2026 General Election Research

my research notes for the november 2026 general election in california.

California Court of Appeal (LA County)

The Second Appellate District serves Los Angeles County. There are 18 justices on the ballot, each a yes/no retention vote.

Source for the list: LAist’s voter guide. Summaries below are condensed from each justice’s official bio on the Courts of Appeal site, ordered by division. Appellate justices are appointed by the governor and then face a yes/no retention vote, so there are no opponents on the ballot.

Division One

Michelle C. Kim (since 2024). Former LA County deputy public defender and alternate public defender who tried numerous felony jury trials. Appointed to the LA Superior Court by Brown, where she was Assistant Supervising Judge of limited jurisdiction criminal and presided over civil calendars. Stanford and UCLA Law.

Gregory J. Weingart (since 2022). Former Assistant U.S. Attorney who chaired the Major Frauds section, then a Munger Tolles & Olson partner for nearly 15 years in complex civil litigation and white-collar defense. Spent his Superior Court years (Brown, 2017) mostly on family law and domestic violence initiatives. Pomona College and Harvard Law.

Division Two

Stephen Goorvitch (since 2026). Former SEC enforcement attorney, federal prosecutor, and O’Melveny & Myers lawyer who clerked for federal district and Second Circuit judges. Brown put him on the LA Superior Court in 2015, where he heard civil and criminal cases. Newsom appointed him in February 2026 and he was confirmed in May.

Anne Richardson (since 2024). Spent 24 years in private practice at Hadsell Stormer Richardson & Renick, then four years directing complex consumer litigation at Public Counsel. Brown appointed her to the Superior Court in 2018, where she handled family law and then civil. Swarthmore and Stanford Law.

Division Three

Rashida Adams, Presiding Justice (since 2023; Presiding Justice since 2026). Started in employment discrimination and whistleblower litigation, then spent nine years as a Court of Appeal research attorney before Brown appointed her to the Superior Court (juvenile dependency and criminal). Elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2023 and to Presiding Justice in 2026. Harvard and Yale Law.

Mark Hanasono (since 2025). Spent about a decade as a public defender and alternate public defender in LA County, including capital murder cases. Brown appointed him to the Superior Court in 2013, where he spent nearly 12 years in the Criminal Division and served as Assistant Supervising Judge. Berkeley and Georgetown Law.

Division Four

Helen Zukin, Presiding Justice (since 2023; Presiding Justice since 2025). Long-time plaintiffs’ attorney in mass torts, product liability, and pharmaceutical cases, ending as a Kiesel Law partner. Served as Chair of the State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation. Brown appointed her to the Superior Court in 2018. UC Santa Cruz and Loyola Law.

Audra Mori (since 2023). Born and raised in LA County. Clerked at the U.S. Court of International Trade, then practiced IP and commercial litigation at large firms, mostly Perkins Coie, where she was the first woman of color to be a managing partner of a firm office. Former president of the Japanese American Bar Association. Superior Court from 2018 (civil and family). UCLA and Cornell Law.

Nicholas Daum (since 2026). Spent 19 years in private practice, mostly at Kendall Brill & Kelly, focused on high-stakes media and entertainment litigation, with significant appellate work and pro bono voting rights cases. Then served on the LA Superior Court (criminal, then independent-calendar civil). Newest justice on the ballot, confirmed in August 2026. Cornell, Berkeley (MA), Yale Law.

Armen Tamzarian (since 2025). Started as a research attorney at the LA Superior Court, then made partner at Case, Knowlson, Jordan & Wright (business, real estate, employment, and malpractice litigation). Also worked as a senior appellate attorney in the Second District. Brown appointed him to the Superior Court in 2013, where he presided over about 100 trials. UMass Amherst and Southwestern Law.

Division Five

Brian Hoffstadt, Presiding Justice (since 2014; Presiding Justice since 2024). Graduated first in his class at UCLA Law, clerked for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and was a federal prosecutor and Jones Day appellate partner. Appointed by three governors from both parties: Schwarzenegger (Superior Court, 2010), Brown (Court of Appeal, 2014), and Newsom (Presiding Justice). Teaches Evidence at USC and has authored books on criminal discovery and evidence law.

Division Six

Tari Cody, Presiding Justice (since 2023; Presiding Justice since 2026). Spent 22 years on the Ventura County Superior Court (Gray Davis appointee), handling family, civil, criminal, probate, and juvenile cases, and was Supervising Juvenile Judge. Co-chairs the Judicial Council’s Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee. UC Irvine and Loyola Law.

Kenneth Yegan (since 1990). The longest-serving justice on the list, with more than 35 years on the Court of Appeal. Began as a Ventura County deputy public defender, then spent seven years as a Court of Appeal judicial attorney before serving on the Ventura municipal and superior courts. Volunteers as a ski instructor for disabled athletes and wounded warriors.

Division Seven

Gonzalo Martinez, Presiding Justice (since 2023; Presiding Justice since 2024). Former Deputy Solicitor General for California who argued before the U.S. and California Supreme Courts, and a former appellate partner at Squire Patton Boggs. Worked in the Governor’s Office on judicial appointments. Certified appellate law specialist, Harvard College and Law, Stanford master’s in English.

Natalie Stone (since 2024). Clerked for Ninth Circuit Judge Tashima and spent 10 years in complex civil litigation at Munger Tolles, followed by five years as a Court of Appeal attorney. Brown appointed her to the Superior Court in 2015, where she presided over juvenile dependency and criminal matters. Duke and UCLA Law.

Division Eight

John Wiley (since 2018). Clerked for Justice Lewis Powell on the U.S. Supreme Court, was a federal prosecutor, and was a tenured UCLA Law professor who won its Distinguished Teaching Award. Joined the Superior Court in 2002. Extensive law review publications.

Matthew Scherb (since 2025). A career appellate lawyer: Winston & Strawn litigator, six years as a senior and lead attorney at the First District Court of Appeal, four years in the LA City Attorney’s civil appeals section, and four years as a chambers attorney for California Supreme Court Justice Martin Jenkins. Has never served as a trial judge. Yale (computer science) and Northwestern Law.

Victor Viramontes (since 2022). Civil rights lawyer: MALDEF staff attorney and national senior counsel, plus years as an EEOC trial attorney. Clerked for Carlos Moreno in federal court. Appointed to the Superior Court by Brown in 2017. Stanford and Yale Law.

City of Los Angeles measures

Eight measures on the City of LA ballot: seven charter amendments or ordinances plus a sales tax. Sources: the City Clerk’s voter pamphlet for the signed official arguments, plus LAist, LA Times, and Daily News coverage. Endorsements below come from those sources and the groups’ own voter guides. In the table columns, pro = progressive, mod = moderate, and con = conservative. LA Forward is a self-described progressive guide, Thrive LA a moderate one, and Reform California is Carl DeMaio’s conservative group. Susan Shelley is a conservative Daily News opinion columnist.

Proposition TE: property transfer tax exemption for fire victims

Gives a one-time exemption from the Measure ULA “mansion tax” (4% on sales over about $5.4M, 5.5% over about $10.9M) for residential properties damaged or destroyed in the January 2025 Palisades Fire. The exemption covers the owner of record on January 7, 2025, for sales through January 2030. The City Administrative Officer estimates it would cut ULA revenue by $35M–$66M a year, against about $548M collected last year.

• For: Mayor Bass, Councilmembers Traci Park, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and Monica Rodriguez, State Sen. Ben Allen, the LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council, Western States Carpenters, the Pacific Palisades Community Council, LA County Democratic Party, Thrive LA, Reform California.
• Against: No official argument was filed. Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez voted against placing it on the ballot because it isn’t limited to primary residences and could help LLCs and investors. LA Forward opposes it for the same reason, and because it opens the door to chipping away at ULA.

Charter Amendment LA: infrastructure, budget, finance, and contracting

Creates a two-year budget cycle and a required citywide capital infrastructure plan. It gives the Director of Public Works more authority and lets the Council eliminate the Board of Public Works by ordinance. It also drops the charter bans on mortgaging city property and on the city running commercial businesses, and loosens competitive bidding rules. The Council placed it on the ballot 13–0 with two absent.

• For: Controller Kenneth Mejia, Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Bob Blumenfield, former Controller Ron Galperin, Investing in Place, Streets For All, LA Forward.
• Against: Councilmember Monica Rodriguez wrote the official argument against, saying it removes an independent check on contracts. Also opposed: LA County Democratic Party, Thrive LA (the commercial-enterprise and mortgaging changes), Reform California, Susan Shelley.

Charter Amendment PL: City Planning Department

Replaces the seven Area Planning Commissions with one Neighborhood Appeals Commission. Lets Planning Department staff beyond the Zoning Administration hear applications. Lets the Council change floor-area limits by ordinance instead of charter amendment. Cuts commission costs by about $360,000 a year.

• For: The official argument was signed by Raymond Meza (Chair, Charter Reform Commission) and Roy Samaan (Engineers & Architects Association).
• Against: No official argument against. Thrive LA says the measure text is incomplete and leaves legal gaps. Reform California says it moves oversight to the City Council. Shelley and a Daily News columnist (Rafael Perez) oppose it, citing uncertainty about how the new commission and the density powers would be used. The LA County Democrats made no endorsement and LA Forward’s write-up gives no recommendation.

Charter Amendment EE: ethics, elections, and governance

A bundle. Pluses: more independence for the LAPD Inspector General and LAFD Independent Assessor, higher campaign finance fines (up to $15,000 per violation), and a five-year bar on Ethics Commissioners running for city office. Controversial: the Council would need to meet only once a week instead of three times, and referendum petitions would need 15% of the last mayoral vote instead of 10%.

• For: Councilmembers Tim McOsker, Katy Yaroslavsky, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and Eunisses Hernandez, plus Charter Reform Commissioner Diego Andrades.
• Against: Councilmember Monica Rodriguez wrote the official argument against, saying it cuts public meetings. Also opposed: LA County Democratic Party, LA Forward (“likely to pass but vote no to send a message”), Thrive LA, Reform California, Shelley. The Daily News columnist is more mixed and thinks it may do more good than harm.

Charter Amendment PRK: Recreation and Parks budget

Doubles the charter minimum for the parks department, from 0.0325% to 0.065% of assessed property value, phased in over 10 years. That is about $303M today growing to about $986M by 2036, compared with about $493M under the current formula. It is not a tax, so it forces cuts or new revenue elsewhere. The Council can reduce it in a declared fiscal emergency.

• For: Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez, Ysabel Jurado, and Imelda Padilla, Controller Mejia, Father Gregory Boyle, Boys & Girls Club of the San Fernando Valley, LA Neighborhood Land Trust, LA Waterkeeper, and a Recreation and Parks commissioner (the official argument); also Trust for Public Land, TreePeople, Friends of the LA River, UTLA, LA County Democratic Party, LA Forward, Thrive LA.
• Against: No organized opposition or official argument. The city’s fiscal analysts recommended against it, because it would add to the budget deficit or force cuts elsewhere. Councilmember Blumenfield made the same point. Reform California and Shelley oppose it (Shelley says the Council should stop diverting park funds instead).

Charter Amendment PRT: airports, harbor, and DWP

Requires five Airport Commissioners to be geographically representative (neighborhoods near LAX and Van Nuys). Extends maximum lease terms for the Airports Department and DWP from 50 to 66 years. Requires the Harbor Department to fund waterfront public access and to file workforce impact statements for leases.

• For: Councilmembers Tim McOsker, Traci Park, and Imelda Padilla, Wilmington and Van Nuys community advocates, and the Westchester/Playa Neighborhood Council president (official argument). Also LA County Democratic Party, LA Forward, Thrive LA, Shelley.
• Against: No official argument. The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association says the workforce impact statements add cost and delay to port investment. A Daily News columnist sees them as a way to discourage port automation. Reform California opposes it.

Initiative Ordinance FD: fire department sales tax

Adds a half-cent city sales tax (10.25% to 10.75%), about $345M a year dedicated to the LAFD. It has no end date. The city must keep funding the LAFD at its average percentage of the general fund over the last decade, and there are annual audits and an advisory oversight committee. It passes with a simple majority, and Prop 43 (below) would end that route for future initiatives.

• For: United Firefighters of LA City Local 112 (the sponsor), Fire Chief Jaime Moore, Mayor Bass, Councilmember Park, the Central City Association, the State Building and Construction Trades Council, LA County Democratic Party, LA Forward, Thrive LA.
• Against: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (official argument, which counts it as the third local sales tax hike in two years), and the LA Police Protective League, which plans to spend several million dollars against it (“a forever tax”). Also Reform California and Shelley.

Charter Amendment SC: LAUSD campaign finance rules

Removes campaign finance language for Board of Education candidates from the city charter so the City Council can set those rules by ordinance. The sources disagree on the effect. Supporters call it housekeeping that aligns the rules with other city offices. A Daily News columnist says the new language exempts board candidates from the ban on lobbyist and contractor contributions and from public matching funds.

• For: Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, LAUSD board member Nick Melvoin, Diego Andrades, California Common Cause, the League of Women Voters of Greater Los Angeles (official argument), LA Forward, Thrive LA.
• Against: No official argument. Reform California says it takes power from voters, and Shelley and the Daily News columnist oppose it. The LA County Democrats made no endorsement.

Los Angeles County measures

Two county charter amendments. Sources: LAist and LA Times guides, the Daily News editorial board, and each group’s voter guide. Neither measure has an official argument against it in the county voter pamphlet.

Charter Amendment A: binding arbitration for public safety unions

If contract talks with covered unions reach an impasse, a three-member arbitration panel (one chosen by the county, one by the union, one jointly) would pick one side’s final offer on each disputed issue, and the result would be binding. Today the county can impose its “last, best, and final offer.” The measure covers about 17,000 employees (about 17% of the county workforce) in 14 bargaining units: sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, lifeguards, DA investigators, medical examiner staff, and related civilian employees. It also writes a strike ban for those groups into the charter. The Board of Supervisors placed it on the ballot 4–0 in February while the unions were gathering signatures for their own version; Supervisor Holly Mitchell abstained and later was the lone no vote on the ballot language.

• For: four of the five supervisors, including Lindsey Horvath (author), Hilda Solis, and Kathryn Barger; the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, LA County Firefighters Local 1014, the LA County Professional Peace Officers Association, the LA County Lifeguard Association, the LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council; Sheriff Robert Luna and DA Nathan Hochman; Treasurer Fiona Ma; the LA County Democratic Party; Thrive LA (with “clear eyes about the fiscal risks”); Reform California (for the strike ban). Supporters say it takes politics out of pay decisions and would help recruitment and retention. The sponsors’ campaign is called Safer Los Angeles County.
• Against: No official argument against. Supervisor Mitchell raised financial concerns but hasn’t formally opposed it. The county’s then-acting CEO warned that arbitration awards not tied to the budget could strain reserves and credit ratings, and that voter-approved mandatory arbitration has caused fiscal trouble in other places, including bankruptcy. The Daily News editorial board and Susan Shelley oppose it (the editorial notes that arbitrators look at comparable contracts rather than the county’s finances, and that Vallejo voters repealed arbitration after its 2008 bankruptcy). LA Forward opposes it because it shifts power toward the Sheriff’s Department, a controversial department, and away from democratic input. An LMU Law School fellow made a similar transparency argument.

Charter Amendment E: Ethics Commission and community investment

Two things in one vote. First, it locks the independence of the new County Ethics Commission and Office of Ethics Compliance (created by 2024’s Measure G) into the charter: investigation and subpoena powers over officials, candidates, lobbyists, and contractors, fines of up to $15,000 per violation, and a guaranteed minimum budget of $14.3M a year for about 54 staff. Second, it restores Measure J (2020), which sets aside 10% of unrestricted county general funds for community investment and alternatives to incarceration. Measure G accidentally erased that language in 2024. The Board placed the measure on the ballot with four votes in favor and one abstention.

• For: Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Holly Mitchell (co-authors), the League of Women Voters of LA County, California Clean Money, California Common Cause, the AAPI Equity Alliance, the LA County Democratic Party, LA Forward, and Thrive LA, which supports it mainly for the ethics provisions and wishes the two parts had been separate.
• Against: No official argument against. The Daily News editorial board calls the ethics changes “plausibly fine” but opposes the measure because it revives Measure J’s spending mandate, which it calls “ballot box budgeting.” Reform California and Susan Shelley also oppose it, objecting to the Measure J set-aside.

Los Angeles County Sheriff: Robert Luna vs. Alex Villanueva

A rematch of 2022, when Luna beat the incumbent Villanueva 61.3% to 38.7%. In the June primary Luna took 44.2% and Villanueva 21.7%, with six other candidates splitting the rest, so no one cleared 50%. The sheriff runs the nation’s largest sheriff’s department, patrols unincorporated areas and 42 contract cities, runs the county jails (about 14,000 people), and has a budget of roughly $4 billion. The next sheriff will also help lead security for the 2028 Olympics. Sources: LA Times and LAist guides, Ballotpedia, the Daily News, and the voter guides used above.

Robert Luna (incumbent)

Sheriff since December 2022. Spent 36 years with the Long Beach Police Department, including seven as chief (2014–2021). Raised in unincorporated East LA.

• His case: Violent crime has fallen every year since he took office, homicides fell by more than 25% between 2023 and 2025, uses of force and deputy-involved shootings are down, and the department’s new academy classes grew by nearly a third between 2024 and 2025. He says he repaired relationships with the Board of Supervisors that Villanueva wrecked, and points to the department’s role in the World Cup as preparation for the Olympics.
• Criticism: Sworn vacancies have kept rising, from about 1,069 when Villanueva left to 1,452 three years later, though retention has improved. The Attorney General sued over jail conditions in September 2025, and the US Justice Department opened an investigation into Men’s Central Jail in September 2026. A July 2025 accidental grenade explosion in a department parking lot killed three deputies, and the state fined the department more than $350,000 over safety violations. The Civilian Oversight Commission sued the department in June over withheld use-of-force records, which Luna says can’t be released until a “meet and confer” with the deputies’ union is complete. Protesters complained about deputies’ use of force at immigration-related demonstrations last summer.
• Endorsed by: LA County Democratic Party, all five county supervisors, the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS, the largest deputies’ union), LA County Federation of Labor, LA County Fire Fighters Local 1014, LA/OC Building & Construction Trades, SEIU 721, the LA County Police Chiefs Association, Sen. Alex Padilla, Mayor Karen Bass, DA Nathan Hochman, BizFed, the Central City Association, the LA Police Protective League (per Thrive LA), the LA Daily News editorial board, LA Forward, and Thrive LA.
• Money (through June 30): raised about $366,000 in 2026 and had about $352,000 on hand.

Alex Villanueva (challenger)

Sheriff from 2018 to 2022. A deputy for over 30 years, rising to lieutenant. He won in 2018 as a Democrat running as a reformer, then moved to the right, appeared often on Fox News, and switched his registration to Republican. The race is officially nonpartisan.

• His case: His slogan is “Help is on the Way.” He says staffing and morale have worsened under Luna, deputies tell him some stations lack the people and resources they need, and crime has “run rampant.” He would focus on deputy health by cutting overtime and rebuilding staffing, and says Luna is unprepared for the Olympics.
• Criticism: His term was marked by feuds with the Board of Supervisors, a criminal leak investigation of an LA Times reporter that he later walked back, the sharing of photos from the Kobe Bryant crash site, and defying subpoenas over “deputy gangs.” After he left office, a county panel found he violated policies on discrimination and harassment and put him on a “do not rehire” list, which he denies. The Daily News editorial board said he falsely claimed Luna hid at a resort during the January 2025 fires. Sworn vacancies more than doubled during his term, from about 477 to 1,069.
• Endorsed by: LA County Republican Party, the LA Sheriff’s Professional Association (the other deputies’ union), LA County Taxpayers Association, LA School Police Officers Association, several local police officers’ associations, Assemblymembers Carl DeMaio, David Tangipa, and Leticia Castillo, and Reform California.
• Money (through June 30): raised about $109,000 and had about $56,000 on hand.

California statewide offices

Three down-ballot state offices: Insurance Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Board of Equalization District 3. Sources: the Secretary of State’s candidate statements, LAist/CalMatters, KQED, and LA Times guides, plus the group guides used above. A dash means the group made no pick I could find.

Insurance Commissioner: Ben Allen vs. Jane Kim

Both are Democrats, the first time two Democrats have faced off for the job. The commissioner approves insurance rate increases and regulates carriers, in the middle of a homeowners’ insurance crisis: insurers have pulled back or sought big hikes after wildfires, and the state’s insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan, has grown about 150% since 2022. The incumbent, Ricardo Lara, is leaving.

• Ben Allen is a state senator (Santa Monica) since 2014 and represents the Palisades fire area. He authored the $10B climate bond voters approved in 2024 and laws requiring faster insurer payments and rewarding homeowners who reduce fire risk. He wants to move FAIR Plan customers back to the private market through neighborhood-scale fire-mitigation grants and financing, build up the department’s claims staff, and speed up rate reviews. He says Lara’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy is working in part, but is concerned it lets insurers get credit for covering areas that aren’t really high risk. He says he takes no insurance company money. Endorsed by: California Democratic Party, Sens. Padilla and Schiff, Senate leader Monique Limón, Assembly Speaker Rivas, former Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, Sierra Club, California Environmental Voters, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, California Professional Firefighters, California Farm Bureau, Equality California, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, the California Real Estate PAC, the SF Chronicle and Mercury News editorial boards, and Thrive LA.
• Jane Kim is a former San Francisco supervisor (2011–2019), former California director of the Working Families Party, and was California political director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign. Her signature proposal is “Disaster Insurance for All,” a state-run catastrophe program with universal automatic enrollment funded mostly by policyholders, which she compares to systems in France and New Zealand. She would also reform the secretive FAIR Plan, create one state risk map for all insurers, cap excessive profits, and expand the state low-cost auto insurance program. She says she takes no corporate PAC money. Endorsed by: California Labor Federation, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna, Dolores Huerta, Controller Malia Cohen, California Teachers Association, SEIU California, California Nurses Association, California Federation of Teachers, Teamsters, Working Families Party, and LA Forward (narrowly).
• Criticism: The insurance industry and some consumer advocates, and the SF Chronicle editorial board, call Kim’s plan risky and shifts catastrophic burden to the state. Consumer Watchdog compared it to the state earthquake program, which became expensive with limited coverage. LA Forward worries Allen is cautious and notes he endorsed LA Councilmember Traci Park over a progressive challenger. Experience is also an argument: Allen has a long insurance legislative record and Kim has none in the field.
• Money: Allen had raised about $2.1M and Kim about $1.3M as of October 1, per KQED.

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Richard Barrera vs. Sonja Shaw

A nonpartisan office decided in November because neither cleared 50% in June (Shaw about 25%, Barrera about 20% in a crowded field). The job is shrinking: a new law shifts authority to a governor-appointed education commissioner starting in 2027, so the superintendent will mostly serve as one of 13 members of the State Board of Education and a CSU trustee and UC regent, plus a statewide platform.

• Richard Barrera is president of the San Diego Unified school board (member since 2008) and a Democrat. He cites the district’s gains in reading and math and its graduation rates, four school repair bonds he led, and an educator housing initiative. He focuses on school funding, early childhood education, and making it easier to become a teacher, and says he would keep ICE out of schools and protect LGBTQ students. Endorsed by: California Teachers Association (whose committee spent about $5M on him before the primary), United Domestic Workers, California Charter School Advocates, outgoing Superintendent Tony Thurmond, Rep. Juan Vargas, United Administrators of Southern California, the Mercury News editorial board, LA Forward, and the Progressive Voters Guide.
• Sonja Shaw is president of the Chino Valley school board and a Republican. She became prominent in 2023 for presiding over a meeting where Thurmond was escorted out during a debate on transgender student policies. She says fewer than half of California students read at grade level and wants to refocus on reading, writing, and math, protect girls’ sports and private spaces, and cut bureaucracy. Endorsed by: California Republican Party, Moms for Liberty, California Rifle and Pistol Association, and Reform California.

Board of Equalization, District 3: Mike Gipson vs. Sam Sukaton

District 3 covers LA County. The Board of Equalization has four elected members plus the state controller. Since 2017 it has been a shell of its former self; it still oversees the 58 county assessors, sets statewide property tax rules, assesses utilities and railroads, and administers the alcohol and insurer taxes. Both candidates are Democrats.

• Mike Gipson is an Assemblymember since 2014 and chair of the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee. He is a former police officer and city councilmember and was chief of staff to a former BOE chairman. He is termed out. He was a principal coauthor of a 2023 constitutional amendment sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Endorsed by: California Democratic Party, LA County Democratic Party, California Labor Federation, California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers, SEIU, AFSCME, Carpenters, Laborers, California Professional Firefighters, LA Police Protective League, Gov. Newsom, AG Bonta, Lt. Gov. Kounalakis, Controller Cohen, and the Daily News editorial board. LA Forward notes he has taken over $180,000 from the oil and gas industry.
• Sam (Samuel P.) Sukaton is a lead organizer for AFT Local 1521 (the LA community college faculty guild) who directed Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign in Inland Southern California. He is endorsed by the Working Families Party, has held DSA-LA leadership roles, and supports split-roll property taxes (higher taxes on commercial property) and reforming Proposition 13. Endorsed by: Working Families Party, Americans for Democratic Action Southern California, California Environmental Voters, Knock LA, LA Forward, and the Progressive Voters Guide. He has no official candidate statement, and the Daily News said repeated requests for an interview went unanswered.

California statewide propositions

Fourteen propositions: 1–5 were referred by the Legislature or are legislative amendments (Prop 5 and 43 are constitutional amendments), and 37–45 are mostly initiatives. Summaries and fiscal estimates come from the Secretary of State’s voter guide. Supporter and opponent lists combine the official guide, KQED’s voter guide, and the Progressive Voters Guide. The tally below shows the positions of the same four groups used above (pro = progressive, mod = moderate, con = conservative).

Prop 1: $11.25 billion housing bond

State general obligation bonds for multifamily rental housing, veterans’ mortgages, supportive housing, preservation, and downpayment help. Costs the state $500M–$600M a year for about 25 years.

• For: Gov. Newsom, Assembly Speaker Rivas, Asm. Buffy Wicks, US Vets, California Association of Veterans, California Federation of Teachers, Habitat for Humanity California, All Home, Carpenters, League of California Cities, ACLU California Action.
• Against: No official argument. Republican legislators Carl DeMaio, Tony Strickland, and David Tangipa, and Reform California (about $17B with interest).

Prop 2: rainy day fund

Raises the cap on the state’s Budget Stabilization Account (rainy day fund) and changes the rules for extra debt payments, so reserves would be higher.

• For: Gov. Newsom, Xavier Becerra, California Professional Firefighters, LA Chamber of Commerce, California Federation of Labor Unions, California Democratic Party.
• Against: Assembly Republican leader Alexandra Macedo, David Tangipa, the California Republican Party, and Reform California. The official argument says reserve deposits are excluded from the constitutional spending limit, which makes taxpayer rebates less likely.

Prop 3: make the high-earner income tax permanent

Makes the 2012 income tax rates on individuals earning over $371,000 permanent instead of letting them expire in 2031. Revenue goes largely to schools. It preserves $5B–$15B a year.

• For: California Teachers Association, California State PTA, School Nurses Organization, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, SEIU California, California Professional Firefighters, California Nurses Association, Xavier Becerra, California Democratic Party.
• Against: California Taxpayers Association, Family Business Association of California, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Republican Party, Reform California.

Prop 4: allow public financing of campaigns

Repeals the ban on state and local governments creating public campaign funding programs. Programs can’t use money earmarked for education, transportation, or public safety. Cost: a few hundred thousand dollars a year.

• For: League of Women Voters of California, California Common Cause, California Clean Money Campaign, California Nurses Association, Consumer Watchdog, ACLU of California, California Working Families Party, California Federation of Labor Unions, Sen. Tom Umberg, California Democratic Party.
• Against: California Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Family Business Association of California, California Hispanic Chambers, United Latinos Action, former FPPC chair Dan Schnur, Reform California. The official argument says there is no limit on the number of candidates or the amounts.

Prop 5: recall elections for statewide officers

Removes the “who should replace them” question from recall elections. Vacancies would be filled by special election or appointment. Fiscal effect: unknown.

• For: California Common Cause, League of Women Voters of California, California Democratic Party.
• Against: California Republican Party, Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, Election Integrity Project California, Reform California. The official argument says politicians, not voters, would choose replacements.

Prop 37: loan program for middle-income homebuyers

Authorizes $25B in bonds for fixed-rate loans covering up to 17% of the price of a newly built home under about $1.5M. Borrowers must live in the home and put 3% down. The borrowers repay the bonds, with no direct state cost.

• For: United Nurses Associations of California, California Conference of Carpenters, Treasurer Fiona Ma, California Association of Realtors, California Teachers Association, Xavier Becerra, California Democratic Party.
• Against: No organized opposition. Asm. Carl DeMaio and Reform California oppose it. LA Forward leans against it, saying the design could widen racial disparities.

Prop 38: $8.4 billion for immunology research

General obligation bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research, half to a single UC-affiliated nonprofit institute and half to research grants. Costs $500M–$600M a year for about 20 years.

• For: Michael J. Fox Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, ALS Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Kidney Cancer Association, American Nurses Association\California, California Black Health Network, California Democratic Party, Reform California.
• Against: Robert Kaplan (Stanford, former NIH), Courage California, League of Women Voters of California, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. The official argument says research funding should go through the normal budget process.

Prop 39: voter ID

Requires the last four digits of a government ID number on mail ballot envelopes, and ID to vote in person. Costs tens of millions to low hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

• For: California Republican Party, Reps. Ken Calvert and Asm. Carl DeMaio, Sen. Tony Strickland, Californians for Voter ID, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Latino American Political Association, Thrive LA, Reform California.
• Against: ACLU California Action, California Common Cause, League of Women Voters of California, Planned Parenthood, California Teachers Association, California Nurses Association, SEIU California, Sen. Alex Padilla, Xavier Becerra, California Democratic Party, LA Forward.

Prop 40: one-time billionaire tax

A one-time 5% tax on taxpayers with assets over $1B, mostly for health care. It exempts the revenue from school funding and spending-limit rules. Revenue: tens of billions over several years.

• For: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (sponsor), California Nurses Association, UNITE HERE Local 11, Teamsters California, DSA, California Democratic Party, LA Forward.
• Against: Gov. Newsom, Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton, California Teachers Association, California Medical Association, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California Primary Care Association, California School Boards Association, California Professional Firefighters, State Building and Construction Trades Council, California Taxpayers Association, Sergey Brin, Thrive LA, Reform California.

Prop 41: audits and spending limit for new state taxes

Nullifies state taxes enacted after January 1, 2026 that exclude their revenue from the state spending limit, and requires State Auditor reviews of programs funded by special taxes. Opponents say it is aimed at undoing Prop 40 if both pass and Prop 41 gets more votes.

• For: California Society of CPAs, CalAsian Chamber of Commerce, California Taxpayers Association, California Chamber of Commerce, Sergey Brin, Thrive LA, Reform California. The Progressive Voters Guide says the campaign committee has raised over $48M, largely from tech and finance executives.
• Against: Sen. Bernie Sanders, SEIU-UHW, California Federation of Labor Unions, California Democratic Party, LA Forward.

Prop 42: ban new personal property taxes

Prohibits new state taxes on ownership of personal property (everything other than real estate) and certain retroactive taxes, and nullifies conflicting taxes enacted after January 1, 2026. It shares the same funding committee and the same Prop 40 conflict as Prop 41.

• For: California Professional Firefighters, State Building & Construction Trades Council, AMVETS Department of California, California Taxpayers Association, Gov. Newsom, Sergey Brin, Thrive LA, Reform California.
• Against: Sen. Bernie Sanders, SEIU-UHW, California Federation of Labor Unions, California Democratic Party, LA Forward.

Prop 43: two-thirds vote for local special tax initiatives

Raises the vote needed to pass voter-proposed local special taxes from a majority to two-thirds, starting January 1, 2027. This would end the court-created majority-vote route (it would not apply retroactively to LA’s Measure FD, which would be decided under today’s rules).

• For: California Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Family Business Association of California, California Hispanic Chambers, California Republican Party, Thrive LA, Reform California.
• Against: California Professional Firefighters, California Federation of Teachers, SEIU California, California State Association of Counties, Evolve California, Nonprofit Housing Action Fund, California Democratic Party, LA Forward.

Prop 44: community health clinic spending rule

Penalizes nonprofit federally qualified health centers that spend less than 90% of revenue on “program services.” State costs of low tens of millions a year, covered by fees.

• For: SEIU-UHW is the only listed supporter, and no one is listed as a supporter in the official guide.
• Against: American Academy of Pediatrics California, California Medical Association, California Academy of Family Physicians, California Primary Care Association, California Hospital Association, California School Nurses Organization, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California Democratic Party, Courage California, LA Forward, Thrive LA, Reform California.

Prop 45: CEQA streamlining

Sets deadlines for environmental review and for resolving lawsuits for most housing, transportation, water, and health projects, and narrows what courts can consider. Costs the state and local governments tens of millions to possibly over $100M a year.

• For: Asm. Buffy Wicks, California Chamber of Commerce, California Council for Affordable Housing, California Water Association, California Children’s Hospital Association, California Republican Party, Thrive LA, Reform California. The yes campaign is run by Affordable California.
• Against: California Democratic Party, California Environmental Justice Alliance, California Environmental Voters, Communities for a Better Environment, State Building and Construction Trades Council, California Federation of Labor Unions, California Federation of Teachers, NRDC Action, National Wildlife Federation, Physicians for Social Responsibility LA, Coalition for Clean Air, ACLU Southern California, LA Forward.

LA Community College District Board of Trustees (Seats 2, 4, 6)

The LACCD runs nine colleges with about 200,000 students and a budget of about $10 billion, including $5.3 billion in 2022 bond money for renovation, infrastructure, and student housing. Trustees are elected at large across the district, so all three seats are on every LA-area ballot. Terms are four years with no term limits. Sources: the LA Times candidate questionnaires, Ballotpedia, the candidates’ own endorsement pages, and the Thrive LA and LA County Democratic Party guides. LA Forward’s guide has no LACCD recommendations. I couldn’t read the DSA-LA guide, which blocked my request. The LA Times and Daily News published questionnaires but I found no newspaper endorsements.

District context: in September the LA Times reported that the district canceled bidding on a student housing project after the losing bidder alleged “procedural irregularities.” The winning bidder’s executives had donated to two current trustees, Sara Hernandez and Andra Hoffman, who said the donations were legal and don’t influence their votes. None of the candidates below were named in that story.

Seat 2

Incumbent Steve Veres is running against four challengers.

• Steve Veres (incumbent). Trustee since 2011 and the board’s 2nd Vice President. Former mayor of San Fernando, state legislative staff director, and teacher. His stated priorities are affordability, higher completion and transfer rates, and paid internships and apprenticeships with employers and labor. Endorsed by: LA County Democratic Party, IBEW Local 11, Thrive LA (jointly with Irwin), and fellow trustees.
• Kristina Irwin. Real estate professional and parent who was born in the former Yugoslavia and attended Cal State Northridge. She is a former trustee at Palisades Charter High School, sits on a Santa Monica College advisory board, and lost a 2022 State Senate race. She wants “pre-entry” programs in every local high school. Endorsed by: California Republican Party, Reform California, former Supervisor Michael Antonovich, former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, former Sen. Gloria Romero, and Thrive LA (jointly with Veres).
• Adriana Cabrera. 34, educator and community college alum with a CSUN master’s in education. President of the Central Alameda Neighborhood Council and co-founder of Empowering Youth in South Central. Priorities are easier-to-navigate student services and stronger financial aid. I found no endorsements.
• Robert Payne. 77, researcher and writer who taught at LA Mission College. Wants cheaper, faster, better colleges, more job-specific training, and cheaper online textbooks. I found no endorsements.
• Roy Payan. Told the LA Times he suspended his campaign, but he is still on the ballot.

Seat 4 (open)

The current holder, board President Sara Hernandez, is running for State Senate, so there’s no incumbent. Seven candidates are on the ballot.

• Darryn Harris. Government affairs officer at St. John’s Community Health and an instructor at Santa Monica College (not an LACCD campus). UCLA master’s in higher education. Former chief of staff and aide to Karen Bass, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and Steven Bradford. Wants student, faculty, and workforce housing on district land, and better counseling, transfer help, and career training. Endorsed by: LA County Federation of Labor, LA County Democratic Party, AFT 1521 and 1521A, UTLA, SEIU 99 and 721, IBEW 11, Working Families Party, Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Lindsey Horvath, Council President Harris-Dawson, trustees Hernandez, Vela, Iino, Henderson, Hoffman, and Veres, and Thrive LA (jointly with Alaniz).
• Elaine Alaniz. Healthcare workforce specialist and alum of LA City College and LA Valley College. Public affairs specialist at the SBA’s disaster recovery office and president of the Westlake North Neighborhood Council. She ran for State Assembly in 2024 as a Republican, finishing third in the primary with 20%. Focuses on workforce readiness, flexible schedules, and cutting overspending. Endorsed by: Thrive LA (jointly with Harris). Ballotpedia lists no other endorsements.
• Nancy Pearlman. 78, environmentalist and educator. Served on the board for four terms (2001–2017) and taught part-time at all nine colleges. Lost to Gabriel Buelna in 2017 and in later comeback bids in 2020, 2022, and 2024. Says her priority is holding the chancellor and college presidents accountable. I found no current endorsements.
• Adam Bruno. Therapist who attended community college. Wants more enrollment, better access, better pay and support for educators, and is open to student stipends.
• Priscilla Umana. ASL educational interpreter. Priorities are affordability, accessibility, and student basic needs like housing and food.
• Jason Aula. Business owner, journalist, and political campaign consultant who lost to Veres in 2022. His answers to the Times cover protecting athletics funding (football in particular), partnerships with the Navy and law enforcement, and a curriculum that represents “United States of America citizens.”
• Isidro Armenta. Fire Department employee. He didn’t answer the LA Times questionnaire.

Seat 6

Incumbent Gabriel Buelna is running against three challengers.

• Gabriel Buelna (incumbent). Trustee since July 2017. Attorney and Cal State Northridge history and political science instructor, formerly head of Plaza Community Services. Focused on affordability and connecting education to economic opportunity. Endorsed by: AFT College Staff Guild 1521A, SEIU Local 99, the LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council, Laborers Locals 300 and 1309, Teamsters Joint Council 42, UFCW 770, Painters District Council 36, plumbers’ and ironworkers’ locals, former Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Judy Chu, Dolores Huerta, Treasurer Fiona Ma, Assemblymember Mike Fong, trustee Nichelle Henderson, and several local Democratic clubs.
• Randall Winston. Licensed architect and attorney, and Mayor Bass’s deputy mayor of infrastructure and climate resilience. Former executive director of the California Strategic Growth Council under Jerry Brown, which oversaw more than $1.3 billion in investments. National Guard JAG officer. Teaches a public-sector leadership class at West LA College. Endorsed by: LA County Democratic Party, LA County Federation of Labor, AFT 1521 and 1521A, SEIU 721, IBEW 11, UTLA, SMART Local 105, LA League of Conservation Voters, BizFed PAC, Mayor Bass, Gov. Jerry Brown, Sheriff Robert Luna, Supervisors Hilda Solis and Janice Hahn, trustees Hoffman, Veres, and Vela, and Thrive LA (jointly with Arey).
• Tonia Arey. Realtor and promotional products sales executive. Lost the June 2026 primary for LA County Supervisor, District 3. Runs on taxpayer accountability, campus safety, and career readiness, and says current trustees “can no longer be trusted.” Endorsed by: former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, retired LASD Chief Patrick Jordan, LA County Deputy Probation Officers’ Union Local 685, Back to Business California, and Thrive LA (jointly with Winston).
• Roberto David Lacarra. Community college professor. He didn’t answer the LA Times questionnaire and I found little else.

Appendix: endorsements on Props 40, 41, 42, and 43

Side-by-side endorsements for the four tax-related propositions. Yes and No are the endorser’s recommended vote. A dash means I found no position from them on that measure, not that they are neutral. Sources: the Secretary of State’s voter guide (including the signed ballot arguments), KQED’s endorsement lists, the Progressive Voters Guide, and each group’s own guide. Lists of “notable” endorsers aren’t exhaustive. Labels in parentheses mark a source’s leaning: pro = progressive, mod = moderate, con = conservative.