Assembly District 18
ENDORSED
Mia Bonta (D)
Incumbent – Grade A+
Political Party:
Democrat
Ballot Designation:
Assemblymember
Law Enforcement Contributions:
None as of 8/23/24
Background:
Assemblymember Bonta was first elected to the State Assembly in a 2021 special election, and formerly chaired the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety. Prior to entering the Assembly, Bonta served on the Alameda School Board for several years, and also founded an Oakland-based non-profit that provides cradle-to-college services for low-income kids.
Public Safety Platform:
Assemblymember Bonta is a vocal supporter of justice reform policy, formerly sitting on the Public Safety Committee and generally voting to oppose harmful bills and being an outspoken opponent to recent efforts to roll back Prop 47. She was one of only two Assemblymembers on that committee who did not vote to support SB 14, a bill to expand the Three Strikes Law.
She has also been a lead author on many good bills. This session, Assemblymember Bonta was a co-author of ACA 4, an IJ Action cosponsored piece of legislation that would place an initiative on the November 2024 ballot to restore voting rights to people in prison. She also authored AB 1186 to allow restorative justice options in place of restitution for youth, and is a co-author of ACA 8 to end slavery in California prisons. She also authored AB 2709 which strengthens visitation rights.
Assemblymember Bonta is an IJ Action endorsed candidate for the second election in a row due to her commitment once again to support IJ Action priorities such as repealing Three Strikes and other sentence enhancements. Assemblymember Bonta earned an “A” on the IJ Action Legislative Scorecard in 2023 and an “A+” this year.
Website:
Political Party:
American Independent
Ballot Designation:
Housing Program Manager
Law Enforcement Contributions:
The candidate has not reported any campaign funds as of 08/23/24
Background:
Sandford is a housing manager for MNC Inspiring Success, a San Francisco-based non-profit organization.
Public Safety Platform:
Sandford’s public safety platform includes requiring schools to have armed police officers, expanding Second Amendment rights to allow people to “lawfully defend themselves from individuals trying to harm them and their families” and “…to restore funding to policing and ensure officers have all the tools and training they need to protect California citizens.” Sandford also outlines wanting to establish a “police cadet program for high school students.”
Website: