California Assembly District 40

District 40

Patrick Lee Gipson vs. Pilar Schiavo (Incumbent)

TLDR: WHO DO I WANT IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY?

If you want a Republican Assemblymember who supports helping the middle class through deregulation, economic conservatism, and prioritizing law enforcement, vote PATRICK LEE GIPSON.

If you want to reelect a Democrat Assemblymember who supports helping the middle class through government intervention, expanding healthcare, and addressing housing affordability, vote for PILAR SCHIAVO.

PATRICK LEE GIPSON

Background

  • Grew up in multi-cultural family of Mexican and Irish descent, and was raised in conditions of poverty and even homelessness for a time.

  • Began his public service career as lifeguard before transitioning into law enforcement.

Experience

  • Served as a Deputy Sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for over two decades.

  • In 2022, ran for the U.S. House in California’s 30th Congressional District and placed fourth in the all-party primary election.

Platform

  • Republican.

  • Advocates for stronger policies that prioritize law-abiding citizens over criminals, addressing what he sees as the state's overly lenient criminal justice policies.

  • Focused on small business support, aiming to reduce regulations and taxes.

  • Strong stance against human trafficking, calling for enhanced support for task forces and stricter penalties for traffickers.

  • Endorsed by the California GOP.

PILAR SCHIAVO

Background

  • Grew up in a working-class family.

  • Co-founded organizations to assist veterans and provide meals to people in need​

  • Spent over 20 years in the labor movement, including 13 years with the California Nurses Association.

Experience

  • Current representative for California’s 40th Assembly District, which includes the Northwest San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley.

  • Elected in 2022, flipping the district for the Democrats in a very close race.

Platform

  • Worked to expand healthcare access and affordability, advocating for guaranteed healthcare, including reproductive health services.

  • Introduced legislation to streamline affordable housing projects, reduce administrative costs, and create solutions for homelessness, aiming to make housing more affordable for working families.

  • Secured significant investments for infrastructure, clean water projects, and school safety initiatives.

  • Serves as the chair of the Assembly’s Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, and is involved in several committees related to energy, housing, and transportation

DISTRICT 51

Rick Chavez Zbur (incumbent) vs. Stephan Hohil

TLDR: WHO DO I WANT IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY?

If you want to reelect the Assemblymember with extensive experience in civil rights, environmental advocacy, and healthcare reform, and who is a strong proponent of LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, and criminal justice reform, vote for RICK CHAVEZ ZBUR.

If you want an Assemblymember who aligns with conservative positions on topics like abortion, supporting restrictions after a heartbeat is detected, and is endorsed by the Drain the Swamp USA SuperPAC, vote for STEPHAN HOHIL.​

RICK CHAVEZ ZBUR

Background

  • Experienced leader with a background in environmental law and civil rights advocacy.

  • Democrat.

Experience

  • Executive Director of Equality California, where he led initiatives for LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare, and social justice.

  • Also served as the president of the California Environmental Voters, advocating for climate action, environmental justice, and green jobs.

Platform

  • Focuses on climate change, healthcare reform, housing affordability, and gun safety.

  • Committed to advancing progressive values, including reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and comprehensive criminal justice reform.

  • Emphasizes creating systemic change through coalition-building and community advocacy​

STEPHAN HOHIL

Background

  • Entrepreneur

  • Worked in pharma industry

  • Republican

Experience

  • No prior political experience

Platform

  • Prioritizes economic growth over climate change.

  • Strict on abortion restrictions.

  • Aligns with MAGA priorities

DISTRICT 52

Franky Carrillo vs. Jessica Caloza

TLDR: WHO DO I WANT IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY?

If you want an Assemblymember who prioritizes criminal justice reform, affordable housing, universal healthcare, and transforming public safety through community-based interventions, vote for FRANKY CARRILLO.

If you want an Assemblymember who advocates for women’s rights, public education, climate action, and affordable housing through government intervention, vote for JESSICA CALOZA

FRANKY CARRILLO

Background

  • Justice advocate and community leader.

  • Wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 20 years in prison before his exoneration in 2011.

  • Democrat.

Experience

  • Served as a Senior Policy Advisor for the Los Angeles Innocence Project.

  • Co-chaired the campaign for Measure A (an initiative focused on sheriff's department accountability)

  • Currently serves on the Los Angeles County Probation Commission.

Platform

  • Advocates for transforming the justice system, reducing police involvement in mental health and substance abuse cases, and eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing.

  • Emphasizes the need for affordable housing, streamlining development processes, and addressing homelessness through supportive services and mental health care.

  • Supports job retraining programs and workforce protections, particularly for underserved communities and those re-entering society after incarceration.

JESSICA CALOZA

Background

  • Women’s rights advocate, community leader, and immigrant from a working-class background.

  • Democrat.

Experience

  • Worked for the Obama administration and the California Department of Justice.

  • Also served as a commissioner for the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, focusing on expanding union jobs and wage equality.

Platform

  • Plans to invest in public education, improve after-school programs, and ensure better funding for schools in underserved communities.

  • Focused on addressing the housing crisis, advocating for affordable housing and policies that prevent displacement.

  • Committed to bold climate action, including investments in renewable energy and environmental protections for vulnerable communities.

DISTRICT 54

John Yi vs. Mark Gonzalez

TLDR: WHO DO I WANT IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY?

If you want an Assemblymember who advocates for affordable housing, modernized public transit, and senior care, focusing on urban equity and immigrant communities, vote for JOHN YI.

If you want an Assemblymember focused on those suffering from poverty, and prioritizes raising wages, expanding healthcare, union job creation, and addressing homelessness, with a focus on working families, vote for MARK GONZALEZ.

JOHN YI

Background

  • Born and raised in Koreatown, Los Angeles, and has spent his career focused on public health, environmental justice, and infrastructure improvements.

  • Democrat.

Experience

  • Served as the Executive Director of Los Angeles Walks, a pedestrian advocacy group, where he worked on improving traffic safety, especially in underserved communities.

  • Co-chaired the campaign for Measure A (an initiative focused on sheriff's department accountability)

  • Currently serves on the Los Angeles County Probation Commission.

Platform

  • Strongly supports rent protection and the expansion of affordable housing.

  • Wants a modernized public transit system with better infrastructure, such as underground Wi-Fi and safer, cleaner stops.

  • Focuses on providing more affordable housing for seniors and multigenerational families, expanding Medi-Cal coverage, and increasing rental subsidies to prevent senior homelessness.

  • Aims to make cities more livable by advocating for equitable urban development, particularly in immigrant communities​

MARK GONZALEZ

Background

  • Grew up in East Los Angeles and Eagle Rock.

  • Grew up in poverty, creating a deep understanding of many of the constituents of the district.

  • His background as a caregiver for his mother, who suffered a stroke, has given him firsthand experience with the gaps in healthcare and social services.

  • Democrat.

Experience

  • Organizer and political leader who served as the Chair of the LA County Democratic Party, where he spearheaded initiatives to improve access to education and healthcare.

Platform

  • Supports raising wages for working families and has been a strong advocate for healthcare workers, playing a key role in securing a $25/hour minimum wage for them.

  • Advocates for expanding healthcare access and reproductive rights, with a focus on strengthening abortion care protections.

  • Prioritizes providing affordable housing and tackling homelessness, using his experience from working within the community for over a decade.

  • Key part of his platform includes creating well-paying union jobs and expanding opportunities for education through free community college

DISTRICT 57

Sade Elhawary vs. Efren Martinez

TLDR: WHO DO I WANT IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY?

If you want a Assemblymember with a background in the military, small business, and community activism, who prioritizes public safety, economic development, affordable housing, and education reform, vote for EFREN MARTINEZ.

If you want an a Assemblymember who advocates for universal healthcare, reproductive justice, climate action, and overhauling the criminal justice system, with a focus on equity and social justice, vote for SADE ELHAWARY.

SADE ELHAWARY

Background

  • Child of Guatamalan and Egyptian immigrants.

  • Was a high school history teacher, college counselor, and foster parent.

  • Democrat.

Experience

  • Minimal legislative experience, but strong community organizer background.

Platform

  • Strongly supports rent protection and the expansion of affordable housing.

  • Wants a modernized public transit system with better infrastructure, such as underground Wi-Fi and safer, cleaner stops.

  • Focuses on providing more affordable housing for seniors and multigenerational families, expanding Medi-Cal coverage, and increasing rental subsidies to prevent senior homelessness.

  • Aims to make cities more livable by advocating for equitable urban development, particularly in immigrant communities​.

  • Endorsed by the LA Times.

EFREN MARTINEZ

Background

  • U.S. Marine Corps veteran

  • Small business owner

Experience

  • Led the Executive Director of the Florence-Firestone/Walnut Park Chamber of Commerce.

Platform

  • Backed by police unions, the oil, gas, and tobacco industries, and other big business interests.

  • Prioritizing the creation of well-paying jobs in South LA, especially for youth, and supporting small businesses.

  • The housing crisis by creating affordable housing solutions and protecting tenants from displacement, but does not have a specific plan.

  • Endorsed by Adam Schiff and LA County Supervisor.