Hidden gems in candidate statements

Born to an immigrant mother from Panama, Tony Thurmond and his brother were raised by a cousin they had never met after their mother died when Tony was just six years old.

Growing up in poverty, Tony's family relied on public assistance and great public schools to rise out of hardship, experiences that inspired his lifelong dedication to equity and opportunity for all Californians.

I was born, raised, and educated in California.

Following the animals my father studied, I have lived in many beautiful State and National Parks in California, as well as with my grandparents in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas.

Working with my grandfather, a building contractor, helped me see how to maximize our cities, enabling affordable housing for all.

I grew up poor, raised by a single mom.

My family and community taught me resilience and service—values that helped me attend Stanford and be elected Mayor of Stockton at the age of 26.

Born and raised in California, my family moved 17 times before I graduated high school.

I grew up poor and went on to build Palladium Records, creating hundreds of jobs and opportunities for artists and working families.

My mother was a public school teacher.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Malia understands firsthand the promise of California and the urgency of protecting it for future generations.

I raised my family here, worked inside large organizations, and served on community and public boards where budgets had to balance and decisions carried real consequences.

Raised in California's Central Valley, Nelson's life and career have been shaped by a deep commitment to opportunity, fairness, and economic prosperity for all.

I grew up in Kern County.

My grandfather was a farmworker.

My father entered kindergarten speaking no English.

I immigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong when I was 16 years old, following the death of my father.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mike has dedicated his life's work to public service.

Those special interests and PACs have too much power in Sacramento and are making California unaffordable for the rest of us.

I recovered billions for California homeowners when big banks ripped them off, forced drug companies to stop overcharging taxpayers, and made the Trump Administration deliver free COVID tests for everyone.

This is what hardworking Californians expect and deserve, an experienced leader who works for them.

Join the Progressive Democrats of America, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Victory Fund, National Women's Political Caucus of California, California Women's List, Democratic Activists for Women Now, and local elected officials in supporting experienced, accountable leadership to make California add up for everyone.

Legacy builder delivering affordable solutions for everyday Californians'

From skyrocketing costs of food and groceries to a federal government assaulting our civil liberties, our state is in a crisis.

He helped create universal preschool for 4-year-olds, and universal meals for hungry kids.

Calls for union-backed fight for amnesty for undocumented workers to build working-class unity.

Longtime fighter against racism, for women's rights and against Washington's wars, from Vietnam to Venezuela.

We all must be protected from discrimination and unconstitutional practices.

My school-teacher Democrat mother and my wildlife biologist, Republican, avid hunter father gave my sisters and me a multidimensional outlook of California.

The American Solidarity Party platform emphasizes the need to uphold the dignity of the human person from conception to natural death, which includes the unborn, the mother in the crisis pregnancy, the immigrant, documented or undocumented, children at risk of being deprived of their mother or father, the elderly or sick who are at risk of being pressured to end their own lives, the worker struggling to support the family or to buy a home, the homeless person who does not have shelter and is estranged from family.

If you agree with the need to uphold this dignity with policies for the common good, make the decision today to register with the American Solidarity Party by following the instructions here https://ca.solidarity-party.org/learn_more/register-to-vote/

Matthew Chase Levy is a California-based entrepreneur, internationally recognized scientist and running for Governor as a political outsider.

While completing his doctorate, he conducted research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on U.S. strategic security.

We must also confront our humanitarian crises.

By auditing "ghost projects" and redirecting interest savings, we can fund our schools and clinics without raising your taxes.

Economic Development that streamlines regulation, supports small businesses, strengthens workforce training, and expands opportunity across every region.

They all want the same fundamentals: safe streets, strong schools, thriving local economies, and accountability for taxpayer dollars.

My mission is simple: make California affordable and sustainable again .

As a pragmatic moderate, I am committed to bridging political divides and uniting Californians—conservatives, liberals, and independents alike—around practical solutions that work.

Affordability, public safety, access to healthcare, education, and infrastructure reliability affect families every day .

I am running for Governor of California to deliver competent, accountable leadership focused on results.

Carina Sanchez Lieutenant Governor, Dan Kapelovitz Attorney General.

I support school choice and oppose reverse discrimination: equal opportunity instead.

If you believe our state deserves independent thinking, balance, and accountability over partisan loyalty, I would be honored to earn your vote.

I am Jon Henderson, and I am running for Governor as an Independent because California needs balance, not blame.

Fix the homelessness crisis. 4.

To Me: The people of California Come First.

Becoming Governor should be hard work because Californians deserve leaders who serve, not rule.

As the "We The People Guy" I believe accountability and liberty must replace politics as usual.

Will veto mileage tax, suffocate homelessness, assassinate unemployment, nuke crime, house the unhoused, prosecute corruption, generate $, like my coffee iced out.

That means restoring trust in government, reforming systems that no longer serve us, and strengthening communities, from rural towns to major cities, so every Californian has opportunity, an affordable life, and a safe place to call home.

I’m running to deliver practical, transparent, accountable leadership that puts solutions over ideology and people over politics.

Mother, Builder, Entrepreneur solving California's problems!

I’m a US Navy Veteran and native-born Californian armed with full knowledge and understanding of our Constitution to: investigate, indict, prosecute, and imprison corrupt bureaucrats, protect children from pedophiles and child sex traffickers, restrain school indoctrinators, refine student education, strengthen parental rights, end criminalizing victims and victimizing the criminal, prioritize the lawful citizen over the illegal, penalize government money laundering, end state tax on tips, retirement, property, and income while re-invigorating small businesses and stifling regulatory overreach.

This is your one chance to make a difference by voting outside the establishment picks.

Police will return to neighborhoods, fighting crime, taking reports equally among citizens, using a constitutionally compliant database.

“Partnerships” and non-disclosure agreements in government will be eliminated.

As Sheriff, I lead one of the largest law enforcement agencies in California.

I will demand real results for the billions spent on homelessness, and end the cycle of spending without accountability.

Together, we will keep kidnappers (ICE) off our streets, make housing affordable for working families, first responders, teachers, firefighters, and nurses.

That means affordable housing, a safe community and a quality education.

Constitution Party of California, state affiliate Christian Nationalist Party.

They call Palestinians AND Christians AND America “Amalek”—their sworn forever enemy.

We make California rich, but can't afford rent, medicine, or decent schools for our kids because billionaires extract the wealth we create.

California's 194 billionaires hoard more wealth than 27 million of us.

In universities, power concentrates in administration, and budgets follow power.

California has failed vulnerable students at a basic task: learning to read.

Solution is additional revenue, space age advancement not reversing back to basics.

I'm the only candidate with Now Plan bringing billions in global investment, balance budget, surplus for all departments, manufacture low-cost meds and multifamily housing, ease regulations, lower taxes, universal healthcare, 1.5 million jobs in first year.

My professional background includes economics, finance, healthcare innovation, and large-scale operations.

Financial stability strengthens families, supports communities, & restores confidence in institutions.

But I'm not looking back—I'm looking forward to all of California, where people are feeling abandoned and betrayed!

So when the storm screams against the windshield, I will not flinch!

California's Lieutenant Governor helps direct educational, environmental, and economic policy statewide.

Invest in disaster-preparedness programs to stabilize the insurance market; and 3.

I'll use the office to drive accountability and accelerate solutions that work.

As Lieutenant Governor, I'll focus relentlessly on affordability: I'll fight to lower the cost of higher education—whether vocational programs or college.

In my ongoing 32-year career as an OBGYN and HIV specialist within California's failing healthcare system, I'm continuously affirmed that socialism is the only cure for capitalism.

Vote Socialist and support the Left Unity Slate!

I'll fight for quality education that prepares our students for California's future.

California has always symbolized the American Dream, but over the past 20 years, we've seen that dream slip away due to failed leadership in Sacramento.

I'm a dad with three kids in public school, married to a second grade public school teacher—and proud to be the only candidate endorsed by both unions representing California's teachers and educators.

I'm running because we need a new generation of Democrats to be tougher and stronger—to stop Donald Trump and greedy corporations hurting Californians.

As an activist, I've led anti-Trump and anti-ICE protest rallies across California.

Together, we rise and take back California for future generations and working families statewide.

I will fight Trump's plan to reopen offshore drilling , while defending universities and protecting academic freedom.

Join us, California Professional Firefighters, California Federation of Teachers, National Union of Healthcare Workers, Building Trades, Carpenters, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and more than 30 labor unions in our campaign at www.fionama.com .

As Secretary of State, I will restore Californians' trust in our election system and protect every eligible voter's fundamental American right to participate in our democracy .

The Secretary of State also has a role in fixing California's business climate.

Instead of our existing ‘lesser-of-evils', winner-take-all system— enact proportional representation elections—where like-minded voters receive representation in proportion to their numbers, and all voters can help elect candidates who truly represent their views .

Multiple perspectives win representation from the same district.

Tired of government that only listens to wealthy interests rather than working people?

Public financing of campaigns.

As your Controller, I will fight to solve the affordability crisis, close corporate tax loopholes, and introduce a California Reinvestment Plan to divest public pensions from war and reinvest in housing and green energy.

As president of the San Francisco school bus drivers union, SMART 1741, I have years of experience in the fiscal management of the union and a track record of fighting for my members in the face of billionaire attacks on our school systems.

At a time when trust in government matters more than ever, Malia Cohen is committed to protecting California's financial future and making the California Dream real for every community.

She has also advanced the long-overdue modernization of California's payroll system to better serve public workers statewide.

With nearly four decades of experience overseeing investments and complex financial systems, I will bring disciplined stewardship and practical leadership to Sacramento—strengthening California's culture of compassion by making every public dollar work smarter, faster, and more effectively for the people it serves.

As State Controller, I will implement radical transparency across the state and its subsidiaries—publishing transaction-level spending online with near real-time reporting so every Californian can clearly see how public funds are used.

As a businesswoman, I spent decades building housing communities, using infrastructure financing, and delivering results.

I'm on the front lines against Donald Trump's attacks on immigrant communities and women's reproductive freedom—all while protecting our environment and California's core values.

We must divest from Israel, weapons manufacturers and fossil fuels.

As a retired small business owner (30+ years) I plan 5–10 years ahead, following money carefully.

A Silicon Valley resident since 1983, I’ve watched California grow, innovate, and face increasingly complex financial challenges.

Sound financial management requires discipline, follow-through, and accountability.

For years I’ve served as the BOE Chair and sat on the Franchise Tax Board representing taxpayers statewide and of District 3, the most populous county of the state.

I have been active in educational and community foundations, local and municipal governance as a City Council member and Mayor of Santa Monica, and statewide representation as a member of the California Board of Equalization.

Championing Justice and Accountability, my Priorities: Uphold Democracy and Prosecute Human Rights Violations; Protect Free Speech/Stop Censorship, in classrooms/everywhere; Restrict Big Tech's Take-over of Media and our Lives; Enforce Rapid Transition from Fossil Fuels/Nuclear to Clean Renewables; Further Genuine Security for ALL People, ALL Rights; Promote Universal Healthcare, Taxes on Billionaires, and reduced military expenditures to End Poverty; Stop ICE and Imperialism; Fight Fascism!

I'm an Attorney, UCLA Law Doctorate, licensed to practice in California, Ninth Circuit and United States Supreme Court, endorsed by the Left Unity Slate and Green Party.

I will fight for everyday Californians and bring accountability and safety back to California.

As Attorney General, I will make crime illegal again by prosecuting all crimes, including enforcing Proposition 36, and use the law to address homelessness by holding criminals accountable while getting people off our streets and into treatment.

We need an Insurance Commissioner with deep insurance and financial expertise to solve it—not someone who is part of the politics that created the problem.

The Insurance Commissioner must be a champion for customers and ensure the Department of Insurance is never under the influence of insurance companies.

Stacy Korsgaden is a licensed insurance professional (License #0750748), small business owner, and lifelong Californian running for Insurance Commissioner to unleash a competitive insurance marketplace that works for consumers, not Bureaucrats.

She's seen firsthand how overregulation, market distortion, and regulatory failure have left consumers with fewer options and higher prices.

The insurance commissioner should be working for you to lower prices, not working for the industry to increase profits.

I'll crack down on illegal price-fixing, stop insurers from using credit scores to deny coverage, and fight for guaranteed healthcare for every child in California.

If elected, Sean Lee will work relentlessly to protect consumers and strengthen California's insurance marketplace.

He has worked with families facing rising premiums, homeowners seeking reliable protection, and seniors concerned about financial security.

That means: Holding polluters accountable: I'll make corporate polluters financially responsible for climate damages that drive up insurance costs.

Helping hundreds of constituents who lost everything successfully navigate insurance claims gave me a front-row seat to our broken insurance system.

As the CEO of a Silicon Valley cybersecurity manufacturing company, we employ American workers and manage bottom-line budgets.

Vote Robert Howell for California Insurance Commissioner .

I pledge to freeze insurance rates and lower premiums, to investigate and hold insurance executives accountable for exploitative claim procedures, and to fight for a public insurance system that guarantees full and fair coverage for all.

As a socialist, science teacher, union organizer, former firefighter and EMT—I have extensive experience serving ordinary people and putting their interests first.

I want to bring the customer-centric innovation I've learned to California insurance regulation.

After the fire, I joined the State Farm rate-increase proceedings to represent consumer interests.

I am Nader Shahatit, a tax consultant and dedicated taxpayer advocate committed to building a fair and equitable tax system for all Californians.

I respectfully ask for the opportunity to earn your support, regardless of political affiliation.

As a long-time educator and economics professor, Nelson will bring real-world economics expertise to California's state tax board.

He'll fight for more transparency in our tax system, and for fair impartial property tax assessments.

As a business owner, I've had my share of trying to work through endless government regulations and red tape.

This was signed into law and now helps protect our most vulnerable Californians.

Strengthen transparency and accountability to ensure our government deserves the public's trust.

As California's Deputy Secretary for Transportation I implemented innovative incentive-based contracts that rapidly rebuilt earthquake-damaged freeways, consolidated agencies to eliminate duplication, and expanded the CHP to improve public safety.

I supported affordable housing, identity theft protections for property owners, and ensured that the Board responded responsibly and efficiently to changes in state tax law.

On the Board, I have worked to expand property tax relief outreach, strengthen access to tax credits for Veterans and low-income families, increase public information on Proposition 19, and advance consumer protections for homeowners' insurance.

As a bipartisan public servant and business leader, I helped build California's modern recycling system—cutting taxes, creating jobs, and protecting our coast and wildlife.

Housing, rents, taxes, and insurance are driving families out, widening inequality, and hurting public schools.

Through hard work, I earned a degree in Economics from UCLA, an MBA from Loyola Marymount University and a Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional designation from Wharton Business School.

On the Board of Equalization, I will 1) Safeguard California's finances by ensuring accountability and transparency, 2) Use audits to uncover and remove government waste, and 3) Develop programs to help people achieve economic security and make California affordable .

As Assemblyman, Mike has championed groundbreaking laws protecting California children and families from ICE, laws to get 3-D printed “ghost guns” off of the streets and out of the hands of criminals, funding for expanded access to healthcare, education, and childcare, and Investments in mental health services.

Mike will fight to close tax loopholes that billionaires and corporations exploit to avoid paying their fair share.

"I'm running to restore California's struggling middle class, rebuild our infrastructure, reinvest in our schools, and spur the production and preservation of housing for working Californians.

Cody helped lead approval of more than 2,800 units of affordable housing for teachers and staff—tripling the state total—and serves as founding Chair of the San Diego Regional Housing Finance Authority.

As citizen officeholder shall fight against Legislative over-reach like formation of CDTFA which removed taxing accountability from this elected position in 2017, replaced with insulated bureaucracy.

With 25 year tax practice as Enrolled Agent, representing individuals and small business and 45 year resident, my concerns are excessive state spending and protecting Prop 13.

"Taxpayer Advocate Martín Arias is the only qualified candidate and certified expert by the State Board of Equalization that Firefighters trust.

Endorsed by firefighters, teachers, neighbors, small business owners, California State Board of Equalization Member Tony Vazquez , and community leaders from San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County, Imperial County, and San Bernardino County, as well as Senators and Assemblymembers of the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

In the State Senate, I wrote the “No Kings” law to prevent Donald Trump from appearing on the California ballot again and backed legislation demanding accountability from ICE while protecting civil rights for all Californians.

The Board of Equalization provides accountability for billions of dollars in property taxes, funding vital local services including schools, hospitals, libraries, parks, and emergency response.

On the Board of Equalization, I will work to reduce costs for everything from electric and gas bills to groceries and prescription medications.

Southern California taxpayers deserve a government that protects families from higher costs and small businesses from job-killing regulations.

We’ll increase California State Guard from 900 to 2,000,000, one per classroom, stopping most murders, including by ICE nationwide, preventing martial law, closing slavery/death camps, pardoning innocent slaves!

I also have the support and endorsement of over 450,000 California teachers.

I've created clean-energy jobs, managed public lands, and voted to approve more than 60,000 new beds on college campuses to help lower costs for students and families.

Enrollment rose 24% and 35,000 people have used the program to reduce the cost of college or enhance their skills and earnings.

As your representative on the State Board of Equalization, I will use my 25 years of experience in finance to serve as California's fiscal watchdog, safeguarding your tax dollars, using audits to root out government waste and utilizing technology to increase transparency.

I bring 25 years of public service, including leading the Orange County Water District, where I balance budgets, deliver the highest quality drinking water in California, and protect the environment.

Here's how: I will eliminate income taxes for Californians earning less than $100,000, build housing that workers can afford, stop charging tuition at our public universities, and make childcare free for all Californians.

I uncovered $7.3 billion in misspending.

He ultimately became a social worker, City Councilmember, School Board Member, Assemblymember, and eventually Superintendent of California's $150 billion public school system.

Today, that promise is fading under partisan gridlock and a $31 billion transportation budget that leaves our roads crumbling.

Sacramento politicians are asking for new taxes, but their own budget—Schedule 11—shows they are sitting on $30.1 billion in unspent, voter-approved bond money.

We have nearly $500 million for traffic reduction sitting idle since 2006.

I will strengthen our economy through strategic investments in advanced energy and water infrastructure, including redirecting the $32.7 billion we currently spend on foreign oil toward domestic production to improve energy security and keep jobs here at home.

We’ll tax 5% wealth over $10,000,000 and income over $1,000,000, yielding $1,100,000,000,000 annually, retroactively even.

Human rights to housing ($10,000 homes), living wages, jobs, income, higher/trade education, healthcare (nationwide), food (worldwide), childcare, public transport without deadly high speed trains.

No sales taxes or income taxes under $100,000!

Freedom Law School $300,000 challenge.

Our socialist campaign demands guaranteed housing capped at 20% of income, free healthcare, free childcare and union jobs at minimum $30/hour with a guaranteed dignified retirement.

At the University of California, Berkeley—where I work—non-academic staff compensation alone runs north of $30,000 per student.

In California's $4 trillion economy, why do millions of us live paycheck to paycheck?

State pension funds (CalSTRS and CalPERS) have over $3 billion invested in companies doing business with Israel; California’s Treasurer sits on their boards.

As an elected San Francisco Supervisor, I won universal tuition-free community college , California's first $15 minimum wage , and record levels of affordable housing .

I have a long track record of success working for the public interest: In the State Senate, I've taken on insurance industry lobbyists, passed some of the nation's strongest consumer protection laws, and led efforts to invest $10 billion in wildfire prevention, water infrastructure improvements, and climate resilience.

I developed more than $1.5 billion in renewable energy projects in wind, solar, biofuels, and water recycling—creating thousands of union jobs while reducing energy costs.

After working at top finance firms, I opened my own investment company with over $1 billion in assets.

As Mayor of Monterey Park, my financial experience and advice saved over $55 million and helped balance our budgets and pay for city services.

He already helps oversee the annual assessment of $167 billion in corporate properties and property tax assessment in California's 58 counties.

Utilizing California State Board of Equalization tax saving programs, Martín SAVED HOMEOWNERS $31.8 million; SAVED SENIORS $5.7 million; SAVED DISABLED VETERANS $36.8 million; SAVED CHURCHES, NON-PROFITS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SMALL BUSINESSES, and RENTERS $228 million in tax relief.

I am running to bring strong taxpayer protections and independent oversight to California's $8.7 trillion property tax system.

As a nurse and operations manager, I’ve worked in high-pressure environments where errors have real consequences and accountability matters .

My work across California as a teacher, principal and public servant supporting diverse communities, has prepared me to tackle statewide issues.

Says "U.S.

Murderous government thugs kill us daily, for the "crimes" of seeking asylum, documenting attacks, protesting.

California arrests 800,000 annually, most for unconstitutional victimless/consensual "crimes", enslaving 200,000 daily, without telling jurors we can always vote "not guilty".

We’ll ban pesticides, factory farms, "autonomous" vehicles.

Talmudic “Judeo-Christian values” don't exist . . .

I will implement an “Insurance Payers Bill of Rights” to protect policyholders from unfair cancellations and unjustified rate increases.

That's why Governor Gavin Newsom said, “Mike has been a bold leader for the people of our state.” Previously serving as Chief of Staff to the former Board of Equalization Chairman, Mike currently serves as Chair of the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, which oversees the Board of Equalization.

Petterson is seeking says, "I strongly endorse Cody.

We have seen Martín's strong record of protecting wildfire survivors from unfair property taxes and penalties when rebuilding their homes."—CAL FIRE Local 2881.

"I would be honored to earn your vote and continue advocating for you."—Martín Arias, Cell: (619) 483-1122 Learn more at www.VoteMartinArias.com