Political Party:

Democrat

Ballot Designation:

 Los Angeles County Commissioner

Law Enforcement Contributions: None as of 8/23/24

Background:

 Ortega is the first LA County Youth Commissioner and former President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the California Youth Commission.

Public Safety Platform:

Ortega does not have a public safety platform, instead focusing on issues like infrastructure development and healthcare. However, he has advocated on related issues including on the foster care system, where he supported AB 2247 to protect foster children from random, unexpected changes in their foster placement.

While Ortega’s public safety platform is unknown, the incumbent is notoriously pro-law enforcement and a longstanding member of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, where he consistently supports criminalization bills. For these reasons IJ Action recommends AD34 voters support Ortega as the harm reduction candidate. 

Website:

https://www.ricardoortegaforassembly.com/

Incumbent – Grade F

Political Party:

Republican

Ballot Designation:

 Assemblyman

Law Enforcement Contributions:

California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA)
Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC PAC)
State Coalition of Probation Organizations PAC
California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC

Background:

 Assemblymember Lackey was first elected to the State Assembly in 2014 after spending 28 years in law enforcement with the California Highway Patrol. He also served on the Palmdale Elementary School Board and City Council for nearly a decade.

Public Safety Platform:

Assemblymember Lackey was a vocal opponent to ACA 4, the IJ Action cosponsored legislation that would place an initiative on the November 2024 ballot to restore voting rights to people in prison. In a statement to the press, Lackey said: “We don’t want people who have shown disrespect for our laws to be part of forming them, and that’s what this proposal does.”

In the Legislature, Assemblymember Lackey has routinely opposed progressive criminal justice reform measures while supporting bills that increase criminalization of drug use and homelessness. This cycle, he introduced AB 1616, which would allow municipalities that do not allow cannabis cultivation or sale to nevertheless receive statewide cannabis tax revenue for use by law enforcement, and was also a vocal supporter of SB 14, which expanded the Three Strikes Law for the first time in more than two decades. 

He earned an “F” on the IJ Action Legislative Scorecard both last year and this year, failing to support all of the good bills that we prioritized last year. He is endorsed by several law enforcement agencies and was named “Legislator of the Year” by Crime Victims United and the California Police Chiefs Association.

Furthermore, Assemblymember Lackey has endorsed Proposition 36, a measure that will appear on the November 2024 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://lackeyforassembly.com/