2026
Below you will find every single race that can be found in Lake Forest, 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.
Lake Forest
City Council Race
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Lake Forest City Council District 2 Candidate
“BECKY KEENE | Systems Analyst
Lake Forest is currently well-off financially due to major housing developments and fees paying for new city buildings and parks.
In the future we will be more dependent on property and sales tax.
To keep up our city services, we'll need to watch the money - no waste on pet projects or fighting Sacramento. This means going through budgets and contracts that cover services from wildfire mitigation to public safety to ensure our funds and values are supported. This is boring work.
I've been a CPA for 44 years. I do boring - carefully and proudly, and in your best interest!
I have lived in and loved Lake Forest since 1992. I'm semi-retired and would like to give back to the City. See my website below for detail.
My husband and I have raised 2 children here. I've volunteered with various organizations including the El Toro High School PSTO from 1996 through 2004 (Auditor, President) and on the Lake Forest Race Committee until 2015.
I've attended the Lake Forest Civic Academy, City Council and Audit meetings and studied the ACR (financials).
My financial and technical background will bring complimentary perspectives to the Council.
I look forward to working for you!
Email: BeckyK.4LF@gmail.com
Campaign Website: https://www.beckyk4lakeforestcc.com/
Priorities:
Affordable housing
Store fronts occupied or repurposed
Zoning rules
Maintaining and upgrading parks
Any Other Interesting Info:
Social Media Links:
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
No notable follows found as of 10/1/26
Candidate’s Public Comments:
Candidate speaks at a Canyon Dems event in April 2026
Canyon Dems Candidate in a Minute - 10/1/26
Becky Keene completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Keene's responses.
Q: Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
A: Lake Forest is currently well-off financially due to major housing developments and fees paying for new city buildings and parks.
In the future we will be more dependent on property and sales tax. To keep up our city services, we’ll need to watch the money – no waste on pet projects or fighting Sacramento. This means going through budgets and contracts that cover services from wildfire mitigation to public safety to ensure our funds and values are supported. This is boring work.
I’ve been a CPA for over 30 years. I do boring – carefully and proudly, and in your best interest!
I have lived in and loved Lake Forest since 1992. I’m semi-retired and would like to give back to the City.
My husband and I have raised 2 children here. I’ve volunteered with various organizations including the El Toro High School PSTO from 1996 through 2004 (Auditor, President) and on the Lake Forest Race Committee until 2015.
I’ve attended the Lake Forest Civic Academy, City Council and Audit meetings and studied the ACFR (financials).
My financial and technical background will bring complementary perspectives to the Council.
Q: Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
A: We need to have enough new housing units to meet California housing mandates, particularly affordable housing. Not meeting the mandates will allows the State to override our zoning decisions. And rezoning and in-fill will be required in Lake Forest in the future as there are no longer large tracts of undeveloped land.
Infrastructure needs to be expanded and adjusted to accommodate more residents. This includes roads, park and ride facilities, public transit and safer lanes to separate bikes from vehicles. And of course we need to continue robust park maintenance.
We have unused store fronts and office space. We can encourage retail businesses and offices to become tenants. Lake Forest is a business-friendly area, with a history of not requiring general business licenses or unnecessary red tape, so we need to get the word out. Ultimately, the City may benefit from repurposing some of these areas. The City should evaluate replacing some unused office areas and store fronts with residences. There is and will continue to be a large stock of single-family homes laid out as very separated residential only areas. Other areas can have different character. The City will need areas for people to live within walking distance of restaurants and/or stores, and
Q: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
A: All aspects of good government have a financial component behind them. We all want good roads, good parks and a safe environment. But all of that takes money and trade-offs, and understanding the money behind the trade-offs.
At a local level especially, there is limited revenue and potentially unlimited needs. The City of Lake Forest, starting in such a good financial position, can meet these needs with good planning and prioritization. Interperiod equity - the principal that current taxpayers should pay for current services - means not leaving long term debt for future taxpayers to deal with. It also means that we should, appropriately and carefully, use current revenues to provide services for current taxpayers.
Q: What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?
A: Orange County Labor Federation
Women in Leadership PAC
Canyon Democrats
Democratic Party of Orange CountyEndorsed by:
Candidate in the News:
None found as of 10/1/26
Public Voting Record:
Candidate has no previous record of holding public office
$25 from Women in Leadership PAC
$500 from Democratic Women of South Orange County
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Lake Forest City Council, District 2 Incumbent
“BENJAMIN YU | Councilmember, City of Lake Forest/Businessman
Serving as your City Councilmember has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Over the past term, I have worked hard to be accessible, accountable, and committed to the residents of Lake Forest. Every decision I make is guided by a simple principle: put our community first.
Together, we have continued to strengthen public safety, maintain responsible fiscal stewardship, and preserve the high quality of life that makes Lake Forest such a wonderful place to live, work and play. I have remained focused on listening to residents, addressing neighborhood concerns, supporting local businesses, and ensuring that City Hall remains transparent and responsive.
While we have made meaningful progress, there is still important work ahead. Our city continues to face challenges and opportunities that require experienced, thoughtful leadership. I am committed to building on the progress we have made—not changing course, but continuing the steady, responsible leadership that has served our community well.
As a U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, and your Councilmember, I believe in service, accountability, and delivering results. I respectfully ask for your vote so we can continue working together to keep Lake Forest safe, fiscally strong, and an exceptional community for current and future generations.”
Email: ask@BenYu4LakeForest.com
Campaign Website: https://benyu4lakeforest.com/
Quote from Campaign website:
Benjamin’s statement: “A poor teenage immigrant from a humbled neighborhood in Queens, New York, I had the freedom and opportunities to find my Lord, serve my country, and give back to my city. My faith is my guiding star to living the journey of my American Dream and the passion to serve my community. I’m thrilled to make our neighborhoods more inclusive, accessible, and affordable. Together, we will make it the best place to live, work, and play while maintaining our small town’s quality of life.”
Priorities:
“Keeping our city safe.
Maintaining our quality of life.
Relieving traffic congestion with innovation and proactive planning.
Reducing homelessness.
Maintaining a budget that is fiscally conservative and responsible.
To be direct, my goal remains simple: to keep Lake Forest, Lake Forest.”
Any Other Interesting Info:
Incumbent elected in November 2022
In July 2025, OC Register reported: Lake Forest Councilmember Benjamin Yu, who is accused of committing multiple acts of domestic violence against a former girlfriend and driving while under the influence, was granted entry into a military diversion program on Tuesday, July 22, according to Yu and court records. (source)
Candidate at a Veteran's Day event in El Toro Memorial Park 11/11/23 - includes a photo with Mike Munzing, who is a far right city council member in Aliso Viejo.
Social Media Links:
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
Following on Facebook: Diane Dixon
Following on Instagram:
Leandra Blades (anti-LGBTQ School Board Trustee)
Kate Sanchez (anti-LGBTQ Assemblywoman)
Kelly Felton (anti-LGBTQ activist running for Tustin USD)
Candidate’s Public Comments:
Candidate Facebook post: 2/4/25
Today, I testified at the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The hearing was about the fentanyl crisis and need for legislation to permanently place fentanyl-related substances on the federal drug schedule. The hearing was an important opportunity to highlight the impact of California’s permissive drug laws, the border crisis and the danger posed by drug cartels. I urged law makers to take action on a number of strategies to address all facets of the fentanyl problem. Thank you to Chairman Chuck Grassley and Committee members for your efforts to end the fentanyl epidemic.
Watch the testimony here- https://bit.ly/4jDAJsB
Candidate Facebook post: 10/9/24
“My Statement on request of extra city screening on mainland China born candidates by an Irvine mayoral candidate
My name is Benjamin Yu, a disabled veteran of the United States Army, a businessman, and a Lake Forest City Council member, and a registered Republican. I am writing in my personal capacity and not on behalf of the City of Lake Forest or its council.
During the October 8, 2024 Irvine City Council Meeting, Irvine mayoral candidate Wing Chow spoke during the public comment regarding candidate ballot designation and forum transparency. He talked about the case of Linda Sun, a former deputy chief staff member of Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Further, he claimed that the US Department of State has warned about influence and penetration in local elections, namely by China.
He requested that the City of Irvine "should take cautious steps for candidates from mainland China."
Wing stated he was from Hong Kong in 1978, and before Hong Kong returned to China in 1997, he had no communist connection or education.
He continued, "Instead of waiting for things to happen, we should proactively check out their background and make sure they have no connection to the Chinese communist party or are funded by the Chinese government."
(begins at 29:25)
https://irvine.granicus.com/player/clip/6632?view_id=68...
Free speech is the bedrock foundation of the Constitutional Republic we served and fought for. That being said, I am in extreme shock and disbelief a mayoral candidate in one of the most diverse cities in Orange County made such a racist, xenophobic, red-baiting speech to garner attention during the height of election season.
Demanding extra screening for candidacy qualification based national origin amounts to dog-whistle, is discriminatory, and unconstitutional. It invokes the memory of the Chinese Exclusion Act and other struggles we faced as an American of Chinese heritage or origin.
As the first immigrant from mainland China elected to public office in Orange County, I unequivocally condemn the speech of Wing Chow. Wing Chow's defamatory and hateful speech has no place in our community, our state, and our nation.
Americans are not only by birth but also by choices. We are equal under the Constitution regardless of our background and have the same opportunity to embrace the American Dream and pledge to this "One Nation Under God."
Wing Chow's mentality is unbecoming of public servant, and I urge him to reconsider his candidacy. I strongly encourage Wing Chow to apologize to the community, especially the Chinese-American community and Chinese-American candidates in the Irvine local election.
God bless,
Benjamin Yu
Council Member, City of Lake Forest”
Endorsed by:
Lake Forest Firefighters Local 3631 (as stated on campaign website)
Candidate in the News:
OC Register: Lake Forest Councilmember Yu accused of domestic violence can enter into military diversion program July 24, 2025
Benjamin Yu was arrested 3 times since 2021; twice for domestic violence and once for a DUI.
California law allows defendants accused of misdemeanors who currently served or were a member of the U.S. military and suffer from a range of mental health problems as a result of their military service to be placed by the court into a pretrial diversion program. Yu is a former mechanic in the U.S. Army who was honorably discharged in 2002 due to a service-connected disability.
CBS News: Lake Forest city councilman Benjamin Yu arrested on suspicion of domestic violence February 21, 2024
Yu, 41, was arrested on Monday after deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Freemont Street, according to a statement from the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Upon arrival, they found a woman suffering from a contusion to her head.
During their investigation, deputies identified Yu as the suspect. He later surrendered and was taken into custody on suspicion of domestic violence and violating a restraining order.
CBS News: Lake Forest city councilman Benjamin Yu faces domestic violence misdemeanors July 22, 2023
Benjamin Yu, 40, was charged July 7 with corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant and false imprisonment, both misdemeanors, according to court records. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 23 in the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.
The criminal complaint alleges he committed corporal injury on June 27 and false imprisonment on July 1.
Public Voting Record: Council Brief: Benjamin Yu
236 votes on the record, 96% present
0 times voted No (0.0%), 0 abstentions, 0 recusals
record covers 2024-01-02 to 2026-03-03
$5,900 from the Orange County Professional Firefighters Assn. Local 3631 PAC
$800 from Diana Lees Real Estate
$5,900 from Zachary Fund Management LLC
Yu contributed to the following campaigns:
$200 to Michelle O'Brien for SVUSD Board 2024 - O’Brien is a member of the anti-LGBTQ movement in Southern California with ties to California Family Council, Moms For America, and Sonja Shaw.
$200 to Shaw for OC Board of Education 2020. Tim Shaw is a member of the anti-LGBTQ movement in Southern CA.
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Lake Forest City Council, District 2 Candidate
“BRANDON COUNCIL | AGE: 33 | Mechanical Engineer
As an R&D Mechanical Engineer and long-time community advocate, I bring a practical, data-driven approach to solving complex problems. I have spent over a decade leading cross-
functional teams, managing long-term technical projects, and balancing critical budgets.
As I continue to make Lake Forest a home for myself in a fresh start, I want to join you and support you by being a voice of reason and progress on our infrastructure challenges, public safety, and smart economic development for local businesses.
I am running for City Council because I love making a difference for people. I want my professional talents focused on solving the problems that matter most, on what affects you day to day. I bring with me the tenacity for improvement and innovation but also a tactful humility that comes from working on diverse teams among talented people each with their own important contribution to make.
I’ve served as a high school youth leader in my local church for 5 years and I’ve been involved in various homeless outreach and census programs. I believe in working as a team, using critical thinking and common-sense leadership to solve the problems we’re all up against.”
Email:
Campaign Website: https://www.brandoncouncil4council.com/
Quote from campaign website: “A problem Solver for Lake Forest City Council:
My goals and my focus for this community is to leverage my engineering methodology to tackle social and economic issues so that financial security is a widespread reality in our community. This means setting up local businesses for success, identifying and improving inefficiencies in the city, and fostering a community where people can socialize and connect in shared spaces that bring out the best Lake Forest has to offer.”
Any Other Interesting Info:
Went to California Baptist University (Linkedin)
Mechanical Engineer at Red Digital Cinema (Linkedin)
Social Media Links:
No other social media accounts found as of 10/1/26
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
No social media follows found as of 10/1/26
Candidate’s Public Comments:
On his campaign website, he says, “My name is Brandon Council, and I’m running for Lake Forest City Council, District 2. As an engineer by trade, I pride myself on solving complex problems, and I want to get involved in solving the challenges that affect people day to day because I know I can make a difference for you. The problems we are up against together in our communities today are the growing affordability crisis and the polarization over what to do about it. The truth is, we need to work together, and I want to show you we can. A difference in opinion means stress-testing a solution; a good idea becomes a great idea when there’s room for feedback and learning. To me, understanding a problem means hearing your voice and perspective. The root of even a complex problem is so often found at the commonality that comes from hearing multiple perspectives. The difficulty isn’t really in identifying a problem, it's having the patience and empathy to hear people out and include them in the conversation.
When I chose to make Lake Forest my home, I saw an incredible community that I want to invest in and contribute to—one that just needs the right blueprint to combat modern social and economic challenges and truly thrive. I believe our city needs fresh eyes, an attitude of tenacity and innovation, and practical data-driven solutions. I will bring to our City Council that spirit of innovation, and the idea that nothing is impossible if we work towards a common goal. I am a patented engineer with over a decade of practical and technical experience designing industrial products to perform in extreme and demanding environments and I know I can tackle these challenges by earning your trust and support. In my career I have also worked as a sales engineer designing custom systems for critical applications such as medical and aerospace, while managing 7 to 15 projects simultaneously and fostering positive relationships with a diverse client base. This experience will help me work with local businesses and organizations to achieve our goals of sustained growth and a connected community.
Wherever you find yourself in this community—whether you are upper, middle, or lower class, whether you rent or pay a mortgage—I think we are all impacted by these issues in one way or another. From the quality and accessibility of our local parks, where we go to connect with family and meet new people, to the rising cost of utilities and managing smart economic growth in a changing city, I believe that together, and through good faith, we can nurture a connected community where people don’t just live to survive, but to thrive.
I am running for City Council because I can apply this experience to effectively optimize our resources, modernize our infrastructure, and engineer every challenge for a better future for all of us.”Brandon responded to the OC Register candidate questionnaire:
Question: How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower price points, while also preserving local control and the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Answer: “The contractors that come in and physically construct a neighborhood also set the home prices. So we need to heavily negotiate the outcome from the beginning. If this approach doesn’t achieve our goals, I want to get creative with how we plan future housing and I also want to advocate for those homes to be purchased only as a means of primary residence. I want to invest in single-family homes and get the right people into them. Lake Forest needs to meet state mandates and requirements, but we don’t need a large population growth. I would personally like to see neighborhoods prioritize quality suburbs that support and invest in residents having their own personal private space with backyards so we can fight back against the trend of lowering the standard of living. Let’s build spaces that help people build their lives from and see Lake Forest as a community to connect and grow with.”
Question: Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Answer: “I sure try to be. I don’t have everyone’s personal life or cultural experience. I may not immediately have the knowledge of what you’re up against, what you value and need from your city, but I can promise you this: I can listen. The only way I can represent the diversity of the residents of Lake Forest is to listen to your story, your ideas, and your needs. And that’s why I am running for City Council. I have a drive for being able to take complicated problems and find a solution to them. People sometimes think being a good leader is being the smartest person in the room. In truth, being a leader means knowing you’re not the smartest person in the room, and that everyone around you has an important contribution to make. Why a group of people follow a leader? Because they are the person who brings these diverse people together under a common vision and goal. I have a vision and a goal for Lake Forest, and that’s a connected, inclusive community fighting for financial security and success for every resident.”
Endorsed by:
No endorsements found as of 10/1/26
Candidate in the News:
(OC Register 2026) Brandon Council, Lake Forest City Council District 2 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Public Voting Record:
Candidate has no previous record of holding public office
Candidate has not reported any campaign contributions for this election as of 10/1/26
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Lake Forest City Council, District 2 Candidate
“”GEORGE” GIURGUIS AZER | Small Business Owner
I’ve made Lake Forest my home. As the owner of a local small business I know what actually takes to meet a budget without cutting corners. That’s the perspective I’ll bring to the city council. I’ll fight for real solutions to traffic congestion and infrastructure, not just studies. I’ll support our sheriff's deputies and push for smart, compassionate approaches to homelessness that keep our neighborhoods safe. And I will insist on the same fiscal discipline I use running my own business-no wasteful spending, no empty promises.
I’m not a career politician. I’m a neighbor, a small business owner, And a dad of three kids who wants District 2 to stay the kind of place where families choose to put down roots, because mine did.
I’d be honored to earn your vote and put my experience and what I
learned in Law school to work for you and our community.
“George” Giurguis Azer”
Email: None found as of 10/1/26
Campaign Website:
Candidate does not have a campaign website.
Any Other Interesting Info:
In an article with the OC Register, George identifies as a small business owner. There are a handful of George Azers in the region who are business owners, and without a photo of George, we were unable to find any significant information about said business.
George emigrated to America in 1998. Source
Social Media Links:
None Found as October 1st, 2026
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
None Found as October 1st, 2026
Candidate’s Public Comments:
George answered the OC Register’s candidate questionnaire.
Question: In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Answer: “To maintain the high quality of life we have in our city, we should have economic growth/support local business; have affordable housing; encourage more developers to expand in our city; support our sheriff’s department; encourage more charter schools in our city.”
Question: How should the city balance rising costs, paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves, all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, economic development, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Answer: I am able to balance a budget, I am totally against any new fee or taxes, the revenue should grow when we expand the city, help economic growth by supporting our small and local businesses.
Endorsed by:
None Found as October 1st, 2026
Candidate in the News:
(OC Register 2026) George Azer, Lake Forest City Council District 2 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Public Voting Record:
Candidate has no previous record of holding public office
Candidate has not reported any campaign contributions for this election as of 10/1/26
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Lake Forest City Council District 2 Candidate
“BRITTANY THOMPSON | AGE: 40 | Community Volunteer
As a wife, mother of three, nonprofit founder, and ordained minister, I believe the strongest cities are built by strong families, connected neighborhoods, and neighbors who serve one another.
Lake Forest is more than where we live—it is our home. I am running for City Council to help preserve the safe, family-friendly community we cherish while preparing our city for a strong future.
My priorities are clear: support excellent schools that help every child succeed, champion our local businesses as the backbone of our economy, and protect the quality of life that makes Lake Forest an exceptional place to raise a family.
I believe leadership begins by listening. I want to bring our neighborhoods together, encourage greater community involvement, and build relationships that strengthen trust across our city. When we work together with respect and a shared purpose, our entire community benefits.
It would be an honor to serve Lake Forest with integrity, transparency, and a servant's heart.
Learn more at www.ThompsonForLakeForest.com.”
Email: thompson.brittanyj@gmail.com
Campaign Website: https://thompsonforlakeforest.com/
Quote from website:
“FOCUSED ON WHAT MATTERS HERE; A city that works for all of us. Good local government starts close to home: listening to residents, protecting the things we value, and building relationships across every neighborhood.”
Priorities:
Strong schools, strong future
Champion collaboration with our local schools and families so every young person has the support and opportunity to thrive.
Local business, local strength
Support the small businesses and entrepreneurs who create jobs, serve our neighbors, and give Lake Forest its character.
A family-friendly Lake Forest
Preserve safe, welcoming neighborhoods and the quality of life that makes families proud to call our city home.
Any Other Interesting Info:
Social Media Links:
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
Follows a lot of religious figures
Heather Schott - Senior Pastor at Mercy Culture church
Landon Schott - Husband of Heather Schott / has posts stating “Jame Talarico is a pretend Christian” and “You can’t be a gay Christian”, plus a photo in Oval Office with President Trump
Josh Howerton - Senior Pastor at Lakepointe Church / has a post with him responding to a Hillary Clinton news segment saying that the term Christian Nationalism is liberal scare propaganda, host of The Live Free Podcast with Josh Howerton
Preston Morrison - Senior Pastor at Pillar Church
Candidate’s Public Comments:
Brittany responded to the OC Register questionnaire:
Question: The public expects transparency from public leaders in spending and governance. How can this be achieved? How can the city do better in this area? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Answer: “Transparency begins with making sure residents can easily understand how their city is operating, how public money is being spent, and why important decisions are being made. Simply making information available is not enough if it is difficult to find or understand. Cities can improve transparency by presenting budgets and major spending decisions in clear language, providing timely information about issues coming before the council, and giving residents meaningful opportunities to ask questions and provide input before decisions are made. Communication should also extend beyond City Hall by finding better ways to keep individual neighborhoods informed and engaged. Public officials should be willing to explain their decisions, welcome questions, and remain accountable to the people they serve. Ultimately, transparency builds trust, and trust grows when residents feel informed, heard, and included in the decisions that affect their community.”
Question: Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Answer: “Good leadership begins with listening, being willing to learn, and making decisions with integrity. An effective leader does not need to have all the answers, but should be willing to ask thoughtful questions, consider different perspectives, and remain accountable to the people they serve. In my opinion, representing a diverse community also means recognizing that residents come from different backgrounds, generations, neighborhoods, experiences, and viewpoints. Every resident should feel that they have access to their elected representatives and that their concerns will be heard, whether or not they agree on every issue. I would actively engage with neighborhoods, businesses, schools, community organizations, and residents rather than waiting for people to come to City Hall. Unity does not require everyone to think alike. Strong communities are built when people can respectfully disagree, find common ground, and continue working together toward shared goals. Leadership should ultimately be rooted in humility, transparency, accessibility, and a commitment to serving the entire community”
Endorsed by:
None found on candidate website as of 10/13/2026
Candidate in the News:
(OC Register 2026) Brittany Thompson, Lake Forest City Council District 2 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Public Voting Record:
Candidate has no previous record of holding public office
Candidate has not reported any campaign contributions for this election as of 10/1/26
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Lake Forest City Council, District 3 Candidate
“ANIL D. PATEL | AGE: 53 | Project Manager/Businessowner
For the past 18 years, Lake Forest has been my family’s home, and I’m running for City Council because I believe in giving back to the community that has given us so much. My wife, Alka, and I have raised our two children here, operated a small business in our city, and have been actively involved in serving our neighbors.
I serve on the City’s Traffic and Parking Commission, and as a Board Member of my homeowners association, where I work collaboratively with neighbors to address community concerns. I have also completed the City’s Civic Academy, and volunteer as a CERT member, a Volunteer in Parks participant, and as an Assistant Scoutmaster for a local troop.
Professionally, I bring 30 years of experience helping public agencies manage budgets, improve infrastructure, and deliver cost-effective solutions. I hold a degree in Building Engineering and an MBA from UCLA, combining technical expertise with sound financial management.
As our Councilmember, I will focus on keeping Lake Forest safe, protecting our neighborhoods, supporting local business, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. I will listen to residents, make thoughtful decisions, and always put our community first.
I respectfully ask for your support and consideration.”
Campaign Email: anilpatel4citycouncil@gmail.com
Campaign Website: https://www.anilpatel4citycouncil.com
Campaign website is very detailed and each priority has its own section with 5 areas of focus, below is just the thumbnail of each priority.
Priorities:
PUBLIC SAFETY
Safe neighborhoods and strong policing
TRAFFIC & STREET SAFETY
Fix traffic, improve safety, reduce congestion
QUALITY OF LIFE
Clean, beautiful neighborhoods, parks, and open space
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Spend wisely, be transparent, and protect taxpayers
RESPONSIBLE GROWTH
Balanced housing, protect neighborhoods and character
RESIDENTS FIRST
Listen, communicate, and deliver results
Any Other Interesting Info:
Lake Forest Resident as of 2008
Concordia University, Bachelor of Eng, Building Engineering
UCLA MBA, Business Admin
Owns/Operates a UPS branch in Lake Forest
Self reportedly active Chamber of Commerce participant
Active Traffic and Parking Commissioner (ending Dec 2026)
Active in multiple volunteer organizations
Boy Scouts, Troop 604
LF Community Emergency Response Team
City Organized
Hosts trainings for various emergency situations
City Organized
Quarterly park inspections, report to city
General volunteering organization
Church Partners
Saddleback Church
Calvary Chapel Foothill Range
EFC Lake Forest
Sponsors
Lake Forest
Religious Group
Mission is “creation and extension of positive connections within and between disparate social networks”
Embrace Relief
CR&R Environmental Services
Home Depot El Toro Location
P&E Development & Construction
Employers
OPTERRA Energy Services - Senior Project Manager, 2015-Present
2016-2025, owned by ENGIE, operated as ENGIE Services US
2026, acquired NORESCO, changed names
Energy infrastructure for public sector primarily
Controls, storage, HVAC, EV, etc
Emphasis on green energy
Based in Oakland CA
NORESCO - Sr Project Developer, 2006-2015
OPTERRA subsidiary as of 2026
Similar work to OPTERRA
Based in Westborough MA
Johnson Controls, Inc - Project Development Engineer, 2001-2006
Industrial Machinery Manufacturing Industry
Stated goals in energy efficiency and decarbonization
Now actively involved in AI data centers
Cynergy Business Solutions - Project Engineer - 1996-2001
Social Media Links:
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
Following on Insta
OC Sheriff Don Barnes, OC Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol
OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer
Lake Forest USMC - Marines support org
Various small businesses
Various Lake Forest info accounts (lakeforestbuisness, lakeforestflavors, etc)
ocpromogirl - Mary Del Visco?
Indian American Impact, South Asian Trailblazers
Candidate’s Public Comments:
City Council Regular Meeting April 21, 2026 - Public comment at Lake Forest city council regarding someone being hit by an e-bike, describing the life of and requesting support for the victim.
Endorsed by:
None found on candidate website as of 10/1/26
Candidate in the News:
(OC Register 2026) Anil Patel, Lake Forest City Council District 3 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Public Voting Record:
Candidate has no previous record of holding public office
Follow the Money:
https://netfile.com/public/CLF/campaign/filing/217476627
Candidate donated to their campaign on 8/31/26 for $51.00
Candidate appears to be self-funding through a $5000 loan originated on 9/15/26
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Lake Forest City Council, District 3 Candidate
“TOM GRABLE | AGE: 64 | Planning Commissioner/Businessowner
For 27 years, Lake forest has been the place my family proudly calls home. As a current Lake Forest Planning Commissioner, business leader and community volunteer, I want to help keep Lake Forest the kind of city we’re proud to pass on to the next generation.
Throughout my 40-year career, I’ve brought people together to solve difficult problems, managed large budgets responsibility, and made thoughtful decisions that delivered successful results.
As your City Councilmember, I’ll lead to keep our neighborhoods safe, repair and maintain our roads and parks, support our local business so they can thrive, and make sure our city spends wisely, lives within its means, and saves for the future.
I’ll listen to residents, treat everyone with respect, and make decisions based on what’s best for Lake Forest – not politics or special interests.
My goal is simple: protect what makes our city special while planning carefully for the future. I respectfully ask for your vote and the opportunity to serve our community with integrity, experience and common-sense leadership.”
Email: TomGrable4CityCouncil@gmail.com
Phone: (949) 381-1969
Campaign Website: https://tomgrable4citycouncil.com/
Priorities:
PUBLIC SAFETY — Keep Lake Forest Safe
INFRASTRUCTURE — Take Care of What We Have
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — Help Local Businesses Thrive
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY — Live Within Our Means
TRANSPARENCY — Your City, Your Right to Know
PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS — Protect What You Own
Any Other Interesting Info:
Lake Forest resident since 1999
Lake forest Planning Commissioner Vice Chair, ending 2028
CSUF, major Communications
Employers
Beazer Homes Southern California - Senior Vice President - 1993-1998
William Lyon Homes, Inc - Vice President / Division Manager - 1998 - 2009
California Real Estate Receiverships - Appointed Receiver’s Agent - 2009-2010
Tri Pointe Homes, Inc - Vice President - Project Management, Division President - OC-LA Division and Southern California Division - 2010 - 2025
Thomas Grable & Associates LLC - Principal - 2025 - Present
2026 Honoree for the California Homebuilding Foundation (source for info below)
On California Building Industry Association Board 2015-2025, chairman for 2024
Member of Executive Committee and Trustee on Political Action committee 2019-2025
Chairman of Government Affairs Committee 2023
In leadership position at Building Industry Association of Southern California, member since 2006
Member of Governing Board, Executive Committee
Trustee of Political Action Committee, Chairman 2014-2018
Representative in Long-Range Planning Committee
President in 2019, Chairman in 2020
On OC Chapter’s board 2002-2007, President 2006
Member of Southern California Association of Governments SoCal Greenprint Technical Advisory Committee 2023
Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Business Federation board 2022-2025
Co-chair of Land Use, Housing, Development, Real Estate and CEQA Committee
Appointed to rep OC Board of Supervisor’s 5th District, Development Processing Review Committee 2003-2017
Leadership position held in Saddleback Valley YMCA, no dates given
Social Media Links:
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
Greg Powers - COO of Jackson Tidus, law corp
John Park - Irvine Council Candidate
James Mai - Irvine Vice Mayor
Shari Freidenrich - OC Treasurer
James Morrison - Mission Viejo District 4 Candidate
Don Wagner - OC 3rd District Supervisor
Don Barnes - OC Sheriff
Diane Dixon - CA Assembly
OCGOP
The Toll Roads - toll road company - 73, 133, 241, 261
Lincoln Club OC
NOTE: A significant number of these individuals and organizations hold openly anti-LGBTQ views, and those views have influenced their votes and actions.
Candidate’s Public Comments:
Tom responded to the OC Register’s candidate questionnaire.
Question: Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Answer: “I have spent 40 years leading organizations, managing complex projects and budgets while bringing people together to solve difficult problems. I have learned that leadership is not about rhetoric, it is about listening, setting clear priorities, treating people with respect and producing actual and measurable results. I retired as the Division President of Tri Pointe Homes’ Orange County-Los Angeles production homebuilding operation and now serve as a Lake Forest Planning Commissioner. My civic, business and charitable service has involved people with very different backgrounds, professions and viewpoints. Those experiences have taught me how to find workable solutions without sacrificing my core principles. I will represent every Lake Forest resident, not just those who supported me. I will listen to homeowners and renters, families and seniors, businesses and people from every neighborhood and background, evaluate issues on their own merits and explain my decisions openly. I bring proven executive experience, extensive knowledge of both local and regional government and land use, and the time and commitment necessary to serve effectively from day one.”
Question: How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower price points, while also preserving local control and the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Answer: “Lake Forest can meet its housing obligations with thoughtful local planning, and not with “one-size-fits-all” mandates from Sacramento. After 40 years in land use, homebuilding and housing policy, I know that affordability is fundamentally affected by housing supply, land costs, regulations, development fees and lengthy approval processes. I support creating additional housing opportunities — but at appropriate locations and densities — streamlining permitting and plan review, reducing unnecessary regulatory costs and protecting private property rights. We need housing that serves families, seniors and our workforce while respecting our infrastructure capacity and the character of our established neighborhoods. Local control matters. Because every community is different. Lake Forest needs to determine how best to accommodate growth through its General Plan and zoning, as well as a robust public participation process, rather than having the State government dictate what occurs in our City. We can increase attainable housing while preserving the quality of life in our neighborhoods. That requires proven and experienced leadership with someone who understands how both community planning and development economics work. I am the candidate who has that experience and will ensure that happens together effectively.”
Robert Pequeño - Lake Forest Mayor
Doug Cirbo - Lake Forest Mayor Pro Tem
Scott Voigts - Lake Forest City Council, District 3
Dwight Robinson - Former Lake Forest Mayor
Don Wagner - OC Supervisor
Tony Strickland - CA State Senator
Diane Dixon - CA Assembly
Dr Stefan Bean - OC Superintendent of Schools
Lisa Bartlett - South OC Community College Trustee
Wendy Bucknum - Mission Viejo Mayor
Carlos Rodriguez - Yorba Linda Mayor
James Mai - Irvine Vice Mayor
Shivinder Singh - Yorba Linda City Council
Ryan Gallagher - Tustin City Council
Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs
Orange County Professional Firefighters Association
The Republican Party of Orange County
Lincoln Club of Orange County
Saddleback Republican Assembly
South Orange County Economic Coalition
Orange County Business Council’s PAC
Candidate in the News:
Global News Wire - Corporate news site
(OC Register 2026) Tom Grable, Lake Forest City Council District 3 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Public Voting Record:
Candidate has no previous record of holding public office
Tom has received a significant amount of funding from developers.
$1,000 from Lambros & Associates LLC
$5,900 from Orange County Professional Firefighters Assn. Local 3631 PAC
$5,000 from West Coast Campaign Management
$5,900 from Tri Pointe Homes
$5,700 from Building Industry Association of Southern California PAC
$500 from Pulte Homes Corp
$5,900 from Irvine Management Company
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Lake Forest City Council, District 4 Candidate
“AMY STEVENS | Mother/Communications Consultant
Lake Forest is where my family’s life happens. It’s school dropoff, neighborhood walks, community events, beautiful parks, and people we love and rely on. I’m running for City Council because decisions made at City Hall shape our everyday moments
Hi, I’m Amy! A Lake Forest mom, communications professional, former La Madera PTA president, and CERT-trained through the city’s Community Emergency Response Team program. Serving in our local schools and community has shown me how much can be accomplished when people feel heard and have a meaningful role in solving problems.
That same approach has guided my work for 20+ years. I have helped public agencies and community organizations navigate difficult issues, communicate during emergencies, and bring people with different perspectives together to find practical solutions.
As a councilmember, my priorities will include safer streets and e-bike education, stronger emergency preparedness, well-maintained open spaces, thoughtful planning that respects neighborhoods and infrastructure, and attracting quality businesses to vacant storefronts so residents have more local options and the city strengthens its tax base.
I will show up throughout the community, listen carefully and make choices with District 4 residents in mind. I would be honored to have your vote.”
Email: amy@amy4lakeforest.com
Campaign Website: https://www.amy4lakeforest.com/
Priorities:
Safe Spaces / Neighborhood Traffic
Pointing out speeding and e-bikes in particular
Emphasizing education
Well-Maintained Roads / Infrastructure
Trees, Parks, Neighborhoods
Pointing out talks about local eucalyptus trees
Strong Local Economy
Wants to attract business to be closer for residents
Responsible Growth and Planning
Emergency Preparedness and Public Safety
Responsible, Transparent City Government
Any Other Interesting Info:
OCC A.A., General Studies
CSUF M.A. in Communication and Media Studies
SFSU B.A. in Psychology and Technical & Professional Writing
Underwent Emerge California political leadership training program this year
Notable Employers
US Department of Labor - Public Affairs Specialist - 2005-2006
Coast Community College District - Public Information Assistant - 2007-2010
Saddleback College - Public Information Officer - 2010-2013
Garden Grove Unified School District - Public Information Officer - 2013-2015
Democratic Party OC - Communication Lead - Contract (2019)
Chapman University - Director of Public Relations - 2019-2021
2 certs from Public Relations Society of America
Notable Volunteering Records
California School Employees Association Chapter 586 - Public Relations Officer and Webmaster - 2013
Canyon Democrats - Communications Committee Chair - 2017-2020
Canyon Democrats - Texting Lead - 2022-2023
National PTA
PTA Parliamentarian - 2024-2025
PTA President - 2025-2026
Social Media Links:
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
Fellow Candidates
Becky Keene, Lake Forest District 2
Ben Davis, Huntington Beach City Council
Steven Von, Aliso Viejo District 2
Brenda Glim, Huntington Beach City Council
Chris Kluwe, AD-72
Martha Abraham, San Diego District 4
Cara Stewart - Costa Mesa District 3
Anil Patel, Lake Forest District 3
Xavier Becerra, Governor
Brianna Rogers, Vallejo City District 4
Political Orgs
Aliso Viejo United
Women in Leadership
OC Good Trouble
OC Labor Federation
The Truth OC
OC Democratic Party
Working Families Party (National and California)
OC Indivisible
Elected Officials
Dave Min
Candidate’s Public Comments:
On her instagram, Amy spoke about how local government matters; “We put so much time and effort into researching presidential, congressional, and statewide races, and then we get to city council or water board or school board and think, who are these people? But these are the decisions that affect your daily life. Your neighbor, your water, your schools, how safely you can move around your community. So please, don’t leave your local races until the last second. Do the research, talk to the neighbors, ask the candidates questions, because the closer government gets to home, the more personal the impact can be.” source
In a September 15th instagram post, Amy said, “I really wish everyone could go on the affordable housing tour I went on today. I spent the morning with The Kennedy Commission and Welcoming Neighbors Home visiting three very different communities in Lake Forest and Irvine. And I’ll admit it: some of what I saw challenged my own preconceived notions.
Whatever picture comes to mind when you hear “affordable housing,” it may be badly out of date. These were beautiful, thoughtfully designed communities. At minimum, they fit seamlessly into the neighborhoods around them. In one location, the affordable community is right next to a luxury apartment complex and I genuinely don’t think most people could tell you which was which. And it wasn’t just about appearances.
We saw pools, spas, community rooms, gardens, tutoring and computer spaces, playgrounds, laundry facilities, and other amenities designed to help people actually live well and build community. We also heard about on-site support with things like employment, paperwork, health care, school applications, mental health services, food access, and connections to other resources.
The biggest thing I left with was a reminder that it’s worth challenging the picture you already have in your head. These are homes. They’re part of neighborhoods. The people who live there are part of the same communities, schools, workplaces, parks, and businesses as us. People deserve housing that is safe, attractive, well-maintained, and built with dignity.
Huge thanks to The @thekennedycommission, Welcoming Neighbors Home, and everyone who took the time to show us around and answer questions today. I also left thinking about how much more there is to learn. If there are other organizations, sites, programs, or people you think I should be learning from, please send them my way. I’d love to keep learning.” source
In an interview with the OC Register regarding a vacant lot that was being considered as a place for housing development by the city, Stevens said, “I am someone who supports affordable housing and also really values green space, so I see this as a win-win if it is planned correctly. (...) I understand the site has been sitting undeveloped for a long time because there was no funding to build and maintain a full park. That makes sense to me, and I appreciate the city looking at creative ways to move something forward instead of letting it sit unused.” source
Endorsed by:
OC Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
OC Democratic Party
OC Planned Parenthood
Dave Min
WAVE
Canyon Democrats (Mission Viejo, RSM, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Foothill Ranch, Coto de Caza & the Canyon Communities)
Candidate in the News:
(Voice of OC 2025) Lake Forest Looks to Develop Vacant Site As Affordable Housing
(OC Register 2026) Amy Stevens, Lake Forest City Council District 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Public Voting Record:
No previously held position, no records
Canyon Democrats - 06/07 - $2000
Jacqueline Graves - 04/13 - $1000
Jessica Medina - 04/15 - $1100, 06/17 - $1100
Multitude of donations < $500
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Lake Forest City Council, District 3 Candidate
“SHARI RHODES | Lake Forest Business Owner
I love Lake Forest, which I made my home 16 years ago. I want to make Lake Forest an even better place to live, so my children will be able to buy their own homes to raise their families here.
During the challenging times of 2020, I launched two businesses in Lake forest, which are thriving today.
I’m not a politician, and I have never run for elected office. I’m a concerned citizen and business owner passionate about giving back to my community, as I did when I served as the PTA President at my children’s schools and the women’s ministries administrator at our church.
If you elect me to represent our community on the Lake Forest City Council, I will fight to:
Provide our firefighters and Sheriff’s deputies with what they need to keep Lake Forest safe
Develop an anonymous tipline to report gang activity
Ensure Lake forest maintains a responsible, balanced budget
Enhance our Lake Forest parks and community activities
Grow our economy and lower the cost of living to help young families and senior citizens afford their own homes in Lake Forest
I am honored to be endorsed by:
Lake Forest Mayor Robert Pequeno
Lake forest Councilmember Scott Voigts
Former Lake Forest Mayor Dwight Robinson
I respectfully ask for your vote.”
Email: No Information Found
Campaign Website: https://www.sharirhodesforlakeforestd4.com/
Shari’s campaign page opens up to a photo of her with a background of red, white, and blue fireworks, and the words, “A New Era for Our 4th District - Shari Rhodes for Lake Forest City Council; Leadership That Listens. Representation That Matters.”
Priorities:
Shari doesn’t lay her priorities out directly, and instead has a long paragraph about what she feels are her qualifications to run under the “issues” page. Check that out in “public comments” below.
Any Other Interesting Info:
Shari received her Associates’ Degree from San Bernardino Valley College source
Shari Rhodes is an ardent supporter of Flock and other ALPR systems. source
Represented by Lysa Ray Campaign Services, which has also worked on the unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign for Travis Allen, who is considered to be "California's Trump." He has used the slogans "Take Back California" and "Make California Great Again" for his campaign. She also was the campaign treasurer for OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer, and was involved in a minor campaign finance controversy, where she took the blame for incorrectly filed financial information. And perhaps most importantly, Lysa Ray, who was compensated as a campaign strategist for this campaign, served as County Supervisor Andrew Do’s treasurer during the events that led to his current downfall and FBI investigation for financial corruption. Lysa Ray is representing anti-LGBTQ school board candidates and other conservative candidates up and down SoCal this election season, as well as the last election season.
Social Media Links:
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
Crystal Miles, OUSD Candidate and member of the anti-LGBTQ movement in SoCal
Gracey Van Der Mark, HB City Councilwoman, anti-LGBTQ activist, deeply connected with extremist groups like the Proud Boys and LOKA
Tony Strickland, State Senator, Former HB City Council, voted to ban the Pride Flag
Nancy Mace (Congresswoman who has screamed anti-LGBTQ slurs at her constituents on multiple occasions)
Candidate’s Public Comments:
From her campaign website; “My strongest qualifications for Lake Forest City Council come from running real businesses, managing money and people in volunteer organizations, and living the issues the city actually votes on.
Business ownership and operations. As co-owner and Responsible Managing Officer of D&G Rhodes Construction and owner of SMR Construction, I hold active California contractor licenses and have been responsible for jobs, payroll, contracts, insurance, permitting, and staying on budget. City Council work is similar: overseeing contracts, infrastructure projects, development review, and taxpayer dollars. I already speak the language of construction, timelines, and cost control that Lake Forest deals with every meeting.
Hands-on fiscal and organizational leadership. I served as PTA Treasurer and President at both junior high and high school levels and was recognized by the district for that service. I have direct experience with budgets, fundraising, public meetings, working with staff and parents, and being accountable to a community. Combined with earlier roles as a legal secretary and retail manager (including store-level P&L responsibility), I have a practical record of administration rather than just theory.
Deep local and family roots. Sixteen years in Lake Forest plus decades in the broader region, a blended family with five children and ten grandchildren, and a long pattern of church and community service gives me the “I live here and this is my neighborhood” credibility voters look for in a district race. I understand family needs, schools, parks, traffic, and the desire to keep the city’s character while allowing measured growth.
Service mindset plus fiscal conservatism. I have said service is how people feel loved and that I want the city to grow technologically without losing its beauty and family strengths. That combination—practical builder, volunteer leader, and resident who wants results rather than ideology—is a coherent case for a part-time, nonpartisan city council seat.
The office does not require prior elected experience. What it requires is the ability to read a budget, ask hard questions about contracts and development, represent a district, and show up. My construction licenses, PTA financial leadership, and years of running small businesses are the parts that most directly map onto those duties.”
In an instagram post in early October 2026, she posted a handout from the OC Sheriff’s Department with the caption, “Automated License Plate Reader recognition technology saves lives by helping locate stolen vehicles and missing people and by aiding the Sheriff’s Department in investigations. The pages above 👆 explain the myths versus the proven facts. 😊” source
She responded to the OC Register’s candidate questionnaire.
Question: Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Answer: “I am a woman business owner. Co-owning a construction corporation located here in Lake Forest. I would make a great leader because the combination of running a business, especially in construction, and leadership style research consistently finds women and leadership are a strong match. Women leaders are rated higher than men on most competencies that actually move organizations: taking initiative, driving results, developing people, integrity and collaboration. Women in leadership are also a small slice of the trades and construction management.”
Question: How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower price points, while also preserving local control and the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Answer: “The City of Lake Forest is primarily built out. The realistic path is to produce more units on the land that already exists — especially lower-income units. We need to use leftover land and restrict it to low-income housing.”
Endorsed by:
Local 3631 IAFF Orange County Firefighters
Californian Republican Assembly
The Lincoln Club of Orange County
OC GOP
Don Wagner, OC Supervisor, voted to ban the Pride Flag in 2023
Scott Voigts, Lake Forest Council Member
Robert Pequeno, Lake Forest Mayor
Dwight Robinson, Former Mayor Lake Forest
Saddleback Republican Assembly
Nancy's Picks recommends Shari based on her other endorsements. Its 22 criteria include "PRO-SANCTITY of HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE," "PRO-NUCLEAR FAMILY," "PRO-PARENTAL RIGHTS in EDUCATION" and "PRO-LIFE & PROTECTIONS for the UNBORN," as well as "PRO-PROTECTIONS for ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS, NO MATTER RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, OR SEXUAL PREFERENCE." Vote Picks criteria
Candidate in the News:
(OC Register 2026) Shari Rhodes, Lake Forest City Council District 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Public Voting Record:
None Found
$5,900 from the Orange County Professional Firefighters Assn. Local 3631 PAC
Saddleback Valley Unified School District
Due to bandwidth limitations, our fully volunteer team was not able to complete the research for this race. Thank you for understanding, and please check out the local races we did cover.
Irvine Ranch Water District
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Irvine Ranch Water District Board Candidate
“PEER A. SWAN | Director, Irvine Ranch Water District, Area 5
As a Director of the Irvine Ranch Water District for 46 years, I have played a large role in making the District a nationally recognized leader. We pioneered the use of recycled water,
promoted conservation, funded a program to replace worn-out plant and equipment, fully funded retirement, and built a large emergency groundwater storage facility.
IRWD has gone from 95% dependency on expensive imported water to where more than 85% of our water is local, more reliable and less costly.
We have achieved this high level of service and reliability while maintaining rates that are by far the lowest in the County.
I spearheaded the creation of the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary where urban runoff is naturally treated, while providing needed habitat and accessible public open space.
As a Founding Director and Chairman for four years of the National Water Research Institute we funded research to improve water quality.
You have my continued commitment to keep the District an innovative leader dedicated to quality service that is low priced, environmentally sensitive, and consistent with the high standards of the community we live in.
Please Re-elect Peer Swan”
Email: Available via a contact page on his campaign website.
Campaign Website: https://www.peerswan.com
Priorities:
Reliable, Clean Water with Lowest Rates
Community Public Access to IRWD Facilities
The San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
No Unfunded Retirement Liability
Any Other Interesting Info:
Peer Swan was elected to the Board of Directors in 1979 and has been serving off-and-on since then, including 15 years as the Director of the Board. He was most recently elected in 2022.
President: 1982 to 1995; 2006
Vice president: 1980, 1981, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2017
Other positions include; (source)
Water Advisory Committee of Orange County (Fmr. Chairman),
Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors (member)
Orange County Sanitation Board (member for 15 years, Vice-chair for 6)
Ground Water Replenishment Joint Committee (Founding board member)
Southern California Water Committee (Treasurer)
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (Fmr. President)
Steering Committee of the Southern California Water Dialog Committee (member)
Association of California Water Agencies (Fmr. Board of Directors)
California Association of Sanitation Agencies (Fmr. Chairman of Directors Committee)
Water Supply Pillar of the One Water One Watershed (member)
Board of the Urban Water Institute (member)
Per two LA Times articles, Peer ran for Congress as a Republican in the late 1980s. (x) (x) He lost to another Republican, Christopher Cox.
Social Media Links:
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
None Found
Candidate’s Public Comments:
Per his campaign website, “As a statewide leader in the water community, I understand the complex legal, environmental, and infrastructure challenges facing California water. In times of drought and climate uncertainty, my deep institutional knowledge of the statewide system ensures our local supply remains safe, steady and secure.”
Swan responded to the OC Register’s candidate questionnaire:
Question: Tell us what your No. 1 priority is for this office, should you be elected.
Answer: “To maintain and enhance the most reliable and high-quality water supply in the county while continuing to provide it to our customers at the lowest cost in the county.
Question: What does this department do for citizens? What do you view as its most important role for residents, and why?
Answer: “Water is an essential need, and I work to provide a highly reliable supply of it to our customers. We also collect and reprocess sewer water to provide reliable irrigation water. Finally, we treat urban runoff prior to it reaching the protected environment of Newport’s Back Bay. We built the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary on 300 acres of district land to provide needed habitat and opened it to the public for their enjoyment. The site also inexpensively removes excess nutrients from the water prior to reaching the sensitive Upper Newport Bay — a win-win-win solution.”
Question: Your neighbors may not be so familiar with this office on their ballot. How would you promote more general knowledge of the district and the importance of its work?
Answer: “We provide essential water deliveries, treat and convert the resulting wastewater to create a highly reliable supply of irrigation water and treat urban water runoff using natural processes to protect the sensitive Upper Newport Bay”
Question: What experiences and priorities do you bring to this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that makes you the person for the job?
Answer: My service includes membership on the boards of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California,, Orange County Sanitation District, Association of California Water District’s, Urban Water Institute, and the National Water Research Institute where I worked,to improve water quality, increase water reliability while controlling costs.
Question: What will you do to establish trust with your community that you will tackle this job well?
Answer: “Being nationally recognized as an innovative leader in the water industry, fully funding the district’s retirement obligations, developing a highly reliable water supply while keeping rates the lowest in the county.”
Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.
Answer: “‘Sapiens’ and the sequel ‘Homo Deus’ which explore the author’s view of the evolution of humans and the societies that they live in and project this journey into the AI future.”
Endorsed by:
Candidate in the News:
OC Register: Peer Swan, Irvine Ranch Water District Division 5 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Public Voting Record:
None Found
In 2014, the PAC “Friends of Peer Swan” contributed $2,000 to “Continuing the Republican Revolution”.
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Irvine Ranch Water District Board Candidate
“JEFFREY HARLAN | Attorney/Planning Commissioner
After 45 years of the same, we need new leadership for Division 5. I bring not only the experience and expertise, but also a fresh perspective to guide the Irvine Ranch Water District through this critical time.
For more than 20 years, I have been a dedicated Orange County public servant and community volunteer. As the first City Councilmember representing Eastside Costa Mesa, I helped create
and renovate neighborhood parks, deliver new bike lanes, upgrade streets and alleys, and expand police and fire services. With my leadership, our Council delivered balanced budgets every year.
As a land use attorney and Chair of the Planning Commission, I have committed my 30-year career to working with governments to improve communities and protect our environment. I understand all aspects of responsible development, including preserving our
water supply, conserving natural resources and open space, and investing in our infrastructure.
I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and earned a law degree focusing on environmental law from Vermont Law School.
As your Director, I will ensure our precious resources are protected so you can enjoy a safe, reliable, and affordable water supply.
I appreciate your consideration and hope to earn your vote.
Email:
Campaign Website: https://www.harlan4water.com/
Priorities:
“RATE INCREASES ARE UNCONTROLLED
Every year, we are subjected to a rate increase. We've faced jumps of nearly 50 percent over the last 5 years alone. I will ensure an open and transparent discussion to help manage costs and keep the IRWD budget in check.
WE NEED A MODERN VISION
My opponent has occupied the Board seat for over 46 years! He hasn't had a contested race since 2018. No one is entitled to a lifetime tenure, and such institutional entrenchment is not good for any organization. I will bring a fresh and diverse perspective.
GREATER TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY
The public cannot participate remotely in Board meetings. In today's electronic age, this is unacceptable and reasonable. Every customer should be able to conveniently watch, join in, and later review a Board meeting without having to drive to Irvine.”
Any Other Interesting Info:
Harlan served on the Costa Mesa City Council from 2020-2024, running for reelection in 2024 on the platforms listed below. He lost this reelection race to Jeff Pettis, an openly MAGA candidate.
Tackling Homelessness
Ensuring Public Safety & Reducing Crime
Preserving & Enhancing Eastside Neighborhoods
Planning for Smart Growth Citywide
Investing in Costa Mesa
Protecting The Environment
Creating Safer Streets for Cyclists & Pedestrians
Reimagining Public Spaces
Between 2010 and 2012, Jeffrey wrote a weekly column for the Los Angeles Times' Daily Pilot newspaper where he covered civic affairs, urban planning, and business. (x)
While serving on the Costa Mesa City Council, he attended the annual June raising of the Pride Flag at City Hall every year.
Harlan was appointed as Chair of the Costa Mesa Planning Commission in June 2025. (x)
He’s an attorney, with a law degree from the Vermont Law and Graduate School. He specialized in Environmental and Land Use law. (x)
Jeff attended OC Pride 2024 with then-Mayor John Stephens, and was photographed holding a Pride flag and smiling. This was a ticketed event held at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (x) (x)
Social Media Links:
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
Orange Coast Huddle
OC Young Dems
Human Rights Campaign OC/Long Beach
Voter Choice Irvine
Andy Godinez for NMUSD Area 7 (Progressive candidate for NMUSD)
Costa Mesa Democrats
Orange County Employee Association (Union)
Costa Mesa Alliance for Better Streets
Robert Garcia (openly gay Congressman)
Costa Mesa Mutual Aid
Chris Kluwe for Assembly
UNITE HERE Local 11
Candidate’s Public Comments:
Harlan responded to the OC Register’s candidate questionnaire:
Question: Tell us what your No. 1 priority is for this office, should you be elected.
Answer: “My priority is to ensure that the Irvine Ranch Water District provides safe, reliable, and affordable water to its customers. Unfortunately, repeated IRWD rate increases have pushed the average residential water bill up nearly 40% over recent years.
I want to ensure 1) customers are receiving the best value for their service, 2) our taxpayer dollars are invested wisely in necessary infrastructure, and 3) residents can participate easily in public meetings.
My opponent has held this seat for nearly five decades, and we need a fresh, modern, and diverse perspective to guide IRWD for the next 50 years.
Question: What does this department do for citizens? What do you view as its most important role for residents, and why?
Answer: “Safeguarding our water resources is of paramount importance. As the IRWD Director for District 5, my role will be to represent — and advocate for the specific needs of — the communities in southern Irvine (including UCI, Turtle Rock, and the IBC), parts of Newport Beach (Santa Ana Heights, Newport Coast), and a portion of Eastside Costa Mesa.
As a former city councilmember and community advocate for 20 years, I recognize the importance of working directly with residents, businesses, and local organizations to make the best decisions for our communities. Good governance requires not just technical knowledge, but also understanding a community’s interests, concerns, and aspirations.”
Question: Your neighbors may not be so familiar with this office on their ballot. How would you promote more general knowledge of the district and the importance of its work?
Answer: “For most people, the only connection to the water district is turning on your tap and getting your monthly bill. But if people want to learn more or engage in the board’s activities, then it should be easy to do so.
Unfortunately, today the public cannot participate remotely in board meetings. I want to improve accessibility and transparency — every customer should be able to conveniently watch, join in, and review a board meeting without having to drive to Irvine.”
Question: What experiences and priorities do you bring to this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that makes you the person for the job?
Answer: “For more than 30 years, I’ve dedicated my career to working with governments to improve our communities and protect our environment. As a former city councilmember and current chair of the Costa Mesa Planning Commission, I have an intimate understanding of not only creating public policy, but also how to implement it.
I have worked closely with neighbors, local businesses, and other public agencies to deliver new parks, roads and bike lanes, balanced budgets, and much-needed housing for our communities. And as a land use attorney and urban planner, I understand all aspects of responsible development, including preserving our water supply, conserving natural resources and open spaces, and investing in our infrastructure. Being a good public leader requires one to be thoughtful, accessible, and open-minded.”
Question: What will you do to establish trust with your community that you will tackle this job well?
Answer: “In every election campaign, I have spent countless hours walking precincts, talking to residents, and learning what is really important to our neighbors. That is the simplest way to build trust. Whether it’s leading a commission hearing, heading a public workshop, or attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony, I’ve continued that ongoing dialogue to inform my decision-making. I believe this is what the job of any public official demands, and I intend to take the same approach as the IRWD Director.”
Endorsed by:
United States Congressman Dave Min
California State Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley
City of Irvine Councilmember Kathleen Treseder
City of Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens
Newport Mesa Unified School District Trustee Carol Crane
Mesa Water District Board Director Marice DePasquale
Coast Community College District Trustee Liz Dorn Parker
Candidate in the News:
OC Register: Jeffrey Harlan, Irvine Ranch Water District Division 5 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Public Voting Record:
While on the Costa Mesa City Council, he voted every year to acknowledge LGBTQ+ Pride Month and fly the Pride Flag during June.
Contributions to Harlan’s campaign are not publicly visible.
Harlan contributed to the following campaigns:
$100 to Katrina Foley for Supervisor 2026
$250 to Andy Godinez for NMUSD School Board 2026
$65 to Katrina Foley for Supervisor 2026
$200 to Rising Tide Community PAC
$157 to Katrina Foley for Supervisor 2026
$100 to Katrina Foley for Supervisor 2022
Trabuco Canyon Water District
Due to bandwidth limitations, our fully volunteer team was not able to complete the research for this race. Thank you for understanding, and please check out the local races we did cover.
Orange County Board of Education District 5
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*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:
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:
Kelly Felton, anti-trans activist out of Tustin USD
Kate Sanchez, first-term CA state assemblywoman who has made her name on anti-trans legislative efforts
Dan Bongino, whose claims to fame include his Rumble livestreaming career, his time as a Fox News host, and his year(ish) long tenure as Deputy Director of the FBI during the current Trump administration. Bongino is a loud supporter of the racist and antisemitic Great Replacement Theory, and has a long history of attacks on LGBTQ+ rights.
Parents4Freedom, an extremist anti-LGBTQ group in Orange County that has targeted local drag story hour events.
Lincoln Institute CA, the youth-oriented wing of the Lincoln Club
Florida Governor Ron Desantis, whose attacks on public education are well known
Michelle Steel, Former US Congresswoman and proud MAGA
Shannon Grove, CA state senator out of Kern and Tulare counties
Moms on the Ground, a local anti-trans conspiracy theory account
Candace Owens, conservative podcaster
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.
The Voice of OC wrote about the OC BOE’s decision to remove ethnic studies curriculum.
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
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*Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*
Campaign Statement: NONE
Email: Not found
Campaign Website:
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.
No campaign finance filings found
47th District, House of Representatives
Due to bandwidth limitations, our fully volunteer team will not be able to cover all of the legislative races in this guide. Thank you for understanding, and please check out the local races we did cover.
72nd District, CA State Assembly
Due to bandwidth limitations, our fully volunteer team will not be able to cover all of the legislative races in this guide. Thank you for understanding, and please check out the local races we did cover.
County Assessor
The county assessor acts like Orange County’s head bookkeeper, making sure all the money is handled correctly. The assessor take care of paying the bills and the workers, keeping track of all the money coming in, and writing the final reports on how the county spent its budget.
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*Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*Campaign Statement:
“CLAUDE PARRISH
My commitments upon taking office were:
To, eliminate waste. Since 2015 I returned $17,039,843 in funds from my office budget to the County by carefully monitoring expenses. To, continue to extend the deadline for tax appeals from September 15th to November 30th. Now taxpayers have an additional 75 days to file appeals. To, complete each year the Property Tax Roll on time, a first since my election in 2015.
To, create a Taxpayer Advocate office. Now we have “A Public Defender for the Taxpayer” to assist taxpayers with property tax problems. The Advocate’s office has helped more than 10,800 taxpayers since its inception. Established a Business Tax Resolution Specialist in 2024.
Over 400 taxpayers have been assisted with business property and vessel assessment issues. To, establish a South County satellite office. We now have, in Mission Viejo City Hall, a rent-free office. To, allow taxpayers all lawful exemptions and exclusions that they are qualified for, without undue bureaucratic delays. To, reduce appeals from 19,507 in 2015 to 8,027 due to more accurate valuations. To protect Proposition 13. Having always maintained an open-door policy, you may call me (714) 834-2734.
I respectfully ask for your vote.”
Email: cparrish9@cox.net / ocassessor@asr.ocgov.com
Phone: (714) 834-2734
Campaign Website: http://www.claudeparrish.com/
Claude listed the following priorities on his campaign website:
Extend the deadline for tax appeals from September 15th to November 30th, giving taxpayers an additional 75 days to file appeals.
Create a Taxpayer Advocate Office to assist taxpayers with filing assessment appeals and navigating California’s complex tax laws.
Establish a south county satellite office in existing county office space, with current local employees, at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Allow taxpayers all lawful exemptions that they are qualified for without undue bureaucratic delays.
In many instances, due to the over billings and errors of the current Assessor, our County had a record high of 25,080 property tax appeals work load in one year. These appeals negatively impact property owners, small business, and seniors, Claude Parrish will bring accuracy and fairness to the process.
This website was not online in early April, during which time he was interviewed by the LAist, who also asked him about his priorities. Per that article, “What are some of your priorities if you are re-elected? “Main priority is I am available, which is unusual for an elected official,” Parrish told LAist. “You call me and you got me, and that’s just about impossible. When I try to call congressmen, assemblymen, mayors, councilmen, I can never get them. But you got me right away.” He added that he would like to give employees in the Assessor’s Office a wage increase. “They don’t get enough money, and they didn’t raise the money for two years, and this is wrong,” he said. “I can’t take money out of my pocket and pay them.” Parrish added that he would like to maintain the department’s standards and make sure property taxes do not go up by more than 2%.
Any Other Interesting Info:
Claude faced a workplace misconduct investigation during his time as assessor that found he violated gender discrimination and retaliation policies and harassed a subordinate over her medical disability. According to the assessor’s filings, Claude;
“Downplayed the employee’s chronic medical condition as a “tummy ache”
Shared her private medical information with coworkers
Regularly commented on her diet
Told her to stop taking her prescribed medication
Made her “drink baking soda mixed with tap water to ‘fix’ her medical condition””
In addition to the investigations into workplace ableism, the report, filed in 2023, found in favor of his employees’ complaints. Per the LAist, “It is more likely than not that Parrish routinely refers to male employees as ‘Mr.’ and female employees by their first name, based on their gender,” the investigation found. “The cumulative effect of Parrish's practice of using formal, deferential means of addressing men, while using informal, casual means of addressing women serves to highlight a subservient relationship between such employees, based on their sex.”
In the aftermath of the Tustin Hangar Fire (RIP that piece of Orange County History), Claude found himself in the midst of a small scandal, as he sent notices to 23,000 homeowners who were still dealing with pollution fears in the area, asking them to submit forms for to have the value of their homes re-evaluated, without communicating with the City of Tustin first. Per the LAist, “Tustin’s mayor, Austin Lumbard, lambasted the decision to send out the notices without notifying the city as it can cause ‘unnecessary alarm.’”
His most recent elected position prior to this was as a councilmember on the Lake Forest City Council, where he was recalled by a 49% margin in 2018 after multiple terms. The recall election only brought in 17.5% voter engagement. Supporters of the recall were displeased with his decision to increase residential zoning in the city.
Prior Positions / Experience:
Former Vice-Chairman of the State Board of Equalization, Third Equalization District
Served as a Los Angeles County Insurance Commissioner.
Appointed as Vice President of management by a large real estate trust where he was in charge of managing properties in excess of 450 million dollars.
Supervised the management of ABC’s Entertainment Center and West Coast Corporate Headquarters in Century City.
Held positions in management, finance and the securities industry.
A District Committeeman for the Los Angeles Area Council of Boy Scouts of America
Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Republican party
Corporate Controller of a securities firm.
Holds a degree in accounting and graduated from college Summa Cum Laude.
Claude highlights in his campaign media quotes from letters received from President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Governor George Deukmejian in 2014.
Social Media Links:
No presence on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
No presence on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
Endorsed by:
From campaign website:
Orange County Republican Party (Unanimous)
Howard Jarvis Tax Taxpayers Association
California Republican Assembly (Unanimous)
National Tax Limitation Committee (Unanimous)
Orange County Register
ATLAS Political Action Committee
35th Governor of California, George Deukmejian
Lieutenant Governor, Ed Reinecke, (retired) (served under Governor Reagan)
Law School Professor/Journalist, Hugh Hewitt
Congressman, Dana Rohrabacher
Congressman, Darrell Issa
Congressman, Tom McClintock
National Republican Committeeman for California, Shawn Steel
State Board of Equalization Member, Michelle Steel
State Board of Equalization Member, Bill Leonard, (retired)
State Senator, Mimi Walters
State Senator, Dick Ackerman, (retired)
State Assemblyman, Tim Donnelly
State Assemblyman, Don Wagner
State Assemblywoman, Diane Harkey
Orange County Clerk Recorder, Hugh Nguyen
Former Assessor candidate, Jorge O. Lopez
Other Endorsements - http://www.claudeparrish.com/endorsements/
Candidate in the News:
OC investigation found elected assessor treated women as subservient, harassed employee over her disability - LAist Mar 19, 2025
Gender Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation at OC Assessors Office - helmerfriedman - March 19, 2025
OC workforce housing program endangered by war between county assessor, developers - OC Register July 5, 2024
Public Voting Record:
Nothing found
Follow the Money: via the link
OC workforce housing program endangered by war between county assessor, developers - OC Register July 5, 2024
Claude has hired Lysa Ray for campaign consultant/management services. Ray is a Republican campaign consultant who has worked on the campaigns of a significant number of anti-LGBTQ+ candidates in Orange County.
Claude has paid approximately $130,000 in total to five different campaign literature organizations; Budget Watch dogs Newsletter (ID# 1345115), Cal Voter Newsletter (ID# 1468377), and Election Digest (ID# 1345303), and Voter Newsletter (ID# 1355767).
Claude is partially self-funding his campaign, with a loan of $5,000.
We also found donations from Claude to the 2024 campaigns of Janet Nguyen and Don Wagner, notably anti-LGBTQ+ local elected officials.
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*Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*
“JANET KEO CONKLIN AGE: 55
Councilwoman/Businesswoman
My family fled Cambodia in 1975 with nothing, seeking political asylum and opportunity in America. My father and brother, (Army, Veteran Foreign War), both patriots, defended our nation through military service. Today, I carry their legacy forward as a City Councilwoman, small business owner, realtor, veterans advocate, and mom. I keenly understand the needs of renters, homeowners and business-owners through my real estate broker experience and as Founder of La Palma's Chamber of Commerce.
On the city council, I champion public safety, economic development, transparency, and common-sense policies that keep our city thriving. As your Assessor, I'll ensure every homeowner and renter knows their rights. I'll guide families through Prop 13 and Prop 19 rules, helping them preserve their low tax bases and keep their homes. I'll protect vulnerable populations from unfair valuation spikes while expanding opportunities for middle-income families, younger buyers, and first-time homeowners. I'll modernize Assessor technology to make the office more efficient, saving taxpayers millions. I’ll also implement strict protocols safeguarding your personal data from breach & unauthorized access.
I'm running to bring fairness and transparency to property assessments—helping families make their American Dream a reality. Join me. Learn more at janetforassessor.com. Contact me at janet4assessor@gmail.com. 714-595-1096”
Email: janet4assessor@gmail.com
Campaign Website: https://www.janetforassessor.com/
Janet leads her website with the following priorities; “Fair Assessments. Clear Guidance. Accountability.”
Any Other Interesting Info:
Prior Experience:
Councilmember, City of La Palma. There have not been any LGBTQ+ related items on the city council agendas for La Palma as far as we could find.
Secretary/Treasurer of the Women’s Caucus in League of California Cities for 2024-2025
Business Owner - Licensed Real Estate Broker - Self-employed
Community Advocate
Education:
UC Irvine - Bachelor of Arts - BA, Political Science, Government, Policy, and International Economics
Social Media Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetkeoconklin4assessor / https://www.instagram.com/janetkeoconklin/ (private)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janet.keoconklin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/janet4assessor / https://twitter.com/JanetKeoConklin
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@janetKeoConklin
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@janetkeoconklin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetconklin/
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
Twitter (campaign account)
City of Irvine @City_of_Irvine
Teamsters @Teamsters
City of Laguna Beach @lagunabeachgov
City of Santa Ana @CityofSantaAna
City of Tustin @CityofTustin
Great Park @yourgreatpark
Orange Police Department (California) @CityOfOrangePD
NAR Research @NAR_Research
OCFA @OCFireAuthority
Irvine Police Department @IrvinePolice
City of Huntington Beach @CityofHBPIO
OC Fire Watch @OCFireWatch
City of Costa Mesa @CityofCostaMesa
Voice of OC @VoiceofOC
CA ASSN OF REALTORS® @CAREALTORS
National Association of REALTORS® @nardotrealtor
OC Parks @OCParks
Twitter (personal account)
Michael Trujillo @mikehtrujillo
Janet for Assessor @janet4assessor
Asm Phil Ting @AsmPhilTing
City of La Palma @CityofLaPalma
Lorelei Lachman @LoreleiLachman
Elon Musk @elonmusk
Real Estate Law @LegalRealEstate
Luxury Real Estate @propgoluxury
Instagram (campaign account)
loscerritosdems Los Cerritos Democratic Club of LA—OC
vfw7243hawaiiangardens VFW Post 7243 Hawaiian Gardens
ivcdems Irvine Valley College Democrats
ocgov County of Orange
stephanieoddoforlagunaniguel Stephanie Oddo, Laguna Niguel Council Member
joni_ricks_oddie Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie
vietdems Vietnamese American Democratic Club
katieliaa 𝒦𝒶̨𝓉𝒾𝑒̨ ꫂ ၴႅၴ
charliechenyl Charlie Chen
michaeljluellen Michael Luellen II
councilmemberbettymartinez Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco
ngpcalifornia Next Gen Politics California.
ochttf Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force
alisonigueldemocraticclub Aliso Niguel Democratic Club
democraticwomenofsouthoc Democratic Women of South Orange County
liu4irvine Melinda Liu
lacassessor Assessor Jeff Prang
emmy_donnelly15 ᓚᘏᗢ mêœw
voteryanpham Ryan H. Pham
fullertoncollegedems Fullerton College Democrats
democraticpartyofoc Democratic Party of OC
votedanrocha Dan Rocha
votearestegui Ariana Arestegui
votehelentran Helen Tran
coalitionpac Coalition PAC
democraticclubofseal Democratic Club of Seal Beach
nbwdc NBWDC
giovannichavezoc Giovanni Chavez
davemin_ca Dave Min
missenergyhealer Janice Joy
chrisduncanca Chris Duncan
demsofnoc Democrats of North OC (DNOC)
councilwoman_janetkconklin
collegedems.uci College Democrats at UCI
fionamacpa Fiona Ma
letitiacclark Dr. Letitia Clark
occ_dems College Democrats at OCC
george1ely Councilman Jorge Herrera Ávila
official.g.d.new.win 阮杜福 - G Nguyen
frank_yokoyama Frank Aurelio Yokoyama
pulidoforassembly Mayor Pro Tem Mark E. Pulido
cahsdems California High School Democrats
thomaswongsgv Thomas Wong
tsorey Therese Sorey
ryanhpham Ryan Pham
adino291 Arnel Dino
Instagram (personal account) following 424
Candidate’s Public Comments:
Nothing significant found beyond campaign messaging and general platitudes
Endorsed by:
According to the list at https://www.janetforassessor.com/endorsements, Conklin is endorsed by:
Derek Tran
Fiona Ma
Bob Archuleta
Victor Sarmiento
Sharon Quirk Silva
Frank Aurelio Yokoyama
Joyce Ahn
Letitia Clark
Chris Duncan
Leo Medrano
Connor Traut
David Penaloza
Ariana Arestegui
Carlos Fracno
Natalie Rubalcalva
Candidate in the News:
La Palma Mayor prompts pause after Council member questions reasons for lack of transparency - Jan 30, 2025 - event-newsenterprise.com
“If you don’t fall in line, they’re going to find ways to write a new rule book to control your behavior so they don’t want transparency or accountability,” said Keo Conklin.
Public Voting Record:
No voting results found related to Trans, LGBTQ, Pride, etc. topics
Plenty of results for normal City business
Follow the Money: via the link
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ca/candidate/janet-k-conklin/
$3,950 Total Contributions / $2,250 Total Expenditures
Top contributors:
$2,000.00 Political Reporting Plus
$1,000.00 Acellent Plus LLC(ethan Huynh)
Campaign Disclosure info - https://netfile.com/corp/#public-data?savedSearchId=WuIAg
Details from prior Senate runs: https://cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Candidates/Detail.aspx?id=1477623
Superintendent of Public Instruction
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees the rules for all California schools and decides what students are taught in their classrooms. They can support queer students by making sure they see themselves in their school books and can use the right names and bathrooms, but they could also cause harm by removing inclusive lessons or allowing rules that take away a student's privacy.
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*Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide
***PRIDE AT THE PIER CONTENT WARNING:
THIS ELECTION GUIDE FOR SONJA SHAW 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:
“California's public schools are failing our children. Fewer than half can read or write at grade level. Girls' sports are under attack, with female athletes losing medals and scholarships. Many even change in their cars before practice because they feel unsafe in locker rooms. This is unacceptable. As a mother of two daughters, I was elected President of the Chino Valley Unified School Board because parents demanded change. We delivered. When I took office in 2022, our district faced the same problems seen across California: poor grades, declining test scores, political distractions in classrooms, and girls losing fairness and privacy. We chose a different path. We refocused on reading, writing, and math. Protected girls' sports and private spaces. Cut bureaucracy. Directed resources back into classrooms, where they belong. The results were undeniable. Student outcomes improved, and independent research recognized our district as a model for post-COVID academic recovery. That success didn't come from Sacramento mandates. It came from parents who linked arms and stood up for common sense. As State Superintendent, I will bring that same leadership statewide. I will be an independent advocate for students and families, not political insiders. My plan is simple: restore high academic standards in reading, writing, and math; protect Title IX, ensuring fairness and safety for girls; give parents a real seat at the table; support excellent teachers; and cut wasteful bureaucracy. The blueprint exists at the local level. We've proven it works. Let's deliver results for every California student. Learn more at ShawForCA.com.
6939 Schaefer Avenue, Suite D #119Chino, CA 91710Tel: (949) 495-1310E-mail: info@shawforca.comX: @realSonjaShawInstagram: @SonjaShaw2026 “
Email: info@shawforca.com
Campaign Website: https://shawforca.com/
Shaw’s website leads with “Fix Our Schools. Protect Our Kids.”
Under “issues” on her website, she lists the following;
Protect Our Daughters
Fix Our Schools
Put Families First
Under the “Protect Our Daughters” section, she goes on to say; “Policies allowing boys to undress in girls' locker rooms and play on their sports teams undermine fairness and safety. Our daughters deserve to compete on equal terms, not lose opportunities to biological males. They should feel secure in private spaces, not exposed by decisions made without parental consent. Sacramento's disregard for families fuels this injustice, prioritizing ideology over common sense. Classrooms are becoming battlegrounds for radical agendas, pushing divisive content that overshadows core education. Proven leadership has already restored balance in local districts. California's schools need this approach statewide to safeguard girls' opportunities, prioritize parental rights, and ensure education focuses on learning, not politics.”
***Pride at the Pier note - transgender athletes in CA (of which there are very few, hardly enough to fill a single classroom) - are not undressing in girls’ locker rooms with other girls. This is a fearmongering tactic and misrepresents the reality that transgender students are in greater danger of being harmed than they are of harming others.
Any Other Interesting Info:
Sonja Shaw is a proud, documented anti-LGBTQ+ activist who has an extremely long record of standing with transphobic and homophobic extremists. She has participated in the doxxing and stalking of transgender youth, and has run her entire campaign, as well as her time as president of the Chino Valley Unified School District, as a transphobe who seeks to make schools less inclusive of queer youth. This is not a biased or partisan take - it’s something she’s proud of.
Social Media Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SonjaShaw2026
Twitter: https://twitter.com/realSonjaShaw
On Instagram and Twitter, she often collaborates with anti-trans activists across the region to encourage the harassment of transgender youth. As recently as May 4th, she posted an event advertisement from an anti-trans group encouraging people to attend a high school sporting event in Orange County in order to harass and bully the single transgender athlete expected to be there. We will not be sharing that post as we don’t want to make it any easier to locate and doxx this child, but it is on her Instagram.
She published a video post on April 27 with Anti-Trans extremist “Billboard Chris” Elston. She said, “California politicians are pushing misguided and dangerous gender ideology on our kids. I am a mom running for State Superintendent here in California to protect our sons and daughters.” She then turned the camera to Chris, who said, “Hi everybody, I’m Chris, from the lovely communist country of Canada, and I travel the world raising awareness of what is undoubtedly the greatest child abuse scandal in modern medicine history. The practice of trying to change the sex of children with puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries, and I can tell you, of all the amazing people I have met world-wide, number one in America is right here, Sonja Shaw. No one will fight harder to protect your kids than this woman.”
She collaborated on a post with Christian Nationalist organization Salt and Light OC, a selfie video with Moms For Liberty. There was a peaceful protest held outside of the event. Sonja, filming in selfie mode, exited the building to confront the protesters, where she smiled sarcastically and said, ‘Yay! Look at my new friends! (...) This is what we have to deal with in California.” As the crowd chanted “Trans Rights are Human Rights”, she continued, referring to the protesters, “They tell kids they’re born in the wrong body! We tell them that they are beautiful the way they were made.” A man holding a sign that said “Trans Rights are Human Rights | Diversity is the one thing we ALL have in common” said something inaudible on the camera to Sonja, and she replied to him, “Yeah, we know you’re focused on the children! And you shouldn’t be, sir! (....) The tolerant, loving crew… Why don’t you tell everyone why you hate us so much? Why do you hate moms?” she asked the man with the sign, who introduced himself as Cameron Tennyson, and that he is running for Congress. She asked him why he was there, and he said because he believed kids should be free - she interjected and said, “Free to be what? So you can cut off healthy body parts and it's okay?” He said that wasn’t up to him. She later went back inside, saying, “This is the craziness. This is why we fight so hard, because THEY want to be in charge of YOUR children. Right? No. We say no. Over our dead bodies. They are freaking psychos. No offense, but I mean, come on. THAT (referring to the protesters and Cameron Tennyson) wants to take over and be in charge of parents’ rights? This is what we’re dealing with, guys, wake up California! It’s not radical to be a mother or father here! It’s radical what they’re doing to kids!”
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: (This is a small cross-section of a much longer list)
Kelly Felton, anti-trans activist out of Tustin USD
California Family Council, an anti-trans and anti-public education conservative thinktank
Joseph Komrosky, school board trustee out of Temecula Valley USD who sought to remove Harvey Milk from school history book curriculums, calling Milk a pedophile
Beth Bourne, a dangerous anti-trans activist who doxxes children
Salt and Light OC, a Christian Nationalist organization in Orange County
Patty Cabada, an anti-trans activist who supported the HB Book Ban efforts
Assemblyman David Tangipa, who is proudly anti-LGBTQ+
Manuk Grigoryan, anti-trans extremist who runs the SoCal based “Leave Our Kids Alone” hate group
Tish Hyman, LA Mayoral candidate who promised to ‘get rid of’ trans people in LA if she wins
Michael Gates, fmr. Huntington Beach city attorney, who lost his job with the Trump DOJ after complaints from his colleagues that he created a hostile work environment for women
Chloe Cole, radical anti-trans activist
Candidate’s Public Comments:
The mother of a transgender athlete sent Sonja Shaw a cease and desist letter after Shaw repeatedly doxxed her child from a public platform. Shaw ripped this letter up on camera on the dais during a CVUSD board meeting in March of 2025, saying, “...a boy is stealing these opportunities from girls, because that’s the truth. If you don’t like it, I’m sorry, I also have first amendment rights, and I will never shut up in regards to that, so this cease and desist? (At this point she held up the letter and ripped it in half.) That’s how I feel about that, cease and desist.”
In April of 2024, she challenged the sole member of the CVUSD board who did not join her efforts to harass trans students, saying during a meeting, “These are girls, and until this day - Mr. Bridge, can you answer a question? Are you okay with a twelve-year-old seeing male’s penis in the bathroom? Are you okay with a male going on a girl’s softball team and taking away those opportunities for that girl? So just because you may have not heard it, it does happen here. Do the right thing.”
****Note from Pride at the Pier: In case it needs to be spelled out, if you’re seeing the genitalia of other people in the bathroom, you’re the one violating the privacy of other people. Additionally, there have not been any verified reports of trans students in California (of any gender) willfully exposing themselves to their peers. This is a fear-mongering tactic that is not rooted in any truth.
Shaw had current Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond thrown out of a CVUSD meeting by police after he came to defend the rights and dignity of trans students in the district. On the agenda - forced outing policies, requiring teachers to out any trans student to their parents or face discipline, regardless of the students’ consent. As the chaos was unfolding, Shaw said to Thurmond, “You’re in Sacramento proposing things that pervert children.”
Endorsed by: (This is an incomplete list, a cross-section. Click the link for the full list.)
Chad Bianco
Steve Hilton
Riley Gaines (anti-trans activist and far-right commentator)
Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association
Moms for Liberty
Reform California
Ken Calvert, CA legislator
Leticia Castillo, CA legislator
Diane Dixon, CA legislator
Laurie Davies, CA legislator
Bill Essayli, fmr. CA legislator and current Trump DOJ US Attorney in LA
Kate Sanchez, CA legislator who pushed to ban trans girls from CA sports
Don Wagner, OC Supervisor who voted to ban the Pride Flag
Tony Strickland, CA Legislator and fmr. HB City Councilman who voted to ban the Pride Flag
Dr. Ryan Bent, NOCCCSD Trustee who attended an anti-trans walkout at an OC school in 2025
Corey A. DeAngelis, popular Christian Nationalist figure
Michael Gates, fmr. HB City Attorney who was removed from his position in the Trump DOJ after complaints that he created a hostile work environment for women
Sophia Lorey, anti-trans activist and paid consultant at the CA Family Council
Jessica Tapia, anti-trans activist
Leandra Blades, PYLUSD Trustee who has repeatedly pushed anti-LGBTQ agenda items, as well as a school board resolution to support ICE and DHS
Brenda Lebsack, SAUSD Trustee who tried to remove suicide hotline signs from Santa Ana schools because the hotline worked with the Trevor Project
Candidate in the News:
Sonja Shaw Working to Restore Opening Prayers to Board Meetings
The next generation of Trump-inspired showmen are in Riverside County, California
Chino Valley school board challenges injunction barring prayer at its meetings
Righteous mother or right-wing zealot? The soccer mom leading California’s parental rights movement
California school board battles over LGBTQ+ rights intensify after transgender vote in Chino
How conservatives are waging a coordinated, anti-LGBTQ+ culture war in California schools
Conservative school board kicks out State Superintendent Tony Thurmond from meeting
Back to school: California Republicans bet big on local board races
Public Voting Record:
Shaw was a key witness in the committee hearing opposing AB 1578, which would require local and state officials to take regular anti-hate speech training. Her argument against it was that she wanted to continue to perpetuate anti-trans hate speech, and argued that said anti-trans hate speech wasn’t actually hate speech at all.
Shaw was a key witness in the committee hearing AB 1955, which would prevent school districts from requiring teachers to forcibly out students. Her argument was that this was a violation of parents’ rights.
Shaw’s time as president of the Chino Valley USD has been filled with a number of significant anti-LGBTQ+ agenda items, including book bans, forced outing policies, and policies against the equitable access for trans students in the district. She’s also been involved in a number of lawsuits against the state of California for these matters, which have required votes to go through the school board to initiate.
Follow the Money: Shaw appears to have not filed her recent campaign finances, as we have very little reported filings for this current campaign available to us, outside of;
$9,800 from the Supporters of Chad Bianco for Sheriff-Coroner 2028
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*Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*
Campaign Statement:
It is an honor to serve as State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond's Senior Advisor, and to be endorsed by the California Teachers Association (CTA), representing 300,000+ classroom teachers, nurses, counselors and educators. California Teachers of the Year Tammy Reina and Zenaida Rosario: "We trust Richard to fight for our students and educators. He has delivered for 18 years!" As President of San Diego Unified School District, the state's 2nd largest, I transformed a district in crisis into a national model of success. Among all large urban districts, we now rank Number 1 in Reading and Math on "The Nation's Report Card." In California, we're First in Reading, Math, Science, Graduation Rates and College/Career readiness. We've achieved success by cutting waste and bureaucracy, and investing directly in our students, families and educators. I successfully asked voters 4 times to replace 60 year old buildings with state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable schools. We increased educator salaries by 40%, provided full family healthcare and created thousands of affordable homes for our families and educators. I've fought to protect students from the heartless Trump administration: keeping ICE out of our schools, standing up for LGBTQ students, and testifying before Congress against Trump's drastic cuts to education. I am endorsed by those most responsible for student success—from the classroom teachers of CTA to the school principals of United Administrators of Southern California, and Cindy Marten, President Biden's Deputy Secretary of Education. Current Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond: "Richard Barrera's track record of student success is unmatched. That's why I asked him to join us at the California Department of Education. That's why I support him in this election." BarreraforEdu.com
Email: rbcoi@yahoo.com
Campaign Website: https://www.barreraforedu.com/
Priorities from campaign website:
Build a Strong, Sustainable Teacher Pipeline
Expanding early childhood education
Secure, sustainable funding for stronger schools
Empowering communities to find their schools - because our kids can’t wait
Making housing affordable for educators
Building schools where every student belongs
Prioritizing mental health in every school
Delivering equity: Real opportunities for every student
Other Interesting Info:
Richard has served on the San Diego Board of Education since 2008.
As a board member of the San Diego BOE, he has asserted that the district will continue to move forward with ethnic studies requirements, even as Gov. Newsom’s office has withheld the funds associated with the law requirement for those studies.
Berrara is supportive of charter schools, but expresses that there must be greater regulations on the industry than currently exists, to avoid a “Wild West” of charters.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577254612647
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardbarrera2026
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-barrera-2079723a9/
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
CA Democrats
Equality CA
San Diego Building Trades
Our Schools USA & Capo USD
Stone Wall Dems
SF League of Pissed Off Voters
San Diego Youth Services
ACLU NorCal
1st Gen Scholars
Jewish Family Services San Diego
The Cesar Chavez Foundation
CA Teachers Association
United We Dream
Feeding San Diego
Tony Thurmond
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
CA Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
CA Legislative Women’s Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus
Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club
NAACP San Diego
Candidate’s Public Comments: (The following are taken from interviews with Barrera conducted by news agencies; find these links below)
‘Like the other candidates, Barrera opposes Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to restructure the California Department of Education under a governor-appointed education commissioner. The state superintendent would no longer manage the department. “It’s undemocratic to take responsibility and authority away from the person that the voters are electing to improve schools,” Barrera said. “In practical terms, there is no reason to assume a governor would do a better job at appointing the people to run CDE than a state superintendent would.”’
When asked about how he would manage engagement with the Trump administration, which has been antagonistic to LGBTQ+ students, “My track record at San Diego Unified, going back to the first Trump administration, has been to help lead the way to protect all of our students, whether that’s our immigrant students or LGBTQ students. We’ve put policies in place, strategies in place and connected families to community-based resources to push back at that. The president of the United States is choosing to act in an unlawful way and in a way that picks on certain groups of people, to advance his own political agenda, and there’s no room for putting our head down and hoping, “Well, if we just go along with a little bit of it, maybe we won’t be targets.” There’s just no room for that. You’ve got to stand up. We’ve got to fight back in every way possible, including in court. The fact that Trump is using federal education resources as leverage to try to get both the state and local school districts to capitulate to his agenda is all the more reason for us to go and raise that revenue ourselves. The people in this state who are going to benefit from his tax cuts have a responsibility also to make sure that we’ve got the resources we need so that we’re not vulnerable to his threats. We should make sure that we’ve got, you know, the resources ourselves so that we can’t be held hostage. But we should go further and say, and by the way, the federal government should be doing a lot more than it ever has. The federal government has always under invested in education. Special education is the perfect example. The kind of investment we saw during COVID, that was the investment we always needed for schools.”
When asked about AI, he replied, “I think the real question is, is the use of AI in writing dumbing things down to the point where students are becoming poorer writers and thinkers because they’re relying on a machine to do that for them? … Or is it something that’s assisting with the grinding grunt work of writing that allows you to get more depth? (...) My guess is these particular tools could go either way and probably do go either way.”
When asked how he would serve vulnerable populations, he said, “California has to protect students in ways that are real at the school level. In San Diego Unified, we treat immigration enforcement as a student safety and trust issue. We train staff, protect student privacy and keep campuses focused on learning so families stay connected to schools. That should be the statewide standard. For LGBTQ+ students, the state should insist on safe school climates and enforce nondiscrimination protections consistently. For students with disabilities, the law is clear: Services are not optional, and districts need both oversight and support to deliver them. When the federal government threatens to withhold funding from our schools unless we abandon protections for students, I will challenge unlawful actions and make sure districts do not retreat out of fear. The state’s job is to make sure students are safe, included and able to learn.”
‘Richard Barrera, vice president of SDUSD’s Board of Education, argued that the recent raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at South Park’s Buona Forchetta, located a block and a half away from a district school, was an “attempt to strike fear into the hearts of (SDUSD) families.” He described how parents were forced to pick up their students from the back of the school in order to shield them from what was happening nearby. “We don’t ignore the reality that when the federal government decides it no longer is going to have schools under safe haven status, what that does is provokes fear in our communities,” Barrera said. Barrera added that the district will never ask students and families about their immigration status or allow immigration officials to enter the district’s campuses or access student records without a federal judicial warrant.’ source
Endorsed by (click link for full list):
Current California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond
Congressman, Juan Vargas
State Senator, Art Torres (Ret)
Former LA Unified Board President, Former Member of the Assembly, Jackie Goldberg
Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Terra Lawson-Remer
Los Angeles Unified School Board Trustee, Rocio Rivas
Vista Unified School Board Member Cipriano Vargas
San Diego Community College Board Trustee, Craig Milgrim
Deputy Secretary of Education, Former SD Unified Superintendent, Cindy Marten
(UASC) United Administrators Southern California
California Teachers Association (CTA)
United Domestic Workers (UDW)
Administrator’s Association of San Diego
San Diego Building Trades Council
San Diego Unified Police Officers Association
United Taxi Workers of San Diego
Candidate in the News:
EdSource: Labor unions splits among Dem candidates for State Supe
During federal anti-immigrant crackdown, San Diego schools affirm student protections
What Reforms Did SDU Implement Under Barrera and What Were the Outcomes?
The man who shaped the workers' revolution at San Diego Unified
Fact Check: San Diego Unified's Bragging Rights on Dropout Rates
$19,800.00 from United Domestic Workers of America Action Fund
$19,600.00 from California Teachers Association/association for Better Citizenship
$7,259.83 from Van Pelt Construction Services
$3,588.19 from Architects Mosher Drew
$2,500.00 from Sheet Metal Workers Local 206 PAC
$2,500.00 from Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation
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.
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*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:
California v. Trump (Birthright Citizenship): Sued to block the Executive Order ending birthright citizenship; the case is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court (Trump v. Barbara).
Newsom v. Trump (National Guard): Successfully blocked the federalization and deployment of the California National Guard for civilian law enforcement.
California v. Trump (DOGE Data Access): Led a coalition to prevent the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing private state-held data (SSNs and bank info).
California v. Dept. of Education (Teacher Grants): Secured an order restoring $600 million in federal grants for teacher training and student mental health.
California v. HUD (Housing Discrimination): Challenged federal rules that penalized states for inclusive housing policies and gender identity protections.
California v. EPA (Vehicle Emissions): Sued to stop the repeal of the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, which protects state tailpipe standards.
State of California v. Wright (Clean Energy): Filed to recover $1.2 billion in hydrogen hub (ARCHES) funding canceled by the Department of Energy.
California v. DOE (Sable Pipelines): Suing to block federal use of the Defense Production Act to restart oil pipelines in Santa Barbara against state safety laws.
Oregon et al. v. Trump (Tariff Challenge): Co-leading a 24-state suit against the 10% universal tariffs, arguing they are an illegal tax on consumers.
Massachusetts v. USDA (SNAP Conditions): Blocking federal attempts to tie food assistance (SNAP) funding to discriminatory state policy changes.
Pennsylvania et al. v. Trump (Voting Rights): Challenging an Executive Order that attempts to restrict mail-in voting and interfere with state-run election authority.
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:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobBonta
Campaign Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robbonta
Campaign Twitter: https://x.com/robbonta
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
(Twitter) Dave Min
(Twitter) CA Assembly Democrats
(Twitter) Brett Meiselas (Co-Founder of Meidas Touch)
(Twitter) Brady PAC (Gun Violence Prevention PAC)
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)
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:
California LGBTQ community still worried for transgender youth
California, other states sue over Trump administration’s latest cuts to HIV programs
California AG Highlights Increase in Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Crimes in New Report
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, California AG Rob Bonta receive awards from Victory Fund
Attorney General Rob Bonta Adds Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming To State Travel Ban
CA attorney general slams conditions at California’s largest ICE detention facility
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
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*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:
On his website, Gates talks about his experience defending police officers in court while serving as the city attorney for Huntington Beach (2014-2025). These cases against HBPD are often on the topic of police misconduct - you can read a bit more about these cases here, on the website of one of the prosecuting attorneys that has been involved in challenging HBPD in these cases.
When Gates left his role as Huntington Beach City Attorney, his salary was over $300,000 a year - higher even than the salary of the City Attorney of Los Angeles, a much larger city.
During his time as Huntington Beach City Attorney, Gates built a reputation for pursuing lawsuits on behalf of the city at a higher rate than the average city attorney, and with lawsuits that were blatantly partisan. A number of these lawsuits panned out poorly for various reasons, causing Gates’ reputation even amongst conservatives in the city to drop. A small sample of these lawsuits can be found here:
Huntington Beach releases details of lucrative settlement with Pacific Airshow operator
Huntington Beach ordered to pay $1M in legal fees for censoring library books
US Supreme Court Goes Dark on Huntington Beach’s Housing Battle Against Sacramento
Huntington Beach Continues to Lose Lawsuits Arguing Charter City Rights
Huntington Beach asks Ninth Circuit to revive challenge to California 'forced outing' ban
Gates is an ardent supporter of Voter ID laws and has spoken in support of the voter fraud conspiracy theories. His work as the Huntington Beach City Attorney was heavily involved with these efforts.
Gates has repeatedly promoted misinformation about transgender issues, especially gender affirming care, inclusivity in schools, and trans athletes.
Gates was one of a number of elected officials in Orange County who joined the pile-on of Olympic athlete Imane Khelif after she was wrongfully accused of being a transgender woman, prompting an anti-trans panic. Gates, to this day, asserts without evidence that Khelif is a transgender woman and that the entire Olympic committee is keeping that a secret from the world.
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:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-e-gates-6b05308a/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael.e.gates/
Twitter: https://x.com/MichaelGatesESQ
Facebook: Gates does have a Facebook, but this researcher has been blocked by him.
Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:
Tito Ortiz: MAGA, UFC Fighter, short stint as Mayor of HB.
David Tangipa: CA Assemblymember and anti-trans activist
Dana Rohrabacher: Fmr. Congressman, MAGA
Basilico’s HB: Openly fascist Italian restaurant in HB
***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:
Former Huntington Beach City Atty. Michael Gates says claims of DOJ firing are false
Huntington Beach’s Michael Gates announces bid for California attorney general
Trump Administration Chooses a Critic of California Elections to Monitor Them
Michael Gates is back, and so is Huntington Beach’s losing streak
Huntington Beach MAGAs want to take their revolution to Sacramento
Your guide to the California attorney general race: Rob Bonta vs. Michael Gates
Michael Gates, California attorney general candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire
Public Voting Record:
Not applicable
$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.
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*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)
(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)
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.”
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:
California’s race for secretary of state shows partisan divide over how to count ballots
California made it easier to vote, but some with disabilities still face barriers
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
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*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.”
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:
Don Wagner, California secretary of state candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire
O.C. Supervisors deem Pride flag ‘divisive,’ ban it from display on county property
Orange County sheriff blasts state sanctuary law but says deputies won’t do immigration enforcement
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.
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*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
“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:
Californians for Safety and Justice (“We advocate for community based solutions that make California safer.)
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:
California treasurer Fiona Ma tied to Chinese school cited in scathing audit - POLITICO
“The audit did not accuse Ma of wrongdoing.” Article from Politico - generally seen as left-leaning
Fiona Ma took money from Chinese school CEO probed for fraud
“Ma, who is running for lieutenant governor, has accepted more than $30,000 from Steven Ma, the founder of a $34,000-per-year, Qingdao-based boarding school under investigation for allegedly churning out bogus California diplomas for well-connected Chinese students.” Article from NY Post - Generally seen as heavily right-leaning
Fiona Ma, California lieutenant governor candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire
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
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*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:
Her Twitter account contains a number of negative posts about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, which isn’t overtly related to CA politics, but there were enough of them that we found it worth noting.
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
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:
Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero announces run for lieutenant governor
Gloria Romero, California lieutenant governor candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire
(Opinion Piece) Why a Former Democrat Stumped for Trump in Coachella
(Opinion Piece by Romero) I’m a true-blue Democrat — but I’ve joined the GOP and back Donald Trump
In their words: Fiona Ma v. Josh Fryday v. Michael Tubbs v. Gloria Romero. We asked. They answered.
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.
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*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)
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:
Your guide to the California state treasurer race: Who will replace Fiona Ma?
Lt. Governor Kounalakis Establishes Transgender Advisory Council
Newsom Signs Bill To Ensure Trans, Nonbinary Students’ Diplomas Reflect Identities
(Right-leaning Opinion Piece) Another First from California: the Nation’s First Transgender Voting Place
SF leaders wear Pride on their sleeves at flag raising event
The California Lt. Gov who could soon end up in the U.S. Senate
(Endorsement from SF Chronicle) Eleni Kounalakis for California treasurer
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
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*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 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:
“Jennifer Hawks, California Treasurer Candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire”
Jennifer Hawks, California treasurer candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire
In the six-way race to be California’s treasurer, it likely comes down to two Democrats
Public Voting Record:
None found, as Hawks has never served in an elected capacity before.
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