Comments
THE PRIMARY - The self-destruction and resignation of former wannabe Governor and former Member of Congress Eric Swalwell amid damning allegations of sexual assault have heightened the attention of California voters to the character and ethics of candidates.
Questions about who is best prepared to serve Californians are beginning to focus more acutely on three open seats for statewide office that feature crowded fields with several qualified, appealing competitors. The jobs of Governor, Lieutenant Governor (LG), and state Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) are ones that voters have the duty to fill wisely, starting in the June 2 primary. Ballots arrive in just 3 weeks.
At stake is who will lead state government through a series of high-stakes showdowns vs. the Trump Administration. On doorsteps this month, as I canvass alongside volunteers, dozens of voters have put to me different versions of the same query: Who shows the most know-how to fight back vs. the out-of-control cost increases triggered by Trump’s tariffs, roving patrols of racial profiling and mass deportation, his undeclared war on Iran, and other reckless policy decisions?
My answer is to check out the endorsements by the East Area Progressive Democrats (EAPD), the largest formally recognized grassroots political organization in the state.
Made carefully, amid in-person interviews and deliberation and voting, over the past six months by members of the club, the endorsements take into account such factors as candidates’ credentials, training, past and present relationship with constituents and advocates, proven leadership on policy priorities, and ability to build coalitions, raise money, and excite voters.
For Governor, EAPD members voted to endorse Betty Yee. The two-term former state Controller is a renowned budget watchdog who championed public education, equal rights, clean energy, and hardworking families like her own (Yee is also caregiving for her centenarian mom) through two decades in state governance. Yee is a trustworthy and progressive presence statewide among Democrats, which is why she earned the 2nd most votes for the endorsement of the state Democratic Party, which went open for the primary. Even Yee’s adversaries concede she is the best prepared candidate for Governor. Yee’s matter-of-fact rejection of Swalwell and the recurring nightmare of sexual abuse by powerful men in public office in a video message has helped put a spark in her campaign.
For Lt. Governor, or LG, Janelle Kellman earned endorsement for the job. Its main function, besides breaking ties in the Senate or replacing a dead or defunct Governor, is serving on or chairing the State Lands Commission. Kellman is a climate risk expert and United Nations-recognized environmental attorney. Having served as mayor of Sausalito, she has firsthand knowledge about sea-level rise and steepening housing costs as well as the prime directive to improve infrastructure and resilience statewide. Janelle Kellman is not the best-known candidate, but she is, in the words of one statewide official, the one who clearly read the job description. Plus she’s the only openly LGBTQ+ candidate for statewide office this election in California, where we need such crucial representation at the decision-making table.
Finally, for state Superintendent, Richard Barrera earned the EAPD endorsement. Five terms as school board member in San Diego have equipped Barrera, the son of immigrants from Colombia, with remarkable know-how in solutions for school funding and workforce housing for educators. He has electrified audiences of public education advocates. Like the other candidates, he combines progressive priorities with years of practical experience.
These are three candidates to make our state better and to make the important choices facing voters this primary election just a little easier.
(Hans Johnson is a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, and public education. His columns have appeared in USA Today and leading newspapers across more than 20 states. Based in Eagle Rock, he serves as president of East Area Progressive Democrats (EAPD), California’s largest grassroots Democratic club with over 1,100 members. Hans brings decades of organizing and policy experience to his work, advancing equity and accountability in local and national politics.)
