Incumbent Grade F

Political Party:

Republican

Ballot Designation:

Assemblyman

Law Enforcement Contributions:

CA Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA PAC)
Peace Officers Research Association of CA (PORAC PAC)
National Peace Officers & Firefighters Benefit Association Trust
CA Association of Highway Patrolmen 
San Bernardino Police Officers Association
Corona Police Officers Association PAC
Long Beach Police Officers Association
Riverside Sheriffs’ Association
Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association

Background:

Assemblymember Essayli was first elected to the State Assembly in 2022 after an unsuccessful run in 2018. He is a former White House Counsel intern under President Bush, and also worked as a prosecutor for the Riverside County District Attorney. Assemblymember Essayli is a former Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California.

Public Safety Platform:

This session, Assemblymember Essayli was a vocal opponent of justice reform measures, introducing several harmful bills. He introduced AB 328, which failed but would have reversed SB 620 (2017) and removed a judge’s ability to use their discretion in applying gun enhancements, mandating 20-year and 25-to-life gun enhancements for certain crimes. During his testimony for AB 328, he stated that the justice system is “colorblind” and blamed SB 620 for an increase in gun violence during the pandemic. He also introduced AB 1378, which would have increased felony penalties for certain violations of domestic violence orders. The bill was opposed by many justice reform organizations because it increased penalties without addressing root causes of domestic violence.

Assemblymember Essayli also spoke out against ACA 4 during the Assembly Elections Committee, comparing restoring the right to vote for people in prison to restoring their right to own a gun in prison. This poor voting record earned Assemblymember Essayli an F on our Legislative Scorecard in both 2023 and 2024.

Additionally, he 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.

On public safety, his campaign website states: “​​Let police do their jobs, punish violent crime, keep re-offenders off the streets, and don’t go easy on ‘low-level’ property and theft crimes.” He is endorsed by several law enforcement agencies and has received extensive campaign contributions from them. For these reasons, and because of the little information readily available on his opponent, IJ Action has no recommendation in the AD 63 race.

Website:

https://essayliforassembly.com/

Political Party:

Democrat

Ballot Designation:

 Educator/ Business Owner

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

Background:

 Shoults is a labor leader and public school teacher originally from Wyoming. Prior to moving to California, he served on a city planning commission in Wyoming and also ran unsuccessfully for state senate there.

Public Safety Platform:

 Shoults does not have a written policy platform, and little information is publicly available regarding his public safety positions. Instead, his website outlines general sentiments about a wide range of issues, from education to cost of living. On public safety, his only statement is the following: “Because I understand every day first responders see to our safety by risking their own.”

Website:

https://shoults4assembly.com/