Category Archives: Electoral politics

Progressive Women Positioned to Replace 9 Male Legislators in 2018 California Races

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Close the Gap CA Executive Director Susannah Delano
June 6, 2018  –  (707) 771-0939  –  susannah@closethegapca.org

Progressive Women Positioned to Replace 9 Male Legislators in 2018 State Races 

Below the Congressional “jungle primary” canopy, a groundswell of progressive women candidates is headed straight for Sacramento.

A record 98 women competed yesterday to win a spot in November run-offs for State Legislative seats. 43 will advance. This is the largest cohort of women to do so since 2004. Close the gap CA targeted 9 winnable districts to ensure at least one progressive woman was prepared to compete:

  • SD 12- Anna Caballero
  • SD 14- Melissa Hurtado
  • SD 22- Susan Rubio
  • SD 24- Maria Elena Durazo
  • SD 32- Vanessa Delgado
  • AD 15- Buffy Wicks, Jovanka Beckles (TBD)
  • AD 16- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
  • AD 39- Luz Rivas
  • AD 76- Tasha Boerner-Horvath, Elizabeth Warren

In all districts except SD 32, at least one progressive woman has advanced to November (listed above). Two thirds are women of color. All targeted seats, except AD 16 have most recently been held by men.

For the first time in over a decade, we are witnessing a decisive uptick in the number of women serving in the California State Legislature,” said Executive Director Susannah Delano. “Close the gap CA targets open and purple, winnable seats throughout the state—including those vacated in the wake of #MeToo allegations—recruiting progressive women and positioning them to launch competitive campaigns.”

“It’s not a coincidence that these accomplished women were ready to run successful campaigns with very short runways,” continued Delano. In the past 6 months, voters have held 5 special elections to fill legislative seats vacated by men. Progressive women have already won 3 of the 5– Assemblymembers Wendy Carrillo and Sydney Kamlager, and now Assemblymember-Elect Luz Rivas. With progressive women positioned to replace male predecessors in 6 additional districts in November, 2019 could begin with gender parity numbers approaching their highest ever in California history.

“When more progressive women serve, our state’s policies become more comprehensive and just. And our Legislature itself is challenged to do better, for every Californian,” said Delano.


Close the gap CA is a campaign to achieve gender parity in the State Legislature by 2028.  After watching women drop to just 23% of the Assembly and Senate over the past decade, we decided to do something about it: we recruit progressive women to run.
For more information, please visit closethegapca.org.

Vallejo Times-Herald: Benicia Progressive Democrats pick endorsements

Repost from the Vallejo Times-Herald
[Editor: A similar article ran in the print edition of the Benicia Herald on May 17, 2018, but has not appeared online.  – RS]

Candidates, measures for June 5 election

Times-Herald staff report, online 05/15/18, print 05/26/18

BENICIA >> The Progressive Democrats of Benicia have announced their endorsements for the June 5 primary. The organization presented its research on each issue and candidate to the steering committee and then the committee took a final vote on who or what to endorse.

P.D.B. supports the following candidates: U.S. Senate, Kevin de Leon; U.S. Congress District 5, Mike Thompson; Governor, Delaine Eastin; Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kounalakis; State Assembly District 14, Tim Grayson; Attorney General, Dave Jones; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond; State Controller, Betty Yee; Insurance Commissioner, Ricardo Lara; Secretary of State, Alex Padilla; State Treasurer, Fiona Ma; and Solano County Superior Court Judge, Steve Gizzi.

As for measures and propositions, here is where they stand:

Proposition 68 — Support

Parks, Environment, and Water Bond: Authorizes bonds for funding parks, natural resource protection, climate adaptation, water quality and supply, and flood protection.

“The committee finds this to be in alignment with the organization’s policies regarding the environment.”

Proposition 69 — Support

Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox and Appropriations Limit Exemption Amendment: Requires that certain revenues generated by a 2017 transportation funding law be used only for transportation purposes and generally prohibits legislature from diverting funds to other purposes.

“This measure protects any diversion of transportation revenues for other purposes. There’s an estimated $16.1 million per year for local street and road maintenance, and $6 million per year for the state.”

Proposition 70 — Oppose

Vote Requirement to Use Cap-And-Trade Revenue Amendment: Requires a legislative supermajority vote to approve the use of the cap-and-trade reserve fund. It is a legislative constitutional amendment.

“This proposition … would seriously jeopardize future progress on pollution reduction and climate change mitigation.”

Proposition 71 — Support

Effective Date of Ballot Measures Amendment: Sets up an effective date for ballot measures. Legislative constitutional amendment. Provides that a ballot measure approved by a majority of voters shall take effect five days after the Secretary of State certifies the results of the election.

Proposition 72 — Support

Rainwater Capture Systems Excluded from Property Tax Assessments Amendment: Rainwater capture systems would not be counted as new construction after Jan. 1, 2019.

“The potential for this proposition to encourage rainwater capture systems to reduce potable water consumption can ease some of the severe water consumption issues cities face.”

Regional Measure 3 — Oppose

Bay Area Traffic Relief Plan: Building major roadway and public transit improvements via an increase in bridge tolls on all Bay Area toll bridges except the Golden Gate. “Residents of Solano County would shoulder the burden of paying this toll without any future relief of a public transit solution. More benefits will go to larger urban areas, and not equal benefits to Solano County.”

Learn more about the Progressive Democrats of Benicia and their stands at progressivedemocratsofbenicia.com

Mail-in balloting has started – ENDORSEMENTS for JUNE 5 Primary

Repost from Progressive Democrats of Benicia

Progressive Dems of Benicia Recommend…

Mail-in balloting has started already!  Just in time, Progressive Democrats of Benicia met last night, shared in deep and significant conversation on the issues and candidates, and voted our endorsements… see below (or go to our Endorsements page for even more detail.  Share this information with folks you know, write letters, and get your ballot turned in!

JUNE 5 PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS:

Below you will find Progressive Democrats of Benicia endorsements for the June 5, 2018 Primary Election.  In March and April, an Endorsement Committee met and carefully researched state and regional propositions and candidates, and presented its recommendations to the Steering Committee.  The Steering Committee received those reports and voted on recommendations for the Club’s membership.  The members held substantive discussions on the issues and candidates, and voted the following endorsements.

Propositions & Measure 3

Proposition 68 Support
Proposition 69 Support
Proposition 70 Oppose
Proposition 71 Support
Proposition 72 Support
Regional Measure 3 Oppose

More Proposition details on our Endorsements page…

Candidate Endorsements

U. S. Senate Kevin de Leon
U. S. Congress District 5 Mike Thompson
Governor Delaine Eastin
Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
State Assembly District 14 Tim Grayson
Attorney General Dave Jones 
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond
State Controller Betty Yee
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara
Secretary of State Alex Padilla
State Treasurer Fiona Ma
Solano County Superior Court Judge Steve Gizzi

More Candidate details on our Endorsement page…

California Gubernatorial debate – Delaine Eastin scores!

Repost from NBC Bay Area
(Editor: The small video works better if you click on the small square in lower right for FULL SCREEN viewing.  Apologies for the ad that precedes this 31-minute debate.)

California Gubernatorial Debate Presented by NBC Bay Area and SVCF

By NBC Bay Area,  May 8, 2018

The Silicon Valley Community Foundation and NBC Bay Area hosted “Decision 2018: The Race for Governor,” a debate among candidates running for California governor, on May 8.  The debate was moderated by Chuck Todd, NBC News’ Political Director and Moderator of “Meet the Press.”

Part 1 of “Decision 2018: The Race for Governor” debate hosted by Silicon Valley Community Foundation and NBC Bay Area focuses on issues and topics surrounding the Bay Area.  (Published Tuesday, May 8, 2018)