Below you will find every single race that can be found in Costa Mesa, based on the cities covered by the respective agencies. Not all candidates may be on your ballot, but every candidate on your ballot will be here.

If you don’t see a race or a candidate on here that you expected to, it may be the seat is unopposed and not on the ballot.

Click the “+” next to each name to learn more about the candidates.

Costa Mesa

2026

City Council Race

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Costa Mesa Mayor Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “MIKE BULEY | Councilmember/Attorney/Parent

     | was honored to be elected to the City Council in 2024, and since then, I've worked hard to be a common sense voice for our community. Serving on the Council has deepened my appreciation for Costa Mesa. | pride myself on transparency, asking hard questions, and making informed decisions in the best interest of our City. As a neighbor, parent, attorney, and businessman, I ask for your vote for Mayor. 

    My wife and our three children have been blessed to live, work, play, and grow in Costa Mesa for 24 years. I have also volunteered at St. John the Baptist, Costa Mesa Little League, Hoops Unlimited, and local food drives and outreach efforts. 

    As a Councilmember, I have worked to protect funding for infrastructure and parks, champion public safety, ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, preserve public access to Fairview Park while protecting its natural beauty, and strengthen the voice of our volunteer Committees and Commissions in City decision-making. 

    I have also opposed government overreach that burdens residents and local businesses, including a proposed rental registry and mandates that interfere with private business decisions. 

    I sincerely ask for your vote. 

    Endorsements: OC Sheriff Don Barnes, State Senator Steven Choi, Assemblymember Diane Dixon, OC Supervisors Janet Nguyen and Don Wagner, and Councilmember Jeff Pettis.” 


    Email: Mjbuley@buley4costamesa.com


    Campaign Website: https://www.buley4costamesa.com/

    Mike’s website leads with a picture of him with his family, and the phrase, “Change Starts Here”. 

    Priorities: 

    • Focus on Local Issues

      • “My focus will be on the issues that directly affect the residents of Costa Mesa. City government needs to get the basics right and stay focused on its core responsibilities. We should avoid spending valuable staff and City Council time on divisive national issues over which the City has little or no jurisdiction.

    The primary focus of City government should be ensuring that the public services funded by your taxes and fees are delivered as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. That means maintaining excellence in public safety, public works, permitting, streets, parks, and other essential City services.”

    • Business and Development

      • “Costa Mesa should be a city where business owners, entrepreneurs, and property owners feel welcomed and supported. Whether someone is investing capital to open a new business or rehabilitating older commercial properties, the City should be responsive, efficient, and easy to work with. This benefits both the business community and residents. Businesses can open and grow more quickly, while the City fosters a vibrant and active local economy. Successful businesses generate revenue that helps fund infrastructure improvements, public safety, and other essential City services that benefit everyone in Costa Mesa.”

    • Protect Costa Mesa’s Residential Character

      • “California's housing mandates have created a complicated and burdensome set of requirements that, if not managed properly, could significantly alter the character of our community. Any new development should be thoughtful and located in areas that can accommodate growth without changing what makes Costa Mesa such a great place to live and raise a family. A good example is the Fairview Developmental Center property, which is currently being reviewed for potential residential development. We must carefully consider whether proposals for thousands of high-density housing units and the loss of public open space are in the best interest of our residents, or whether a more balanced approach that includes homeownership opportunities and adequate green space would better serve our community.”

    • Public Safety

      • “A great place to live and raise a family is a city where residents feel safe and secure. To maintain that standard, we must continue to fully support our police and fire departments and ensure they have the personnel, equipment, and resources necessary to deter crime, respond to emergencies, and protect our community when tragedy strikes.”

    • Continue the Progress Being Made on Homelessness

      • “Since the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision, cities have regained the ability to enforce anti-camping and vagrancy laws while helping those who are struggling access the services and support they need. This approach benefits both the individuals who need assistance and the community as a whole. Residents deserve a city that is clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone. Homelessness numbers in Costa Mesa and throughout Orange County have been declining, and we must continue that progress. We should do our fair share to address this issue while also ensuring that neighboring cities are doing their part.”


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Buley is running for mayor before completing his freshman term as councilmember. source

    • He is a civil litigation trial attorney - a lawyer who represents individuals, businesses, or organizations in non-criminal legal disputes that go or may go to court. Civil cases involve private parties seeking money, property, or specific actions rather than jail time. source



    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • In a Daily Pilot article about the community backlash against Flock, Buley said, “If you want me to join the ‘Get the Flock Out’ campaign you’re going to have to state a credible argument that the substantial risks we’ve heard outweigh the benefits. When crimes happen in Costa Mesa, and probable cause is established, that data can be accessed, and it does help law enforcement deter future crime, apprehend and convict current criminals, and it makes our community safer.” (source)

    • During the contentious 2026 City Council meeting where hundreds came out to demand the city not renew its contract with Flock, Buley said the following from the dais to the city attorney, “A question I’ve got, it’s more of a legal question (...) It seems the core issue a lot of folks are having with the Flock system is, it’s an invasion of rights to privacy. I mean, that’s the big top line [gestures] argument. And a question to the city attorney - in public spaces, is there generally a right to privacy in public spaces?” There’s a pause, and the city attorney replies, “In very limited circumstances. But your physical presence in a public space, whether you’re in a vehicle or on a bicycle or whatever it may be, that’s public knowledge and public information. It’s not private information.”  Buley goes on, “And I’ve seen on the news and things lately, you’ve got those crazy guys with a green mask standing in front of postal services, filming people, trying to get a rise out of them. And they always say, these guys are harassing me. Can’t they stop? But because it’s federal property, it’s public space, you could be filmed in a public space, even without Flock, without any of this stuff.” The city attorney replies, “You can, although there are some privacy, personal space, no harassment, that type of thing, yes.” Buley presses, “But generally, if you’re out, popping around in public, doing things on a public roadway, you generally could be filmed, whether it’s by Flock or anybody. It wouldn’t be a violation of anyone’s right to privacy.” source 

    • In a Daily Pilot article about the city council debate over sober living homes, Buley said, “Whenever one of these sober living homes come into a residential community, it rightly creates a great deal of interest, a great deal of concern within members of the community…I think issues of this significance deserve plenty of public comment (...) Although this may not violate the strict letter of the ordinance, it does in my mind violate the character of what’s trying to be achieved, in regards to other ordinance and our land use elements. I understand this is a facility attempting to provide a legitimate service, but [in] our residential neighborhoods, there’s got to be a tipping point.” (source)

    • In the OC Register’s 2026 Candidate Questionnaire, Buley said, “My first priority, regarding balancing the City budget, is to run the City efficiently and remove waste. To increase revenue, we need to work with local businesses and developers to encourage them to invest in our community. If businesses open quickly, needed tax revenue is generated, as well as building and business permitting and licensing fees. To justify these fees, we need to be a City that is easy and efficient to work with and provides a return for people and businesses who risk their capital here.” (source)

    • In the OC Register’s 2024 Candidate Questionnaire, Buley said, In the OC Register’s 2026 Candidate Questionnaire, Buley said, “A brief comment on “representing diverse communities,” I think a lot of our national discord stems from focusing too much on identity. I met my wife while I was traveling/working in South America 25 years ago; my three children are bilingual. We focus on the character of the people we meet and less on how they identify. It seems to work for us in our home.” (source)


    Endorsed by: 

    • OC Sheriff Don Barnes

    • State Senator Steven Choi 

    • Assemblymember Diane Dixon 

    • OC Supervisor Janet Nguyen 

    • OC Supervisor Don Wagner

    • Costa Mesa Councilmember Jeff Pettis


    Candidate in the News: 


    Public Voting Record:

    • Find full voting record details here. 

    • Mike Buley voted for Costa Mesa to retain their Flock contract in 2026, despite hundreds of people coming to the meeting demanding the city terminate the contract. There were no in-person commenters who requested the city to retain Flock. source


    Follow the Money: 

    Buley’s 2026 campaign contributions are not yet listed. 

    • 2024 City Council Campaign: 

      • $900 from the 1962 PAC of the Lincoln Club of Orange County (far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ organization and PAC) 

      • $6,349.59 from the 1962 PAC of the Lincoln Club of Orange County (far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ organization and PAC) in the form of mailers and ads

      • $3,479.45 for ads from the ‘Strengthen Our Future - In Support of Cecilia Iglesias for School Board 2024’ campaign. Iglesias is a member of the California Family Council’s

  • Costa Mesa Mayor Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “LOREN GAMEROS | AGE: 55 | Instructor/Councilmember 

    For more than 40 years, Costa Mesa has been the place I'm proud to call home. It's where I grew up, where my wife and I are raising our family, and where I've dedicated my life to serving others. 

    For more than three decades, I've dedicated my career to educating and mentoring the next generation of building inspection professionals in the construction industry. Throughout my career, I've helped countless students develop successful careers emphasizing safety, integrity, accountability, and craftsmanship because investing in people helps build stronger communities. 

    For the past five and a half years, I've had the privilege of serving on the Costa Mesa City Council. My philosophy has always been simple: keep my boots on the ground, listen to residents, and work collaboratively to solve problems. I believe the best decisions are made by being present, accessible, and accountable to the people I serve. 

    I remain committed to strengthening public safety, supporting youth sports, planning responsibly, investing in our city's future, and preserving what makes Costa Mesa an exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family. Together, we can continue building a community that future generations will be proud to call home.

     Learn more at: www.loren4mayor.com”


    Email: LGameros@costamesaca.gov


    Campaign Website: http://www.loren4mayor.com


    Priorities: (copied verbatim from landing page of campaign website)

    • Public Safety & Accountability

      • Public safety is the foundation of a strong community.

      • I support our law enforcement and give them the tools they need to find criminals and keep us safe.

      • I will ask tough questions about technology and make sure residents' privacy and freedoms are protected.

      • When people feel safe, families thrive, businesses grow, and our city becomes stronger.

    • A Costa Mesa people can Stay In

      • Respect the investment homeowners have made in our community.

      • Support renters facing rising costs.

      • Help first-time homebuyers have a real chance in the community where they live and work.

      • Treat our unhoused neighbors with dignity and connect them to shelter, services, and a path to stable housing

      • We must protect neighborhoods and create responsible housing opportunities for working people.

    • A City that Works for the People

      • Protect Costa Mesa's resident services: parks, recreation, childcare, public safety, and programs for all ages.

      • These services depend on hardworking employees, responsible budgets, and leaders who listen.

      • A city that works fixes streets, keeps parks clean, addresses traffic and dangerous intersections, and answers residents' calls.

      • My standard: effective, transparent government that puts residents first.



    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Per the LA Times/Daily Pilot as of 2020, “(Gamero) works as an inspection coordinator for the nonprofit Operating Engineers Training Trust Local 12, where campaign documents indicate he earns more than $100,000. He is also a career and technical education teacher accredited through Rio Hondo and Santiago Canyon colleges.” source


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • On voting against termination of Costa Mesa’s contract with Flock Safety (source):

    “One thing we have to realize as a community is that [Flock] is a force multiplier for our Police Department (...) Do we want to have a safe community or do we want to have our Police Department scrambling on its feet trying to chase down criminals? We have a proven track record of crime deteriorating for the past several years due largely in part to the use of Flock.”

    • On June 15th, 2020, Loren shared a post on Instagram about the SCOTUS decision that upheld federal law forbidding job discrimination on the basis of LGBTQ+ identity, with the caption, “This important moment is a big step in the right direction for freedom and equal opportunity.” source 

    • In a June 4, 2020 post on instagram, Loren shared the following statement; “The tragic killing of George Floyd has rocked our country. My family and I have been listening as best we can, and we hear you. The foundation of our democracy is the right to exercise our freedom of speech, and it moves me to see so many young people speaking out for the world they want to live in. We can and must do better to heal these deep divides and disparities in our country, as citizens and as leaders.   I want to thank our Costa Mesa Police Department, Chief Glass and the team at City Hall for doing an outstanding job of keeping everyone safe this week. Folks were able to demonstrate peacefully in Costa Mesa, making their voices heard loud and clear, while our city's police officers stayed calm and worked to de-escalate any tensions.   In Costa Mesa, we protect everyone with dignity.” source


    Endorsed by: 


    Candidate in the News:


    Public Voting Record:

    https://councilbrief.com/costa-mesa/council/loren-gameros/


    Follow the Money: 

    Loren’s campaign finances for 2026 are not yet publicly visible. The following are contributions Loren made in the past to other campaigns

    • $250.00 to the Rising Tide Community PAC

    • $25 to Stand Up for Katrina Foley, OC Neighbors Against the Recall

    • $100 to Katrina Foley for Supervisor 2021

    • $100 to Katrina Foley for Supervisor 2022

City Mayoral Race

  • Newport-Mesa USD Area 2 Trustee Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “MICHELLE MURPHY | AGE: 54

    Newport-Mesa Unified School District Trustee, Area 2

    As your elected Trustee and current Vice President of the Board, I have worked to make our public schools the first choice for local families. Parent of an 11th and 8th grader who have been attending Newport-Mesa schools, I see firsthand the academic, social, and emotional challenges families are navigating today. Students need thoughtful leaders who are willing to tackle complex problems and ensure they are educated and cared for in safe and welcoming

    spaces.

    Our family has called College Park home for more than 20 years, volunteering with CMLL, flag football and Costa Mesa High School drama and choir programs. A proud product of public schools myself, I earned a master's degree in social work from USC and lead public affairs at United Way, where I advocate every day to improve the lives of Orange County residents. I have served our community in the following roles:

    • Member, OC Fair and Event Center Board of Directors

    • Vice President, Costa Mesa High School Foundation

    • Commissioner, Costa Mesa Parks and Community Services

    • President, Kaiser-Woodland Parent Faculty Organization

    At Newport-Mesa, I have focused on improving educational outcomes for all students while making progress in district-wide community engagement, infrastructure, safety, and fiscal

    responsibility. My accomplishments include:

    Educational Excellence: Ensured the math curriculum is aligned through K - 12th, creating a stronger pathway for college and career readiness. Implemented a new reading curriculum that has already shown positive results, increasing STAR Reading growth by more than 10 points in some schools.

    Facilities: Voted for the first-ever Facilities Master Plan, making infrastructure decisions more proactive and helping avoid wasteful spending. Advocated for expanding the construction of additional shade structures and new playground equipment across our campuses.

    Safety: Supported integrated security systems on all campuses and voted for a strong cell phone policy. Backed the county's first ban on e-bikes and e-motos for K - 8 students along with a requirement that students complete an E-bike/bicycle safety training program.

    Fiscal Stewardship: Ensured NMUSD remains fiscally strong with a Moody's Aa1 bond rating. Our reserves exceed the state required minimum, and our budget reflects our values by putting our students first without compromising educational quality.

    I am proud to be endorsed by a bipartisan coalition of parents, teachers and community leaders. My record reflects my commitment to putting students and families first while considering all perspectives before making decisions.

    Respectfully, I ask for your vote.

    Michelle Murphy

    MurphyForNewportMesa.com”


    Email: Campaign site has a contact form but no email. District email: mamurphy@nmusd.us


    Campaign Website: https://murphyfornewportmesa.com/

    Michelle’s campaign leads with the words, “Strong Leadership for Newport-Mesa Schools

    Kids first. ALL KIDS.”

    Priorities: 

    • Address the achievement gap and disparities among Costa Mesa schools

    • Support teacher professional development and training

    • Inclusive and responsive communication with the community

    • Protect taxpayer dollars from wasteful spending


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • First-term accomplishments she claims (Meet Michelle): rising math and reading scores and K-12 math curriculum alignment; cell phone and e-bike policies; support for students with disabilities and GATE students; balanced budget during post-COVID declining revenue.

    • Incumbent; Board Vice President. Lost to incumbent Charlene Metoyer in 2018 (47.6%), then won the seat in 2022 over Danielle Mills with 59.8% (Ballotpedia).

    • Background (Meet Michelle): Costa Mesa resident 20+ years with husband Bryan; two sons in NMUSD schools; B.A. University of Arizona; MSW from USC; works in public affairs for Orange County United Way.

    • Has a son in the district's programs for students with disabilities, which she says sparked her advocacy ((Right-Bias) Epoch Times, 2022).

    • Civic roles: former Kaiser Woodland PFO president and Woodland Site Council; VP of the Costa Mesa High School Foundation; past Costa Mesa Parks & Community Services Commission and Housing & Public Service Grants Committee; current boards of the OC Fair & Event Center, OC Forum, and the Community Health Initiative of OC advisory committee.

    • Target of conservative opposition: her opponent's site devotes a section to her and links a video titled "Michelle Murphy in Her Own Words" (video link via Holiday site). She is also listed on the right-wing "School Board Watchlist" (source). 


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • 2022 (Right-wing bias: Epoch Times interview): "I have two kids in the district and their education is very important to me. In my area, there are a couple of low-performing schools..." (source)

    • Campaign site (first person): "As Trustee, I want for every student what I want for my own children: to be cared for and respected, to be challenged and encouraged, and, most importantly, to have every opportunity to succeed." (source)

    • During a March 28, 2023 NMUSD board meeting regarding the district’s Gender Plan (different from forced outing policies, these are done with the consent of the student, with their lead), the student board member, Moss Elliott, opened up to share that they were on a Gender Plan. We are not sure what Moss’ pronouns are or the honorifics they prefer. At the end of the section where board members were asking district staff questions about the Gender Plan infrastructure, Trustee Murphy said to the student board member, “I just wanted to say thank you to our student board member, Ms. Moss, for all of your input tonight and for being so brave and sharing about yourself. You’re truly the next generation, and I look forward to everything you accomplish in the future.” time stamp: 2:16:00

    • Remarks at June 10, 2026 regarding OC Grip Program (Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership); “It’s the same for me in terms of - I haven’t heard from one of my principals that they want this program. Uhm - so I do have a concern there, ‘cause I think I would want to hear from one of them that that’s what they want, uhm - even though I absolutely understand there’s an issue, but no one has asked me for this program. So - and no principal has talked to me about this program. There’s been nothing on my side. Even though there clearly is a need. And so, my concern is, I want a program that actually addresses this need, like, in an integrated fashion with all of the supports we’re already funding and that we’re already working with. It doesn’t actually make sense to me from a programmatic perspective that we’re gonna have a one-off over here when we have all (gestures) these other services over here. Like - that doesn’t actually make much sense, uhm, regardless of what we want the program to do, which, I think we all agree we want gang intervention, and we want gang prevention, and we also understand that coming after COVID, Costa Mesa has told us there was a rise in, in gang activity in the city. And I want to do everything we possibly can, uhm, to quell that, to bring those numbers down, to bring, you know, the availability of, you know, accessing gang activity in our community down. So there is nothing I want nothing more than that - but I want a program that actually does that, that really does that. And again, to Ashley’s point, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of data or information that really backs up that, besides principals who said they like the program. But again, I’m a little like - it’s ten kids. Like, how can you really love something that is serving, like, ten kids? And how many parents are really saying that they really love it? It’s ten, maybe, sets of parents, and we’re talking about hundreds of kids. And I think the opportunity to address hundreds of kids’ needs is better than this.” We’ve cut this comment off there for brevity’s sake - to see the full comment, check out timestamp 2:37:16 here.


    Endorsed by: 

    •     Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC).


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    •  2023—Parental notification: voted with Anderson, Crane, and Ersoylu against a proposed policy requiring staff to notify parents about a student's gender identity, per a conservative op-ed (Newport Beach Indy). Context: California's AB 1955 (2024) now bars districts from adopting forced-outing policies. SECOND LAP: confirm the date and vote in board minutes.

    • June 10, 2025—OC GRIP (DA gang-intervention program): voted NO with Anderson; renewal failed because only five trustees were present (source (Opinion)).

    • Sept. 2025—OC GRIP full-board vote: voted YES; it passed 5-2. The same conservative blogger alleges Ersoylu whispered to her "you're running again, just do it" (source (Opinion)). Unverified

    • 2025—Part of the board majority that appointed Kirstin Walsh to the Area 5 vacancy, which conservatives overturned via petition and a special election won by Andrea McElroy (per the same blog). SECOND LAP: verify.

    • Supported district cell phone and e-bike policies (per her site)


    Follow the Money: 

    • $5,000 Pete Wynne

    • $5,000 Newport Mesa Federation of Teachers

    • $2,500 Betty Murphy

    • $2,000 Women In Leadership (WIL)

    • $2,000 Ersoylu for NMUSD School Board 2024

    • $1,000 Suzanne Gauntlett

    • $500 Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties' Community Action Fund

    • $100 Katrina Foley

  • Newport-Mesa USD Area 2 Trustee Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “CRAIG HOLIDAY | Attorney

    I am running for the Newport-Mesa School Board because I want to improve academic outcomes for all students. Every child should leave elementary school, be able to read fluently, write clearly, and with basic math skills. These fundamentals are key to opening every door that comes later.

    I will bring the perspective of a parent, an attorney, a coach, and an educator to the school board. My priorities are less screen time in classrooms, more instructional time on fundamentals, and honest public reporting of how our students are performing. Math and Science programs should be chosen because evidence shows they work.

    My wife and I have been married for 29 years, and we’ve lived in Costa Mesa for 27 years. We raised our four children here who all went to public schools. I have been actively involved as an

    educator, teaching junior high and high school. I coached wrestling and helped lead several teams to the CIF state championships. I have practiced law since 2002 in business, real estate, insurance, and professional athlete representation. I earned my law degree by attending night classes while teaching during the day.

    My educational background has prepared me to enhance educational opportunities for our children, bringing the best courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Every

    child should be provided with the skills to achieve their chosen dream in college or career.

    As an attorney, I will bring skills this board needs. I will examine agreements, purchases, and other spending line by line. The vast majority of your tax dollars need to be spent in the classroom, not on bloated administration. Budgeting efficiently, we can get better results without higher taxes.

    I believe the board must listen to parents, students, and our teachers. I will always make myself available to them and always work to improve the academic opportunities and outcomes for all.

    (949) 596-5116 | Holiday4NewportMesa.com”


    Email: info@Holiday4NewportMesa.com 


    Campaign Website: https://holiday4newportmesa.com/

    Holiday’s campaign has the following on the first page; “Proudly Endorsed By All Five Orange County Board of Education Members:

    • Jorge Valdes, Esq.

    • Mari Barke • Tim Shaw

    • Ken L. Williams, Jr., D.O.

    • Lisa Sparks, Ph.D.

    • Lincoln Club of Orange County” 

    Note: We did not adjust this quote. Tim Shaw is the fifth Orange County Board of Education member, and he was not listed on the website. All five OC Board of Education members are involved in anti-LGBTQ groups, and Mari Barke in particular is director-level with California Policy Center, a conservative policy thinktank that is actively connected within the Heritage Foundation network. 

    Priorities: 

    • Parents Have a Right to Know (note: parental notification policy)

    • Fiscal Transparency

    • Safety (note: law enforcement/"law professionals" in schools)

    • Skills (note: "skills rather than ideologies")

    • Distraction (note: less screen time)

    • Health (note: healthier school food made by "local experts, not bureaucrats")

      • The ‘notes’ made here are summaries of the more in depth descriptions on Craig’s website under his priorities.


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Challenging an incumbent from the board's progressive bloc; Area 2 is one of four NMUSD seats on the 2026 ballot that will decide the board's balance.

    • Tone shift between pages on campaign website: the candidate statement is academics- and budget-focused and doesn't mention parental notification, while the homepage leads with it under "Parents Have a Right to Know." It says he is "the only candidate in Trustee Area 2 who supports a parental notification policy" and that schools should work "with families—not around them."

    • Dog whistles / coded language on Website: "Parents Have a Right to Know"/parental notification is the standard framing for policies requiring schools to tell parents when a student changes gender identity at school (the same issue Chino Valley, Temecula, and others fought over). The site does not explicitly use the words gender, pronouns, or LGBTQ. Also: "developing skills rather than ideologies."

    • Attack on opponent: a section titled "Where Does Michelle Murphy Stand?" says Murphy "believes the school, not the parent, knows what is best for your child—even keeping important personal matters from parents so students 'feel safer,'" linking to a video ("Michelle Murphy in Her Own Words") via a scanned.page short link.

    • Says Craig wants to bring together "business leaders, law enforcement, and educators." Safety plank: "Law professionals play a crucial role in our schools”. Could indicate favoring law enforcement on campus (relevant to the OC GRIP fight on this board).

    • Endorsed by all five Orange County Board of Education members, which is a conservative-majority county board.

    • Endorsed by Lincoln Club, which describes itself as California's largest conservative donor network.


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • No follows on Twitter/X, and very few follows on Instagram; it seems all Instagram accounts are individuals, none of whom are known anti-LGBTQ activists to Pride at the Pier’s knowledge. 


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • No school board meeting comments.

    • Campaign website (first person, per his campaign): "Parents are a child's first and most important advocates, and schools should work with families—not around them." (source)


    Endorsed by: 

    • Nancy’s Picks - Nancy’s Picks (far-right voter guide in Orange County, whose criteria for endorsement include “PRO-LIFE & PROTECTIONS for the UNBORN”, “PRO-SANCTITY of HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE”, “PRO-PARENTAL RIGHTS in EDUCATION”, “PRO-NUCLEAR FAMILY”, “SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL and IT’S RIGHT to EXIST”, “SECURE & SEAL OUR BORDERS”, and more. 

    • Reform California - (far-right organization led by Carl DeMaio)

    • Jorge Valdes

    • Mari Barke

    • Tim Shaw

    • Ken L. Williams Jr.

    • Lisa Sparks

    • Lincoln Club of Orange County


    Candidate in the News:

    No coverage found

    Public Voting Record:

    None found, Candidate has not held public office.


    Follow the Money: 

    None found

  • Newport-Mesa USD Area 7 Trustee Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “ANDY GODINEZ 

    AGE: 44 | Parent/Code Officer

    I am a proud Newport-Mesa Unified alum and lifelong Westside Costa Mesa resident, and I am honored and excited for the opportunity to serve as your Board of Education Trustee for Area 7.

    I attended Whittier Elementary, Ensign Intermediate, and Newport Harbor High. The first in my family to attend college, I chose a career in public service that allows me to give back to the community that shaped me.

    I worked for five years for NMUSD and understand our school district facilities and operations. I have now worked for 18 years with the City of Costa Mesa (including roles with Parks and

    Community Services, City Clerk’s office, and Code Enforcement) through which I have developed broad community relationships and a deep understanding of how government works including budgets, processes, and partnerships. I know how to get things done while staying rooted in our community and finding ways to open doors and uplift others.

    Throughout my life, I have remained active in youth development and local leadership:

    • Board Member - Leadership Tomorrow

    • Board Member - Costa Mesa City Employee Association

    • Youth Mentor - Bright Youth

    • Youth Sports Coach and Program Volunteer Lead - MIKA CDC

    • Volunteer - Think Together, Love Costa Mesa, and CM Mutual Aid

    My personal and professional experience combined with longstanding community relationships and passion for serving our neighborhood makes me uniquely qualified to be your Board Trustee. When homegrown community leaders are present and engaged, young people feel more empowered to believe in themselves. As someone who has walked in their shoes, overcome challenges, and paved my own path, I want to empower and support our students to do the same.

    This year, our daughter will start her education in Newport-Mesa. My wife and I are determined that she and her Westside CM peers have better access to high quality education, best-in-class facilities, and enriching extracurricular opportunities that inspire them to dream. Having attended schools in both Westside Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, I have seen the disparities in facilities and resources firsthand. I want to meet that challenge head on with out-of-the-box solutions. I’ll partner hand-in-hand with our parents, teachers, administrators, and community organizations to make sure every student is given an opportunity to thrive.

    I’m honored to continue serving the community that shaped me. I’m ready to help all NMUSD students achieve their full potential.

    I ask for your support and your vote.

    AndyGodinez4NMUSD.com / andygodinez4nmusd@gmail.com”


    Email: andygodinez4nmusd@gmail.com


    Campaign Website: https://andygodinez4nmusd.com/


    Priorities: 

    • Enhance Youth Enrichment (free/low-cost after-school sports and activities, tutors and mentors for grades 7–12)

    • Expand Dual Immersion Options (dual immersion at Pomona, Rea, Wilson; trilingual at College Park and Adams; extend through TeWinkle and Estancia)

    • Equitable Facilities (open playgrounds as parks on weekends with the city; Estancia football room)

    • Bridge Divides (joint events connecting Westside communities split by 19th St.)


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Andy references his volunteering with Costa Mesa Mutual Aid in his candidate statement. This is a partner organization of Pride at the Pier, and they’ve done significant work supporting the immigrant community in Costa Mesa, notably during the increased community anxiety brought on by the attacks by ICE on the region. 

    • First-time candidate; not an incumbent. Running for the seat of Trustee Ashley Anderson, who did not qualify for reelection. Anderson endorses him and says on his site that she first asked him to run about a year ago (campaign site).

    • Career: City of Costa Mesa employee since 2008 — started part-time in the Parks & Community Services after-school program at Whittier Elementary (the same program he attended as a kid), then the Concierge Desk and City Clerk's Office, then promoted to full-time Code Enforcement Officer in 2018 (City of Costa Mesa News, July 2023).

    • Received the City Manager Leadership Award in July 2023; City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison called him one of the most popular city employees at City Hall and in the community (same source).

    • Married with children ("Parent" ballot designation; endorsers describe him as a dad). His wife is also a lifelong Costa Mesa resident and city employee per the city article.

    • Political context: aligned with the NMUSD board's progressive bloc (Anderson, Ersoylu, Murphy all endorse him) and endorsed by the Democratic Party of Orange County. The Area 7 seat is key to the board's balance.

    • Opposed OC GRIP (see Public Comments) — this is the main line of attack from the conservative "Parent Empowerment" Substack, which frames him as "anti-law enforcement."


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • NMUSD Board meeting, Sept. 16, 2025 (public comment from the podium) on renewing OC GRIP, a DA-run gang-intervention program in schools. Per a conservative Substack's account, he cited his "lived experience" as a Westside resident, called OC GRIP a "school-to-prison pipeline" that would "normalize" law enforcement, acknowledged gang problems but urged prevention programs without law enforcement, and argued it would disproportionately criminalize students of color and students with disabilities (source (Opinion, right-leaning)). The board approved OC GRIP 5-2 at that meeting (source).

    • Campaign website (first person): "When homegrown community leaders are present and engaged, young people feel more empowered to believe in themselves." (source)

    • On his instagram in a post dated August 4th, he said, “My wife and I grew up just three blocks apart, but we didn’t meet until our twenties. That’s the story of so many neighborhoods here on the Westside of Costa Mesa: close in distance, disconnected in community. It’s time to bridge those divides across neighborhoods, across cultures, and build something more united, more collaborative, more us. And the best place to start? Families.” source

    • Andy responded to the OC Register candidate questionnaire. 

      • Question: How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

    Answer: “As an NMUSD student, I wasn’t aware at all about city council and school board meetings, so I would encourage a high school graduation requirement to attend each of those meetings a couple of times.

    Essential to this is having an intro class before and then a recap after to help them learn the process of real civic engagement and how meetings are run, which I think would be eye-opening for them. It would also help students begin the process of working toward receiving a Seal of Civic Engagement on their diplomas.

    I also noticed when I have attended and viewed school board meetings recently that every NMUSD high school has its own student board member who gets to participate in the school board meeting process and sit at the dais, although in a limited capacity. This is a great means to create pathways to civic engagement and civil discourse.

    I would also encourage social clubs at schools like CHAMOY (Changing the Hearts And Minds Of Youth) who have gone a step further and taken on active roles to canvass (sic) and advocate for priorities that they choose to tackle in their community. I believe our kids are hungry for healthy opportunities to grow in civic engagement.”

    • Question: How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

    Answer: “I believe AI has to be strictly enforced with privacy rules, while students need to be taught digital literacy and monitored to prevent it from being used as a shortcut instead of exercising critical thinking, also known as cognitive offloading. I am also concerned about how many AI platforms collect personal data, generate “false facts,” and could repeat historical biases in their data that could lead to incorrect information or unfair grading.

    I also am aware of some of its benefits, like helping non-native speakers and special needs students understand lessons better and to differentiate lesson plans to cater to different learning styles, as well as handling time-consuming administrative tasks. 

    Setting clear boundaries allows students to work to a conclusion instead of bypassing it with AI and builds critical thinking. Limiting AI in basic math, core grammar, and reading comprehension allows children to work through the foundations of building those skills. I deeply believe AI needs to be banned during tests or exams so that teachers can measure the students’ individual knowledge. Studies performed by the Department of Education have shown that use of AI during the learning process can cause weaker recollection and low test scores.”


    Endorsed by: 

    • Incumbent, NMUSD Trustee Ashley Anderson

    • Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC)

    • OC PAC / OC Action (OC PAC)

    • OC Young Democrats

    • Costa Mesa Democrats

    • CSEA Chapter 18 (NMUSD classified employees' union)

    • Moms Demand Action (gun-safety group)

    • WAVE — per logos on his campaign site.

    • OC Supervisor Katrina Foley

    • Leah Ersoylu (NMUSD Trustee Board President)

    • Michelle Murphy, NMUSD Vice President

    • Costa Mesa Councilmember Arlis Reynolds

    • Costa Mesa Councilmember Andrea Marr

    • Costa Mesa Councilmember Loren Gameros (Mayoral Candidate)

    • Eric Jimenez, Executive Director for a youth-serving Westside nonprofit & NHHS alum

    • Olga Parra, Executive Director for the escuela community

    • Nadia Flores, Adjunct faculty, Santiago Canyon College, Ensign mom

    • Moses & Christine Nolf, Local Pastor, Whittier parents, community leaders

    • Angely Andrade-Vallarta, Planning Commissioner

    • Kelly Brown, Parks Commissioner/Chair

    • Cristian Garcia Arcos, Parks Commissioner

    • David Martinez, Planning Commissioner


    Candidate in the News:


    Public Voting Record:

    None found, candidate has not held public office.


    Follow the Money: 

    • $5,000 Newport Mesa Federation of Teachers Local 1794

    • $750    Arlis Reynolds (current Costa Mesa city council member)

    • $500    Newport Beach Women’s Democratic Club

    • $250 Jeffrey Harlan (current Costa Mesa city council member)

    • $250 Manuel Chavez (current Costa Mesa city council member)

  • Newport-Mesa USD Area 7 Trustee Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “GRACE DAÑINO HICKOK | AGE: 61 | Spanish Teacher/Businesswoman

    I am running for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education to advocate for student achievement, support our outstanding teachers, and strengthen the partnership between schools and families. I will work to ensure parents have access to the information, resources, and opportunities they need to actively support their children’s education.

    As a bilingual member of our community, I will help expand meaningful engagement with families who have historically faced challenges accessing school resources due to language barriers, while celebrating the diverse cultures and experiences that make NMUSD stronger.

    I believe every child deserves excellent educational opportunities and every family deserves to feel connected, respected, and empowered. I would be honored to bring my experience as an

    educator, business owner, and Spanish-speaking community leader to the NMUSD Board of Education.

    I have dedicated my career to connecting people through language and education.

    My priorities are

    • To help children achieve their career and college dreams.

    • Provide excellent programs in math, science, technology and the arts

    • provide every student and every family with the opportunity to fully participate and succeed.

    As a bilingual educator, entrepreneur, and proud immigrant from Lima, Peru, I have experienced first hand the power of language, education, and community.

    Kindly, Grace Dañino Hickok”


    Email: None Found


    Campaign Website: https://danino-hickokfornmusd.com

    Grace’s website is emblazoned with the words, “A district parent, bilingual educator, and small business owner committed to strengthening Newport-Mesa Unified School District for every student.”

    Priorities: 

    • To help children achieve their career and college dreams.

    • Provide excellent programs in math, science, technology and the arts

    • Provide every student and every family with the opportunity to fully participate and succeed.


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Background per her LinkedIn: native of Lima, Peru; studied at CENFOTUR (Peru's national tourism-training center); Spanish teacher at Portal Languages (Mission Viejo) and at homeschool programs — Homeschool Campus (Rancho Santa Margarita, since 2016) and Independent Learning Academy (Aliso Viejo/Oceanside, since 2015). Also lists a masked employer at an address on Adams Ave, Costa Mesa. Languages: Spanish and English (full professional), Italian (elementary).

    • She subscribes to / comments on Philip Stemler's Substack, a conservative "parent empowerment" newsletter that opposes ethnic studies curriculum and has backed Trustee Andrea McElroy. 

    • Volunteer history per LinkedIn: MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers), 2003–2005, serving Minnie Street in Santa Ana; and a summer surf club for low-income kids in Costa Mesa through Mika Community Development Corporation (listed 2012–present).

    • Context on Mika CDC: a Christ-centered Westside Costa Mesa nonprofit whose programs included tutoring, Bible classes and English classes; GuideStar says it closed in 2019, so her "present" date is likely stale (GuideStar).

    • Her homeschool-teaching background is notable for a public-school board race.


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: Light digital footprint and follows a mix of conservative and liberal local candidates (a few listed below). However, follows a few personal and public conservative accounts. 


    Instagram:


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • Substack comment (social media), July 10 [2025]: on Philip Stemler's post "Progressives Bring Defund the Police to Newport-Mesa," which criticized Trustees Anderson and Murphy for voting against renewing OC GRIP, a commenter named Grace Hickok wrote: "That GRIP program should be back in Costa Mesa schools." (source). 

    • Her own Instagram page:  “Schools are first and foremost for academic education. Students need strong foundations in reading, writing, math, science, history, and critical thinking so they can succeed in life. Schools should also teach respect, responsibility, and good citizenship, but they should never replace the role of parents or push political agendas. My priority is to keep classrooms focused on learning, excellence, and preparing every child for the future.” (source)

    • Thanked Wendy Leece for her support on an Instagram post. Wendy Leece is a local politician who describes herself as “very conservative”. (source)


    Endorsed by: 

    • None listed on her campaign website, but she acknowledged and thanked conservative Wendy Leece for her supportive comment on her Instagram page.

    • Nancy’s Picks - Nancy’s Picks (far-right voter guide in Orange County, whose criteria for endorsement include “PRO-LIFE & PROTECTIONS for the UNBORN”, “PRO-SANCTITY of HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE”, “PRO-PARENTAL RIGHTS in EDUCATION”, “PRO-NUCLEAR FAMILY”, “SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL and IT’S RIGHT to EXIST”, “SECURE & SEAL OUR BORDERS”, and more. 

    • Reform California - (far-right organization led by Carl DeMaio)


    Candidate in the News: 

    None Found

    Public Voting Record:
    None Found, Has never held office


    Follow the Money: 

Newport-Mesa Unified School District

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

Santa Ana Unified School District

Rancho Santiago Community College District

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

42nd District, House of Representatives

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

73rd District, CA State Assembly

Orange County Board of Supervisors District 5

Orange County Board of Education District 2

Costa Mesa Sanitary District

Irvine Ranch Water District

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

Coast Community College District

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

Attorney General

As the state’s chief legal officer, the attorney general can file lawsuits against the federal government to block policies they believe overstep legal boundaries or infringe upon the civil rights of their residents. This power serves as a critical check and balance, allowing states to defend their own laws and protect vulnerable communities from federal actions they deem unconstitutional.

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide

    Incumbent, running for CA Attorney General

    Campaign Statement, if any: None Found

    Email: None Found

    Campaign Website: https://robbonta.com/

    Bonta’s campaign website leads with; “Justice for all. Attorney General Rob Bonta is running for re-election to protect our freedoms, defend our democracy, and stand up to abuse of power wherever it appears. The fight is far from over — but together we’ll keep standing up to stop unlawful power grabs by the federal government, defend our immigrant communities, protect reproductive freedom, hold greedy corporations accountable, keep our communities safe from gun violence and fentanyl trafficking, safeguard our environment, and so much more.”

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    Rob Bonta worked with Equality California to launch the first-ever State of Pride report and forum, tracking and advocating for the progress of LGBTQ+ rights in California. Source

    During the current Trump presidential administration, Bonta has led or co-led over 60 lawsuits against the Trump administration on behalf of Californians.  A small sample of these includes: 

    Bonta has also been involved in lawsuits and legal responses against California-based entities in efforts to defend LGBTQ+ rights. A small sample includes: 

    • California v. Chino Valley Unified: Sued to block "forced outing" policies that required schools to notify parents of a student's gender transition. The case ended in early 2025 with the district rescinding the policy.

    • Mirabelli v. Bonta: Defending California’s SAFETY Act, which protects student privacy. The U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency ruling in March 2026 temporarily allowing parents to receive gender identity information, but Bonta continues to litigate the full merits of the case.

    • California v. Rady Children’s Health (2026): Sued Rady for closing its gender-affirming care clinic. Bonta alleges the closure violates the 2024 merger agreement with CHOC, which legally required Rady to maintain specialty services through 2034.

    • California v. City of Huntington Beach: Challenged local ordinances that banned the Pride flag on public property and restricted LGBTQ+ books in libraries, arguing they violate the Unruh Civil Rights Act.

    • Temecula Valley Unified Investigation: Initiated civil rights actions to stop the school board from banning LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum and implementing discriminatory notification policies.

    • California v. Trump (PREA Protections): Leading a multi-state effort to block federal attempts to remove Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) protections that specifically safeguard transgender individuals in custody.

    Social Media Links: 

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • When interviewed by ABC 30 Action News at the first ever State of Pride event in San Francisco, Bonta said, “I'm proud to stand and serve in a state that stands with our LGBTQ community (...) The stakes are high, the attacks are disgusting, the targeting is strong, now more than ever we need each other”.   

    • At the same event, he was quoted by Vanguard News Group as saying, “It is more important than ever that we recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight for equality, safety, and inclusion.” Source

    • Bonta lambasted the treatment of human beings at the ICE concentration camp in California City, saying, “My team has seen and heard first-hand the dangerous conditions at California’s newest detention facility — conditions that violate ICE’s own standards. I implore DHS to take action to address these serious issues”. The full letter he sent to the Department of Homeland Security can be found here.

    Endorsed by: (This is an incomplete list, a cross-section. Click the link to see them all)

    • Orange County Democratic Party

    • Gavin Newsom, Governor

    • Malia Cohen, California State Controller

    • Dr. Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State

    • Senator Adam Schiff

    • Senator Alex Padilla

    • Senator Cory Booker

    • Rep. Robert Garcia

    • Rep. Pete Aguilar

    • Rep. Gil Cisneros

    • Rep. Ro Khanna

    • Rep. Dave Min

    • Rep. Mike Levin

    • Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson

    • Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson

    • Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee

    • Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California

    • Teamsters California

    • California Teachers Association (CTA)

    • Sierra Club CA

    • California Environmental Voters

    • Dolores Huerta

    • Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

    • Smart Justice CA

    • Equality California

    • California Medical Association

    • Courage Campaign

    • Stacey Abrams

    • David Hogg

    • Elise Joshi

    • Jane Fonda

    Candidate in the News:

    Follow the Money: 

    The filing deadline for campaign finance documents has not yet passed, so we don’t have his most recent donations to review. These are mostly from late 2025.

    • $500 from the Alan Wong for Supervisor 2026 campaign 

    ***Note: When candidates for office terminate their campaigns, they have to redistribute the donations they receive in a handful of legal ways, including donating to another campaign.

    • $19,600 from the California Teachers Association/Association For Better Citizenship

    • $3,500 from the United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the U.S. & Canada Local 447 Federal PAC (Fed PAC ID # C00320218)

    • $500 from the Berkeley Firefighters Association Local 1227 Political Action Committee

    • $1,000 from the San Jose Firefighters, IAFF Local 230 Political Action Committee

    • $5,000 from the Sacramento Area Fire Fighters Local 522 Political Action Committee

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    ***PRIDE AT THE PIER CONTENT WARNING: 

    • THIS ELECTION GUIDE FOR MICHAEL GATES INCLUDES MANY EXAMPLES OF TRANSPHOBIA AND HOMOPHOBIA FROM THIS CANDIDATE, AND MAY BE UPSETTING FOR SOME. 

    • The information in this guide is a very small percentage of the homophobic and transphobic actions and statements made by this candidate.

    • Statements made by this candidate are rife with misinformation. We are simply sharing to educate voters on the stances of this candidate and what they have been quoted as saying by other sources. Please check all sources for cited information.

    Campaign Statement, if any: 

    “Michael E. Gates | REPUBLICAN

    California families deserve to be safe again. Crime is rising, homelessness is out of control, fraud with taxpayer dollars is rampant, and our children—especially young girls—are not being protected. The Office of Attorney General should be focused on enforcing the law and keeping families safe, not playing politics. I'm a husband and father of five, and like every parent, I want our children to grow up in safe communities. That's why public safety has always been my top priority. As the City Attorney for Huntington Beach, I fought for the people. I created a city criminal prosecutor program that prosecuted quality-of-life crimes and reduced crime by double digits. We proved that when the law is enforced, communities thrive. As Attorney General, I will make crime illegal again by prosecuting all crimes, including enforcing Proposition 36, and use the law to address homelessness by holding criminals accountable while getting people off our streets and into treatment. I will stand up for police, support law enforcement and defend them when they are unfairly attacked. I will also bring proven programs that lowered crime and homelessness in Huntington Beach to cities across California. I will aggressively prosecute fraud and corruption in Sacramento, protect parents' rights, enforce laws that keep boys out of girls' sports and support Voter ID. This is a serious office. I will fight for everyday Californians and bring accountability and safety back to California. Learn more at www.Gates4AG.com.”

    Email: info@gates4ag.com 

    Campaign Website: https://www.gates4ag.com/ 

    Gates’ website leads with the following phrase; “Safe families, safe communities. As our next Attorney General, Michael Gates will fight for what matters most: our families, our communities, and our safety.”

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • In 2025, Gates was hired to work in the Trump administration as a Deputy U.S. Attorney, during which time he - by his own testimony - pursued investigations against transgender individuals and those who support them, as well as investigations into so-called voter fraud. We’ll quote him further down on that. 

    • However, his time in the administration lasted approximately ten months before coming to an end.  The OC Register - known for its conservative bias - reported in November 2025 that Gates was fired from the administration “for cause”, based on records requests. Interviews the Register conducted revealed that there had been complaints against Gates by his colleagues that he had created a hostile work environment for women.  Per the Register, “He allegedly had a “consistent pattern” of referring to female colleagues by derogatory and demeaning names, the source said, and complained about the employment of a woman who was pregnant”.

    • Gates denied the entire story, asserting that he had chosen to resign from the Trump Administration because he was homesick, and that any negative word about him from his former colleagues was merely because they were angry that he resigned. 

    Social Media Links: 

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    ***Note: The term “fascist” here is not hyperbole, but in fact a term used in its specific definition; this restaurant’s owners use their platform to call for the arrest of politicians, “re-education camps” for anyone to the left of them (including some Republicans), and the use of the United States military to violently occupy places like New York and California to install martial law and military tribunals for protesters.

    • Julie Hamill, a lawyer affiliated with the CA Policy Center and anti-trans activist

    • (Twitter) Rick Leventhal: Host of the Leventhal Report on NewsMax

    • (Twitter) Sophia Lorey: Anti-trans activist and paid consultant at the CA Family Council

    • (Twitter) Nick Shirley

    • (Twitter) Reform CA

    • (Twitter) Spencer Pratt

    • (Twitter) Nicki Minaj

    Candidate’s Public Comments: 

    ***Note: Statements made by this candidate are rife with misinformation. We are simply sharing to educate voters on the stances of this candidate and what they have been quoted as saying by other sources. Please check all sources for cited information.

    • In an event at Basilico’s, an openly fascist Italian restaurant in HB known for its extreme politics, Gates spoke to attendees about what he was accomplishing in his role in the Trump administration. “...We’re fighting all that reverse discrimination as well. Defending women, getting men out of women’s sports. When it comes to all the transgender bullshit, we - we are fighting, we are fighting all that transgender, all the mutilization of children, we are fighting that. But what I am happy to report, is, you know, close to my heart, is that I am, I’m privileged to be able to fight a lot of the election integrity irregularities. So, I got a number of cases right now.”

    • In Gates’ statement about being hired by the Trump administration, he said, “I am profoundly humbled and honored for this opportunity to serve the American people at a time like this - to advance President Trump's "America First" agenda, fight to restore law and order throughout the country, and fight to restore faith in the Nation's justice system.”

    • Via his twitter, post dated April 24th 2026: “(Rob Bonta) sued Children’s Hospitals to FORCE trans surgeries on MINORS and he fought for SECRET trans grooming in schools by teachers! (...) Sicko!”

    • Via his twitter, post dated March 28, 2025, he posted about the Federal Government investigating CA over AB 1955, a law that prevents school districts from requiring teachers to forcibly out students to their parents. He said, “Going on offense against California’s unconstitutional AB 1955 - a law that inserts State educators in the parent child relationship on gender issues. Proud of DOE for fighting to protect families by combatting State overreach! (US Flag Emoji, US Flag Emoji, US Flag Emoji)”

    • When asked his take on the Attorney General’s responsibility to the homelessness crisis, Gates replied, “...cities cannot simply allow dangerous encampments to grow or refuse to address conditions that threaten public safety and quality of life. On homelessness, I believe enforcement and treatment must go together. Anti-camping laws matter because public spaces should be safe and usable for everyone.”

    Endorsed by: (For the complete list, click the hyperlink)

    • California Republican Party

    • Lincoln Club of Orange County

    • Patriots4Freedom-San Diego

    • California Rifle & Pistol Association

    • American Independent Party of California

    ***Note: American Independent does not mean No Party Preference. AI is a far-right party.

    • California Parents Union

    • California Cities for Local Control

    • The Israeli-American Civic Action Network (ICAN)

    • Don Wagner,Orange County Supervisor

    • Janet Nguyen, Orange County Supervisor

    • Hugh Nguyen, Orange County Clerk-Recorder

    • Shari Friedenrich, Orange County Treasurer

    • Claude Parrish, Orange County Tax Assessor

    • Sonja Shaw, CVUSD Board President and anti-trans extremist

    • Steve Knoblock, Mayor Pro Tem of San Clemente who tried to institute an abortion ban in the city

    • Steve Hilton, Candidate for Governor of California

    • Mike Munzig, Mayor Pro Tem Aliso Viejo who tried to institute a Pride Flag ban

    • All members of the Huntington Beach City Council

    • Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff

    • John Zanoni, Fresno County Sheriff

    • Donny Yongblood, Kern County Sheriff

    • Michael Boudreaux, Tulare County Sheriff

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    Not applicable

    Follow the Money:

    • $9,800 from the Newport Beach Police Association Political Action

    • $5,900 from the campaign fund for Chad Williams for City Council 2024

    ***Campaign Finance Filings for this race are still being processed, so this is an incomplete list.


Secretary of State

The California Secretary of State serves as the state's chief elections official and oversees the formal registration of businesses and non-profit organizations. In addition to managing the state’s historical archives, they protect civil rights by expanding voter access and ensuring that every Californian can participate in a secure and transparent democratic process.

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide

    Campaign Statement:

    “Shirley N. Weber | DEMOCRATIC

    I will never give up on protecting your voting rights. We are not in normal times. We need strong leaders to stand up and fight for what is right and just. I was born in the Jim Crow south to sharecroppers who couldn't vote. California welcomed us with open arms and has been my home ever since. My parents cast their first votes here and even used our family living room as a polling place. America is the only country in the world where within one generation a family can go from Jim Crow disenfranchisement, to administering elections in the largest state in the nation. We've come so far, and I've seen it firsthand. However, there are people that want to roll back that progress. They want shorter polling hours, fewer days to vote and the removal of vote-by-mail ballots. Some of them have even threatened the lives of election officials when their preferred candidate loses. This behavior will not be tolerated in California. As Secretary of State, 28 statewide and special elections were successfully held. When our voting rights were under attack, I fought for us in the courts, and won. I've been a transparent leader because trust is everything. Every eligible Californian should register to vote and cast their ballot whether we agree politically or not. I will continue to fight to make sure that nothing stands between you and the ballot box. Vote Dr. Shirley N. Weber for Secretary of State. Visit www.DrShirleyWeber.com to learn more.

    E-mail: info@drshirleyweber.comFacebook: facebook.com/ShirleyWeber4SOSX: x.com/drweber4ca”

    Email: info@drshirleyweber.com 

    Campaign Website: https://drshirleyweber.com/

    Priorities listed on her website: 

    • A Defender of Voting Rights

      • Restoring Trust and Transparency:

      • Encourage Californians to Vote:

    She goes on to say on her campaign website’s main page, “Voting Rights Are Under Attack –

    Dr. Weber Is Our Defender.  In her first year as Secretary of State, Dr. Weber has already overseen a safe, secure, and seamless statewide election, and solidified California’s reputation as a national leader on strengthening the right to vote for every community. She’s also worked with the Governor and state legislature to make California a permanent, universal vote-by-mail state.”

    Some of the experiences she has listed on her website include: 

    • Protecting poll workers and election officials

    • Authored legislation to extend and ensure the right to vote for parolees

    • Fought for legislation on education, civil rights, public safety, food insecurity, protections for persons with disabilities, and voting rights

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • In an interview with CalMatters, Weber said she has focused on expanding voter outreach to rural corners of California and encouraging voter registration on high school and college campuses — something she said she would continue to focus on in her second term if she is re-elected.

    • For those who followed the city of Huntington Beach’s efforts to pass Voter ID laws for polling places within the city, Weber worked with current Attorney General Rob Bonta to successfully sue the city over this effort, and prevent Voter ID laws within the city that would have violated CA state laws. 

    • Prior to her time in government, Weber served as a professor at San Diego State University and at California State University at Los Angeles and Los Angeles City College. Source

    • Weber faced criticism from some disability advocate groups who sued the state over what they felt were barriers to voting accessibility. Source

    Social Media Links: 

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShirleyWeber4SOS 

    Campaign Twitter: https://x.com/drweber4ca?s=21

    Personal Twitter: https://x.com/drshirleyweber?s=21 

    (Defunct) Instagram for an earlier legislative race: https://www.instagram.com/asmshirleyweber/

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • JD Vance (This is the “Vice President” account, so we’re unsure if she specifically followed Vance or if this is an account she followed prior to the current administration)

    • Barack Obama

    • Kamala Harris

    • Beyonce

    • (Twitter) Sharon Quirk-Silva

    • (Twitter) Rob Bonta

    • (Twitter) CA Legislative Women’s Caucus

    • (Twitter) Jennifer Siebel Newsom (Spouse of Gavin Newsom)

    • (Twitter) Vote America

    • (Twitter) California Black Media

    • (Twitter) National Women’s Political Caucus California (Pro-Choice Caucus)

    • (Twitter) Alliance For Youth Action

    • (Twitter) VoteRiders (Organization to help voters navigate Voter ID laws)

    • (Twitter) UCLA Black Project

    • Emerge CA (An organization that trains women to run for office)

    • California Faculty Assoc. 

    • Equal Justice Society

    • The King Center (MLK Jr. Memorial)

    • Yes on Prop 16 (Repeals the ban on affirmative action at Public Institutions)

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • In response to criticisms about the slow process of counting votes in the 2024 election, Weber said, “I know the value of being fast for some folks (...) For me, accuracy is far more important.”

    • On protecting personal voter information from the Trump administration, she said, “If we were giving (voter information) away like candy, who would trust us … to protect their records?”

    • In an interview with the LA Times regarding the Huntington Beach City Council’s efforts to push through Voter ID laws, Weber said, “I will continue to uphold my promise to Californians to protect our democracy, and I will continue to challenge this administration’s disregard for the rule of law and our right to vote.”

    • During an event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act where Weber was a guest speaker, she said, “When the president wanted to offer Martin Luther King all kinds of other things. They wanted him to have a housing act. They wanted him to have a poverty act. They wanted him to do all of these other things. But they never wanted to offer him the voting rights act. And King rejected all of those in 1964 because he understood the power of voting and the importance of making it possible for all people in this nation to be able to vote because that was their voice, that was their power, that was their expression. And so, as we have tried in this office as Secretary of State to make sure that we bring forth a number of things that people have forgotten, I discovered that a lot of folks don't know much about the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They thought it granted people the right to vote when it did not. They already had the right to vote, but they had to secure the vote. They had to make sure that people had access to it and they were not denied their opportunity to vote. (...) And so now, this is the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. (...) When I took office a few years ago, I came to realize, as I pointed out to the governor and others, that this is going to be a critical period in our lives because we've all had an opportunity to vote. We've had this wonderful experience in this nation, and we knew that voting was under attack. And the question was always, are we as strong as our ancestors? Are we able to fight like they fought to maintain the right to vote and to exercise that right in going to the polls? So, we want to remind folks of what it means to be what the Voting Rights Act of 1965 did and those who were part of it, who lived through it and who understood why it was so very important for us to have it.”

    Endorsed by: 

    •  Orange County Democratic Party

    • Rob Bonta, Attorney General

    • Fiona Ma, State Treasurer

    • Malia Cohen, Controller

    • Ricardo Lara, Insurance Commissioner

    • Tony Thurmond, Superintendent of Education

    • Cecilia Aguiar Curry, Assemblymember

    • Blanca Rubio, Assemblymember

    • Dr. LaShae Sharp Collins, Assemblymember

    • Buffy Wicks, Assemblymember

    • Akilah Weber, MD, State Senator

    • California Professional Firefighters

    • Steamfitters & Refrigeration UA Local 250

    • California Federation of Teachers

    • AFSCME

    • UDWA/AFSCME Local 3930

    • CA State Council of Laborers

    • Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley (DPSFV)

    • California Women’s List

    • Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG)

    • AFSCME District Council 36

    • California State Retirees

    • California YIMBY

    • SEIU

    • SEIU 1000

    • Westside Young Democrats

    • Democratic Women’s Club of San Diego

    • San Diego Democrats for Equality

    • Avance Democratic Club

    • Fallbrook Democratic Club

    • Association of California State Supervisor (ACSS)

    • NWPC California

    • California Teachers Association

    • California Donor Table

    • Communications Workers of America

    • Jane Fonda Climate PAC

    • Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club

    • Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee

    • Central City Democrats

    • California Nurses Association

    • Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

    • SFWPC

    • Stonewall Young Democrats

    • Black Women’s Collective PAC

    • Chino Valley Democratic Club

    • Bernal Heights Democratic Club

    • Iranian American Democrats of California (IADC)

    • ILWU Southern California District Council

    • California Black Women’s Collective PAC

    • Contra Costa Young Democrats

    • San Francisco Latino Democratic Club

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • During her time in the state legislature, Weber received an “A” score from People’s Courage, who rate legislators based on how likely they are to cave to corporate lobbyist interests. 

    • Weber championed AB 392, a bill that called for police reform by redefining the standard for police use of deadly force from "reasonable" to "necessary”.

    • Weber was one of 14 legislators to receive a score of “100” from the ACLU during her time as a legislator.

    • Weber authored AB 3121, which establishes the “Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans” to summarize existing evidence of the institution of slavery that existed within the United States and the colonies and to recommend, among other things, the form and mode of compensation that should be awarded to descendants of people who were enslaved.

    Follow the Money: There is limited campaign finance reporting available for this race so far, but we did find this: 

    • $19,600 from the California Teachers Association/Association For Better Citizenship

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement, if any:

    “Donald P. (Don) Wagner | REPUBLICAN

    As Secretary of State, I will restore Californians' trust in our election system and protect every eligible voter's fundamental American right to participate in our democracy. California's election system is broken. Thirty-six states and most democratic nations require voters to establish their identities at the polls. California does not. Election security is so weak at least one dog was registered to vote in California—and had its vote counted! While other large states can finish vote counts and announce results on Election Night, California takes 30 excruciating days. We are usually the last state in the country to stop counting and report final results. That's embarrassing and unacceptable. You deserve an excellent election system that is secure, efficient, accurate, and accessible to eligible voters only. As Secretary of State, I will work to institute common-sense reforms including: 1) Require Voter ID at the polls; 2) Require mail ballots to be returned by Election Day; 3) Prohibit “ballot harvesting” by paid canvassers. The Secretary of State also has a role in fixing California's business climate. The office must be modernized and made business friendly. As Secretary of State, I will fight against bad business policies that make California unaffordable and drive away our families, friends, and employers. I have the experience to deliver. I have served as a member of the California Legislature, Mayor of lrvine, Orange County Supervisor, and owned my own business. I pledge to protect your vote as Secretary of State. Learn more at WagnerforCalifornia.com.

    4100 MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 310Newport Beach, CA 92660Tel: (714) 785-5949E-mail: donwagner@WagnerForCalifornia.comWagnerForCalifornia.com”

    Email: donwagner@WagnerForCalifornia.com

    Campaign Website: https://wagnerforcalifornia.com/ 

    Don’s website leans hard into dog-whistles about the conspiracy that voters who are ineligible to vote are fraudulently voting. His website leads with this statement; “Californians deserve an excellent election system that is secure, efficient, accurate and accessible to every eligible voter.  I will make sure that every eligible voter can participate in our democracy while also protecting the security of elections by ensuring that only eligible voters cast ballots.”

    His priorities listed are: 

    • Only eligible voters cast ballots

    • Elections are secure, efficient, accurate, and accessible

    • The Secretary of State's business division is "small-business friendly"

    He also has on his website’s main page, “Don Wagner fully supports the Voter ID initiative that will soon be gathering signatures to go on the ballot in 2026!”

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Wagner, currently on the OC Board of Supervisors, voted in 2023 to ban the Pride Flag from county properties, openly acknowledging that the agenda item was specifically about the Pride Flag, which he called “divisive”. 

    • The Irvine Tolerance Coalition posted on Instagram a critique of Wagner, stating, “guess who’s back? On Aug. 26, Supervisor Don Wagner helped slide his old pal Christina Shea onto the OC Older Adults Advisory Commission — with a term that just happens to match his. Coincidence? Or a soft launch for Shea’s next political play? Let’s not forget: Shea’s record includes pushing anti-LGBTQ+ policies and leading the ugly fight for Measure N. Now, with a new appointment, and cryptic “recall” posts, she looks less like a seniors’ advocate and more like someone staging a comeback. Irvine deserves better than recycled hate politics.” ***Note: We are sharing this perspective as opinion from another source, not face.

    • Wagner expressed support for OC Sheriff Don Barnes when Barnes was criticized for collaborating with ICE, which is illegal under CA state law. Per the LA Times, “Supervisor Don Wagner pointed out that the 226 inmates who were referred to ICE constituted a small part of the more than 48,000 bookings that occurred in the jail last year. “The sheriff is to be saluted,” Wagner said, “not condemned for the very judicious use of his power that he’s outlined today.”

    Social Media Links: 

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonWagnerCA/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donwagnerca/

    Wagner’s OC Supervisor Instagram has a handful of posts celebrating holidays, including Good Friday, Easter, Passover, and Cinco De Mayo.

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • Wagner does not follow anyone on Instagram

    • On Facebook, Wagner’s following list is limited to his elected peers (bipartisan), local government bodies, and a handful of local nonpartisan organizations.

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • Wagner was given a questionnaire by the OC Register for this campaign. The news article led with the statement, “Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.” Some of Don’s comments are as follows: 

    • “I would also ask the legislature to remove the COVID-inspired mailing of ballots to everyone on the cluttered voting rolls. Having so many ballots out there, coupled with bloated voting rolls, allows for the possibility of interference and illegal influence over our elections. And even if such interference is not happening, the widespread perception of such interference undermines confidence in the system.”

    • “The mailing of ballots to every name on the bloated voting rolls, the extremely long “cure and correct” period and the 30-day counting period before certification are a few examples of changes to election laws that have led to widespread distrust. The secretary of state should have argued against those changes and worked to undo them rather than being a cheerleader for them. As secretary of state, I will work to undo these state election laws to restore transparency and trust.”

    • When asked about increasing accessibility, he said, “I do not believe typical Sacramento “one size fits all” mandates are necessary to increase accessibility. Local problems can and should be solved by working with, and having respect for, the local officials trying to solve the problem.”

    • When asked about Voter ID laws, Wagner said, “Because I support the voter ID initiative, I certainly will enforce it. But more importantly, since much of the state’s current political establishment opposes it, and has a history of not vigorously enforcing — or suing to stop — initiatives they don’t like, I pledge to the people of California that I will sue to protect voter ID if passed by the people. In fact, I will enforce the will of the people in a nonpartisan way as secretary of state. Regardless of my personal belief in the wisdom of an initiative or a candidate, if the people vote for that measure or person, I will consider it my sworn duty to enforce the people’s will.”

    Endorsed by: 

    • Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Assoc.

    • Pete Wilson, Former California Governor

    • Bruce McPherson, California Secretary of State (Ret.)

    • Bill Jones, California Secretary of State (Ret.)

    • Mike Munzing, Councilmember, Aliso Viejo (Introduced a Pride Flag Ban)

    • Ken Calvert, Member, US House of Representatives, R-Corona (Regularly votes in opposition of LGBTQ+ and minority rights, supports Voter Suppression)

    • Janet Nguyen, Member, Orange County Board of Supervisors, Fmr. State Senator

    • Diane Dixon, Assemblymember, Newport Beach

    • Shawn Steel, Fmr Chairman, California GOP (Significant Donor of anti-LGBTQ+ efforts)

    • Gracey Van Der Mark, City Councilwoman, Huntington Beach (Publicly Anti-LGBTQ+, Champion of Book Banning efforts)

    Candidate in the News:

    Follow the Money: 

    There is a significant amount of overlap and confusion when researching campaign finance filings for Don’s campaign, as he is also running a campaign committee named “Don Wagner Ballot Measure Committee to Protect Fair Elections” which Wagner is running in an effort to get Voter ID on the ballot, and the election committees overlap in search engines. His campaign finance filings for the Secretary of State race do not appear to be fully filed at this time.


Lieutenant Governor

The California Lieutenant Governor serves as the state’s second-highest executive, acting as the President of the State Senate and sitting on powerful boards that manage public lands and higher education. They protect civil rights by using their tie-breaking vote in the Senate and their influence on university boards to advocate for inclusive policies and equitable access to state resources.

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide

    Current Position: 34th state treasurer of California since January 7, 2019; Re-elected to second term in 2022.

    Political Party: Democrat

    Campaign Statement: 

    “California stands at a crossroads in America's history. We need clear-eyed, proven leaders willing to stand tall and fight on behalf of every Californian. Defending California's values and people—especially women and immigrants—will be my top priority as your Lieutenant Governor. I'm the daughter of immigrants and there's no place for fear or intimidation in our state. I'll protect birthright citizenship from Trump's attacks, and hold ICE accountable for excessive violence. I've spent my life in public service standing up for women. As California State Treasurer, I funded reproductive health, birth control, and cancer screenings when Trump cut Title X funding. As Assemblywoman, I chaired the Select Committee on Domestic Violence to protect survivors. The Lieutenant Governor serves on the Coastal Commission and Boards of UC and CSU. I will fight Trump's plan to reopen offshore drilling, while defending universities and protecting academic freedom. I'll vote to freeze tuition so middle-class families can afford college. My mother was a public school teacher. That's why I'm committed to delivering a quality education to every California student. We live in an unprecedented moment—and California must chart the path forward—a future that embraces a shared belief in a better California for all. Join us, California Professional Firefighters, California Federation of Teachers, National Union of Healthcare Workers, Building Trades, Carpenters, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and more than 30 labor unions in our campaign at www.fionama.com. I love California and I humbly ask for your vote for Lieutenant Governor.”

    Email: Fiona@FionaMa.com 

    Campaign Website: https://fionama.com/ 

    She doesn’t have her priorities listed. However, on her website, she says she’s running because; 

    • “I believe in the California dream

    • Making Government Work for Us (“get the most value for your tax dollars”)

    • Fighting for Our Future (“grow our economy, attract investment, and create high-quality jobs. I’ll work to make college more affordable and ensure seniors can age with dignity”)”

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Fiona has served as state treasurer for the past seven years.

    • In 2021, Ma was accused of sexual harassment and racial discrimination in a lawsuit filed by a former employee. The suit was settled in 2024 by the state of California for $350,000. Per the AP, “The agreement filed Friday in Sacramento County Superior Court stems from a 2021 lawsuit filed by a former employee of the treasurer’s office — Judith Blackwell — who alleged Ma exposed herself and crawled into bed with her when they shared rooms at a hotel and a rental unit (...) Blackwell said that while sharing rooms, Ma called her into her bedroom several times, exposed her nude backside and climbed into Blackwell’s bed with her at least once.” Fiona said of the settlement, “From day one, I said this was a frivolous lawsuit filed by a disgruntled employee who fabricated claims in an attempt to embarrass me in hopes of receiving millions of dollars in a settlement.” This case was settled with a settlement, not a trial. 

    • Fiona participated in the San Francisco Pride parade in 2025 - she can be seen from a parade float in these photos here. She’s also the Equality Icon Grand Marshal in the Long Beach Pride Parade. source

    Social Media Links: 

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • On May 1st, Fiona posted on her instagram, “This Mayday, we stand in solidarity with the hardworking men and women in labor who power our economy! Fiona Ma is proud to be the labor candidate in this race — fighting for the wages, workplace protections, and a bright future all Californians deserve.”

    • When interviewed by the OC Register, Ma said, “As state treasurer, I expanded college savings through CalKIDS and financed affordable housing. As lieutenant governor, I will scale student housing, expand need-based aid and strengthen transfer pathways from community colleges to four-year institutions. I will also align higher education with workforce needs, so students graduate into good-paying jobs. Access without completion is not equity, and I will fight to deliver both.”

    • When the San Jose Mercury News asked Ma what her three priorities were if elected, she replied with, 

      • “Higher education affordability: One of my top priorities will be to build more affordable housing units on and around college campuses so that students do not have the burden of commuting long distances to school or sleeping in cars. I have also been working to improve our state financial aid system. 

      • The environment: I will work to keep our coastlines clean and protect our water from pollution. 

      • Health care: Access to quality, affordable health care is something every Californian deserves, regardless of their zip code or income level.”

    • In an interview with the OC Register, Ma said, “Equity must be built into every level of the system, not treated as an add-on.”

    Endorsed by: 

    • CA Federation of Labor Unions

    • California Nurses Association

    • Stonewall Young Democrats

    • Costa Mesa Democrats

    • Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis

    • Secretary of State Shirley Weber

    • State Controller Malia Cohen

    • Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens

    • San Jose Mercury News

    Candidate in the News:

    Follow the Money: There isn’t much in the way of filed campaign filings yet. South AFL-CIO reported their contribution:

    • $307.15 total in April from South Bay AFL- CIO Labor Council Committee On Political Education

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement, if any: None Found

    Email: None Found

    Campaign Website: https://www.gloriaromero4ltgov.com/

    On her “About Me” page on her website, Gloria has highlighted a photo of her at a Steve Hilton rally in Huntington Beach, standing alongside Huntington Beach City Councilmembers Andrew Gruel (who called left-wing protesters ‘circus animals’ in 2025) and Gracey Van Der Mark (who pushed for the city’s Pride Flag Ban and has gained notoriety for her efforts to ban books in the HB library), as well as Calvary Chapel of Huntington Harbor lead pastor Joe Pedick, who has openly espoused extreme anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.

    Her website also highlights her consistent support for charter schools, merit-based education reform, and “parental empowerment”. Important to note, the “Parents Rights” caucus is widely acknowledged by LGBTQ+ advocacy caucus to be a dog-whistle for anti-LGBTQ+.

    Priorities: 

    • “Restore merit in admissions, protect academic standards, and stop setting students up for failure.” 

    • “Gloria will hold administrators and university officials accountable to ensure non-discrimination in access to every campus and academic programming.” 

    Note - in the language about this stance, Gloria specifically calls out protections for Jewish students, but does not cite any other specific demographic.  

    • “Gloria will proudly stand up for women’s sports and Title IX. Fairness matters. Women deserve a level playing field, not excuses.” It’s worth noting that Lt. Governor is responsible for the state college system, and trans women are not allowed to compete or receive sports scholarships at the collegiate level. 

    • Regarding the Lt. Governor’s responsibilities on the state’s land and coastal policies, Gloria will push for “a strong, common-sense voice for fire prevention, smarter land management, and faster rebuilding when disaster strikes.”

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Romero was a registered Democrat when she was elected to the State Senate in 2001 - in 2024, she announced that she was switching her party registration to Republican. Publicly, she stated that her motivation to switch was her view that Democrats had abandoned working families and education reform.

    • Romero endorsed Trump’s 2024 run, and spoke at his Coachella rally.

    • Romero is a proud member of the Lexit movement (Latino Exit from the Democratic Party). Leaders in this movement have been heavily involved in extremist anti-LGBTQ efforts across Southern California, especially in the Inland Empire with Sonja Shaw.

    • Romero was elected in 2001, then again in 2006. She was ineligible to run in 2010 due to term limits. While specific district lines have changed, she represented the East Los Angeles area. She served as the Senate Majority Leader during that time. 

    • Beyond her time as a State Senator, she also served a few years in the State Assembly.

    • She is the Founder/Executive Director of Scholarship Prep Charter School located in Santa Ana, CA. 

    Social Media Links: 

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • Harmeet K. Dhillon. Dhillon is Asst. Attorney General in the Trump DOJ and co-founder of the Center for American Liberty, a law firm that actively fights to dismantle LGBTQ+ civil rights. 

    • Kevin Kiley, CA Congressman

    • Michael Gates

    • Spencer Pratt

    • Steve Hilton

    • Chris Rufo, far-right activist deeply involved in the anti-trans movement

    • Jennifer Sey, extremist anti-trans activist and founder of XX-XY Athletics

    • Corey DeAngelis, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation

    • Antonio Villaraigosa, former LA Mayor and Democratic Candidate for governor

    • America First Policy Institute State Action

    • Yoshi the Patriot, extremist far-right activist and content creator

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • In an editorial piece she wrote for the California Post (right-wing publication, affiliated with the New York Post) in September of 2024, she said, “President Ronald Reagan warned that if fascism comes to America it will come as liberalism, and he was right: I have witnessed individual freedoms being trapped, silenced, censored. I’ve seen the terrifying modification of language that condemns me for saying that I can define a woman and can distinguish between biological sex and gender identity. I am a mother and refuse to call myself a “birthing person.” I’m pro-choice, but I do not support abortion till birth. What happened to “safe, legal and rare”? The Trump-led Republican Party has become the party of peace, while Democrats have marched toward endless war.”

    • Later in that same piece, she said, “As a Mexican-American, I have long embraced pathways to citizenship, but I reject the mockery of throwing open our southern border to all comers.”

    • In an interview with the OC Register; “Students and families should not be the first place government looks when there is a budget problem. I do not support treating tuition hikes like the easy answer. California families are already stretched too thin.”

    • On Twitter in 2024, Gloria posted, “So honored to speak at Coachella yesterday! @realDonaldTrump⁩ had the cojones to plant a giant MAGA flag in California! We are not a Blue state. We are not a Red state. We are THE GOLDEN State & Californians are voting ⁦@TeamTrump @LexitMovement1”

    • In June of 2025, she replied to a post about LA Sheriff Luna on Twitter, saying, “Sheriff Luna is a puppet of the ultra woke and FAILED Board of Supervisors who all suffer from intense TDS”

    • In September of 2024, she posted a reply to Leo Terrell on Twitter, saying, “With you as my inspiration, I proudly join President Trump @realDonaldTrump and MAGA nation to do my part to Make America Great Again! Gloria 2.0 @TrumpWarRoom” Terrell is a member of the Trump DOJ and a former Fox News contributor.

    • In July of 2022 (BEFORE she switched parties), Romero posted a reply on Twitter to Sen. Manchin and Sen. Schumer about not raising taxes, “And we’re not in a recession, women are birthing people, men get pregnant, the border is secure, blah blah blah @Sen_JoeManchin @ElAmerican_  @CARebelBase @KATYSaccitizen @Hamletgarcia17 @pnjaban @SoledadUrsua”

    Endorsed by: Her endorsements are not listed on her website, but we found these:

    • CA GOP (She is running on the Steve Hilton ticket)

    • April's Common Sense Cali Voters (Sway voting group by April Silverman (Cali MAGA Barbie)) 

    • Elizabeth Barcohana's Lady with a Brain Voter Guide (Sway voting group by Elizabeth Barcohana) 

    • Let’s Vote Differently LA! (Sway voting group by Nicole Eff) 

    • Liberty For All (Sway voting group by Mark Ragains) 

    • Reform California's Voting Group (Sway voting group by Reform California)

    ***A sway group is a group that is not explicitly affiliated with a political party. In practice, sway groups do still often align on one side of the political aisle more than another.

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    Romero was a state legislator in the 2000s, during which time she was involved in a number of pieces of LGBTQ+ related legislation. 

    • Voted yes on California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act (2003), a piece of legislation that granted domestic partnerships most of the same rights as married couples. 

    • Co-authored AB 2208 (2004), which legally required insurance companies to extend all of the same privileges given to insured married couples to include couples in registered domestic partnerships. 

    Follow the Money:  Campaign Finance Filings for this race aren’t out yet; however, we’ve found the following campaign contributions to other races she’s made. 

    • $100 to No Recall, Parents Protecting our Kids Against the Recall of OUSD Boardmembers Ledesma and Miner

    • $100 to (Tim) Shaw for OC Board of Education 2024

    • $250 to Friends of Ken Williams OC Board of Education 2024

    • ***Pride at the Pier note: All of these individuals are widely criticized by LGBTQ+ Advocacy groups in Orange County for their record of voting against the interests of LGBTQ+ students. 

State Treasurer

The state treasurer acts as the state's chief banker, managing its investments, overseeing billions of dollars in public funds, and handling the sale of bonds to pay for big projects like schools and roads. By managing these resources, they can promote civil rights by investing in underserved communities and ensuring that state-funded housing and infrastructure projects are distributed fairly and equitably.

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide

    Campaign Statement:

    “Eleni Kounalakis | DEMOCRATIC

    I'm a businesswoman, financial expert and daughter of Greek immigrants. I believe in the California dream and as Lieutenant Governor have worked hard supporting small business, education and opportunities for hard working families. I'm running for State Treasurer to be a disciplined, responsible manager of California's finances, focused on protecting working families, strengthening our economy, and making smart investments that reflect our values. I'm running for State Treasurer to: Build affordable housing using public finance. Fight Trump's attacks on our health care and immigrants. Protect the pensions of hard-working Californians. Invest in the financial future of children and families. I have the support of Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Alex Padilla, Senator Adam Schiff and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. I also have the support and endorsement of over 450,000 California teachers. California's firefighters, first responders and health care workers also support my candidacy and I hope to have yours as well. As a businesswoman, I spent decades building housing communities, using infrastructure financing, and delivering results. As California's 50th Lieutenant Governor and a former Obama diplomat, I've brought real-world financial expertise to some of the state's toughest challenges. I've created clean-energy jobs, managed public lands, and voted to approve more than 60,000 new beds on college campuses to help lower costs for students and families. I'm a fierce fighter for democracy. I'm on the front lines against Donald Trump's attacks on immigrant communities and women's reproductive freedom—all while protecting our environment and California's core values. EleniForCA.com”

    Email: info@eleniforca.com

    Campaign Website: https://eleniforca.com/

    Eleni’s website does not have her priorities, issues, etc listed, which is unusual for a campaign website. Normally we’d provide that information in this guide. However, her campaign website highlights a number of elements of her experience she finds important, including: 

    • “Eleni joined her father in building one of California’s most respected housing development firms, AKT Development.”

    • “In 2010, she was appointed by President Obama as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, where she worked to advance democracy and American values abroad.”

    • “In her roles as chair of the State Lands Commission and a voting member on the University of California Board of Regents and California State University Board of Trustees, she has helped oversee billions in public assets.”

    • “...approving the construction of over 60,000 beds on college campuses.”

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • As Lt. Governor in 2021, Kounalakis established the state’s Transgender Advisory Council, a first in the nation, “a council of transgender leaders to create a dialogue between state leaders and the transgender community in California”, with a goal of “bring(ing) attention to the issues faced by the transgender community by inviting stakeholders in advocacy, government, and different industry sectors to hear directly from the council.” Regarding the establishment of this council, she said, “Here in California, I’m proud we have enacted many protections for LGBTQ+ people, but we still have work to do, and that is especially true for issues facing our transgender and nonbinary family, friends, and neighbors (...) establishing this council gives transgender leaders the space to have an open dialogue with key stakeholders who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to hear directly from them. I hope bridging this gap will help to amplify important issues and bring more understanding of the community. I look forward to the opportunity to listen, to learn, and to help elevate the voices of the members.”

    Social Media Links: 

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EleniKounalakis

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/EleniForCA

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eleniforca

    • On Instagram, she posted a selfie with Pete Buttigieg, with the caption, “It was great to support my friend @Pete.Buttigieg yesterday! I am grateful for the work he is doing to help build and invest in the new generation of politics and political leaders who will lead our country into this new era of democracy.”

    • She also shared her endorsement from Equality CA on Instagram, with the caption, “It is an honor to have earned the endorsement from @EQCA! Equality California is the largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization that fights to protect LGBTQ+ Californians at the local, state, and national levels, and I am proud to stand alongside them in the continued fight for equality.”

    • She shared an endorsement from Reproductive Freedom for All, too, with the caption, “We’re endorsing Eleni Kounalakis for California Treasurer! As Lieutenant Governor, @EleniForCa worked to safeguard and strengthen access to essential reproductive care. And as State Treasurer, she will continue to protect our fundamental freedoms.” To clarify, this post was made by RF4A, and Eleni is a collaborator on that post. 

    • She also posted on Instagram a celebration of the democratic defeat of Hungary’s Viktor Orban, who is one of the biggest global leaders in the anti-LGBTQ movement, saying, “As the former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, I witnessed firsthand the early rise of Viktor Orbán and the consolidation of power that followed. Yesterday, the Hungarian people made their voices heard—choosing a new path that puts democracy, accountability, and the future of their country first.”

    • You can read the 2024 statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance, issued by Kounalakis’ Transgender Advisory Council, here. 

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • Equality California

    • Reproductive Freedom for All

    • NUHW Healthcare Union

    • California Environmental Voters

    • California Coastal Commission

    • West Stanislaus County Fire Protection District

    • Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club

    • Fresno State Cross Cultural Gender Center

    • Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

    • SF Women's Political Committee

    • CA Dept of Corrections

    • California Volunteers

    • Second Lady Usha Vance

    • Stop AAPI Hate

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • In an LA Times article reprinted by Yahoo, Kounalakis said her approach would be to 'lean in’ to clean investments. “But it has to be balanced with recognizing that the returns at CalPERS and CalSTRS are very important for the hard-earned pensions of those whose retirement is being managed (...) My top priorities would be to manage the state's finances with responsibility and experience,’ she said, ‘and to build more housing and the infrastructure to support it, to protect our pensions and manage our investment portfolio with transparency and accountability.”

    • Eleni ran for governor in 2023, but ended her campaign to redirect to the State Treasurer race. Of the decision to switch races, she said, “I am very happy because it is so closely aligned with my skill set (...) I think it's so important to have a state treasurer who has that kind of experience to manage our financial future responsibly (...) I have been using my international experience serving the state as our representative for international trade and investment, which has a very heavy economic development piece to it.”

    • When asked about her priorities, she said she’d lean into investments into clean energy, continuing, “My top priorities would be to manage the state's finances with responsibility and experience (...) and to build more housing and the infrastructure to support it, to protect our pensions and manage our investment portfolio with transparency and accountability.”

    • Speaking on AB 245, which required CA higher education institutions to allow trans students to change their names on their diplomas and records, which she co-sponsored, she said, “California is taking an important step towards protecting and supporting trans and gender nonconforming students in California’s public higher education institutions by ensuring that every student receives a diploma that accurately reflects their chosen name.”

    Endorsed by: (See link for full list)

    • Equality California 

    • Kamala Harris

    • Hillary Clinton

    • Barbara Boxer (Fmr. CA Congresswoman)

    • Adam Schiff (CA Congressman)

    • Alex Padilla (CA Congressman)

    • Nancy Pelosi (CA Congresswoman)

    • Pete Buttigieg

    • Gavin Newsom

    • Fiona Ma (Current State Treasurer)

    • Malia Cohen (Current State Controller)

    • Rob Bonta (Current State Attorney General)

    • CA Labor Federation

    • Teamsters CA

    • California Federation of Teachers

    • California Teachers Association

    • California State Association of Electrical Workers

    • East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club

    • San Francisco Women’s Political Committee

    • Sierra Club

    • Reproductive Freedom for All

    • California YIMBY

    • California Environmental Voters

    • California Council for Affordable Housing

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • As Lt. Governor, Kounalakis co-sponsored AB 378, the Gender Equity in Leadership Act, which removes gendered language relating to the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Board of Equalization. Source

    • As Lt. Governor, Kounalakis co-sponsored AB 245, which requires California's public colleges and universities to allow transgender and nonbinary students to update their academic records—including diplomas—with their affirmed names and correct gender markers, preventing them from being deadnamed. Source

    Follow the Money: via the link

    (*not available for CITY government positions)

    • https://www.transparencyusa.org/ca/candidate/eleni-kounalakis/

    • $11,571,047 Cash on Hand

    • $9,367,777 Total Contributions

    • $14,202,620 Total Expenditures

    • Top 10 contributors:

      • $572,141.68 Eleni Kounalakis

      • $310,615.48 Aggregated Unitemized Contributions

      • $53,800.00 Tina Thomas

      • $39,200.00 California Professional Firefighters Ballot Issues Committee

      • $39,200.00 California Teachers Association/association for Better Citizenship

      • $39,200.00 Professional Engineers in California Government Pecg PAC

      • $39,200.00 Ronald Conway

      • $38,800.00 Association of California School Administrators PAC

      • $37,800.00 Richard J Saker

      • $34,400.00 Raise the Wage California Sponsored by the California State Council of Service Employees and Its Affiliates

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement:

    “Jennifer Hawks | REPUBLICAN

    I am not a career politician, and that perspective is exactly why I’m running for California State Treasurer. A Silicon Valley resident since 1983, I’ve watched California grow, innovate, and face increasingly complex financial challenges. I raised my family here, worked inside large organizations, and served on community and public boards where budgets had to balance and decisions carried real consequences. Those experiences taught me that good intentions are not enough. Sound financial management requires discipline, follow-through, and accountability. California’s fiscal challenges did not happen overnight. They are the result of years of decisions made without sufficient scrutiny or long-term discipline. I am detail-driven and persistent, and I believe the Treasurer has a responsibility to ask hard questions, follow the money, and provide clear answers to the public when something doesn’t add up. Honesty, integrity, and transparency are not slogans; they are essential duties of this office. The Treasurer’s Office should operate with rigorous oversight, measurable performance standards, and full transparency for taxpayers, local governments, and investors. As Treasurer, I will prioritize thorough audits, clear reporting, and practical financial discipline to strengthen California’s fiscal foundation. This office exists to safeguard public money, independent of political agendas. My focus will be on what best serves the people of California. Responsible stewardship, accountability, and long-term financial stability. Vote Jennifer Hawks www.hawksforus.com”

    Email: info@hawksforus.com

    Campaign Website: https://hawksforus.com/

    Her campaign website has the following piece of Biblical scripture on it, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. - Joshua 1:9”. The book of Joshua is part of the Old Testament in the Bible covering the story of the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land, and the scripture she’s quoting appears to be the New International Version translation of the Bible. 

    Her website has a page labeled “The Problem”, which says the following; “Breaking: CAL DOGE Exposes $435 Billion in Fraud & Waste (...) $435 Billion Lost. Zero Accountability.

    That's over $22,000 stolen from every California taxpayer. The Controller has missed federal audit deadlines three years running.” 

    Among other things listed on her campaign website highlighting ‘The Problem’ with the State Treasurer’s office, she also includes, “The Human Crisis”, which goes into detail about the homelessness crisis in CA, mostly referring to the unhoused population living rough on CA states. “Since 2018, California has spent more than $24 billion on homelessness programs. Over the same period, the unhoused population has grown to more than 180,000 people — the largest in the United States. The crisis didn't shrink. It accelerated.”   

    • Pride at the Pier Note: Over 50% of the population of homeless trans people in the United States live in CA, largely contributed to by the massive refugee crisis of hundreds of thousands of trans people fleeing states that are hostile to trans people. 

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Hawks sat for an interview with former Republican Congressmember Matt Gaetz, who now has a show on OAN. As a reminder, Gaetz was pushed out of Congress largely as a response from even members within his own party after details of his sexual conduct with minors became public knowledge. Source

    • Hawks has never served in elected office before, something she feels makes her uniquely qualified for this seat, as she is outside of the political establishment. 

    Social Media Links: 

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/votehawks

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/votehawks

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585043011188 

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • David Tangipa, CA Assemblymember and anti-trans activist

    • Rogan O’Handley, “DC_Draino”, America First Lawyer

    • California Republican Party

    • Gloria Romero, Republican Candidate for Lt. Governor

    • Michael Gates, fmr. HB City Attorney, fmr. Trump DOJ, Candidate for CA AG. Anti-LGBTQ+ activist.

    • Herb Morgan, Republican candidate for State Controller

    • CA Rifle & Pistol Association Political Action Committee

    • California Globe, Right Wing Biased news engine

    • Nick Shirley, Far-right influencer involved with Trump administration

    • James O'Keefe, founder of Project Veritas

    • Cam Higby, Far-right media figure

    • Reform California

    • Carl DeMaio, CA State Assemblymember and chair of Reform CA

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • On instagram, “When i'm in office Fraudifornia will be a distant memory because we will track every dollar spent.”

    • On instagram, “Right now, we are living in a dark time, and you can see it running rampant on the streets of Los Angeles.”

    • When asked by the OC Register where she stands on the question of divesting CA state funds from Israel, she replied, “I favor smart investing, so Californians get the best rate of return possible for their money. So whatever is going to maximize our investment returns is what matters most. CalPERS and CalSTRS manage a $1 trillion portfolio combined. Those funds are invested in a wide variety of banks, bonds, and companies, based on what is going to profit Californians. The target is 7% to remain solvent. Between $1 and $2 billion is invested in banks, bonds and stocks linked to Israel. Some of those companies are well-known multinational corporations, like Caterpillar and Chevron. And the return on those for fiscal year ’24-’25 was 11.6% for CalPERS and 8.5% for CalSTRS, well above the target 7%. So 0.1-0.2% of the portfolio is putting $100 to $227 million into their trusts, helping cover unfunded liabilities and reducing the amount of taxpayer money the state must contribute in the future to keep the pension system solvent. That just makes financial sense; it’s smart investing.”

    • When asked how her background prepares her for this role, she answered, “I am not a career politician; I’m a retired businesswoman and mother. I know what it means to balance a budget for both a company and a household. I built my career on managing complex budgets and teams with care and precision. Career politicians treat our state’s funds like a blank check because they’ve never worked in the private sector, where you have to balance the books, meet payroll, ensure there’s a return on every dollar spent and hold vendors to account. As a businesswoman, I know how to cut unnecessary costs and deliver results. I will bring the discipline, transparency and tough love that I learned from years as a business owner to Sacramento.”

    Endorsed by: 

    • California Republican Party

    • California Republican Assembly

    • California Rifle and Pistol Association

    • California Women's Leadership Association PAC (CWLA PAC)

    • Carl DeMaio

    • Reform California

    • American Independent Party Note: this is NOT the same thing as No Party Preference. The AI Party is an extreme far-right political party. 

    • Santa Barbara County Republican Party

    • United Vietnamese American Community of Northern California

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None found, as Hawks has never served in an elected capacity before. 

    Follow the Money: 

    • https://www.transparencyusa.org/ca/candidate/jennifer-hawks/ 

    • $38,436 Cash on Hand

    • $32,447 Total Contributions

    • $19,011 Total Expenditures

    • Top 10 Contributors:

      • $7,500.00, Joy Craft

      • $5,500.00, Carl DeMaio (Chair of Reform CA)

      • $5,000.00, Thomas Gutshall

      • $1,500.00, Robert Varich

      • $1,000.00, Anna Kramer

      • $1,000.00, Carol Ann Petty

      • $1,000.00, Cynthia Varich

      • $1,000.00, Dale Broome

      • $1,000.00, Debbie Brookfield

      • $1,000.00, Marya Keeth