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Home , Adam Gray, Adrin Nazarian, Alex Lee (politician), Al Muratsuchi, Anthony Portantino, Ash Kalra

2020 General Election Guide

With the legislative session complete, focus has now shifted to the November General Election. As in past election years, the California Chiropractic Association has put together an election guide containing information, and in many cases endorsement recommendations, for State Assembly and State Senate races as well as ballot initiatives.

Don’t know your Assembly or Senate district? No need to worry, just go to​ ​http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/,​ input your address and you will be given the districts you live in.

Now that you know which Legislative districts you reside in, you can print out your district specific CalChiro recommendations via the following links. For the Assembly click​ ​HERE ​ and for the Senate click​ ​HERE​.

Assembly Overview California Democrats hit an apex in 2018 winning three-quarters of the seats in the Legislature giving them what some commentators are now calling a “gigamajority.” We used to focus on the “supermajority” in the Assembly, which translated to 54 out of the 80 members belonging to the same political party. Democrats hit that supermajority some time ago and have had the ability to pass legislation with higher vote thresholds (e.g. tax/fee increase measures) even if no Republicans support those measures. Under the current Assembly gigamajority, there are currently 61 Democrats, 17 Republicans, 1 Independent (Asm. who was previously registered as a Republican), and 1 vacancy that is a safe Republican seat (this seat was vacated after Asm. won a special Senate election). Speaker Anthony Rendon will be focused on protecting his gigamajority in 2020. Assembly Democrats must defend a number of seats they won in the 2018 Gubernatorial Election, including AD 74 - Cottie Petrie-Norris and AD 76 - . Assembly Republicans have potentially vulnerable seats where Republican voter registration has been shrinking, these include AD 68 - Steven . Other interesting races are AD 13 and AD 33 where we see candidates from the same party facing off against each other in races that could be won by either candidate. With California voters continuing to shift blue and the high turnout typically associated with a Presidential election, we expect the Democrats to hold on to their gigamajority and for Speaker Rendon to potentially expand his party’s seats.

Senate Overview Like their Assembly counterparts, Senate Democrats already enjoy a supermajority plus in the upper house. A supermajority in the Senate translates to 27 out of the 40 members belonging to the same political party - currently there are 29 Democrats and 11 Republicans serving in the State Senate. Unlike the Assembly, Senate seats are up for election every four years and only the odd-numbered Senate districts are up for election in 2020. Senate President Pro Tempore will be focused on growing her supermajority by seeking to win back SD 29, which was previously held by Democrat Senator . Senator Newman was recalled after casting a vote in support of SB 1 (2018), a tax measure to fund transportation infrastructure. Newman will seek to regain his old Senate seat by taking on sitting Republican Senator . Additional Senate Republicans in SD 21 - and SD 37 - are also facing stiff challenges. Another race that has become increasingly competitive is in SD 15 where two Democrats - Ann Ravel and - are both running sophisticated and well-funded campaigns to replace termed out Senator Jim Beall. Other interesting races include Senate District 11, where incumbent Democratic Senator Scott Weiner is facing a challenge from the left by Democratic Socialist Jackie Fielder in and SD 23 where Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh is battling Abigail Medina to replace Republican Senator . Given the same dynamics described above, we expect the Democrats to hold on to their supermajority in 2020.

Statewide Ballot Propositions There are 12 initiatives on the ballot, where voters will directly decide which proposals will become law. The initiatives include high profile matters like the referendum to repeal SB 10 (2019) that ended cash bail, repeal of Prop. 209’s ban on affirmative action (1996), and a split roll tax measure that would increase certain commercial property taxes. Jump to the end of this report for a full list and summary of all the ballot measures.

Possible Vacancies There are two Democratic incumbent Senators who are running for local offices in the middle of their Senate terms, potentially triggering a future special election if they are successful. Senator (SD 30) and Senator (SD 40) are termed out in 2022 and are taking their chances in running for county supervisor seats. If either one were to win, the Governor will have to call a special election to fill their vacant Senate seat. If either Senator were to lose, they will serve out the remainder of their terms until 2022. Assemblymember has filed to run for SD 30 in 2022 but one can expect her to run in the special election if Senator Mitchell wins the county supervisor race.

A detailed listing of races and measures, along with some recommendations, follows.

Assembly District 1 Assembly District 2 Assembly District 3 Assembly District 4

Megan Dahle, Incumbent (R) Jim Wood, Incumbent (D) James Gallagher, Incumbent (R) Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Incumbent (D) Elizabeth Betancourt, Scientist (D) Charlotte Svolos, Teacher (R) James Hensen, Author (D) Matthew Nelson, Student (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Jim Wood Jim Gallagher Cecilia Aguiar-Curry

Assembly District 5 Assembly District 6 Assembly District 7 Assembly District 8

Frank Bigelow, Incumbent (R) , Incumbent (R) Kevin McCarty, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) No Challenger Jaclyn Smith, Businesswoman (D) James Just (L) Cathay Cook, Pilot (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Kevin Kiley Kevin McCarty Ken Cooley

Assembly District 9 Assembly District 10 Assembly District 11 Assembly District 12

Jim Cooper, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (R) Eric Rigard (R) Veronica Jacobi (D) Debra Schwab (R) Paul Akinjo (D)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Jim Cooper Marc Levine JIm Frazier Heath Flora

Assembly District 13 Assembly District 14 Assembly District 15 Assembly District 16

Kathy Miller, Supervisor (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Incumbent (D) , Businessman (D) Janell Proctor, Healthcare advocate Sara Brink, Filmmaker (NPP) Joseph Rubay, Appraiser (R) (R) CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: None CalChiro Recommendation: Buffy Wicks Rebecca Bauer-Kahan Tim Grayson

Assembly District 17 Assembly District 18 Assembly District 19 Assembly District 20

David Chiu, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Starchild (NPP) Stephen Slauson, Contractor (R) John McDonnell, Attorney (R) Alexis Villalobos, Legal Assistant (D)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Rob Bonta Phil Ting Bill Quirk

Assembly District 21 Assembly District 22 Assembly District 23 Assembly District 24

Adam Gray, Incumbent (D) (D) Jim Patterson, Incumbent (R) , Incumbent (D) Joel Campos, Regional Planner (R) Mark Gilham, Businessman (R) No Challenger Peter Ohtaki, Finance Manager (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Kevin Mullin Jim Patterson Marc Berman

Assembly District 25 Assembly District 26 Assembly District 27 Assembly District 28

Alex Lee, Policy Advisor (D) , Incumbent (R) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Bob Brunton, Business Owner (R) Drew Phelps, Advocate (D) Burt Lancaster, Consultant (R) Carlos Cruz, Real Estate Advisor (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Devon Mathis Ash Kalra Evan Low

Assembly District 29 Assembly District 30 Assembly District 31 Assembly District 32

Mark Stone, Incumbent (D) Robert Rivas, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Shomir Banerjee, Engineer (R) Gregory Swett, Farmer (R) Fernando Banuelos, Business Owner Todd Cotta, Business Owner (R) (R) CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Robert Rivas CalChiro Recommendation: Rudy Salas Joaquin Arambula

Assembly District 33 Assembly District 34 Assembly District 35 Assembly District 36

Rick Herrick, Mayor (R) , Incumbent (R) , Incumbent (R) , Incumbent (R) (R) Julie Solis (D) Dawn Addis, Councilmember (D) , Attorney (D)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: None Vince Fong Jordan Cunningham Tom Lackey

Assembly District 37 Assembly District 38 Assembly District 39 Assembly District 40

Steve Bennett, Supervisor (D) Suzette Valladares, Educator (R) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Charles Cole, Media Consultant (R) Lucie Volotzky, Businesswoman (R) Ricardo Benitez, Business Owner (R) Jennifer Tullius, Business Owner (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Steve Bennet None Luz Rivas James Ramos

Assembly District 41 Assembly District 42 Assembly District 43 Assembly District 44

Chris Holden, Incumbent (D) Chad Mayes, Incumbent (NPP) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Robin Hvidston, Director (R) Andrew Kotyuk, Mayor (R) Mike Graves, Business Owner (R) Denise Pedrow, Coordinator (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Chad Mayes Laura Friedman Jacqui Irwin

Assembly District 45 Assembly District 46 Assembly District 47 Assembly District 48

Jesse Gabriel, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Jeffi Girgenti, Business Owner (R) Laniraa Murphy, Educator (D) Matthew Gordon, Sheriff Sergeant (R) No Challenger

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Adrin Nazarian Eloise Reyes Blanca Rubio

Assembly District 49 Assembly District 50 Assembly District 51 Assembly District 52

Ed Chau, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Burton Brink, Ret. Sheriff (R) Will Hess, Director/Producer (D) No Challenger Toni Holle, Account Tech (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Richard Bloom Wendy Carrillo Freddie Rodriguez

Assembly District 53 Assembly District 54 Assembly District 55 Assembly District 56

Miguel Santiago, Incumbent (D) Sydney Kamlager, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (R) Eduardo Garcia, Incumbent (D) Godfrey Plata, Advocate (D) Tracy Jones, Teacher (D) Andrew Rodriguez, Mayor (D) America Figueroa, Teacher (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Sydney Kamlager Phillip Chen Eduardo Garcia

Assembly District 57 Assembly District 58 Assembly District 59 Assembly District 60

Lisa Calderon, Businesswoman (D) Cristina Garcia, Incumbent (D) Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Jessica Martinez, Educator (R) Margaret Villa, Airline Employee (R) Efren Martinez, Commissioner (D) Chris Raahauge, Officer (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Cristina Garcia Reggie Jones-Sawyer Sabrina Cervantes

Assembly District 61 Assembly District 62 Assembly District 63 Assembly District 64

Jose Medina, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Anthony Rendon, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Ali Mazarei, Business Owner (R) Robert Steele, Business Owner (R) Maria Estrada, Advocate (D) Fatima Iqbal-Zubair, Teacher (D)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Autumn Burke Anthony Rendon Mike Gipson

Assembly District 65 Assembly District 66 Assembly District 67 Assembly District 68

Sharon Quirk-Silva, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) Jerry Carlos, Commissioner (D) , Incumbent (R) Cynthia Thacker, Businesswoman Arthur Schaper, Director (R) , Mayor (R) Melissa Fox, Businesswoman (D) (R) CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Al Muratsuchi Kelly Seyarto None Sharon Quirk-Silva

Assembly District 69 Assembly District 70 Assembly District 71 Assembly District 72

Tom Daly, Incumbent (D) Patrick O’Donnell, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (R) Diedre Nguyen (D) Jon Paul White (R) David Thomas, Manager (R) Liz Lavertu, Businesswoman (D) (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Tom Daly Patrick O’Donnell Randy Voepel None

Assembly District 73 Assembly District 74 Assembly District 75 Assembly District 76

Scott Rhinehart, Business Director Cottie Petrie Norris, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (R) Tasha Boerner- Horvath, Incumbent (D) (D) Diane Dixon, Mayor (R) Karen Schwartz, Health Expert (D) Melanie Burkholder, Counselor (R) Laurie Davies, Mayor (R) CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: None Marie Waldron None Laurie Davies

Assembly District 77 Assembly District 78 Assembly District 79 Assembly District 80

Brian Maienschein, Incumbent (D) Sarah Davis, Healthcare Provider (D) , Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) June Yang Cutter, Business Owner Chris Ward, Councilmember (D) John Moore, Businessman (R) John Vogel, Tech Analyst (R) (R) CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Chris Ward Shirley Weber Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher

Senate District 1 Senate District 3 Senate District 5 Senate District 7

Brian Dahle, Incumbent (R) Bill Dodd, Incumbent (D) Susan Talamantes Eggman (D) , Incumbent (D) Pamela Swartz, Business Owner (D) Carlos Santamaria (R) Jim Ridenour, Contractor (R) Julie Mobley, Mother (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Bill Dodd Susan Talamantes Eggman Steve Glazer

Senate District 9 Senate District 11 Senate District 13 Senate District 15

Nancy Skinner, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) , Educator (D) Dave Cortese, Supervisor (D) Jamie Dluzak, Publisher (L) Jackie Fielder, Organizer (D) Alexander Glew, Engineer (R) Ann Ravel, Attorney (D)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Nancy Skinner Scott Wiener Josh Becker None

Senate District 17 Senate District 19 Senate District 21 Senate District 23

John Laird, Resources Secretary (D) Monique Limón, Assemblymember (D) Scott Wilk, Incumbent (R) Abigail Medina, School Board (D) Vicki Nohrden, Businesswoman (R) Gary Michaels, Consultant (R) Kipp Mueller, Attorney (D) Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, School Board (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: John Laird Monique Limón None None

Senate District 25 Senate District 27 Senate District 29 Senate District 31

Anthony Portantino, Incumbent (D) Henry Stern, Incumbent (D) Ling Ling Chang, Incumbent (R) Richard Roth, Incumbent (D) Kathleen Hazelton (R) Houman Salem, Business Owner (R) Josh Newman, Advocate (D) Rod Taylor (R​)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Henry Stern None Richard Roth

Senate District 33 Senate District 35 Senate District 37 Senate District 39

Lena Gonzalez, Incumbent (D) , Incumbent (D) John Moorlach, Incumbent (R) Toni Atkins, Incumbent (D) Elizabeth Castillo, Nurse (D) Anthony Perry, Teacher (AI) , Professor (D) Linda Blankenship (R)

CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: CalChiro Recommendation: Steven Bradford John Moorlach Toni Atkins

2020 BALLOT INITIATIVES

Proposition 14 - Stem Cell Research Bond:​ Authorizes $5.6 billion in general obligation bonds to fund stem cell research, medical training, and construction of research facilities. Supporters ​ - With a federal halt on funds for research into stem cells, this will allow researchers in California to further develop this therapeutic research. (California for Stem Cell Research, Treatments & Cures, Board of Regents, ALS CURE Project (partial list)) Opposition ​ - N/A

Proposition 15 - Split Roll Tax: ​ Increases funding for local schools, community colleges, and local government services by changing tax assessment of commercial and industrial real property to be taxed based on current market value. Exempts from this change: residential properties; agricultural properties; and owners of commercial and industrial properties with combined value of $3 million or less. Supporters ​ - Supports argue this long overdue measure will put much needed money back into school funding and communities. With recent budget reductions due to the pandemic, this influx of cash will be much needed for school districts that are seeing their projected spending needs increasing. (Schools and Communities first, LAUSD, Dolores Huerta (partial list)) Opposition ​ - Opposition argues that this would raise taxes on the average homeowner and that the middle of a pandemic induced recession is not the time to raise property taxes. (California Chamber of Commerce, California Business Roundtable (partial list))

Proposition 16 - Affirmative Action: ​ Repeals portions of Prop. 209 (1996) and restores the ability for the State of California to consider race and gender in state contracts, hiring, and college admissions. Supporters ​ - The 1995 ban on affirmative action has only exacerbated already existing racial gaps in education and professions. Allowing institutions to engage in affirmative action programs will begin to close these gaps. (AFSCME California, SEIU State Council, California Teachers Association (partial list)) Opposition ​ - This will adversely affect the most qualified by offering positions to people of color instead of positions being granted based on merrit. (Chinese American Civic Action Alliance, Students for Fair Admissions, American Freedom Alliance (partial list))

Proposition 17 - Voting Rights Restoration: R​ estores the right to vote to people convicted of felonies who are on parole. Supporters ​ - Returns rights to individuals that have repaid their debt to society. (ACLU of California, CA League of Women Voters (partial list)) Opposition ​ - Felons should not have this right restored until they have completed parole. (Election Integrity Project of California)

Proposition 18 - Voting Age: A​ llows 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote in primaries and special elections. Supporters ​ - Will encourage lifelong civil engagement of youth in the state. (CA Association of Student Councils, League of Women Voters of California (partial list)) Opposition ​ - Children are too immature to make decisions on elections and could be too easily influenced. (Election Integrity Project of California)

Proposition 19 - Property Tax Relief for Seniors and Victims:​ Allows homeowners who are over 55, disabled or victims of a natural disaster to take a portion of their property tax base with them when they sell their home and buy a new one. It would also limit the ability of new homeowners who inherit properties to keep their parents’ or grandparents’ low property tax payments. Most of the additional money raised would go into a state fire response fund. Supporters ​ - This will result in a win-win situation for the elderly and families who have been devastated by wildfires. They will be able to move to more suitable homes without facing tax increases. (California Association of Realtors, California Professional Firefighters) Opposition ​ - N/A

Proposition 20 - Parole Rollback: R​ estricts parole for non-violent offenders. Authorizes felony sentences for certain offenses currently treated only as misdemeanors. Authorizes felony charges for specified theft crimes currently chargeable only as misdemeanors, including some theft crimes where the value is between $250 and $950. Requires persons convicted of specified misdemeanors to submit to collection of DNA samples for state database. Supporters ​- Takes dangerous and violent criminals off the street and prevents the worst from being released into the general public, keeping the public safe. (Peace Officers Research Association of California, Police Protective League (partial list)) Opposition ​- Tough on crime measures did nothing to reduce recidivism, and instead not just filled California’s prisons, they disproportionately affected men of color. (ACLU of Northern CAlifornia, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, (partial list))

Proposition 21 - Rent Control:​ Allows local governments to adopt rent control ordinances to regulate how much landlords can charge tenants for renting apartments and houses. It would also state that a local government's rent control ordinance could not curtail a fair rate of return for landlords.

Supporters ​ - This will give local governments the tools they need to offset the housing crisis in California. By repealing the Costa-Hawkins Act, local governments will be able to limit landlords from drastically raising rental prices following a tenant vacancy. (SEIU State Council, Los Angeles Tenants Union, National Lawyers Guild, Los Angeles (partial list)) Opposition ​ - This will prove to be disastrous for both landlords and renters by creating a patchwork of rent control regulations across the state. No new housing will be added to combat the housing crisis. (Building and Construction Trades Council of California, California Chamber of Commerce, California Taxpayers Association (partial list))

Proposition 22 - App Based Drivers and Services:​ Changes employment classification rules for app-based transportation and delivery drivers. This is in response to AB 5 which strengthens classification requirements for independent contractors. Supporters ​ - Delivery platform companies such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash are the key proponents of this measure, arguing that those who provide their services through their platforms are independent contractors and not employees as classified under AB 5. (Uber, Lyft, Doordash (partial list)) Opposition ​ - These platforms misclassify their workers in order to evade employer obligations. Due to the independent contractor status, employees don’t meet minimum wage requirements, health care requirements, nor do the platforms pay into unemployment insurance. (California Labor Federation, SEIU State Council, Transportation Workers Union of America (partial list))

Proposition 23 - Dialysis Clinic Regulation: ​ Authorizes state regulation of kidney dialysis clinics. Requires at least one licensed physician on site during treatment at outpatient kidney dialysis clinics; authorizes Department of Public Health to exempt clinics from this requirement due to shortages of qualified licensed physicians if at least one nurse practitioner or physician assistant is on site. Requires clinics to report dialysis related infection data to state and federal governments. Requires state approval for clinics to close or reduce services. Supporters ​ - The two companies that operate most of California’s dialysis clinics are highly profitable. In 2017, for example, DaVita netted $1 billion and yet over the past five years the CA Department of Public Health has received 18 complaints a month about health and safety conditions. The state needs to make sure that these companies aren’t putting profits over the quality of care and to force them to invest in more equipment and training. (SEIU-UHW) Opposition ​ - This is another flawed initiative pressure tactic being sponsored by unions who want to organize dialysis clinic workers. Setting these profit limits fails to take into consideration administrative costs and will result in the closure of an unforeseen number of dialysis clinics, reducing access to treatments for vulnerable patients. (DaVita, Fresenius Medical Care, California Medical Association (partial list))

Proposition 24 - Privacy Rights: ​ Amends the California Privacy Protections Act by prohibiting businesses from sharing personal information and limiting business use of sensitive information. The measure also creates a privacy protection agency to enforce the state’s consumer privacy laws. Supporters ​ - This measure further expands California’s privacy law and allows for mechanisms of enforcement. Caifornians want increased protection over their information. (Californians for Consumer Privacy, Andrew Yang) Opposition ​ - The measure is full of privacy reductions that are favorable to tech platforms such as Facebook when it comes to collecting consumer data. The measure could also open the door to pay for privacy schemes. (ACLU of California, Consumer Federation of California, League of Women Voters of California (partial list))

Proposition 25 - Cash Bail Referendum:​ The California Legislature passed SB 10 in 2018 which eliminates the cash bail system for suspects awaiting trial in California. Those deemed a medium risk would be released from jail while high risk remain in jail until their trial. Supporters ​ - The cash bail system disproportionately harms low income communities of color. It also furthers unequal application of justice by making it easier for those with means to secure their release. (SEIU State Council, NextGen California (partial list) Opposition ​ - Elimination of the system will lead to the immediate release of dangerous, violent criminals back onto the street, endangering public safety. Furthermore, the law eliminates an entire industry in the state costing jobs and causing economic strife to families working to get by. (American Bail Coalition, California Business Roundtable, California Small Business Association (partial list))