Initiate Justice Action

Harm Reduction

Porsche Middleton (D)

Political Party:

Democrat

Ballot Designation:

 Councilmember, City of Citrus Heights

Law Enforcement Contributions: California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC 

Background:

Middleton is an elected official on the Citrus Heights City Council, and former CEO for the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association – a lobbying group that represented gas stations and convenience stores. She is also the former Deputy Director of Sacramento Self-Help Housing.

Public Safety Platform:

Middleton does not have a written public safety platform for her Assembly race, but stated the following in an interview with the Citrus Heights Sentinel while serving on City Council: “I am appreciative of the hard work, effort, and bravery that is consistently displayed by the men and women of our law enforcement departments. I would continue to support and further develop our Community Oriented Policing (COP) program and encourage the development of closer relationships between our local departments and the communities they serve through PAL, service organizations, and domestic service providers.” 

Middleton is also endorsed by Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper, and in announcing that endorsement stated: “At a time when many do not feel safe and the rise in retail theft is threatening our small businesses, I am grateful for the support of Sheriff Cooper. Our Sheriffs work tirelessly to keep our community safe and once elected, I will be proud to serve as their partner in the legislature.”

While her rhetoric around retail theft and support for law enforcement is concerning, IJ Action recommends AD 7 voters support Porsche Middleton as the harm reduction candidate given the proven tough-on-crime track record of her opponent.

Website:

https://www.porsche4assembly.com/

Incumbent – Grade F

Political Party:

Republican

Ballot Designation:

 Member of the State Assembly, 7th District

Law Enforcement Contributions:

California Association for Highway Patrolmen PAC
Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC PAC)
California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA PAC)
Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC
Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association

Background:

 Assemblymember Hoover was elected to the Assembly in 2022. Prior to that, he was a Legislative Aide for eleven years, and served as Chief of Staff for former Assemblymember Kevin Kiley. Hoover also briefly served on the Folsom Cordova Unified School Board.

Public Safety Platform:

This session, Assemblymember Hoover introduced AB 1746, which would have prevented people convicted of great bodily injury against a child from a fire camp from earning the same credits as other incarcerated firefighters. This bill was opposed by IJ Action and many other justice reform organizations because it was a step backward and rolled back progress made with Prop 57 without addressing the root causes of violence against children.

He also earned an “F” in the IJ Action Legislative Scorecard both in 2023 and 2024.

Hoover has endorsed Proposition 36, a measure that will appear on the November 2024 General Election ballot that would bring back felony charges for drug possession, create new enhancements for retail theft, and gut major components of Proposition 47. It is being led by district attorneys, police and prison associations, and big corporations like Walmart and Home Depot.

Website:

https://hooverforassembly.com/

More 2024 Assembly campaigns