Gloria Romero

• Office: Lieutenant Governor
• Election Date: November 3, 2026
• Candidate: Gloria Romero
• Due Date: Jul 1, 2026
• Printable Version

Thank you for seeking GrowSF's endorsement for the November 3, 2026 general 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 July 1, 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.

As California's Lieutenant Governor, I will use every responsibility entrusted to the office to restore accountability, improve education, strengthen our economy, protect public safety, and give Californians a stronger voice in their government. The Lieutenant Governor serves as a

voting member of the University of California Board of Regents, the California State University Board of Trustees, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, the California State Lands Commission, the California Commission for Economic Development and presides over the State Senate. I intend to fully exercise every one of these responsibilities.

Please visit my website, www.gloriajromero.com, and follow me on X, Facebook, and TikTok for more information about me and my candidacy.

1. Lead a Statewide Education Reform Agenda

I will use my positions on the University of California Regents, California State University Trustees, and California Community Colleges Board of Governors to advance meaningful reforms that prepare students for success.

Restore Academic Excellence

I will advocate for restoring merit-based admissions in California's public universities by ensuring academic achievement once again becomes a significant factor in admissions decisions. I joined more than 1,200 University of California faculty members in urging the UC Regents to restore the SAT as one important measure of college readiness because every student deserves an admissions process that is rigorous, transparent, and fair.

Safe Campuses for Every Student

No student should ever fear attending class because of their race, religion, ethnicity, or background.

I watched with horror as Jewish students at UCLA barricaded themselves inside campus buildings during violent demonstrations. California's universities must vigorously enforce federal agreements addressing antisemitism and ensure every campus protects students equally.

Having traveled twice to Israel and visited Auschwitz, I understand that "Never Again" is not simply history—it is a responsibility. After the violence at UCLA, where I completed two postdoctoral fellowships, I publicly called upon the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and UC Regents to intervene. Their silence was unacceptable. As Lieutenant Governor, I will insist that California universities uphold civil rights protections and provide safe learning environments for every student.

Protect Women and Title IX

I will stand for equal opportunity for women by supporting Title IX protections, preserving fairness in women's athletics, and ensuring campus policies treat all students fairly and consistently.

End Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

California taxpayers deserve accountability.

Working with Governor Steve Hilton, I will support extraordinary legislative sessions dedicated to reviewing state spending, identifying waste, fraud, and abuse, and ensuring taxpayer dollars invested in higher education produce measurable educational outcomes rather than unnecessary bureaucracy.

Build a TK-16 Education Pipeline

California's education systems remain disconnected.

I will convene K-12 schools, community colleges, CSU, UC, employers, labor organizations, and workforce leaders to create a seamless education pipeline that prepares students for careers instead of remediation.

Success should be measured by:

• Higher reading and mathematics proficiency
• Reduced remediation rates
• Faster graduation
• Stronger transfer pathways
• Higher job placement
• Better alignment with California's workforce needs

2. Restore Accountability in State Government

The Lieutenant Governor serves as President of the California Senate.

I intend to perform those responsibilities actively by working collaboratively with all forty State Senators to establish transparent, timely, and fair confirmation processes for gubernatorial appointments. I will oppose the misuse of confirmation proceedings for political lawfare and instead encourage a process based on qualifications, integrity, and public service.

3. Reform California's Wildfire and Coastal Policies

As a member of the State Lands Commission and an advocate for responsible environmental stewardship, I will promote science-based wildfire prevention strategies.

After surviving both the Franklin Fire and the Palisades Fire, I know firsthand the devastation Californians experience when preventable disasters destroy homes, businesses, and entire communities.

California must once again prioritize proven forest management practices, including vegetation management, fuel reduction, and undergrowth removal where scientifically appropriate to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk.

4. Protect Consumer Choice

California families should have practical choices in their homes.

I will oppose efforts to eliminate access to natural gas appliances through state policy. For millions of Californians—including many Latino families—gas cooking is not simply a preference; it is an important part of family traditions and cultural heritage.

As I often say:

"You can't toast a tortilla in a microwave."

Government should provide options—not mandates based on non-science based ideological claims regarding climate change.

5. Write California's Economic Growth Plan

The Lieutenant Governor serves on the California Commission for Economic Development.

I intend to develop a statewide economic strategy focused on making California once again the best place to start, grow, and expand a business.

My priorities include:

• Reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens

• Supporting small businesses

• Expanding international trade

• Increasing exports in agriculture, technology, and manufacturing

• Including women-, veteran-, and minority-owned businesses in international trade missions

• Measuring success through job creation, business formation, exports, and private investment

6. Combat Human Sex Trafficking

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery.

Los Angeles has become one of the nation's largest trafficking hubs, with vulnerable women and children exploited every day.

As Lieutenant Governor, I will convene a California Task Force on Human Sex Trafficking, bringing together law enforcement, prosecutors, nonprofit organizations, survivors, healthcare providers, educators, and international partners.

I also intend to organize a California-Mexico summit focused specifically on disrupting trafficking networks, protecting victims, strengthening cross-border cooperation, and reducing the exploitation of women and girls.

7. Champion Animal Welfare

Millions of Californians consider their pets members of their families, as do I!

I will convene statewide animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, shelters, local governments, and rescue groups to review California's animal cruelty laws and strengthen protections for animals.

My priorities include:

• Supporting no-kill shelters
• Expanding adoption and foster programs
• Increasing resources for animal rescue organizations
• Improving enforcement against animal cruelty
• Promoting responsible pet ownership

California can become a national leader in protecting both people and animals. A Lieutenant Governor Who Leads

The Lieutenant Governor should be far more than a ceremonial office.

I will use every board seat, every vote, every appointment, every public platform, and every opportunity to convene leaders, build consensus, and deliver measurable results for California.

Leadership begins by showing up, speaking up, and standing up for the people of California.

Why those policies?

These policies reflect the greatest impact on California’s budget and highlight the role and responsibilities of the Lt. Governor. Additionally, these are the policies and priorities that I have as someone who understands that education is the key to the American Dream and I want accessibility to be expanded, college fees to be reduced, and our businesses to be honored and supported.

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

Education is almost half the entire state budget and is in the greatest state of failure. I intend to bring my passion for school choice, meritocracy. When I served in the California State Senate, I had the courage to take on significant reforms: from school choice to parental rights, to teacher reforms in tenure, and containing and reducing costs of college. I am recognized nationally as a

trailblazer on education reform and transformation, and I will bring my experience and passion to California to turnaround a system in decline.

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 am already working with bold members of the UC faculty in calling upon the Regents to restore standardized metrics for college admissions. I will build on this coalition and expand out to include legislators, parent groups, and others to join with us. As Lt. Governor this is an attainable goal and something that is long overdue. There are obstacles as status quo interests fight back, but I intend to use my voice, my experience, engage the press and demonstrate that staying “blind” to the failure of our current college admissions policies which ignore and overlook standardized assessments as a critical part of a comprehensive package for college admissions not only fails our universities, but caters to the soft bigotry of low expectations. It takes courage and backbone to tackle this, and I have both! This falls directly within the scope of the responsibilities of the Lt. Governor to lead this campaign.

The biggest obstacles will be political polarization, bureaucratic resistance, and the tendency of Sacramento to protect the status quo. Too often, important decisions become ideological battles instead of practical problem-solving. I will overcome those obstacles by insisting on transparency, demanding measurable performance, and focusing every debate on outcomes rather than rhetoric. Californians do not care which party receives credit; they care whether their children can read, whether they can afford a home, and whether they can build a future here. Political capital is earned by producing results. I intend to travel throughout California—not just Sacramento—to bring together mayors, county leaders, educators, employers, labor organizations, and community groups around shared goals. When people with different viewpoints see progress driven by facts and accountability, coalitions become stronger and political momentum grows.

Will the office of Lieutenant Governor alone be enough? No. But leadership is not measured solely by formal authority. It is measured by the ability to persuade, convene, challenge assumptions, and build durable partnerships. Some of California's most significant reforms began with leaders who used their platform to unite people around a clear vision before legislation ever reached the Governor's desk.

My goal is for Californians to say that the Lieutenant Governor's office became more than a ceremonial position—it became a catalyst for reform, accountability, and renewed confidence that California can once again be the best place in America to live, work, raise a family, and pursue opportunity. Will the power of the office of Lieutenant Governor be enough to achieve the other goals? The Lt. Governor has long been treated as a ceremonial position, or a place where career politicians go to park themselves to wait to fail up in the future. I reject those premises. The Lt. Governor has a powerful bully pulpit. I have skill and the passion and the know how to use that position to advance California’s declined public education system to, once again, become a shining public education system in the nation—overcoming what it has now become.

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 seek the release of all sexual harassment and sex abuse settlements by California elected officials. I intend to create transparency in this process and to reveal to taxpayers the cost we have had to pay for settlement of these claims. We, the people, deserve to know. In addition, I intend to seek an end to the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements in contracting, budgeting, and expenditure of state monies. This practice appears to have expanded dramatically and is in defiance of our right to know how our tax dollars are being spent. Enough!

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

For too long, one-party rule has produced the highest cost of living in the nation, failing schools, rising homelessness, growing public safety concerns, and an economy that is driving too many families and employers out of our state. Californians are working harder than ever, yet too many feel they are falling further behind.

I'm running for Lieutenant Governor because California needs a strong, independent voice willing to challenge decades of one-party rule and put families, taxpayers, and small businesses first.

Throughout my career, I've taken on difficult issues—even when it meant standing up to my own party—because I believe public service requires principle, not politics. That willingness to lead with conviction has prepared me for the responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor's office. As Lieutenant Governor, I will use every responsibility of the office to improve the lives of Californians: promoting accountability and excellence in our public universities, strengthening economic opportunity, supporting public safety, and advocating for transparent, effective government. I will work to ensure that state institutions serve the people—not special interests or political insiders.

Most importantly, I will be an independent voice for Californians who feel ignored by Sacramento. I want to restore trust in government by bringing common sense, accountability, and a relentless focus on the issues that matter most: affordable living, quality education, safe communities, and economic opportunity for every family.

The Lieutenant Governor is more than a ceremonial office. It serves on the University of California Board of Regents, the California State University Board of Trustees, the State Lands Commission, and the Commission for Economic Development. These positions provide a real opportunity to improve higher education, strengthen California's economy, modernize our ports and infrastructure, protect our coast, and restore accountability in state government. I will use every responsibility of the office to fight for excellence in education, safer communities, a stronger economy, and transparent government. I will be an independent voice who asks tough questions, demands results, and stands up for the people of California—not the political establishment.

Most of all, I am running because I still believe in the California Dream. Every family deserves the opportunity to own a home, build a business, receive a quality education, and live in a safe community. California has everything it needs to lead the nation again. What we need is leadership with the courage to challenge the status quo, unite people around common goals, and deliver results.

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

The core constitutional role of the Lieutenant Governor is to serve as Acting Governor when the Governor is absent, and to assume the role of governor if their place becomes vacant. Rather than waiting on the sidelines to fill in for Steve Hilton, I plan to remain active and vigilant as I pursue my agenda through the numerous statutory responsibilities the Lieutenant Governor has. This includes my crucial role as President and tiebreaker in the State Senate, my place of influence on all the higher education boards, and my involvement in various commissions for land and coastal safety. I consider my core responsibility as Lieutenant Governor to be a voice of reason in our state government, and to not just sit on the numerous boards of which I’ll be a part, but to actually show up, speak up, take a stand on the issues before us, and deliver for the people of California.

What makes you uniquely qualified for this position?

My qualifications come from my fortitude, honesty, and backbone to challenge entrenched status quo special interests in Sacramento. I was the first woman to serve as Senate Majority Leader in California and spent my time in the State Senate spearheading California education policy. I authored legislation like the Parent Trigger and Open Enrollment Act, which are examples of transformative legislation empowering parents in California and turning around failing schools. I will use my extensive experience and knowledge that that I have in mastery of legislative rules and procedures, the budget, and education policy, especially, to a leadership role that is direly needed on our colleges and universities boards and commissions.

I am uniquely qualified because I am the only candidate in this race who has never sexually harassed a staff member nor burdened the state to pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars to settle a case. I am uniquely qualified because I am an independent voice who has a long track record of standing up to special interests on behalf of low-income communities, parents, and kids. I had the courage when I was a Democrat back in the day to call out my party when I thought it was wrong. I readily worked across the aisle and was one of the most respected voices in Sacramento for my integrity, experience, and transparency with the public.

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

First, Californians need to feel that their government is held accountable to their wishes, and in two years Californians will be able to access our public meetings, receive communication updates directly from me on our boards and commissions, and have a sense of how our policy initiatives are developing. Californians will be able to witness a transparent and accountable government under my leadership.

Second, we should anticipate progress in adoption of revised college admission standards at our University of California. I intend to be a dog on a bone on this issue.

Third, we will see the successful launch of the Sex Trafficking Task Force with the first international summit on the trade of human cargo within this time period, accompanied by greater empowerment of local public safety officials to crackdown on this form of modern day slavery. This will include the introduction of legislation in Sacramento and greater funding in our state budget to combat this initiative.

There will be other successes, but these are three.

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?

California’s public universities must remain engines of opportunity, economic mobility, innovation, and workforce preparation. As a voting member of the University of California Board of Regents and the California State University Board of Trustees, I would insist that every major decision be measured against a straightforward standard: Are students completing useful degrees on time, at a cost families can afford, in a safe environment that earns the public’s trust? During my term, I would establish four measurable systemwide goals.

First, I would work to increase four-year graduation rates and reduce average time-to-degree, particularly for first-generation, low-income, veteran, and working students. Students should not be forced to spend additional years paying tuition because required courses are unavailable, academic advising is inadequate, or administrative systems are poorly coordinated. I would press both systems to publish campus-level data on course availability, excess credits, graduation timelines, and the primary causes of delayed completion. Second, I would set a goal of reducing the total cost of earning a degree—not merely controlling fees. The real cost of attendance includes housing, food, transportation, textbooks, fees, and the income students lose when graduation is delayed. Towards this end, I would emphasize the need for an overhaul of our college admissions process to ensure that admitted students are ready to undertake college-level work. The report from the UC San Diego faculty which revealed that too many incoming students are unprepared to engage in advanced work and necessitate remedial education programs, prolongs a student’s time to graduation and forces additional expenditure of funds on programming that should not be necessary at a college level. Hence, I would actively lead a reinstatement of admissions criteria at our systems, the extent of remedial education programs and what is included in these, and a spotlight on the “push-pull” education system of TK-16 so that our higher education systems are more involved in the preparation of our TK-12 students so that overall college costs are contained.

Third, I would substantially improve transfer throughput. California promises community-college students a pathway to a UC or CSU degree, but too many students lose credits, encounter inconsistent requirements, or cannot obtain a place in their intended major. I would seek measurable annual increases in the number of transfer students admitted, the percentage of transferable credits accepted, and the number completing a bachelor’s degree within two years of transfer. UC and CSU should publish clear transfer dashboards showing where students are being delayed and which campuses and majors are not meeting statewide expectations.

Fourth, I would strengthen workforce alignment. California faces shortages in nursing, teaching, engineering, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, behavioral health, agriculture, and other essential fields. I would require each system to regularly compare its degree production with regional and statewide workforce demand. My goal would be to increase degree and credential completion in high-need fields while protecting the broader educational mission of the universities. Universities should report employment outcomes, earnings, licensure passage rates, internship participation, and whether graduates are finding work connected to their education. Board membership must involve more than attending meetings and approving staff recommendations. I would use the Regents’ and Trustees’ committee processes to place these goals directly into presidential and chancellor evaluations, budget decisions, capital plans, and campus performance reviews. I would request public scorecards with comparable data for every campus and require corrective plans when institutions repeatedly fall short. I would also scrutinize administrative growth. Before approving fee increases, new debt, or major spending commitments, I would ask whether existing funds are reaching classrooms, laboratories, libraries, academic advising, campus security, and direct student services. Administrative spending should be transparent, justified, and tied to measurable value for students. Administrative spending needs to be reduced, and a re-evaluation of salary pensions, paychecks and perks undertaken to prioritize funding for the classroom itself. Campus safety and public trust must also be treated as fundamental responsibilities. Students must be protected from violence, harassment, antisemitism, discrimination, and intimidation while universities uphold constitutional free-speech and due-process protections. I would require consistent reporting of serious campus incidents, response times, complaint outcomes, and compliance with applicable safety and civil-rights requirements. Policies should be enforced consistently, regardless of ideology or political pressure. I would actively oversee federally negotiated compacts to prevent rampant anti-Semitism experienced in our college curriculum and safety. No one should ever fear for their lives based on the color of their skin, national or ethnic origin, or religious beliefs. Enough!

Finally, I would expand opportunities for students, faculty, employers, parents, and taxpayers to participate meaningfully in board governance. Major policies should be presented in plain language, supported by accessible data, and evaluated after implementation. Californians deserve to know what results they are receiving for their investment. I support providing additional representation to students to serve as voting members on our boards. I also will support the nomination and confirmation process of these board members to dispense with status quo appointments, which have prioritized political contributors to Governor candidates. I will work with our Governor to bring forth nominees for confirmation based on their knowledge and experience with education and finance.

My objective would be a higher-education system in which more students graduate on time, fewer students are burdened by unnecessary costs, transfer pathways work as promised, graduates are prepared for California’s workforce, campuses are safe, and governing boards are accountable for results. The UC Regents and CSU Trustees should not simply manage institutions. They should set expectations, measure performance, demand improvement, and safeguard the public mission of California higher education.

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.

California succeeds when it is the best place in the world to start a business, build a career, raise a family, and invest. Today, too many employers are leaving California or choosing to expand elsewhere because of regulatory complexity, high housing costs, expensive energy, and uncertainty. As Lieutenant Governor, I will use the office's economic development and international trade responsibilities to make California more competitive—not by lowering our ambitions, but by improving how government works.

The Lieutenant Governor serves on the California Commission for Economic Development and represents California in trade and investment missions around the world. I would use that platform to convene business leaders, labor, local governments, universities, ports, and international investors to identify barriers to investment and develop practical solutions. My focus would be on strengthening California's competitive advantages in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, life sciences, clean energy, agriculture, logistics, and international trade.

California already has extraordinary assets: the fourth-largest economy in the world, world-class universities, innovative entrepreneurs, and the nation's busiest ports. Our challenge is not a lack of opportunity—it is the growing gap between our economic strengths and the cost and complexity of doing business here.

One of my priorities would be accelerating investment in our ports, trade corridors, and goods movement infrastructure. California is America's gateway to the Pacific and modernizing our ports while streamlining permitting will strengthen exports, reduce supply chain costs, create high-paying jobs, and reinforce our leadership in global commerce. The single economic indicator I would track most closely is foreign direct investment (FDI) into California. FDI reflects whether global companies view California as the best place to build new facilities, expand operations, conduct research, and create jobs. It is one of the clearest measures of international confidence in our state's economy.

My goal would be to increase annual foreign direct investment by at least 20 percent by the end of my term, with a particular emphasis on projects that create high-wage jobs in manufacturing, technology, logistics, and clean energy. I would also publicly report the number of new investment projects, jobs created, and regions benefiting from those investments so Californians can measure our progress.

California should once again be known as the state where businesses choose to grow—not because government picks winners and losers, but because government is efficient, transparent, accountable, and focused on creating opportunity. As Lieutenant Governor, I will work every day to restore California's competitive edge, attract investment from around the world, and ensure that economic growth creates good-paying jobs and a higher quality of life for every Californian.

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 ready now. The Lieutenant Governor position is not a training program and must be recognized as such. As Lieutenant Governor, I would continuously update my skills, knowledge, and recognition of key issues affecting California. Hence, my “preparation” would begin long before any call to perform the duties of the Governor. I would maintain regular briefings with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, state agency leaders, military and public safety officials, and local governments to understand California's emergency response systems and continuity-of-government plans. Effective leadership during a crisis depends on preparation, trusted relationships, and a clear understanding of who is responsible for what before disaster strikes.

Throughout my career, I have repeatedly made high-stakes decisions in politically charged environments where the facts were evolving, and the consequences affected millions of Californians. One example was my leadership in passing California's landmark education reforms. As Chair of the Senate Education Committee and Senate Majority Leader, I faced enormous political pressure from competing interests while confronting a public education system that was failing too many students. Decisions had to be made with incomplete information, intense public scrutiny, and significant uncertainty about implementation. Rather than delay difficult choices, I brought together educators, parents, legislators, and policy experts, relied on evidence rather than politics, and built the bipartisan support necessary to enact lasting reforms.

That experience reinforced an essential lesson about executive leadership: waiting for perfect information is often not an option. Leaders must make the best decision possible with the facts available, remain transparent about what is known and unknown, adjust as new information emerges, and always place the public interest above political considerations. If called upon to serve as Governor, I would bring that same disciplined approach. My priorities would be to protect lives, ensure clear coordination across state and local agencies, communicate regularly and truthfully with Californians, and make decisions grounded in facts, law, and the long-term interests of our state. Californians deserve leadership that is prepared before a crisis begins and steady when it matters most.

One thing is certain: I will not treat the Lieutenant Governor as a ceremonial position, simply issuing feel-good resolutions declaring fruits and nuts as official state produce. I will restore respect to what is laughingly referred to as “the Seinfeld of state constitutional offices”!

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? The issue I would make a priority is California's ports—modernization, automation, and freight infrastructure. California's ports are the economic gateway of the United States, supporting millions of jobs, facilitating nearly 40% of the nation's containerized imports, and serving as the backbone of our agricultural and manufacturing exports. Yet aging infrastructure, supply chain bottlenecks, environmental challenges, and increasing competition from ports in Texas, the Gulf Coast, Canada, and Mexico threaten California's long-term competitiveness. As Lieutenant Governor, I would use the office's unique ability to convene state, regional, federal, labor, business, and local government leaders to accelerate projects that too often become trapped in bureaucracy.

First, I would establish a California Ports Competitiveness Task Force that meets quarterly and includes the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Hueneme, and San Diego; labor organizations; trucking and rail companies; exporters; environmental organizations; state agencies; the California Transportation Commission; the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz); and federal partners including the U.S. Department of Transportation, Army Corps of Engineers, and Customs and Border Protection. Second, I would commission the task force to produce a public Port Project Dashboard identifying every major infrastructure, dredging, rail, roadway, and automation project currently under development. The dashboard would identify permitting delays, environmental review obstacles, funding gaps, and interagency conflicts so that every stakeholder—and every Californian—can see where progress is being made and where projects are stalled. Third, I would convene targeted problem-solving sessions focused on the most significant bottlenecks. Rather than holding conferences that produce reports, these meetings would end with specific commitments, timelines, and responsible agencies. The Lieutenant Governor's office can serve as an honest broker that brings together agencies that too often work independently.

Finally, I would measure success by concrete outcomes rather than rhetoric. By the end of 2028, I would seek to:

• Reduce average permitting and interagency approval times for major port infrastructure projects.

• Secure billions in combined federal, state, local, and private investment for port modernization and freight mobility.

• Increase cargo-handling efficiency through strategic investments in automation and digital logistics while supporting workforce training for the next generation of high-skilled port jobs.

• Improve rail and truck connectivity to reduce congestion, strengthen supply chain reliability, and improve air quality in surrounding communities.

California succeeds when our economy moves efficiently. Modern ports mean stronger exports for our farmers, lower costs for consumers, better-paying jobs for workers, and a more competitive economy. The Lieutenant Governor can bring together the people, remove bureaucratic barriers, demand accountability, and ensure that California once again leads the nation in infrastructure that supports economic growth and opportunity.

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?

California's strength depends on something more important than any one election: the trust that citizens have in their government. Today, too many Californians feel California is on the wrong track and they feel disconnected. They believe government makes decisions behind closed doors, that their voices don't matter, and that politics serves special interests before it serves working families. Restoring that trust is essential. The current crop of supporters of one-party monopoly rule will not change this.

As Lieutenant Governor, I would use the office as a bridge between Californians and their government.

The Lieutenant Governor serves on the Commission for Economic Development and represents California to businesses, community organizations, educators, local governments, and international partners. That role provides a unique opportunity to be a public ambassador—not just for California's economy, but for civic participation itself.

I would use that platform in three important ways. First, bring government to the people—not expect the people to come to government. I would hold regular public forums across California, especially in communities that too often feel forgotten: the Central Valley, Inland Empire, rural counties, and working-class neighborhoods in our major cities. Every Californian deserves to be heard, not just those with lobbyists or political connections.

Second, promote transparency and accountability. Californians deserve to know how decisions are made, how taxpayer dollars are spent, and whether government programs are actually producing results. I would advocate for clear public reporting on economic development efforts, regulatory reforms, education outcomes, and workforce initiatives so citizens can measure success for themselves. Transparency builds confidence, and accountability builds trust. Third, inspire the next generation of civic leaders. Democracy survives only when citizens participate. I would partner with schools, colleges, chambers of commerce, veterans' organizations, and community groups to encourage voter registration, civic education, and public service. Young people should understand not only how government works, but why their participation matters. I walked away from the Democrat Party because I considered myself a JFK Democrat, inspired by a philosophy of service that challenged me to ask not what my country can do for me, but what I can do for my country. This has always been my model of public service. I will put this into action as Lieutenant Governor.

Economic development and civic engagement go hand in hand. Businesses invest where there is confidence. Families stay where there is opportunity. Communities thrive when citizens believe they have a voice in shaping their future.

For California's Latino community—and for every community—this is especially important. Millions of hardworking Californians pay taxes, raise families, serve in our military, start businesses, and contribute every day to our state's success. They deserve a government that listens, respects them, and earns their trust.

The Lieutenant Governor's office may not write legislation, but it can lead by example. It can shine a light on good government, encourage honest dialogue, bring people together across political differences, and remind Californians that government belongs to the people—not the other way around.

That is the kind of leadership I would bring: open, accessible, accountable, and focused on restoring faith that California's government can once again work for the people it serves.

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.

I plan to accelerate the cleanup and redevelopment of California's contaminated waterfronts, ports, and industrial brownfield sites so they can become engines of economic growth, clean energy, and good-paying jobs.

California has thousands of acres of underutilized state and tidelands that have been left idle because of contamination, bureaucratic delays, and regulatory uncertainty. I would seek to reclaim land that has already been developed and transform it into sites for advanced manufacturing, port modernization, battery storage, hydrogen infrastructure, offshore wind support facilities, and other strategic industries.

As Lieutenant Governor, I would work to streamline permitting among state agencies, prioritize public-private partnerships, and ensure environmental cleanup proceeds efficiently while maintaining strong environmental protections.

By 2028, my measurable goal would be to:

• Approve redevelopment plans for at least 2,500 acres of underutilized State Lands Commission properties and adjacent waterfront industrial sites;

• Leverage $5 billion in private investment in port modernization, clean energy infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing;

• Support the creation of 25,000 new construction and permanent jobs; and ● Reduce average state permitting timelines for eligible State Lands Commission projects by at least 30 percent. California should lead the world in clean energy innovation, but leadership requires more than ambitious goals—it requires execution. We can protect our environment while building an economy that creates jobs, lowers costs, strengthens our ports, and keeps California competitive. My focus will always be on results: cleaner land, faster approvals, more investment, and more opportunities for working Californians.

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.

California's greatest long-term challenge is restoring the California Dream—the belief that if you work hard, play by the rules, and invest in your family, you can build a better future. Today, that promise has eroded, and it is estimated that some 1.7 million Californians have packed their bags, rented a U-Haul, and moved away.. Too many Californians cannot afford a home, too many students are leaving school without the skills they need to succeed, and too many businesses and working families are choosing to leave our state. These challenges are interconnected. Without an educated workforce, a competitive economy, and affordable communities, California's long-term prosperity is at risk.

As Lieutenant Governor, I will use every responsibility of the office to restore civic participation and trust in a government that will work for the people, rather than the people working for the government. And we do not have ten years to wait for this—I won’t even be in office after ten years!

Hence, my measurable progress will be much more immediate. I will strengthen California's future by, primarily, focusing on the restoration of our public education system as one based on meritocracy. Serving on the University of California Board of Regents, I will have a powerful microphone to advocate for higher academic standards for admission to the University of California, responding to the study of our UC faculty. This will include reintroduction of use of standardized tests, such as the SAT or the ACT, as one component of a college admission package. But it will also include greater accountability from university administrators on the college environment and funding to keep affordability low. It will include advancing stronger pathways into careers in engineering, health care, skilled trades, and emerging technologies. My overarching goal is to create a TK-16 Education Pipeline so that Peter knows what Paul needs and is doing, and stark achievement gaps are specifically addressed by linking the needs and preparation of the two.

Serving on the California State Lands Commission and other economic development bodies, I will champion responsible infrastructure, clean energy, ports, trade, and water investments that create high-paying jobs while protecting our natural resources. As a statewide leader and ambassador for California, I will work to restore confidence that government is focused on results, not bureaucracy.

By the end of my term, I would measure success through tangible outcomes rather than rhetoric. I would work toward increasing college and career readiness, expanding investment in strategic infrastructure and clean-energy projects that create quality jobs, improving public transparency and accountability across the boards and commissions on which the Lieutenant Governor serves, and helping create an economic climate where more Californians choose to stay, invest, and build their futures here.

California has every advantage: extraordinary people, world-class universities, unmatched innovation, and abundant natural resources. Our challenge is not a lack of potential—it is a failure of leadership. My vision is to help restore a California where opportunity is once again within reach for every family, where government measures success by results, and where the next generation believes that the California Dream is not something their parents once had, but something they can achieve themselves.

Personal

Tell us a bit about yourself!

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

I was born and raised in California and have lived here my entire life. California is a beautiful state, but it is declining daily in affordability, safety, and preservation of the California Dream. Proximity to my family, especially my daughter, keeps me in California.

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

I love the weather. I love east Los Angeles—the best Mexican food, music, sense of familia and cultura, and just the strongest feeling of belonging to a community that cares for each other. I love the faith that people have in each other, and how many Good Samaritans there are amongst us.

What do you dislike the most about California and/or your hometown? I hate the traffic, the potholes are egregious, the failure of elected politicians who have sold out and abandoned working class people, the waste, fraud and abuse, the highest taxation rates and the poor academic outcomes of our schools despite the fact that almost half our entire state budget goes to education.

Tell us about your current involvement in the community (e.g., volunteer groups, neighborhood associations, civic and professional organizations, etc.) I’m actively involved in my church community and various parent rights groups in California. I am actively involved in animal rescue and adoption efforts.

Thank you

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