For years now, Edie Irons and her mom Janet Cox have been teaming up to put together voter guides for friends and neighbors. We do our own research, look at other endorsements, and have some insider knowledge from years of local political involvement. Edie works on housing and homelessness for All Home, Janet works on climate advocacy as CEO of Climate Action California.
This is a slightly skinnier guide than we’ve produced in the past. Edie has a new baby (!), and Janet’s full-time job has expanded as her organization is endorsing climate leaders around California. So it was all we could do to put the guide out with our picks, sometimes with less explanation than usual. But check this page again, we may add detail as the election approaches.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This year, it may be most strategic to wait til maybe a week before the election to vote, to see how the Democratic gubernatorial field shakes out and hopefully narrows. There’s some (diminishing) risk that the top two candidates to move on to the General could be Republicans—this is a primary race for your pragmatic vote for the democratic frontrunner, not your ideological purism (see below for more detail).
Please share this far and wide. It’s fine to disagree, ask questions, or engage in constructive, respectful debate offline or in the comments.
This voter guide contains:
Federal and State Candidates
US Representative – Lateefah Simon
She’s doing a great job and running against a Republican. No brainer!
Governor – Tom Steyer
Yes, he is a billionaire. But not all billionaires are oligarchs. For the past 15 years Steyer has been strategically spending his money in three main areas: social/economic justice, voter empowerment (especially among youth), and climate. He has been a major player in the public square since he and his wife resolved to devote their money, time, and effort to causes that will benefit people and the planet. Plus, his policy proposals are well-developed and in line with our values, including Make Polluters Pay and performance-based regulation of utilities—two game-changing initiatives that have been unable to get through the legislature due to pressure from PG+E and Newsom’s unwillingness to rock the boat. For more information, here is Climate Action California’s resources page about Tom Steyer.
He also has detailed policy and practical knowledge of housing, health care, affordability, and other issues. His housing policy agenda is more thorough and on-point than Edie can remember seeing from a gubernatorial candidate. His not being beholden to the big money interests that hold the state back on all this stuff is also a real plus—his plans confront them head-on.
Many people are planning to wait until the last minute to vote for the leading Democrat in an effort to avoid the two Rs from taking the top two spots in the jungle primary. Janet has two things to say about that: 1) it’s generally inadvisable to be cynical about your vote, but 2) in this case it might make sense if you’re considering voting for Becerra, because (other than having a ton of money from PG+E, oil and gas, and Newsom’s machine) he’s a completely non-compelling candidate and is likely to fade before June 2. But 3) don’t wait too long, and use a drop box! As of this posting (May 16) Steyer and Becerra are basically in a dead heat for Democratic frontrunner—don’t be fooled by the Becerra-sponsored polling that shows him out ahead.
Katie Porter is a far better alternative to Steyer than Becerra, but she does not seem to be getting traction and could have a harder time countering Hilton in the General.
If you’re convinced and want to work for Steyer, sign up with Janet’s organization, Climate Action California, here. And if you’re not convinced but open to being persuaded, Janet (truly) wants to talk to you! firstname[at]climateactionca[dot]org.
Lieutenant Governor – Fiona Ma or Michael Tubbs
Will add more if we have time, but we don’t have super strong feelings about these two either way, and the job is frankly not that important (unless something happens to the Governor!)
Secretary of State – Shirley Weber (incumbent)
Doing a great job as far as we know, and we definitely need a seasoned veteran in this role during the heated, and likely tested by Trump, elections to come.
Controller – Malia Cohen
Easy choice, running for re-election against a Republican and a Peace and Freedom candidate. Janet has worked with her in the past and finds her friendly, easygoing and very savvy. The Controller serves on the boards of both CalPERS and CalSTRS, the state’s huge public pension funds.
Treasurer – Eleni Kounalakis or Anna Caballero
This is an open seat because our current Treasurer, Fiona Ma, is running for Lt. Gov. It’s kind of a tough decision as we’re not super excited about either candidate.And this role can matter—overseeing both housing tax credits and CA’s public pension funds, the treasurer can help or hurt the issues we care about. Kounalakis has been a fairly invisible Lt. Governor (probably not her fault), and we didn’t hear much about her before she took on that role. Terming-out State Senator Anna Caballero, from Salinas, is someone whose pro-oil/gas/hydrogen bills Climate Action California has consistently opposed, although Janet sees Caballero, a public interest attorney, as a good-hearted legislator laser-focused on jobs for her vulnerable constituents. Climate Action California is endorsing Kounalakis, but really only because of Caballero’s connections and apparent susceptibility to oil and gas interests. On the other hand, Caballero has been something of a champion on the affordable housing front, and pledges to focus on streamlining financing as Treasurer, which is very important as the state’s housing agencies are being restructured this year. Edie’s leaning towards voting for Caballero.
Attorney General – Rob Bonta
Bonta has really shone in this role, more than he did as our State Assemblymember. He’s been smart and aggressive going up against Trump, and also goes hard against fossil fuel companies and vigorously enforces housing laws. Has no Democratic opposition.
Insurance Commissioner – Ben Allen
This is an open seat as Ricardo Lara is terming out (thank goodness).
Ben Allen is terming out too, as a highly effective state senator for the past 12 years. Janet has known him well since 2017 when he successfully carried a climate bill she thought up. He wrote and engineered passage of the most ambitious anti-single-use plastic bill in the nation (SB 54) and has taken on a host of really difficult environmental issues. He is running for Insurance Commissioner at least partly because Pacific Palisades is wholly in his district. He has been closely involved with homeowners who lost everything in the January 2025 fires and have been essentially shafted by both the insurance companies and the FAIR Plan (the state-mandated insurer of last resort).
A very smart lawyer, he is endorsed by former Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, a standout in this difficult position who held insurers to account for their anti-climate underwriting and investments. Ben Allen will re-boot that effort. Read Climate Action California’s press release endorsing Senator Allen.
Board of Equalization Member – Sally Lieber or John Pimentel
We’ve heard of no reasons not to reelect her… except that the SF Chronicle makes a decent argument for dissolving the BOE altogether, in which case apparently you should vote for John Pimentel. Edie is considering it, though Lieber is highly likely to win and we do not want one of the Republicans or tax activists on the ballot in this seat.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction – Al Muratsuchi (Henderson or Barrera seem good too)
Janet has followed Al Muratsuchi’s work in the State Assembly closely for years. As chair of the Assembly Education Committee, he is a thoughtful and consistent champion for public education. At the same time, he has been a gutsy leader on climate issues, often taking on causes bound to draw full-throttle opposition from fossil fuel interests.
We attended a candidate forum that also included Nichelle Henderson and Richard Barrera, who were both impressive, well-qualified, and values-aligned. Janet’s personal experience with Muratsuchi put him over the top for us in what would have been a tough decision.
18th Assembly District – Mia Bonta
Alameda County Candidates
Alameda County Superintendent of Schools – Alysse Castro
She’s the incumbent, running unopposed. For more context, here’s what we wrote about her in 2022:
Castro is challenging the incumbent, L.K. (Karen) Monroe, and we’re excited to vote for her. This position oversees the budgets of all the school districts in the county, as well as education at Juvenile Hall and some alternative “community” schools. Castro has worked as a teacher, a principal, as Director of Student Programs and Services at the Alameda County Office of Education, and for the past seven years has been Executive Director of Court, County and Continuation High Schools in the San Francisco Unified School District. She has a strong finance background, which is important for this role. She’s also skeptical that school closures are the solution for struggling districts like OUSD.
Under Monroe’s long tenure, the quality of education for kids in Alameda County’s Juvenile Hall has gone from bad to worse, as students there are behind grade level and are getting neither the instruction they need nor the support necessary to address trauma. Monroe has also encouraged many of the school closures at OUSD, which are highly problematic.
Alameda County District Attorney – Pamela Price
TLDR: If you’re against mass incarceration and the heavy-handed way our justice system falls on poor people and people of color, re-elect Pamela Price.
We voted to elect Pamela Price in the first place, and opposed her recall because we believe in the criminal justice reforms she champions. She was in the middle of remaking the DA’s office as the voters elected her to do, when she was recalled by a well-funded cabal with an axe to grind. Yes, there were reports that things were rocky at the DA’s office under her leadership, but isn’t that what we hired her to do?! Jones Dixon, who was appointed to fill the job in 2025 after Price was ousted, is a traditional DA who has rolled back many of the reforms and accountability measures Price put in place, and re-hired many of the old prosecutors Price let go.
From the Oaklandside article and candidate forum: Notably, Jones Dickson reversed several of the biggest reforms Price had implemented, including a policy that barred prosecutors from using sentencing enhancements, basically additional charges that can add more time to a defendant’s prison or jail sentence, and a policy that prevented most juvenile cases from being transferred to adult criminal court. Jones Dickson also reinstated a policy of seeking mandatory minimum sentences for people charged with illegal gun possession. Jones Dickson also reversed course on resentencing efforts that Price had launched to address past prosecutorial misconduct.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Office #13: Cabral Bonner
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Office #19: Selia Warren
Judges are tough to evaluate, because they’re limited in their political activity and the kinds of positions they can take on issues—they can’t pre-judge! So endorsements carry a lot of weight, as does their bio and personal/professional experience. In both those respects, the choice is clear for these seats. (will add more detail soon!)
Alameda County Supervisor District 2: Elisa Marquez
Marquez has been good on housing and homelessness issues as far as Edie knows, and Liz Ames was underwhelming and a bit concerning in an endorsement interview we watched for the Wellstone Club. Ames’ list of endorsements is also scanty and not politically aligned with us. District 2 includes Hayward, Newark, Union City, and parts of Fremont.
Peralta College and Oakland ballot measures
YES on Measure A: Peralta Colleges Funding Reauthorization
We should extend an existing parcel tax to continue funding our local community colleges.
YES on City of Oakland Measure C: Temporary suspension of small business tax
This measure would exempt businesses with less than $1 million/year in gross receipts from a city business tax, and allow the City Council to renew the exemption for up to three years without voter approval. It also exempts new businesses that set up shop here. We’ve got too many vacant storefronts, especially downtown, and the city budget already accounts for this relatively modest cut. Here’s hoping it makes a difference for local businesses!
YES on City of Oakland Measure D: Charter amendment to broaden eligibility for Board of Police and Fire Retirement System
Turns out this board only oversees employees hired prior to 1976 (fewer than 600 people currently receiving benefits). That’s also the pool of people currently allowed to fill most of the seats on this board, so the measure would allow anyone they choose to serve as a board member. Also allows them to meet less often, which seems fine.
YES on City of Oakland Measure E: Parcel tax for fire and public safety
Leaders we trust are all supporting this, as well as community groups like Oakland Rising. The main opponents are Empower Oakland—they claim that taxes are high enough already but don’t offer viable alternatives, and we often disagree with their plans and picks for the Town.
Edie Irons Consulting 