2026 California Statewide, Legislative & Congressional Democratic Candidates
Our local affiliates endorse at the local level. Please check with your local club. 
Rather than endorse a single candidate, we provide grades to reflect their positions and relationship with the mainstream Jewish community (we do not view Jewish Voice for Peace or IfNotNow (why do we Say this and what are mainstream Jewish views?).
Grading is based on the questionnaire provided (if responded to), which focuses on viability, relationship with the mainstream Jewish community, issues like BDS, fighting antisemitism, support for two-state solution, aid to Israel, and willingness to engage on these subjects. We also will consider the candidate's record of public statements, legislative sponsorship and votes not just on matters directly affecting the Jewish community, but on health care, housing, education, combating climate change and supporting working families.
Strong Support - An exemplary record of leadership and close relationship to the Jewish community.
Support - Views aligned with the mainstream Jewish community and an established relationship with the Jewish community.
Neutral - Unable to determine or record unclear regarding relationship with Jewish community and alignment of club and Democratic Party values, but open to improvement.
Oppose - Beliefs, positions or actions antagonistic to the values of the mainstream Jewish community.
In 2024 CJD endorsees won 81% of races
STATEWIDE RACES
GOVERNOR
Eric Swalwell - Strong Support
Katie Porter - Support
Betty Yee - Support
Antonio Villaraigosa - DID NOT RESPOND
Tony Thurmond - DID NOT RESPOND
Tom Steyer - DID NOT RESPOND
Xavier Becerra - DID NOT RESPOND
LT GOVERNOR
Fiona Ma - Support
Josh Fryday - Support
Janelle Kellman - Support
Michael Tubbs -DID NOT RESPOND
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Rob Bonta - Support
CONTROLLER
Malia Cohen - Support
SECRETARY OF STATE
Shirley Weber - Support
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Josh Newman - Strong Support
Josh Newman SSPI Questionnaire 2026.pdf
Richard Barrera - Neutral
Barrera 2026 SSPI Questionnaire 2026.pdf
Nichelle Henderson - Neutral
Henderson 2026 Ca SSPI Questionnaire 2026.pdf
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Ben Allen - Strong Support
Steven Bradford - Support
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION
D1 IN PROCESS
D3 Mike Gipson D3
D5 IN PROCESS
Congress BAY AREA & CENTRAL CALIFORNIA CD1 Mike McGuire - Strong Support CD2 Jared Huffman - IN PROCESS CD3 Ami Bera - Support CA4 Mike Thompson - IN PROCESS CD6 IN PROCESS CD7 Doris Matsui - Support CD8 John Garamendi - Support CD9 Josh Harder - Support CD10 Mark DeSaulnier - Support CD12 Lateefah Simon - No Position CD13 Adam Gray - Support CD14 IN PROCESS CD15 Kevin Mullin - Strong Support CD16 Sam Liccardo - Support CD17 Ro Khanna - No Position CD19 Jimmy Panetta - Strong Support CD 21 Jim Costa - Support LA AND VENTURA CD24 Salud Carbajal - Support CD26 IN PROCESS CD27 George Whitesides - Support CD28 Judy Chu - No Position CA29 Luz Rivas - Strong Support CD30 Laura Friedman - Strong Support CD32 Brad Sherman - Strong Support CA 31 Gil Cisneros - Support CA34 Jimmy Gomez - Support CA35 Norma Torres - Support CD36 Ted Lieu - Strong Support CD37 Sydney Kamlager Dove - Support CA38 Hilda Solis - Strong Support CA42 Robert Garcia - Support CD41 Linda Sanchez - Strong Support CD41 Hector De La Torre - Support CA44 Nanette Barragan - Support ORANGE COUNTY/SAN DIEGO/RIVERSIDE CD25 Raul Ruiz - Support CA46 Pete Aguilar -- Strong Support CD39 Mark Takano - No Position CD40 Esther Kim Varet - Support CD45 Derek Tran - No Position CA46 Lou Correa- Support CD47 Dave Min - Support CD48 Marni Von Wilpert - Strong Support CD48 Brandon Riker - Support CD48 Ammar Campa-Najjar - Neutral CD49 Mike Levin - Support CD50 Scott Peters - Strong Support CD51 Sara Jacobs - No Position CD52 Juan Vargas -- Strong Support DO NOT SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES: AD47 Leila Namvar AD47 Lucas Pinon AD66 Sara Deen CD1 Audrey Denney CD1 Kyle WIlson CD2 Rose Yee | State Senate BAY AREA SD2 Damon Connolly - Support SD8 Angelique Ashby - Support SD10 IN PROCESS LA/VENTURA SD20 - Caroline Menjivar - Strong Support SD22 Susan Rubio - Strong Support SD24 Sion Roy - Support SD24 Brian Goldsmith - Support SD24 Ellen Evans - Support SD24 Mike Newhouse - Support SD24 Nico Ruderman - Support SD24 John Erickson - Neutral SD26 Juan Camacho - Support SD26 Sara Hernandez - Support SD28 Lola Smallwood Cuevas - Support SD30 Bob Archuleta - Support ORANGE COUNTY/SAN DIEGO SD18 Steve Padilla - Strong Support SD36 - IN PROCESS SD38 Catherine Blakespear - Strong Support | State Assembly NORTH CALIFORNIA AD2 Chris Rogers - Support AD6 Maggy Krell -- Strong Support AD10 Stephanie Nguyen - Support AD11 Lori Wilson - Support AD12 Holli Thier -- Strong Support AD12 Eric Lucan - Support AD12 Eli Beckman - Support AD12 Steve Schwartz - Support AD13 Rhodesia Ransom - Support BAY AREA AD14 Buffy Wicks - Support AD16 Rebecca Bauer-Kahan - Strong Support AD17 Matt Haney - Strong Support AD19 Catherine Stefani - Support AD21 Diane Papan - Support AD23 Marc Berman - Strong Support AD25 Ash Kalra - Support AD26 Patrick Ahrens - Strong Support AD28 Gail Pellerin - Strong Support AD29 Robert Rivas - Strong Support AD30 Dawn Addis - Strong Support LA/VENTURA AD39 Juan Carrillo - Support AD40 Pilar Schiavo - Strong Support AD41 John Harabedian - Strong Support AD42 Debra Lopez-Klein - Strong Support AD42 Kelly Honig- Support AD43 Celeste Rodriguez - Support AD44 Nick Schultz - Strong Support AD46 Jesse Gabriel - Strong Support AD48 Blanca Rubio - Strong Support AD52 Mike Fong - Support AD51 Rick Chavez Zbur - Strong Support AD52 Jessica Caloza - Support AD54 Mark Gonzalez- Support AD55 Isaac Bryan - Support AD56 Lisa Calderon - Support AD57 Sade Elhawary - Support AD61 Tina McKinnor - Support AD62 Jose Solache - Support AD64 Blanca Pacheco - Support AD65 Ayanna Davis - Support AD66 Scott Houston - Strong Support AD66 Paul Seo - Support AD66 Shannon Ross - Support AD69 Josh Lowenthal - Strong Support ORANGE COUNTY/SAN DIEGO/RIVERSIDE AD47 Jason Byors - Support AD50 Robert Garcia - Support AD60 Corey Jackson - Support AD67 Sharon Quirk Silva - Support AD68 Avelino Valencia - Support AD73 Cottie Petrie Norris - Support AD76 Darshana Patel - Strong Support AD77 Tasha Borner- Strong Support AD78 Christopher Ward - Strong Support AD79 Lashae Sharp-Collins - Support AD80 David Alvarez - Support |
Democratic Central Committee
Democratic Party Elections
California Jewish Democrats hosts Zoom conference forums with candidates for CDP officers and four DNC members are affiliated with a Democrats for Israel affiliated club.
Democratic Party Delegates
ADEM Elections. Congratulations to the 23 of 29 CJD members and over 180 allies who were elected to ADEM (7 females and 7 men/other than self-identified females in each assembly district) in the 2023 ADEM elections!
A full list of winners can be found HERE
California Jewish Democrats is proud to have endorsed over 250 members of the Democratic Central Committee in 2020-2021 elections, including elected officials, DNC Members, County Committee members and ADEM members. Candidates for County Committee are endorsed at the county level.
Sponsors & Partners section
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California Jewish Democrats, 12501 Imperial Hwy, Ste. 200, Norwalk, CA 90650
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