Incumbent – Grade F

Political Party:

Democrat

Ballot Designation:

California State Assemblywoman

Law Enforcement Contributions:

Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC PAC)
California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA PAC)
Californians for Safer Neighborhoods Sponsored by Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs
State Coalition of Probation Organizations PAC
California Statewide Law Enforcement Association PAC
Los Angeles County Probation Officers Union
Los Angeles Police Protective League PAC
Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association PAC
California State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police PAC
Long Beach Police Officers Association PAC
Anaheim Police Association
Huntington Beach Police Officers Association PAC
Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs PAC
California Association of Highway Patrolmen PAC

Background:

 Assemblymember Pacheco was first elected to the State Assembly in 2022 after working for many years as a private attorney and real estate broker. Pacheco also briefly served on the Downey City Council and as Mayor.

Public Safety Platform:

Assemblymember Pacheco has generally not been an ally to justice reform since she took office, earning a “D” on our Legislative Scorecard in 2023 and an “F” in 2024. Not only has she failed to support most good bills we have prioritized, she has also authored several harmful bills, such as AB 695, a bill that would create a grant program to “improve” probation detention centers. This bill was opposed by justice reform groups who emphasized the need to abolish youth detention centers instead of creating nicer facilities. Assemblymember Pacheco also authored AB 2790, an extremely harmful bill that IJ Action opposed, which would have imposed felony charges for stealing any amount of baby formula, over the counter medication, or blood glucose test strips. IJ Action worked to defeat that bill before it ever got a hearing. Meanwhile, she voted no AB 2178, an important bill to reduce prison capacity. She also supported two other harmful bills, AB 1990 and AB 1960, which authorized physical custody for shoplifting and imposed new enhancements for property damage, respectively. 

Assemblymember Pacheco has received significant campaign contributions from law enforcement and lists endorsements from several of their agencies, including the Peace Officers Research Association of California and California Statewide Law Enforcement Association.

Furthermore, Assemblymember Pacheco 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. For these reasons, IJ Action has no recommendation in this race.

Website:

https://www.pachecoforassembly.com/

Political Party:

Republican

Ballot Designation:

 Pest Control Manager

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

Background:

Ortiz is a preacher based out of La Mirada.

Public Safety Platform:

Ortiz does not have a written policy platform, but his About Me page included the following statement: “His concerns are safe neighborhoods, the homeless crisis, high taxes, CRT in school curriculums, open borders and drugs on the streets.”

Website:

https://www.raulortizforassembly.com/