A look at CAOC’s endorsed legislative candidates in 2024

Electing legislators who will fight to protect Californians’ legal rights

2024 January

California is the bluest of the blue states – why do we care about state legislative elections? Because not all Democrats are created alike. Despite having overwhelming super majorities in each house, getting to 41 votes in the state Assembly and to 21 votes in the state senate creates a significant math problem when working to pass affirmative legislation. Corporate Democrats actively fight alongside corporate tort reformers to take away legal rights and to block legislation to protect your clients. Nearly 25% of the current legislative body will be departing at the end of 2024. Our job is working to elect new members who will fight to protect Californians’ legal rights.

Here is some background on CAOC’s greater Los Angeles and Inland Empire-area endorsed candidates:

Kipp Mueller (SD - 23, Santa Clarita): Kipp Mueller is a civil rights/labor attorney who represents employees and union members. Kipp is a CAOC member and board member who volunteers his time representing asylum seekers. He serves on numerous boards, including CAOC’s, in efforts to promote social justice and improve access to our courts.

Sasha Renée Pérez (SD - 25, Los Angeles): Sasha Renée Pérez is an Alhambra city councilmember, educator, and civil rights advocate who is deeply committed to advocating for policies that create social, racial, and economic justice. Sasha serves as a Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority commissioner, is on the California 100 Commission, and is a board member for the Asian Youth Center.

Eloise Reyes (SD - 29, Inland Empire): Assemblymember Eloise Reyes currently represents the Inland Empire. Eloise was the first Latina to open her own law firm in the Inland Empire, taking on big corporations on behalf of injured workers. In the assembly, Eloise has been instrumental in making California a safer place with robust consumer protection laws.

Sabrina Cervantes (SD - 31, Riverside): Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes was first elected to the legislature in 2016 and currently serves as chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. Over the course of her first six years in the legislature, Sabrina has authored important legislation to help veterans, seniors, and schools.

John Harebedian (AD - 41, Los Angeles): John is an attorney who has worked as a prosecutor at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office, Stanford’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, and the Equality Pro Bono Project. John currently serves as president of the California Department of Consumer Affairs Acupuncture Board and as a board member of the Immigration Resource Center of San Gabriel Valley.

Phlunté Riddle (AD - 41, Los Angeles): Dr. Phlunté Riddle is a lifelong community leader, educator, and public safety executive. Phlunté has spent her career addressing community safety issues and advocating for those in need. She currently serves as Board of Juvenile Hearings commissioner with California’s Division of Juvenile Justice.

Nick Shultz (AD - 44, Los Angeles): An attorney, Nick serves as a Burbank city councilmember and vice mayor. Nick has played a key role in outlining a path to carbon neutrality for the city and helped implement policies that used resources and treatment to humanely reduce the city’s homeless population.

Christy Holstege (AD - 47, Palm Springs): A trial lawyer from Palm Springs, Christy made history as the first openly bisexual mayor to serve in our country. As mayor of Palm Springs, Christy secured new funding for affordable housing, spearheaded programs to house hundreds of formerly homeless people, and significantly increased the number of mental health workers in the city.

DeJonaé Shaw (AD - 50, Inland Empire): DeJonaé is a licensed vocational nurse and is running for the Assembly to bring true equity and opportunity to our communities. She serves as vice chair of the Legislation and Education Committee for her union and as a board member for the Optimist Youth and Family Home Services in San Bernardino.

Jessica Caloza (AD - 52, Los Angeles): As Los Angeles public works commissioner, Jessica expanded good-paying union jobs, raised wages for workers and required equal pay for women while increasing transparency and accountability. As California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s deputy chief of staff, Jessica worked to reduce crime and gun violence, took bold action to protect the environment, and helped victims of sexual assault receive justice.

Mark Gonzalez (AD - 54, Los Angeles): Mark is a civil rights advocate and community organizer who currently serves as chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. As chair, Mark has led the fight to pass laws to make housing more affordable, advance environmental justice, make community college free and expand access to quality healthcare for all.

José Solache (AD - 54, Los Angeles): José has served as a mayor, mayor pro-tem, and councilmember in the city of Lynwood since 2013. He’s made City Hall more transparent and expanded youth programs. Prior to his service in city government, José served for three terms on the Lynwood Unified School District’s board of education.

Sade Elhawary (AD - 57, Los Angeles): Sade is an educator, organizer, and foster parent. She is deeply involved in politics and activism. Sade joined the faculty team that founded and created the curriculum of the Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice. As a Black Latina, Sade is deeply committed to improving outcomes for women and young people of color and building Black/Brown solidarity to transform underserved communities.

To participate in the CAOC political program, volunteer on a campaign, view a list of CAOC’s Endorsed Candidates, or register to vote, visit us online at https://seekingjustice-caoc.com/