott-Haims to keep CD-16 on the right track for progress.
Julie Lythcott-Haims’ policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-16 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Lythcott-Haims has the endorsement of a few groups, including LPAC and Reach Coalition. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Sen. Cory Booker, San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, former Palo Alto Mayor Larry Klein, and PAUSD Board Member Jennifer DiBrienza.
Electoral history: Lythcott-Haims has run for office previously, and won her race for Palo Alto City Council in 2022 with 18% of the vote.
Top issues: Reproductive rights, climate change, cost of living, housing, Medicare for All, and gun-safety laws.
Priority bills: As a member of the Palo Alto City Council, Lythcott-Haims has been a strong supporter of efforts to increase affordable housing development, establish systems to support improved youth mental health care, and create community around third-place establishments.
Governance and community leadership experience: Lythcott-Haims is an author, attorney, and academic administrator, which she does to build community across boundaries in Silicon Valley. She practiced law for four years before entering leadership at Stanford University, first as an associate dean in the School of Law and later as the dean of Freshmen and Undergraduate Advising. She has published four books, and has been an influential motivational speaker on the topics of transitioning to adulthood, parenting, and human achievement. Lythcott-Haims has had a long involvement in community life, and is a board member with California College of the Arts, Black Women’s Health Imperative, and LeanIn.org.
Other background: Julia Lythcott-Haims is from Nigeria and immigrated to the United States as a child. She moved to Palo Alto to attend Stanford and settled there with her family after graduating. She is the only woman running in the candidate field for this seat.
The Race
Primary election: There are 11 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Julia Lythcott-Haims (D), Joby Bernstein (D), Peter Dixon (D), Rishi Kumar (D), former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D), Assm. Evan Low (D), Ahmed Mostafa (D), Peter Ohtaki (R), Karl Ryan (R), Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian (D), and Greg Tanaka (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Lythcott-Haims’ campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Rishi Kumar
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kumar’s campaign has raised $35,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Joe Simitian
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Simitian’s campaign has raised $135,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the other candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s Santa Clara Congressional District includes parts of San Mateo County.
Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 27% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 26% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: CD-16 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 53 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 45 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.
Elect Julie Lythcott-Haims to keep CD-16 on the right track for progress.
Julie Lythcott-Haims’ policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-16 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Lythcott-Haims has the endorsement of a few groups, including LPAC and Reach Coalition. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Sen. Cory Booker, San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, former Palo Alto Mayor Larry Klein, and PAUSD Board Member Jennifer DiBrienza.
Electoral history: Lythcott-Haims has run for office previously, and won her race for Palo Alto City Council in 2022 with 18% of the vote.
Top issues: Reproductive rights, climate change, cost of living, housing, Medicare for All, and gun-safety laws.
Priority bills: As a member of the Palo Alto City Council, Lythcott-Haims has been a strong supporter of efforts to increase affordable housing development, establish systems to support improved youth mental health care, and create community around third-place establishments.
Governance and community leadership experience: Lythcott-Haims is an author, attorney, and academic administrator, which she does to build community across boundaries in Silicon Valley. She practiced law for four years before entering leadership at Stanford University, first as an associate dean in the School of Law and later as the dean of Freshmen and Undergraduate Advising. She has published four books, and has been an influential motivational speaker on the topics of transitioning to adulthood, parenting, and human achievement. Lythcott-Haims has had a long involvement in community life, and is a board member with California College of the Arts, Black Women’s Health Imperative, and LeanIn.org.
Other background: Julia Lythcott-Haims is from Nigeria and immigrated to the United States as a child. She moved to Palo Alto to attend Stanford and settled there with her family after graduating. She is the only woman running in the candidate field for this seat.
The Race
Primary election: There are 11 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Julia Lythcott-Haims (D), Joby Bernstein (D), Peter Dixon (D), Rishi Kumar (D), former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D), Assm. Evan Low (D), Ahmed Mostafa (D), Peter Ohtaki (R), Karl Ryan (R), Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian (D), and Greg Tanaka (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Lythcott-Haims’ campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Rishi Kumar
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kumar’s campaign has raised $35,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Joe Simitian
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Simitian’s campaign has raised $135,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the other candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s Santa Clara Congressional District includes parts of San Mateo County.
Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 27% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 26% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: CD-16 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 53 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 45 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.
Elect Julie Lythcott-Haims to keep CD-16 on the right track for progress.
Julie Lythcott-Haims’ policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of CD-16 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Lythcott-Haims has the endorsement of a few groups, including LPAC and Reach Coalition. She has also received the endorsement of some elected leaders, including Sen. Cory Booker, San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, former Palo Alto Mayor Larry Klein, and PAUSD Board Member Jennifer DiBrienza.
Electoral history: Lythcott-Haims has run for office previously, and won her race for Palo Alto City Council in 2022 with 18% of the vote.
Top issues: Reproductive rights, climate change, cost of living, housing, Medicare for All, and gun-safety laws.
Priority bills: As a member of the Palo Alto City Council, Lythcott-Haims has been a strong supporter of efforts to increase affordable housing development, establish systems to support improved youth mental health care, and create community around third-place establishments.
Governance and community leadership experience: Lythcott-Haims is an author, attorney, and academic administrator, which she does to build community across boundaries in Silicon Valley. She practiced law for four years before entering leadership at Stanford University, first as an associate dean in the School of Law and later as the dean of Freshmen and Undergraduate Advising. She has published four books, and has been an influential motivational speaker on the topics of transitioning to adulthood, parenting, and human achievement. Lythcott-Haims has had a long involvement in community life, and is a board member with California College of the Arts, Black Women’s Health Imperative, and LeanIn.org.
Other background: Julia Lythcott-Haims is from Nigeria and immigrated to the United States as a child. She moved to Palo Alto to attend Stanford and settled there with her family after graduating. She is the only woman running in the candidate field for this seat.
The Race
Primary election: There are 11 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Julia Lythcott-Haims (D), Joby Bernstein (D), Peter Dixon (D), Rishi Kumar (D), former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D), Assm. Evan Low (D), Ahmed Mostafa (D), Peter Ohtaki (R), Karl Ryan (R), Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian (D), and Greg Tanaka (D). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Lythcott-Haims’ campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Rishi Kumar
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kumar’s campaign has raised $35,000 as of December 2023, and is primarily funded by individual donors.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Joe Simitian
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Simitian’s campaign has raised $135,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, fossil fuel, corporate PAC, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: None of the other candidates in this race have filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the FEC as of December 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s Santa Clara Congressional District includes parts of San Mateo County.
Voter registration: 53% Democrat, 16% Republican, and 27% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 26% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: CD-16 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 53 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 45 points.
The Position
Congressmembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the United States Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts, each with a population of about 710,000 individuals. Each district elects a representative to the House of Representatives for a two-year term. California has 52 congressional representatives, the largest delegation in the country. There is no term limit for this position.
State Assembly
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Assembly races on your ballot.
State Assembly, 19th District
Based on our analysis, the two Democratic candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
Endorsements: San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood and Equality California, as well as labor unions like SEIU, National Union of Healthcare Workers, San Francisco Labor Council, and California Labor Council. She has also been endorsed by elected officials like State Controller Malia Cohen, Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymember Matt Haney, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
David Lee has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Clean Water Action and California Faculty Association. He has also been endorsed by elected officials like incumbent Assemblymember Phil Ting, Assemblymember and Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon, and San Francisco County Supervisor Connie Chan.
Key initiatives: As a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Stefani has chaired the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. She has supported survivors of domestic violence and authored legislation to provide resources like legal aid and counseling to victims of crimes. Stefani has been a longtime supporter of gun legislation, and founded the San Francisco chapter of Moms Demand Action. On the Board of Supervisors, she passed legislation to ban ghost guns in the city.
Lee has not previously served in elected office.
Governance and community leadership experience: Stefani has served on the Board of Supervisors since 2018, and has been considered the most conservative member of the board. Although she has voiced concern over the housing crisis, her record is mixed. In 2020, she was the only supervisor to vote against a citywide eviction moratorium in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was personally sued by a tenant for wrongful eviction. Stefani has supported more policing and was the first supervisor to endorse the recall of former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. She was believed to be a top candidate for Mayor London Breed’s appointment to replace him. Stefani was appointed as the San Francisco County Clerk by the late Mayor Ed Lee in 2016.
Lee is a lecturer, college administrator, and executive director of the nonprofit Chinese American Voters Education Committee. He has been a longtime supporter of efforts to increase civic engagement for underserved communities. As executive director, Lee has successfully increased Asian American voting participation. He organized voter-registration drives at Asian American cultural centers and community hubs, as well as public service campaigns in Chinese and Tagalog. In addition to his voter registration and engagement work with the Asian American community, he has also advocated for a ballot initiative that would have required a livestream of city government.
Other background: Stefani is a former prosecutor and is from Merced, CA.
Lee is from the Richmond district of San Francisco.
The Race
Primary election: There are 4 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Catherine Stefani (D), David Lee (D), and Arjun Sodhani (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Stefani’s campaign has raised $528,922 and is not funded by the fossil fuel industry. She has received donations from corporate PACs and the police, and has also accepted nearly $40,000 from the real estate industry. Lee’s campaign has raised $200,400 and is not funded by the fossil fuel industry, corporate PACs, or the police. He has accepted donations from the real estate industry.
Opposing candidate: Republicans Arjun Sodhani and Nadia Flamenco
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: As of December 2023, neither Republican has filed any donation receipts.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 19th Assembly District includes parts of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 61% Democrat, 9% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 12% Latino, 43% Asian, and 4% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Asian-American seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-19 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 66 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 63 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
Based on our analysis, the two Democratic candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
Endorsements: San Francisco Supervisor Catherine Stefani has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood and Equality California, as well as labor unions like SEIU, National Union of Healthcare Workers, San Francisco Labor Council, and California Labor Council. She has also been endorsed by elected officials like State Controller Malia Cohen, Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymember Matt Haney, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
David Lee has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Clean Water Action and California Faculty Association. He has also been endorsed by elected officials like incumbent Assemblymember Phil Ting, Assemblymember and Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon, and San Francisco County Supervisor Connie Chan.
Key initiatives: As a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Stefani has chaired the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. She has supported survivors of domestic violence and authored legislation to provide resources like legal aid and counseling to victims of crimes. Stefani has been a longtime supporter of gun legislation, and founded the San Francisco chapter of Moms Demand Action. On the Board of Supervisors, she passed legislation to ban ghost guns in the city.
Lee has not previously served in elected office.
Governance and community leadership experience: Stefani has served on the Board of Supervisors since 2018, and has been considered the most conservative member of the board. Although she has voiced concern over the housing crisis, her record is mixed. In 2020, she was the only supervisor to vote against a citywide eviction moratorium in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was personally sued by a tenant for wrongful eviction. Stefani has supported more policing and was the first supervisor to endorse the recall of former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. She was believed to be a top candidate for Mayor London Breed’s appointment to replace him. Stefani was appointed as the San Francisco County Clerk by the late Mayor Ed Lee in 2016.
Lee is a lecturer, college administrator, and executive director of the nonprofit Chinese American Voters Education Committee. He has been a longtime supporter of efforts to increase civic engagement for underserved communities. As executive director, Lee has successfully increased Asian American voting participation. He organized voter-registration drives at Asian American cultural centers and community hubs, as well as public service campaigns in Chinese and Tagalog. In addition to his voter registration and engagement work with the Asian American community, he has also advocated for a ballot initiative that would have required a livestream of city government.
Other background: Stefani is a former prosecutor and is from Merced, CA.
Lee is from the Richmond district of San Francisco.
The Race
Primary election: There are 4 candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Catherine Stefani (D), David Lee (D), and Arjun Sodhani (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Stefani’s campaign has raised $528,922 and is not funded by the fossil fuel industry. She has received donations from corporate PACs and the police, and has also accepted nearly $40,000 from the real estate industry. Lee’s campaign has raised $200,400 and is not funded by the fossil fuel industry, corporate PACs, or the police. He has accepted donations from the real estate industry.
Opposing candidate: Republicans Arjun Sodhani and Nadia Flamenco
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: As of December 2023, neither Republican has filed any donation receipts.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 19th Assembly District includes parts of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 61% Democrat, 9% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 12% Latino, 43% Asian, and 4% Black. This district is considered to be one of the strong Asian-American seats in the California Assembly delegation.
Recent election results: AD-19 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 66 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 63 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
State Assembly, 21st District
Re-elect Assemblymember Diane Papan to keep AD-21 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Diane Papan’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-21 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Papan has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, AFSCME California. In previous elections, Papan has received problematic endorsements from the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and corporate Democrats Assm. Jim Cooper, State Sen. Susan Rubio, and Assm. Blanca Rubio.
Top issues: Reproductive justice, wildfire-prevention infrastructure, homelessness and housing, climate protections, and gun violence prevention.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Papan’s priorities for AD-21 have included 21 bills about educational technology and cybersecurity, housing, water management, and paid family leave. Of these, six have been successfully chaptered into law, three have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored and passed legislation to require water conservation analysis and reporting, to include State Department of Education members in the California Cybersecurity Integration Center, and to require an evaluation of innovative aerial firefighting technology to determine whether it could be utilized in the state. She scores a CS of 82 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Papan has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Papan avoided votes on several critical bills this session, including SB1604 to increase accountability and funding transparency for charter schools, SB770 to advance the effort to establish a single-payer health-care system in the state, and AB1310 to allow resentencing for individuals subject to firearm enhancements.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Papan currently sits on 10 committees, including Appropriations, Communications and Conveyance, Judiciary, and Privacy and Consumer Protection. She serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Water Parks and Wildlife, and is the assistant majority leader on Policy and Research.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Papan has served in this assembly seat since 2022, when she was elected with over 72% of the vote.
Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Papan served as a member of the San Mateo City Council, where she was a strong supporter of increasing the availability of subsidized housing, building flood walls to protect against sea-level rise, and funding grade-separation projects to improve train infrastructure. She has served as a nonprofit executive and an attorney in private practice, and was the executive director of John’s Closet, which provides clothing to youth in the area. She has also provided leadership on the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County, the San Mateo County Council of Cities, the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Authority, and the Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency Board. Papan is the daughter of the late influential Assm. Lou Papan, who served for 20 years. She cites her father’s public service and her family’s medical challenges as shaping the sense of service she has carried into her public work.
Other background: Papan is from Daly City and is a longtime resident of San Mateo.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Diane Papan (D), and Mark Gilham (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Papan’s campaign has raised $311,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Mark Gilham
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Gilham’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 21st Assembly District includes parts of San Mateo County.
Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 25% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: AD-21 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 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 Diane Papan to keep AD-21 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Diane Papan’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-21 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Papan has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, AFSCME California. In previous elections, Papan has received problematic endorsements from the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and corporate Democrats Assm. Jim Cooper, State Sen. Susan Rubio, and Assm. Blanca Rubio.
Top issues: Reproductive justice, wildfire-prevention infrastructure, homelessness and housing, climate protections, and gun violence prevention.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Papan’s priorities for AD-21 have included 21 bills about educational technology and cybersecurity, housing, water management, and paid family leave. Of these, six have been successfully chaptered into law, three have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored and passed legislation to require water conservation analysis and reporting, to include State Department of Education members in the California Cybersecurity Integration Center, and to require an evaluation of innovative aerial firefighting technology to determine whether it could be utilized in the state. She scores a CS of 82 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Papan has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Papan avoided votes on several critical bills this session, including SB1604 to increase accountability and funding transparency for charter schools, SB770 to advance the effort to establish a single-payer health-care system in the state, and AB1310 to allow resentencing for individuals subject to firearm enhancements.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Papan currently sits on 10 committees, including Appropriations, Communications and Conveyance, Judiciary, and Privacy and Consumer Protection. She serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Water Parks and Wildlife, and is the assistant majority leader on Policy and Research.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Papan has served in this assembly seat since 2022, when she was elected with over 72% of the vote.
Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Papan served as a member of the San Mateo City Council, where she was a strong supporter of increasing the availability of subsidized housing, building flood walls to protect against sea-level rise, and funding grade-separation projects to improve train infrastructure. She has served as a nonprofit executive and an attorney in private practice, and was the executive director of John’s Closet, which provides clothing to youth in the area. She has also provided leadership on the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County, the San Mateo County Council of Cities, the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Authority, and the Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency Board. Papan is the daughter of the late influential Assm. Lou Papan, who served for 20 years. She cites her father’s public service and her family’s medical challenges as shaping the sense of service she has carried into her public work.
Other background: Papan is from Daly City and is a longtime resident of San Mateo.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Diane Papan (D), and Mark Gilham (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Papan’s campaign has raised $311,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Mark Gilham
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Gilham’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 21st Assembly District includes parts of San Mateo County.
Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 25% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: AD-21 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 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 Diane Papan to keep AD-21 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Diane Papan’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-21 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Papan has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, AFSCME California. In previous elections, Papan has received problematic endorsements from the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association and corporate Democrats Assm. Jim Cooper, State Sen. Susan Rubio, and Assm. Blanca Rubio.
Top issues: Reproductive justice, wildfire-prevention infrastructure, homelessness and housing, climate protections, and gun violence prevention.
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Papan’s priorities for AD-21 have included 21 bills about educational technology and cybersecurity, housing, water management, and paid family leave. Of these, six have been successfully chaptered into law, three have been vetoed, and the rest remain in committee. She has sponsored and passed legislation to require water conservation analysis and reporting, to include State Department of Education members in the California Cybersecurity Integration Center, and to require an evaluation of innovative aerial firefighting technology to determine whether it could be utilized in the state. She scores a CS of 82 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Papan has supported some progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Papan avoided votes on several critical bills this session, including SB1604 to increase accountability and funding transparency for charter schools, SB770 to advance the effort to establish a single-payer health-care system in the state, and AB1310 to allow resentencing for individuals subject to firearm enhancements.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Papan currently sits on 10 committees, including Appropriations, Communications and Conveyance, Judiciary, and Privacy and Consumer Protection. She serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Water Parks and Wildlife, and is the assistant majority leader on Policy and Research.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Papan has served in this assembly seat since 2022, when she was elected with over 72% of the vote.
Prior to her election to the Assembly, Assm. Papan served as a member of the San Mateo City Council, where she was a strong supporter of increasing the availability of subsidized housing, building flood walls to protect against sea-level rise, and funding grade-separation projects to improve train infrastructure. She has served as a nonprofit executive and an attorney in private practice, and was the executive director of John’s Closet, which provides clothing to youth in the area. She has also provided leadership on the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County, the San Mateo County Council of Cities, the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Authority, and the Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency Board. Papan is the daughter of the late influential Assm. Lou Papan, who served for 20 years. She cites her father’s public service and her family’s medical challenges as shaping the sense of service she has carried into her public work.
Other background: Papan is from Daly City and is a longtime resident of San Mateo.
The Race
Primary election: There are two candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Diane Papan (D), and Mark Gilham (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Papan’s campaign has raised $311,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by police, real estate, fossil fuel, and corporate PAC interests.
Opposing candidate: Republican Mark Gilham
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Gilham’s campaign has not filed any campaign fundraising receipts with the Secretary of State’s office as of December 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 21st Assembly District includes parts of San Mateo County.
Voter registration: 56% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 20% Latino, 25% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: AD-21 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
State Assembly, 23rd District
Re-elect Assemblymember Marc Berman to keep AD-23 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Marc Berman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-23 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Notably, Assm. Berman’s office was named in a workplace-harassment complaint that was made by a former staffer in 2022. The complaint alleged that a supervisor in his Los Altos office consistently made sex-based comments and advances toward female staffers, and provided preferential support to one female member of the staff. Assm. Berman made no staffing changes as a result of the complaint, and has failed to publicly work toward reforming the state legislative workplace-complaint process. Voters should continue to work to hold him accountable for any failures in leadership related to this or other incidents.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Berman has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Education and STEM programs, firearm and weapons safety, election access and security, health care, and environmental protections
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Berman’s priorities for AD-23 have included 27 bills about election security, firearm safety, education, and housing and lodging. Of these, 18 have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to add academic criteria to the qualification standards for Cal Grant, humanize the language used in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, and expand the number of labs eligible to process COVID-19 tests. He scores a CS of 93 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Berman has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Berman has failed to cast a vote on some critical legislation, including bills to establish the California Housing Authority, create emissions and pollution accountability for corporations, strengthen eviction protections for tenants, and support post-incarceration employment opportunities. Additionally, he failed to support AB1505, which would empower local districts to evaluate charter-school applications based on economic-impact criteria. This is not surprising, considering he has previously accepted campaign donations from California Charter Schools Association Advocates for Great Public Schools. Assemblymember Berman also voted to support AB 1366, which would eliminate critical oversight of telecom companies. He has accepted campaign donations from AT&T Inc, one of the largest telecom providers.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Berman currently sits on four committees, including Governmental Organization, Insurance, and Transportation. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Business and Professions, and the Select Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education in California. Assm. Berman is also a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Berman has served in this assembly seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 54% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 46 points.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Berman served as an elected member of the Palo Alto City Council, supporting significant improvements to the city’s infrastructure and public safety. Assm. Berman is a longtime supporter of voting rights and reform. During law school, he worked as a summer analyst with the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and was an author of the Assembly bill that made California a permanent vote-by-mail state.
Other background: Assm. Berman is from Palo Alto. Prior to his public service, he was an attorney in private practice and worked with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, a STEM-focused nonprofit organization.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Marc Berman (D), Lydia Kou (D), Allan Marson (R), and Gus Mattammal (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Berman’s campaign has raised $557,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police interests.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Lydia Kou
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kou’s campaign has raised $64,000 as of December 2023, and is funded primarily by individual donors.
Opposing candidate: Republican Gus Mattammal
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Mattammal’s campaign has raised $22,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 23rd Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 54% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 28% No Party Preference. Prior to redistricting, Republicans typically held this seat. It has been held by democratic Assm. Marc Berman since 2022.
District demographics: 9% Latino, 27% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: AD-23 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 59 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 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 Marc Berman to keep AD-23 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Marc Berman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-23 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Notably, Assm. Berman’s office was named in a workplace-harassment complaint that was made by a former staffer in 2022. The complaint alleged that a supervisor in his Los Altos office consistently made sex-based comments and advances toward female staffers, and provided preferential support to one female member of the staff. Assm. Berman made no staffing changes as a result of the complaint, and has failed to publicly work toward reforming the state legislative workplace-complaint process. Voters should continue to work to hold him accountable for any failures in leadership related to this or other incidents.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Berman has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Education and STEM programs, firearm and weapons safety, election access and security, health care, and environmental protections
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Berman’s priorities for AD-23 have included 27 bills about election security, firearm safety, education, and housing and lodging. Of these, 18 have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to add academic criteria to the qualification standards for Cal Grant, humanize the language used in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, and expand the number of labs eligible to process COVID-19 tests. He scores a CS of 93 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Berman has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Berman has failed to cast a vote on some critical legislation, including bills to establish the California Housing Authority, create emissions and pollution accountability for corporations, strengthen eviction protections for tenants, and support post-incarceration employment opportunities. Additionally, he failed to support AB1505, which would empower local districts to evaluate charter-school applications based on economic-impact criteria. This is not surprising, considering he has previously accepted campaign donations from California Charter Schools Association Advocates for Great Public Schools. Assemblymember Berman also voted to support AB 1366, which would eliminate critical oversight of telecom companies. He has accepted campaign donations from AT&T Inc, one of the largest telecom providers.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Berman currently sits on four committees, including Governmental Organization, Insurance, and Transportation. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Business and Professions, and the Select Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education in California. Assm. Berman is also a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Berman has served in this assembly seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 54% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 46 points.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Berman served as an elected member of the Palo Alto City Council, supporting significant improvements to the city’s infrastructure and public safety. Assm. Berman is a longtime supporter of voting rights and reform. During law school, he worked as a summer analyst with the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and was an author of the Assembly bill that made California a permanent vote-by-mail state.
Other background: Assm. Berman is from Palo Alto. Prior to his public service, he was an attorney in private practice and worked with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, a STEM-focused nonprofit organization.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Marc Berman (D), Lydia Kou (D), Allan Marson (R), and Gus Mattammal (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Berman’s campaign has raised $557,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police interests.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Lydia Kou
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kou’s campaign has raised $64,000 as of December 2023, and is funded primarily by individual donors.
Opposing candidate: Republican Gus Mattammal
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Mattammal’s campaign has raised $22,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 23rd Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 54% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 28% No Party Preference. Prior to redistricting, Republicans typically held this seat. It has been held by democratic Assm. Marc Berman since 2022.
District demographics: 9% Latino, 27% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: AD-23 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 59 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 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 Marc Berman to keep AD-23 on the right track for progress.
Assm. Marc Berman’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a representative voice for the constituents of AD-23 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Notably, Assm. Berman’s office was named in a workplace-harassment complaint that was made by a former staffer in 2022. The complaint alleged that a supervisor in his Los Altos office consistently made sex-based comments and advances toward female staffers, and provided preferential support to one female member of the staff. Assm. Berman made no staffing changes as a result of the complaint, and has failed to publicly work toward reforming the state legislative workplace-complaint process. Voters should continue to work to hold him accountable for any failures in leadership related to this or other incidents.
Progressive endorsements: Assm. Berman has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Education and STEM programs, firearm and weapons safety, election access and security, health care, and environmental protections
Priority bills: This year, Assm. Berman’s priorities for AD-23 have included 27 bills about election security, firearm safety, education, and housing and lodging. Of these, 18 have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. He has sponsored and passed legislation to add academic criteria to the qualification standards for Cal Grant, humanize the language used in the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, and expand the number of labs eligible to process COVID-19 tests. He scores a CS of 93 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Assm. Berman has supported the most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Assm. Berman has failed to cast a vote on some critical legislation, including bills to establish the California Housing Authority, create emissions and pollution accountability for corporations, strengthen eviction protections for tenants, and support post-incarceration employment opportunities. Additionally, he failed to support AB1505, which would empower local districts to evaluate charter-school applications based on economic-impact criteria. This is not surprising, considering he has previously accepted campaign donations from California Charter Schools Association Advocates for Great Public Schools. Assemblymember Berman also voted to support AB 1366, which would eliminate critical oversight of telecom companies. He has accepted campaign donations from AT&T Inc, one of the largest telecom providers.
Committee leadership/membership: Assm. Berman currently sits on four committees, including Governmental Organization, Insurance, and Transportation. He serves as chair of the Standing Committee on Business and Professions, and the Select Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education in California. Assm. Berman is also a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.
Governance and community leadership experience: Assm. Berman has served in this assembly seat since 2016, when he was elected with over 54% of the vote. In 2022, he won his re-election against a Republican challenger by 46 points.
Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Assm. Berman served as an elected member of the Palo Alto City Council, supporting significant improvements to the city’s infrastructure and public safety. Assm. Berman is a longtime supporter of voting rights and reform. During law school, he worked as a summer analyst with the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and was an author of the Assembly bill that made California a permanent vote-by-mail state.
Other background: Assm. Berman is from Palo Alto. Prior to his public service, he was an attorney in private practice and worked with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, a STEM-focused nonprofit organization.
The Race
Primary election: There are four candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Assm. Marc Berman (D), Lydia Kou (D), Allan Marson (R), and Gus Mattammal (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Assm. Berman’s campaign has raised $557,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police interests.
Opposing candidate: Democrat Lydia Kou
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Kou’s campaign has raised $64,000 as of December 2023, and is funded primarily by individual donors.
Opposing candidate: Republican Gus Mattammal
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Mattammal’s campaign has raised $22,000 as of December 2023, and is funded by individual donors.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 23rd Assembly District includes parts of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 54% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 28% No Party Preference. Prior to redistricting, Republicans typically held this seat. It has been held by democratic Assm. Marc Berman since 2022.
District demographics: 9% Latino, 27% Asian, and 2% Black.
Recent election results: AD-23 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 59 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 points.
The Position
State assemblymembers represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Assembly has 80 districts. Each represents a population of at least 465,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Assembly for a two-year term. Every two years, all 80 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years) in the Assembly. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a three-quarters supermajority of 60 seats in the California State Assembly, while Republicans hold 19 seats and one seat is held by an Independent.
State Senate
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.
State Senator, 11th District
Re-elect State Senator Scott Wiener to keep SD-11 on the right track for progress.
Sen. Scott Wiener’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-11 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Sen. Wiener has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and SEIU United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Homelessness and housing, climate and environmental protections, criminal justice reform and reducing incarceration, health care, workforce protections and equity, public transportation, and consumer protection and transparency.
Priority bills: This year, Sen. Wiener’s priorities for SD-11 have included 26 bills about wildfire prevention, housing development, corporate climate accountability, and health care. Of these, 10 have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. Sen. Wiener, who has supported every single-payer bill in the state legislature, co-authored SB770 to advance the creation of a single-payer health-care system by engaging stakeholders and leaders in discussions on program and funding. He has also sponsored legislation to require mental-health screening and treatment in state prisons, to cap the insulin copay for individuals who carry a disability insurance policy, to decriminalize some hallucinogenic substances, and to shift wildfire-risk assessment from the state fire marshall to local agencies. Wiener has been a strong advocate of affordable housing reform and resolving California’s housing crisis, and has sponsored two critical bills this term. SB4 would allow faith institutions and nonprofit colleges to build affordable housing units on their property. SB423 would streamline construction in areas where housing goals have not been achieved, though it was opposed by some coastal cities and environmental groups. He scores a Lifetime CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has earned the Courage All-Star distinction every year since 2017. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Sen. Wiener has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote during his time in the state Senate. In the 2021–22 legislative cycle, he co-authored several of the progressive bills evaluated for Courage Score, including AB2053 to establish the California Housing Authority, SB1173 to divest public pensions from fossil fuel interests, and SB57 to permit the establishment of overdose prevention programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland.
Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Wiener currently sits on 10 committees, including Ethics, Judiciary, Health, Public Safety, Appropriations, and Government & Finance. He serves as chair of the Housing Committee.
Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Wiener has served in this state senate seat since 2016, when he was narrowly elected with over 50% of the vote. In 2020, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 14 points.
Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Wiener sat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where he focused on improving housing and public transit, and water and solar energy protections. He is also an attorney and spent 15 years practicing law in private practice, and as a Deputy City Attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office. He is a longtime supporter of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, and served on the national board of directors for the Human Rights Campaign.
Other background: Sen. Wiener is originally from New Jersey and has lived in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood for over 25 years. He holds a law degree from Harvard University and was a Fulbright Scholar.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Sen. Scott Wiener (D), Cynthia Cravens (D), Yvette Corkrean (R), and Chuck Hung (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Wiener’s campaign has raised $1.1 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel donors.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The campaigns of Cravens, Corkrean, and Hung have not filed any campaign finance disclosures with the California Secretary of State’s office as of October 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 11th State Senate District includes parts of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 62% Democrat, 7% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 13% Latino, 38% Asian, and 6% Black.
Recent election results: SD-11 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 70 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 68 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 Scott Wiener to keep SD-11 on the right track for progress.
Sen. Scott Wiener’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-11 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Sen. Wiener has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and SEIU United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Homelessness and housing, climate and environmental protections, criminal justice reform and reducing incarceration, health care, workforce protections and equity, public transportation, and consumer protection and transparency.
Priority bills: This year, Sen. Wiener’s priorities for SD-11 have included 26 bills about wildfire prevention, housing development, corporate climate accountability, and health care. Of these, 10 have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. Sen. Wiener, who has supported every single-payer bill in the state legislature, co-authored SB770 to advance the creation of a single-payer health-care system by engaging stakeholders and leaders in discussions on program and funding. He has also sponsored legislation to require mental-health screening and treatment in state prisons, to cap the insulin copay for individuals who carry a disability insurance policy, to decriminalize some hallucinogenic substances, and to shift wildfire-risk assessment from the state fire marshall to local agencies. Wiener has been a strong advocate of affordable housing reform and resolving California’s housing crisis, and has sponsored two critical bills this term. SB4 would allow faith institutions and nonprofit colleges to build affordable housing units on their property. SB423 would streamline construction in areas where housing goals have not been achieved, though it was opposed by some coastal cities and environmental groups. He scores a Lifetime CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has earned the Courage All-Star distinction every year since 2017. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Sen. Wiener has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote during his time in the state Senate. In the 2021–22 legislative cycle, he co-authored several of the progressive bills evaluated for Courage Score, including AB2053 to establish the California Housing Authority, SB1173 to divest public pensions from fossil fuel interests, and SB57 to permit the establishment of overdose prevention programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland.
Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Wiener currently sits on 10 committees, including Ethics, Judiciary, Health, Public Safety, Appropriations, and Government & Finance. He serves as chair of the Housing Committee.
Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Wiener has served in this state senate seat since 2016, when he was narrowly elected with over 50% of the vote. In 2020, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 14 points.
Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Wiener sat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where he focused on improving housing and public transit, and water and solar energy protections. He is also an attorney and spent 15 years practicing law in private practice, and as a Deputy City Attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office. He is a longtime supporter of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, and served on the national board of directors for the Human Rights Campaign.
Other background: Sen. Wiener is originally from New Jersey and has lived in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood for over 25 years. He holds a law degree from Harvard University and was a Fulbright Scholar.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Sen. Scott Wiener (D), Cynthia Cravens (D), Yvette Corkrean (R), and Chuck Hung (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Wiener’s campaign has raised $1.1 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel donors.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The campaigns of Cravens, Corkrean, and Hung have not filed any campaign finance disclosures with the California Secretary of State’s office as of October 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 11th State Senate District includes parts of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 62% Democrat, 7% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 13% Latino, 38% Asian, and 6% Black.
Recent election results: SD-11 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 70 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 68 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 Scott Wiener to keep SD-11 on the right track for progress.
Sen. Scott Wiener’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-11 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Sen. Wiener has the endorsement of many progressive groups, including Equality California, California Environmental Voters, and SEIU United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Homelessness and housing, climate and environmental protections, criminal justice reform and reducing incarceration, health care, workforce protections and equity, public transportation, and consumer protection and transparency.
Priority bills: This year, Sen. Wiener’s priorities for SD-11 have included 26 bills about wildfire prevention, housing development, corporate climate accountability, and health care. Of these, 10 have been successfully chaptered into law, and the rest remain in committee. Sen. Wiener, who has supported every single-payer bill in the state legislature, co-authored SB770 to advance the creation of a single-payer health-care system by engaging stakeholders and leaders in discussions on program and funding. He has also sponsored legislation to require mental-health screening and treatment in state prisons, to cap the insulin copay for individuals who carry a disability insurance policy, to decriminalize some hallucinogenic substances, and to shift wildfire-risk assessment from the state fire marshall to local agencies. Wiener has been a strong advocate of affordable housing reform and resolving California’s housing crisis, and has sponsored two critical bills this term. SB4 would allow faith institutions and nonprofit colleges to build affordable housing units on their property. SB423 would streamline construction in areas where housing goals have not been achieved, though it was opposed by some coastal cities and environmental groups. He scores a Lifetime CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and has earned the Courage All-Star distinction every year since 2017. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Sen. Wiener has supported nearly all progressive bills that made it to a vote during his time in the state Senate. In the 2021–22 legislative cycle, he co-authored several of the progressive bills evaluated for Courage Score, including AB2053 to establish the California Housing Authority, SB1173 to divest public pensions from fossil fuel interests, and SB57 to permit the establishment of overdose prevention programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland.
Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Wiener currently sits on 10 committees, including Ethics, Judiciary, Health, Public Safety, Appropriations, and Government & Finance. He serves as chair of the Housing Committee.
Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Wiener has served in this state senate seat since 2016, when he was narrowly elected with over 50% of the vote. In 2020, he won his re-election against a Democratic challenger by 14 points.
Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Wiener sat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where he focused on improving housing and public transit, and water and solar energy protections. He is also an attorney and spent 15 years practicing law in private practice, and as a Deputy City Attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office. He is a longtime supporter of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, and served on the national board of directors for the Human Rights Campaign.
Other background: Sen. Wiener is originally from New Jersey and has lived in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood for over 25 years. He holds a law degree from Harvard University and was a Fulbright Scholar.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Sen. Scott Wiener (D), Cynthia Cravens (D), Yvette Corkrean (R), and Chuck Hung (NPP). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Wiener’s campaign has raised $1.1 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by police, real estate, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel donors.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The campaigns of Cravens, Corkrean, and Hung have not filed any campaign finance disclosures with the California Secretary of State’s office as of October 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 11th State Senate District includes parts of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Voter registration: 62% Democrat, 7% Republican, and 25% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 13% Latino, 38% Asian, and 6% Black.
Recent election results: SD-11 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 70 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 68 points.
The Position
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.
State Senator, 13th District
Re-elect State Senator Josh Becker to keep SD-13 on the right track for progress.
Sen. Josh Becker’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-13 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Sen. Becker has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters and SEIU United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Clean energy, emissions reduction, voter protections, technology accessibility, mental health care, and criminal justice reform.
Priority bills: This year, Sen. Becker’s priorities for SD-13 have included 25 bills about energy efficiency, criminal justice reform, health care, environmental protections, and renewable energy. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law and the rest remain in committee. This term, he has sponsored or passed legislation intended to improve criminal and environmental justice reforms. He co-authored SB81 to create more fairness and transparency in determinations of whether an individual is suited for release, SB474 to require that no more than a 35% markup be added to items sold in prison canteens, and SB448 to establish more equity in the process of considering a minor for release to home supervision. A longtime advocate for environmental and climate protections, he co-authored SB261 to require businesses with revenue over $500 million to produce biennial reports of their climate-related financial risk, and authored SB48 to establish a strategy for the use of energy-building data to track and manage the emission of greenhouse gas in the state. He scores a CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Sen. Becker has supported most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Becker opposed SB679, which aimed to create the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency to increase the development and preservation of housing across the region.
Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Becker currently sits on six committees, including Budget & Fiscal Review, Transportation, Joint Legislative Budget, and Business, Professions, & Economic Development. He serves as chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy. He also serves as vice chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.
Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Becker has served in this state Senate seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 75% of the vote.
Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Becker was a public-policy leader, where he invested in supporting communities in economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, education, and health. In 2000, he created the Full Circle Fund, a community organization funding Bay Area nonprofits to create positive change. Additionally, Becker was appointed to the CA State Workforce Development Board for five years by Governor Jerry Brown, and later served the community of San Mateo on the Child Care Partnership Council. Becker also founded Clean Tech for Barack Obama, co-founded the Stanford Board Fellows program to train students to serve on the boards of local nonprofits, and co-founded New Cycle Capital.
Other background: Sen. Becker has lived in Menlo Park for over 20 years. He is a longtime supporter of business initiatives that create an ongoing social impact across communities.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Sen. Josh Becker (D), Alex Glew (R), and Maria Christina Laskowski (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Becker’s campaign has raised $1.2 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by corporate PAC or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The campaigns of Glew and Laskowski have not filed any campaign finance disclosures with the California Secretary of State’s office as of October 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 13th State Senate District includes parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
Voter registration: 54% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 26% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 26% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: SD-13 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 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 Josh Becker to keep SD-13 on the right track for progress.
Sen. Josh Becker’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-13 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Sen. Becker has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters and SEIU United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Clean energy, emissions reduction, voter protections, technology accessibility, mental health care, and criminal justice reform.
Priority bills: This year, Sen. Becker’s priorities for SD-13 have included 25 bills about energy efficiency, criminal justice reform, health care, environmental protections, and renewable energy. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law and the rest remain in committee. This term, he has sponsored or passed legislation intended to improve criminal and environmental justice reforms. He co-authored SB81 to create more fairness and transparency in determinations of whether an individual is suited for release, SB474 to require that no more than a 35% markup be added to items sold in prison canteens, and SB448 to establish more equity in the process of considering a minor for release to home supervision. A longtime advocate for environmental and climate protections, he co-authored SB261 to require businesses with revenue over $500 million to produce biennial reports of their climate-related financial risk, and authored SB48 to establish a strategy for the use of energy-building data to track and manage the emission of greenhouse gas in the state. He scores a CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Sen. Becker has supported most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Becker opposed SB679, which aimed to create the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency to increase the development and preservation of housing across the region.
Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Becker currently sits on six committees, including Budget & Fiscal Review, Transportation, Joint Legislative Budget, and Business, Professions, & Economic Development. He serves as chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy. He also serves as vice chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.
Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Becker has served in this state Senate seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 75% of the vote.
Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Becker was a public-policy leader, where he invested in supporting communities in economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, education, and health. In 2000, he created the Full Circle Fund, a community organization funding Bay Area nonprofits to create positive change. Additionally, Becker was appointed to the CA State Workforce Development Board for five years by Governor Jerry Brown, and later served the community of San Mateo on the Child Care Partnership Council. Becker also founded Clean Tech for Barack Obama, co-founded the Stanford Board Fellows program to train students to serve on the boards of local nonprofits, and co-founded New Cycle Capital.
Other background: Sen. Becker has lived in Menlo Park for over 20 years. He is a longtime supporter of business initiatives that create an ongoing social impact across communities.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Sen. Josh Becker (D), Alex Glew (R), and Maria Christina Laskowski (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Becker’s campaign has raised $1.2 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by corporate PAC or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The campaigns of Glew and Laskowski have not filed any campaign finance disclosures with the California Secretary of State’s office as of October 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 13th State Senate District includes parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
Voter registration: 54% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 26% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 26% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: SD-13 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 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 Josh Becker to keep SD-13 on the right track for progress.
Sen. Josh Becker’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that he will continue to be a progressive voice for the constituents of SD-13 and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Sen. Becker has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including California Environmental Voters and SEIU United Healthcare Workers West.
Top issues: Clean energy, emissions reduction, voter protections, technology accessibility, mental health care, and criminal justice reform.
Priority bills: This year, Sen. Becker’s priorities for SD-13 have included 25 bills about energy efficiency, criminal justice reform, health care, environmental protections, and renewable energy. Of these, nine have been successfully chaptered into law and the rest remain in committee. This term, he has sponsored or passed legislation intended to improve criminal and environmental justice reforms. He co-authored SB81 to create more fairness and transparency in determinations of whether an individual is suited for release, SB474 to require that no more than a 35% markup be added to items sold in prison canteens, and SB448 to establish more equity in the process of considering a minor for release to home supervision. A longtime advocate for environmental and climate protections, he co-authored SB261 to require businesses with revenue over $500 million to produce biennial reports of their climate-related financial risk, and authored SB48 to establish a strategy for the use of energy-building data to track and manage the emission of greenhouse gas in the state. He scores a CS of 95 out of 100 on Courage Score, our annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. Based on our Courage Score analysis, Sen. Becker has supported most progressive bills that made it to a vote. That said, Sen. Becker opposed SB679, which aimed to create the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency to increase the development and preservation of housing across the region.
Committee leadership/membership: Sen. Becker currently sits on six committees, including Budget & Fiscal Review, Transportation, Joint Legislative Budget, and Business, Professions, & Economic Development. He serves as chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy. He also serves as vice chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.
Governance and community leadership experience: Sen. Becker has served in this state Senate seat since 2020, when he was elected with over 75% of the vote.
Prior to his election to the state Senate, Sen. Becker was a public-policy leader, where he invested in supporting communities in economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, education, and health. In 2000, he created the Full Circle Fund, a community organization funding Bay Area nonprofits to create positive change. Additionally, Becker was appointed to the CA State Workforce Development Board for five years by Governor Jerry Brown, and later served the community of San Mateo on the Child Care Partnership Council. Becker also founded Clean Tech for Barack Obama, co-founded the Stanford Board Fellows program to train students to serve on the boards of local nonprofits, and co-founded New Cycle Capital.
Other background: Sen. Becker has lived in Menlo Park for over 20 years. He is a longtime supporter of business initiatives that create an ongoing social impact across communities.
The Race
Primary election: There are three candidates running in the March 5 primary, including Sen. Josh Becker (D), Alex Glew (R), and Maria Christina Laskowski (R). The top two vote recipients will advance to the general election on November 5.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Sen. Becker’s campaign has raised $1.2 million as of October 2023, and is not funded by corporate PAC or fossil fuel interests.
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: The campaigns of Glew and Laskowski have not filed any campaign finance disclosures with the California Secretary of State’s office as of October 2023.
The District
Counties in district: California’s 13th State Senate District includes parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
Voter registration: 54% Democrat, 14% Republican, and 26% No Party Preference. Democrats typically hold this district.
District demographics: 14% Latino, 26% Asian, and 3% Black.
Recent election results: SD-13 voted for Joe Biden for president in 2020 by 58 points and Gavin Newsom for governor in 2022 by 50 points.
The Position
State senators represent and advocate for the needs of their district constituents at the California State Capitol. They are responsible for creating, debating, and voting on legislation that addresses issues within their district.
The California State Senate has 40 districts. Each represents a population of about 930,000 Californians. Representatives are elected to the Senate for a four-year term. Every two years, half of the Senate's 40 seats are subject to election. Members elected before 2012 are restricted to two four-year terms (eight years) in the Senate. Those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years total across both the state Senate or Assembly. This term, Democrats currently hold a two-thirds supermajority of 31 seats in the California State Senate, while Republicans hold 9 seats.
San Mateo County, District 4
Depending on where you live, you may have the below county-districted races on your ballot.
Elect Lisa Gauthier to put San Mateo County on the right track for progress.
Lisa Gauthier’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of San Mateo County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Gauthier has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, SEIU Local 521, and Reach Coalition Ally. She has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including State Controller Malia Cohen, Rep. Anna Eshoo, State Sen. Josh Becker, State Sen. Aisha Wahab, and three members of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
Electoral history: Gauthier won her race for East Palo Alto City Council in 2012 after earning over 15% of the vote. She has been reelected twice, in 2016 and 2020, when she earned 29% of the vote and 17% of the vote, respectively.
Top issues: Public safety, access to affordable health care, homelessness and affordable housing, climate change, and social equity.
Governance and community leadership experience: Gauthier is a member of the East Palo Alto City Council, which she does to provide strong leadership on the issues facing her community. She recently completed her third term as mayor, and has been instrumental in supporting the development of a 185 unit housing development on Bayshore Road that opened last year. In addition to her public role, Gauthier serves as a senior vice president for Silicon Valley Leadership Group, where she supports initiatives related to workforce development, education, racial equity, and health-care policy.
Other background: Gauthnier is a lifelong resident of East Palo Alto. She returned to school as an adult learner and obtained her bachelor’s degree while serving as mayor of East Palo Alto in 2019.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Lisa Gauthier, Antonio Lopez, Celeste Brevard, Paul Bocanegra, and Maggie Cornejo. 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: Gauthier’s campaign has raised $40,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Antonio Lopez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Lopez’s campaign has raised $14,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Paul Bocanegra
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Bocanegra’s campaign has raised $4,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Maggie Cornejo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Cornejo’s campaign has raised $1,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
The District
County: San Mateo County is California’s 15th most populous county. District 4 includes Redwood City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and unincorporated areas.
Governance structure: San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 750,000 people and manages an estimated budget of $4.4 billion annually. According to the County Charter, San Mateo County is governed by the five-person Board of Supervisors and a county executive, who acts as their agent.
The Position
Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person Board of Supervisors. A Board of Supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Elect Lisa Gauthier to put San Mateo County on the right track for progress.
Lisa Gauthier’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of San Mateo County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Gauthier has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, SEIU Local 521, and Reach Coalition Ally. She has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including State Controller Malia Cohen, Rep. Anna Eshoo, State Sen. Josh Becker, State Sen. Aisha Wahab, and three members of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
Electoral history: Gauthier won her race for East Palo Alto City Council in 2012 after earning over 15% of the vote. She has been reelected twice, in 2016 and 2020, when she earned 29% of the vote and 17% of the vote, respectively.
Top issues: Public safety, access to affordable health care, homelessness and affordable housing, climate change, and social equity.
Governance and community leadership experience: Gauthier is a member of the East Palo Alto City Council, which she does to provide strong leadership on the issues facing her community. She recently completed her third term as mayor, and has been instrumental in supporting the development of a 185 unit housing development on Bayshore Road that opened last year. In addition to her public role, Gauthier serves as a senior vice president for Silicon Valley Leadership Group, where she supports initiatives related to workforce development, education, racial equity, and health-care policy.
Other background: Gauthnier is a lifelong resident of East Palo Alto. She returned to school as an adult learner and obtained her bachelor’s degree while serving as mayor of East Palo Alto in 2019.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Lisa Gauthier, Antonio Lopez, Celeste Brevard, Paul Bocanegra, and Maggie Cornejo. 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: Gauthier’s campaign has raised $40,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Antonio Lopez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Lopez’s campaign has raised $14,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Paul Bocanegra
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Bocanegra’s campaign has raised $4,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Maggie Cornejo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Cornejo’s campaign has raised $1,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
The District
County: San Mateo County is California’s 15th most populous county. District 4 includes Redwood City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and unincorporated areas.
Governance structure: San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 750,000 people and manages an estimated budget of $4.4 billion annually. According to the County Charter, San Mateo County is governed by the five-person Board of Supervisors and a county executive, who acts as their agent.
The Position
Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person Board of Supervisors. A Board of Supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Elect Lisa Gauthier to put San Mateo County on the right track for progress.
Lisa Gauthier’s track record and policy positions demonstrate that she will be a progressive voice for the constituents of San Mateo County and will govern effectively in the best interests of this diverse district.
Progressive endorsements: Gauthier has the endorsement of some progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, SEIU Local 521, and Reach Coalition Ally. She has also received the endorsement of many elected leaders, including State Controller Malia Cohen, Rep. Anna Eshoo, State Sen. Josh Becker, State Sen. Aisha Wahab, and three members of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
Electoral history: Gauthier won her race for East Palo Alto City Council in 2012 after earning over 15% of the vote. She has been reelected twice, in 2016 and 2020, when she earned 29% of the vote and 17% of the vote, respectively.
Top issues: Public safety, access to affordable health care, homelessness and affordable housing, climate change, and social equity.
Governance and community leadership experience: Gauthier is a member of the East Palo Alto City Council, which she does to provide strong leadership on the issues facing her community. She recently completed her third term as mayor, and has been instrumental in supporting the development of a 185 unit housing development on Bayshore Road that opened last year. In addition to her public role, Gauthier serves as a senior vice president for Silicon Valley Leadership Group, where she supports initiatives related to workforce development, education, racial equity, and health-care policy.
Other background: Gauthnier is a lifelong resident of East Palo Alto. She returned to school as an adult learner and obtained her bachelor’s degree while serving as mayor of East Palo Alto in 2019.
The Race
Primary election: There are five candidates running in the nonpartisan March 5 primary, including Lisa Gauthier, Antonio Lopez, Celeste Brevard, Paul Bocanegra, and Maggie Cornejo. 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: Gauthier’s campaign has raised $40,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Antonio Lopez
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Lopez’s campaign has raised $14,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Paul Bocanegra
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Bocanegra’s campaign has raised $4,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
Opposing candidate: Maggie Cornejo
Opposing candidate’s fundraising and pledges: Cornejo’s campaign has raised $1,000 as of December 2023, and is not funded by police, corporate PAC, fossil fuel, or real estate interests.
The District
County: San Mateo County is California’s 15th most populous county. District 4 includes Redwood City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and unincorporated areas.
Governance structure: San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors oversees the needs of 750,000 people and manages an estimated budget of $4.4 billion annually. According to the County Charter, San Mateo County is governed by the five-person Board of Supervisors and a county executive, who acts as their agent.
The Position
Each of the 58 counties in California is governed by a five-person Board of Supervisors. A Board of Supervisors has legislative and executive power to manage county services and resources, including courts, jails, public health, and public lands. They also have quasi-judicial powers, which gives them the right to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and make decisions in a manner similar to judicial courts. Laws passed by Boards of Supervisors are generally called ordinances. Because counties include both incorporated cities, which are administered by their own city councils, and unincorporated areas, which are directly administered by the county, ordinances may or may not apply in different areas of the county. Supervisors are typically limited to 3 terms, or 12 years in office total.
Statewide Ballot Measures
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.