Early 2026 Election Endorsements

Bolded is 'Strong Support' | Rest of listed names are 'Support', unless noted as Neutral or Oppose | asterisk (*) denotes an incumbent who is part of the Jewish caucus in Sacramento | Statewide endorsements by our sister organization (California Jewish Democrats) appear on dfi-ca.org/ELECTIONS

The E-Board gives all candidates seeking a specific office a “rating” ranging from STRONG SUPPORT to SUPPORT to NEUTRAL to OPPOSE, rather than limit the DFI LA rating to only one candidate.

Candidates fill out a lengthy questionnaire that includes questions about the candidate’s support for the State of Israel, their demonstrated record of fighting antisemitism, their past efforts to educate the community about the horrors of the Holocaust, and their commitment to fight to ensure that ethnic studies is taught in public schools using curriculum that is neither antisemitic nor anti-Israel. We have investigated and taken input on the records of incumbents running for reelection, and have collected extensive questionnaires from candidates running for office for the first time.

As a Democratic club chartered by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, we only consider endorsements for registered Democrats, including for non-partisan offices, running in races situated entirely or partially in Los Angeles County. Candidates who have not received our endorsements may have intentionally not responded to our questionnaire, or may not have provided adequate information for us to make contact, or may have not requested a questionnaire. We would encourage you to make your vote selection from among the candidates who have either received “support” or “strong support” through this process.

DFI LA rarely gives a candidate an OPPOSE rating. A candidate has to have made public statements, in person, in print, or via social media, that are clearly antisemitic and/or anti-Israel.

In light of the anti-Semitism that our community has been experiencing, we are greatly buoyed by the heartening responses from the vast majority of candidates who have responded to our questionnaire. It is clear that we have so much fertile ground in continuing to educate candidates for office and especially among the grassroots and leadership of the California and Los Angeles County Democratic parties. Please give strong consideration to joining our Democratic Club and becoming a part of this crucial effort in the months and years ahead.

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EARLY ENDORSEMENTS

>> Congressional Districts

Julia Brownley CD-26 - Support

Luz Rivas CD-29 - Strong Support

Laura Friedman CD-30 - Strong Support

Gil Cisneros CD-31 - Strong Support

Brad Sherman CD-32 - Strong Support

Jimmy Gomez CD-34 - Strong Support

Ted Lieu CD-36 - Strong Support

Norma Torres CD-35 - Strong Support

Sydney Kamlager-Dove CD-37 - Strong Support

Linda Sanchez CD-38 - Strong Support

Robert Garcia CD-42 - Strong Support

Nanette Barragan CD-44 - Strong Support

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>> California Assembly Districts

Juan Carillo AD-39 - Strong Support

Pilar Schiavo AD-40 - Strong Support

John Harabedian, AD-41 - Strong Support

Deborah Klein-Lopez AD-42 - Strong Support

Kelly Honig AD-42 - Support

Celeste Rodriguez AD-43 - Strong Support

Nick Schultz AD-44 - Strong Support

Jesse Gabriel AD-46 - Strong Support

Blanca Rubio AD-48 - Strong Support

Mike Fong AD-49 - Strong Support

Rick Zbur AD-51 - Strong Support

Michelle Rodriguez AD-53 - Strong Support

Mark Gonzalez AD-54 - Strong Support

Isaac Bryan AD-55 - Strong Support

Lisa Calderon AD-56 - Strong Support

Tina McKinnor AD-61 - Strong Support

Blanca Pacheco AD-64 - Strong Support

Ayanna Davis AD-65 - Support

Scott Houston AD-66 - Strong Support

Shannon Ross AD-66 - Support

Paul Seo AD-66 - Support

Sara Deen AD-66 - Oppose

Josh Lowenthal AD-69 - Strong Support

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>> California State Senate

Caroline Menjivar SD-20 - Strong Support

Susan Rubio SD-22 - Strong Support

Ellen Evans SD-24 - Support

Brian Goldsmith SD-24 - Support

Nico Ruderman SD-24 - Support

Juan Camacho SD-26 - Support

Sara Hernandez SD-26 Support

Lola Smallwood-Cuevas SD-28 - Strong Support

Bob Achuleta SD-30 - Strong Support

Lena Gonzalez SD-33 - Strong Support

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>> City of Los Angeles

Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles - Support

Isadore Hall, Los Angeles City Controller - Strong Support

Hydee Feldstein-Soto, Los Angeles City Attorney -Support

Barri Worth-Girvan, Los Angeles City Council District 3 - Strong Support

Katy Young Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Council District 5 - Strong Support

Monica Rodriguez, Los Angeles City Council, District 7 - Support

Tim McOsker, Los Angeles City Council District 15 - Strong Support

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>> County of Los Angeles

Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles County Supervisor, 3rd District - Strong Support

Jeff Prang, Los Angeles County Assessor - Strong Support

Robert Luna, Los Angeles County Sheriff - Strong Support

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>> LAUSD - Los Angeles Unified School District

Nick Melvoin, LAUSD Dist. 4 - Strong Support

Kelly Gonez, LAUSD Dist. 6 - Strong Support

• For a few candidates who returned our questionnaire, if our executive board was not able to coalesce around a chosen endorsement level, those candidates can be listed here as neutral
• In a few races two Democratic candidates can make it through the party primary; where each of whom earned our endorsement
• To see our endorsements from prior election cycles - Visit: dfi-la.org/endorsed