Matt Haney

• Office: State Assemblymember, District 17
• Election Date: June 2, 2026
• Candidate: Matt Haney
• Due Date: April 2, 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 2, 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 State Assemblymember, District 17? Please be specific, and list them in order of priority.

1. Build more housing and ensure our laws actually deliver results.

California must meet its goal of building 2.5 million homes by 2030. Too many people are living in insecure housing, and our homelessness crisis is unacceptable. We need to dramatically increase housing production while holding ourselves accountable for outcomes. I've led efforts in the Legislature to evaluate whether our housing laws are actually producing units—not just passing policy, but delivering results. I will continue working to preserve and strengthen laws like AB 2011, SB 423, AB 507, and SB 79, while making targeted improvements to ensure they translate into real, on-the-ground housing production.

2. Expand access to treatment and recovery to address homelessness and addiction.

San Francisco has been deeply impacted by the overlapping crises of addiction, mental illness, and homelessness. I want to ensure that every Californian can access the care they need to get off the streets and into stable housing or treatment. That means expanding access to proven treatments like methadone and buprenorphine, increasing availability of life-saving tools like naloxone, and advancing policies that support long-term recovery. I am currently working on legislation to guarantee access to drug-free recovery housing, because breaking the cycle of addiction and homelessness requires real pathways to stability.

3. Revitalize downtowns and support small businesses, arts, and nightlife.

Vibrant downtowns are critical to our economic recovery. I founded the state's first Committee on Downtown Recovery to bring focus to the challenges facing urban cores, from public safety, to economic development, to arts and culture. I will continue advancing policies that make it easier for small businesses, artists, and cultural institutions to thrive. That includes modernizing outdated restrictions on nightlife—such as allowing cities the option to extend hours past 2 a.m. and cracking down on ticket scalping and bots that make live entertainment inaccessible. Our downtowns should be places where people want to live, work, and spend time.

Why those policies?

These priorities reflect the most urgent, interconnected challenges facing San Francisco and California, where state policy can have the greatest impact.

Housing is foundational. Without enough homes, everything else becomes more expensive and less stable: people are pushed into longer commutes, overcrowded conditions, or homelessness, and businesses struggle to attract and retain workers. We've made real progress passing pro-housing laws, but the gap between policy and actual production remains too wide. That's why I've focused not just on passing legislation, but on holding government accountable for results, and making it easier for people, not just institutions, to actually build and access housing.

At the same time, we cannot address homelessness without addressing addiction and mental health. Too many people are cycling between the streets, emergency rooms, and the criminal justice system without access to consistent, effective treatment. Expanding access to proven medical care and recovery options is critical to breaking that cycle so people can take back control of their lives and access real pathways to stability.

Finally, downtown recovery is essential to the broader health of our cities and our state budget. Downtowns are economic engines – when they struggle, it impacts small businesses, public safety, and tax revenue that funds essential services. Revitalizing these areas means creating the conditions for people to invest, open businesses, and bring energy back into our communities without being held back by unnecessary barriers or outdated rules.

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

Housing accessibility and stability are fundamental to social mobility, enabling residents to build a better life for themselves, their families, and future generations. Having grown up frequently moving across the Bay Area with a single mother, I personally understand the profound importance of having a secure place to call home.

The current situation is unacceptable: over 40% of Californians experience housing instability, and one in five households spends more than half of their income on rent. We must address this crisis by simultaneously strengthening protections for tenants and streamlining the process of constructing new, high-quality housing to make it easier and more affordable. California has the power to make the most impact on its residents' social and economic growth through housing policy.

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 State Assemblymember, District 17 be enough to achieve this goal?

Building enough housing to meaningfully address our affordability and homelessness crises will require broad, durable coalitions, and a willingness to take on the status quo.

I've consistently worked across the aisle and within my caucus to build support for policies that deliver results. My approach is to focus on solutions that are both impactful and broadly supported. No policy will ever have unanimous agreement, but I prioritize proposals that improve affordability and quality of life for the greatest number of people.

There are real obstacles. Efforts to build more housing often run into entrenched opposition such as NIMBYism, outdated regulations, and a system that makes it easier to delay than to deliver. Some stakeholders benefit from that status quo. Overcoming that means building public support and holding systems accountable, including our own policies here in California – when they fail to produce results.

The role of a State Assemblymember is critical, but it's not enough on its own. The state sets the framework, but cities and counties are responsible for implementation. Success requires close coordination with local governments, as well as a commitment to transparency and accountability at every level.

Will the power of the office of State Assemblymember, District 17 be enough to achieve the other goals?

The office of State Assemblymember is a powerful platform but it's most effective when it's used to drive alignment across different levels of government and stakeholders.

On issues like housing, homelessness, and economic recovery, the state plays a critical role in setting policy, allocating funding, and establishing accountability. We can remove barriers, create incentives, and set clear expectations. But real success depends on coordination and implementation at the local level by cities, counties, and agencies.

That's why I approach this work as both a legislator and a partner. I work closely with local governments, service providers, and community stakeholders to ensure state policies are not only well-designed, but actually workable in practice.

Building coalitions is also key. Whether it's advancing housing, improving transit, or supporting small businesses, progress requires bringing together labor, business, advocates, and community leaders around shared goals.

So while the office alone isn't sufficient to achieve these goals, it is a critical role. When used effectively to pass strong policies, secure funding, build coalitions, and enforce accountability, it can drive meaningful, measurable progress across all of these priorities.

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 State Assemblymember, District 17.

If I could make one "out there" change, I would create designated downtown "opportunity zones" across California – places where we fully align housing, economic, and public safety policy to rebuild vibrant, 24/7 neighborhoods.

Within these zones, we would dramatically streamline housing approvals and move to by-right permitting for projects that meet clear standards, while also upzoning to allow significantly more height and density. The goal would be to bring thousands of new residents into our downtown cores, alongside active ground-floor retail, arts, and cultural spaces.

This would be paired with major investments in safe, clean, and reliable public transit so people can easily access these areas without relying on cars. At the same time, we would offer targeted grants, tax incentives, and technical assistance to help small businesses open and stay open, especially local and independent operators that give neighborhoods their character.

The idea is to stop treating housing, economic development, and public safety as separate challenges, and instead take a comprehensive approach to revitalization. If we get this right, downtowns can become the most sustainable, dynamic, and economically productive parts of our cities, and places where people want to live, work, and spend time.

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 State Assemblymember, District 17?

Over the past four years as your Assemblymember, I have focused on delivering real, measurable results for San Francisco on the issues that matter most including housing, public safety, economic recovery, and the cost of living.

I have been proud to serve in leadership as Majority Whip of the California State Assembly, Chair of the Assembly Housing Committee, and Chair of the Select Committee on Downtown Recovery. I also founded the first ever California Legislative Renters' Caucus. In these roles, I have worked to cut red tape to build more housing faster, revitalize our downtown by converting vacant offices into homes, and support small businesses and workers as our city recovers.

My approach is simple: bring people together, focus on solutions, and get things done. That is how we have expanded access to healthcare and addiction treatment, required overdose reversal drugs in first aid kits, and passed laws to lower housing costs and hold corporate actors accountable.

This work builds on over 15 years of service to San Francisco as a Supervisor and Budget Chair, President of the Board of Education, Executive Director of the UC Student Association, co founder of #cut50, and a tenant rights attorney. Across every role, I have focused on making government more effective, responsive, and accountable.

We have made progress, but there is more to do. San Franciscans want a city that is safer, more affordable, and easier to live in, and a government that delivers results. I am running to continue building more housing, strengthening our schools and public transportation, supporting economic recovery.

In your own words, what are the core constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the State Assemblymember, District 17?

At its core, the job of a State Assemblymember is to represent the people of the district by delivering real solutions to the challenges they face every day and making sure state government is working for them.

That means writing and passing laws that directly address issues like housing affordability, public safety, addiction and mental health, economic recovery, and the cost of living. It also means cutting through bureaucracy and red tape so those laws actually translate into results on the ground, whether that is building more housing, expanding access to care, or helping people get back on their feet.

A key responsibility is shaping the state budget by making sure resources are going where they are needed most, including funding for schools, public transportation, healthcare, and programs that address homelessness and support working families. Just as important is holding state agencies accountable to ensure those investments are being used effectively and delivering outcomes.

The role also requires strong constituent service, helping people navigate state systems, access benefits, and solve problems when the government is not working the way it should.

Ultimately, being an Assemblymember means being both a legislator and an advocate. It is about listening to the community, bringing people together to get things done, and making sure the policies we pass actually improve people's lives and strengthen our neighborhoods.

What makes you uniquely qualified for this position?

I've spent my entire career in public service, and at every step I've focused on listening to people, solving problems, and delivering real results. I don't just talk about solutions, I pass legislation, get bills signed, and push forward bold ideas that make a difference in people's daily lives.

What makes me unique is the breadth of my experience, from tenant rights attorney to Supervisor and Budget Chair, President of the Board of Education, and statewide leader, and my proven ability to turn ideas into action. I know how to make government work, and I'm committed to continuing to deliver results for San Francisco.

I'm also committed to working with everyone to move our city forward, from labor and small businesses to entrepreneurs and major employers. We need a government that partners with the private sector, supports job creation, and fosters innovation while protecting workers and maintaining strong standards. I believe we can grow our economy, revitalize downtown, and make San Francisco more competitive by bringing people together and focusing on practical, balanced solutions.

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

Californians should be able to judge my performance based on clear, measurable results that reflect strong statewide leadership and real improvements in people's lives.

First, whether we are building more housing across California, faster and at scale. That means reducing statewide permitting delays, increasing housing production targets, and advancing policies that make it easier to build near jobs and transit, including converting underused commercial properties into housing.

Second, whether California's economy is growing and staying competitive nationally and globally. We should see job growth, small business expansion, and increased investment across regions of the state. That includes strengthening our innovation economy and technology sector, while supporting long-term, broad-based economic growth that creates more opportunities across industries and expands pathways to good-paying jobs for working people throughout California.

Third, whether state government is delivering effective, accountable results. That means expanding access to healthcare and behavioral health services statewide, improving public safety outcomes, and ensuring that laws passed in Sacramento are implemented efficiently by state agencies and deliver measurable impact in communities across California.

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.

California remains short millions of homes. What specific state-level reforms or investments would you champion to increase housing production at all income levels? Please name one regulatory barrier you would remove and one measurable target you would set.

Addressing the gap of millions of homes requires sustained, state-level action to both remove barriers and invest in production at all income levels. As Chair of the Assembly Housing & Community Development Committee, I've focused on advancing policies that cut red tape, expand funding, and ensure our laws actually result in housing being built – and I will continue that work.

First, I support ending exclusionary zoning practices and making it easier to build both rental and for-sale housing in high-opportunity, transit-rich areas. Second, we need to accelerate office-to-housing and mixed-use conversions to bring underutilized buildings and vacant lots back into productive use, especially in downtowns. Third, we must continue to expand funding tools, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, affordable homeownership programs, homelessness housing, and statewide housing bonds to support development across income levels.

One specific regulatory barrier I would remove is the misuse of discretionary review and environmental processes to delay compliant infill housing. While environmental protections are essential, these processes are too often used to block projects that already meet local and state standards. We should move toward a more predictable, by-right approval system with clear, objective criteria and enforceable timelines.

A measurable target I would set is reducing average housing permitting timelines by at least 50% statewide, while helping San Francisco build at least 100,000 new homes. That level of production is necessary to meaningfully improve affordability and stabilize our housing market.

CEQA is often used to block infill housing, shelters, and transit. What reforms would you support to reduce CEQA abuse while preserving environmental protections? Which types of projects should be streamlined, and how would you design those exemptions?

CEQA can play an important role in protecting our environment, but it is too often misused to delay or block projects that are actually aligned with our climate and housing goals. We need to refocus CEQA on what it was intended to do: protect against real environmental harm while preventing abuse that stops needed housing, shelters, and transit.

Infill housing in downtowns and urban areas is inherently environmentally beneficial. When people live closer to jobs, transit, and services, it reduces vehicle miles traveled (VMT), lowers emissions, and limits sprawl into undeveloped land. In that sense, building dense housing in the right places is itself an environmental protection – and our policies should reflect that.

I support streamlining CEQA for projects that meet clear, objective criteria: infill housing in transit-rich and job-rich areas, shelters and supportive housing, and transit and active transportation infrastructure. For these projects, approvals should be by-right with strict timelines and limited grounds for legal challenge if they comply with environmental and zoning standards.

At the same time, we should maintain strong CEQA review for projects that do not provide housing, pose significant environmental risks, and further perpetuate environmental racism. The goal is not to weaken protections, but to make the process more predictable, targeted, and aligned with our climate and housing priorities.

California must coordinate multi-level enforcement and treatment when combatting fentanyl. What state-level policies would you introduce to reduce fentanyl deaths and trafficking? How would you strengthen the ability of police, DA's, and courts to address repeat and organized offenders?

California's fentanyl crisis demands a coordinated response that combines strong enforcement with real investment in treatment and prevention.

This balanced approach is what works. Strong enforcement to disrupt trafficking networks and hold repeat offenders accountable, paired with real investment in treatment and behavioral health so people can recover. That is how we reduce fentanyl deaths and build safer, healthier communities across California.

At the state level, I would expand access to evidence-based care, including detox, long-term recovery, and medically assisted treatment, while holding providers accountable for outcomes. Too often, people are ready to get help but cannot access it in time. I've already delivered legislation to expand treatment and improve accountability, and I will continue that work as former Chair of the Select Committee on Fentanyl, Overdose Prevention and Opioid Addiction. We need a system that meets people where they are and gets them into care quickly.

Public safety also depends on a fully staffed and well-supported police force. Officers need the resources to respond quickly and investigate complex cases. But we also need to be smarter about how we deploy those resources. Expanding community policing alternatives, including social workers and crisis response teams, allows us to better respond to individuals experiencing mental health or addiction crises. That helps address the root causes of crime while allowing law enforcement to focus on serious threats.

SB 43 and CARE Court will increase treatment demand. How will you expand California's mental-health treatment capacity — including beds, stabilization units, and workforce — and what measurable goals would you set?

First, we need to increase the number and types of treatment beds, including acute psychiatric beds, subacute beds, and step-down facilities like residential treatment and sober living housing. I support targeted state investments and streamlined approvals to rapidly bring new capacity online, including converting underutilized facilities into treatment sites.

Second, we should expand community-based stabilization options, such as crisis stabilization units and mental health urgent care centers, so people can get help before they end up in emergency rooms or the criminal justice system. These facilities are faster, more cost-effective, and better aligned with patient needs.

Third, we must invest in the behavioral health workforce. That means increasing reimbursement rates, expanding training pipelines, and reducing administrative barriers so we can recruit and retain clinicians, case managers, and peer support specialists.

In terms of measurable goals, I would prioritize increasing statewide treatment bed capacity by at least 25% over the next five years, reducing wait times for placement, and ensuring that every region has adequate crisis stabilization services. We should also track outcomes—like reductions in ER boarding, repeat hospitalizations, and unsheltered homelessness—to ensure the system is actually working.

Transit agencies in the Bay Area are facing a fiscal cliff. What reforms will you support to improve transit reliability, safety, and financial sustainability?

Safe, reliable, and financially sustainable public transit is essential to bringing people back to San Francisco and supporting our broader economic recovery – but it's clear that the status quo isn't working.

Last year, I supported a $590 million state loan to help Bay Area transit agencies avoid immediate service cuts and stabilize operations. I also support a regional funding measure to provide dedicated, ongoing revenue. But new funding must be paired with real reforms and clear accountability to riders and taxpayers.

That starts with the basics – transit needs to be clean, safe, and reliable. Surveys consistently show that concerns about safety and cleanliness are a major barrier to ridership: 78% of people say they would ride BART more if it were significantly cleaner and safer. We need more visible staffing, consistent cleaning, and a stronger focus on the rider experience across the system.

We also need to improve how our transit agencies operate. That means setting and enforcing clear performance standards for on-time service, reducing delays in capital projects, and better coordinating service across agencies so riders experience one connected system, not a patchwork of bureaucracies.

Finally, we should be open to governance and operational reforms that improve efficiency and restore public trust. If we're asking voters to support transit financially, we have a responsibility to show that agencies are delivering results.

The path forward requires pairing stable, dedicated funding with measurable improvements in safety, cleanliness, and reliability.

What is your plan to improve student outcomes, teacher retention, and school safety in San Francisco? Which metrics would you prioritize? Would you support governance consolidation or performance-based funding?

Improving student outcomes starts with making sure every classroom has a great, supported teacher. That means continuing to support good-faith negotiations between educators and SFUSD so teachers are fairly compensated, our schools are adequately staffed, and we can recruit and retain the high-quality workforce our students deserve.

From my time on the San Francisco Board of Education, I've seen firsthand that strong outcomes require both resources and accountability. We need to focus relentlessly on foundational skill – especially literacy and math skills – while also expanding access to tutoring, extended learning time, and wraparound supports for students who need them most.

Teacher retention is directly tied to working conditions. In addition to competitive pay, that means reducing administrative burdens, ensuring classrooms are well-resourced, and creating clear pathways for professional growth. We also need to stabilize the district financially so schools aren't facing constant disruption and uncertainty.

School safety is fundamental. Every student should feel safe and supported at school. That means investing in a mix of approaches: mental health services, trained support staff, and clear, consistently enforced behavioral expectations. Safe schools are not just about physical security, but about creating environments where students can focus and learn.

In terms of metrics, I would prioritize improvements in reading and math proficiency, chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and teacher retention. We should also track school climate data – how safe and supported students and staff feel – because that directly impacts learning.

On governance and funding, I'm open to reforms that improve outcomes and accountability, but the focus should be on what actually delivers results for students. That includes clearer lines of responsibility, better financial oversight, and ensuring resources are directed to the students and schools with the greatest needs. Any changes should be measured by whether they improve student achievement and stabilize the system over the long term.

California faces structural deficits. What are your priorities for stabilizing the state budget, and what cuts, efficiencies, or revenue changes would you consider?

California's structural deficit requires a balanced, disciplined approach—one that protects core investments while demanding better results from how we spend public dollars.

First, I believe we should prioritize responsible revenue generation rather than making deep cuts to essential services. At a time when federal funding is uncertain, we cannot afford to scale back investments in healthcare, education, housing, and climate resilience – these are foundational to our economy and long-term stability.

At the same time, we need much stronger accountability for how public funds are used. Taxpayers deserve to see clear outcomes tied to major expenditures. For example, with homelessness spending, funding should be tied to measurable results—like the number of shelter beds and housing units created, reductions in unsheltered homelessness, and faster placement into services. We need consistent statewide metrics and transparent reporting so we know what's working and can scale those efforts.

There are also real opportunities to improve efficiency within state government. We should be consolidating and right-sizing our office footprint to reflect current workforce patterns, while making smarter use of state-owned and leased properties. That not only reduces waste, but can also support downtown recovery by ensuring public workers are part of a vibrant, active urban core.

More broadly, I support ongoing efforts to streamline programs, reduce duplication across agencies, and modernize how the state delivers services—so that dollars go further and results improve.

The goal isn't austerity, it's effectiveness. We should protect critical investments, generate sustainable revenue, and ensure every dollar we spend is delivering real, measurable impact for Californians.

What policies would you support to reduce regulatory burdens, speed up permits, and help small businesses — especially in San Francisco?

Regulation plays an important role, but overregulation and bureaucratic red tape have made it too difficult to open and sustain a small business – and have slowed our ability to meet housing goals across San Francisco and the state.

At the state level, I've worked to cut unnecessary barriers. Last year, I introduced AB 1470 to streamline regulations for restaurants, making it easier for them to open, adapt, and grow. This year, I introduced legislation to create a universal housing application, so cities can't impose duplicative or overly burdensome permitting requirements that delay new housing.

I also supported AB 130, which exempts qualifying infill housing from CEQA – a law that, while important, has too often been used to delay or block much-needed housing. If we're serious about affordability and economic recovery, we have to make it easier to build in the places that make the most sense.

At the local level, I support efforts like PermitSF to simplify and speed up approvals, and I would back similar efforts at the state level to standardize processes, set clear timelines, and reduce uncertainty for small businesses. We should also explore targeted tax incentives and grants to help small businesses open and stay open, especially in neighborhoods and commercial corridors that are still struggling.

More broadly, we need to take a hard look at where government processes are getting in the way of growth and opportunity. The goal isn't to eliminate protections, it's to make our systems more efficient, predictable, and focused on outcomes so small businesses and housing can succeed.

What state-level actions would you take to support downtown economic recovery, office-to-housing conversions, and revitalization of the downtown core?

As an Assemblymember, I've made downtown economic recovery, office-to-housing conversions, and revitalization of our urban cores a top priority. I founded the first-of-its-kind Assembly Committee on Downtown Recovery, which has convened stakeholders across sectors to tackle the full range of challenges facing our downtowns—from housing and homelessness to public safety, arts and culture, nightlife, and small business recovery.

As Chair, I led a legislative package of 13 bills to support downtown recovery. Eight of those bills have been signed into law, advancing solutions across housing production, homelessness services, public safety, and economic revitalization.

I authored and passed AB 507 to streamline office-to-housing conversions, helping cities respond to persistently high office vacancy rates following the COVID-19 pandemic by accelerating the creation of new housing in underutilized commercial buildings. I also authored AB 1445, which allows cities to establish "downtown recovery districts"—a new financing tool that reinvests a portion of future property tax growth from converted buildings back into those projects, making more conversions financially feasible.

Building on this work, I've introduced additional legislation this year to further streamline and finance high-density housing in downtown areas, secure funding for key infrastructure like the Salesforce Transit Center, expand access to sober living for people exiting homelessness, and support the recovery of our nightlife economy, artists, and independent venues.

How will you work with state agencies, CHP, DOJ, and the city to reduce open-air drug dealing and overdose deaths in Downtown SF and the Tenderloin?

What measurable outcome do you want to see by 2028?

We need to bring a clear, results-driven approach to Downtown San Francisco and the Tenderloin: clean up the streets, shut down open-air drug markets, and save lives.

That starts with real coordination between state agencies, CHP, DOJ, local police, and city departments. Right now, efforts are too fragmented. I will push for sustained, joint enforcement operations that target the dealers and organized networks driving this crisis, not just the people struggling with addiction. We need better data sharing, consistent presence on the streets, and the prosecutorial tools to hold repeat offenders accountable so they are not cycling right back out.

At the same time, we have to make it much easier for people to get into treatment. That means expanding detox and recovery capacity, streamlining access, and holding providers accountable for outcomes. If someone is ready for help, we should be able to get them into care immediately. And while we need a fully staffed police force to restore order, we should also deploy smarter responses, including crisis teams and social workers, so officers can focus on serious crime while people in crisis get the help they need.

By 2028, the expectation is clear: a dramatic reduction in open-air drug dealing in the Tenderloin and Downtown, significantly fewer overdose deaths, and a visible shift where more people are entering and staying in treatment. The goal is not incremental change. It is safer streets, real accountability, and a system that actually works.

Personal

Tell us a bit about yourself!

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

California has been my home my entire life. It's the people, the culture, the art and music, and the spirit of innovation and resilience that continue to inspire me and keep me rooted here.

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

California will always stand apart to me. We are a place defined by innovation, creativity, culture, and compassion, where diversity of thought drives progress. People across the country look to California when shaping their own policy decisions, and we should always embrace that responsibility as thought leaders. Our willingness to lead on change and drive meaningful social impact is what continues to distinguish us from the rest of the nation.

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

One of the biggest challenges California faces is a system that too often makes it difficult to get things done, especially when it comes to building housing or starting and growing a business. Excessive delays and red tape hold back economic momentum, discourage innovation, and slow our ability to revitalize key sectors of the economy. We need a more efficient, predictable process that supports growth while maintaining strong standards.

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

For more than a decade in elected office, I've been deeply engaged across all corners of civic life, working with nonprofits, businesses, community organizations, democratic clubs, and legislative caucuses. I've volunteered with local nonprofits, partnered with employers to advance practical solutions to economic and social challenges, and worked closely with community groups to understand and respond to neighborhood needs.

Just as importantly, when different stakeholders come to the table, I show up. Whether it's business, labor, advocates, or residents, I've made it a priority to bring people together, listen, and help move conversations toward real solutions. Through my work in legislative caucuses and beyond, I've used those partnerships to advance meaningful policy and deliver results that reflect the needs of the communities I serve.

Thank you

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