Lee backs Bonta in Assembly race
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, DOakland, has endorsed Mia Bonta for the East Bay Assembly district seat vacated by Bonta’s husband, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, The Chronicle first reported.
Lee said that Mia Bonta “will bring a progressive, social, economic and racial justice lens to our state legislature.”
“She will stand up for communities that have been marginalized and underrepresented for far too long,” Lee said. “Mia is committed to addressing our community’s most pressing issues, such as homelessness, environmental justice, criminal justice reform, helping families and businesses recover from the pandemic, and reopening schools safely. Mia has a strong record of serving East Bay children and families.”
Snagging the endorsement of Lee “is huge” in the overwhelmingly Democratic district, said David McCuan, a professor of political science at Sonoma State University.
“A highprofile endorsement like this is political gold,” McCuan said.
Unlike other Sacramentobased politicians who may want to back Mia Bonta to curry favor with Rob Bonta, McCuan said Lee “is coming from a different place. She’s a national progressive icon and her endorsement will send a signal.”
McCuan said Lee’s blessing will carry extra weight in the East Bay Congressional district she represents, which overlaps with the contested state Assembly district. U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, has also endorsed Mia Bonta, who is the president of the Alameda School Board.
Eight candidates are running to replace Rob Bonta, whom Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed to be attorney general after Xavier Becerra was confirmed as the federal Health and Human Services secretary. Rob Bonta, DAlameda, had represented the 18th District in the Assembly since 2012. The primary election will be held on June 29 and a general election on August 31. The winner will serve the rest of Rob Bonta’s term, through 2022.
Other candidates are stockpiling top endorsements, too.
Alameda Vice Mayor Malia Vella, a staff attorney for the Teamsters Local 856, has pulled in several labor endorsements, including nods from the Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County, the California Federation of Teachers and others.
“We are proud to stand with a labor champion like Malia Vella, who has spent her career fighting for working families in Assembly District 18,” teachers union president Jeff Freitas said.
Vella also has been endorsed by state controller Betty Yee and Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf, who gave a dual endorsement to Vella and Bonta. Likewise, the 700,000member Service Employees International Union also issued dual endorsements of Vella and Bonta.
Social justice attorney Janani Ramachandran is backed by the Sen. Bernie Sandersinspired Our Revolution East Bay and the Oakland East Bay Democratic Club. She gained the endorsement of Rep. Ro Khanna, DFremont, on June 2.
“Janani Ramachandran is exactly the kind of fearless progressive we need to win the fight for a true living wage, Medicare for All and a comprehensive Green New Deal,” Khanna said.
James Aguilar, a member of the San Leandro school board, touts former California Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin and several local school board members as supporters. Victor Aguilar, San Leandro City Council member, is backed by his fellow council members Bryan Azevedo and Fred Simon.