2026

Below you will find every single race that can be found in Laguna Hills, 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.

Laguna Hills

City Council Race

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Saddleback Valley Unified School District

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Moulton Niguel Water District

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Orange County Board of Supervisors District 5

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement:

    “Supervisor Katrina Foley is an independent leader with a proven record of strengthening public safety, safeguarding taxpayers, and standing up for Orange County families. She believes government works best when it protects communities, respects individual privacy and personal decision-making, and delivers results. Despite dysfunction in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, she works to prioritize our Orange County way of life. Keeping Neighborhoods Safe: Supervisor Foley fully funded public safety, combated retail theft and burglaries, shut down illegal sober living homes, and decreased fentanyl epidemic overdoses.  She led the successful ban on recreational nitrous oxide and kratom, addressed e-bike safety, and strengthened wildfire preparedness. Reducing Homelessness: Katrina Foley worked with urgency to clear homeless encampments from parks, nature preserves, and flood channels to ensure public safety. She advocated to expand mental health and treatment programs, and supported increased development of workforce, affordable and supportive housing near job centers across the county. Strengthening Our Economy: A strong advocate for small businesses, she cut red tape, streamlined County services, and championed policies helping employers grow to create good-paying jobs. Reforming County Government: Following an egregious public corruption scandal by another supervisor, Supervisor Foley worked to restore integrity and accountability. She advanced ethics reforms, strengthened oversight of public contracts, and supported independent audits to identify corruption and eliminate waste.

    Supervisor Foley helped secure the County’s first AAA credit rating since the 1994 County bankruptcy. She believes the government must live within its means and deliver efficient results for every taxpayer dollar— without raising your taxes. 

    Katrina Foley was the only Supervisor to vote against a pay raise for the Board. Improving Services: Katrina Foley restored beaches damaged by erosion, opposed offshore oil drilling threatening our coastline, renovated libraries, reduced airport noise while improving services at John Wayne Airport, and strengthened programs for veterans, seniors, and youth. She supports cleaner water, and waste reduction over landfill expansion impacting surrounding communities.

    Katrina Foley is supported by organizations representing law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, educators, environmentalists, veterans, small businesses, and community leaders throughout Orange County. ‘As your Supervisor, I work everyday to protect Orange County’s neighborhoods, businesses, and quality of life. I don’t answer to partisan politics — I answer to you. We’ve made progress, but more work remains. I respectfully ask for your vote. Call (949) 229-6568 or email Hello@KatrinaFoley.com with your ideas or questions.’

    A successful businessowner, attorney, wife and mom, Katrina Foley served on the Board of Supervisors since 2021. She was the first directly elected Mayor of Costa Mesa, a City Councilmember, and Newport-Mesa School Board member.

    www.KatrinaFoley.com

    Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley”

    Email: hello@katrinafoley.com

    Campaign Website: 

    https://www.katrinafoley.com/

    While Foley doesn’t list her priorities on her website, she does have her accomplishments listed. As she is the incumbent, we are considering these as essentially the same thing. 

    • Economic Recovery

    • Enhanced Public Safety

    • Climate Action and Coastal Protection

    • Reduced Homelessness and Crafted Innovative Housing Solutions

    • Safeguarded Tax Dollars

    • Protected Public Health

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Foley was a Costa Mesa city council member from November 2004 to November 2010.

    • Foley was a trustee on the NMUSD board from November 2010 to November 2014.

    • Foley’s staff are often seen tabling for her office at Orange County Pride events throughout the year.

    • After the OC Board of Supervisors voted to ban the Pride Flag in 2023, Foley and Vicente Sarmiento, the two dissenting votes, worked with LGBTQ+ partners in the county to meet with impacted community members and had a photo opportunity with the Giant Pride Flag owned by Pride at the Pier. 

    Foley isn’t without her criticism:

    • Local LGBTQ+ partners have expressed concern over what they feel is her reticence to be more bold in protecting LGBTQ+ rights; while she appears to be the strongest ally to LGBTQ+ community members among the three candidates for this seat, there have been calls in the past for her to do more. 

    • Foley received the endorsement of the Democratic Party of Orange County for this current race over a year ago, long before officially filing - something that some felt was restricting the ability of more progressive candidates to successfully campaign for this seat. 

    Social Media Links: 

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

    Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/katrinafoley

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

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • During the Board of Supervisors meeting where the Pride Flag was banned at county locations, Foley dissented, saying, “We need to make sure that the community knows we care and that we're a safe place”. 

    • In the same meeting, she went on to say, “We’ve spent millions of dollars investing in suicide prevention. But sometimes, suicide prevention is as simple as a rainbow flag flying in the wind on a government building, telling our most vulnerable children we welcome them, and we will keep them safe.”

    Endorsed by: 

    • Orange County Democrats

    • California Fraternal Order of Police

    • Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs

    • Orange County Coalition of Police and Sheriffs (OC Cops)

    • Orange County Professional Firefighters Association

    • Orange County Business Council's Political Action Committee (BIZPAC)

    • Costa Mesa Police Association

    • Irvine Police Association

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

    • Veterans Alliance of Orange County (VALOR)

    • Orange County Labor Federation

    • Orange County Employees Association

    • Sierra Club

    • Orange County League of Conservation Voters

    • Coast Federation of Teachers

    • National Union of Healthcare Workers

    • LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council

    • Operating Engineers Local 12

    • IBEW Local 441

    • Laborers Local 652

    • UA Plumbers Local 582

    • American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Local 2076

    • Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters

    • Teamsters Joint Council 42

    • United Food & Commercial Workers Local 324

    • United Domestic Workers

    • UNITE HERE Local 11

    • Democratic Party of Orange County

    • Women for American Values and Ethics

    • Women in Leadership

    • Newport Beach Firefighters

    • Costa Mesa Firefighters

    • Chief David Snowden, Former Costa Mesa Chief of Police

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • Foley voted YES on banning Homeless Encampments in OC Parks and Flood Channels - this followed the Supreme Court decision that allows law enforcement to arrest unhoused individuals for ‘camping’. 

    • Foley voted NO on banning the Pride Flag on county flag poles. 

    • Foley voted NO on salary increases for the Board of Supervisors.

    Follow the Money: 

    • $2,700 from Teamsters Local 396 PAC

    • $1,000 from Irvine Democratic Club

    • $1,000 from the Newport Beach Firefighters Association

    • $1,000 from Belinda Kiesecker, CEO of Otra Mas

    • $2,700 from Elim Kay, the CEO of KA Capital Management

    • $125 from Carol Crane, a board trustee at Newport Mesa USD

    • $2,649 from Perry Bridger, Public Affairs with Edward Lifesciences

    • $1,065 from Rhonda Bolton, former Huntington Beach City Council member

    • $2,500 from Southern California District Council of Laborers PAC (ID# 1358150)

    • $1,100 from Denys Oberman, CEO of Oberman Associates, Inc

    • $2,700 from Building a Stronger California, Sponsored by Western States Council of Carpenters (ID# 870169)

    • $1,250 from Newport Beach Women's Democratic Club

    • Foley has a significant number of $26 donations, which appears to be the result of targeted fundraising being directed at individuals who are more working class and middle class. The majority of her donations are under $500. 

    • Foley also has a number of donations from individuals working at various law firms - potentially because she herself is an attorney and these are professional connections.

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement:

    “DIANE DIXON

    California State Assemblywoman

    Politics is broken, and Orange County families are paying the price. Grocery bills. Gas prices. Utility costs. Everything keeps going up while career politicians put special interests or advancing their careers ahead of the people they’re supposed to serve. I’ve had enough. I’m Diane Dixon, a proud, lifelong Conservative and former Fortune 300 executive who got involved because Orange County needed someone to take charge and lead. As an Orange County State Assemblywoman, I've fought policies that increased taxes and mandates, held government accountable and supported law enforcement. Now, I’m running for the Orange County Board of Supervisors to bring that same leadership home.

    Fighting for Affordability; Californians deserve better as families have been crushed and small businesses pushed to the brink. Costly mandates, reckless spending and constant tax increases have made it impossible for families to make ends meet. I’ll oppose tax and fee increases, promote policies that help local businesses grow and thrive and work to improve housing affordability. That’s why the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has endorsed me. They trust me to make Orange County affordable again. Stopping the Crime Wave; The most fundamental responsibility of the government is keeping families safe. Yet some politicians have embraced a radical, soft-on-crime ideology that defunded law enforcement and made it harder to lock up criminals. Violent crime and robberies in Orange County have increased since 2021. It needs to stop. In the Legislature, I authored Alexandra’s Law to hold repeat fentanyl dealers criminally accountable, and I’ve stood side-by-side with law enforcement while others turned their backs on them. As your County Supervisor, I’ll take on the soft-on-crime agenda and ensure our sheriffs and first responders have the resources they need, and I’ll fight to restore law and order. Bringing Accountability Back to Government; Orange County residents are fed up with taxpayer dollars flowing to political allies, backroom deals and decisions made without transparency or scrutiny. As your Supervisor, I’ll require competitive bidding for contracts, full public disclosure of spending, strict conflict-of-interest rules and full oversight before any major vote is taken. No more political favors. No more excuses. Orange County deserves honest leadership and a Supervisor who fights for you. I would be honored to earn your vote. Diane Dixon: Common-Sense Conservative for Orange County Board of Supervisors.”

    Email: None Found

    Campaign Website: https://dixonforoc.com/ 

    On her website, she lists the following priorities:

    • Public Safety

    • Protecting Small Businesses

    • Coastal Protection

    • Securing Needed Funding for Orange County

    • Supporting Families

    • Bills Passed and Signed Into Law

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    Social Media Links: 

    Assemblymember Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diane_dixon_asm/

    Campaign Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dixonforoc/

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    Endorsed by:

    Republican Party of Orange County 

    California College Republicans

    Lincoln Club of OC

    The New Majority

    Californian Republican Assembly

    Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association

    California Women’s Leadership Association

    She’s also been endorsed by the following individuals who are known as being publicly and openly MAGA and anti-LGBTQ+: 

    • Ed Laird

    • Dr. Stefan Bean (OC BOE)

    • Mari Barke (OC BOE)

    • Tim Shaw (OC BOE)

    • Jorge Valdes, Esq. (OC BOE)

    • Dr. Ken Williams (OC BOE)

    • Lisa Sparks (OC BOE)

    • Steve Knoblock (San Clemente City Councilmember who tried to push through an anti-abortion resolution in his city)

    • Noah Blom (Newport Beach CC)

    • Joe Stapleton (Newport Beach CC)

    • Will O’Neill (OC GOP Chairman)

    • Tony Strickland (Assemblymember and Fmr. HB City Council)

    • Casey McKeon (HB Mayor)

    • Mike Munzing (Aliso Viejo CC, tried to pass a Pride flag ban)

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • 2025 - AB 554 (González) - PrEPARE Act: Aims to increase access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. Dixon: NO VOTE RECORDED

    • 2025 - AB 1487 (Santiago) - 2STGI Wellness & Equity Fund: Establishes a fund for 2-Spirit, Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, and Intersex wellness. Dixon: NO

    • 2025 - AB 82 (Ward) - Transgender/Nonbinary Health Privacy: Protects privacy for gender-affirming care, including preventing reporting of specific hormones to monitoring programs. Dixon: NO VOTE RECORDED

    • 2025 - SB 278 (Becker) - HIV Test Results: Updates protocols for reporting HIV test results. Dixon: AYE

    • 2025 - SB 418 (Ennis) - Access to Care: Ensures equal access to care for all. Dixon: NO

    • 2025 - SB 504 (Wahab) - HIV Data Reporting: Modifies HIV data reporting requirements. Dixon: AYE

    • 2025 - AB 715 (Zbur) - California Attorney Protection Act: Addresses legal protections. Dixon: AYE

    • 2025 - AB 1084 (Zbur) - ID Documents: Streamlining identification documents for transgender Californians. Dixon: NO

    • 2025 - SB 59 (Wiener) - Transgender Privacy Act: Privacy protections for transgender Californians changing their names and gender markers. Dixon: NO

    • 2025 - SB 497 (Wiener) - Sensitive Health Data. Dixon: NO

    • 2024 - AB 1979 (Ward) - Would allow victims to sue those responsible for doxxing in civil court for as much as $30,000, plus attorneys’ fees and court costs. Dixon: NO

    Follow the Money:

    The Main Take-Away: Dixon’s campaign is very well-funded, with the majority of her donations being large dollar amounts from retirees, wealth managers, CEOs, and those in the property industry (realtors, investors, managers, etc). 

    • A significant number of her donors are retirees with no employers listed.

    • $1,000 from David Simpson, the President of Simpson Auto Group

    • $1,000 from Eron Eklund, the CEO of Aerosoft Systems

    • $1,000 from Linda Shirvanian, with Komar Investments

    • $1,000 from Vache Hanessian, with KMS Properties Inc

    • $1,000 from Robert Friedman, founder of F&F Capital Group

    • $1,700 from Steve Knoblock, San Clemente City Council member who tried to ban abortion within San Clemente 

    • $1,000 from BOMA OC PAC (ID# 1347850), the political action committee for the Building Owners and Managers Association of Orange County. This PAC also donated to the campaign for Mark A. Murphy for Orange Mayor in 2022. 

    • $2,000 from Cathy Capaldi, the COO for BrightHome Equities, a real estate firm

    • $2,700 from Rodney Emery, the CEO of Steadfast Companies, a real estate firm

    • $500 from Eric Snyder, with Commercial Real Estate Talonvest Capital

    • $2,700 from Fariborz Maseeh, a hedge fund manager with Picoco LLC

    • $2,000 from Kent R. Valley, a developer with Majestic Realty

    • $2,700 from the Southern California Contractors Association PAC (ID# 881014)

    • $2,700 from CREPAC - CA Real Estate PAC (ID# 890106), the PAC associated with the California Assoc. of Realtors, who are known for being anti-regulation, anti-rent control, and pro-business. They also Doug Cirbo’s campaign for Lake Forest city council in 2022.

    • $2,000 from Timothy Busch, the CEO of Pacific Hospitality Group, a hotel management and investment firm

    • $1,000 from Trevor O’Neill, with Real Estate Renaissance Partners

    • $1,200 from William Kenney, a real estate broker with The Kenney Company

    • $2,500 from Roger Darnell, a real estate broker with Majestic Realty Co

    • $1,000 from Alicia Cannon, a realtor with Alicia Cannon Real Estate

    • $2,700 from Jim Davis, Vice President at Mesa Management, a property management company in Newport Beach. 

    • $2,700 from Steve Mensinger, President at Mesa Management, a property management company in Newport Beach.

    • $2,700 from David Bahnsen, a wealth advisor with The Bahnsen Group


    NOTE: The preceding list was from 26 pages of her most recent campaign filing, which was 53 pages long, and does not include those who donated to her previous political campaigns. We feel at this point you get the point, but please feel free to dig further by clicking through the hyperlinks and looking for yourself.

Orange County Board of Education District 5

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement:

    “For the past eight years as your OCBE Trustee, I have fought for students and parental rights to ensure families are fully informed about curricular decisions and safety protocols that impact student learning outcomes both in and out of the classroom. I am a mother of three children educated across the Orange County public school system, a nationally recognized scholar-teacher, and the inaugural dean who built Chapman University’s School of Communication. In addition to serving as your trustee, my leadership experience includes:

    Dean and Professor, School of Communication, Chapman University Postdoctoral Certifications in Management and Leadership in Education, Harvard University Chair and Director of Graduate Studies, Chapman University Director of General Education and Graduate Studies, George Mason University TED Speaker. 

    My experience leading a comprehensive college at Chapman University prepared me to guide the Orange County Department of Education by providing oversight for balanced budgets, strengthening fiscal accountability, and increasing curricular excellence.

    I strongly support our public education system—including both community and public charter schools—by advocating for efficient policies, responsible fiscal decisions, and putting resources directly into classrooms. As community members, our duty is to teach children to think critically, read, write, and analyze. Parents and students are often stressed and frustrated with their K–12 experiences, and these challenges must be addressed with thoughtful, systematic solutions.”

    Email: 

    Campaign Website: 

    https://sparksforschools.com/

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Lisa, who runs on the dog-whistle “parental rights”, is heavily affiliated with anti-LGBTQ voices across the region, and has voted against LGBTQ+ interests every time they’ve come across her desk, including a vote to sue the state of CA over AB 1955. This lawsuit is demanding the right for the school board to terminate teachers who don’t out trans students to their parents. 

    • Lisa has served as the Dean of Communications at Chapman University. 

    • Lisa is a fellow within The Club For Growth Foundation. This is important! The CFG Foundation is the non-profit “education” wing of the Club For Growth, one of the most powerful and well-funded conservative organizations in the United States. CFG is essentially the political enforcement arm of radical free-market capitalism within the US. Their agenda is a blueprint for the total commodification of public services and the concentration of wealth. They were a major driver behind the “Big Beautiful Bill” in 2025, pushing for Medicaid work requirements, cuts to SNAP, repealing climate credits, tax cut extensions for the wealthiest 1% of Americans. They also lobby for the privatization of programs like Social Security and Medicare, the dismantling of public education, and the abolishment of estate taxes, which would allow the wealthiest 1% to get around tax obligations. They are successful in pushing for these policies through their method of aggressively funding the replacement of any Republican they view as too “moderate” on these issues - a long-term method that has reaped them significant results. This can be seen in one particularly startling way - of the 147 Congress members who voted against certifying the 2020 election results, CFG was their largest financial donor across the board, with a whopping $20 million spent across 2018 and 2020 on their campaigns. As a fellow within this organization, Lisa assists with these efforts. 

    Social Media Links: 

    LIKELY DEFUNCT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vote4sparks/

    LIKELY DEFUNCT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaSparksCA/

    LIKELY DEFUNCT “Chef” Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chef_sparky/

    Private Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisasparks98/

    Follows on Instagram:

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • During a press conference over the OC BOE’s choice to dismantle ethnic studies, Lisa said this to the crowd; “In many of its iterations, CRT seems to reject the idea that America is a fundamentally free country, born out of lofty aspirations, and concludes instead that our country is fundamentally flawed and designed only to protect white privilege (...) It is not unreasonable to affirm that critical race theory is designed to convey hostile, divisive, race-obsessed, poisonous, elitist, non-inclusive ideas”.

    Endorsed by: 

    Republican Party of Orange County

    California College Republicans

    Orange County Sheriff, Don Barnes

    Orange County Superintendent, Dr. Stefan Bean

    Orange County Board of Education Trustee, Tim Shaw

    Orange County Board of Education Trustee, Mari Barke

    Orange County Board of Education Trustee, Dr. Ken Williams

    Orange County Board of Education Trustee, Jorge Valdes

    Newport Beach Mayor (ret.) Will O’Neill (Note: He is also currently the Chair of the OC GOP)

    Newport Beach City Mayor Pro Tem, Noah von Blom

    Newport Beach City Council Member, Michelle Barto

    Newport Beach City Council Member, Robyn Grant

    Aliso Viejo Mayor Pro Tem, Mike Munzing (Note: Mike Munzing authored the failed Pride Flag ban for Aliso Viejo in 2025)

    Lake Forest Council Member, Scott Voights

    Mission Viejo Mayor, Wendy Bucknam

    Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor, Tony Beall

    Candidate in the News:

    • The Chapman University newspaper, the Panther, has written about Sparks extensively. You can find some of those articles here, here, here, and here.

    • The Voice of OC wrote about the controversial Covid-19 report that the OC BOE issued in June of 2020, where they pushed back on recommended remote learning policies. In the article, it says, ‘Lisa Sparks, a member of the board and Dean of Communication at Chapman University, stressed that the recommendations in the report calling masks and social distancing harmful for children came from the panel’s deliberations in a recent NPR interview. “That line was from the experts on our panel,” Sparks said. “We had pediatric experts on our panel. We had policy makers on our panel.” But now, multiple members of that panel have disavowed the report, saying it does not represent their views and that they were never consulted on the document.’

    • The OC Register published a small write-up about election night results during the 2022 election cycle for the seat Sparks is now an incumbent in. 

    • NPR interviewed Sparks in July of 2020 after the OC BOE made the decision to re-open schools for in person learning. A key section of that interview went as follows; 

    MCCAMMON: “Orange County is logging an average of nearly 1,000 new coronavirus cases every day. If the schools in your area go back to normal and there is a major outbreak, if the death toll starts to climb, what should happen?”

    SPARKS: “Yeah. It's my understanding from the research that the kids age 25 and below, certainly 18 below, in Orange County, there are zero - I think there's zero deaths. There are very, very low deaths with young children under the age of - I believe it's 25. So I think that's another big, important component here to the decision-making about reopening K-12 schools.”

    MCCAMMON: “Yes. But, again, what about the people who are not under 25, all of the people in the community that live with those children and have contact with them on a regular basis?”

    SPARKS: “Absolutely. And those are decisions that families are going to need to make based on their own family situation. But to have that parent choice, that family choice, is going to be really important.”

    Follow the Money: via the link

    • Mark Bucher donated a total of $45,000 to Sparks’ 2022 campaign. Bucher is the co-founder and former CEO of the California Policy Center, a major anti-LGBTQ, anti-public education thinktank that is deeply involved in California politics. Source Source 

    • Lisa’s 2018 campaign received over $36,000 in the form of in-kind donations from a Charter Schools PAC Source Source

    Lisa’s 2018 campaign received $5,000 from The Family Action PAC, a SoCal group that fights for forced outing policies, book bans, curriculum restrictions, and equal access in sports. Much of their funding comes from local real estate developers and individual high-net-worth conservative donors in coastal OC, allowing them to influence local politics anonymously. Source

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement: NONE

    Email: Not found

    Campaign Website: 

    https://jasonsamsocbe.com/

    From Sams’ Website:

    “What I'll Fight For

    · Transparency in education funding and decision-making

    · Accountability at every level of board governance

    · Equitable opportunity for every student, in every community

    Academic & Legal Background

    I bring extensive experience in law, governance, finance, and public accountability — providing the expertise needed for responsible board oversight, fiscal stewardship, and ethical decision-making:

    • Master of Laws (LL.M.) (ABD): International Commercial Law~Salford University

    • Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.): Business and Corporate Governance Law, Compliance – Loyola University Chicago School of Law

    • Bachelor of Science (B.S.): Administrative Studies – Roosevelt University

    • Associate Degrees: Executive Accounting; Business Administration (Finance and Investment Management) – Northwestern College

    I’m running for the Orange County Board of Education because our public school community stakeholders deserve good governance, and visibility into how decisions are made at the board level.  I will govern with public interest as my focus.”

    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Sams currently serves as an advisory board member at Roosevelt University’s College of Humanities and Education and Social Services in Chicago and an advisory committee member for Eden SMG Housing, an organization based in Redlands.

    Social Media Links: 

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonsedsams/

    Other social media platforms were not found. 

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    He was at a Meet the Candidates event hosted by South OC 4 Democracy. In a post they made to advertise the event, they attribute to him; “Jason believes that public education works best when decisions are transparent, leadership is accountable, and students - not systems - come first. He has extensive experience working at the intersection of education, governance, law, and finance, and has spent 30 years of his career advocating for and defending marginalized groups.”

    In an article by the LAist, Sams is quoted with the following. 

    • “First priority is addressing the deficit. Second, secure special education services for special needs. Thirdly, I will create protection and mentally healthy space for all youth. I will work with county, state and federal departments and build relationships that can provide facilitation of federal funds. This can be done by petitioning courts and governing bodies to hear budgetary issues, special needs issues and services. Accountability will highlight the laws, which if enforced, will create conversation and voting movement among board members thereby provoking action among inactivity.”

    • On the topic of charter schools; “I will utilize criteria such as what type of credentialing exists for teachers and staff within the charter program (...) What kind of internal controls currently exist within charter management, which can work to prevent self-dealing and fiscal irresponsibility? Lastly, in what ways do charter schools decrease homeowner value? (...) Charter schools resulted from the Orange County Board of Education not successfully securing funds from the federal government 25 years ago. This led to massive debt and decreased services to special needs youth. As a result, parents began looking for other options to provide services for their children.”

    Endorsed by: 

    No endorsements found, but he was given a platform to speak by OC Indivisible and South OC 4 Democracy. 

    Follow the Money: 

    No campaign finance filings found

47th District, House of Representatives

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

38th District, CA State Senate

  • Coming Soon!

  • Coming Soon!

72nd District, CA State Assembly

  • Candidate for CA State Assembly District 72


    Campaign Statement: “When Republican leaders at the State Capitol said they needed a

    fighter in Sacramento to take on Gavin Newsom and his destructive policies, they called me to be your conservative voice. They’ve endorsed me because they trust me to fight waste, fraud, and abuse of our tax dollars, support law enforcement and bring down the cost of living. This summer, because of Sacramento’s policies, gas prices are expected to skyrocket over $8 a gallon. In response, the supermajority party in control introduced and passed legislation that will ultimately add a new tax on every mile you drive. This is a double tax on what are already outrageous gasoline taxes. We need change in Sacramento and representatives who will get things done!

    I was elected to the City Council to get things done and I delivered. Today, my city is one of the few in Orange County where homelessness has declined, our streets are safer, and we are routinely named one of the “best run” in California.

    I’m honored to be law enforcement’s choice in this election. I’m endorsed by the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs and the Huntington Beach Police Officers Association. The California Republican Party, the Republican Party of Orange County, Senator Tony Strickland, Supervisor Janet Nguyen, and

    Many other high-profile Republicans all endorse my campaign for Assembly.

    I’m a Councilwoman, Business Owner, Wife; and Mother and I’d be honored to have your vote.

    Please reach out if I can be of help at www.GraceyforAssembly.com.”



    Email: 


    Campaign Website: https://graceyforassembly.com/ 


    Lots to debunk/clarify on her website. 


    • Gracey repeatedly references her experience as a survivor of domestic violence in her first marriage on her website.  It’s important to note that, per court records, she is a documented perpetrator of domestic violence in that first marriage. Her now ex-husband George was granted a restraining order against her after he accused her of domestic violence over several years. She also lost custody of her son with George during the divorce. Direct quotes from various court filings from her now ex-husband about her include the following; 

      • “During this incident, the only thing I clearly heard from respondent (Gracey) was ‘I got you now mother fucker’”

      • “Respondent (Gracey) has threatened in the past with words such as “I can have you killed and no one will ever figure out how. Respondent’s sister, Emma Larrea, was present at the time this threat was made”

      • “On another occasion, respondent (Gracey) has stated to me that ‘if I ever catch you cheating on me, I will cut your balls off, remember I am part Ecuadorian” 

      • “In the past she (Gracey) has been violent with me at one time throwing a full baby bottle striking me in the head and ear causing me to lose my hearing for several weeks. (...) I also fear for my son’s well being due to the abuse she has inflicted upon him in the past”


    • She references her time on local community commissions. It’s important to note that she was removed from two of these positions after she said that the “colored people” in the community were taking their directions from “elderly Jewish people”. These comments were in the context of a video she uploaded to Youtube in 2017 of her crashing an anti-racism workshop in Santa Monica by a SoCal group called the Committee for Racial Justice. 

    • She references on her website the ‘declining homeless population’. Some context to this statement is that during her tenure on the city council, about 100 beds were removed from the local shelter, HBPD has been empowered to begin arresting unhoused people for ‘camping’, and the city’s social worker outreach program, BeWell, had their contract cut. These things all raise the question of whether the unhoused population was reduced through finding the impacted community long-term housing, or if the population was influenced to move into neighboring cities with softer approaches. 


    Any Other Interesting Info:


    Social Media Links: 



    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:



    Candidate’s Public Comments:


    In an interview with CalMatters during the peak of her efforts to ban books from the Huntington Beach library, Van Der Mark was quoted.  Per the article; “She’s particularly perturbed by a picture book called “Grandad’s Pride,” currently on order for the library, which features a drawing of a Pride parade where two men in leather are kissing in the crowd; she equates it with promoting bondage to kids. Van Der Mark also returns again and again to a page in a sex education book that describes how to use lubricant to insert a tampon if it does not fit. ‘The lines are so blurred that we don’t even know where to stop and where to start,” she said. “I don’t need to learn how to stick a finger up my vagina with K-Y jelly. We survived without that kind of graphic information. And if you want it, then you go talk to your mom.’”





    Endorsed by: 

    • CA State Senator, Fmr. HB Mayor Tony Strickland

    • Trump-appointed Fmr. Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell

    • CA GOP

    • OC GOP

    • Lincoln Club of OC

    • OC Young Republicans

    • Scott Baugh, Board Member of Dark Money funding organization for extremist anti-trans organization California Policy Center, and Former OC GOP Chairman

    • Aliso Viejo city council member Mike Munzing, author of failed Aliso Viejo Pride Flag ban effort

    • State Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez, author of failed anti-trans sports bill



    Candidate in the News:


    Van Der Mark made a name for herself publicly by pursuing a years-long book-banning effort, focusing especially on LGBTQ titles like “Granddad’s Pride”, the “Guncle” and “Gender Queer”.  Despite the effort eventually failing when it was taken to a public city election, these efforts have continued via her involvement with the Huntington Beach Republican Women’s Club, which is conducting a review campaign to keep these books out of the library. 


    Van Der Mark faced scrutiny in her early political career when she crashed an anti-racism event in Santa Monica. She recorded the event and put it on Youtube, where she said, among other things, “The colored people were there doing what the elderly Jewish people instructed them to do.” She has adamantly stated that she’s not anti-Semitic or racist in the years since, offering up her husband who has Jewish heritage as evidence. 


    In June of 2023, Gracey led a local push for HBHSD to fire a teacher at Edison High School over a manufactured outrage following an AV club’s video that included references to Pride Month were shown in school classrooms.  Pride at the Pier team members were at the school district meeting where she spoke at the dais, suggesting that the teacher was ‘indoctrinating’ students.  This was while Mrs. Van Der Mark was Mayor Pro Tem.  Hours after the meeting, anti-LGBTQ and antisemitic flyers were littered throughout the neighborhood surrounding the district building. When asked by community members to officially denounce these messages at the next city council meeting, Van Der Mark declined. 




    Public Voting Record:


    Van Der Mark proposed a Forced Outing ordinance within Huntington Beach, which passed.  She calls it the “Parents’ Right to Know” ordinance. As an ordinance, it has teeth, meaning that if enforced, educators within the city could be charged with a misdemeanor if they did not inform parents if their children are questioning their gender identity. So far this has not been enforced and would likely result in lawsuits as it does not align with California Law. Van Der Mark called the ordinance "a stand against Sacramento's overreach in its blatant invasion of the parent-child relationship”.


    Van Der Mark proposed a resolution, which passed, to make Huntington Beach an ‘anti-mask and anti-vaccine mandate’ city. 


    Van Der Mark voted Yes on Huntington Beach’s Pride Flag ban. 


    Van Der Mark voted Yes on abolishing the city’s Human Relations Commission, which was established after a horrific anti-Black hate crime, wherein a Black man was murdered in public by local white supremacists in the early 90s. 


    Van Der Mark was an author of the revised Policy on Human Dignity for the city of Huntington Beach, a revision that was passed at the same time as the abolishment of the city’s Human Relations Commission.  Whereas the policy that preceded the current, revised version included references to a wide variety of marginalized communities, the new policy removes any mention of them, and instead spends a significant amount of its word count focusing on anti-trans dog whistles.  Van Der Mark wrote and voted Yes to establish this new policy, which passed. 


    Van Der Mark voted Yes to censure at-the-time councilmember Natalie Moser.  This came about after Moser questioned Van Der Mark on her history of Holocaust denialism and her affiliation with hate groups. Both have been well-documented, and she still maintains friendly relationships today with multiple hate groups, such as LOKA, the California Family Council, and Moms for Liberty.

  • CANDIDATE FOR CA STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 72


    Campaign Statement: “Are you fed up with politicians unwilling to fight for you? Because I am. I’ve had enough of MAGA extremism and attacks on our fundamental rights and democracy. I’ve had enough of Sacramento gridlock preventing us from addressing the cost of living and the solutions California needs. And I’ve had enough of politicians who put corporate special interests first while everyday people are left behind. We need leaders willing to stand up for people, even when it costs them personally. I’ve done that my entire life. In the NFL, I spoke out for marriage equality when it wasn’t popular, and it cost me my career. I fought book bans in Huntington Beach’s libraries, faced personal attacks, and we won. I’d do it again in a heartbeat because standing up for what’s right matters. I’m not a politician. Raised in Seal Beach in a middle-class family, I attended public schools and earned an athletic scholarship to UCLA. Now, as a small businessman and coach raising two kids in Huntington Beach with my wife, I’m concerned the American dream is becoming out of reach for too many working families in California. In the Assembly, I’ll focus on tackling affordability, strengthening education, protecting our rights and environment, and defending our democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. I’m proud to be backed by teachers, nurses, healthcare professionals, and many other unions. I also earned the official endorsement of the California Democratic Party. I’ll fight for you. I’d be honored to earn your vote. KluweOC.com”


    Email: 


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


    His campaign website leads with this; "We deserve a government that has a team mentality and actually works for ALL of us. In Sacramento, I’ll defend public schools, expand affordable housing, protect reproductive rights, and champion real action on climate."


    His priorities are listed on his campaign website’s main page: 

    • Affordable Housing

    • Public Education

    • Climate Resiliency

    • LGBTQ+ and Civil Rights

    • A.I. Regulation


    In the section “LGBTQ+ and Civil Rights”, it expands to say, “Defending the rights of all Californians against unnecessary government overreach and fighting back against the rising extremism threatening to destroy our common democracy and the ideals on which this country was founded.”


    Any Other Interesting Info:


    • Chris was arrested at a HB City Council meeting on February 18th, 2025 for “disturbing a public assembly” when he attempted to approach the dais during his public comment. This was in protest of the city council’s efforts to put a “MAGA” plaque on the public library. He was cited, booked, and detained for a matter of a few hours. His full public comment that night, as well as the arrest, can be seen here. 

    • INFO ON JOB LOSS

    • INFO ON HIS PARTICIPATION IN OUR “WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET ARRESTED” SEMINAR

    • INFO ON HIS SHOWING UP TO THE CHOC/RADYS PROTEST AND SIGNING ON TO THE OPEN LETTER

    • INFO ON THE CONTROVERSIAL BLUESKY POSTS


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:


    Candidate’s Public Comments: 

    • In his Feb 18th, 2025 public comment at the HB City Council meeting where he was arrested for civil disobedience,he talks about what he feels MAGA stands for. He opens with “MAGA stands for trying to erase trans people from existence”. He goes on to say, “Maga is profoundly corrupt, unmistakably anti-democracy and most importantly, Maga is explicitly a Nazi movement.” His full public comment that night, as well as the arrest, can be seen here.


    Endorsed by: 

    • Unions

      • SEIU California

      • California Teachers Association

      • ILWU Local 13

      • ILWU Local 63

      • United Nurses Assoc. of CA

      • California Federation of Teachers (AFT, AFL-CIO)

      • CSUEU: CSEA/SEIU Local 2579

      • CSEA (AFL-CIO)

      • LiUNA! Local 652

      • Sheet Metal Workers of SoCal Local 105

      • UA Local 250 (Welders, Steamfitters, Apprentices, Refrigeration)

      • Painters and Allies Trades Union DC36

      • Orange County Employees Association

    • Organizations

      • Equality CA

      • California Yimby

      • California Working Families Party

    • Electeds (former and current)

      • Dave Min (Congressman)

      • Derek Tran (Congressman)

      • Mike Levin (Congressman)

      • Robert Garcia (Congressman)

      • Josh Lowenthal (CA Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore)

      • Colonel Tom Umberg (CA State Senator)

      • Avelino Valencia (CA Assemblymember)

      • Cottie Petrie-Norris (CA Assemblymember)

      • Chris Ward (CA Assemblymember)

      • Sharon Quirk-Silva (CA Assemblymember)

      • Sasha Renee Perez (CA State Senator)

      • Tiffany Ackley (Aliso Viejo Mayor) *

      • Stephanie Oddo (Laguna Niguel City Councilmember)

      • Dan Kalmick (Fmr. Huntington Beach City Councilmember) **

      • Rhonda Bolton (Fmr. Huntington Beach City Councilmember) **

      • Kim Carr (Fmr. Huntington Beach City Councilmember) 

      • Gina Clayton-Tarvin (Ocean View School Board President) ***

      • Elizabeth Dorn Parker (Coastline Community College Board Trustee)


    * Tiffany Ackley, as Mayor of Aliso Viejo, fought extremely hard against an attempted Pride Flag ban and won. 

    ** Dan Kalmick and Rhonda Bolton, as HB city council members, had a thorough track record of voting in favor of LGBTQ+ rights, as well as the protection of other marginalized people in the city. 

    *** Gina Clayton-Tarvin, as OVSD trustee, has a thorough track record of voting in favor of marginalized rights, including for the LGBTQ+ community. She’s also made a number of public comments at HB City Council meetings in support of the community.

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