State of California Archives: on Government Reform
Kevin Mullin:
Voted YES to amend Constitution to overturn Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes
related to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
This measure
calls for a constitutional convention to propose an amendment that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.Status: Passed House, 51-20-9; State Rep. Mullin voted YES; passed Senate 23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jun 23, 2014
Adam Gray:
Voted YES to amend Constitution to overturn Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes
related to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
This measure
calls for a constitutional convention to propose an amendment that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.Status: Passed House, 51-20-9; State Rep. Gray voted YES; passed Senate 23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jun 23, 2014
Kevin Mullin:
Voted YES on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
The bill would
also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status: Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; State Rep. Kevin Mullin voted NO;passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of
Californians prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day.
Source: California legislative voting records AB1873
Sep 26, 2014
Adam Gray:
Voted NO on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
The bill would
also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status: Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; State Rep. Adam Gray voted NO;passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of
Californians prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day.
Source: California legislative voting records AB1873
Sep 26, 2014
Adam Gray:
Neighborhood districting increases minority representation
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid diluting
the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis:Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The 2002 law allows minority
groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge district lines if intended to dilute
minority votes. Minority advocates and state Attorney General Kamala Harris, supported it.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8; State Rep. Gray voted YES; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Sep 8, 2015
Kevin Mullin:
Neighborhood districting increases minority representation
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid diluting
the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis:Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The 2002 law allows minority
groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge district lines if intended to dilute
minority votes. Minority advocates and state Attorney General Kamala Harris, supported it.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8; State Rep. Mullin voted YES; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Sep 8, 2015
ACLU:
Neighborhood districting increases minority representation
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The California Voting Rights Act empowers citizens to challenge unlawful vote dilution in local at-large election systems where racially polarized voting exists. AB 182 extends these protections to single-
member district systems & provides clearer guidance for judges on how to design appropriate remedies to ensure that jurisdictions do not continue to dilute the voices & votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis:Gov. Brown
said that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The 2002 law allows minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since
2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge district lines if intended to dilute minority votes.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0; Passed Assembly 53-24-3; Vetoed on 10/10/15.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Sep 22, 2015
Alan Lowenthal:
Regulate corporate & union campaign contributions
Q: Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
A: Yes.
Source: California Congressional 2012 Political Courage Test
Oct 30, 2012
Alex Padilla:
Implemented same-day voter registration
Alex has worked to make our elections more accessible and inclusive, while fighting to protect the integrity of our voting systems:- Voter registration is at an all-time high - over 22 million Californians are registered to vote, the highest rate
in 68 years.
- Implemented innovations like same-day registration, online pre-registration for 16- and 17-year olds and automatic voter registration.
- Modernized voting systems to prevent hacking, fraud and manipulation.
Source: 2022 California Senate campaign website Alex-Padilla.com
Dec 23, 2020
Alex Padilla:
Gave voter outreach money to consulting firm, not counties
Bypassing the state's regulations that ensure fair contracting, Padilla gave a $35 million "voter outreach" contract to a partisan Washington D.C. based political consulting firm. In an affront to public trust, Mr. Padilla ignored the Legislature's
intended purpose for the money. He spent this money instead of sending it to the counties. As written in the state budget, this funding was supposed to go to local elections officials to administer November's election, not to bankroll a partisan firm.
Source: Sacramento Bee on 2022 California Senate race
Dec 3, 2020
Alex Padilla:
Has focused on lowering barriers to voting
Padilla has focused on lowering barriers to voting in California. He's been sued by Republicans who say he's failed to rid voter rolls of dead or duplicated voters. "If you're a Republican, you probably see Alex Padilla as really supporting Democratic
causes. If you're a Democrat, you probably see Alex Padilla is doing what he should be doing, which is expanding the ability of people to easily vote to make sure that the barriers to vote are very low," said Loyola Law School's Jessica Levinson.
Source: KQED San Francisco 88.5 FM on 2022 California Senate race
Oct 12, 2020
Alex Padilla:
Supported allowing let 17-year-olds vote in primaries
[OpEd by Padilla]: Allowing those who turn 18 by the general election the right to vote in primary elections will kick start voter education much earlier And when people start voting at a younger age, they are more likely to become higher propensity
voters and be more engaged in their communities.A civically engaged citizenry feeds oxygen to our democracy. Teaching young voters the value of this right and responsibility will show them the power they possess to shape their future.
Source: San Diego Union Tribune on 2022 California Senate race
Sep 17, 2020
Alex Padilla:
Reducing city council districts an assault on voting rights
The state's top elections official showed up in Santa Clara to denounce the city's effort to shrink the number of council districts. Secretary of State Alex Padilla said Measure C would unlawfully exclude people of color from representation in their
local government. At a presser hosted by the Council on American Islamic Relations in Santa Clara, Padilla said the initiative echoes the "strategic assault" on voting rights by the White House and GOP-led state legislatures throughout the country.
Source: San Jose Inside on 2022 California Senate race
Sep 17, 2020
Alex Padilla:
Vote by mail works in blue states and red states
Alex Padilla condemned Trump's latest tweetstorm threatening to pull federal funding to Nevada and Michigan if they proceed with vote-by-mail drives, calling it Trump's "clearest example yet of using disinformation to try and influence the
November election." "It's particularly appalling because there's many blue states that do a good amount of vote-by-mail, like California - as well as many red states, like Utah," Padilla said.
Source: Politico e-zine on 2022 California Senate race
May 2, 2020
Alex Padilla:
Yes to expanding Supreme Court; not sure on term limits
Expanding, in my mind balancing the Supreme Court, absolutely. Anybody who tries to criticize those proposals and tries to reframe it as stacking, stacking is what McConnell and Trump have been doing the last several years.
So yes, it's time to rebalance the Supreme Court. In terms of term limits, I have mixed feelings on that. There are good arguments to be had there.
Source: Washington Post on 2022 California Senate race
Mar 23, 2021
Antonio Villaraigosa:
Increase voter turnout among Latinos & all demographics
Villaraigosa said that his campaign will seek to increase Latino voter turnout for the upcoming governor's race. "When I ran in 2001 and 2005, I said, 'I want to be the mayor for all of us,' " he said. "I'd like to see turnout increase dramatically
among all demographics. But clearly, one of them is the group who votes the least, and that's the Latino community. "A big part of our campaign is going to be to energize and organize that part of the electorate," he added.
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Nov 16, 2017
Brian Dahle:
Crazy to ban candidate withholding tax returns from ballot
Dahle called it "crazy" for the state Senate to pass a bill prohibiting a candidate's name from appearing on the
primary ballot if they don't release their tax returns. He said it appeared unconstitutional. President Donald Trump has refused to release his returns.
Source: The Union (Nevada County) on 2022 California Governor race
May 9, 2019
Brian Dahle:
District-based elections OK even if protected class impaired
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182:ÿThe 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies
to avoid diluting the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis:ÿGov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted."
The law signed by Gov. Gray Davis in 2002 allows minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new]
law could challenge district lines if intended to dilute minority votes.
Legislative Outcome:ÿPassed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8/15; Brian Dahle voted NO; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10/15.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Sep 8, 2015
Brian Dahle:
Voted NO on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation:ÿThe states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day. (Brian Dahle voted NAY).
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Aug 28, 2014
Brian Dahle:
Voted NO on overturning Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Status: Passed House, 51-20-9; passed Senate 23-11-6; Dahle voted
NAY
OnTheIssues Explanation:ÿThe Citizens United ruling gave rise to Super-PACs which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jun 23, 2014
Caitlyn Jenner:
We need to have integrity in our election system
[On the 2020 presidential election]: "He is our President. I respect that," Jenner said when asked whether Biden was "duly elected." "I realize there's a lot of frustration over that election. You know what? I'm frustrated over what happened back then."
She did not go into specifics. She aligned with Republicans who have suggested there is work to do to ensure "integrity" in the election system. "We are a democratic republic; we need to have integrity in our election system," Jenner said.
Source: CNN Politics on 2021 California Governor recall race
May 12, 2021
Connie Conway:
Voted NO on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
- The bill
would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Legislative Outcome:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; Rep. Connie Conway voted NAY; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor
9/26/14OnTheIssues Explanation:ÿThe states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of
Californians prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day.
Source: CalifCalifornia legislative voting records AB1873
Sep 26, 2014
Connie Conway:
Voted NO on overturning Citizens United
Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; &
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related to elections;
and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a constitutional
convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Legislative Outcome:Passed House, 51-20-9; Conway voted NO; passed Senate 23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation:ÿThe Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jun 23, 2014
Dan Quayle:
Appoint judges who won’t push a political agenda
The most enduring presidential legacy is in the federal courts. We can win debates, we can achieve legislative victories, and we can succeed in citizen initiatives-but it will all be in vain if we have judges who step in and substitute their political
agenda for the wisdom of the people. The most important qualification for the federal bench [should be] whether they are well qualified, show respect for the Constitution, and appreciate the indispensable role of religion and morality in our society.
Source: Speech to the Commonwealth Club of California
May 19, 1999
David Hadley:
Prohibit district-based election if protected class impaired
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid
diluting the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis: Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The law signed by
Gov. Gray Davis in 2002 allows minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge
district lines if intended to dilute minority votes.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8/15; State Rep. David Hadley voted YES; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10/15.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Sep 8, 2015
Doug Ose:
Amend California environmental law, don't tear it up
The leading Republican candidates blamed California's bedrock environmental law for the state's housing shortage, sounding off ways to amend the California Environmental Quality Act.
Ose, a Sacramento-area developer, touted his experience with CEQA, saying that while it has flaws, attacking or tearing it up would be a "recipe for disaster" with voters.
Source: Courthouse News Service on 2018 California governor race
Feb 7, 2018
Gavin Newsom:
Campaigned to boost student registration
Voter registration among 18 to 24 year-olds has been in a steady decline, especially In regions with the poorest economic and social well-being. Lieutenant Governor Newsom is helping to lead a coalition with Secretary of State Alex Padilla,
Common Cause, CALPIRG and the ACLU to spearhead a number of technological and grassroots strategies to boost voter registration on California's community college, California State University and University of California campuses.
Source: 2018 California Lieutenant Governor website www.ltg.ca.gov
Nov 7, 2017
Gavin Newsom:
Radically ramp up forest management efforts
This year, we are budgeting more than $1 billion for fire prevention, including fuel breaks, forest health, and home hardening. We forged a historic partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to radically ramp up forest management efforts.
We are reducing barriers on hundreds of fuel reduction projects and prescribed burns. We added 30 new fire crews and pre-positioning assets, new C-130s, Blackhawk helicopters, and radar technology.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to California legislature
Mar 9, 2021
Gloria La Riva:
Eliminate corporate campaign contributions
Q: Do you support increasing the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns?No.
Q: Do you support removing all contribution limits on federal campaigns?
No.
Q: Should candidates for federal office be encouraged to
meet voluntary spending limits?
Yes.
Q: Do you support giving the President the power of the line item veto for items concerning appropriations?
No.
La Riva adds, "Money from corporations should be eliminated from campaign contributions."
Source: California Congressional 2010 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2010
Gray Davis:
2002:Neighborhood districting for minority representation
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid
diluting the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis: Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The law signed by
Gov. Gray Davis in 2002 allows minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge
district lines if intended to dilute minority votes.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Oct 2, 2015
James Bradley:
Pro voter ID to eliminate documented rampant fraud
VOTER ID LAW- Pro voter ID for all elections to eliminate documented rampant fraud
- Endorse term limits for members of congress
- Deep state investigations
- Complete review of existing staff to determine risk level, leaks and
compromised security
- Investigate, detained and prosecute violators of national security within all departments
- Possible restructuring of CIA and FBI in lieu of most recent findings
Source: 2021 California Senate campaign website BradleySenate.com
Jun 29, 2021
James Bradley:
Party to suit challenging state election laws
A lawsuit is attempting to impugn the integrity of the last election. Among the plaintiffs is James Bradley, a Republican who has run unsuccessfully in California for the U.S. Senate and the 48th and 33rd congressional districts. The complaint takes
aim at election rules like ballot harvesting and mass vote by mail. The lawsuit claims these laws, and others, harm the legitimacy of elections in the state. The complaint argues that election observers were not granted proper access to the polls.
Source: Orange County Spectrum News-1 on 2022 California Senate race
Jun 8, 2021
Jared Huffman:
Ban "independent expenditures"; they're out of control
Q: Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
A: Yes. So-called "independent expenditures" are out of control and should be banned. This will require a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United case. I support such an amendment.
Source: California Congressional 2012 Political Courage Test
Oct 30, 2012
Jay Obernolte:
District-based elections OK even if protected class impaired
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid
diluting the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis: Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The law signed by
Gov. Gray Davis in 2002 allows minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge
district lines if intended to dilute minority votes.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8/15; State Rep. Jay Obernolte voted NO; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10/15.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Sep 8, 2015
Jerry Brown:
Pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day.
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Sep 26, 2014
Jerry Brown:
District-based elections OK even if protected class impaired
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid
diluting the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis: Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The law signed by
Gov. Gray Davis in 2002 allows minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge
district lines if intended to dilute minority votes.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Oct 10, 2015
Jimmy Gomez:
Voted YES on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day. (Jimmy Gomez voted YES).
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Aug 28, 2014
Jimmy Gomez:
Voted YES to amend Constitution to overturn Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment to the US Constitution to limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance & political speech.
Status:Passed House, 51-20-9; Gomez voted AYE; passed Senate 23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jan 30, 2014
Jimmy Panetta:
Regulate "dark money" indirect campaign contributions
Q: Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
A: Yes
Source: Vote-Smart 2016 California Political Courage Test
Nov 8, 2016
John Cox:
Smaller districts better against special interests
A California State Assembly Member represents more than 450,000 people, and a State Senate district includes nearly one million people. Legislators spend countless hours on the phone raising money. I have a plan to make legislative districts
small enough that anyone can run, and they won't need special interest money to do it. These smaller, neighborhood districts will allow elections to be decided on issues and character, not 30 second commercials or vicious mail pieces.
Source: 2018 California Gubernatorial website JohnCoxForGovernor.com
Sep 1, 2017
John Cox:
Replace Environmental Quality Act to allow building
I'm a builder and can build in other states for a fraction of the cost in California. The key to solving the housing crisis is to replace the California Environmental Quality Act with greatly streamlined, sensible reforms.
Impact fees need to be limited and approval time needs to be shortened. We need more trade school education to prepare our young people for construction jobs.
Source: San Diego Union Tribune on 2021 California recall race
Feb 12, 2021
Julia Brownley:
Limit campaign contributions and campaign spending
Q: Do you support limits on individual contributions to candidates for state government?A: Yes.
Q: Political Action Committees (PAC) contributions?
A: Yes.
Q: Corporate?
A: Yes.
Q: Political Party contributions?
A: Yes.
Q: Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
A: Yes.
Source: California Congressional 2010 Political Courage Test
Oct 30, 2010
Julia Brownley:
Lengthen term limits for state legislators
Q: Your opinion on term limits?A: Term limits for state legislators needs to be evaluated.
Six years in the Assembly is too short and should be extended somewhat.
Source: California Congressional 2010 Political Courage Test
Oct 30, 2010
Kamala Harris:
Neighborhood districting increases minority representation
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid
diluting the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis:Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The 2002 law allows
minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge district lines if intended to
dilute minority votes. Minority advocates and state Attorney General Kamala Harris, supported it.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Oct 2, 2015
Kevin de Leon:
Pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day. (Kevin de Leon voted YEA).
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Aug 28, 2014
Kevin de Leon:
Voted YES to amend Constitution to overturn Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Status:Passed House, 51-20-9; passed Senate 23-11-6 (de Leon voted YES)
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jun 23, 2014
Kevin de Leon:
Prohibit district-based election if protected class impaired
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid
diluting the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis: Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The law signed by
Gov. Gray Davis in 2002 allows minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge
district lines if intended to dilute minority votes.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; State Sen. Kevin de Leon voted YES; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8/15; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10/15.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Sep 3, 2015
Lou Correa:
Use double postage to ensure absentee vote is counted
We want to make sure every vote is counted. That is why we're reminding you that this year, some permanent absentee voters may need to put additional postage on their ballot return envelope.To ensure your ballot is properly delivered, the Orange
County Registrar of Voters recommends hand delivering your ballot return envelope to your local post office. For voters wishing for peace of mind without visiting the post office, two 47 cent stamps may be placed on your ballot return envelope.
Source: 2016 California House campaign website LouCorrea.com
Nov 8, 2016
Mark DeSaulnier:
Voted YES on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day. (Mark DeSaulnier voted YES).
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Aug 28, 2014
Mark DeSaulnier:
Voted YES to amend Constitution to overturn Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Status:Passed House, 51-20-9; passed Senate 23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jun 23, 2014
Mark Meuser:
Time to start reining in the unelected bureaucrats
Meuser told The Chronicle he is running because he's a "constitutionalist" who believes in limited government authority and seeing the past few years of COVID mandates made him want to go to
Washington to pare it back. "It became abundantly clear that it was time for the legislature to start reining in the unelected bureaucrats, and that the only way I could do that was really by becoming a legislator," Meuser told the editorial board.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle on 2022 California Senate race
Jun 8, 2022
Mark Meuser:
Can't have confidence in the results of 2020 election
Perhaps not surprisingly, Meuser also questions the results of the 2020 election. "There are so many irregularities about this election that
I do not feel any American who looks at it can have confidence that they know what the actual results are," he said.
Source: KPIX TV CBS-5 on 2022 California Senate race
Jun 3, 2022
Mimi Walters:
Voted NO on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day. (Mimi Walters voted NAY).
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Aug 28, 2014
Mimi Walters:
Voted NO on overturning Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Status:Passed House, 51-20-9; passed Senate 23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jun 23, 2014
Norma Torres:
Pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day. (Norma Torres voted YEA).
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Aug 28, 2014
Norma Torres:
Voted YES to amend Constitution to overturn Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Status:Passed House, 51-20-9; passed Senate 23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jun 23, 2014
Ro Khanna:
Push back on Citizens United with online campaign disclosure
Using the Internet and Technology as a Force for Democracy: Mandate online disclosure of interest groups' independent expenditures. The Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, permits corporations, unions, and
other organizations to donate unlimited amounts of money as independent expenditures. To give Americans more oversight and to push back against the increasing influence of special interests, Congress should mandate that campaign finance
information be made public on a user-friendly online platform. Implementing a government-run platform that standardizes and streamlines campaign finance data will further the public's interest in
electoral transparency and accountability. This platform should include data on campaign contributions and independent expenditures from all sources.
Source: 2016 California House campaign website RoKhanna.com
Nov 8, 2016
Ro Khanna:
I never accept contributions from lobbyists or PACs
Q: Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?A: Yes. I have made a commitment to the voters of my district to never accept contributions from lobbyists, PACs, or corporations.
This independence from special interests will allow me to better represent real people, not wealthy insiders. Transparency must be a pillar of effective governance and civic engagement.
Source: Vote-Smart 2016 California Political Courage Test
Nov 8, 2016
Rob Bonta:
Prohibit district-based election if protected class impaired
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182:The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid
diluting the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis:Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The law signed by
Gov. Gray Davis in 2002 allows minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections.˜The [new] law could challenge
district lines if intended to dilute minority votes.
Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Rep. Rob Bonta voted YEA; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8/15; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10/15.
Source: ACLU on California voting records AB182
Sep 3, 2015
Rob Bonta:
Rob Bonta Voted YES on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; Rep. Rob Bonta voted YEA; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by
Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation:The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing
number of Californians prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day.
Source: California legislative voting records AB1873
Sep 26, 2014
Rob Bonta:
Voted YES to amend Constitution to overturn Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment to the US Constitution that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Status:Passed House, 51-20-9; Rep. Bonta voted YES; passed Senate
23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation:The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the ruling by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records AJR1
Jun 23, 2014
Rocky Chavez:
Voted NO on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day. (Rocky Chavez voted NAY).
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Aug 28, 2014
Rocky Chavez:
Voted NO on overturning Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Status:Passed House, 51-20-9; passed Senate 23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jan 30, 2014
Rocky Chavez:
District-based elections OK even if protected class impaired
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid
diluting the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis: Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The law signed by
Gov. Gray Davis in 2002 allows minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge
district lines if intended to dilute minority votes.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8/15; State Rep. Rocky Chavez voted NO; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10/15.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Sep 8, 2015
Steve Knight:
Require photo ID for voting
Q: People should be able to vote without photo identification?
Knight: Strongly Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 California House race
Sep 30, 2014
Steve Knight:
Voted NO on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day. (Steve Knight voted NAY).
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Aug 28, 2014
Steve Knight:
Voted NO on overturning Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Status:Passed House, 51-20-9; passed Senate 23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jun 23, 2014
Ted Lieu:
Pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day. (Ted Lieu voted YEA).
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Aug 28, 2014
Ted Lieu:
Voted YES to amend Constitution to overturn Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Status:Passed House, 51-20-9; passed Senate 23-11-6
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jun 23, 2014
Tom Steyer:
Electoral College votes should reflect popular vote
Report on Steyer's stance and spending on ballot initiatives: - California Presidential Electoral College Reform Initiative (2008):
- Steyer Opposed; Steyer spent $111,475; outcome: Not on Ballot
- The California Presidential
Electoral College Reform Initiative, also known as CERI, or the Presidential Election Reform Act-- PERA--was a proposed ballot measure that would have appeared on the June 2008 California ballot.
- The measure would have changed the way that
California allocates its presidential Electoral College votes. Currently, the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in the state gets all 55 of California's electoral college votes. The winner-take-all system would be replaced with one that
awards 53 of the state's 55 electoral votes individually to whichever presidential candidate gets the most votes in each congressional district.
- The effort did not make the deadline for the June ballot, however, and was ultimately abandoned.
Source: Ballotpedia.org on California ballot measure voting records
Jul 2, 2019
Travis Allen:
Sponsored voter ID law
Travis has sponsored legislation
requiring voters to show photo ID.
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California governor race
Jun 22, 2017
Travis Allen:
Voted NO on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- This bill would, until 2020, authorize San Diego County to conduct, as a pilot program, an all-mailed ballot special election to fill a congressional or legislative vacancy.
-
The bill would also authorize the county to process vote-by-mail ballots beginning 10 days before the election.
Status:Concurrence vote passed House, 47-29-3; passed Senate 24-8-8; approved by Governor 9/26/14
OnTheIssues Explanation: The states of Washington, Colorado and Oregon require all of their elections to be run entirely by mail. California is experimenting with the same idea in this bill, recognizing that a growing number of Californians
prefer to vote-by-mail anyway. The "10 day" provision allows counting to begin before election day, to address the problem that several races were decided a week after election day, due to counting starting on election day. (Travis Allen voted NAY).
Source: California legislative voting records: AB 1873
Aug 28, 2014
Travis Allen:
Voted NO to amend Constitution to overturn Citizens United
Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:- WHEREAS, Corporations' rights should be more narrowly defined than rights afforded to natural persons; and
- WHEREAS, Corporations should not be categorized as persons for purposes related
to elections; and
- WHEREAS, The U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. FEC (2010), held that the government may not, under the First Amendment, suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity;
- This measure calls for a
constitutional convention to propose an amendment that would limit corporate personhood for purposes of campaign finance and political speech.
Status:Passed House, 51-20-9; passed Senate 23-11-6 (Allen voted NO)
OnTheIssues Explanation: The Citizens United ruling gave rise to "Super-PACs" which can spend unlimited money on political advertising by unknown donors. This resolution seeks to overturn the Supreme Court by a Constitutional Amendment.
Source: California legislative voting records: AJR-1
Jan 30, 2014
Young Kim:
District-based elections OK even if protected class impaired
ACLU argument in favor of AB 182: The 2002 CA Voting Rights Act empowers challenges to race-based vote dilution in local at-large elections. AB 182 extends these protections to single-member district systems and designs remedies to avoid
diluting the voices and votes of protected communities.SFGate.com veto analysis: Gov. Brown said in his veto message that existing laws "already ensure that the voting strength of minority communities is not diluted." The law signed by
Gov. Gray Davis in 2002 allows minority groups to challenge at-large (city-wide) elections, increasing the likelihood of control by a white majority. [Since 2002] over 100 local governments switched to district elections. The [new] law could challenge
district lines if intended to dilute minority votes.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 26-14-0 on 9/3/15; Passed Assembly 53-24-3 on 9/8/15; State Rep. Young Kim voted NO; Vetoed by Gov. Brown on 10/10/15.
Source: ACLU on California voting record AB 182
Sep 8, 2015
Kevin Kiley:
Written words are binding on those in positions of power
The opposite of Gavin Newsom's lawless governorship is one that respects the rule of law. That means recognizing that written words are binding on those in positions of power. From this comes the most basic form of freedom--freedom from the arbitrary
dominion and control of another. It's what gives life to the idea that we as citizens are not mere subjects of state power but authors of our own political future.Respecting the rule of law means recognizing both the California and U.S.
Constitutions as constraints on what the Governor, the Legislature, or any official can do. It means restoring a proper separation of powers, where the Governor's job is to implement laws passed by the Legislature.
Our Founders made a
deliberate choice that exercising the powers of government should not be easy. As the ultimate safeguard of liberty, they defined those powers as limited, distributed, checked, and balanced--precisely the opposite of California these last 15 months.
Source: KileyForCalifornia.com website on 2021 CA recall race
Aug 4, 2021
Kevin Kiley:
No "Third House": end lobbyist contributions and influence
[I support a] governorship that serves the public interest. This requires defusing the power of the "Third House" lobbyists who largely control the first two houses, the Assembly and Senate, as well as this Governor in particular. The Third House--
consisting of lobbyists for union conglomerates, industry associations, and major companies--accounts for the vast majority of political funding in California. For many Legislators, how to vote on a bill comes down to nothing more than which interests
are for or against it.Changing this dynamic can be difficult to do through campaign finance laws, but it is achievable through a cultural change at the Capitol. That was my goal in becoming the first 100 percent citizen-backed California Legislator
by declining all contributions from the Third House. Ultimately, accepting Third House contributions needs to be stigmatized, and that can start with political leaders refusing to support any candidate of either party who accepts them.
Source: KileyForCalifornia.com website on 2021 CA recall race
Aug 4, 2021
Kevin Kiley:
More open governance: restore power to local institutions
The opposite of Gavin Newsom's self-promotional governorship is one of humility. This means humility not only in the conduct of the state's chief executive, but in the role of the government itself. It means remembering that every action we take has
legitimacy only by the consent of the people we represent. Concretely, that means a more open and deliberative approach to governance. It means restoring power to local institutions that know their communities best.
Source: KileyForCalifornia.com website on 2021 CA recall race
Aug 4, 2021
Mark Meuser:
So many irregularities about the 2020 election
Earlier this year, California Republican nominee Mark Meuser told television station KPIX 5 of the 2020 election: "There are so many irregularities about this election that I do not feel any American who looks at it can have confidence that they know
what the actual results are."Meuser is making a longshot challenge to incumbent Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla, who beat him in the 2018 secretary of state race. Meuser's campaign did not respond to a request for comment for this article.
Source: CNN on 2020 Election Denial in 2022 California Senate race
Sep 15, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023