- Judith Gutierrez
- (916) 319-2052
SACRAMENTO - Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) issued the following statement in response to a Sacramento County Superior Court ruling permitting Assemblymember Vince Fong (R-Central Valley) to simultaneously run for Congress and his Assembly seat, thereby allowing him to be on the ballot for two different offices. Initially, a ruling by California's Secretary of State Shirley Weber had blocked him from appearing on the ballot for the congressional seat currently held by former Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy:
“This is, unfortunately, a gross interpretation of the law. My office will introduce legislation that will clear up this mess. Under special circumstances, candidates may have the opportunity to change what office they are running for, but under no circumstances should candidates be able to run for two offices at the same time, creating opportunities to win both, refuse one, and force a costly special election. California is a democratic state where we value voting rights, and fair and open elections. There is too much at stake and there is no time for GOP shenanigans.
The people of California are hurting. Rent keeps going up, it’s almost impossible to afford to buy a home, the cost of healthcare continues to rise, and there is a clear indication that wages for everyday working people have become stagnant. These are not isolated issues but rather reflections of national challenges that demand attention from the highest levels of government.
When candidates run for multiple offices, leading to potential special elections and increased expenditures, it's not just a state issue; it's a national one. With a projected California state budget deficit of $68 billion, it is not financially prudent to force unnecessary costs to already hurting Californians. It is clear that, in this case, we need common sense election reforms that uphold our democracy and ensure fair and open elections.”
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About Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo
Assemblywoman Carrillo was elected to serve in the State Assembly in December 2017. She represents the 52nd Assembly District, which includes East Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, and South Glendale. She serves on the Assembly Committees on Appropriations, Emergency Management, Health, Labor and Employment, and the Joint Committee on Climate Change Policies. She also serves as the Chair of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities, Vice Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, Commissioner for the California Film Commission, Commissioner for the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and Member of the California Cultural and Historical Endowment Board.