State Assembly

AD-34 covers much of the Antelope Valley and High Desert, including Lancaster, Palmdale, Adelanto, Hesperia, and Victorville, communities where long commuting distances, access to public services, environmental health concerns, and economic stability for working families shape local priorities. With Assemblymember Tom Lackey term-limited, the seat is open in 2026.

Randall Putz, a Democratic Big Bear Lake city councilmember, is up against Republican Charles Hughes.

The district has historically leaned Republican, but in open-seat contests like this one, outcomes are often shaped less by statewide ideological positioning than by candidates’ visibility and governing experience within the High Desert.

Putz is a longtime resident of Big Bear Lake and has been a member of its City Council since 2014.

His has an extensive and impressive track record of community leadership:

Served on the boards of the Bear Valley Unified School District and Mojave Desert Mountain Integrated Waste Joint Powers Authority

Chaired the Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority and Big Bear Fire Authority

He’s a founding member of the Bear Valley Education Trust, he cofounded Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation and in 2018, he opened the Chirp Nature Center.

His top priorities are affordable health care, public safety, affordable housing, rural development, public education, fair taxation, environmental welfare, civil rights and protections, and empowering local voices.

Endorsements include:

Inland Empire United

California Teachers Association

High Desert Progressive Democrats

Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino County

High Desert Progressive Democrats

San Bernardino County Young Democrats

Big Bear Valley Democratic Club

Reps. Norma Torres and George Whitesides

Asssemblembmers. Corey Jackson and Robert Garcia,

San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran

Juan Carrillo against Republican Paul Marsh in AD-39, which covers the northern Antelope Valley, Palmdale, Lancaster, and stretching into San Bernardino County to include Adelanto, Hesperia, and Victorville. There's no meaningful race to call here, but readers in the district deserve to know who's representing them.

Carrillo is a legislator whose background, as an urban planner, Palmdale city councilmember, and immigrant from Guadalajara who came to LA at 15, is well-matched to a sprawling High Desert district that often feels overlooked by Sacramento. His legislative work reflects that: his most significant bill, AB 98, imposed new planning standards on warehouse development to protect communities from the health and traffic impacts of the Inland Empire's logistics boom, exactly the kind of unglamorous, district-specific work that matters to constituents even if it doesn't make statewide headlines.

He's not a strong progressive.He only earned a 63 out of 100 on Courage Score, Courage California’s annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.He failed to support legislation thatstrengthen environmental oversight for offshore drilling and increase the use of diversion programs in the criminal-justice system. His donor base includes the California Apartment Association PAC, the Correctional Peace Officers Association, and fossil fuel interests, not a coalition that inspires confidence.

He is chair of the standing committee on Local Government. Asm. Carrillo is the vice chair and incoming chair of the California Legislative Latino Caucus, and a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan and bicameral group that claims that their collaborative work allows them to take a more holistic approach to evaluating legislation. In reality, the Problem Solvers Caucus actively works with problematic industries against progressive policies.

We recommend him because the Republican would be worse.

AD-40 covers the Northwest San Fernando Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley, and stretches into Valley Verde and Castaic, not exactly a progressive stronghold. Schiavo won her seat in 2022 in one of the closest races of the year, defeating Republican incumbent Suzette Martinez Valladares by just 522 votes.She won re-election in 2024 with 57.7%, a more comfortable margin, but this remains a district where Democrats have to earn it every cycle. It leans Democrat at the federal level, going for Biden in 2020, but has chosen both Republicans and Democrats in its local races. According to CalMatters, about 42% of the district is registered Democrat, 30% of the district is registered Republican, and 22% is registered No Party Preference.

Holding AD-40 matters. Every non-corporate Democrat who can win and hold a competitive district strengthens the Democratic supermajority and reduces the influence of the caucus's more corporate-oriented members. Schiavo is worth keeping.

She spent more than 20 years in the labor movement, including thirteen with the California Nurses Association, and before running for office, she co-founded an organization in the Northwest San Fernando Valley that housed unhoused veterans and delivered over 50,000 meals to people in need.

Her legislative record reflects that. Every single one of her bills sent to the Governor in 2025 was signed into law, a 100% success rate that speaks to both her effectiveness and her focus on wins that actually reach people. Her bills have focused on consumer protections, healthcare access, veteran protections, workplace safety, and housing, along with $93 million in district investments during her first term for school safety, senior meals programs, veteran housing, and domestic violence services. In 2026, She sponsored and passed legislation to improve discount care access for patients when they are admitted to the hospital, improve access to and maintenance of public AED devices, and improve protections in reporting for witnesses to crimes and victims of crimes.

We wish she was more progressive on criminal justice, but overall, Schiavo is showing up strong in Sacramento, especially considering how moderate her district is. She earned a 83 out of 100 for Courage Score, an annual analysis of legislator’s voting records.

She has endorsements from California Environmental Voters, ACCE Action, CEJA Action, Reproductive Freedom for All California, and many labor organizations. She far better than the Republican alternative and we encourage you to vote for her.

Democrat John Harabedian was first elected in November 2024 and has been heavily focused on fire recovery during his first term in the Legislature. He serves on five committees, including Insurance, Judiciary, Transportation, Utilities and Energy, and Public Safety.

He sponsored and passed legislation to make changes to the way state agencies collect demographic data, and allow mortgage holders to request forbearance if they were impacted by recent wildfires.

We appreciate that he supported most progressive bills that made it to a vote, and a result scored a 94 out of 100 on Courage Score, an annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.

We’re less thrilled about his campaign funding by police, fossil fuel, real estate, and corporate PAC interests, including Sempra Energy, PG&E Corporation, Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC, and AT&T.

He’s far better than the Republican alternative and we recommend voting for him.

With Assembly member Jacqui Irwin stepping down to run for Congress, this open seat that spans from Calabasas to the Simi Valley. Democrat Deborah Klein Lopez is facing off with Republican Ted Nordblum. Klein Lopez is an Agoura Hills City Council Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem. First elected in 2018,she has overseen climate resilience initiatives and recovery during disasters such as the Woolsey fire in Ventura. She has also served as a Board Chair of the Clean Power Alliance and focused on lobbying for state and federal funding related to microgrids and citywide bike plans

She’s serves as chair of the board of Clean Power Alliance and director of the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains. Before her time in elected office, she served as a parent leader in the school district and managed a winter homeless shelter.

Her platform, according to her website, focuses on climate change such as disaster preparedness against recent devastating Palisades wildfires, as well as ensuring economic fairness and affordability.

Her endorsements include California Environmental Voters, National Union of Healthcare Workers, California Teachers Association, and many Democratic clubs and other labor unions like firefighters, SEIU and Teamsters.

Although she may not be a progressive champion on every issue, we see are as real upgrade from incumbent Jacqui Irwin and we’re especially excited for her work on environmental policy and disaster preparedness. We recommend voting for her over the Republican Nordblum.

Celeste Rodriguez was first elected in 2024 and her first term has been

has pleasantly surprised us. She earned a perfect 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, Courage’s annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records. She deserves re-election.

We don’t love some of her donors including funded by fossil fuel, corporate PAC, real estate, and police interests. Her problematic donors include Edison International, California Real Estate PAC, and California Correctional Peace Officers Association PAC but she’s been a strong progressive legislator despite this backing.

She carried 31 bills with a focus on environmental protection, social services, and criminal justice, including legislation to expand the type of relative who can act as an authorized caregiver for a minor, and allow workforce-development opportunities for youth during the school week.

She’s a member of the Legislative Progressive Caucus and serves on committees related to Health; Higher Education; Human Services; and Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Nick Schultz was first elected in 2024 after serving on the Burbank City Council for several terms and he’s generally been a strong progressive presence in the Assembly.

He is the Policy Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus and earned perfect Courage Score. He chairs the Public Safety Committee and serves on committees related to Budget, Natural Resources, and Utilities and Energy.He’s endorsed by California Working Families Party and deserves your vote for re-election.

Jesse Gabriel is the incumbent in this San Fernando Valley district. He faces a Republican challenger Tracey Shroeder, but is a lock for re-election.

He’s a major improvement over disgraced former Assemblymember Matt Dababneh, but has been frustrating for many of our progressive state advocacy partners to work with on issues such as housing, homelessness, and criminal justice.

While scoring a 91 out of 100 on Courage Score, an annual analysis of legislators’ voting records and serving as a member of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, Gabriel has not been aligned with movement progressives on on some key issues.

His more problematic donors include California Real Estate PAC, California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC, and AT&T. He has also received endorsements from problematic organizations, including California Correctional Peace Officers Association, in addition to more progressive groups like Sierra Club California, California Environmental Voters, and California Labor Federation.

AD-48 covers much of the central San Gabriel Valley, including Baldwin Park, West Covina, and Azusa, where access to strong public schools, stable housing, and environmental health protections remains a central district concern.

Assemblymember Blanca Rubio plays a leading role within the moderate wing of the Democratic caucus in Sacramento, and her record has frequently put her at odds with legislation backed by labor, environmental, and tenant advocates. She has received significant support from oil and gas interests and charter-aligned political organizations, relationships that have shaped concerns about how consistently her votes reflect the priorities of a safely Democratic district.

One example is her role in opposition to SB 1137, legislation establishing health buffer zones between oil wells and homes and schools. Environmental health advocates supported the bill as a basic protection for families living near drilling sites, and her position drew sustained criticism from groups working to reduce neighborhood exposure to pollution.

Her record also includes opposition to or abstentions on several worker-protection measures, including the FAST Recovery Act, which would have strengthened standards for fast-food workers, and legislation designed to speed wage-theft recovery for employees waiting months or years to recover unpaid wages. She failed to cast a vote on bills to increase protections for the survivors of abuse, extend price -gouging protections to essential goods like rental housing, and improve health-care quality and affordability.

Together, these decisions reflect a broader pattern in which business-aligned concerns have often taken precedence over workplace protections.

AD-48 is a safely Democratic district. Voters here should expect stronger alignment between their representation in Sacramento and the priorities of working families and public-school communities across the San Gabriel Valley. She’s up against Republican Dan Tran who has no real shot. Leave this one blank.

Mike Fong was Mr. Everywhere before he successfully ran for election to this Assembly seat in the western SGV. If there was a political or community function within 10 miles, he was sure to be there. And his diligence and relationship building paid off. He served as a LA City government and was an elected member of the LA Community College District Board of Trustees before moving to the SGV and winning the 2022 special election to replace Ed Chau, who resigned after being nominated to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Although he’s solidly part of the local Democratic establishment, he’s quietly racked up a solid progressive voting record, earning an A+ from Courage California, although he also abstained from more votes than any other legislator. So not exactly a complete profile in courage.

On the other hand, he’s a member of the Legislative Progressive Caucus and hasn’t taken any campaign contributions from fossil fuel or real estate interests.

In this contest with Republican Long Liu, Fong is the clear choice.

Incumbent Rick Zbur was the long-time Executive Director of Equality California when he ran for this seat that stretches diagonally from Santa Monica through East Hollywood in 2022.

We had high hopes for Zbur despite our fondness for his Democratic opponent in that race, Louis Abramson. a physicist and SELAH homelessness outreach leader.

Despite a generally positive voting record (91 out of 100 Courage Score), we’ve been deeply disappointed in Zbur’s political maneuvering the last four years.

A rumored candidate for State Attorney General, Zbur has cozied up to law enforcement unions. He’s received contributions from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA PAC), Peace Officers Research Association for California (PORAC PAC), and LA County Probation Officers Union – AFSCME, Local No. 685 PAC.

To quote the 2024 Initiate Justice Action voter guide, “As a member of the Public Safety Committee, Assemblymember Zbur has voiced concerns with numerous criminalization bills, but still voted to support the overwhelming majority of them.”

Another consequence of Zbur’s tack to the center was his vocal and aggressive support for the conservative Democratic challenge to LA Councilmember Nithya Raman from Ethan Weaver in the March 2024 primary, backed by millions in spending from the police union and corporate landlords.

He refused to vote for LA Forward-supported legislation such as “Make Polluters Pay” and Senate Bill 417 sponsored by tenants’ rights group Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, which would have capped annual rent rate increases to the Consumer Price Index, at 5%. Zbur expressed concerns about how some of the proposed bills would hurt landlords.

Zbur is being challenged from the left by Colin Hernandez whose campaign hasn’t generated a critical mass of support. In addition to our concerns with Zbur’s record, Hernandez has also focused on Zbur’s support for AB715 which critics say censors discussion of Palestine in ethnic studies classes.

Hernandez is endorsed by LA Kenneth Mejia, Burbank Councilmember Konstantine Anthony, CAIR Action, and Feel the Bern Democratic Club.

Zbur is endorsed by California Environmental Voters, Courage California, the California Labor Federation, California Democratic Party and many unions and Democratic clubs.

Vote whoever you think is most aligned with your values.

Jessica Caloza is the incumbent in this historically progressive, multiracial working-class district. Ideally would be represented by a movement progressive. That’s not Caloza. She has not distinguished herself as a progressive champion and is not a member of the CA Legislative Progressive Caucus. But she has earned a 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, by supporting most progressive bills that made it to a vote.

Caloza serves on committees related to Appropriations; Business and Professions; Budget; Communications and Conveyance; Health; Housing and Community Development; and Water, Parks, and Wildlife.

Unfortunately, she’s taken campaign contributions from the Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC, Edison International, Comcast Financial Agency Corporation, and California Real Estate PAC.

She faces no real opposition, except for a token Republican.We recommend voting forher and encouraging her and her office to take bolder progressive stands.

Michelle Rodriguez is the incumbent in this district. She won the seat in 2024, after her husband Freddie Rodriguez was termed out after 12 years in the Assembly. Freddie was the classic moderate Democrat who siphoned up corporate cash while blocking progressive legislation and had earned an F from Courage California every year since 2017.

Michelle ran a “tough-on-crime” platform and has endorsements from LA Angeles Police Protective LeagueCalifornia Police Chiefs Association,California Correctional Peace Officers Association, and many more.

Mark Gonzalez was first elected to the Assembly in 2024 after serving as previous Assemblymember Miguel Santiago’s long-time District Director. Gonzalez had an unpaid role chairing the LA County Democratic Party for many years and he embodies LA’s version of Democratic machine politics. He’s a solid vote for organized labor and LGBT justice. He’s leaned toward YIMBY, pro-housing production policies as well. Despite earning a 97 out of 100 Courage Score, you can count on him to back the more establishment candidate in local races, over a grassroots or insurgent progressive.

He’s already in Democratic leadership as “majority whip” and his campaign has received funding from police, fossil fuel, real estate, and corporate PAC interests, including Edison International, California Real Estate PAC, California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC, and AT&T.

This is a historically progressive, multiracial working-class district that would ideally be represented by a movement progressive.

Despite being part of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, Gonzalez is not aligned with grassroots progressives and will need to be pushed. In this election, there really is no alternative. Just a Republican write-in candidate.

We recommend Gonzalez due to his strong voting record, but suggest voters keep careful watch on his office to make sure he keeps following through.

Isaac Bryan remains one of the most important progressive leaders in the Assembly, and voters in Assembly District 55 should send him back to Sacramento.

A former policy director and organizer on criminal justice and homelessness, Bryan entered the Legislature with a clear mandate to tackle mass incarceration, police accountability, and housing injustice.

He has been a reliable champion for renters, people experiencing homelessness, youth in the criminal legal system, and workers fighting for better wages and conditions.

In the Assembly he has helped lead efforts to expand alternatives to incarceration, strengthen tenant protections, and direct resources toward Black and brown communities that have borne the brunt of over‑policing and disinvestment.

Keeping Bryan in the Assembly means keeping a powerful, movement‑aligned voice at the center of the fights over housing, climate justice, and public safety.

According to Courage California, “he has sponsored and passed legislation to modify the eligibility standards for the CalFresh program, strengthen tenant protections, and authorize the Board of Supervisors to increase the amount paid to incarcerated individuals for their work shifts. He scored a 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, the annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records, and earned the All-Star designation.”

He chairs the Natural Resources Committee and serves on committees related to Governmental Organization, Judiciary, and Privacy and Consumer Protection.

He has endorsements from Working Families Party, California Environmental Voters, ACCE Action, and many unions.

We strongly recommend you vote for him.

Lisa Calderon is a Democrat who consistently blocks progressive policies related to criminal justice reform and has deep, problematic ties to the fossil fuel industry.

This election cycle is no different as she continues to rake in donations from police, real estate, and oil and gas companies.

She’s gotten a C or D rating from Courage California every year since she’s been in office.

Last year, she failed to support bills to create the California Housing Authority to ensure the development of mixed-income social housing, support the survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking, and prohibit federal law enforcement from wearing face masks when operating in California.

Unfortunately, the challenger this year is MAGA Republican Jessica Martinez. In this deep blue district which spans from Pico Rivera to Diamond Bar, Calderon is sure to win.

Vote for Calderon or leave it blank.

Sade Elhawary has been a progressive stalwart since her election in 2024, earning a 100 out of 100 on Courage Score, an annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.

She deserves your vote for re-election.

She has endorsements from California Environmental Voters, Black Women for Wellness Action Project, and many labor organizations.

She serves five committees related to Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism; Business and Professions; Elections; Human Services; and Labor and Employment.

Tina McKinnor deserves re‑election in Assembly District 61. A former organizer, she came to the Assembly out of a long track record of working behind the scenes for progressive causes and candidates, and she has carried that same commitment into her role as a legislator. McKinnor has been a strong vote for labor, racial justice, and housing affordability, and she has focused on practical ways state government can better serve South L.A., Inglewood, and the communities she represents — through investments in affordable housing, small business support, and community‑based violence prevention. She has also been willing to challenge corporate interests and side with tenants and workers when it matters, earning a Lifetime 99 out of 100 on Courage Score since she was first elected.

She has endorsements from California Working Families Party,California Environmental Voters, Smart Justice CA, and many labor unions.

José Solache is an incumbent Democrat, first elected in 2024. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by his voting record. He scored a 94 out of 100 on Courage Score, Courage’s annual analysis of legislators’ progressive voting records.

We’re less thrilled with some of his campaign’s financial backers, including California Real Estate PAC, California Fuels & Convenience PAC, Amazon, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and

Solache serves on Assembly committees related to budget, appropriations, and elections. He chairs the Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact.

We hope Solache continues to improve and positively surprise us with his voting record.

AD-64 includes Downey, Norwalk, and surrounding Southeast Los Angeles County communities where housing affordability, environmental health, and economic stability for working families remain defining issues across the district.

Democratic Assemblymber Blanca Pacheco won election to this seat in 2022, prevailing over Working Families Party-endorsed Democrat Liz Alcantar and many other Democratic candidates in this deep blue district Since then, she’s voted far worse than we were hoping, earning an F in 2023 from Courage California.

Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco is generally associated with the moderate bloc of the Democratic caucus in Sacramento, and several of her legislative positions have drawn criticism from labor, housing, and transparency advocates who argue they reflect greater responsiveness to business and regulatory-reduction priorities than to the needs of working families in the district. Her campaigns have also received support from charter-school political committees and business-aligned independent expenditure groups, not a coalition that inspires confidence for voters seeking stronger alignment on public education and affordability issues.

One example is her authorship of AB 1821, legislation that would allow public agencies to charge additional fees for certain public-records requests. Transparency advocates warned the proposal would make it more difficult for residents and community organizations, not just journalists, to access information and hold government accountable.

On housing, Pacheco declined to support the Social Housing Act, which would have created a state authority to build permanently affordable mixed-income housing. That decision drew criticism from housing advocates seeking stronger public investment in long-term affordability solutions across Southeast Los Angeles County.

AD-64 is a safely Democratic district. That gives voters real influence over what kind of representative the district sends to Sacramento, particularly on issues like housing affordability, public transparency, and economic stability for working families.

In the primary, we backed staunch progressive Fatima Iqbal-Zubair, who fell just short of making the general election. The choice now is between Democrat Ayanna Davis and Republican Lydia Gutierrez. Davis is sure to win in this heavily Democratic district against a very poorly funded Republican opponent.

Davis is a teacher and principal, who earned a Ph.D. from USC, who’s served on the Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees since 2022. Throughout her career, she has advocated for higher pay for school staff and addressing inequities in preschool programs. Dr. Davis is president of the Southern California Chapter of the California Association of Early Young Children and executive board member of the historically black New Frontier Democratic Club.

Her biography is impressive. We’re less impressed by the endorsements she sought and won from the Long Beach Police Officers Association and Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association and donors such as Peace Officers Research Association of California, California Real Estate PAC, Airbnb, Marathon, Phillips 66, Uber, and Meta.

After she wins in November, we hope she chooses a progressive approach to legislating and avoids following corporate and law enforcement donors.

Sara Deen and Paul Seo are both Democrats, facing off for this South Bay Assembly Seat.

Deen is a family dentist in Torrance. She currently serves as the President of the Palos Verdes School Board. In this role, she confronted growing debates in about book bans and LGBTQ+ rights, drawing from her interfaith dialogue experiences with groups like New Ground, a Muslim-Jewish organization. As school board president, she has focused on expanding college and career pathways, prioritizing student safety and achievement, retaining teachers and staff, and passing a school bond measure (Measure SOS) to modernize school facilities. Deen serves on the advisory board for Gardena High School’s Global Business Magnet Program and as a member of the SoCal ROC Board, and previously was president of the South Coast Interfaith Council.

She’s endorsed by our close allies at Indivisible South Bay LA and progressive organizations like California Teachers Association, California Nurses Association, National Union of Healthcare Workers,

Deen’s campaign has raised $924,000 and is not funded by fossil fuel, law enforcement, real estate, or corporate donors. Her Democratic opponent Paul Seo has raised $1 million and is funded by law enforcement donors. He’s endorsed by Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, Los Angeles Police Protective League, and other law enforcement groups.

Deen is the clear choice in this race. Vote for her.

In the primary, we supported UNITE HERE Local 11 Co-President Ada Briceño, but she fell short of the top-two and so now the choice is between Democrat Mark Pulido and Republican Paulo Morales.

Pulido has been a member of the Cerritos City Council since 2011. and was mayor twice in that time. He’s also served on the ABC Unified School District Board, the California Volunteers Commission, the California Science Center and Exposition Park Board of Directors, and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission.

He’s worked for former Rep. and State Sen. Alan Lowenthal, former Assembly Speakers Bob Hertzberg, Herb Wesson, and Fabian Núñez, the City of Long Beach, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Pulido is a better option than Morales although we’re not thrilled with some of his donors including Google, Kalshi, Meta, Anaheim Police Association, and AT&T.

We hope that once Pulido gets elected, he opts for a progressive path and doesn’t rely on corporate backers.

Two Democrats, Josh Lowenthal and Carolyn Essex, face off in the race to represent Long Beach and the Channel Islands in the state assembly.

Incumbent Josh Lowenthal has leaned left with his voting history, while sometimes taking stances that are more aligned with conservative values. He’s sponsored bills that are pro-union and labor such as one about increased transparency around contractors for California state prisons, and has come out swinging against BigTech with his proposed latest social media ban for kids under the age of 16. The California Environmental Voters’ analysis of his voting history shows that he has supported bills focused on electrification and protecting against offshore drilling. He has come out against ICE raids and also voiced support for “comprehensive immigration reform” and a pathway to citizenship for the state’s undocumented who pay taxes and contribute to the economy. On homelessness, he believes that there should be less red tape for housing construction while also using state budget surplus for mental health care and crime reduction.

There isn’t much available information regarding candidate Carolyn Essex, other than a website and a picture with Assemblymember Evan Low. She’s a legislative analyst.