As we approach the critical 2024 election, LAAPOA is proud to present our official voter guide. This guide highlights the candidates and measures that align with the interests of public safety professionals and the communities we serve.
Through careful evaluation, LAAPOA has endorsed candidates who demonstrate a commitment to law enforcement, public safety and the well-being of both officers and citizens. Here’s a closer look at the choices that will help shape the future of our city, state and nation.
STATE
Assembly District 39: Juan Carillo**
Assemblymember Carrillo served as a member of the Palmdale City Council, advocating for affordable housing to address the homelessness crisis, increasing green space and supporting local small businesses as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assembly District 40: Patrick Lee Gipson**
A former deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Assemblymember Gipson aims to restore California by focusing on public safety and bringing back commonsense solutions.
Assembly District 42: Jacqui Irwin**
Assemblymember Irwin has focused on ensuring safety for California families with laws that protect children from unsafe products, assist law enforcement investigating online crime and more.
Assembly District 43: Victoria Garcia**
Assemblymember Garcia is committed to voting for bills that increase our public safety and allow residents to live safely and thrive.
Assembly District 45: James Ramos**
Assemblymember Ramos has been a champion for law enforcement and protecting communities from violent crime. He has fought for resources for first responders and has been a strong voice for victims of crime.
Assembly District 46: Jesse Gabriel**
As chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, Assemblymember Gabriel works closely with legislative leadership and the governor to craft the state budget, advance key policy priorities and oversee hundreds of billions of dollars in state spending.
Assembly District 47: Greg Wallis**
Assemblymember Wallis is focused on the issues that matter to Californians: improving education, protecting public safety and creating a more affordable environment so more people can live the American dream.
Assembly District 48: Blanca Rubio**
Assemblywoman Rubio has placed advocacy for children, women, families, students and immigrants at the forefront of her work. Rubio has authored bills that support victims of domestic violence, create opportunities for children within the foster care system and more.
Assembly District 50: Adam Perez**
Assemblymember Perez is a combat veteran, police detective and longtime community leader who is fighting to reduce homelessness and make neighborhoods safer by ensuring faster 9-1-1 response times.
Assembly District 56: Lisa Calderon**
During her time as an assemblymember, Calderon has advocated to bring state resources to working families, foster youth, students experiencing homelessness and the elderly.
Assembly District 68: Avino Valencia**
Throughout his career, Assemblymember Valencia has worked closely with local police officers, firefighters and paramedics to make neighborhoods safer and improve emergency response times. Valencia makes it his priority to listen, work hard and build the coalitions necessary to protect public health and decrease crime.
Assembly District 70: Tri Ta**
Since being elected to the Legislature, Assemblymember Ta has introduced legislation to lower costs for working families and enhance public safety. In his first year, Ta had four bills signed by the governor, including measures to hold the government accountable on failed public safety policies.
Senate District 23: Suzette Valladares**
Senator Valladares’ mission focuses on supporting law enforcement, strengthening public safety laws and addressing the fentanyl crisis. She has served on community boards and led organizations, including the LAPD Devonshire PALS, a partnership with law enforcement investing in at-risk youth.
Senate District 29: Carlos Garcia**
Having come from chaos, a war-torn country and poverty, Senator Garcia has cultivated a deep respect for the American dream. With a focus on “unity for our communities” and steering us “back to common sense,” Garcia is committed to being the voice of change.
Senate District 35: Laura Richardson**
As a dedicated housing advocate for the past decade, Senator Richardson is committed to ending homelessness. With a profound understanding of the pressing issues at hand, her top priority is to spearhead the creation of more affordable housing options.
Senate District 37: Josh Newman**
Senator Newman successfully guided more than 20 pieces of legislation that supported veteran services and mental health resources, and improved local schools.
FEDERAL
Congress District 24: Salud Carbajal**
An eight-year veteran of the Marine Corps, Representative Carbajal has worked to ensure the needs of our nation’s veterans are met. He has also advocated for health and social service safety net programs for our most vulnerable residents.
Congress District 27: Michael Garcia**
Representative Garcia, a former Navy pilot, continues to lead the charge to crack down on crime, ensure law enforcement officers have the resources they need and keep our neighborhoods safe.
Congress District 33: Pete Aguilar**
Representative Aguilar is a voice for middle-class families throughout San Bernardino County and prioritizes legislation that will nurture a more fair economy, where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Congress District 40: Young Kim**
Representative Kim has made law enforcement one of her top priorities, introducing the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) on the Beat Grant Program Reauthorization and Parity Act, which directly assists local law enforcement agencies in hiring law enforcement officers and helps with community policing and training.
Congress District 41: Ken Calvert**
Representative Calvert’s legislative priorities include enacting pro-growth policies that will help strengthen the economy, supporting our military around the world, fixing the immigration system by restoring the rule of law and honoring promises made to our veterans.
Congress District 45: Michelle Steel**
Representative Steel believes all Americans should have access to quality and affordable health care options. She opposes “Medicare for All” or any other single-payer health care legislation that would eliminate private health care insurance and further increase taxes on hardworking families.
Congress District 46: Lou Correa**
Representative Correa has worked to support public health and safety services, mental health care, and health and safety programs for children. He has championed affordable higher education and taxpayer equity while protecting taxpayers by fighting “waste, fraud and abuse.”
Congress District 47: Dave Min**
Representative Min has worked closely with local law enforcement to combat rising crime and homelessness, including authoring two key bills to address rider safety on public transit and procuring $1 million for local police to help keep our communities safe.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Nathan Hochman*
As a former federal prosecutor and U.S. assistant attorney general, Hochman is ready to restore independence, honesty and integrity to prevent crime, protect public safety and ensure justice is served to all L.A. County residents.
LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL
Council District 2: Adrin Nazarian**
In one of the most under-policed major cities globally, Nazarian has pledged to expand the local police force. Nazarian also aims to keep illegal guns off the streets and focus on community-based policing.
Council District 10: Heather Hutt** (Incumbent)
A public servant for over 30 years, Hutt has dedicated her life to activism, public service and her community. Hutt has pledged to double down on investments to house our unhoused neighbors; build parks that are equitable, safe and accessible; and make constituents proud to call this district their home.
Council District 14: Kevin de León** (Incumbent)
de León has been an educator, activist and community organizer, and was the first Latino leader of the California State Senate in 130 years. As the author of Proposition 2, he secured the largest financial investment to build permanent supportive housing for Californians experiencing homelessness.
LAUSD SCHOOL BOARD
District 3: Scott Mark Schmerelson (recommendation from L.A. School POA)**
Schmerelson has coordinated with local and state officials to put meaningful gun safety protections in place, including gun safes that save the lives of children, their classmates and neighbors, parents and educators.
MEASURES
Los Angeles City Ballot Measure Charter Amendment — FF (vote Yes)
The measure would allow certain peace officers — like those who work at LAX — and park rangers to transfer their pension plans to provide better benefits.
*Currently or previously endorsed by LAAPOA
**Currently or previously endorsed by LAAPOA and/or PORAC