PRIORITIES ARE ON the ballot once again this November with the opportunity to vote for candidates who share CTA’s belief that quality public schools are the cornerstone of democracy.

These officials helped guide California through unprecedented challenges during the past four years, taking action to protect communities from COVID-19 and making historic investments in public education. During extraordinarily difficult times, these leaders showed themselves to be true friends to students, educators and public schools.

“In California, we were fortunate to have strong leaders when we needed them most,” CTA President E. Toby Boyd says. “We need their continued guidance and leadership. I hope you’ll join me in voting for these proven leaders on or before Nov. 8.”

Visit cta.yourvoter.guide for customized recommendations for the races as well as recommendations for the propositions on your ballot.

Midterm elections traditionally have low voter turnout, which makes every single vote that much more important. With ongoing efforts across the country to mute the voices of Americans and make it harder to vote, don’t silence yourself. Your voice is your vote, so make sure to exercise yours and be a voter for the following propositions and candidates for state office.

Nov. 8 General Election Facts

• All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 8 General Election.
• The last day to register to vote (registertovote.ca.gov) in the general election is Oct. 24.
• Ballots will be mailed by county elections offices no later than Oct. 10.
• Ballots can be returned by mail with prepaid postage (postmarked on or before Election Day and received by Nov. 15), or in-person to a secure ballot drop box or your county elections office by 8 p.m. on Nov. 8.
• In addition to candidates for statewide offices and seven propositions, voters will elect Congressional representatives, state senators, Assembly members, state Supreme Court justices, local candidates including school board members, and local measures.

CTA’s Recommendation Process

1. CTA interview teams, comprising local leaders and members, interview candidates and evaluate them on various criteria, including their positions on education issues, their history of support for public education, and viability.
2. After the interviews, teams make their recommendations to state leaders. The CTA Board of Directors considers the
recommendations and may approve them or make substitute recommendations.
3. The Board’s recommendations are debated by CTA State Council of Education, CTA’s highest decision-making body. State Council’s 700 delegates vote on the recommendations.
4. Candidates who receive at least 60 percent of State Council’s votes are recommended and supported by CTA.

Recommendations on Important Propositions
CALIFORNIA VOTERS will decide on seven propositions in November.
CTA recommends positions on five, as outlined below.

Recommendations on Statewide Candidates

Gov. Gavin Newsom

Governor Gavin Newsom

Gov. Newsom was the leader California needed during his first four years at the helm. He helped push California forward in almost every area, even amid a global pandemic.

Under Newsom’s leadership, Prop. 98 education funding reached a record $110.4 billion and the state invested $4.1 billion in the transformative power of community schools. He’s taken action to combat the climate crisis, tackled homelessness and expanded mental health services, strengthened laws to keep illegal guns off the streets, and worked to create a more affordable California with lower costs for necessities like housing, childcare, retirement and higher education.

“Gov. Newsom’s commitment to California’s working families, educators and communities is long-standing,” Boyd says.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond

Tony Thurmond has been a strong leader during his first four
years as head of California public education system, listening to educators and families and working to keep school communities safe from COVID-19.

To address the teacher shortage, Thurmond helped secure record investment in the state budget this year to recruit and retain 15,000 teachers. In response to the extensive trauma suffered by students during the pandemic, Thurmond is pursuing a strategy to identify and train 10,000 new mental health professionals, offering scholarships to counselors who agree to work in high-need districts. He also champions the expansion of after-school tutoring and other enrichment programs.

Through his Literacy Task Force (CTA President E. Toby
Boyd is a co-chair), Thurmond also set a goal that all California elementary school students learn to read by third grade by the year 2026. He’s offering numerous resources to reach this goal, including providing reading coaches and specialists at schools where there is need and expanding funding for literacy intervention strategies.

Thurmond is also leading the implementation of several landmark programs, including free universal preschool for
every four-year-old child in the state, free school meals for all students, and billions in wraparound supports through community schools to help meet the physical, mental health and social service needs of students.

Congressional and State Representatives

STATE ASSEMBLY

AD 1: No recommendation
AD 2: Jim Wood (D)
AD 3: No recommendation
AD 4: Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D)
AD 5: Neutral
AD 7: Ken Cooley (D)
AD 8: No recommendation
AD 9: No recommendation
AD 10: Neutral
AD 11: Lori Wilson (D)
AD 12: Damon Connelly (D)
AD 13: Carlos Villapudua (D)
AD 14: Buffy Wicks (D)
AD 16: Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D)
AD 17: Matt Haney (D)
AD 18: Mia Bonta (D)
AD 19: Phil Ting (D)
AD 20: Liz Ortega (D)
AD 22: Jessica Self (D)
AD 23: Marc Berman (D)
AD 24: Alex Lee (D)
AD 25: Ash Kalra (D)
AD 26: Evan Low (D)
AD 27: Neutral
AD 28: Gail Pellerin (D)
AD 29: Robert Rivas (D)
AD 30: Dawn Addis (D)
AD 32: No Recommendation
AD 33: Jose Sigala (D)
AD 35: Leticia Perez (D)
AD 36: Eduardo Garcia (D)
AD 37: Gregg Hart (D)
AD 38: Steve Bennett (D)
AD 39: Juan Carrillo (D)
AD 40: Pilar Schiavo (D)
AD 41: Chris Holden (D)
AD 42: Jacqui Irwin (D)
AD 43: Luz Rivas (D)
AD 44: Laura Friedman (D)
AD 45: James Ramos (D)
AD 46: Jesse Gabriel (D)
AD 47: Christy Holstege (D)
AD 49: Mike Fong (D)
AD 50: Eloise Gomez Reyes (D)
AD 51: Rick Chavez Zbur (D)
AD 52: Wendy Carrillo (D)
AD 53: Freddie Rodriguez (D)
AD 54: Miguel Santiago (D)
AD 55: Isaac Bryan (D)
AD 56: Lisa Calderon (D)
AD 57: Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D)
AD 58: Sabrina Cervantes (D)
AD 60: Neutral
AD 61: Tina McKinnor (D)
AD 62: Anthony Rendon (D)
AD 65: Mike Gipson (D)
AD 66: Al Muratsuchi (D)
AD 67: Sharon Quirk-Silva (D)
AD 69: Josh Lowenthal (D)
AD 70: Diedre Nguyen (D)
AD 73: Cottie Petrie-Norris (D)
AD 74: Chris Duncan (D)
AD 76: Brian Maienschein (D)
AD 77: Tasha Boerner Horvath (D)
AD 78: Chris Ward (D)
AD 79: Akilah Weber (D)
AD 80: Georgette Gomez (D)

STATE SENATE

SD 2: Mike McGuire (D)
SD 4: Tim Robertson (D)
SD 6: Paula Villescaz (D)
SD 8: Dave Jones (D)
SD 10: Aisha Wahab (D)
SD 12: No Recommendation
SD 14: Anna Caballero (D)
SD 16: Neutral
SD 18: Steve Padilla (D)
SD 20: Neutral
SD 24: Ben Allen (D)
SD 26: Maria Elena Durazo (D)
SD 28: Lola Smallwood Cuevas (D)
SD 30: Bob Archuleta (D)
SD 34: Thomas Umberg (D)
SD 36: Kim Carr (D)
SD 38: Catherine Blakespear (D)
SD 40: Joseph C. Rocha (D)
U.S. CONGRESS
CD 1: Neutral
CD 2: Jared Huffman (D)
CD 3: Dr. Kermit Jones (D)
CD 4: Mike Thompson (D)
CD 5: No Recommendation
CD 6: Ami Bera (D)
CD 7: Doris Matsui (D)
CD 8: John Garamendi (D)
CD 9: Josh Harder (D)
CD 10: Mark DeSaulnier (D)
CD 11: Nancy Pelosi (D)
CD 12: Barbara Lee (D)
CD 13: Adam Gray (D)
CD 14: Eric Swalwell (D)
CD 15: Kevin Mullin (D)
CD 16: Anna Eshoo (D)
CD 17: Ro Khanna (D)
CD 18: Zoe Lofgren (D)
CD 19: Jimmy Panetta (D)
CD 20: Marisa Wood (D)
CD 21: Jim Costa (D)
CD 22: Rudy Salas (D)
CD 24: Salud Carbajal (D)
CD 25: Raul Ruiz (D)
CD 26: Julia Brownley (D)
CD 27: Christy Smith (D)
CD 28: Judy Chu (D)
CD 29: Tony Cardenas (D)
CD 30: Adam Schiff (D)
CD 32: Brad Sherman (D)
CD 33: Pete Aguilar (D)
CD 34: Jimmy Gomez (D)
CD 35: Norma Torres (D)
CD 37: Sydney Kamlager (D)
CD 38: Linda Sanchez (D)
CD 42: Neutral
CD 44: Nanette Barragan Diaz (D)
CD 45: Jay Chen (D)
CD 47: Katie Porter (D)
CD 49: Mike Levin (D)
CD 50: Scott Peters (D)
CD 51: Sara Jacobs (D)