Tagline: Until the Work Is Done
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Equality California endorses and supports 100% pro-equality candidates — up and down the ballot — fighting for LGBTQ+ civil rights, reproductive freedom and social justice. Use our official Pro-Equality Voter Guide below to make a plan to vote!

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Our Endorsements

Current Endorsements

Equality California only endorses viable candidates running for local, state and federal offices who have a proven track record of supporting full, lived LGBTQ+ equality and ballot measures that will help to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights, reproductive freedom and social justice.

California Senate:

  • Senate District 19: Lisa Middleton 
  • Senate District 31: Sabrina Cervantes

California Assembly:

  • Assembly District 58: Clarissa Cervantes
  • Assembly District 62: José Solache
  • Assembly District 76: Joseph C. Rocha

Local Offices:

  • Oxnard City Council, District 6 [2023 Special Election]: Michaela Perez – LOSS
  • Sacramento Mayor: Steve Hansen
  • San Diego Board of Supervisors, District 4 [2023 Special Election]: Janessa Goldbeck – LOSS

Bold indicates an openly LGBTQ+ candidate.

Past Endorsements

Click here for a list of our 2022 election endorsements.
Click here for a list of our 2021 election endorsements.
Click here for a list of our 2020 general election endorsements.
Click here for a list of our 2020 primary election endorsements.
Click here for a list of our 2019 endorsements.
Click here for a list of our 2018 endorsements.
Click here for a list of our 2017 endorsements.
Click here for a list of our 2016 endorsements.

Vote By Mail
Voting by mail is SAFE and EASY — and you don’t even need a stamp in California! All active registered California voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for each election. If you live in California, click here to check your voter registration status.

If you are registered to vote in California, your county elections office will begin mailing ballots approximately one month before Election Day. It can take a few days for your ballot to arrive in the mail. Click here to track your ballot or click here to contact your county elections office if you think your ballot may have been lost in the mail. If you aren’t registered to vote in California, click here for more information about how to vote in your state.

When you receive your California vote-by-mail ballot, make sure to read and follow the included instructions carefully. After carefully marking your choices on your ballot, simply:

  1. Seal it. Secure your ballot inside the envelope from your county elections office.
  2. Sign it. Make sure the signature on your ballot envelope matches the one on your California driver’s license or state ID, OR the signature you provided when registering. Your county elections office will compare them to protect your vote.
  3. Return it by mail OR in person:
    • By mail: Make sure your ballot is postmarked by Election Day. No stamp required!
    • In person: If you prefer, drop your ballot off at a secure drop box, polling place, vote center or your county elections office by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Click here to find a ballot drop off location near you.
  4. Track it. Click here to track your ballot and sign up for status alerts by text message, email or voice call.

If you lost your ballot or didn’t receive it in the mail, voting locations will offer replacement ballots, voter registration, accessible voting machines and language assistance. Voting locations will be available in all California counties before and on Election Day. Click here to find an early voting location near you.

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Our PACs

Equality California PAC

Equality California PAC works to elect pro-equality candidates running for local, state legislative and statewide offices, who have a proven track record of supporting civil rights and social justice for LGBTQ+ people and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.

Donate

Equality California Federal PAC

Equality California Federal PAC works to elect pro-equality candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate or president, who have a proven track record of supporting civil rights and social justice for LGBTQ+ people and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.

Equality California Issues PAC

Equality California Issues PAC endorses or opposes select initiative and issue campaigns that come before California’s voters. This PAC endorses or opposes initiatives relevant to the LGBTQ+ community, as well as initiatives that are important to the diverse communities to which LGBTQ+ people belong or that have a substantial impact upon our state.

PAC Committee Members

Equality California’s PACs are overseen by a group of dedicated community leaders and activists:

    • Jane Natoli, Chair*
    • Alex Randolph, Vice Chair*
    • Jerry Bloom*
    • Sue Burnside*
    • Cecilia Cabello*
    • Jason Chan*
    • Bevan Dufty*
    • Shayna Englin
    • Clarissa Filgioun
    • Joe Goldman
    • Joe Gregorich*
    • Steve Hansen
    • Drexel Heard^
    • Tony Hoang (ex officio)
    • Cheryl Hori
    • Lloyd Levine
    • Thomas Li
    • Susan McCabe^
    • Richard Poppen^
    • Jeff Riles*
    • Nancy Sutley*

* Member of Equality California Board of Directors

^ Member of the Equality California Board of Advisors

Endorsement Process and Guidelines
Equality California endorses viable candidates running for local office, statewide offices, the state legislature and Congress who have a proven track record of supporting equal rights and legal protections for LGBTQ+ Californians and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.

Except in rare circumstances, Equality California only endorses openly LGBTQ+ candidates in local races, with the goal of supporting the careers of exceptional leaders in our community to build and develop a bench of strong openly LGBTQ+ leaders and candidates for higher office.

In races for California Assembly and Senate, the United States House of Representatives and Senate and California State Constitutional Offices, Equality California considers endorsement of all candidates — those who are openly LGBTQ+ and pro-equality allies — who meet our screening and endorsement criteria.

Endorsement Process

Equality California conducts research to determine candidates’ records on LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice and will extend invitations to participate in the endorsement process based on past record, viability and Equality California priority considerations.

Endorsement by Equality California requires completion of a candidate questionnaire and candidate interviews. Candidates who are interested in our endorsement should contact Tom Temprano at tom@eqca.org as early as possible to inform us of your candidacy.

Key Candidate Considerations

  • Candidate must be 100% in support of LGBTQ+ equality to be considered for endorsement.
  • Candidate must be viable and able to run a competitive campaign.
  • Candidate’s prior depth of work in support of full LGBTQ+ equality is a key factor.
  • Is the candidate openly LGBTQ+?
  • Will endorsement diversify and expand support for LGBTQ+ equality and social justice?
  • NOTE: A candidate who is not 100% in support of full LGBTQ+ equality is not eligible for endorsement.

Paid for by Equality California Political Action Committee. Committee major funding from:
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Caucus Leadership Fund
California Dental Association
California Apartment Association
Not authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate.