Incumbent – Grade A

Political Party:

Democrat

Ballot Designation:

 California Assembly Speaker

Law Enforcement Contributions:

California Statewide Law Enforcement Association PAC
California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA PAC)
Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC PAC)
Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC
Anaheim Police Association PAC
Huntington Beach Police Officers Association PAC
Santa Ana Police Officers Association PAC
Garden Grove Police Association PAC
Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs PAC
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association PAC
State Coalition of Probation Organizations PAC
National Peace Officers & Fire Fighters Benefit Association
Santa Clara County Probation Peace Officers Union Local 1587 AFSCME AFL-CIO PAC
Long Beach Police Officers Association PAC
California State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police PAC
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association PAC

Background:

 Assemblymember Robert Rivas was first elected to the State Assembly in 2018, after serving on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors for eight years. In June 2023, Rivas assumed the position of Assembly Speaker, succeeding Anthony Rendon, after a months-long and contentious transition of power. Prior to entering politics, Assemblymember Rivas was an on-call firefighter and high school job training coordinator.

Public Safety Platform:

Assemblymember Robert Rivas earned an “A” on the IJ Action Legislative Scorecard both this year and last year.

However, as Assembly Speaker, Rivas has also put pressure on the Legislature to adopt more tough-on-crime policies, namely by pushing through SB 14 last year, which expanded the Three Strikes Law in California for the first time in over two decades. Assemblymember Rivas was also one of the chief architects of the legislative retail theft package this session, and is the author of AB 2943 and AB 1960, two bills strongly opposed by IJ Action. Assemblymember Rivas also worked with the Governor to try and qualify an alternative tough-on-crime measure to the November 2024 ballot to compete with Prop 36 (which increases criminal penalties and IJ Action strongly opposes) but that ultimately failed.

Assemblymember Rivas has since come out in opposition to Prop 36, stating to POLITICO Magazine that “We know from past experience the disparities that exist in our criminal justice system…The impacts it will have on our communities of color, in particular Black and Latino communities.” But despite his opposition to Prop 36, IJ Action is seriously concerned by his track record of supporting many other tough-on-crime pieces of legislation and his many campaign contributions from law enforcement and therefore has no recommendation in the AD 29 race.

Website:

https://www.rivasca.com/

Political Party:

Republican

Ballot Designation:

 Teamster Truck Driver

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

Background:

 Paine is a truck driver and first-time candidate for State Assembly. He ran unsuccessfully for California Secretary of State in 2022.

Public Safety Platform:

 Paine’s campaign website does not include a policy platform, and little information is readily available regarding his public safety positions.

Website:

https://helpjw.com/