Fiona Ma

• Office: Lieutenant Governor
• Election Date: June 2, 2026
• Candidate: Fiona Ma
• Due Date: April 7, 2026
• Printable Version

Thank you for seeking GrowSF's endorsement for the June 2, 2026 primary election! GrowSF believes in a growing, vibrant, healthy, safe, and prosperous city via common sense solutions and effective government.

As a candidate for state office, your day-to-day responsibilities in office will affect not just San Francisco, but California as a whole. As a representative of the people of California and of San Francisco, the policies you bring to Sacramento should reflect the best of what we have to offer.

The GrowSF endorsement committee will review all completed questionnaires and seek consensus on which candidates best align with our vision for San Francisco and have the expertise to enact meaningful policy changes.

We ask that you please complete this questionnaire by April 7, 2026 so we have enough time to adequately review and discuss your answers.

• Your Policy Goals
• Your Leadership
• The Issues
• Personal
• Thank you

Your Policy Goals

We’d like to get some details about your high-level goals and how you intend to use your elected office to achieve them.

What policies do you hope to change or preserve by running for Lieutenant Governor? Please be specific, and list them in order of priority.

The current defining challenges in our state include housing affordability, economic opportunity, access to education, and restoring trust in government.

Housing and everyday costs are crushing working families. We need to expand the supply
of affordable housing, protect renters and homeowners, and utilize state financing tools
to drive down borrowing costs for housing, infrastructure, and community services.
Economic fairness means working people must share in California’s prosperity. I will
work towards advocating for policies and programs that invest in good-paying jobs, especially targeted at the industries of the future.

I will advocate to expand affordable student housing, cut student debt burdens, and
demand that our higher education systems deliver real pathways to stable, well-paying
careers. As Chair of the California Commission for Economic Development, I will forge
strong partnerships between education, labor, and industry to create genuine economic
mobility for working Californians and build up small businesses and regional economies.
Through my role on the State Lands Commission and Ocean Protection Council, I am
committed to responsible land use, climate resilience, and transparent stewardship of
every public asset.

I will also advocate for the creation of a zero-interest revolving loan fund, which would be funded by setting aside 5 percent of the annual revenue generated by the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund. This state fund generates over $250 million per year from a $75 transaction fee on real estate documents. Under existing law, these funds support affordable housing projects, but school districts and our universities currently lack clear access to these resources. I would change that to help school districts and our colleges overcome financial barriers to developing workforce housing.

California’s housing crisis has disproportionately impacted educators, with housing costs far outpacing salaries. In 2016, only 17.4 percent of homes were affordable to the average teacher, and most school employees are considered “housing cost burdened,” spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Meanwhile, school districts and colleges collectively own more than 75,000 acres of land that could be developed for workforce housing. Notably, 40 percent of this land is in areas with high teacher turnover rates, where the loss of educators disrupts student learning and school stability. Employee housing has been shown to be a highly effective strategy for addressing the school staffing crisis and helping address workforce needs across the state.

Across all of these roles, accountability is paramount. I have served as an elected official through some of California's difficult economic periods, including the recessions under Governors Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown. I was a leader who helped steer the State toward fiscal solvency when it mattered the most. I know how to make difficult decisions and protect public resources while keeping government services functioning for the people who most depend on them. I will bring that same tested leadership and fiscal discipline to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Why those policies?

The Lieutenant Governor sits at the intersection of land, education, and economy, and that intersection is where California's future gets built.

California is the Golden State for a reason. It still embodies hope and remains the land of the possible for so many. Whether because we lead the nation in investment in big ideas and breakthrough companies, or because of the many ways we have found to celebrate our diverse strengths and creativity, this is a state where the eldest daughter born to immigrant parents is not only accepted and celebrated but given a clear pathway to thrive and, ultimately, to become the banker for the third-largest economy in the world.

The Lieutenant Governor is the only elected official who sits on all three governing boards: the UC Regents, the CSU Trustees, and the Community College Board of Governors. That singular position creates a rare opportunity to connect education, workforce development, and economic growth in ways no other office can. Focusing on industries of the future and business creation not only fulfills the statutory mission of this office but speaks directly to the intersecting economic and social needs our state faces today.

Solving our housing crisis will require an all-of-the-above approach. There is no single answer. It will take many pathways, many partners, and a genuine willingness to pursue every solution on the table.

Explain why your #1 goal is your #1 goal.

California has so much more room to grow and lead. We have done it before in biotech, entertainment, agriculture, and technology, and we can do it again. But Californians are facing critical challenges that demand an experienced, proven problem solver who can deliver practical solutions, and I am committed to being that person.

Affordability sits at the top of that list, and housing is the defining issue. Too many working families, seniors, and young people are being priced out of the communities they helped build. The Bay Area is one of the most visible examples, but this crisis reaches into every region of the state.

One of the reasons I am so drawn to the role of Lieutenant Governor is what I have learned as State Treasurer. I know firsthand that one of the most powerful factors attracting companies to California is our higher education system. We have more universities and colleges than almost anywhere else in the world, and that is a genuine competitive advantage.

We have to put our full weight behind affordability so that we not only preserve the scale of that system but strengthen its quality. That means building an education and workforce pipeline that is focused on real economic opportunity. It means reducing the burden of student debt. And it means better aligning our colleges and training programs with clear pathways to stable careers, from the building trades to the emerging industries that will define the next decade.

How will you build the coalition and political capital to enact your #1 goal? What obstacles will you face, and how will you overcome them? Will the power of the office of Lieutenant Governor be enough to achieve this goal?

I have never been one to set limiting goals and I know that to achieve this will take a sustained effort, one frankly that I have already embarked on. I know that aligning education with a stable workforce and solving the housing affordability crisis, the Lieutenant Governor of California must navigate a unique blend of ex-officio voting power, chairmanships, and soft-power influence. I have been doing this throughout my career in all my elected offices bringing diverse people together and using all my relationships and skills to solve big problems.

The Lieutenant Governor holds several positions that provide a direct pathway to implementing this vision. As the only official with a vote on the UC Regents, CSU Trustees, and Community College Board of Governors, the Lieutenant Governor can directly influence budget allocations and can push for funding shifts toward vocational training, degrees that we know our State needs to grow or foster industry, and the elimination of administrative bloat to lower tuition.

At the State Lands Commission the Lieutenant Governor manages millions of acres of state land that allows this position to identify parcels that can be repurposed for affordable student and faculty housing, directly addressing the "priced out" crisis for those within the academic system.

As Chair of the California Economic Development Commission the Lieutenant Governor can convene industry leaders from biotech and ag-tech to build "curriculum-to-career" pipelines, ensuring that the quality of education meets the specific technical needs of California’s growing companies.
At the end of the day I envision the Lieutenant Governor as a Strategic Bridge-Builder, a role I have acted in throughout my career. From forming "Education-Industry Coalitions": Rather than fighting the academic bureaucracy alone, the Lieutenant Governor can bring biotech and tech CEOs to the Board meetings to testify about labor shortages. This creates external pressure for campuses to modernize their career pathways. I would utilize the "Bully Pulpit" that the office has as a massive public platform. Using it to name and shame bureaucratic delays in housing approvals or student debt relief can force legislative action.

I am hopeful that by leveraging my background as the Treasurer, that I can lead a task force that links CalHFA (Housing Finance) with the State Lands Commission to create innovative financing for "workforce housing" on state-owned property, bypassing local zoning gridlock. I have several other ideas on how we can modernize these constitutional offices so that they work better together and leverage the full power of our state.

Working with the Senate Pro Tem and serving as the President of the Senate allows the Lieutenant Governor to cast tie-breaking votes and work behind the scenes with the Senate Pro Tem to shepherd through bills that streamline the "pathways to stable careers". I hope to use this role like no other Lieutenant Governor has in the near past to help drive California forward. My experience in the legislature and in local government will also help complement our next Governor’s strengths, as none of the top candidates for Governor currently have worked to move policy in Sacramento.

Will the power of the office of Lieutenant Governor be enough to achieve the other goals?

I do not plan to rely on the power of the office alone. I intend to bring my entire background, my connections, and every experience I have accumulated to get the job done. I have never lost a race for office, and that is not by accident. When I set out to accomplish something, I commit fully and I deliver.

From the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to the California State Assembly, from the Board of Equalization to serving as State Treasurer, every role has deepened my understanding of what California needs and sharpened my ability to produce results. As the next Lieutenant Governor, I will bring that same drive and that same record to work for the communities and the state that have given me and my family so much.

What is an "out there" change that you would make to state or local government policy, if you could? For the purpose of this question, you are not constrained to the office of Lieutenant Governor.

I have recently announced two bold structural reforms, and I am proud to be the first candidate in this race to do so.

First, I have announced a plan to abolish the California State Board of Equalization (BOE). This is a direct challenge to the political establishment, and an overdue one. The BOE was founded in 1879, and for generations it served as a powerful, if often obscure, institution at the center of California's tax administration system. Having served as an elected BOE member from 2015 to 2019, including as its Chair and Vice Chair, I know this institution very well. I also helped implement the reforms that Governor Brown enacted in 2017, which stripped the Board of the bulk of its administrative responsibilities and transferred them to two newly created agencies: the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and the Office of Tax Appeals.

The result is that today's BOE members are left in a largely ceremonial, administrative role, one that could be performed by professional, nonpartisan state employees. What remains is essentially a constitutionally protected set of elected positions that consume taxpayer resources while delivering diminishing public value. Proposing to eliminate an entire elected body is not a modest suggestion. It is a direct challenge to the political establishment and the dozens of high-level patronage positions that come with it. But it is the right call for California taxpayers.

Second, I have proposed "Same-Ticket Reform," a constitutional amendment that would require the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to run together on a joint ticket, as the President and Vice President do at the federal level. Under California's current system, particularly with the Top Two primary, it is entirely possible for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to come from different political parties, creating what amounts to a forced marriage between two officials who may hold fundamentally opposing agendas. According to the National Lieutenant Governors Association, 26 states already elect these two offices on a joint ticket. California should join them. Aligning these offices from the outset ensures genuine collaboration, a coherent governing agenda, and a smooth transition of power should the Governor leave office.

Both reforms would require amending the California Constitution, and I am committed to working with the Legislature to introduce the necessary legislation during the 2027–28 legislative session.

Your Leadership

We’d like to learn more about your leadership style and plan to execute effectively once you assume office.

Why are you running for Lieutenant Governor?

Running for Lieutenant Governor, and my entire trajectory in public service has been a personal calling for me. I am the eldest daughter of immigrant parents who came to this country with little, but built a life through hard work, resilience, and a belief in the promise of opportunity. That belief drives how I lead and what I fight for every day.
I have spent nearly three decades as a proven problem solver delivering results for California, from serving in the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to the CA State Assembly, the Board of Equalization, and now as the CA State Treasurer, where I manage the finances of the fourth-largest economy in the world. I have authored legislation, reformed broken agencies, financed affordable housing, expanded clean energy projects, and maintained California's credit rating through lean budget years and deep fiscal uncertainty.

I am running because California needs someone ready to serve on day one, and no one in this race brings better preparation for that responsibility than me. I also see the Lieutenant Governor's role as a platform with real power to shape higher education, economic development, land use, and the overall well-being of all Californians.
Federal cuts to our funding and difficult obstacles ahead are not abstract. They are very real. California needs a fighter who knows the budget, knows the boards, can build coalitions, and knows how to deliver results.

In your own words, what are the core constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor?

The constitutional foundation of the Lieutenant Governor encompasses readiness to govern. The moment the Governor leaves California, full executive power automatically and immediately transfers to the Lieutenant Governor, including the authority to sign or veto legislation and make appointments. I am the only candidate in this race who has served six years in the State Assembly, and that legislative experience means I have a deeper understanding of the legislative process and governance.

The Lieutenant Governor also casts the deciding vote in a State Senate tie. The current super Democratic majority makes a tie-breaking scenario unlikely, but controversial bills on public safety, utility accountability, and housing in recent years have stalled when members quietly decline to vote, and a single absence on the full Senate floor can create that scenario. Consequently, instead of literally casting a tie-breaking vote, I see my role as Lieutenant Governor as more of using the position to ensure that certain important legislation is not left to stall or die. To execute this, it is critical to understand the players, the process, and the politics in that chamber and in the legislature. I can say for certain that I do.

The Lieutenant Governor has the unique responsibility in higher education that no other statewide elected official holds, which is the ability to have a voting seat across all three public university systems and the community colleges. These are not advisory seats, they are real votes that directly impact tuition, student housing, enrollment, and budgets. I already know these systems from the inside. As Treasurer, I have financed student housing projects at UC and CSU campuses, worked directly with university leadership on affordability challenges, and seen firsthand where the gaps are and what it actually takes to close them. I have also built deep, lasting relationships with the people who have shaped these institutions such as UC Regent Emeritus John Pérez, one of the most respected voices on higher education in California, who has endorsed me. My relationship with UC Regent Emeritus Perez goes back decades. He appointed me as the first Asian American woman to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore when he served as Assembly Speaker. I appreciate that someone with his experience and his deep commitment to higher education access stands behind this campaign, because he understands the importance of what these boards can accomplish and that he believes I am the right person who is fully prepared and ready to deliver.

Lastly, the Lieutenant Governor chairs the State Lands Commission, which oversees millions of acres of state-owned land, offshore resources, and navigable waterways, and chairs the Commission for Economic Development, which drives investment, job creation, and industry growth statewide. These are areas where my record as Treasurer has had direct outcomes. I have managed hundreds of billions in state investments, maintained California's credit ratings, and financed infrastructure, clean energy, and affordable housing projects across the entire state. I helped grow California from the seventh to the fourth-largest economy in the world. The tools the Lieutenant Governor holds on economic development and land stewardship are tools I already know how to use. Together, these responsibilities touch education, the economy, natural resources, and the line of succession to the governorship. That is a serious job, and I have spent nearly three decades preparing for exactly this moment.

What makes you uniquely qualified for this position?

My preparation for this office is not theoretical. I have a proven track record. I have either directly performed or prepared for throughout my career every responsibility that the role of Lieutenant Governor requires.

As State Treasurer, I chair the Tax Credit Allocation Committee and serve on the California Housing Finance Agency board, where I have financed student housing projects at UC and CSU campuses across the state. I have worked directly with university and college leadership on affordability and capital financing challenges, and I have seen firsthand where the gaps are and what it takes to close them. That practical knowledge transfers directly into the boards the Lieutenant Governor serves on.

I also bring something no other candidate in this race can claim, a track record across five different areas of government. I served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I served in the State Assembly, where I authored 60 bills that were signed into law. I led major reforms at the Board of Equalization after initiating three outside audits that exposed years of mismanagement. And as Treasurer, I have managed hundreds of billions in state investments and overseen more than $65 billion in bond financing for schools, hospitals, roads, and housing.

These roles are not ceremonial titles, they are public service roles that I have been elected into that require and have built a set of skills that transfer directly to the position of Lieutenant Governor.

My breadth of experience is why I have earned the confidence of major stakeholders from every corner of California, from statewide elected officials and labor leaders to grassroots community organizations. My coalition of support includes more than 75 percent of the current State Legislature and over 500 local leaders across all 58 counties. This kind of support comes from decades of showing up, doing the work, and following through.

Federal pressure on California is not going away. The state needs a Lieutenant Governor who understands the budget, who knows how to protect funding streams, and who is ready to step into the Governor's role if necessary. I have managed California's finances through two recessions under two different Governors. I know how to make hard decisions while protecting what matters most. California does not need someone learning on the job right now. It needs someone who is already ready.

What three measurable outcomes should Californians use to evaluate your success after your first two years in office?

The Lieutenant Governor's effectiveness is shaped in large part by the priorities of the sitting Governor. I will be a collaborative partner in advancing a shared agenda for California, and I will also bring my own record of results to the table.

With that in mind, I would ask Californians to hold me accountable to three measurable outcomes after my first two years in office.

First, has California made tangible progress on housing? I will work to advance housing production across several areas, with a specific focus on workforce housing. That means expanding the number of school districts and colleges that have broken ground on employee housing using the financing tools I am championing.

Second, has California's economic development strategy produced real results for working people? I will go deep on new job placements in emerging industries and track measurable growth in small business formation in underserved regions. These are not aspirational targets. They are commitments.

Third, have I delivered structural reforms that make government more accountable and transparent? I am committed to making real progress on Same-Ticket Reform and Board of Equalization abolition legislation. I will work through the Legislature and, where necessary, directly to the voters to get it done.

These three areas represent the clearest test of whether I have used this office well. I welcome that accountability because I intend to deliver.

The Issues

Next, we will cover the issues that voters tell us they care about. We hope to gain a better understanding of your policy positions, and we hope that you use this opportunity to communicate with voters.

UC and CSU face rising costs, enrollment pressures, workforce needs, campus safety issues, and public trust challenges. As a voting member of the UC Regents and CSU Trustees, what measurable goals would you set for California’s higher-education system over your term (e.g., time-to-degree, cost of attendance, transfer throughput, workforce alignment)? What specific actions will you take within board governance to achieve those goals?

Higher education and access to education in general is deeply personal to me. My father was a college professor and my mother was a public school art teacher. Education was the pathway that allowed my immigrant family to build a life in America, and I have carried that with me through every position I have held.

As a voting member of both the UC Regents and the CSU Trustees, I will bring that same sense of urgency and personal commitment to governing our higher education systems. These boards have real authority, and I intend to use it.

As State Treasurer, I expanded college savings through the CalKIDS program and financed affordable student housing using the state's bonding authority. As Lieutenant Governor, I will scale those efforts, bringing the same financial tools and fiscal discipline to bear within the governance structures of our public universities and higher education system.

Affordability and access are the most pressing challenges facing our universities today. Too many students earn admission but cannot afford to stay enrolled. Within board governance, I will direct audits and institutional reports that take a rigorous, line-by-line look at the full cost of attendance, including housing, food, transportation, and childcare. The goal is not just transparency but actionable reform. I will push for measurable reductions in non-tuition costs and oppose fee increases that are not accompanied by commensurate expansions in need-based aid.

On time-to-degree, I will advocate for board-level accountability metrics that track four-year and two-year graduation rates by income level, first-generation status, and transfer pathway. Completion rates must improve, particularly for students from underserved communities. Access without completion is not equity, and I will fight to deliver both.

On transfer throughput, I will use my seat on these boards to strengthen and expand transfer pathways from California's community colleges into UC and CSU campuses. Community colleges are the pathway to access to higher education for millions of working families, and we cannot afford a system where transfer students face unnecessary barriers, unit loss, or admission uncertainty.

Workforce development is very important. I will advocate for regular curriculum reviews tied to California's emerging industries, including clean energy, technology, and healthcare, so that students graduate into sustainable careers rather than into debt with no clear pathway forward. I will strengthen direct partnerships between our UC and CSU campuses to emerging industries to ensure our degrees translate into real economic opportunity.

California faces concerns about business flight, regulatory complexity, housing costs, and global competitiveness. How would you use the office’s role in economic development and international trade to strengthen California’s competitiveness? Please identify one specific economic indicator (e.g., job growth in key industries, export volume, foreign direct investment) that you would track and aim to improve.

I have spent years on the front lines of California's economic competitiveness through my elected positions in public service, but also in my capacity in leadership at the grassroots level with the Asian Business Association. As Treasurer, I co-chaired the "Future Starts in California" event during the 2023 APEC Summit, showcasing the Bay Area's strategic importance to international partners, particularly Japan and the broader Pacific Rim. I have collaborated with the World Trade Center Los Angeles and CalChamber to publish and promote California's annual Foreign Direct Investment Report, which tracks how international capital translates into jobs and wages for working Californians. I also have hosted hearings on the real-world consequences of federal tariffs on California industries, making clear that trade barriers function as a direct tax on our residents and a threat to our agricultural exports.

As Lieutenant Governor, I will build on that record. I will use the office's role for international trade to deepen partnerships with our top investment sources, including the United Kingdom, Japan, and other emerging markets in industries such as clean energy and aerospace. I will champion public-private partnerships to attract foreign capital for infrastructure, drawing on my experience overseeing a $150 billion investment portfolio. It is my goal to improve FDI-supported job creation, with a focus on growing employment in green energy, aerospace, and technology.

The Lieutenant Governor must assume executive authority when the Governor is out of state and help coordinate during emergencies. How would you prepare for moments when you must act as Governor? Please describe one example from your experience demonstrating your ability to make time-critical, high-stakes decisions under uncertainty.

I am best prepared for moments when I must act as Governor because I am the only candidate in this race who has been elected by the people to serve all of California. I have been elected twice as State Treasurer and led through some of the most challenging periods in our state’s modern history, including the COVID-19 pandemic. In this role, I oversee trillions of dollars in state assets and financing tools, which requires constant readiness to make high-stakes decisions under pressure.

I am also the only candidate with legislative experience, having served in the Assembly, where I worked closely with leadership—including the Speaker Pro Tempore—to evaluate complex proposals and build consensus across state government. That experience has prepared me to navigate both the policy and political dimensions of leadership in real time.

During the pandemic, decisions had to be made with incomplete information, shifting federal guidance, and unprecedented economic disruption. My approach was grounded in data, informed by experts, and focused on acting decisively but responsibly—always with the goal of protecting Californians’ financial stability.

The Lieutenant Governor plays an informal but important role convening local, state, and federal stakeholders on issues such as housing, drought, wildfires, and infrastructure. Choose one issue that requires state–regional coordination (e.g., housing production, drought resilience, port modernization & automation). What concrete steps would you take to convene stakeholders, identify bottlenecks, and produce measurable progress?

While serving as Lieutenant Governor, I recognize the importance of bringing stakeholders together to discuss legislation, challenges, and opportunities—an essential aspect of statewide leadership. As State Treasurer, I believe my duty extends beyond the desk to engaging with communities across all 58 counties, listening to people on the ground. Being the only statewide elected official in this race gives me a unique perspective on this challenge, and I believe that my success in community engagement is why I am the only candidate with support from over 500 local officials, including school board members, mayors, and county supervisors.

Regarding the role of Lieutenant Governor, I am committed to investing in ports and goods movement infrastructure. Each port has its own complexities that must be understood. While ports handle imports and exports, their distinct characteristics are often overlooked.

California's maritime gateways are diverse. The San Pedro Port Complex, including the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, is North America's top container hub, handling tens of millions of units annually and supplying goods across every congressional district. The Port of San Diego offers specialized infrastructure for refrigerated and break-bulk cargo, and the Port of Hueneme is a leader in automotive transport. These examples illustrate the unique roles of California’s 12 ports.

I plan to collaborate with the Senate and Assembly Select Committees on Ports and Goods Movement to develop legislation supporting our growth and dominance in goods movement. As California positions itself as a global leader in trade and economic development, having a statewide leader coordinating with our ports will be advantageous.

The Lieutenant Governor serves on the Commission for Economic Development and is often a public-facing ambassador for civic participation and governance. How would you use the platform of the office to strengthen voter trust, civic engagement, and transparency?

Transparency is something every Californian deserves, and I take it seriously. But transparency is a practice, and it has to be embedded in an office's culture from day one.

When I became Treasurer, one of my first priorities was making our data more accessible. I quickly learned that access is about more than just posting numbers online. It means explaining what those numbers mean in clear, plain language, in multiple languages, and in ways that connect to people's daily lives. Access must be substantive, not merely symbolic. That same standard will define my approach as Lieutenant Governor.

Most Californians do not know how this office affects them. That is on us. The Lieutenant Governor's office touches higher education, land use, economic development, and coastal access. I intend to leave the Sacramento bubble and show up in every community, both rural and urban, across all 58 counties, so people understand in real terms how the decisions made in those boardrooms affect their families. Good governance is not designed in Sacramento and handed down. It is built from the ground up, through listening, through trust, and through being present long before there is an election to win.

I will hold regular community listening sessions in underrepresented areas, use social media, town halls, and partnerships with local organizations to bring real visibility to a role that has too often operated in the background. My office will include staff who reflect the diversity of California, not just symbolically, but in language capacity and lived experience.

When I take action on a board or cast a vote, people should know in real time. Accountability builds trust. And trust is how we move California forward together.

The Lieutenant Governor sits on the California State Lands Commission, which oversees offshore leasing, coastal infrastructure, and key decisions that affect the development of renewable energy projects. Please identify one specific project or investment area you would champion, and the measurable outcome you would aim to achieve by 2028.

California has spent years planning for offshore wind development this future, and I intend to continue to push for development on this goal. As State Treasurer, I sponsored Senate Bill 769 to create more flexible infrastructure lending tools specifically designed to finance large-scale projects like offshore wind. That legislation reflects my conviction that California cannot wait for federal permission to build the clean energy economy that our residents and our climate demand.

As a member of the California State Lands Commission, I will champion the buildout of California's first commercial-scale offshore wind hub. Through the Commission, I will drive leasing approvals, port upgrades, and transmission coordination for projects off Morro Bay and Humboldt County. I will direct the large component pieces to be manufactured and assembled at the Port of Long Beach and barged up the coast, transforming Southern California's existing port infrastructure into a launchpad for clean energy development statewide.

My short term goal is to have offshore wind under active construction, at least two fully upgraded ports, and over 10,000 union jobs created—putting California on a clear path to power up millions of homes with clean energy.

What do you believe is the most important long-term challenge California must solve over the next decade, and how will your role as Lieutenant Governor contribute to that vision? Please describe both the problem and the measurable progress you would aim to make during your term.

One of the most important long-term challenges California must solve is the urgent need for structural reform to our initiative process. Currently, at both the local and state levels, the thresholds for placing measures on the ballot are fundamentally imbalanced; they do not sufficiently account for population growth or the massive economic and community impacts these measures can have once enacted. Furthermore, the rigid lack of flexibility during the implementation phase often leads to unintended consequences and bureaucratic stalemates that remain frozen in the state constitution or local charters for decades without a clear path for technical correction.

To address this, I will partner closely with the Governor and the Legislature to create a more responsive framework. By using the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC), we can identify areas where ballot measures have caused fiscal or operational friction. This collaboration will drive the development of targeted legislative and administrative fixes that can be enacted to streamline governance. My goal is to champion a modernized process that preserves the public's fundamental right to direct democracy while ensuring that new mandates are vetted for their long-term impact on the state budget, administrative efficiency, and public transparency. By introducing a mechanism for post-election review and adjustment, we can minimize negative fiscal surprises and ensure that the will of the voters is implemented in an effective and sustainable way for California's future.

Personal

Tell us a bit about yourself!

How long have you lived in California? What brought you here and what keeps you here?

I have lived in California and called this state home for nearly my entire adult life.

I was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island as the eldest child of hardworking Chinese immigrant parents. We moved to San Francisco in 1985, because my family saw it as a place where an immigrant family could put down real roots and loved the diversity and entrepreneurial spirit of the city.

What keeps me here is harder to summarize, because there are so many variables, but it comes down to this indescribable feeling: I have never found anywhere else in the world that I would rather be doing this work. I started my public service career right here in San Francisco in 1994, and every office I have held, every coalition I have built, every bill I have authored, has been in service to the people of this state. There is nothing else I want to do. I love California and I want to continue to represent this state and serve for as long as the people continue to vote for me.

California gave my family an opportunity to build a life. Staying here and fighting to make it work for everyone else and every family is the least I can do in return.

What do you love most about California and/or your hometown?

California is called the Golden State for a reason. People come here from every corner of this country and all over the world carrying impossible dreams. That is the real foundation of this place, and you feel it throughout the entire state.

Think about why California is the birthplace of so many things and so many movers and shakers. Technology was born here, the entertainment industry was formed here and has anchored itself here. This is the state where someone with nothing but an idea and a garage becomes the next company that changes how the world works. It is the state where a kid with a camera reaches millions of people with an inspiring story. I am a proud SAG-AFTRA member, and I have seen up close what the entertainment industry means to California, not just economically, but culturally. Actors, costume designers, musicians, writers, set builders from every background and every walk of life move here to make film and television shows that resonate far beyond our borders. They come here because of what this place is and what we represent.

San Francisco made me who I am. It is the place where I walked away from a firm where there were no women or people of color in leadership and decided to build something of my own. It is where I became president of the Asian Business Association and first learned what it meant to show up at City Hall and fight for my community and other people who were not being heard. It is where everything started for me in my true life calling for public service.

I have been to all 58 counties in this state, from the coast to the Central Valley to the high desert to the mountains, and it still gets me every time. California does not just give people permission to dream big. It gives them a real shot at making those dreams happen. There is nowhere else like California, and I am committed to keeping it that way for the next generation.

What do you dislike the most about California and/or your hometown?

What drives me every day and what I find troubling is that more and more, there is a widening gap between what California promises and what too many people actually experience here.

I believe in this state completely. But I also know in my everyday experiences with various communities throughout the state, that the California dream my family came here for is genuinely out of reach for too many people right now. That is something I cannot be at peace with and I am committed to finding solutions. The cost of housing is the most glaring example. My parents, like many families in their day, were able to buy a home in a neighborhood with good schools. That path is simply not available the way it once was, and that is a failure we have to own and address.

San Francisco, the city I love, is also a city in particular, where I have watched the affordability crisis push out working families, young people, and small business owners who gave the city its character. I find that genuinely painful. We have the tools, the resources, and the talent to fix this. What we have sometimes lacked is the political will and coalitions to make the hard decisions.

The other thing that concerns me deeply is the growing sense among some Californians that the government is not paying attention to them, particularly in communities that are not in major coastal cities. People in the Central Valley and the Inland Empire and rural counties deserve the same level of investment and engagement as anyone else. Closing that gap is one of the reasons I am running and I am committed to those communities to show up just as ardently as I am for the coastal cities and all other areas as well.

Tell us about your current involvement in the community (e.g., volunteer groups, neighborhood associations, civic and professional organizations, etc.)

Throughout my career in public service, I have built deep roots across California’s civic, cultural, and professional communities. My involvement spans a wide range of organizations and reflects my commitment to equity and economic opportunity for all Californians.

My civic engagement began after I left a Big 8 accounting firm and started my own CPA practice at age 28. Soon after, I was drafted to serve as President of the Asian Business Association and was elected as a delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business under President Bill Clinton. I was also appointed as an alternate member of the San Francisco Assessment Appeals Board, where I heard both residential and commercial property tax cases. That same year, I began working part-time as a field representative for State Senator John Burton. I also founded the Westside Chinese Democratic Club and served as a founding board member and treasurer of the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee. During this time, I served on the boards of Goodwill San Francisco and the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center.

I was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where I served from 2002 to 2006. During my tenure, I advocated for issues including combating human trafficking and restructuring our MWBE laws following Proposition 209. I also convened an 18-month stakeholder working group to explore replacing the payroll tax. Although those initial efforts were unsuccessful, they helped lay the groundwork for reforms later enacted under Mayor Ed Lee and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu which contributed to the growth of the tech sector in San Francisco.

In the State Assembly, I had more than 60 bills signed into law under two governors—many of which were achieved without additional state costs. One of my earliest and most challenging bills established a first-in-the-nation ban on toxic phthalates in baby products. This effort later informed federal consumer protection legislation championed by Senator Dianne Feinstein.

While serving in the Assembly, I was also a member of the Agriculture Committee. California produces over 400 agricultural commodities, and in the wake of COVID-19 and global disruptions such as the war in Ukraine, I recently co-founded the San Francisco Farm Bureau to raise awareness about the importance and challenges of food production in our state, and to better connect consumers with farmers and ranchers.

As the granddaughter of a Presbyterian minister—and an elder myself—I have long been engaged with faith-based communities across California. I regularly attend churches, temples, synagogues, and other houses of worship to better understand the values and needs of the communities I serve. I believe that listening and showing up in these spaces is essential to truly representative leadership.

I am proud to be recognized by and actively engaged with diverse community organizations, including the Asian Americans for Good Government PAC, the Chinese American Democratic Club, the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, and United Chinese American Action—all reflecting my longstanding ties to the AAPI community.

I have also cultivated strong relationships with Armenian American communities, serving as a founding advisor to the Southern California Armenian Democrats and engaging with the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region. Additionally, I have built connections with South Asian communities through Americans4Hindus PAC and the Pakistan American Chamber of Commerce.

In advancing women’s leadership and LGBTQ+ equality, I was proud to co-found the San Francisco Women’s Political Committee. I am also a member of the National Women’s Political Caucus – California, the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, Equality California and the Stonewall Young Democrats.

My business and economic community ties include the West LA Chamber of Commerce, the Asian Business Association – San Diego, the California Metals Coalition, and California YIMBY, reflecting my continued focus on job creation and housing.

I am also active in local Democratic clubs from San Francisco to San Diego, including the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club and the Edwin M. Lee Democratic Club, among many others. I am especially proud of my longstanding relationship with Crime Victims United, an organization dedicated to giving voice to those impacted by crime and ensuring their concerns are heard at every level of government. Supporting victims and their families has always been a priority, and I remain committed to staying connected to grassroots communities across California.

Thank you

Thank you for giving us your time and answering our questionnaire. We look forward to reading your answers and considering your candidacy!