Incumbent – Grade B

Political Party:

Democrat

Ballot Designation:

 California State Assemblymember

Law Enforcement Contributions:

State Coalition of Probation Organizations PAC
California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA PAC)

Background:

 Assemblymember Ortega was first elected to the State Assembly in 2022, after working for many years in the labor movement. She is a former State Political Director for AFSCME Local 3299, which represents public sector workers. She also served as Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Alameda Labor Council.

Public Safety Platform:

Assemblymember Ortega was formerly on the Public Safety Committee and generally voted to support good legislation and opposed tough on crime measures. However, she joined others on the Public Safety Committee and changed her vote on SB 14, a bill to expand the Three Strikes Law, and ended up supporting it after pressure from Republicans. This session, Ortega led AB 2959, a bill IJ Action supported, which would reduce prices of items in California prison vending machines. While she supported important bills like AB 2178 to reduce prison capacity, she also voted for bills like AB 1990 to authorize physical custody for petty shoplifting.

Ortega did worse on IJ Action’s Scorecard this year, earning a “B” in 2024 after not voting on SB 1133 (Becker). Nevertheless, IJ Action recommends AD20 voters re-elect Ortega as she has generally been an ally, and also led good bills this year such as AB 2959 to address price gouging in prison vending machines.

Website:

https://www.ortegaforassembly.com/

Political Party:

Republican

Ballot Designation:

 Homemaker

Law Enforcement Contributions:

None as of 8/23/24

Background:

According to her campaign website, Shanbhogue had a professional career in software development, analysis, and project management before transitioning to stay-at-home mom in 2016. She is a first-time candidate and a write-in who did not formally qualify for the ballot.

Public Safety Platform:

 Shanbhogue’s public safety platform, titled “Standing with Law Enforcement and Taking a Tough Stance on Crime” outlines the following: “Crime is on the rise, and I will stand with law enforcement to ensure our communities remain safe. Police need adequate support and resources to protect our families and children. Open ended bills like Prop 47 that provide infinite chances to get away with offenses that have been reclassified as misdemeanors need to be amended. Criminals with a violent history, sexual offenses, and severe mental disorders should not be given leniency irrespective of their economic conditions or ancestry. This only enables them to become repeat offenders.”

Website:

https://www.sangeetha4assembly.com/