California
| California Legislature | ||
Democrats |
Republicans |
|
| Senate | ||
| 2006 | 25 |
15 |
| Today | 25 |
15 |
| House | ||
| 2006 | 48 |
31 |
| Today | 48 |
32 |
Conservatives have long been building a base in California and their hard work has paid off: they have a Republican Governor and a stronghold in some of the fastest growing counties in the state. California is also rich in electoral votes — the far right's organizing here is part of a long—term plan to take control of the state and ultimately threaten national elections.
Progressive Majority is not sitting on the sidelines — we're fighting back in California with our own long—term strategy and plan. We are aggressively recruiting candidates in counties where the population has soared and that are right now considered California's so—called "Red Counties."
By doing this work now, Progressive Majority will effectively block the far right and keep California progressive. And, because California's legislators face term—limits, they need Progressive Majority's farm team system to build a bench of rising stars for years to come.
Marty Block
Candidate for State Representative - District 78 (Open Seat)
San Diego County
Marty Block is a candidate for the 78th Assembly District. He is currently elected to the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees, and previously served on the San Diego Board of Education. The 78th is currently held by a conservative, but she is term-limited out of office. This district has grown more Democratic over the years and is one of the best opportunities for a progressive victory this year. Marty would provide a strong platform for progressive issues in San Diego.
Greg Pettis
Candidate for State Representative - District 80 (Open Seat)
Riverside and Imperial Counties
Greg Pettis is a Cathedral City Councilman running for the open 80th Assembly District. Progressive Majority recruited Greg, who is openly gay, to run for this seat. The 80th is one of the two most important legislative targets in California this year, because the conservative incumbent is term-limited out of office. Demographically, the seat has been trending more and more Democratic and is ready for a progressive victory. In addition, all of the openly gay Assembly-members will be termed out in January 2009. If elected, Greg will keep a strong, openly gay voice in the lower chamber.
Bob Blumenfield
Candidate for State Assembly - District 40 (Open Seat)
Los Angeles, Northridge, Van Nuys
Bob is running for the California Assembly, 40th District. For the past seven years Bob has been the District Director to Congressman Howard Berman. Bob is Chair of the Valley Anti-Defamation League, Vice Chair of the California Trust for Public Schools and a former board member of the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters. Bob is a strong proponent of progressive issues in such key areas as education, healthcare, the environment and economic justice. Bob has two formidable primary opponents who are conservative Democrats: Stuart Waldman is the former Chief of Staff to the current Assembly member, and Laurette Healey is a former Deputy State Controller. Bob has received the endorsement of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressmembers Howard Berman and Henry Waxman, California State Speaker Fabian Nunez, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Mark Ridley-Thomas
Candidate for Los Angeles County Supervisor - District 2 (Challenger)
California Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas is running for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, 2nd District, in the highest priority race for progressives in Los Angeles County. Mark is running against a formidable candidate, former chief of police and current Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks. Although elected by a majority African American district, Parks has a conservative voting record when it comes to investing in communities. If Parks wins, Los Angeles County will be controlled by a conservative majority at a time when county hospitals and emergency services in communities of color are facing closure. Mark has been a staunch supporter of progressive issues such as the establishment of school health centers, consumer protection, community reinvestment, jobs and workforce development.
Sherri Lightner
Candidate for San Diego City Council - District 1 (Open Seat)
Sherri Lightner is running for the 1st City Council District in San Diego. A community volunteer and leader, Sherri has served as president of both the La Jolla Town Council and the La Jolla Shores Association. An engineer by training, she is a recognized expert on land development law. Because of term limits, the 1st will be an open seat. Sherri represents an opportunity to elect a progressive woman to a historically moderate to conservative seat, allowing for a potential progressive majority.
Stephen Whitburn
Candidate for San Diego City Council - District 3 (Open Seat)
Stephen Whitburn is an openly gay candidate running for the open 3rd City Council District in San Diego. This seat is safely Democratic, but Stephen's election could mean the difference between a Democratic majority and a true progressive majority. In particular, he will fight for progressive values on housing issues, especially for renter's rights and against development that is forcing longtime residents (many elderly and people of color) out of what had been affordable housing. As a community activist, he has worked very closely with labor, walking picket lines and working to pass a living wage ordinance. Stephen is also a former union member with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Tim Goodrich
Candidate for Torrence City Council - At Large (Open Seat)
Tim is a candidate for the Torrance City Council, and a rising star in the California farm team. Tim is a veteran who returned to actively protest the United States involvement in Iraq. He co-founded a national, non-profit veteran's advocacy organization and founded and is the Director of Iraq Veterans for Progress, an organization that empowers veterans by giving them job training and experience. Tim is passionate about environmental and transportation issues that impact Torrance. Tim has been endorsed by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor as well as Lt. Governor John Garamendi.
John Lee Evans
Candidate for San Diego Board of Education - Subdistrict A (Challenger)
John Lee Evans is a clinical psychologist and long-time progressive activist on education and social justice issues. He is running against an incumbent Republican, Mitz Lee. If elected, John will provide a strong progressive voice on the school board for local control and improved opportunity for children in low-income and immigrant communities. A win would create a progressive majority and a Democratic super majority.
Richard Barrera
Candidate for San Diego Board of Education - Subdistrict D (Challenger)
Richard Barrera is a candidate for the San Diego School District in Nominating Subdistrict D. Richard is Latino and a union organizer with SEIU Local 399. Richard faces a difficult race in the general election against conservative incumbent Luis Acle, a former Reagan administration official who has openly expressed interest in higher office. A Barrera victory would create both a working progressive majority and a Democratic supermajority.
