2026

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

Silverado

Orange Unified School District

  • Orange USD School Board Area 1 Trustee Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “ANDREA YAMASAKI | Governing Board Member, Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 1

    Orange Unified parents and our community deserve leaders with an extensive history of actual service in our schools and beyond, a proven track record as a capable leader, and the best interests of students as their priority. As your current Governing Board Member of Trustee Area 1, I have all these qualities, that is why I am endorsed by our classroom teachers, as well as hundreds of parents and community members. 

    My service to this district started decades ago. As a parent of three OUSD children, I volunteered tutoring students and facilitating school-wide  programs. I then expanded my responsibilities to include leadership; serving as PTA President at El Rancho Charter School and Canyon High School, and as a board member for many parent groups and booster clubs. My commitment to making OUSD better for every child, not just my own, led me to co-found C.A.R.E., the parent-led grassroots effort that helped pass Measure S, providing critical repairs and upgrades for our high school campuses.

    Now that the high school projects are nearly completed, it is time to refocus on the elementary campuses. Fiscal responsibility enabled Orange Unified to fund $40 million in elementary campus improvements this year. Investments in our facilities are investments in our students and community. 

    The progress our district has made the past two years towards making OUSD  the district of excellence our students deserve has been remarkable, I am grateful to be part of it. Our test scores  are climbing, graduation rates are one of the best in the county and multiple systems have been implemented to further support students to continue these improvements.

    My priorities:

    • Fiscal responsibility: ensuring your tax dollars are spent transparently and deliver visible results in classrooms. 

    • Student safety and well-being: strengthening policies that protect students.

    • Academic opportunities: maintaining and expanding a variety of academic programs to serve students’ interests and needs, from Advanced Placement to Career Training.

    I know the importance of listening to and building relationships with parents and community partners, and I stay involved and engaged. I serve on the board of multiple school-site Foundations, the Orange County School Boards Association, and serve as president of the state-wide Asian Pacific Islander School Board Members Association. I am readily accessible to our students, staff and families, often visiting school sites and participating in school events. 

    I respectfully ask for your vote to keep experienced, accountable leadership on the Orange Unified School Board, leadership grounded in community service, responsible stewardship, and an unwavering commitment to student success.

    www.yamasaki4ousdschools.com”


    Email: yamasaki4ousdschools@gmail.com 


    Campaign Website: http://www.yamasaki4ousdschools.com/

    Her campaign website leads with the following descriptions of Andrea, “Proven Leadership

    Extensive History of Service, Parent & Community Advocate, A Voice You Can Trust”.

    Priorities: 

    • Fiscal responsibility: ensuring your tax dollars are spent transparently and deliver visible results in classrooms. 

    • Student safety and well-being: strengthening policies that protect students.

    • Academic opportunities: maintaining and expanding a variety of academic programs to serve students’ interests and needs, from Advanced Placement to Career Training.


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Yamasaki is the incumbent in this seat, having been first elected in 2016. She is the first Asian trustee to be elected to the OUSD Board, which was established in 1953. Source

    • In 2024, Andrea partnered with Pride at the Pier at one of our “Good Faith Conversation” panel series. This series brought transgender panelists, as well as occasional cisgender community leaders, together in panels at local Orange County faith congregations to provide a space for gentle conversations about transgender people’s lived experiences for OC community members who were interested in better understanding and advocating. Andrea was invited to this panel as a school board member with specific experience and LGBTQ+ ally. She declined to be paid for this work and redirected the offered speaking compensation back into the organization to be used elsewhere. She was the only panelist who was not compensated.

    • She is a board member of S.T.A.R.S. Foundation, a school foundation 501(c)(3) supporting Running Springs Academy.

    • She is the Board President of the Asian Pacific Islander School Board Members Association, which describes itself this way; “APISBMA empowers school board members to address the diverse needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students.” Initiatives of the organization include focuses on Ethnic Studies, Federal Policy, Mentorship, Representation, and addressing Discrimination. Source

    • Andrea volunteered with the Girls Scouts between 2000 and 2017. Source 


    Social Media Links: 

    On her trustee instagram in November 2025, she posted positively about a Dia De Los Muertos event put on by the students at an OUSD school. Since the post includes the faces of minors, we won’t be linking that here. 

    In Feb 2023, she retweeted a post from Tony Thurmond, saying, “Great to see State Superintendent Tony Thurmond this morning!  I’m always impressed with his support of education!” Thurmond’s term as CA Superintendent of Public Instruction has been one of open advocacy for LGBTQ+ students, especially in defiance of forced outing policies like the one passed in OUSD in 2023. He has been a favorite target of anti-LGBTQ extremists as a result of these stances. 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • She has a “message from Andrea” on her campaign website, where she says in part, “I have seen our Board go through triumphs and turbulent times. For me, this has never been about politics, and frankly, I believe culture wars and special interest groups do not have a place in the Boardroom.  Good governance, respectful conversations and good‑faith discourse are the keys to building trust in the Boardroom.” source

    • In the aftermath of the OUSD board vote to approve a forced outing policy in 2023 and the violence that exploded in the board room from anti-LGBTQ+ extremist factions, Trustees Erickson, Yamasaki and Page (who all voted in opposition) issued a joint statement. In part, it said, “By bringing culture wars into Orange Unified, the Ledesma majority has invited the most radical elements into our district, OUR home. We can only imagine how difficult it is for our LGBTQ youth to exist in this toxic and hateful environment where politicians are exploiting their very existence to score political points. The policy's five-day forced outing is arbitrary and cruel and has no basis in good mental health practice. We provide no ongoing support for these students and families that we inject ourselves into – on our timeline, not theirs – to confront a sensitive and nuanced issue they may not be ready to deal with. This will force young people back into the closet to deal with difficult issues alone. It’s shameful.”  source

    • During the August 2023 OUSD meeting where forced outing policies were first being debated, Yamasaki asked Trustee Rick Ledesma (who had placed the item on the meeting agenda), “So, I want to find out - who authored this policy? Did you write it, or were you told to present it?” This question was extremely relevant, as it’s a well known fact that a network of major anti-LGBTQ organizations had contributed to author the policy and were openly shopping it to interested school board trustees across California, starting with Sonja Shaw in Chino Valley USD, who has openly acknowledged that she was their willing “guinea pig” for the policy. Rick paused and replied, “Um - I’m not here to debate any questions you have, I’m - you’re here to speak, I’m here to speak, uh -” Andrea interrupted him, saying, “I thought - we are supposed to deliberate, tonight’s about deliberation.” Rick replied, “We’re not voting on anything. We’re not voting on anything, Trustee Yamasaki, so - you can question away, but I choose not to answer, because I don’t answer to you.” Rick never did confirm or deny if he was given the policy by parties outside of OUSD to place on the agenda, and was recalled in 2024. source

    • Yamasaki responded to the OC Register’s candidate questionnaire:

      • Question: What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them?

      • Answer: “Our school district is on a positive trajectory with strong leadership in place. Our test scores are improving, and our graduation rates are high. We have invested in our facilities. We are offering more academic and extracurricular opportunities such as Career Technical Education, extended learning/afterschool programs, and JROTC programs. I would like to expand on that by making sure that we are offering programs that fit the needs of our community by creating partnerships with organizations and businesses to increase hands-on opportunities and internships.

    While our test scores are rising, we must still work toward closing the achievement gap. We need to use evidence-based data to find out what is working and what is not. We need to provide support for our students and families by identifying needs, whether it be specialized language support for English learners, math support like tutoring and additional instruction or opportunities to take classes in the summer. We also need to ensure students come to school ready to learn; that means having a way to get to school on time, making sure food is available, exercise for the body, and counseling support. All this contributes to student success in the classroom.”

    • Question: To you, what is the role of a school board in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely?

    • Answer: “School board members are elected to represent their constituents and stakeholders, which include families, teachers, staff, community members and taxpayers. Board members develop policy in compliance with the education code, and set the general priorities of the district, which should be what is best for students — keeping a clear focus on student achievement and outcomes.

    As representatives of taxpayers, Board members need to ask the hard questions. With a district budget of over $400 million, our school board members must also ensure the budget is sound and transparent. It should be spent on students, all while preparing for the future, as OUSD has done by having ample reserves that can be utilized in the face of economic uncertainty and sudden changes in federal and state funding.

    OUSD School Board members have no individual authority outside of board meetings; however, most of what we vote on occurs on our campuses. That means showing up at school sites, observing student learning, communicating with families, listening to staff, and preparing thoughtfully for meetings. Additionally, it is important for board members to take professional development courses and be involved in the community. All of these experiences and commitment are what make a strong and effective school board member.”

    • Question: How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited?

    • Answer: “This is one of the more timely and complex challenges board members and educators are facing today. Technology and AI aren’t going away, and they are becoming a permanent part of our lives. At the primary grade level, students should be focused on the basics: reading, writing, math, music, and art. At the secondary level, rather than treating AI purely as a threat to manage, we need to teach students to use AI responsibly and appropriately.

    Professional development for our teachers is also an important component. Comfort and fluency with technology can vary greatly among staff, and we can’t ask teachers to model responsible tech use or integrate AI thoughtfully into instruction without investing in their training first. The district needs to develop policies that clearly outline how AI is used, with guardrails and ensure that students are using AI responsibly and ethically.”

    • Question: How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? 

    • Answer: “It is important to develop policies that provide students with a safe environment to exercise their voice. While people may have differing thoughts, they should be encouraged to listen to other perspectives and opinions in a respectful manner.

    For example, my three children completed their education in OUSD with a broad range of experiences in civil discourse. Methods like Socratic seminars and Cornell notes were used to encourage learning from multiple points of view and to help students formulate well-supported opinions backed by facts and evidence. They were encouraged to draw on primary sources and evidence-based information in their assessments. Expanding on these methods and embedding them further into the classrooms will help students learn to think critically and form well-supported opinions.

    Additionally, extracurricular programs such as Speech and Debate, Mock Trial, and student government can further contribute to building these skills.”

    • Question: Some school districts around California are recruiting teachers by building subsidized housing. How would you suggest your district could better attract — and retain — educators?

    • Answer: “People operate best when there is stability, trust, and consistency. This is applicable not only in the home but in the workplace. School districts need to provide a roadmap, with goals clearly communicated to teachers. Our teachers and educators who are in the classroom with real-life experience are critical to the process. A workforce that is part of plan development is invested in the success of those programs. They also need to feel supported from the top down. This will ensure longevity and stability.

    I would like to see more opportunities for student-teacher internships, especially for those who live in the community, stronger mentorship for new hires and increased collaboration amongst teachers, especially in areas that are working for students. I support a workplace culture where educators feel valued, supported, and included.”

    • 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 decades of OUSD service, as a parent, volunteer, and board member, have been guided by one priority: ensuring our students have the safe, supportive, and high‑quality schools they deserve. That commitment is why I am consistently endorsed by our classroom teachers, along with hundreds of parents and community members.

    My involvement began long before I was elected to the school board. As a parent of three OUSD students, I spent years volunteering, tutoring, organizing school-wide programs, and serving in leadership roles, including PTA president at El Rancho Charter School and Canyon High School. My dedication to improving our schools for all children led me to co‑found C.A.R.E., the grassroots parent coalition that worked diligently to pass Measure S, bringing long‑overdue repairs and upgrades to our high school campuses. During my time on the board, we have successfully invested over $40 million into elementary school improvements, expanded career technical education (CTE), and improved academic performance while navigating complex budgets.

    The experience I bring is rooted in collaboration. I know how to listen to teachers, partner with families, and make fiscally sound decisions that put students first. I am ready to continue building on our district’s positive momentum.”

    • Question: If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? 

    • Answer: “My first thought was to pick an animal, but after thoughtful consideration, I thought the perfect mascot would be an orange tree. It embodies growth, life and nourishment.

    The district sits on land that was once orange groves. It is the root of our city’s beginning. Growing an orange tree takes time. You don’t get fruit in the first season, or even the second. Trees need water, food, and patience before they are fully established, and that is not so different from building a school district. Once strong roots are established, though, they can survive wind, drought, pests, and bad years, and continue providing fruit that is nourishing and strengthening, just like our students to the community around them. Resilient trees are essential because they provide shade and protection for future generations. The mission for my campaign reflects this. Through hard work, perseverance, and patience, our students and community will enjoy the fruits that are sown.”

    • Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

    • Answer: “‘A Man Called Ove’ by Fredrik Backman.

    I recently read ‘My Friends’, also by Backman, for a book club and everyone said how they liked ‘A Man Called Ove’ more, so I was inspired to read Ove. I’m so glad I did! I found the curmudgeon Ove endearing, and it’s a great reminder to look past the surface of the people around us and to attempt to better understand and empathize. While I didn’t identify with the character in the way he was grumpy to those around him, I did find common ground in that we are both people who are action-oriented. Often in service of others. But what really resonated with me is the importance of community for the characters in the book because community is everything to me. Together we can make our communities better, from a tiny neighborhood on a private road in Sweden to a school district here in Orange County, it’s all about finding connections and being there for the people who need us.”


    Endorsed by: 


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • She adamantly opposed a forced outing policy vote in 2023, at a series of school board meetings that ultimately escalated to violence sparked by Proud Boys, hate group LOKA, and other anti-LGBTQ+ extremists, and resulted in death threats towards Erickson and the other trustees who opposed it. The policy passed but enforcement was blocked when AB 1955 was passed that same year. source 

    • She voted against firing the district’s superintendent in 2023. This firing, which did go through, was led by Trustees Ledesma and Miner. Both trustees were successfully recalled just over a year later, largely due to the community’s disapproval of the firing, which was seen as overtly political. source 

    • Yamasaki voted in favor of a policy that would prevent Pride Flags from flying from main OUSD flag poles in June 2023 that was in some ways similar to the Huntington Beach Pride Flag ban, although she did raise some protest to the agenda item being pushed forward during summer break and without ample time for community engagement in the topic. Source  We reached out to her for comment on this vote, and she advised; “I appreciate the opportunity to clarify a few things. It wasn’t a “pride flag ban” that we voted on, despite being advertised as such by (Trustees) Rick and Madison. It was a resolution for our main flag poles, most of which are outside our campuses near the parking lot, to only fly the American and CA state flag. This is in alignment with what we have always done. 

    The policy did actually align with your and my shared values inside our campuses where students spend their day. Once students came through that front gate of their school they were in a safe space. No matter what is going on at the federal, state or even school board level INSIDE our schools is a safe space for everyone.

    Our teachers may have pride flags in their classrooms and our common areas, OUSD continued to promote inclusive culture for all students. In fact most campuses increased their inclusive posters, etc after: and our counselors worked very hard to check in with students to ensure they felt safe, seen and celebrated. I would never support something that would impact students in a negative way.

    At the time, the board majority brought chaos and culture wars to our district.  We had to navigate that carefully. Let me know if you need further clarification or have specific questions.  I would be honored to have your support.” 

    NOTE: As a 501(c)3 non-profit, we do not endorse for or against candidates for office. 


    Follow the Money: 

    • $10,000 from Orange Unified Education Association Education Action Committee

  • Orange USD Area 1 Trustee Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “IVAN KOKOS | Parent/Orange County Businessman

    My parents and I immigrated to the United States when I was a toddler. A United States Marine Corps veteran, I’m the first in my family to graduate from college.

    My wife and I chose to raise our family here, and I’m the candidate running for Trustee Area 1 who has a child attending Orange Unified School District schools.

    Seeing our schools firsthand as a parent, I’m worried about what I see: students are not learning reading, writing, and math at their grade level. With my professional experience managing $2.5 billion in government loans, I’m concerned about the Orange Unified School District’s structural deficits: its own projections call this Unsustainable.

    If you elect me to the Orange Unified School District Board, I will:

    • Ensure our students learn reading, writing, and math

    • Push for our graduates to be ready for the workforce or college

    • Fight for fiscal responsibility: spending should go to classrooms, not administration

    • Make sure parents and teachers are partners in students’ education

    • Recruit and retain great teachers with excellent salaries, supplies, and support

    I’ve earned endorsements from:

    • Entire Orange County Board of Education

    • Orange County Auditor-Controller Andrew Hamilton

    • Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner

    • Anaheim Councilwoman Natalie Meeks

    • Orange Councilmembers Denis Bilodeau, Kathy Tavoularis, Jon Dumitru

    • Villa Park Councilwoman Crystal Miles

    I would be honored to have your vote. electivankokos.com”

    • NOTE: A judge ordered Chip and slate-mates Crystal Miles, Jack Chang, and Ivan Kokos to change their candidate statements after it was found that they misled voters with incorrect suggestions that the district reported a structural deficit, that quality rankings of OUSD were poor and that test scores were dropping. 


    Email: 


    Campaign Website: https://electivankokos.com/

    Priorities: 


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Kokos is a part of the anti-LGBTQ activism network linked with Sonja Shaw. He is running on a slate with Crystal Miles, Chip Ahlswede, and Jack Chang, all of whom are campaigning within the anti-LGBTQ activism circles and leaning on language like “parental rights” that the average populace does not pick up on as coded language for book bans, conservative curriculum control, forced outing policies, and the targeting of trans students. 

    • Ivan works in commercial banking, with a post from the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce citing him as ‘a trusted advisor to business owners and C-suite leaders’. (x)

    • On his Linkedin, several of his blog posts appear to be AI-generated, such as a June 11, 2025 one titled, “The Power Trio Behind Every Successful Business: Banker, CPA, and Lawyer”. This is in line with his campaign materials, which also appear to be heavily AI-reliant. 


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    NOTE: This is a deeply incomplete list of the accounts of note that Kokos follows, and has been abridged for brevity. 

    • Sonja Shaw (CVUSD Trustee, CA Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate, and extreme, full-time anti-LGBTQ activist.)

    • Jenny Rae La Roux (Congressional [CA-47] candidate, extremely pro-ICE, Christian Zionist, and anti-LGBTQ)

    • Todd Frazier (PYLUSD Trustee/candidate, openly running for re-election on anti-LGBTQ platform)

    • Ziggy McBride (TUSD candidate, part of the anti-LGBTQ activism circles)

    • Leandra Blades (PYLUSD Trustee, openly anti-LGBTQ, history of targeting SoCal trans kids, friends with Sonja Shaw, documented J6er)

    • California Family Council (extremist hate group, associated with Focus on the Family, was behind the 2008 Prop 8 effort to ban gay marriage in CA)

    • Michael Gates (CA Attorney General candidate, Fmr. Huntington Beach City Attorney, Fmr. Trump administration DOJ whose career in the administration was terminated amid accusations that he was creating a hostile work environment for women… in the Trump administration, has posed for campaign photos with Proud Boys with violent criminal records)

    • Gracey Van Der Mark (Huntington Beach City Council, perhaps known best for her championing of the effort to ban books in the HB Public Library, extremely anti-LGBTQ)

    • Protect Our Kids (anti-LGBTQ group led by ousted OUSD Trustee and Moms For Liberty chair Madison Miner)

    • Sean Redmond (Former teacher who was fired from the Garden Grove school district for misconduct amid his anti-LGBTQ activism, member of the anti-LGBTQ extremists circle in SoCal)

    • Kelly Felton (TUSD Trustee, anti-LGBTQ activism record for several years prior to running for office)

    • Justin Aguirre (PYLUSD Trustee running explicitly on an anti-LGBTQ platform and not much else)

    • Bill Essayli (Fmr. CA Assemblyman who was named US Attorney to the Central District of CA by Donald Trump, attempted to bring forced outing policies through the state legislature, very close friends with Sonja Shaw and the anti-LGBTQ extremist circles in SoCal, currently working with a track record of [mostly unsuccessfully] sticking LA-area protesters with federal charges)


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • In a July 1st, 2026 instagram post, Kokos said, “I’m the dad of two daughters in public school, and I oppose transgender athletes taking away opportunities for girls in sports. Even Gavin Newsom has said it is ‘deeply unfair’ for transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. Many students feel intimidated by school staff and other students from expressing this common sense opinion, so we must also protect free speech for students in our schools.” (x)

    • In an April 23rd, 2026 instagram post, Kokos said, “Thank you for your support and endorsement, @sonjashaw2026 I really appreciate it. You’ve done an incredible job leading Chino Valley Unified, and with the State Superintendent election coming up this June, I hope people take a moment to learn about your work and get out and vote for you.” (x)

      • NOTE: Please be sure to read our research on Sonja Shaw further down this page for further insight into her anti-LGBTQ stances.

    • Kokos responded to the OC Register’s candidate questionnaire:

      • Question: What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them?

      • Answer: “Honest budgeting and stronger academics.

    First, the budget. Orange Unified is in a structural deficit, and the board hides it by shuffling money from one pocket to another. They tout voluntary contributions into reserves like the enrollment decline fund as strength, but that is the district’s own general fund money moved between accounts, not new revenue, and they are putting in less as revenue tightens. Recurring spending is outrunning recurring revenue, and the district’s own projection turns negative in the out-years as attendance keeps falling. I read government budgets for a living. I will protect classroom spending, scrutinize every new administrative cost, and stop the shuffling.

    Second, academics. Too many students are behind. District math proficiency is under half, and eleventh-grade math is around one in four. A budget exists to serve the classroom, so every dollar should be measured against whether it helps a child read and do math. I will push to prioritize instruction over central office growth and hold the administration accountable for results, not just spending.

    Get those two right, fiscal honesty and real learning, and the rest follows.”

    • Question: To you, what is the role of a school board in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely?

    • Answer: “A school board member sets policy and holds the district accountable. That is the whole job. The board hires and evaluates the superintendent, approves the budget, and sets the rules the district runs on. It doesn’t run the schools day to day. The best boards govern. The worst boards rubber-stamp.

    Over the last few years, OUSD’s board has too often approved major items with little public discussion. A 400% stipend raise for board members went through on the consent calendar in January with no debate. That is the opposite of governing. My standard is simple. Every dollar and every policy gets read, questioned, and explained in public before a vote.

    I will ask hard questions of the administration, and I will show my work to the community. Governing also means staying in your lane. A trustee represents families and taxpayers, not a political faction. My focus is the core mission: strong academics, safe schools, and an honest budget. I will treat teachers as partners, not targets, and I will hold the administration to results. Accountability is not hostility. It is the job.”

    • Question: How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited?

    • Answer: “Artificial intelligence is already in students’ lives, so schools cannot pretend it away. The right approach is careful, not fearful. AI can help teachers with lesson planning, grading support, and personalized practice, which frees them to spend more time with students. It can also be misused for cheating and can spread errors if students trust it blindly.

    My principles are these: Teachers stay in charge, not software. Any tool the district adopts must protect student privacy and data, and parents deserve to know what is being used and why. We should teach students to use AI as a tool and to think for themselves, including how to check its work and spot when it is wrong. And we should be honest about cost. New technology should prove it improves learning before the district spends dollars on it. I am a finance professional, so I will ask what it costs, what it replaces, and what it delivers. Technology should serve the classroom, not the other way around. Basics come first. A student who cannot read well will not be saved by technology.”

    • Question: How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue?

    • Answer: “Public schools have become a battleground, and families are exhausted by it. I am running to lower the temperature, not raise it. My approach to divisive issues starts with honesty about what a board can and cannot do. Where the board does have authority, I will make decisions in the open, with public comment heard and respected.

    Disagreement is not the enemy. Contempt is. The way back to trust is steady governance: read the material, follow the law, keep the focus on academics and safety, and treat people with respect even in disagreement. That is the tone I will set.”

    • Question: Some school districts around California are recruiting teachers by building subsidized housing. How would you suggest your district could better attract — and retain — educators?

    • Answer: “Good schools start with good teachers, and Orange County is expensive. Recruiting and keeping strong educators is a real challenge. The school board cannot fix the housing market. What a board can do is manage money well enough to compete. That means protecting classroom compensation first when we set priorities, and being disciplined about administrative growth so more of every dollar reaches teachers.

    When a district adds high-cost central office positions while enrollment falls, it has less room to reward the people in the classroom. I would put that tradeoff in front of the public honestly. Retention is also about respect. Teachers stay where they are supported, trusted, and not caught in political crossfire. I will treat educators as professionals and partners. Stable budgets, sane workloads, and steady leadership keep good teachers here. That is within a board’s power, and I will use it.

    • 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: “I am a father of two, a person of faith, and a finance professional with nearly two decades of experience. Much of that career was spent underwriting and analyzing public agencies, so I can read a government budget and know what the numbers are actually saying. That is exactly the skill this board needs right now. I have also knocked on thousands of doors across this district, and I have listened to what parents are worried about: academics, safety, and a board that spends without explaining itself.

    My top priorities are straightforward. First, fiscal honesty. Face the structural deficit, protect classroom spending, and stop masking the trend with one-time money. Second, academics. Proficiency is too low, with district math under half. That has to be the focus. Third, governance. End the rubber-stamp culture and make the board debate and explain major decisions in public. I am not running to fight culture wars. I am running to bring competence and accountability back to a board that has drifted from both. Students first, taxpayers always.”

    • Question: If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? 

    • Answer: “If I had to pick a mascot for how I want to serve, it would be the owl. Owls are patient. They watch carefully before they act, and they see clearly when things are dark. That is the temperament I want on a school board. Not the loudest voice in the room, but the one paying attention when a big decision is buried on a consent calendar. The owl is also a symbol of wisdom and learning, which is the whole point of a school district. I would rather be the trustee who reads every page and asks the quiet, careful question than the one who scores points. Good governance is not flashy. It is steady, alert, and a little unglamorous. So, the owl. Eyes open, watching out for our kids and our taxpayers.”

    • Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

    • Answer: “‘Outliers’ by Malcom Gladwell. Extraordinary success is rarely just raw talent. It comes from opportunity, hard work, and the circumstances a person is given, often things they didn’t choose. For a lot of kids, school is the opportunity. It’s where a child who was not handed advantages can still get a fair shot.”


    Endorsed by: 

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

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

    • (!!) Orange United — Parent/community advocacy organization supporting Ivan Kokos and other 2026 OUSD challenger candidates; highlights Kokos’s support for forced outing policies concerning transgender students, in the context of OUSD’s 2023 transgender forced outing policy. (Orange United Candidates)

    • (!!) Madison Miner — Chair, Moms for Liberty’s Orange County Chapter. 

      • Madison’s public positions and endorsements are posted at her Instagram social media site madison4oc.  Madison Miner won an Orange Unified school board seat in 2022. Voters recalled her in 2024. The L. A. Times reported that Miner was one of two conservative board members who had spearheaded policies widely opposed by advocates for LGBTQ+ youth in a recall election viewed as a local bellwether for the culture wars in education.

    • Lincoln Club of Orange County — Organization

    • Republican Party of Orange County — Organization

    • Andrew Hamilton — Orange County Auditor-Controller

    • Don Wagner — Orange County Supervisor

    • Michael G. Gates — Current City Attorney & Former Federal Prosecutor

    • Tara Campbell — City Council Member & Former Mayor of Yorba Linda

    • Denis Bilodeau — Orange Mayor Pro Tem

    • Natalie Meeks — Anaheim City Council Member

    • Crystal Miles — Villa Park City Council Member

    • Fred Whitaker — Former OCGOP Chairman & Former Mayor of Orange

    • Curt Pringle — Former Anaheim Mayor

    • (!!) Sonja Shaw — Chino Valley School District Board President, Candidate for California Superintendent of Public Education

      • Note: Sonja Shaw is listed by Moms for Liberty among its pledged candidates/elected officials, and California Moms for Liberty chapters have endorsed her statewide campaign.  The Los Angeles Times reported in September 2026 that Shaw said she entered politics inspired by Moms for Liberty. 

    • Dr. Lisa Sparks — Orange County Board of Education Trustee

    • Jorge Valdez — Orange County Board of Education Trustee

    • (!!) Mari Barke — Orange County Board of Education Trustee, Director-level at California Policy Center, anti-LGBTQ group in the Heritage Foundation network

    • Dr. Ken Williams — Orange County Board of Education Trustee

    • Tim Shaw — Orange County Board of Education Trustee

    • Anne Bryson — Former Capistrano Unified School District Trustee

    • (!!) Leandra Blades — Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Trustee

      • Note: Leandra Blades’ political activity has intersected with the Moms for Liberty parental-rights network. Blades was identified among successful California “parental rights” school-board candidates in a 2024 announcement issued on behalf of a coalition (California Family Council) that included three California Moms for Liberty chapters. Her own campaign emphasizes parental rights and parental-notification policies, and she has also been reported as closely affiliated with Madison Miner, the current chair of Moms for Liberty’s Orange County chapter. 

    Candidate in the News: 

    • Spotlight Schools — September 26, 2026: “Election Brief: Who is Running for the Orange Unified School District Board of Education?” identifies Ivan Kokos as the challenger to incumbent Andrea Yamasaki for OUSD Trustee Area 1 and provides links to his official candidate statement and campaign materials. Spotlight Schools is an independent local education-news outlet covering Orange Unified. (⁠Spotlight Schools)

    • Orange Journey — September 13, 2026: “Judge Mandates Corrections for Orange USD Board Challengers’ Statements” reports that Orange County Superior Court Judge Craig Griffin ordered Ivan Kokos and two other OUSD challengers to amend or remove portions of their official candidate statements following a lawsuit filed by OUSD constituent Darshan Smaaladen. The article reports that the challenged material was found to contain false or misleading claims. (⁠Orange Journey)

    • Orange Juice Blog — September 12, 2026: In an opinion/commentary article, “Fibs ‘R’ Us: Orange USD Challengers Off to a Rocky Start!”, Vern Nelson discusses the court challenge involving Kokos and other OUSD candidates. The article reproduces Kokos’s original statement that OUSD’s projections called its structural deficits “unsustainable” and reports that Judge Craig Griffin required Kokos to change the final portion of that statement.(⁠Orange Juice Blog)

    • VillaPark.co — September 2026: Its OUSD candidate-statement coverage notes the August 27 court order requiring Ivan Kokos, Crystal Miles and Jack Chang to modify or delete portions of their candidate statements before printing. The site reproduces the revised Kokos statement subsequently posted by the Orange County Registrar of Voters, including his priorities of academic achievement, college/workforce readiness, fiscal responsibility, parent-teacher partnership, and teacher recruitment and retention. (⁠VillaPark.co)

    • OC Register: Ivan Kokos, Orange Unified School District Area 1 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found, Kokos has not held public office


    Follow the Money: 

    • Ivan and his slate-mates Crystal Miles, Jack Chang, and Chip Ahlswede have received $90,000 from the Lincoln Club OC, a far-right political group with anti-LGBTQ policy goals.

  • Orange USD School Board Area 4 Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “SARA J. PELLY | AGE: 61 | Governing Board Member, Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 4

    I was an elementary school teacher and principal for 34 years, I know what it takes to help our students succeed both today and tomorrow. I am a champion for public education who works

    with parents, teachers, and the community. As your school board member, I find common ground, build trust, and form strong partnerships to move our schools forward. Building these

    relationships is exactly why I have the endorsement of all of my fellow Orange Unified board members, our classroom teachers, and 4 out of 5 Villa Park City Council members, the city where I live.

    I believe every child deserves a world‑class education, and am committed to providing a variety of programs to serve the unique needs of each student. It is critical that we start our young learners on the right path, and continue to provide learning opportunities as unique as our students. I’m proud of Orange Unified’s extensive Career Readiness programs for students who are not university-bound as well as a broad range of Advanced Placement classes. As a former principal, I understand the complexities of implementing innovative programs.

    My priorities are:

    • Updated Facilities - Every student deserves a safe, modern, and welcoming place to learn. This year I voted to approve a $40 million dollar investment in facilities improvements to our elementary schools.

    • Resource Allocation - A true commitment to students means directing every dollar where it matters most - into the classroom. I have a unique perspective as the only board member with elementary classroom experience, and I successfully grew OUSD’s award winning Mandarin Immersion program. Using my four decades of diverse expertise, I am able to navigate complex educational issues. I know where to send your tax dollars for maximum benefit. By ensuring thoughtful distribution of resources, I will continue to safeguard fiscal responsibility.

    • Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency - Taxpayers deserve to know how funds are used and to see clear benefits for students. I am also dedicated to bringing renewed focus on accountability and student outcomes, so that every decision we make reflects what matters  most - our students.

    I hope you’ll stand with me in protecting our district, maintaining stability on our board, and continuing the upward trend of success. Together, we can build a future where every child is supported, every classroom thrives, and our community benefits.

    I would be honored to have your vote.

    https://www.pelly4ousd.com/”


    Email: 


    Campaign Website: https://www.pelly4ousd.com/


    Priorities: Pelly does not have a priorities section of her website, but she does have the following; 

    • “As a proud product and advocate of K-12 public schools, I believe every child has the right to a free, world-class education, and I will continue my work on the school board to ensure that the diverse needs of all students are met.  I was an elementary school teacher and principal for 34 years and I know how to support students, families, and hardworking teachers and employees who are the heart of OUSD.  As the only board member with elementary classroom experience, I have a unique perspective and understand the complexities of implementing innovative programs that will start young learners on the right path.

    Parent and community involvement is essential to the success of every child, and I have spent years finding common ground, building trust, and forming strong partnerships. Together we will move this district forward creating a culture of caring, collaboration, innovation and success.

    Students deserve for every dollar possible to be spent in the classroom and our community deserves leadership that will operate with transparency and fiscal responsibility, with no personal agendas or pet-projects. Great public schools are the best investment in the future any community can make. Together we can ensure a great future for our community.”


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Pelly was appointed to the role in spring 2024 and was elected in November 2024 to finish the partial term through 2026. (x) 

    • Per our direct sources within the pro-LGBTQ+ OUSD Recall team that campaigned to recall anti-LGBTQ trustees Madison Miner and Rick Ledesma from the OUSD in March 2024 “Sara is an ally and supports LGBTQ+ students”.

    • 35 years in education 

    • Retired OUSD principal and teacher

    • Degree in Elementary Education 

    • Pelly was heavily involved in OUSD prior to being appointed to the board in early 2024, regularly attending OUSD school board meetings. She started the Mandarin immersion program at Fletcher, the school she was a principal at, and was a member of a number of OUSD groups. (x) 

    • Sara worked between 2024 and 2026 as Literacy Director at Attallah College of Educational Studies, Chapman University. Per her Linkedin description of the role; “In my role as Literacy Director I worked with teacher candidates at Chapman University, supporting them in their submission of the CalTPA Credential Assessments.” (x) 

    • In interviews with the OC Register regarding Pelly’s appointment in Spring of 2024, current Trustee Andrea Yamasaki said of her, “Her understanding of marginalized communities helps her understand a lot of our students in our district, which was important to me. (...) She will advocate for those who do not have a voice.” (x)


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • CSEA DefendEd OC (Teachers’ Union group)

    • Kathleen Treseder (Irvine City Council) 

    • Pylbuzzadmin (progressive parent group in PYLUSD)

    • Allyson Muñiz Damikolas (Tustin USD Trustee, LGBTQ / immigrant ally)

    • Our Schools USA (Pride at the Pier partner org)

    • Supporters of Public Education

    • We the People for Education

    • Vanesa Estrella FSD Trustee (Spoke at a 10/15/26 rally in support of two community watchers who were arrested by Santa Ana PD while exercising their legal right to observe ICE agents)

    • The Charty B (Pride at the Pier close partner, tracks far-right extremists)

    • Orange County Young Democrats

    • Lavender Democrats OC

    • WAVE


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • The OC Register asked Sara about her views on AB 1955.  

      • OC Register: “California has a new law, set to go into effect in 2025, that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)”

      • Sara: “As a teacher and principal, I value every child as an individual, and one-size-fits-all all policies are in contradiction to the uniqueness of each child and family. Parent involvement is critical in the success of their child’s education. As a principal, I listened to parents’ concerns, and even when we didn’t agree, I made an effort to find common ground, which was the desire to do what was best for their child. Communication and collaboration are key elements in the partnership between schools and families, and that will always be a priority for me.” (x)

    • The OC Register asked Pelly in their 2026 candidate questionnaire, “How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue?”. She replied, “To foster true civil discourse, schools must shift from competitive debates to structured, evidence-based dialogue. We can better engage students by teaching them how to evaluate diverse perspectives, ground their arguments in objective facts, and actively listen to opposing viewpoints without personal attacks. To achieve this, our district should adopt classroom frameworks that challenge higher-level thinking, while providing teachers with the professional development and resources they need to facilitate complex, modern conversations objectively and confidently. We must also establish formal spaces for students to practice these skills regularly. Giving students a platform to practice nonviolent conflict resolution and advocate for change on issues that directly affect them is ideal. By modeling civility at the leadership level and giving students the structural tools to navigate disagreements with empathy, we can prepare them to become active, constructive participants in our democracy.” (x) 


    Endorsed by: 

    • Orange County Young Democrats

    • Supporters of Public Education

    • Tony Thurmond (Current CA Superintendent of Public Instruction)

    • Lou Correa (Congressman, California 46th District)

    • Dave Min (Congressman, California 47th District)

    • Derek Tran (Congressman, California 45th District)

    • Avelino Valencia (State Assemblymember)

    • Josh Newman (Former State Senator)

    • Richard Barrera (State Superintendent Candidate)

    • Vicente Sarmiento (Orange County Supervisor)

    • Katrina Foley (Orange County Supervisor)

    • Jordan Wu (Mayor, Villa Park City Council)

    • Robert Frackelton (Mayor Pro Tem, Villa Park City Council)

    • Nicol Jones (Council Member, Villa Park City Council)

    • Kelly McBride (Council Member, Villa Park City Council)

    • Chad Zimmerman (Council Member Elect, Villa Park City Council)

    • Ana Gutierrez (Council Member, Orange City Council)

    • Arianna Barrios (Council Member, Orange City Council)

    • Connor Traut (Mayor, City of Buena Park)

    • Brad Reese (Director, Serrano Water District, Division 1)

    • Kathy Moffat (Former Trustee, Orange Unified School District)

    • Jonathan Stone (Board President, Tustin Unified School District)

    • Allyson Damikolas (Board Clerk, Tustin Unified School District)

    • Carrie Buck (Board President, Placentia Yorba Linda USD)

    • Katie Brazier (Board President, Santa Ana Unified School District)

    • Carol Crane (Board President, Newport Mesa Unified School District)

    Candidate in the News:


    Follow the Money: 

    • $8,854.24 from the Orange Unified Education Association Education Action Committee

    • $1,000.00 from Women for American Value and Ethics (WAVE)

    • $500 from Democratic Women of South Orange County

    • $950 from Women in Leadership PAC

  • Orange USD School Board Area 4 Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “CRYSTAL K. MILES | AGE: 57 | Councilmember/Business Owner

    Transparency, accountability, and earning people's trust aren't new goals for me — they're how I've always led, as a city councilmember and small business owner. Families deserve a school system that treats every taxpayer dollar with the same discipline and care you would in running your household or business.

    I strongly support parent rights and full access to curriculum information. Parents are partners in their children's education, not outsiders, and deserve a real seat at the table.

    If elected, I will make sure teachers have the support they need, open district spending to real public scrutiny, and focus on improving academic outcomes for every student regardless of

    background or ability.

    My experience on the City Council, running a business, and raising my own sons in this district has taught me how to manage budgets responsibly and hold organizations accountable.

    On the Villa Park City Council, I initiated our city's e-bike ordinance to help keep kids safe on our streets, proof I get results, not just talk.

    Only 46% of our students are proficient in math and the Orange Unified School District ranks 13th out of 15 in overall quality. Our children deserve better!

    I’d be honored to have your vote.

    Visit my website at: ElectCrystalMiles.com”


    Email: Her official campaign Facebook page has the following email: crystal@electcrystalmiles.com. Her husband, Kirk Miles, owns a business called United Industries, where Crystal Miles is the VP. There is a business email listed (domain is unitedindustries dot net) but it requires a company account to log in to view. 


    Campaign Website: http://electcrystalmiles.com/

    Priorities: 

    • Parental rights and full access to curriculum information

    • Transparency and accountability in district governance

    • Fiscal responsibility and public scrutiny of district spending

    • Improving student academic outcomes, particularly math proficiency and ESL students’ English scores

    • Supporting teachers

    • Strengthening parent engagement and school-family communication

    • Student safety


    • Enforcing Title IX and “fairness in girls’ sports” (she has not elaborated on whether she is anti-trans, but this is common anti-trans language. She has an endorsement from Sonja Shaw who is an influential anti-trans advocate. Actually, here’s her FB post showing her anti-trans rhetoric, which she claims upholds Title IX.)

    • Against subsidized housing for teachers (Source)


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • BA in Biological Science at CSUF 

    • She was a Human Anatomy and Microbiology professor at CSUF before having her children and reportedly “redesigned” the science curriculum for Carden Private School in Whittier where she taught 2nd-8th grade students (I wasn’t able to find more details about what she did to change the school’s science curriculum).  (Source) (CSUF Alumni Instagram Post)

    • She is running as nonpartisan now, but in 2024 she ran for the California State Senate District 37 race as an R candidate and got 14% of the votes, as listed on her BallotPedia entry. 

    • Her OC Register interview feels completely AI-generated.

    • She was elected to the Villa Park City Council in 2018 and in 2022. She served as Mayor in 2021. (Source)

    • She is also connected to another private school - her children attended St. John’s Lutheran School in Orange and Fairmont Private School, where she served as President for the Fairmont Parent Association and served on the executive board for 5 years. (Source)


    Social Media Links: 



    Additional info from her official campaign FB page:


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • OUSD

    • Beth Bourne (aggressive anti-LGBTQ activist, make a living off of stalking and doxxing LGBTQ children and their allies, most recently was arrested in Santa Rosa for trespassing after she would not stop harassing children at a student walk-out protesting a Pride Flag ban in their school district…. Not the first time she’s been arrested while targeting children)

    • Parents Defending Education (a political group, anti-trans rhetoric, anti-cultural competency/racism training, claims far-left indoctrination in Minnesota schools, pro-current president)

    • Ryley Niemi (Temecula based, anti-trans, anti-gay, anti-abortion MAGA influencer who got punched in the face for harassing a gay couple with their child this August)

    • Amy Reichert for San Diego (very pro-ICE candidate)

    • Moms for Liberty (anti-LGBT political organization that targets public schools)

    • Nevada County Republican Party

    • Sara Gonzalez (VP of Texas Family Project, very pro-ICE)

    • EdSource

    • This is a Woman Podcast (explicitly anti-trans podcast ran by Sophia Lorey)

    • Leandra Blades (PYLUSD Trustee, extremely anti-LGBTQ, pro-ICE)

    • Frank Rodriguez (Former Gays Against Groomers, extremely anti-LGBTQ)

    • Sonia Shaw (CVUSD President, candidate for CA Superintendent of Public Instruction, EXTREMELY anti-LGBTQ)

    • Hell’s Kitchen USA

    • Michael Gates for CA Attorney General 2026 (recently posted a photo on his campaign socials posing with a violent Proud Boy, also extremely anti-LGBTQ, campaigns with Sonja Shaw)

    • Orange County Fire Authority

    • CA Charter Schools Association

    • Chip Ahlswede for OUSD School Board

    • Rhonda Shader for State Senate 2026

    • SoCal Patriots

    • US Border Control

    • California Women’s Leadership Association PAC

    • OCSD - Villa Park Police Services

    • Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

    • US Coast Guard

    • Conservative Ant

    • Supervisor Don Wagner

    • ForAmerica

    • Sammy’s Mexican Grill (I mean, sure)


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • Miles and her slate-mates Ivan Kokos and Chip Ahlswede were court-ordered to adjust their candidate statements as the language they used suggested inaccurately that OUSD’s student performances were in worse shape than the reality. That news was shared to social media platforms of community members who oppose Miles’ campaign. She took to her Facebook account to respond to the posts by those community members. “When an article misrepresents the facts and is immediately reinforced by a coordinated letter to the editor by activists and agitators, it usually says more about the authors than about me. For clarity, despite the headline’s wording, I was never charged with anything — legally or otherwise — and any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate. An error occurred in my ballot statement; it was corrected, and the court made no findings of misconduct. No charges were filed, and the judgment explicitly assigned no fault to either party.

    The timing and coordination of these pieces suggest that the work I’m doing is resonating. People don’t organize messaging like this unless they feel its impact. Transparency and accountability make some individuals uncomfortable, and synchronized attempts to reshape the narrative are a predictable response to that.

    I remain focused on facts, documentation, and serving our community with integrity. Efforts to distort or amplify misinformation won’t distract me from the work or from communicating clearly with the public. Voters deserve accuracy, not orchestrated spin — and I’ll continue to provide it. Over the past week, my fundraising numbers have increased — a sign that community members are paying attention and are tired of the same patterns of misinformation and deflection also known as fake news. I am grateful for everyone's support.” (x) 

    NOTE: The “no charges were filed” in her statement is irrelevant to the facts of the article (which you can find further below). Crystal appears to have conflated criminal court and civil court, and the function of the court in cases like hers. Court ordered-actions are a legal recognition that the plaintiff was in the wrong and a requirement for corrections to be made. 

    • The OC Register asked Miles a few questions in their 2026 candidate questionnaire. 

      • Q: “What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)”

      • A: “The two biggest needs in our district right now are rebuilding trust with families and getting our academic performance back on track.

    Our district needs to refocus on academic fundamentals. State and local data show that student achievement has not fully recovered since COVID, and the gaps between student groups have become larger. We need to refocus on consistent, high‑quality instruction and ensure students are truly ready for the next grade level. Too often, students are promoted, and even graduated, without mastering essential skills, which sets them up for frustration later on. Students should leave each grade with strong skills in reading, writing, math, science, and civics. A safe, focused learning environment is essential because students need stability to stay engaged and make academic progress. I want to make sure teachers have the training, tools, and support they need, and that our curriculum includes parents as partners in helping students meet clear, rigorous expectations.

    The second major need is rebuilding trust with families. Parents deserve clear, timely information about curriculum, budgets, contracts, and major decisions. Too often, that information is difficult to access or not communicated well. That includes accountability around spending — especially when outside contracts are used where internal capacity may be sufficient. I’m prepared to strengthen fiscal oversight, improve transparency, and make sure families can easily see what the district is doing and why.”

    • On January 29th, Crystal posted on her Instagram, “Kirk and I had the pleasure of seeing a private screening of Melania tonight. It opens tomorrow and I would watch it again!! #45-#47 🇺🇸” (x) 

    • On July 16th, she posted on Facebook, “I believe the foundation of democratic socialism (communism) is often laid in the classroom. The ideas taught to children today shape the leaders and voters of tomorrow. That’s why I believe our schools should focus on academics, critical thinking, balanced history, and civic responsibility—not political ideology. The future of our nation begins with education.” (x)

    • “As a small business owner, I bring balanced oversight and a commitment to equal opportunity, including fairness in girls’ sports, enforcing Title IX and ensuring parents have a seat at the table.” (Source: her BallotPedia candidate survey)

    • “Improving Public Comment Access and Open Office Hours for parents, staff and stakeholders. Public participation is essential to good governance, yet the district requires in‑person attendance to make public comment. If the public must be physically present to speak, many voices are never heard including those who work evenings, lack transportation, or have caregiving responsibilities. Since most boards offer alternative public‑comment options, OUSD should improve its process so participation isn’t limited to only those who can attend in person. I will also hold regular office hours for staff and parents, especially given the high turnover at the district office, and work to ensure bullying concerns are taken seriously and addressed early.”  (Source: her BallotPedia candidate survey)


    Endorsed by: 

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

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

    • Sonja Shaw (CVUSD President, candidate for CA Superintendent of Public Instruction, EXTREMELY anti-LGBTQ)

    • Madison Miner (Chair, Moms for Liberty’s Orange County Chapter. Her public positions and endorsements are posted at her Instagram social media site madison4oc.  Madison Miner won an Orange Unified school board seat in 2022. Voters recalled her in 2024. The L. A. Times reported that Miner was one of two conservative board members who had spearheaded policies widely opposed by advocates for LGBTQ+ youth in a recall election viewed as a local bellwether for the culture wars in education.

    • CA Republican Party

    • Lincoln Club of OC - deeply conservative political group in Orange County, very anti-LGBTQ

    • Fred Whitaker, Former OCGOP Chairman & Former Mayor of Orange.

    • Mari Barke, OC Board of Education and Director-level at California Policy Center, a far-right think tank and anti-LGBTQ organization associated with the Heritage Foundation


    Candidate in the News:


    Public Voting Record:

    According to CouncilBrief, Miles has voted 206 times, voted no 6 times, with 4 abstentions, and 1 recusal.


    Follow the Money:

    Donations from the 1962 PAC of the Lincoln Club of Orange County (Sep 25, 2026):

    • $2,549.00 

    • $3,846.00

    • $2,002.00

    • $4,971.00

    • $1,702.00

    • $15,070.00

    Donations from North Orange County Business Alliance Council (Sep 16, 2026):

    • $250 donated four times

    Her donations to:

    • The KAL group: $350 and $750

    • Republican Party of OC: $300 donated twice

    • Asian American Pacific Islander Voter Guide: $465 donated twice

    • California Homeowners Voter Guide: $1,584.00 donated twice

    • No Party Preference Voter Guide: $880.30 donated twice

    • Educate Your Vote: $1,186.25

    • Taxifornia Tax Fighters Newsletter: $2,057.00

    • Woman's Voice: $1,452.30

    • Save Prop 13: $2,057.00

    • California Tax Reduction Committee: $2,057.00

    • Continuing The Republican Revolution: $750.00

    • California Public Safety Voter Guide: $2,059.49

    • Integrated Solutions: Political: $165.00

  • Orange Unified School District Candidate


    Candidate Statement: None Found


    Email: None Found


    Campaign Website: None Found - but you can find his campaign website for his presidential campaign here. 

    Priorities: 

    • None Found


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Armando is a perennial candidate who shows up on ballots most election cycles.. Here’s his “Armando for President” campaign website. (x) 

    • His rhetoric is far right sprinkled with a handful of left rhetoric. He is in favor of a forced birthing policy and claims ‘Kamala supports abortions that kill babies’. Says ‘she is married to a Zionist Jew’. We are choosing not to promote these views by linking directly to his social media, but it can be found if you search for it.  

    When the attempt to recall Newsom took place he put his name into the hat for Governor. His old governor website says: “FUTURE POLITICAL GOAL: Democratic Political Party Nomination for President of the United States of America as a historical vote to be the First Latino President in the advancement of Racial Equity & Inclusion 2024.”

    • In Orange County, he’s also run for the OC Board of Education and the Orange County Municipal Water Board. 

    • He has made a number of posts on his Twitter account representing; Bibi Netanyahu as Hitler, the Israeli flag with the swastika, while acknowledging the genocide of the Palestinian people. 


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • None Found


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • The following is the full essay on his campaign page for his 2028 Presidential Run (separate from his 2024 Presidential Run). “I am Armando "Mando" Perez-Serrato and I will be running for President of the United States of America in 2028 as I did in 2024. I will be running as a working-class Democratic candidate.

    In 2024, I had the foresight and courage to run against Biden and the Democratic Establishment because I knew they were going to lose and they did. If you want to win in 2028 #VoteMando.

    For 2028, the Democratic Establishment will abandon democracy yet again by Anointing Gavin Newsom and he will lose just like Kamala. They both have the same policies, come from the same place, and believe in the same things that have resulted in Catastrophic results here in California. They both destroyed San Francisco together, they both destroyed California together and now they both want to destroy America together. 

    Voters in swing states will not vote for them because they don't want their state to turn into California. Here in California Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris are responsible for making crime legal, rent/ mortgage is the highest in the country, highest taxes, highest grocery/gas prices, taxpayers paying for transgender surgeries, open borders, Billions in fraud of tax payer money and a homeless apocalypse. Men especially, younger men 18-35 and Latinos will not vote for Gavin Newsom or Kamala Harris as proven in 2024.

    The Democratic Party needs new, younger and dynamic candidates like me that put the working class first. Latino Voters will decide who becomes President in 2028. 

    I am the perfect Latino candidate that can win in 2028 by achieving National Latino support, obtaining more votes from men and the idea of electing the "First" Latino President will create excitement in the electorate. Voters will want to be part of something historical similar to what happened with Obama. I am seeking your endorsement and support to be a Nationally Recognized Presidential Candidate to win in 2028 or be selected for Vice President. 

    We already had a Black President and Vice President so that is no longer new or a novelty and as seen in 2024 Black people are not enough to vote in a Democrat, so if you want to win in 2028 you need to support a Latino and White candidate combination. It's time for Black people to support Latinos to become President or Vice President. Latinos have already helped Obama and Kamala be elected. Democrats if you want to win in 2028 #VoteMando.

    Thank You, MANDO” (x)

    • During his 2021 gubernatorial campaign, the LA Times asked him how he would direct the state to handle ICE if he won. Armando replied, “Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the sole responsibility of the federal government and the president of the United States. As a member of the Latino community my goal is to bring awareness to the border crisis that the Biden/Harris administration created!” (x)

      • NOTE: In April 2026, he posted on his Twitter account a sign that said ‘Mando for US Congress, No Trump No ICE’. 


    Endorsed by: 

    • None Found


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found


    Follow the Money: 

    • None Found

  • Orange USD School Board Area 5 Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “KRISTIN "KRIS" ERICKSON

    Governing Board Member, Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 5

    Orange Unified has been my home for more than 50 years. My husband and I raised our  children here, and we are all proud OUSD graduates. For me, this isn't politics, it's personal. Long before my election in 2018, I was a student, parent, and volunteer here, and my commitment to our community hasn’t wavered. 

    Two decades in PTA allowed me to support families and teachers across our campuses. My work earned me the California PTA's Golden Oak Award, its highest honor for service to children. I served as Santiago Middle School Charter Board President. In 2013, I co-founded CARE, a grassroots organization that advocated for the high schools’ campus modernization bond. Today our students benefit from the incredible upgrades that followed. 

    I’ve practiced law for 33 years, much of it guiding young people through challenging times. This shapes the level-headed, practical thinking I bring to the board. As a volunteer, I worked directly with students coaching Mock Trial at El Modena. Several former students are now attorneys who endorse me. 

    I’m an invested community member, serving on the board of a local non-profit, which combats poverty through family, food, and employment support, and I’ve mentored youth through Rotary Club’s Mentor Meals program. These experiences shaped my belief in the importance of supporting the whole child.

    As Board President in 2025, I helped refocus our work on students, led the search for our superintendent, and rebuilt trust with our community. Since then, we've strengthened academic supports, expanded career and technical programs, and increased mental health services. It’s making a difference - our scores are rising faster than other districts and outpacing the state. Our graduation rate is substantially higher than the state average. Additionally, we have invested $57 million in campus and technology improvements, using money we had responsibly saved. 

    Good decisions start with listening. I visit our schools and talk with students and parents regularly. Every student's path is different, and I remain committed to strengthening student academic achievement, improved facilities, transparent communication and expanded academic and career options for all students. 

    I'm officially endorsed by our classroom teachers, fellow school board members, and hundreds of parents, community members, and elected officials. This district gave me opportunities I never thought I’d have. It raised me, my husband, and our children, and I want every child who comes after us to soar. I respectfully ask for your vote. 

    Kris4OUSD.com”


    Email: Not Found


    Campaign Website: http://kris4ousd.com/

    She has a page on her campaign website labeled “Recent Accomplishments”, with extensive details under labels like; ‘New Leadership, New Momentum’, ‘Academic Excellence & National Recognition’, ‘Responsible Fiscal Stewardship’, ‘Student Safety & Wellbeing’, ‘Communication & Coordination’, ‘Special Education’, ‘Investments in Elementary Schools’. 

    Priorities: 

    • Responsible Leadership Through Turbulent Times

    • Delivering on Measure S and Modernizing Our Schools

    • A Future‑Ready Education for Every Student


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Kris is the incumbent in this seat, having assumed office in 2019 source

    • She worked as an Orange County Public Defender from 1992 to 2000, and has had her own firm since 2000. source 

    • She received her BA in Social Sciences from UCI and her law degree from Western State University College of Law. source 


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • Central Orange County Democratic Club

    • Barack Obama

    • Voice for OUSD (Generally progressive community group)

    • Tim Walz

    • Vicente Sarmiento (OC Supervisor with voter record of LGBTQ+ allyship)

    • Nancy Watkins (Public Ed advocate and fmr. Candidate for OC Board of Ed, LGBTQ+ ally)

    • Dave Min

    • Valerie Amezcua (Santa Ana Mayor, Democrat who has been heavily criticized by immigrant justice and police accountability advocates for her actions in office)

    • Katrina Foley

    • Carrie Buck (PYLUSD Trustee with voter record of LGBTQ+ allyship)

    • Allyson Damikolas (Tustin USD Trustee with voter record of LGBTQ+ allyship)

    • Lavender Democrats OC

    • Hector Bustos (openly gay President of the Santa Ana USD board)

    • WAVE

    • Our Schools USA

    • Public Schools Defenders Hub

    • OC Young Dems

    • Church of the Foothills (Progressive Church in Tustin, has hosted Pride at the Pier events in the past)


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • On July 23rd, 2026, Erikson posted on her facebook page, “I joined educators and elected officials yesterday for an incredible visit with the Pechanga Tribe to learn about their culture and hear about The People of the West, a documentary series they spent more than six years creating. Complete with curriculum, it starts to share the story of California’s indigenous peoples’ history. Standing before Wi’áaşal, The Great Oak, was truly indescribable. This living ancestor, from whom they all descend, is over 20 feet around and nearly 100 feet tall. It embodies the strength, wisdom, and determination of the Pechanga people. Its sheltering branches carry meaning far beyond its physical presence and being there was so serene. It was an inspiring and deeply educational day, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn, connect, and honor the stories that shape this land.” The documentary, The People of the West, is a ten-part documentary series about the history of California through the eyes of the people who have lived here long before European invasion, colonization, and genocide. It debuted June 2026, and was directed by Brad Munoa, who is a member of the Pechanga tribe. You can find more information about it here. 

    • On June 19, 2026, she posted on her Facebook, “❤️Happy Juneteenth! On June 19, 1865, 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the news of emancipation finally reached Galveston, Texas. Generations since have carried that moment forward with joyful community celebrations. Today is a celebration of culture, strength, and the ongoing journey toward a more just and inclusive future. Wishing everyone a beautiful and joy‑filled Juneteenth.”

    • On June 7, 2026, she posted on her Facebook, “🌈 Happy Pride Month! 🌈 ALL students deserve to feel safe, seen, and supported, so they can truly learn and dream of a successful future. Equality isn’t symbolic - it’s a commitment to protecting those singled out or targeted simply for being themselves.  In OUSD, we choose compassion. We choose opportunity. We choose to lift up every young person so they can learn, grow, and thrive. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜”

    • Erickson was interviewed for a long-form article from The Nation in 2024, who quoted her in their review of Orange USD. An excerpt of that article is as follows; “The board also began inviting hard-right speakers from around the country, who riled up an already angry audience. At one point a few months back, a riot broke out and the three liberal trustees on the board had to flee for their lives. The violence, says liberal trustee Kris Erickson, an attorney who herself went to the OUSD schools as a child, “is kind of a carryover from Covid. That’s where it began, and it’s kind of just snowballed. What’s happening now is not normal, it’s not civil discourse.” Erickson and others have been subjected to death threats and other forms of trolling; teachers in the district have been publicly named as being “groomers, predators, and pedophiles.” A quarter of the district’s administrators have quit, viewing the political climate as too dangerous to continue working in. It is, Erickson says, ‘aggressive, it’s toxic, it’s ugly.’”

    • Regarding the successful recall of anti-LGBTQ+ trustees Rick Ledesma and Madison Miner from the OUSD board in 2024, Erickson said, “I think the community spoke loudly and pretty clearly about what it wanted and what they were not happy with and not being happy with the way things were going.” Miner has moved on and is now the chair of Moms For Liberty OC. 

    • When a forced outing policy was up for vote in 2023, Erickson opposed it, saying, "This type of issue should be between a parent and a child. It shouldn't be between a teacher, a parent and a child." source

    • In the aftermath of the OUSD board vote to approve a forced outing policy in 2023 and the violence that exploded in the board room from anti-LGBTQ+ extremist factions, Trustees Erickson, Yamasaki and Page (who all voted in opposition) issued a joint statement. In part, it said, “By bringing culture wars into Orange Unified, the Ledesma majority has invited the most radical elements into our district, OUR home. We can only imagine how difficult it is for our LGBTQ youth to exist in this toxic and hateful environment where politicians are exploiting their very existence to score political points. The policy's five-day forced outing is arbitrary and cruel and has no basis in good mental health practice. We provide no ongoing support for these students and families that we inject ourselves into – on our timeline, not theirs – to confront a sensitive and nuanced issue they may not be ready to deal with. This will force young people back into the closet to deal with difficult issues alone. It’s shameful.”  source

    • In a Voice of OC article regarding the forced outing policy in 2023, Erickson was quoted as saying, “I have three concerns: one is the targeting and discrimination of trans and nonbinary students. Two is the high likelihood of expensive litigation that I think will come from this, and three is the blatant government interference in the family unit that this mandates.” source


    Endorsed by: 


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • She adamantly opposed a forced outing policy vote in 2023, at a series of school board meetings that ultimately escalated to violence sparked by Proud Boys, hate group LOKA, and other anti-LGBTQ+ extremists, and resulted in death threats towards Erickson and the other trustees who opposed it. The policy passed but enforcement was blocked when AB 1955 was passed that same year. source 

    • She voted against firing the district’s superintendent in 2023. This firing, which did go through, was led by Trustees Ledesma and Miner. Both trustees were successfully recalled just over a year later, largely due to the community’s disapproval of the firing, which was seen as overtly political. source 


    Follow the Money: 

    • $2,195 from Orange Unified Education Association Education Action Committee (local teacher’s union)

    Contributed:

    • $195 to Ana Page’s 2024 OUSD campaign

    • $150 to Jessie Lopez’ 2024 Santa Ana City Council campaign

  • Orange USD School Board Area 5 Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “CHIP AHLSWEDE | Parent/Businessman

    Our Orange Unified School District Board of Directors has been through a lot recently, swinging from extremes and taking its eyes off its purpose, to educate school kids, keep them safe while at school, and prepare them for an increasingly challenging world.

    I am running for OUSD School Board for these reasons only:

    • to get our District focused back on these priorities,

    • stop the politics, and

    • give our children the best opportunity for the life they deserve.

    I am a lifelong Orange County resident. My wife and I have raised our three sons here in the community. They are all the product of our local schools. These schools have been very important to our family, which is why I have served on the School Site Council at elementary

    and middle schools and the high school football booster club. I am also a local businessman, working to make housing affordable and attainable for working families.

    I believe:

    • It’s not acceptable that OUSD test scores rank near the worst in Orange County.

    • It’s not right that the current Board has mismanaged public dollars without accountability or transparency to parents and taxpayers.

    We can do better. I’d be honored to earn your vote.

    Find out more at Chip4OUSD.com.”

    • NOTE: A judge ordered Chip and slate-mates Crystal Miles, Jack Chang, and Ivan Kokos to change their candidate statements after it was found that they misled voters with incorrect suggestions that the district reported a structural deficit, that quality rankings of OUSD were poor and that test scores were dropping. 


    Email: chip@chipahlswede.com 


    Campaign Website: https://chipahlswede.com/


    Priorities: 

    • Community Connections

    • District Finances

    • Education First

    • Engagement 

    • Financial Transparency

    • School Safety

    • Youth Sports


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Chip is part of a slate running on an anti-LGBTQ platform, along with Crystal Miles, Ivan Kokos, and Jack Chang. His individual campaign does not speak as heavily on the LGBTQ+ community, but the slate as a whole does, and he has not separated his campaign from that platform. He has also contributed campaign funding to their campaigns. (x)

    • Chip attended the 2026 CA GOP Conference in San Diego. (x) The CA GOP platform promoted at that conference included, in their words, “Parental Rights & Education: Emphasizing local school board control, merit-based admission in higher education, and expanding parental oversight in public education.”. It’s very important to note that in practice “Parental Rights” has been a dog-whistle used to promote book banning, removal of LGBTQ+ related topics and ethnic studies from curriculum, and forced outing policies. 

    • He is the District Director (legislative staffer) for current State Senator Tony Strickland, who was formerly on the Huntington Beach City Council and voted for the city’s Pride Flag ban. While in the State Senate, Strickland has received consistently failing marks from advocacy groups for his voting record, including; CA Environmental Justice Alliance, California Food and Farming Network, Equality CA, Health Access, Planned Parenthood, TURN (The Utility Reform Network), United Food & Commercial Workers Western States Council, and more. NOTE: These scores are not Chip’s - he is a staffer for Strickland supporting his legislative career. (x) (x) (x)

    • He is one of several conservative political candidates/elected officials in Orange County who works professionally as a lobbyist for the real estate industry, with a career that includes; 

      • Vice President of External Affairs, Apartment Association of Orange County

      • CEO of Beverly Hills/Greater LA Association of Realtors

      • Partner in “Government Affairs Strategies LLC” (we believe this his is own boutique consulting firm) (x)

    • This ties in to a post he made on his campaign instagram, where he speaks about the properties that belong to Orange USD, suggesting that the district should investigate ways to make them “assets”. (x)

    • Chip is well-connected in national politics, even sharing posts on social media about being invited to stay at a Congressmember’s house during a trip to Washington D.C. (x)


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • Leandra Blades (PYLUSD Trustee, extreme anti-LGBTQ activist who has participated in the targeting of trans youth in SoCal and attended anti-trans rallies)

    • Sonja Shaw (CVUSD Trustee, CA Superintendent of Public Instruction, EXTREMELY anti-LGBTQ, running her entire campaign on this issue)

    • Gracey Van Der Mark (Huntington Beach City Councilmember, candidate for CA State Assembly, extremely involved in anti-LGBTQ activism since before her time in office, known for her book-banning efforts with the Huntington Beach library)

    • Log Cabin Republicans (explicitly anti-trans as of 2026)

    • Lincoln Institute of CA (far-right political organization)

    • Jordan Peterson (Canadian far-right influencer and speaker)

    • Madison Miner (Former OUSD Trustee, current chair of Moms For Liberty OC)

    • Donald Trump HQ 

    • Dinesh D’Souza (Pro-ICE, Anti-LGBTQ, openly Christian Nationalist political influencer)

    • NAR Advocacy (NAR: National Association of Realtors)

    • Santa Clara Association of Realtors

    • Arizona Realtors

    • Apartment Association of OC

    • CAR Government Affairs (CAR: California Realtors)

    • San Antonio Board of Realtors

    • Realtors San Diego

    • Texas Realtors

    • Chicago Realtors

    • Beach Real Estate Group 

      • This is an incomplete list of the realtor-associated groups he follows. 


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • On October 16th, he shared to his personal instagram a picture of a left-wing freeway overpass protest sign that says “NO KINGS VOTE EARLY” with the caption, “They don’t vote at all actually… punctuation matters! (...) Gotta love protesters” (x)

    • On September 10, 2024, he posted a photo on his instagram of a sign on public transit in the UK that said, “We plan to cut all homeless people in half by 2025”, with the caption, “I mean… it’s gonna get messy but big problems require bold solutions…” Someone commented with “Wouldn't that technically double the amount of homeless people though?” and he replied, “I was told there would be no math.” (x)

    • Ahlswede responded to the OC Register’s candidate questionnaire:

      • Question: What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them? 

      • Answer: “1) Academic success: Currently, about 41% of OUSD kids are not proficient in English, and 54% are not proficient in math. US News and World Report shows OUSD high school graduates college readiness below 50%. OUSD currently ranks 13 out of 15 school districts, and test scores are average. Average should not be OUSD’s goal. None of those are acceptable results. When comparing the socioeconomic and educational status of households, an even bigger divide emerges. I would establish public academic benchmarks, compare OUSD results with similar high-performing districts, and focus resources on early intervention, literacy, math, and programs designed to support parents and students, giving them a chance to succeed.

    2) Restore trust: The current board voted itself a 400% pay increase without discussion. At the same time, the district has done very little to eliminate the pressures of declining enrollment and rising operating costs. We need to return the focus to benchmarking academic outcomes, schools’ performance, and administrative staffing/ spending to comparable districts. The public deserves an open discussion on the district’s strengths and the risks ahead.

    • Question: To you, what is the role of a school board in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely? 

    • Answer: “A school board should govern, not micromanage.

    The board’s ultimate responsibility is straightforward: make sure resources, policies and leadership are producing better opportunities and better outcomes for students.

    Its job is to establish clear goals and policies, adopt a responsible budget, set goals for and evaluate the superintendent, protect the public’s funds and district assets, and hold the district accountable for measurable student outcomes. The board should ask hard questions and set clear guardrails; administrators and educators should have room to do their jobs within them.

    Curriculum is part of that oversight responsibility, but writing lesson plans is not. The board should ensure curriculum is lawful, academically rigorous, age-appropriate, aligned with adopted standards, transparent to parents, and evaluated for results. Teachers should retain professional judgment about how best to teach the students in front of them – and the board should do what it can to support them.

    Good governance also requires transparency. Major decisions should come with understandable information, meaningful public notice and an explanation of the tradeoffs before the vote—and encourage meaningful community input before consequential votes.”

    • Question: How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited?

    • Answer: “AI is a tool and should be treated as such.

    Where safety is concerned, student information should never be entered into an AI system that has not been district-approved with appropriate privacy safeguards, and AI should never replace human judgment in any consequential decision such as grading or discipline.

    AI can assist with research – and provides an opportunity to learn how to check references if taught correctly. AI should be used to compile and explain data sets – and provides an opportunity to better understand how to utilize data for projects. Students should learn to prompt AI, evaluate its output, and verify its sources.

    We should be teaching the ethical use and application of AI because it will be a large part of how society operates moving forward. AI is not, however, a replacement for doing the work, nor is it a substitute for learning. When AI substitutes for a student’s own thinking or produces work the student represents as their own, that is where its use should be limited.”

    • Question: How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? 

    • Answer: “Jonathan Swift said, ‘Falsehood flies, and the truth comes limping after it.’

    Social media has accelerated incivility, misinformation, and consequence-free personal attacks.

    Schools have the opportunity to counteract this by encouraging more discussion amongst students on pertinent issues, current events, and controversial topics in a manner that allows students to express themselves respectfully. Programs such as Mock Trial, Model UN, Toastmasters youth programs and iCivics can also give students structured opportunities to disagree, persuade and listen in good faith.

    These activities, programs, and lesson plans are specifically designed to elevate the conversation between people, and the district should be engaging as many such programs as possible.

    • Question: Some school districts around California are recruiting teachers by building subsidized housing. How would you suggest your district could better attract — and retain — educators? 

    • Answer: “The creative approaches districts are using to attract and retain teachers are worth examining, but there are limits to what a school district should try to provide directly. If workforce housing is a consideration, OUSD should partner with private sector or non-profit housing professionals rather than trying to serve as a builder or property manager itself.

    Attracting great talent is a matter of the most attractive package – working with mentorship programs, established career ladders, and help accessing student-loan forgiveness, tuition assistance, credential programs and professional advancement.

    Retention often comes down to leadership and working conditions. Providing a safe, stable, supportive atmosphere where teachers know administrators will consistently enforce reasonable discipline policies and support them when serious classroom problems arise. OUSD also has the Teacher Training Specialist program that recently won the Orange County Department of Education’s Innovation Grant – similar innovations would help retain teachers.

    • 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: “I come to this race first as an OUSD parent. My wife and I have raised three children in Orange Unified, and I have served on school site councils at Villa Park Elementary and Cerro Villa Middle School, along with other school and youth activities. I have seen the district both as a parent and a volunteer.

    Professionally, I have spent more than 25 years leading organizations, developing policy, managing strategic initiatives and working with government, business and community stakeholders. I have served as a CEO, currently work in association leadership, and serve on the city of Orange Park Planning and Community Events Commission.

    Those experiences taught me that leadership is not having the loudest answer in the room. It is defining the objective, listening to the people closest to the problem, understanding the numbers, making a decision and then measuring whether it worked.

    My priorities follow from that: stronger academic outcomes, safe schools, transparent finances, meaningful parent involvement and more pathways for students to succeed after graduation.

    I am running to bring practical governance and accountability to those priorities.”

    • Question: If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? 

    • Answer: “I would probably go with my dog Bowie; she is a Border Collie.

    Border Collies are smart, loyal, observant, and hardworking, but most importantly, they are herding dogs with a singular focus to guide their flock to an ultimate goal. Their instinct is to watch over the flock, keep everyone together and step in when something is going wrong.

    This mirrors my leadership style in many ways. A deliberate approach to staying on task: Pay attention. Know what is happening. Look out for the people you are responsible for. Work hard, stay focused and don’t create unnecessary drama. But when something important needs protecting, be willing to stand your ground.

    Serving as a school board trustee is ultimately about looking out for students, supporting families and teachers, and making sure the district stays focused on giving every student the opportunity they deserve in order to succeed.”

    • Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

    • Answer: “I had been waiting to read Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever’s ‘World Travel: An Irreverent Guide’ for a while.

    Bourdain didn’t treat travel simply as sightseeing; he used it as a way to understand people —usually through their food, their neighborhoods, their history, and the way they actually live. His sense of curiosity and respect for others was inspiring. Bourdain was never afraid of the unfamiliar. A line he wrote elsewhere that captures this outlook: ‘As you move through this life… you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life – and travel – leaves marks on you.’ Travel at its best reminds us how large the world is and how limited our own perspective can be. You can learn a tremendous amount simply by being curious enough to ask questions, adventurous enough to experience something unfamiliar, and humble enough to listen to the answer. We could all benefit from the lessons travel provides – whether it’s across the street or across the world.”


    Endorsed by: 

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

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

    • Madison Miner (Chair, Moms for Liberty’s Orange County Chapter. Her public positions and endorsements are posted at her Instagram social media site madison4oc.  Madison Miner won an Orange Unified school board seat in 2022. Voters recalled her in 2024. The L. A. Times reported that Miner was one of two conservative board members who had spearheaded policies widely opposed by advocates for LGBTQ+ youth in a recall election viewed as a local bellwether for the culture wars in education.)


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found, he has not held publicly elected office


    Follow the Money: 

    • Chip and his slate-mates Crystal Miles, Jack Chang, and Ivan Kokos have received $90,000 from the Lincoln Club OC, a far-right political group with anti-LGBTQ policy goals.

    • $500 from CA Real Estate PAC (CREPAC)

    • $2,500 Orange County Charter Advocates for Great Public Schools

      • NOTE: The PAC name is misleading. This is an explicitly charter-school org.

    • $7,500 from Fieldstead and Company - Howard F. Ahmanson (Ahmanson is a well-known Christian Nationalist philanthropist)

    • $1,000 from Anaheim Police Assn PAC

    • $1,000 from OC Taxpayers Assoc.

    • $1,000 from Talley and Associates Inc. (OC-based lobbying/political consulting company)

  • Orange USD School Board Area 7 Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “JACK CHANG | Business Executive/Parent

    I believe parents, not politicians, should be the ones stepping up to serve on local school board because they have a vested interest in quality education for all students. That’s why I’ve stepped up to be a voice for parents on the Orange Unified School District.

    My family lives here and my children have attended local schools.

    Every child deserves the opportunity to learn in a safe, supportive learning environment where they can reach their full potential.

    I am committed to responsible spending of your tax dollars by promoting transparency, accountability, and thoughtful budgeting that prioritizes students, teachers, and classroom expenses not Bureaucrats.

    Only 46% of students are proficient at math. This needs to change. Let’s get back to basics by

    strengthening reading, writing, math, science, and critical thinking curriculum to help students discover their talents and prepare for college, jobs, and life.

    I believe parents and families are vital partners in education. We need a new approach to educating our children that puts students first. By listening, working together, and focusing on what unites us, we can ensure every student can succeed.

    I would be honored to have your vote. Visit my website at

    ElectJackChang.com”

    • NOTE: A judge ordered Jack and slate-mates Crystal Miles, Chip Ahlswede, and Ivan Kokos to change their candidate statements after it was found that they misled voters with incorrect suggestions that the district reported a structural deficit, that quality rankings of OUSD were poor and that test scores were dropping. 


    Email: Not Found


    Campaign Website: http://electjackchang.com/

    His “about me” concludes with “Students will always come first alongside parental rights and empowerment”

    Priorities: 

    • Jack does not provide any of his priorities on his campaign website. 


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Per his website, he volunteers as the Parking Ministry Lead at his local church. 

    • Chang is a part of the anti-LGBTQ activism network linked with Sonja Shaw. He is running on a slate with Crystal Miles, Chip Ahlswede, and Jack Ivan Kokos, all of whom are campaigning within the anti-LGBTQ activism circles and leaning on language like “parental rights” that the average populace does not pick up on as coded language for book bans, conservative curriculum control, forced outing policies, and the targeting of trans students.

    • According to his campaign website, Jack received his MBA from the private religious Notre Dame University best known for its football program. 


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    NOTE: This is an incomplete list of the accounts of note Chang follows, abbreviated for brevity. 

    • Leandra Blades (PYLUSD Trustee, openly anti-LGBTQ, history of targeting SoCal trans kids, friends with Sonja Shaw, documented J6er)

    • Gracey Van Der Mark (Huntington Beach City Council, perhaps known best for her championing of the effort to ban books in the HB Public Library, extremely anti-LGBTQ)

    • Protect Our Kids (anti-LGBTQ group led by ousted OUSD Trustee and Moms For Liberty chair Madison Miner)

    • Sonja Shaw (CVUSD Trustee, CA Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate, and extreme, full-time anti-LGBTQ activist.)

    • Justin Aguirre (PYLUSD Trustee running explicitly on an anti-LGBTQ platform and not much else)

    • Art Gomez (close friend of Sonja Shaw who is heavily involved in her anti-LGBTQ activism, Socal Regional Director of Latinos United for Conservative Action. Art has also partnered with the extremist anti-abortion group The Survivors which managed to shut down a Planned Parenthood event in Riverside [x] )

    • Kelly Felton (TUSD Trustee, anti-LGBTQ activism record for several years prior to running for office)


    Candidate’s Public Comments: 

    • On September 23, 2026, Chang posted an AI-generated image on his instagram, with the caption, “Super grateful for the endorsement from the Golden Ticket, @michael.e.gates and @sonjashaw2026. 

    Please pay close attention to the attorney general and state superintendent race for California. It’s imperative that these 2 individuals win this November.

    But don’t forget about the OUSD race!” (x)

    • NOTE: Please be sure to read our research on Sonja Shaw and Michael Gates further down this page for further insight into their anti-LGBTQ stances.

    • Chang responded to the Ballotpedia questionnaire. When asked what his three priorities were, he responded; 

      • “Early elementary will be crucial to establish a strong foundation for the next generation of students. They must be able to read, write, and do grade level math before the (sic*) graduate from 6th grade. Special attention must be placed here.

      • Transparency for parents including parental notification. (sic*)

      • Fiscal responsibility. Transparency in expenditures.”

      • NOTE: The grammar error in the first bullet point of his reply is original to his reply. We underlined his second reply to highlight the callout to Forced Outing Policies, which school districts are not legally allowed to enforce. 

    • Chang responded to the OC Register’s Candidate Questionnaire:

      • Question: What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them?

      • Answer: “Address declining enrollment across all of OUSD, which ultimately leads to less money for the schools. Some reasons are exogenous to OUSD, like a decline in birth rates. However, there are many other factors leading to declining enrollment, such as homeschooling, private schools, and charter schools. I think we first need to understand why parents are choosing to send their children away from OUSD to see if there are a few root causes.

    Second is to raise the bar for academic achievement by targeting and giving priority to programs and spending that will have a direct impact on test scores. Any spending not directly tied to the basics will be scrutinized and voted against by me.”

    • Question: To you, what is the role of a school board in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely? 

    • Answer: “It’s both driving policy and being involved in curriculum. The board makeup shouldn’t be entirely former educators, but it helps if it has diversity in professional backgrounds. The board shouldn’t have granular involvement in curriculum (that’s the superintendent’s job), but the overall scope and direction of curriculum should certainly be under the purview of the board.”

    • Question: How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited?

    • Answer: “Students should definitely learn about AI and what AI can do and how it’s evolving. There should be lessons and projects that involve AI for the purposes of learning it and how to use it. However, aside from this, it should be strongly minimized in most aspects of education. Students will slowly lose the ability to write and think on their own if allowed full access to AI, especially when it comes to critical thinking and writing. I have a real problem with take-home tests. It becomes too easy to use technology to come up with the right answers.”

    • Question: How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? 

    • Answer: “Provide a truly safe space for thoughts and ideas to be shared where neither side will be demonized for their opinions, especially by the teachers themselves. It is not the teacher’s job to groom or influence their students socially or politically; rather, it is to create a space for the students to think critically for themselves after hearing truly objective facts without bias or slant. The only way to achieve this is through self-monitoring and, as required, observation. Stick to the facts. If giving one side, always present the counterargument without injecting your opinion (the teacher).

    • Question: Some school districts around California are recruiting teachers by building subsidized housing. How would you suggest your district could better attract — and retain — educators? 

    • Answer: “Teachers are at the center of students’ education, so their well-being is critically important for success. With potential budget shortfalls across many school districts, I’m not sure how this can be addressed in terms of housing subsidies. However, we can attract better teachers by starting the hiring process as early as possible so we can lock in commitments from the highly qualified ones. We can provide teacher testimonials and truly convey the school district’s overall brand. Compensation is always a factor in the discussion, so do a comparative analysis to make sure our district is competitive.”

    • 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: “I bring with me over 15 years in the finance and accounting field. Also over 10 years in recruiting. So I bring a unique perspective to a school board. I’m able to be fiscally responsible and help students with potential career development programs.”

    • Question: If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

    • Answer: “The owl. It would be a wise choice.”

    • Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

    • Answer: “‘Gentle and Lowly’ by Dane Ortlund. Truly captures the heart and love of Jesus.”


    Endorsed by: 

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

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

    • (!!) Madison Miner (Chair, Moms for Liberty’s Orange County Chapter. Her public positions and endorsements are posted at her Instagram social media site madison4oc.  Madison Miner won an Orange Unified school board seat in 2022. Voters recalled her in 2024. The L. A. Times reported that Miner was one of two conservative board members who had spearheaded policies widely opposed by advocates for LGBTQ+ youth in a recall election viewed as a local bellwether for the culture wars in education.

    • OC Supervisor Don Wagner (voted yes on a Pride Flag Ban in 2023

    • (!!) OC Board of Education Member Mari Barke (Director-level at the anti-LGBTQ group California Policy Center, in the Heritage Foundation network)

    • OC Board of Education Member Tim Shaw (anti-LGBTQ voter record)

    • OC Board of Education Member Jorge Valdez (anti-LGBTQ voter record)

    • OC Board of Education Member Dr. Ken Williams (anti-LGBTQ voter record)

    • (!!) Sonja Shaw (EXTREMELY anti-LGBTQ candidate for CA Superintendent of Public Instruction)

    • Orange County Board of Education Dr. Lisa Sparks (anti-LGBTQ voter record)

    • Fmr. OC GOP Chairman Fred Whitaker

    • Lincoln Club OC

    • Republican Party of OC


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found, candidate has not held public office


    Follow the Money: 

    • Jack Chang and his slate-mates Crystal Miles, Chip Ahlswede, and Ivan Kokos have received $90,000 from the Lincoln Club OC, a far-right political group with anti-LGBTQ policy goals.

    • $7,500 from Fieldstead and Company - Howard Ahmanson. Ahmanson is a well-known Christian Nationalist philanthropist, and gives thousands to candidates matching his values every election cycle. 

    • $100 from Madison Miner, former OUSD Trustee who was recalled in 2024 and now chairs the OC Moms For Liberty chapter.

  • Orange USD School Board Area 5 Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “STEPHEN GLASS | AGE: 58 | Governing Board Member, Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 7

    As President of the Orange Unified School District Board of Education, I keep students at the center of every decision.

    This community is my home. My wife, a school principal, and I chose Orange Unified schools for our children because we believe in the opportunities this district provides. Like every parent, we want schools that are safe, academically rigorous, fiscally responsible, and welcoming to every student. I am invested in Orange Unified’s success.

    For nearly three decades, I have dedicated my professional life to public education. I have served as a classroom teacher, principal, district administrator, and university professor. These

    experiences have prepared me to ask difficult questions, evaluate complex decisions, and keep teaching and learning at the center of district governance. I know successful schools require strong leadership, sound financial management, meaningful partnerships with families, and exceptional teachers and staff.

    As your elected trustee and Board President, I have worked to strengthen transparency, promote respectful and effective governance, support stable district leadership, and ensure

    responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds. I have supported investments in safe campuses, high-quality instruction, and the employees who serve our students every day. Drawing on my

    experience as a principal and district administrator, I helped guide the thoughtful selection of a new superintendent, emphasizing stable leadership, accountability, and long-term planning while keeping students and classrooms at the center of our work.

    I am especially proud when I see our students recognized for academic achievement, artistic talent, athletic excellence, service, and perseverance. Those moments remind me that board decisions ultimately affect real children, families, classrooms, and futures.

    Public education is one of our community’s most important investments. Strong schools strengthen neighborhoods, support local businesses, protect property values, and prepare tomorrow’s workforce. This responsibility demands experienced leadership grounded in integrity, accountability, collaboration, and service. 

    Orange Unified has made progress, but important work remains. We must accelerate student achievement, maintain safe and modern campuses, recruit and retain exceptional employees, preserve valuable programs, and exercise prudent fiscal oversight. We must

    also listen to families, support educators, and ensure every student graduates prepared for college, career, and civic life.

    I am honored to serve this community and grateful for the trust you have placed in me. I respectfully ask for your vote for re-election so we can continue moving Orange Unified forward and build a stronger future for every student, family, and school.

    www.drglass4ousd.com”


    Email: I don’t see any emails listed on his social media. Maybe his LinkedIn has an email to contact, but I haven’t been able to view it. He has an email with his first initial, last name, and potentially a number at the end, at orangeusd dot org. Possible private/personal email addresses: stephen.glass@gmail.com, senkhat@aol.com.


    Campaign Website: http://www.drglass4ousd.com/


    Priorities: 

    • “Developing and expanding curriculum initiatives that cater to diverse student needs and interests, including advanced placement courses and career readiness programs”

    • “Strengthening partnerships between schools, families, and community organizations to foster a collaborative approach to student success and well-being”

    • “Ensuring transparent and efficient management of educational resources to maximize student outcomes and support long-term sustainability in educational programs.”

    • “Investing in ongoing training and professional development opportunities for educators to enhance teaching practices and student engagement.”

    • Source: https://www.drglass4ousd.com/


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Glass was elected to this seat in 2024, as a partial-term replacing two trustees who had been recalled after a number of scandals, including their anti-LGBTQ policy efforts. Since that was a short term, he is running again now for the full term. 

    • Current job title: Educator – Distinguished Faculty in Residence (CSULB) Source

    • May be associated with Yamasaki, Erikson, Pelly, Page. Their campaign signs are placed together in photos in Glass’s campaign Instagram. Glass follows Page on FB, and Page links to Glass’s campaign donation form on Insta.

    • Shelley Anderson (now Shelley Glass) and Stephen Glass wedding newspaper picture. They met at Orange High as coworkers and married at the Orange High Dome.

    • Dr. Glass’s Instagram also includes a poster for the September meeting of the Orange Indivisible chapter. 

    • Supports 100 Black Men of America Inc - an organization that provides mentorship to Black youth and advocates for getting out the vote in the Black community.

    • His LinkedIn mentions the following organizations: Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA), California Association of Professors of Educational Administration (CAPEA). Presenter for Black Professionals Group of Bank of America.

    • Supporter of March for Babies, a group that advocates for lowering USA’s outlandishly high maternal and infant death rate, where Black women have four times the maternal death rate of white women. FACT CHECK: true, Black women in the States have an incredibly high maternal mortality rate when compared to any other category, including higher risk of perinatal complications, and with the risk varying widely by state.


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • Christ Our Redeemer AME Church (African Methodist Episcopal Church in OC),

    • Voice of OC (nonprofit news org, anti-ICE, anti-Asian hate, pro-police accountability)

    • Democratic Party of OC

    • History Defined (historical photos blog - “Learn Weird Things About History”)

    • Sara Pelly - Orange Unified School Board Trustee (Pelly is running for OUSD. Pelly is identified as non-partisan, but is likely left-leaning, and is endorsed by Planned Parenthood and Women for American Values and Ethics and Women in Leadership. In 2024 she received endorsements from OC Democrats and OC Young Democrats. Pelly’s Instagram has a link for Dr. Glass’s campaign donation page.)


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • Glass has not yet completed BallotPedia’s candidate survey

    • During his 2024 campaign, the OC Register asked Stephen about his views on AB 1955, and the role of parents. 

      • OC Register: “California has a new law, set to go into effect in 2025, that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)”

      • Stephen: “Parents are key to a child’s education, and their involvement should be respected. Schools also have a responsibility to ensure every student feels safe and valued. A balanced approach that fosters collaboration between parents and schools can protect student well-being while honoring parental roles. This ensures that all students thrive in an environment that respects their humanity and individual needs.”

    • Glass responded to the 2026 OC Register’s candidate questionnaire:

      • Question: What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them?

      • Answer: “Orange Unified’s two greatest needs are improving outcomes for every student and maintaining the fiscal stability necessary to sustain that work.

    First, we must remain relentlessly focused on student achievement. Every student deserves access to rigorous instruction, strong academic programs, safe and supportive schools, career training opportunities, and the resources necessary to thrive. That also means paying close attention to students who are not yet experiencing the outcomes we expect and using data to identify gaps, direct resources where they can have the greatest impact, and hold ourselves accountable for improvement.

    Second, we must protect the district’s long-term financial health. Declining enrollment, increasing costs, and competing priorities require disciplined decision-making. As a trustee, I believe every budget decision should begin with a simple question: How does this improve opportunities and outcomes for students?

    My experience as an educator, administrator, university professor, and current board president has taught me that lasting improvement requires more than good ideas. It requires stable leadership, collaboration with employees and families, responsible stewardship of public resources, and the willingness to make difficult decisions while keeping students at the center.”

    • Question: To you, what is the role of a school board in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely?

    • Answer: “The school board’s fundamental responsibility is governance: setting the district’s direction, establishing policy, adopting a responsible budget, holding the superintendent accountable, and ensuring that our schools deliver a high-quality education for every student.

    That does not mean the board is removed from curriculum. California law gives local boards important responsibilities for curriculum and instructional materials. But there is a critical difference between responsible oversight and micromanaging classroom instruction. Board decisions should be informed by state standards, research and evidence, student achievement data, and, critically, the professional expertise of teachers and administrators.

    I believe effective governance requires asking difficult questions: Are students learning? Where are the gaps? Are our programs working? Are our resources aligned with our priorities? And what does the evidence tell us we should do differently?

    Trustees must also listen to parents, students, employees, and the broader community. We should make decisions based on evidence and the educational needs of students—not ideology or political pressure.

    Ultimately, the board sets direction, establishes expectations, monitors results, and holds the system accountable for delivering on its promises to students.

    • Question: How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited?

    • Answer: Schools should teach students about artificial intelligence in age-appropriate ways, including its benefits, limitations, and responsible use.

    Elementary students should learn about AI without using it directly. Their focus should be on building foundational reading, writing, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.

    Secondary students can use AI to explore ideas, receive feedback, and support learning. They must also learn to evaluate its responses, recognize bias, and identify inaccuracies. AI should never substitute for students’ own thinking, writing, or demonstration of understanding.

    For teachers, AI can help differentiate instruction, improve accessibility, and reduce routine workloads. It should support their professional judgment and relationships with students.

    Any use must include clear expectations for transparency, academic integrity, and protection of student privacy and data.

    The guiding question should always be: Does this technology deepen learning, or does it allow students to circumvent learning?”

    • Question: How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue?

    • Answer: “Schools should teach students to discuss difficult issues with intellectual honesty, respect, and the ability to evaluate evidence. Civil discourse is not simply politeness. It requires listening carefully, questioning assumptions, distinguishing facts from opinions, and challenging claims without demeaning people.

    It also does not mean treating every claim as equally credible or using “civility” to silence students who raise legitimate concerns about injustice. Respect for differing perspectives must coexist with a clear commitment to accuracy, student dignity, and freedom from harassment and discrimination.

    In Orange Unified, I would support structured, developmentally appropriate discussions, debates, and collaborative problem-solving across subjects. Students should practice assessing sources, supporting arguments with evidence, considering competing perspectives, and revising their thinking when the evidence warrants it.

    Teachers need professional learning, resources, and administrative support to guide these conversations and ensure every student can participate.

    Adults must model these expectations, including at school board meetings. Our responsibility is to prepare students to think independently and participate responsibly in a diverse democracy, not tell them what to think, shield them from uncomfortable facts, or require agreement.”

    • Question: Some school districts around California are recruiting teachers by building subsidized housing. How would you suggest your district could better attract — and retain — educators? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)

    • Answer: “Attracting great educators is important. Keeping them is just as important.

    Housing assistance may be one tool, particularly given Southern California’s high cost of living, but there is no single solution to educator recruitment and retention. Research consistently tells us that compensation, working conditions, strong school leadership, professional support, and opportunities for growth matter.

    OUSD must remain competitive in compensation to surrounding districts, while creating schools where talented people want to build careers. That means providing meaningful mentoring for new educators, high-quality professional learning opportunities for teacher leadership and advancement, and working conditions that allow educators to concentrate on teaching and students.

    We should also strengthen partnerships with universities and educator-preparation programs to develop a pipeline of well-prepared teachers, particularly in hard-to-staff areas.

    Most importantly, we must listen to our employees. As someone who spent more than 27 years working in PK–12 education, I know that educators want their expertise respected and their voices included in decisions that affect their work.

    Recruitment gets people through the door. Strong leadership, professional respect, opportunities for growth, competitive compensation, and a healthy organizational culture are what make excellent educators stay.”

    • 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: “I bring more than three decades of experience in public education, as a teacher, principal, district administrator, university faculty, and now school board trustee and board president.

    Those experiences have allowed me to see public education from multiple perspectives: the classroom, the school site, district leadership, educator preparation, and governance. They have also taught me that leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about listening carefully, asking the right questions, bringing people together, examining evidence, and having the courage to make difficult decisions, when necessary.

    My priorities remain clear: improving student achievement, closing opportunity gaps, maintaining fiscal stability, supporting and retaining excellent employees, and ensuring that every student learns in a safe, welcoming, high-quality school.

    I also believe stability matters. School districts make their greatest progress when boards, employees, families, and communities can work toward a shared direction rather than continually starting over.

    I am seeking reelection because there is more work to do. I bring both educational expertise and governing experience to that work and a commitment to keeping students, rather than politics, at the center of our decisions.

    • Question: If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? 

    • Answer: “The scarab. In ancient Egyptian tradition, the scarab symbolizes renewal, transformation, and becoming. I think that is a powerful metaphor for education. Every student is in the process of becoming: discovering their strengths, developing their identity, and imagining possibilities they may not yet see for themselves. Our responsibility as educators, families, and community members is to create the conditions that allow that growth to occur. Education is transformative. At its best, it helps young people discover not simply what they know, but who they can become.”

    • Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

    • Answer: “I would choose ‘Cultivating Genius’ by Gholdy Muhammad because one of my dissertation students is using Muhammad’s work as the conceptual framework for her study. As her dissertation chair, I am committed to engaging deeply with the scholarship that informs her research so I can thoughtfully support her work. Muhammad’s framework challenges educators to consider how schools cultivate students’ identity, skills, intellect, and criticality alongside academic proficiency. Reading it through my commitment to my students also offers an opportunity to reflect, as a school board member, on what we want education to cultivate in young people.”


    Endorsed by: 


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found


    Follow the Money: 

    • $10,000 from Orange Unified Education Association Education Action Committee

    • $300 from Harper Conflict Resolution LLC(Jason Harper)

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.

Municipal Water District of Orange County

  • Municipal Water District of OC Division 2 Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “LARRY D. DICK | Director Division 2, Municipal Water District of Orange County

    Clean, reliable and affordable water doesn't just happen, it takes experienced leadership. As Division 2 Director on the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) Board and currently serving as Board President, I remain devoted to developing reliable

    and economical supplies of safe, high quality drinking water for our

    communities.

    For twenty years I represented Orange County as a Director of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET), serving 19 million Californians.

    During my service on MET and MWDOC my top priorities were water quality and reliability, alongside environmental stewardship and water sustainability. Our region faces real challenges ahead: Uncertainty in Colorado River negotiations, growing impacts of climate change and continuing issues on the State Water Project, all requiring experienced leadership.

    My experience extends across the water community, including the Executive Committee of the Special Districts of Orange County, member of the Water Advisory Committee of Orange County including two terms as President and a member of the Executive Committee of the Urban Water Institute.

    I ask for your support in continuing this important work by casting your vote for me. Thank you for your consideration.

    Respectfully

    Larry Dick”


    Email: None Found


    Campaign Website: Larry does not appear to have a campaign website. All sources appear to lead to his official webpage on the OCMWD platform, which is not a campaign website. 

    Priorities: 

    • None Found


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Larry is an incumbent, having been first elected in 2000, 26 years ago.  Prior to becoming a board member on the OC Municipal Water District, he served for several years on the Serrano Water District and SWD Recreation, Inc. 

    • He’s on the board of directors at the OC Taxpayers Association - an organization that consistently aligns itself with and funds the campaigns of conservative candidates across Orange County, including candidates with openly anti-LGBTQ stances. This is not a 100% track record, as they’ve also supported moderate Democrats for office, but a general trend. 

      • In general, the OC Taxpayers Association is fiscally conservative and business-focused, not overtly anti-LGBTQ. That said, candidates running on anti-LGBTQ or anti-immigrant, etc platforms, have not shown to be a line in the sand for the organization. 

    • Larry endorsed AJ Ricci for Orange City Council. AJ is a conservative candidate who donated his own funds to the explicitly anti-LGBTQ slate of candidates running for Orange USD. (x)

    • In 2014, Dick held a campaign event for his re-election with hosts Ken Calvert (U.S. Congressman, Republican, deeply anti-LGBTQ, anti-POC, anti-woman voter record), Bob Huff (Fmr. Senate Republican Leader), Fred Whitaker (Fmr. Chair of the OC GOP, openly spoke about using transphobic propaganda in school board races to convert voters), and ‘special guest’ Kenneth L. Khachigian, Esq. (Former Senior Advisor to President Ronald Reagan). (x)

    • Larry’s campaign posts on his social media appear to be largely AI-Generated. 

    • His campaign treasurer is 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:

    • OC Around the Table

    • Karl Seckel (his fellow Trustee, District 4, endorsed by OC Huddle)

    • Congressman Ken Calvert (Republican, voter record of opposition to LGBTQ rights, reproductive freedoms, any kind of regulatory control on ICE, etc)


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • Dick 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: “The goal is to continue to ensure that our water is safe, reliable, and abundant during all conditions and delivered in a cost-effective way to the residents of Orange County.”

      • Question: What does this department do for citizens? What do you view as its most important role for residents, and why? 

      • Answer: “MWDOC provides a significant portion of the Orange County water supply, which is imported from the Colorado River or the State Water Project.

    The department acts as a planning agency for Orange County water, offers water savings programs, facilitates leak detection services, and provides water emergency response efforts. We facilitate education programs for public and private schools. Most importantly, we regularly bring more money into the county, through grants and outside funding, than we cost our citizens.”

    • 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: “The best way to promote the activities and value of MWDOC to the residents of OC is through outreach. I regularly speak at Rotary, Lions, and Chamber events on the services MWDOC provides, along with water supply reports. I would also encourage the public to visit our website as well as attend any one of our committee or board meetings to learn about the activities of the district.”

    • 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 over 20 years, I represented Orange County as a director of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET), serving 19 million Californians. During my service on MET and MWDOC, I served as senior delegate, and my top priorities were water quality and reliability, alongside environmental stewardship and water sustainability.

    Our region faces real challenges ahead: uncertainty in Colorado River negotiations, growing impacts of climate change and continuing issues on the State Water Project, all requiring experienced leadership.

    My experience extends across the water community, including the executive committee of the Special Districts of Orange County, membership on the Water Advisory Committee of Orange County including two terms as president), and membership on the executive committee of the Urban Water Institute. I have learned that public service is rewarding and at times challenging. Sometimes there are no perfect answers, only the best answer to the current issue. At all times, the top priority is to provide safe and reliable water supplies.”

    • Question: What will you do to establish trust with your community that you will tackle this job well?

    • Answer: “It would be my hope that I have earned the trust of our community. I have served in leadership at our church, Rotary, the Santiago Canyon College Foundation Board, and the Chambers of Commerce in Orange and Garden Grove. I have always held sacred the trust given to my stewardship of assets, both fiscal and physical, as well as the importance of maintaining the good reputation of the organizations with which I am involved.”

    • Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

    • Answer: Declined to answer.


    Endorsed by: 

    • John Moorlach, Former State Senator. (Moorlach is a former state legislator out of Irvine, who received praise during his time in office from anti-LGBTQ hate group California Family Council for his reticence to support Concurrent Assembly Resolution 99 in 2019, which, among other things, urges religious leaders to counsel on LGBTQ matters from a place of love and compassion, while recognizing the psychological and emotional harms associated with conversion therapy.) (x) (x)

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

    • Dick does not have a campaign website listing his endorsements as far as we could tell. 


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found


    Follow the Money: 

    • $1,000 from Townsend Public Affairs Inc (a Newport-Beach based lobbying firm whose campaign donations seem to span the political spectrum)

    • Larry’s own political campaign contributions to other candidates appear to be somewhat bipartisan.

  • Municipal Water District of OC Division 2 Candidate


    Candidate Statement: None Found


    Email: None Found


    Campaign Website: None Found - but you can find his campaign website for his presidential campaign here. 

    Priorities: 

    • None Found


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Armando is a perennial candidate who shows up on ballots most election cycles.. Here’s his “Armando for President” campaign website. (x) 

    • His rhetoric is far right sprinkled with a handful of left rhetoric. He is in favor of a forced birthing policy and claims ‘Kamala supports abortions that kill babies’. Says ‘she is married to a Zionist Jew’. We are choosing not to promote these views by linking directly to his social media, but it can be found if you search for it.  

    When the attempt to recall Newsom took place he put his name into the hat for Governor. His old governor website says: “FUTURE POLITICAL GOAL: Democratic Political Party Nomination for President of the United States of America as a historical vote to be the First Latino President in the advancement of Racial Equity & Inclusion 2024.”

    • In Orange County, he’s also run for the OC Board of Education and the Orange County Municipal Water Board. 

    • He has made a number of posts on his Twitter account representing; Bibi Netanyahu as Hitler, the Israeli flag with the swastika, while acknowledging the genocide of the Palestinian people. 


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • None Found


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • The following is the full essay on his campaign page for his 2028 Presidential Run (separate from his 2024 Presidential Run). “I am Armando "Mando" Perez-Serrato and I will be running for President of the United States of America in 2028 as I did in 2024. I will be running as a working-class Democratic candidate.

    In 2024, I had the foresight and courage to run against Biden and the Democratic Establishment because I knew they were going to lose and they did. If you want to win in 2028 #VoteMando.

    For 2028, the Democratic Establishment will abandon democracy yet again by Anointing Gavin Newsom and he will lose just like Kamala. They both have the same policies, come from the same place, and believe in the same things that have resulted in Catastrophic results here in California. They both destroyed San Francisco together, they both destroyed California together and now they both want to destroy America together. 

    Voters in swing states will not vote for them because they don't want their state to turn into California. Here in California Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris are responsible for making crime legal, rent/ mortgage is the highest in the country, highest taxes, highest grocery/gas prices, taxpayers paying for transgender surgeries, open borders, Billions in fraud of tax payer money and a homeless apocalypse. Men especially, younger men 18-35 and Latinos will not vote for Gavin Newsom or Kamala Harris as proven in 2024.

    The Democratic Party needs new, younger and dynamic candidates like me that put the working class first. Latino Voters will decide who becomes President in 2028. 

    I am the perfect Latino candidate that can win in 2028 by achieving National Latino support, obtaining more votes from men and the idea of electing the "First" Latino President will create excitement in the electorate. Voters will want to be part of something historical similar to what happened with Obama. I am seeking your endorsement and support to be a Nationally Recognized Presidential Candidate to win in 2028 or be selected for Vice President. 

    We already had a Black President and Vice President so that is no longer new or a novelty and as seen in 2024 Black people are not enough to vote in a Democrat, so if you want to win in 2028 you need to support a Latino and White candidate combination. It's time for Black people to support Latinos to become President or Vice President. Latinos have already helped Obama and Kamala be elected. Democrats if you want to win in 2028 #VoteMando.

    Thank You, MANDO” (x)

    • During his 2021 gubernatorial campaign, the LA Times asked him how he would direct the state to handle ICE if he won. Armando replied, “Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the sole responsibility of the federal government and the president of the United States. As a member of the Latino community my goal is to bring awareness to the border crisis that the Biden/Harris administration created!” (x)

      • NOTE: In April 2026, he posted on his Twitter account a sign that said ‘Mando for US Congress, No Trump No ICE’. 


    Endorsed by: 

    • None Found


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found


    Follow the Money: 

    • None Found

  • Municipal Water District of OC Division 2 Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “BOBBY LAPOINTE | Retail Investor

    As a husband, father of three, Army veteran, and longtime Orange County resident, I understand public service begins with responsibility. I am running for Division 2 Director of the Municipal Water District of Orange County to help secure safe, reliable, affordable water for our communities.

    My Army work in information technology and network security taught me to protect critical systems, evaluate risks, and respond under pressure. I earned bachelor’s degrees in History and Women and Gender Studies from California State University, Fullerton, along with associate degrees in Mathematics and Nutrition from Fullerton College. My education has been rooted in community needs—combining analytical thinking, health, and social understanding to better serve the public. As a retail investor managing my investment business, I evaluate risk, scrutinize costs, plan for the long term, and understand every dollar must serve a

    purpose.

    I will apply those skills to protecting groundwater, strengthening infrastructure, expanding water recycling, improving wildfire preparedness, and reducing dependence on imported water. I will

    ask questions, explain decisions openly, and treat public money with care.

    I will bring integrity, judgment, financial discipline, and a commitment to dependable water for every community I serve. Thank you for your consideration.”


    Email: bobby@lapointe2026.com 


    Campaign Website: https://lapointe2026.com/

    Bobby has this quote on his campaign website, “The Greatest Way You Can Thank A Veteran For Their Service Is By Being Civically Active And Vote.”

    Priorities: 

    • Lead On Data Centers Instead Of Reacting To Them

    • Write Policy For The River We Actually Have

    • Harden Our Infrastructure Against Attack

    • Treat This As A Policy Job, Because It Is One

    • Protect The Water That Fights Our Fires


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Bobby actively reached out to Pride at the Pier to ask about our guide and about the pledges we sent to candidates in 2024. We did not actively send those pledges out in 2026 due simply to bandwidth limitations, but because he asked about it, we sent the ‘Do No Harm’ pledge to him for review. He agreed almost immediately to take the Pledge. 

    That pledge a commitment to uphold principles of inclusivity, equity, and respect. This pledge is a crucial step in ensuring that our community remains a welcoming and supportive place for all individuals, regardless of their background or identity. 

    “The Do No Harm Pledge includes the following commitments:

    • Acknowledgement of the Separation of Church and State: Affirmation of the importance of maintaining a clear separation between religious beliefs and public policy.

    • Open Dialogue with the LGBTQ+ Community: Commitment to seeking out and engaging in open and respectful dialogue with members of the LGBTQ+ community in your role.

    • Prioritizing Safety, Dignity, and Equity: Pledge to prioritize the safety, dignity, and equity of all constituents, including marginalized communities.”

    • Bobby endorses a ‘third path’ with data centers. His campaign website points out that there are already two data centers in Orange County (one in Anaheim, one in Irvine), and suggests that rather than banning data centers entirely or allowing them all in, that we take a ‘third path’; “There is a third option: lead. Tech companies need our land, workforce, resources, and markets to build and promote their products. That is leverage. We should use it rather than surrender it. How do we do that?

    By planning early. I propose a regional Orange County Data Center Water Suitability Study to identify factors that influence data center construction across the entire county, such as water availability and reliability, access to non-potable water, locations of culturally and spiritually significant tribal sites, and more.

    Looking out ten years, twenty years, and beyond, I want us to be able to say that we met this moment, and the presence of data centers in our communities led to the development of reliable water infrastructure that can serve our needs for generations to come.” Read the full context of his statements here.

    • He received his Bachelor of Arts (BA, Women and Gender Studies) from Cal State Fullerton in January 2025, having gone back to school later in life. 

    • Bobby is a veteran, having served as a sergeant in the US Army with a deployment to Iraq. 


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    NOTE: This is a very incomplete list. We have many mutuals with Bobby, these are just a handful.

    • Pride at the Pier

    • Carl Blankenhorn (progressive candidate for Fountain Valley School District)

    • Alex Mohajer (openly LGBTQ Irvine commissioner, fmr. Candidate for State Senate, fmr. President of the Stonewall Democrats)

    • Orange Coast Huddle

    • OC Young Democrats

    • OC Indivisible

    • The Charty B (partner of Pride at the Pier, tracks extremists across California politics)

    • The Feminist Uprising

    • LGBTQ Center OC

    • Mission Viejo Pride

    • WAVE

    • You Belong Outdoors and Beyond (partner of Pride at the Pier, trans-led hiking group)

    • Long Beach Rapid Response Network

    • Supporters of Public Education

    • Orange County Working Families Party


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • On his campaign website, Bobby says, “The Colorado River is drying up, and the policies we run on were written for a river that still had water in it.

    How much water Orange County imports depends entirely on where you stand. In north and central Orange County, 19 cities and agencies serving 2.5 million people pump about 85 percent of their demand from the groundwater basin and import the remaining 15 percent. In South Orange County, roughly 600,000 people rely almost entirely on imported supply, and in a drought some districts run at 100 percent imported. MWDOC is the agency that buys that imported water and sets the terms our 28 member agencies work under. Which means the decisions made at this board, covering supply contracts, conservation, recycling, and who gets to draw on the system, are the decisions that determine what happens here when the imported supply gets tighter.

    I'm running because those decisions are arriving faster than the board is prepared for them, and because we should be the ones making them rather than waiting to be handed the results.” 

    • Lapointe 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 top priority is making sure Orange County has a plan for less imported water, because our local supply depends on imported water too.

    About two-thirds of the county’s water comes from the groundwater basin under north and central Orange County. That basin is managed, not unlimited. OCWD caps how much agencies may pump, currently at 85% of demand, and refilling it takes recycled water, captured storm flow, and purchased imported water. When imported supply tightens, both halves of our portfolio tighten together.

    The rules on the Colorado River just changed. The seven basin states failed to agree, so in August the federal government imposed its own framework and issued guidelines covering only 2027 and 2028. The long-term allocation is unresolved, and the next MWDOC board will serve while it is decided.

    MWDOC does not negotiate that alone, but it appoints four of Orange County’s representatives to Metropolitan’s board. Making sure Orange County is heard in that room is the most consequential thing this seat does.”

    • Question: What does this department do for citizens? What do you view as its most important role for residents, and why?” 

    • Answer: “Most residents will never interact directly with the Municipal Water District of Orange County, yet its work affects something they depend upon every day. It is a low-visibility but high-impact position.

    Its most important role is simple: When you turn on the tap, safe water should be there, and the bill should be one a family can absorb. Every dollar MWDOC spends flows through your local agency and onto your bill, so cost discipline isn’t separate from reliability; it’s a cornerstone of it. Achieving that requires more than technical expertise. A director must be a coalition builder.

    Orange County’s water future depends on cooperation among local water agencies, cities, regional partners, state and federal governments, community stakeholders and people with competing priorities. No single agency can solve these challenges alone.

    A director’s job is governance: listen to technical experts, scrutinize costs, ask difficult questions, build consensus where possible and advocate effectively for the people we represent.”

    • 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: “MWDOC has run one of Southern California’s oldest water education programs since 1973, reaching about 70,000 students a year. The district isn’t silent. But its outreach reaches children, while the people paying the bills and casting the votes are adults.

    I’d close that gap three ways.

    First, use the channel residents already open: their water bill. MWDOC doesn’t bill anyone directly, but its 27 member agencies do. A short annual insert saying where your water came from, what it cost, and what’s coming would reach nearly every household. Not only in English and Spanish, but in Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese. Orange County is federally required to print ballots in those four languages. Water bills deserve the same standard.

    Second, show up in person. City councils, chambers, and neighborhood groups all take public comment. A director who appears at 10 of those a year does more than any brochure.

    Third, make the board’s own work legible. Agendas that explain items in ordinary language instead of acronyms, and rate changes explained before they take effect, not after.

    And measure it. If outreach doesn’t change what residents can tell you about their water, it’s marketing, not education”

    • 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: “I served as an Army Sergeant and deployed to Iraq. I learned leadership where failure was not hypothetical, where the job was to stay calm, make decisions with incomplete information, and the expectation to keep my team working when conditions turned bad.

    Droughts, earthquakes, pipeline failures, and cyberattacks do not arrive on a convenient schedule. Plans that have never been stress-tested tend to be binders no one has opened.

    My priorities are: First, treat cybersecurity as core infrastructure, not an IT line item. Water systems are a documented target. Second, plan honestly for a smaller Colorado River rather than assuming past allocations hold. Third, set policy on large industrial water users, including data centers, before that demand arrives.

    I studied history and women and gender studies at Cal State Fullerton, shaping how I approach leadership. History teaches you to think beyond the next election, to ask what a decision will mean decades from now. Women and gender studies teaches you to ask an equally important question: Who is missing from the room, and who will bear the consequences of the decision? On a board that sets rates and makes infrastructure decisions affecting millions of people, both are practical skills.”

    • Question: What will you do to establish trust with your community that you will tackle this job well? 

    • Answer: “Trust is built by being specific and then being checkable.

    I am not going to promise to lower your water bill. No single director controls rates, and a candidate who tells you otherwise is either misinformed or counting on you not to check.

    What I can promise is how I will operate. I will explain my votes in public, in plain terms, before they are cast and not after. When I do not know something, I will say so and then go find out, rather than repeating staff language I do not understand. And I will show up where residents already are instead of waiting for them to find a board meeting in Fountain Valley.

    I would rather be judged on a record than a slogan. If elected, I will publish what I said I would work on and report annually on whether I did it. That is an uncomfortable standard, which is the point.

    What I bring is the Army’s discipline and leadership training, the foresight history teaches about decisions that outlast the people who make them, and the passion to build an argument and carry it into a room where it is not welcome.”

    • Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

    Answer: “The best book I have read this year is ‘Let’s Call Her Barbie’ by Renée Rosen.

    It came to me through one of the book clubs I belong to, and it was exactly the kind of book I did not know I needed. I read a lot of heavy material. Policy, history, institutions, and long explanations of how things went wrong. This was joyful, but I still came away having learned something.

    Rosen uses historical fiction to tell the story of Ruth Handler, Mattel, and the team that created Barbie. In the 1950s, when dolls marketed to girls largely encouraged them to imagine themselves as mothers, Handler pushed the radical idea of an adult woman doll who could represent a future instead. The book follows the resistance, personalities, arguments, and persistence behind what became one of the most recognizable toys in the world. Underneath all that pink, it is really a story about moving an organization that has already made up its mind, and about who gets listened to. Not a bad thing to read before running for a board seat.

    You get a few looks reading a bright pink Barbie book in public as a grown man. By page 30, you stop noticing.”


    Endorsed by: 

    • OC Indivisible

    • OC Democrats

    • Viet Dems of OC


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found


    Follow the Money: 

    • Bobby’s campaign contributions are not yet publicly available

  • Municipal Water District of OC Division 2 Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “MIKE MARKUS | Water Resource Engineer

    Orange County’s imported water supply is growing more expensive and less dependable. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being wasted on projects supported by the MWDOC Board that are destined to fail. I will stop wasteful spending and bring practical solutions to help solve our water issues.

    I dedicated 35 years to serving the Orange County Water District, leading the organization as its General Manager for 16 years. During that time, I built the world's largest water reuse project,

    the Groundwater Replenishment System, and developed the first program in the nation to remove PFAS from groundwater, saving over 200 Orange County water wells from closure. These projects provide long-term reliable water supplies while protecting human

    health.

    I am an Engineer, not a politician. I have built my career in sound science and fiscal accountability. I am running because I have real experience building and managing large infrastructure projects. I know what water projects should cost, which questions to ask and understand when the numbers don’t add up. I will hold every MWDOC decision to a high standard and make sure ratepayers get what they pay for.

    I respectfully ask for your vote. I would be honored to serve you.”


    Email: None Found


    Campaign Website: Candidate does not appear to have a campaign website

    Priorities: 

    • None Found


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Mike has decades of experience as an employee of MWDOC, starting as a construction manager in 1988 and retiring in 2024 after being a General Manager since 2007.

    • Mike spoke to Youtube channel Aquatech in 2020 about his involvement in the creation of MWDOC’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). Watch it here.

    • Mike is a client of the Loren lillestrand Consulting executive training program. (x)


    Social Media Links: 

    • Linkedin


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • None Found


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • In a MWDOC regarding his 2024 retirement, Mike said, “It has been an absolute privilege to lead an organization that is a global leader in its industry (...) From groundwater management to water recycling and water quality, OCWD has driven innovation and set the gold standard for many projects and programs. This is a testament to the board and the dedicated staff who work to fulfill our mission to provide a safe, reliable water supply.” (x)

    • Markus 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 No. 1 priority is to cut wasteful spending and support projects that will result in the lowest cost of water to the customer.”

      • Question: What does this department do for citizens? What do you view as its most important role for residents, and why? 

      • Answer: “MWDOC represents the citizens of Orange County at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), which is the regional wholesaler of water imported from Northern California and the Colorado River. MWDOC’s most important role is to make sure that MWD develops policies and projects that provide the most cost-effective solutions to our water challenges.”

      • 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: “I would try to drive people to the MWDOC website (www.mwdoc.com) and make improvements to the website to explain where their water comes from. This could be done by putting a notice in with the water bills and having a link on the water retailer’s website to the MWDOC site. I would also promote emailing a monthly MWDOC newsletter to all water customers.”

      • 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: “I was born and have lived in California my entire life. I graduated from Villa Park High School, received an undergraduate degree (Cal Poly Pomona) and a graduate degree (USC) in civil engineering. I spent 35 years working at the Orange County Water District (OCWD), with the last 16 years as its general manager. While at OCWD, I managed and built the world’s largest potable reuse project that produces 130 million gallons of water per day. I uniquely understand the water challenges facing Orange County and the state of California and am not afraid of asking tough questions and solving complex issues.”

      • Question: What will you do to establish trust with your community that you will tackle this job well?

      • Answer: “I will actively engage my retail water agencies and listen to their concerns. I will also host monthly community meetings for any member of the public to explain what is happening at MWDOC and MWD and answer any concerns they may have. I am not a politician; I’m a respected water professional who has devoted his entire career to water. Google me.”

      • Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

      • Answer: “‘Water 4.0’ by David Sedlak. Great book.”


    Endorsed by: 

    • None Found


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found


    Follow the Money:

Rancho Santiago Community College District

  • ​Rancho Santiago Community College District Area 2 Trustee Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “JOHN R. HANNA | Governing Board Member, Rancho Santiago Community College District, Trustee Area 2

    I am John R. Hanna, and it has been an honor to serve you and our community as the Trustee for Area 2 of the Rancho Santiago Community College District. My wife, Cynthia, and our seven children have lived in Santa Ana and Orange for 37 years. I am a long-time parishioner at Holy Family Church in Orange and have volunteered thousands of hours with local youth sports and community organizations. Professionally, I have served as General Counsel for two California agencies and handled government affairs for the 12-state Western States Carpenters before my

    retirement.

    As your Trustee, I have worked to maintain balanced budgets while building strong partnerships with local businesses. Santa Ana and Santiago Canyon colleges continue to have strong enrollment because of our dedicated educators and employees and our outstanding Career Technical Education and Apprenticeship programs, many of which allow our students to earn while they learn.

    Our District contributes $2.4 billion to the Orange County economy, while providing students with affordable pathways to universities and good-paying careers. I remain committed to fiscal

    responsibility, accountability and addressing challenges legally, responsibly, and transparently.

    I humbly ask for your vote.”


    Email: None Found


    Campaign Website: John does not appear to have a campaign website.

    Priorities: Normally we’d pull these from his website. Lacking that, these are pulled from his candidate questionnaire with the OC Register. 

    • “Adequate funding to provide skilled workforce training as well as traditional academic majors that help run businesses and help prepare students for their associate’s and bachelor’s degrees at an affordable cost for students.

    • Ensuring that Santa Ana and Santiago Canyon colleges build on the success of the past in developing partnerships with business, labor, higher education and governmental entities to ensure that our students have a pipeline into a good career, trained by an outstanding faculty.”


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • John is the incumbent in this seat at the age of 74. 

    • John also serves as the Director of Governmental and Political Affairs/Special Counsel at Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, a role he began in 2014. (x)

    • He received his JD (Law Degree) from Loyola Law School Los Angeles, and his BA in Political Science and Government from CSU Fullerton in 1974. (x)

    • In conjunction with his seat on the Rancho Santiago Community College District, he serves on the Community College League of California Advisory Committee on Legislation. (x) 

    • According to the OC Register, Hanna was a leadership member (possibly Central Committee?) in the OC Democratic Party between 1980 and 1988. (x) 


    Social Media Links: 

    • Linkedin

    • No traditional social media pages found.


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • None found


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • The OC Register asked John, “In October, Long Beach City College will break ground on a new student housing facility at its Liberal Arts Campus that will provide 431 total units to students. Is student housing a priority that your college should pursue? If so, explain how you intend to take on such an endeavor in a timely, cost-effective manner. If you don’t, how should your college district support students searching for affordable housing options near campus?” He replied, “While I appreciate community colleges that have provided student housing, it’s expensive, and the state is no longer giving large sums of money to incentivize student housing. Only about 1% of California’s community college students utilize student housing, as most colleges don’t have the space for housing or find it too expensive when budgets are tight. In addition, a majority of students are part-time and are not on campus often.

    If state funds become available for student housing, I would support talking with Santa Ana and the County of Orange, as well as our residential and business neighbors, before proceeding further. We are providing financial assistance to many of our students. Housing would need more multi-government/private sector funding and coordination if student housing were built.” (x)

    • The OC Register also asked him, “What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.” He replied, “I Yell Because I Care: The Passion and Politics of John Burton, California’s Liberal Warrior.” John Burton was one of the toughest and brightest political leaders I have ever personally known. His book was an enjoyable walk down California’s governmental and political action from the 1950s until his passing last year. A good read on how politics is both an inside and outside game, at least if you’re good at it.” (x)


    Endorsed by: 

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

      • NOTE: Nancy did provide this note on her choice; “Comments: Not good choices. Better than Steve Rocco.” So while it’s her “Pick”, it’s not an enthusiastic, full-throated endorsement. 



    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found


    Follow the Money: 

    • $250 from Faculty Association of the Rancho Santiago Community College District PAC

    • Hanna contributed $100 to the campaign of Santa Ana City Council incumbent candidate Phil Bacerra. You can read about Bacerra on the Santa Ana page. 

    • Hanna contributed $100 to the campaign of Santa Ana City Council candidate Giovanni Chavez. You can read about Chavez on the Santa Ana page. 

    • Hanna contributed $125 to the campaign of Santa Ana Mayoral incumbent candidate Valerie Amezcua. You can read about Amezcua on the Santa Ana page. 

    • Hanna contributed $125 to the campaign of Coast Community College District Candidate Sunny Zia. You can read about Zia on multiple coastal city’s pages, including Huntington Beach.

  • ​Rancho Santiago Community College District Area 2 Trustee Candidate


    Candidate Statement: NONE FOUND


    Email: None Found


    Campaign Website: Rocco does not have a campaign website. 

    Priorities: Rocco has no listed priorities. He has never had listed priorities in any of his runs for office. 


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Former OUSD school board trustee 2004-2008. Rocco has run for office… a lot. He runs every cycle - he’s ran for OUSD, OC Clerk-Recorder, Santa Ana Mayor, Rancho Santiago Community College District, and more. He never has an active campaign - when he won the OUSD race in 2004 (with 54% of the vote), it was a shock to everyone, as he had essentially no campaign. Rocco himself refused all efforts to be contacted after he won, remaining elusive to the point that community watchdog groups offered a cash prize for anyone who could capture a picture of him. Rocco didn’t appear or speak publicly until the December 9, 2004 OUSD meeting where he was sworn in. (x) (x) (x) 

    • While he was on the OUSD Board, Rocco was the source of a significant amount of turmoil due to his behavior, including a school board meeting in March 2007 when he attempted to make a speech about what he calls “the partnership,” a cabal of powerful individuals he says runs the county and has tried to assassinate him. That didn’t go over too well, leading the Board to seek to change the rules for how meetings were run. (x) 

    • Speeches were not the extent of unusual behavior from Rocco while he sat on the OUSD board - multiple photographs and videos can be found online of Rocco wearing all black clothing, a dark blue beanie, and black Raybans-style sunglasses on the dias, presumably every time, along with props such as dolls, black-and-white surveillance style photos in picture frames, and signs. Rocco generally did not engage in discussion about school board matters during his time in elected office, instead tending to stick to commentary about his suspicions of a criminal cabal that was trying to kill him. (x) 

    • During his early campaigns, Rocco gained a reputation for having misled voters about being a “teacher.” Rocco does have an expired teaching credential, but our researchers cannot find any evidence of him actually being employed as a teacher anywhere. (x) 

    • As far as we can tell, Rocco won his election in 2004 largely in part because his ballot statement said he was a “teacher” while his opponent said he was a “park ranger.” (x) 

    • Tried to list himself as a “retired teacher/writer” on his 2024 designation but a private citizen challenged the designation and the ROV agreed and removed “teacher”. Private citizens are legally allowed to challenge designations on ballots for a limited time during candidate filings - this is a legal process that exists through the OC Registrar of Voters. (x)

    • The LA Times reported on Rocco in 2004 ahead of his swearing in, sharing that, “indeed, when he filed candidacy paperwork for the school board seat, Rocco included a homemade manifesto of sorts -- a sheet of densely typed text cut and pasted together, and filled with rambling prose.

    Rocco further explored his theories in a lengthy self-published book, “Behind the Orange Curtain: Secret Chronicles and Public Record Accounts of Corruption, Murder and Scandals of Corporate and Political California.” He also served as host on 17 episodes of a self-produced interview show on a public access cable channel in 1993 and 1994. Videotapes show a mustached Rocco conducting interviews from behind dark glasses with guests who included a self-proclaimed witch and a drummer from a 1960s rock band.

    In 1996 he produced one episode of another series, “Political Murder,” but lawyers for the cable company and Santa Ana College -- where the show was taped -- refused to let it air. College spokeswoman Judy Iannaccone declined to comment further on the show.” (x) 

    • When Rocco was censured by his fellow OUSD Trustees, he sued over it, claiming the censure was a violation of his first amendment rights. The judge disagreed, dismissing the case. (x) 


    Social Media Links: 

    • Rocco is famously a recluse. None Found. 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • None Found


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • In his opening speech when he was sworn in at the Orange USD board back in 2004, he said, “You change things here, you change things nationwide. The world is watching. Doing my job as trustee and fighting organized crime are one and the same. We are living in a time of secret organizations, living in a time of corruption and, most of all, living in a time of dictatorships.” (x) 


    Endorsed by: 

    • None found


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None found


    Follow the Money: 

    • None found

  • ​Rancho Santiago Community College District Area 4 Trustee Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “DAISY TONG | AGE: 42 | Rancho Santiago Community College District Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 4

    It has been an honor to serve as your Trustee for the past four years, including the privilege of serving as President of the Board. I believe education transforms lives by expanding opportunities, increasing earning potential, and strengthening our entire community.

    During my term, our district maintained a strong financial position, increased reserves, expanded enrollment, strengthened dual enrollment and adult education, and grew nationally recognized apprenticeship programs. From the beginning, I have been committed to helping our young students successfully transfer to four-year universities while also creating more opportunities for working adults to return to college, earn certificates, degrees, and build better careers.

    Under our leadership, Rancho Santiago Community College District expanded one of California’s largest selections of bachelor’s degree programs, opened Santa Ana College’s new Health Sciences Building, secured more than $29 million in new state funding through enrollment growth, and brought in millions of federal grants to expand educational opportunities.

    I believe public service begins with listening. I maintain an open-door policy and welcome your questions, ideas, and concerns at daisyxtong@gmail.com. I respectfully ask for your vote for Daisy Tong to continue building on this success by keeping student success our top priority while remaining a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.”


    Email: daisyxtong@gmail.com


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

    Priorities: 

    • “Progress Through Leadership

      • During my time on the Board, I’ve been proud to work with my fellow trustees and our colleges to support significant growth and new opportunities for students. Together, we have expanded educational pathways, strengthened career and workforce programs, grown Continuing Education, and maintained a strong financial foundation. There is more work ahead, and I remain committed to building on this progress.

    • Student Success & Opportunity

      • I’ve been proud to support expanding affordable pathways for students to earn degrees, transfer to four-year universities, and prepare for meaningful careers. Santa Ana College now offers three bachelor’s degree programs—Occupational Studies, Paralegal Studies, and Automotive Technology—with additional bachelor’s programs in development.

    • Education at Every Stage of Life

      • I believe community college should be an open door for everyone—from high school students and first-time college students to working adults, immigrants, veterans, and those returning to school for a second chance. During my time on the Board, Continuing Education has grown significantly and now serves more than 30,000 students throughout Santa Ana and Garden Grove.

    • Career Education & Workforce Development

      • I’ve supported the continued growth of career education, apprenticeships, and programs in high-demand fields such as healthcare, public safety, automotive technology, technology, and the skilled trades—helping connect students to meaningful careers while strengthening Orange County’s workforce.

    • Responsible Leadership

      • As a Trustee, I’ve supported balanced budgets, strong reserves, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I will continue working to protect the district’s financial strength while keeping our resources focused on students, instruction, and long-term success.”


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Tong is the incumbent in this seat, having first been elected in 2022. 

    • She’s originally from Vietnam, having emigrated to the United States with her family when she was 10 years old, identifying as a political refugee. (x)

    • Tong is a Real Estate Agent in her time outside of the school district. 


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • OCGOP

    • Shawn Steel (Former Chair of the California Republican Party, known as a political Kingmaker (or Queenmaker) in conservative SoCal politics. Husband to Fmr. Congresswoman Michelle Steel)

    • Michelle Steel (Fmr. Congresswoman, solidly MAGA, anti-LGBTQ voting record)

    • Kim Colleen Bengard (Member of the Council for National Policy, Director of It Takes A Family Foundation, Director at Prager University Foundation & Family Action PAC President. For anyone unfamiliar, these are extremist, far-right organizations in the Heritage Foundation network pushing policy at a national level).  (x) 

    • Tim Bengard (along with his wife Colleen, they were among the top donors to 2008 Prop 8 effort to ban gay marriage in California) (x) 


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • On December 20th, 2025, she shared an instagram post that said, “I saw a quote that said, you worry too much for someone who God has never failed. And I honestly needed to be called out like that”, with the caption, “Sometimes, when you're a little short of clarity, you ask God for a sign, and this is the first thing you see. Nothing calms you more. #godishood #blessedaways” (x)

    • Most of Tong’s social media posts were promotions of properties she was looking to sell as a Real Estate agent, or photos of her dogs, flowers, fashion, and other things that didn’t really tell our researchers much about her values or opinions. We did not find much in the way of public comment elsewhere. 


    Endorsed by: 

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

    • Moms on the Ground — California parental-rights advocacy group that has worked in coalition with Moms for Liberty and other organizations promoting parental-rights and school-choice/charter-school policies. (momsonthegroundca, Moms for Liberty)

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

    • Young Kim – U.S. Congresswoman

      • NOTE: Kim has a long track record of voting in opposition of LGBTQ and immigrant rights. 

    • Tri Ta – California Assemblyman

    • Mario Rodriguez – Hispanic 100 Chairman

    • John Hanna – Rancho Santiago Community College Trustee

    • Lan Quoc Nguyen – Garden Grove Unified School District Board Member

    • Bobby McDonald – Veteran & Community Business Advocate

    • Jon Dumitru – City of Orange Council Member

    • Dina Nguyen, Esq. – Garden Grove Unified School District Board Member

    • Sal Tinajero – Rancho Santiago CC Trustee and Santa Ana Councilman (Former)

    • Tyler Diep – Assemblyman representing part of Garden Grove (former)

    • Allan Mansoor – Assemblyman representing the majority of Garden Grove (former)

    • Michael Vo – Mayor, Fountain Valley (former)

    • Steve Mensinger – Mayor, Costa Mesa (former)

    • Chinh Nguyen – Autism Advocate & Regional Center of Orange County Board Member

    • Flo Cudal – President SCC Associated Student Government (former)


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found


    Follow the Money:

    • Tong’s campaign contributions are not yet publicly available.

  • Rancho Santiago Community College District Area 4 Trustee Candidate


    Candidate Statement:


    “BEATRIZ MENDOZA | AGE: 50 | Parent/Businesswoman

    In 2017, I proudly served as a member of the Rancho Santiago Community College District, Measure E Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. As a former student of a community college, I

    understand firsthand the importance of having access to the best resources, a great learning environment, and infrastructure that leads to student success.

    I am a former City of Santa Ana Planning Commissioner and also served on the 7th Santa Ana General Plan Advisory Group, where we reviewed the City’s General Master Plan to help improve our city.

    While in college, I was the District Student Council Representative for the Coast Community College District and was the Associated Student Representative on the President’s Cabinet and Academic Senate. After obtaining my A.A., I transferred to UCLA and graduated with a degree in Political Science.

    As a former staff member for a congressional office, I co-chaired the Higher Education Advisory Board, where Chancellors, Deans, and college Presidents participated in a dialogue to improve higher education for all students. Currently, my oldest son attends Santa Ana College, my daughter is at UC Santa Cruz, and my youngest son is at Segerstrom High School, where I am a member of the School Site Council.”


    Email: 

    Phone: 714-866-8788


    Campaign Website: www.beatrizmendoza4ranchosantiagocollegeboard.com/ 

    Priorities: 

    • Mendoza does not list her specific priorities on her campaign website, but she does say on the landing page, “I understand firsthand the importance of having access to the best resources, a great learning environment, and infrastructure that leads to student success.”


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • When Beatriz ran for Orange County Board of Education in 2024, she attended a candidate forum put on by the OC LGBTQ Center along with the two other progressive candidates running for seats on the Board of Education. The conservative candidates did not attend. Date: February 28, 2024. (x)

    • She lists her experience on her campaign website to include “former staffer for a Congressional Office”, and her Linkedin references a “Senior Field Representative” but she doesn’t identify the member of Congress that she was a staffer for. We did find a Voice of OC article who identified her as a staffer for Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana). (x) (x)

    • She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, American Government and Politics (x)

    • Beatriz has been involved in non-profit work as well, including CEO of the YWCA of Orange County, managing the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Office in Anaheim, the Delhi Center in Santa Ana, and Chief of Staff of the California League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). 

    • Mendoza’s 2019 Santa Ana City Council campaign was backed by Planned Parenthood. (x) 


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • Joe Biden

    • UCLA

    • OC Dems and Progressives

    • Lavender Democrats OC

    • Benjamin Vazquez (Santa Ana City Council, LGBTQ ally, immigrant justice ally)

    • VietRISE

    • The Democrats

    • Isuri S. Ramos (Santa Ana City Council candidate, LGBTQ ally, immigrant justice ally)

    • Kris Erickson (OUSD Trustee, LGBTQ ally)


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    • In her 2024 campaign for Orange County Board of Education, Beatriz said, “I’m deeply concerned about the direction of our County Board. Our focus should be on student success and safety, with taxpayer money spent directly on classrooms, not squandered on lawsuits that serve a political agenda.” (x) 

    • During her 2024 campaign, the OC Register asked Beatriz, “A predominant topic in school districts lately has been parental notification policies, requirements for how school officials may inform parents if their child may be transgender. What do you see as the role schools should have in involving parents in social issues?” Beatriz replied, “There is a need for more conversations between children and their parents, especially since the pandemic, and parents need to be welcomed into the conversation and active in their child’s education and more engaged as partners. “Notification” suggests that parents aren’t partners in the development and education of their children. Students need to be put first in the decision-making and ensure that their mental health needs are addressed. Furthermore, schools should provide a safe learning environment for all students. By enacting these types of policies, we are putting their mental well-being at risk.” (x)

    • The OC Register asked Beatriz during this 2026 campaign for Rancho Santiago Community College District, “In October, Long Beach City College will break ground on a new student housing facility at its Liberal Arts Campus that will provide 431 total units to students. Is student housing a priority that your college should pursue? If so, explain how you intend to take on such an endeavor in a timely, cost-effective manner. If you don’t, how should your college district support students searching for affordable housing options near campus?” Beatriz replied, “I think our district can continue to be a resource hub that includes partnerships with the local housing authorities, non-profit organizations that help with free or low-income housing, and living spaces. Additionally, the district can continue to work with counselors to assist students with the financial aid process to help students obtain rental/home ownership subsidies. 

    I think the district can look into student housing in the near future.” (x) 


    Endorsed by: 

    • Congressman Lou Correa

    • Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento

    • RSCCD Trustee Zeke Hernandez

    • Democratic Party of Orange County

    • Orange County Labor Federation

    • Chapter 579 CSEA

    • FARSCCD CCA/CTA Local #4351

    • CEFA


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found


    Follow the Money: 

    • $2,500 from Faculty Association of the Rancho Santiago Community College District PAC

    • $500 from the campaign of Diedre Thu-Ha Nguyen for Mayor 2026

    • $109 from the campaign of Ada Briceno for Assembly 2026


    • Beatriz herself contributed $250 to Benjamin Vazquez for Santa Ana Council Ward 2 2026

Silverado-Modjeska Recreation & Park District

  • ​Silverado-Modjeska Recreation And Park District Candidate


    Candidate Statement: NONE FOUND


    Email: None Found


    Campaign Website: None Found

    Priorities: 

    • None Found


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Kristen is a Real Estate agent. (x) 


    Social Media Links: 

    • Personal Instagram


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • Canyon Wildlife Initiative

    • Trabuco General Store

    • Naturalist For You

    • Orange County Fire Authority

    • OC Parent Guide

    • Fire Safe Council of East OC Canyons

    • Trabuco Elementary PTA

    • Silverado Canyon Community

    • Joseph Gordon-Levitt

    • Biergarten at Old World HB


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    Answer: “My top priority is keeping our unique canyon way of life alive and making sure the Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Park District stays financially healthy. My focus is cutting through the red tape that makes it hard to use our own community spaces.

    I want to build an easy, interactive online portal for booking facilities, expand our local rentals to bring in fresh revenue, and aggressively go after grants.

    By stabilizing our budget, we can confidently take care of our community centers, protect our parks, and keep the wonderful Silverado Children’s Center preschool open. A stable district also ensures our buildings remain safe havens during fires, floods, or power outages. I promise to work openly with everyone to keep our canyons safe, vibrant, and connected.”

    • Question: What does this department do for citizens? What do you view as its most important role for residents, and why?

    Answer: “SMRPD is our central system of our canyons. We take care of our parks, trails, and community centers, and run the Silverado Children’s Center nature preschool. Since we don’t have a traditional City Hall out here, this board is how we protect our beautiful open spaces.

    To me, the most important thing the district does is act as a safety anchor for our community. Living in the canyons is beautiful, but we all know the reality of fires, floods, and power outages. When disaster strikes, our community centers transform into safe havens, communication hubs, and staging areas for emergency crews.

    But even on normal days, the district gives us the physical spaces where we gather for potlucks, volunteer, and keep our rural heritage alive. As your director, I will make sure our local spaces stay strong and work closely with our amazing volunteer safety groups to look out for one another.

    • 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: “To get the word out, we need to meet our neighbors where they already are—both online and right here in the canyons. A lot of people only think about SMRPD when they need to rent a hall or during an emergency, so we have a great opportunity to share how much the district does every day.

    First, I want to launch a friendly, interactive online portal. This will make it super easy for everyone to book local events, check on community projects, rent spaces, or just see what the board is working on.

    Furthermore, I’d like to bring the district to local hubs like the Silverado Canyon Market, Canyon flea markets, and community meetings. By sharing quick, easy-to-read flyers and hosting casual ‘Coffee with a Director’ chats, we can talk face-to-face about how the district protects our trails, property values, and emergency safety. When we all stay connected, our whole canyon thrives.”

    • 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: “I am a long-term resident who deeply loves our canyons. My husband has been a senior reserve firefighter out here for 20 years, so our family knows firsthand how important fire safety and emergency prep are for our community.

    As a former local store owner, I also know how to manage money, listen to neighbors, and solve daily problems. My main goals are to handle our recent budget cuts, make it easier to rent local halls using a simple online portal, and protect our parks and preschool. I will bring a helpful, neighborly approach to the board to keep our canyon way of life safe and strong.”

    • Question: What will you do to establish trust with your community that you will tackle this job well?

    Answer: “Because I have lived here a long time, my neighbors already know where I stand. To show I will handle this job well, I will keep my office door wide open. I will host casual ‘Coffee with a Director’ chats so anyone can come talk to me face-to-face about their ideas or worries.

    I will also make sure our board decisions, budget choices, and project updates are posted clearly on our new online portal. By being honest, reachable, and focused on practical fixes, I will work hard to earn your trust every day.”

    • Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

    Answer: “‘The Serviceberry’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

    It really struck a chord with me because that is exactly how life works here in the canyons. We look out for our neighbors, share what we have, and protect the land we love. It was a wonderful reminder of why our close-knit community is so worth fighting for.”


    Endorsed by: 

    • None Found


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found, candidate has not held elected office


    Follow the Money: 

    • None Found

  • Silverado-Modjeska Recreation And Park District Candidate


    Candidate Statement:

    “MARK LEVY | AGE: 70 | Retired Sheriff Lieutenant

    I sat on the SMRPD Board for 10 years in the late 90’s and early 2,000’s. I am interested in returning to the board as a Director to help the district to secure a more dependable revenue source; so that the district can remain viable and continue to provide parks and recreation services to our community.

    Thank you.”


    Email: None Found


    Campaign Website: None Found

    Priorities: 

    • None Found


    Any Other Interesting Info:

    • Levy is the former Chief of Police Services for the City of Seal Beach (2007-2012). Per his Linkedin page, he now works as a private investigator. (x) 

    • According to the OC Register, he is 70 years old. (x)

    • Levy has served on the Silverado-Modjeska Recreation And Park District board before - we weren’t able to confirm how long he served, and he’s not the incumbent now, but he was listed as an incumbent on this board in an 2010 Voice of OC article. (x) 


    Social Media Links: 


    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • None Found


    Candidate’s Public Comments:

    Answer: “To determine if the district remains viable and to develop consistent revenue streams.”

    • Question: What does this department do for citizens? What do you view as its most important role for residents, and why?

    Answer: “We maintain our parks and community centers. We offer enrichment programs to the residents and organize activities.”

    • 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: “I believe we are at a juncture where our district residents need to decide whether to continue with the district providing the above-listed amenities or defer to another government agency to manage our district.”

    If the residents are interested in continuing with SMRPD as the lead agency, we need to work toward determining where our current funding sources come from and establish other revenue streams to allow the district to function in a manner that is sustainable.

    • 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: “During my law enforcement career, I was fortunate to have spent time providing services to numerous cities in Orange County.

    I spent the last 5.5 years of my career as the Chief of Police Services in Dana Point, and I gained much experience and insight into the workings of cities and special districts’ relationships with county governance.

    In addition, my previous 10 years as a director of this board have allowed me to understand how all of the pieces (state, county, and district) should work together, and I will devote my energy to making sure that we are at the table as the county’s five-year plan is being developed.”

    • Question: What will you do to establish trust with your community that you will tackle this job well? 

    Answer: “I think we need to survey our community and ask whether we collectively desire to have SMRPD continue in its current role or what might best fit our canyon’s needs.”

    • Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.

    Answer: “‘Essential Spirituality’ by Roger Walsh.”


    Endorsed by: 

    • None Found


    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    • None Found


    Follow the Money: 

    • Mark contributed $1,105 to the campaign of Frances Marquez for OC Supervisor in 2024. Marquez was the Democratic Party endorsed candidate for this seat. (x)

40th 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.

71st 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.

73rd District, CA State Assembly

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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.

  • *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:

    • Republican Party of Orange County 

    • California College Republicans

    • List of Endorsements on Parrish’s Campaign Website

    • 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:

    Public Voting Record: 

    • Nothing found

    Follow the Money: via the link

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement:

    “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:

    Public Voting Record:

    Follow the Money: via the link

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.

  • *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)

    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.)

    • California College Republicans

    • OC Register

    • 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:

    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; 

  • *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:

    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:

    Follow the Money:

    • $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.

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide

    Incumbent, running for CA Attorney General

    Campaign Statement, if any: None Found

    Email: None Found

    Campaign Website: https://robbonta.com/

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

    Any Other Interesting Info:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Social Media Links: 

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

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

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

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

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

    • Orange County Democratic Party

    • Gavin Newsom, Governor

    • Malia Cohen, California State Controller

    • Dr. Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State

    • Senator Adam Schiff

    • Senator Alex Padilla

    • Senator Cory Booker

    • Rep. Robert Garcia

    • Rep. Pete Aguilar

    • Rep. Gil Cisneros

    • Rep. Ro Khanna

    • Rep. Dave Min

    • Rep. Mike Levin

    • Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson

    • Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson

    • Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee

    • Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California

    • Teamsters California

    • California Teachers Association (CTA)

    • Sierra Club CA

    • California Environmental Voters

    • Dolores Huerta

    • Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

    • Smart Justice CA

    • Equality California

    • California Medical Association

    • Courage Campaign

    • Stacey Abrams

    • David Hogg

    • Elise Joshi

    • Jane Fonda

    Candidate in the News:

    Follow the Money: 

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

    • $500 from the Alan Wong for Supervisor 2026 campaign 

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    ***PRIDE AT THE PIER CONTENT WARNING: 

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

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

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

    Campaign Statement, if any: 

    “Michael E. Gates | REPUBLICAN

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

    Email: info@gates4ag.com 

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

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

    Any Other Interesting Info:

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

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

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

    Social Media Links: 

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

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

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

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

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

    • (Twitter) Nick Shirley

    • (Twitter) Reform CA

    • (Twitter) Spencer Pratt

    • (Twitter) Nicki Minaj

    Candidate’s Public Comments: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    • California Republican Party

    • Lincoln Club of Orange County

    • Patriots4Freedom-San Diego

    • California Rifle & Pistol Association

    • American Independent Party of California

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

    • California Parents Union

    • California Cities for Local Control

    • The Israeli-American Civic Action Network (ICAN)

    • Don Wagner,Orange County Supervisor

    • Janet Nguyen, Orange County Supervisor

    • Hugh Nguyen, Orange County Clerk-Recorder

    • Shari Friedenrich, Orange County Treasurer

    • Claude Parrish, Orange County Tax Assessor

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

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

    • Steve Hilton, Candidate for Governor of California

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

    • All members of the Huntington Beach City Council

    • Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff

    • John Zanoni, Fresno County Sheriff

    • Donny Yongblood, Kern County Sheriff

    • Michael Boudreaux, Tulare County Sheriff

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

    Not applicable

    Follow the Money:

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

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

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


Secretary of State

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

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide

    Campaign Statement:

    “Shirley N. Weber | DEMOCRATIC

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

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

    Email: info@drshirleyweber.com 

    Campaign Website: https://drshirleyweber.com/

    Priorities listed on her website: 

    • A Defender of Voting Rights

      • Restoring Trust and Transparency:

      • Encourage Californians to Vote:

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

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

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

    • Protecting poll workers and election officials

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

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

    Any Other Interesting Info:

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

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

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

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

    Social Media Links: 

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

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

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

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

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

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

    • Barack Obama

    • Kamala Harris

    • Beyonce

    • (Twitter) Sharon Quirk-Silva

    • (Twitter) Rob Bonta

    • (Twitter) CA Legislative Women’s Caucus

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

    • (Twitter) Vote America

    • (Twitter) California Black Media

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

    • (Twitter) Alliance For Youth Action

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

    • (Twitter) UCLA Black Project

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

    • California Faculty Assoc. 

    • Equal Justice Society

    • The King Center (MLK Jr. Memorial)

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

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

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

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

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

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

    Endorsed by: 

    •  Orange County Democratic Party

    • Rob Bonta, Attorney General

    • Fiona Ma, State Treasurer

    • Malia Cohen, Controller

    • Ricardo Lara, Insurance Commissioner

    • Tony Thurmond, Superintendent of Education

    • Cecilia Aguiar Curry, Assemblymember

    • Blanca Rubio, Assemblymember

    • Dr. LaShae Sharp Collins, Assemblymember

    • Buffy Wicks, Assemblymember

    • Akilah Weber, MD, State Senator

    • California Professional Firefighters

    • Steamfitters & Refrigeration UA Local 250

    • California Federation of Teachers

    • AFSCME

    • UDWA/AFSCME Local 3930

    • CA State Council of Laborers

    • Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley (DPSFV)

    • California Women’s List

    • Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG)

    • AFSCME District Council 36

    • California State Retirees

    • California YIMBY

    • SEIU

    • SEIU 1000

    • Westside Young Democrats

    • Democratic Women’s Club of San Diego

    • San Diego Democrats for Equality

    • Avance Democratic Club

    • Fallbrook Democratic Club

    • Association of California State Supervisor (ACSS)

    • NWPC California

    • California Teachers Association

    • California Donor Table

    • Communications Workers of America

    • Jane Fonda Climate PAC

    • Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club

    • Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee

    • Central City Democrats

    • California Nurses Association

    • Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

    • SFWPC

    • Stonewall Young Democrats

    • Black Women’s Collective PAC

    • Chino Valley Democratic Club

    • Bernal Heights Democratic Club

    • Iranian American Democrats of California (IADC)

    • ILWU Southern California District Council

    • California Black Women’s Collective PAC

    • Contra Costa Young Democrats

    • San Francisco Latino Democratic Club

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement, if any:

    “Donald P. (Don) Wagner | REPUBLICAN

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

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

    Email: donwagner@WagnerForCalifornia.com

    Campaign Website: https://wagnerforcalifornia.com/ 

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

    His priorities listed are: 

    • Only eligible voters cast ballots

    • Elections are secure, efficient, accurate, and accessible

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

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

    Any Other Interesting Info:

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

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

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

    Social Media Links: 

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

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

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

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • Wagner does not follow anyone on Instagram

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

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

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

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

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

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

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

    Endorsed by: 

    • Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Assoc.

    • Pete Wilson, Former California Governor

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

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

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

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

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

    • Diane Dixon, Assemblymember, Newport Beach

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

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

    Candidate in the News:

    Follow the Money: 

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


Lieutenant Governor

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

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide

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

    Political Party: Democrat

    Campaign Statement: 

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

    Email: Fiona@FionaMa.com 

    Campaign Website: https://fionama.com/ 

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

    • “I believe in the California dream

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

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

    Any Other Interesting Info:

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

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

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

    Social Media Links: 

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Endorsed by: 

    • CA Federation of Labor Unions

    • California Nurses Association

    • Stonewall Young Democrats

    • Costa Mesa Democrats

    • Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis

    • Secretary of State Shirley Weber

    • State Controller Malia Cohen

    • Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens

    • San Jose Mercury News

    Candidate in the News:

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

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

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement, if any: None Found

    Email: None Found

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

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

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

    Priorities: 

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

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

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

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

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

    Any Other Interesting Info:

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Social Media Links: 

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

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

    • Kevin Kiley, CA Congressman

    • Michael Gates

    • Spencer Pratt

    • Steve Hilton

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

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

    • Corey DeAngelis, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation

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

    • America First Policy Institute State Action

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

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Treasurer

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

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide

    Campaign Statement:

    “Eleni Kounalakis | DEMOCRATIC

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

    Email: info@eleniforca.com

    Campaign Website: https://eleniforca.com/

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

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

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

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

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

    Any Other Interesting Info:

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

    Social Media Links: 

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

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/EleniForCA

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • Equality California

    • Reproductive Freedom for All

    • NUHW Healthcare Union

    • California Environmental Voters

    • California Coastal Commission

    • West Stanislaus County Fire Protection District

    • Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club

    • Fresno State Cross Cultural Gender Center

    • Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

    • SF Women's Political Committee

    • CA Dept of Corrections

    • California Volunteers

    • Second Lady Usha Vance

    • Stop AAPI Hate

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

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

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

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

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

    Endorsed by: (See link for full list)

    • Equality California 

    • Kamala Harris

    • Hillary Clinton

    • Barbara Boxer (Fmr. CA Congresswoman)

    • Adam Schiff (CA Congressman)

    • Alex Padilla (CA Congressman)

    • Nancy Pelosi (CA Congresswoman)

    • Pete Buttigieg

    • Gavin Newsom

    • Fiona Ma (Current State Treasurer)

    • Malia Cohen (Current State Controller)

    • Rob Bonta (Current State Attorney General)

    • CA Labor Federation

    • Teamsters CA

    • California Federation of Teachers

    • California Teachers Association

    • California State Association of Electrical Workers

    • East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club

    • San Francisco Women’s Political Committee

    • Sierra Club

    • Reproductive Freedom for All

    • California YIMBY

    • California Environmental Voters

    • California Council for Affordable Housing

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

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

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

    Follow the Money: via the link

    (*not available for CITY government positions)

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

    • $11,571,047 Cash on Hand

    • $9,367,777 Total Contributions

    • $14,202,620 Total Expenditures

    • Top 10 contributors:

      • $572,141.68 Eleni Kounalakis

      • $310,615.48 Aggregated Unitemized Contributions

      • $53,800.00 Tina Thomas

      • $39,200.00 California Professional Firefighters Ballot Issues Committee

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

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

      • $39,200.00 Ronald Conway

      • $38,800.00 Association of California School Administrators PAC

      • $37,800.00 Richard J Saker

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

  • *Information as of our June 2026 Primary Guide*

    Campaign Statement:

    “Jennifer Hawks | REPUBLICAN

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

    Email: info@hawksforus.com

    Campaign Website: https://hawksforus.com/

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

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

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

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

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

    Any Other Interesting Info:

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

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

    Social Media Links: 

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/votehawks

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/votehawks

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

    Follows on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook:

    • David Tangipa, CA Assemblymember and anti-trans activist

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

    • California Republican Party

    • Gloria Romero, Republican Candidate for Lt. Governor

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

    • Herb Morgan, Republican candidate for State Controller

    • CA Rifle & Pistol Association Political Action Committee

    • California Globe, Right Wing Biased news engine

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

    • James O'Keefe, founder of Project Veritas

    • Cam Higby, Far-right media figure

    • Reform California

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

    Candidate’s Public Comments:

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

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

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

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

    Endorsed by: 

    • California Republican Party

    • California Republican Assembly

    • California Rifle and Pistol Association

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

    • Carl DeMaio

    • Reform California

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

    • Santa Barbara County Republican Party

    • United Vietnamese American Community of Northern California

    Candidate in the News:

    Public Voting Record:

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

    Follow the Money: 

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

    • $38,436 Cash on Hand

    • $32,447 Total Contributions

    • $19,011 Total Expenditures

    • Top 10 Contributors:

      • $7,500.00, Joy Craft

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

      • $5,000.00, Thomas Gutshall

      • $1,500.00, Robert Varich

      • $1,000.00, Anna Kramer

      • $1,000.00, Carol Ann Petty

      • $1,000.00, Cynthia Varich

      • $1,000.00, Dale Broome

      • $1,000.00, Debbie Brookfield

      • $1,000.00, Marya Keeth