Nov. 3, 2020 General Election

For info about election logistics, click here

For a printable, at-a-glance guide to our recommendations, click here

For details, see below

Candidate Endorsements

PRESIDENT
Joe Biden

VICE PRESIDENT
Kamala Harris

33RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Ted Lieu (incumbent)

50th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
Richard Bloom (incumbent)

LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY
George Gascón

JUDICIAL
Office 72 — Steve Morgan
Office 80 — David A. Berger
Office 162 — Scott Andrew Yang

L.A. COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Seat 1 — Andra Hoffman
Seat 3 — David Vela
Seat 5 —  Nichelle Henderson
Seat 7 — Mike Fong

Note regarding the DA race:

PPDC approved the issuance of a statement of admonition against L.A. County DA Jackie Lacey's office, signed jointly by members of the Stonewall Democratic Club and PPDC.

Read the statement here.

Ballot Proposal Endorsements

Recommendations at a glance follow. Click here for more-detailed explanations

California Proposition 14: Stem Cell Research Institute Bond Initiative

Oppose — NO on Prop 14

Prop 15: Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government

Support — Yes on Prop 15

Prop 16: Repeal Proposition 209 Affirmative Action Amendment

Support — Yes on Prop 16

Proposition 17: Constitutional amendment that would allow people on parole for felony convictions to vote in California

Support — Yes on Prop 17

Proposition 18: Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds

Constitutional amendment to allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote in primary elections and special elections

Support — Yes on Prop 18

Proposition 19: Property Tax Transfers, Exemptions and Revenue for Wildfire Agencies and Counties Amendment

Support — Yes on Prop 19

Proposition 20: Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative

Oppose — No on Prop 20

Proposition 21: Local Rent Control Initiative

Support — Yes on Prop 21

Proposition 22: App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative

Oppose — No on Prop 22

Proposition 23: Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative

No consensus on Prop 23

Proposition 24: Consumer Personal Information Law and Agency Initiative

Oppose — No on Prop 24

Proposition 25: Replace Cash Bail with Risk Assessments Referendum

Oppose — No on Prop 25

Los Angeles County, California, Budget Allocation for Alternatives to Incarceration Charter Amendment Measure J

Support — Yes on Measure J

Measure RR:
Bond measure to upgrade, modernize and replace aging school facilities, update technology,
and address inequities in L.A. schools and will not increase taxes.

Support — Yes on Measure RR

PROPS/MEASURES SHORT SUMMARIES

Click here for even-more-detailed explanations

CA Prop 18: Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds Constitutional Amendment to allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote in primary elections and special elections. SUPPORT

CA Prop 19: Property Tax Transfers, Exemptions and Revenue for Wildfire Agencies and Counties Amendment would permit homeowners who are 55, severely disabled, or whose homes were destroyed by wildfire or disaster, to transfer their primary residence’s property tax base value to a replacement residence of any value, and increases allowable transfers from one to three. SUPPORT

CA Prop 20: Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative This initiative would add crimes to the list of violent felonies for which early parole is restricted; recategorize certain types of theft and fraud crimes as wobblers (chargeable as misdemeanors or felonies); and require DNA collection for certain misdemeanors. OPPOSE

CA Prop 21: Local Rent Control Initiative that would let local governments enact rent control on housing that was first occupied over 15 years ago, with an exception for landlords who own no more than two homes. Proposition 21 is not mandatory and gives local elected officials the tools they need to stop increasing homelessness, evictions and gentrification. SUPPORT

CA Prop 22: App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative has been sponsored by Uber, Lyft and other similar companies and would create special labor and wage policies which would apply only to the drivers for these companies.  Prop 22 would make the drivers independent contractors, and would overrule a law passed in September, 2019 (Assembly Bill 5). OPPOSE

CA Prop 23: Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative would require a licensed physician on site at dialysis clinics, mandate infection data reporting to state and federal government, and prohibit clinic closures without state approval. NO CONSENSUS

CA Prop 24: Consumer Personal Information Law and Agency Initiative Internet privacy is too important and nuanced to be put in force by a broad ballot measure like Prop 24. CCPA, which Prop 24 changes, has only been law in California for less than a year and should be amended through lawmakers -- not a new state agency created at the ballot box through Prop 24. Instead of protecting your privacy, Prop 24 creates a "privacy slow lane" unlike the current CCPA law. Privacy matters, but this revision of CCPA isn't worth your vote. PPDC joins the ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation. OPPOSE

CA Prop 25: Replace Cash Bail with Risk Assessments Referendum SB 10 was designed to make California the first state to end the use of cash bail for all detained suspects awaiting trials. The legislation would replace the state's cash bail system with risk assessments to determine whether a detained suspect should be granted pretrial release and under what conditions. Replacing cash bail with the arbitrary criteria used in risk assessments will likely lead to the increased incarceration of young people and in particular, those of color. In addition, we do not agree with the hiring of 300 probation officers for surveillance of those deemed high risk. OPPOSE

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Charter Amendment Measure J: Los Angeles County, California, Budget Allocation for Alternatives to Incarceration
—Amending the county's charter to require that no less than 10% of the county's general fund be appropriated to community programs and alternatives to incarceration, such as health services and pre-trial non-custody services; 
—Authorizing the Board of Supervisors to develop a process to allocate funds; and 
—Authorizing the Board of Supervisors to reduce the amount allocated with a vote of 4-1 during a declared fiscal emergency. SUPPORT

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Measure RR: Bond measure to upgrade, modernize and replace aging school facilities, update technology, and address inequities in L.A. schools. (Will not increase taxes) More than 70 percent of our public schools were built over 50 years ago. Too many of these buildings are deteriorating, contain health hazards like asbestos and contaminated drinking water, and generally do not meet standards for 21st Century learning and school safety. Such disparity is unfair and puts students at risk of falling behind in preparing for college and careers simply because of where they live. It’s important to note that Measure RR will not increase taxes — rather it extends without increasing the tax rate currently authorized for voter-approved Los Angeles Unified School District bonds. Moreover, it is subject to strict independent oversight and accountability requirements. Not only will Measure RR benefit our kids and lay the foundation for a stronger future workforce, it will immediately create thousands of quality jobs benefiting the region’s economy.

Click here for more-detailed explanations of the props and measures

For logistical info on the election, click here

For a take-to-the-polls, at-a-glance guide to our recommendations, click here

For details, see below

Looking for historical info on endorsements from previous elections?
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