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Endorsements: Imelda Padilla has received the endorsement of some local and state groups, including Laborers Local Union Local 300, East Area Progressive Democrats, and Latinas Lead California. She has also received the endorsement of several local officials including three members of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board, Dr. George McKenna III, Rocío Rivas, and Scott Schmerelson, and District 7 LA City Council Member Monica Rodriguez, and Rep. Tony Cardenas.
Electoral History: Padilla ran for a seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District board in 2017, advancing to the run-off with 31% of the vote. She lost to a challenger in the general election by 3 points.
Top Issues: Homelessness and housing, community policing, improving public infrastructure, library improvements, and youth workforce development
Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Padilla is a community organizer who has worked for Heritage Sierra Medical Center, Los Angeles County Women and Girls Initiative, and Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy. In these roles, she liaised with communities and local elected officials to increase access to local programs and resources. Although she supports ordinance 41.18, Padilla has also advocated for continued action to address homelessness and housing, including a repeal of Municipal Code 85.02, which moves RV housing to industrial parks and disrupts the parking access of business owners and customers. As a member of City Council, she would seek to provide regional leadership in police reform, improving economic development, supporting green infrastructure, and funding recreation programming for young people.
Other background: Padilla is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Padilla’s campaign has raised $422,000 and has not received donations from police, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests. However, she did receive donations from police and fossil fuel interests during her 2017 run for LAUSD.
Last updated: 2023-05-11Endorsements: Imelda Padilla has received the endorsement of some local and state groups, including Laborers Local Union Local 300, East Area Progressive Democrats, and Latinas Lead California. She has also received the endorsement of several local officials including three members of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board, Dr. George McKenna III, Rocío Rivas, and Scott Schmerelson, and District 7 LA City Council Member Monica Rodriguez, and Rep. Tony Cardenas.
Electoral History: Padilla ran for a seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District board in 2017, advancing to the run-off with 31% of the vote. She lost to a challenger in the general election by 3 points.
Top Issues: Homelessness and housing, community policing, improving public infrastructure, library improvements, and youth workforce development
Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Padilla is a community organizer who has worked for Heritage Sierra Medical Center, Los Angeles County Women and Girls Initiative, and Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy. In these roles, she liaised with communities and local elected officials to increase access to local programs and resources. Although she supports ordinance 41.18, Padilla has also advocated for continued action to address homelessness and housing, including a repeal of Municipal Code 85.02, which moves RV housing to industrial parks and disrupts the parking access of business owners and customers. As a member of City Council, she would seek to provide regional leadership in police reform, improving economic development, supporting green infrastructure, and funding recreation programming for young people.
Other background: Padilla is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Padilla’s campaign has raised $422,000 and has not received donations from police, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests. However, she did receive donations from police and fossil fuel interests during her 2017 run for LAUSD.
City of Los Angeles
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Depending on where you live, you may have the below city district races on your ballot.
Based on our analysis, the two candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
The Race
This seat was most recently held by former Councilmember Nury Martinez who resigned in October 2022 after serving for nine years, including two years as President of the body. Martinez’s resignation came after leaked audio revealed her use of crude, racist language in a private discussion with two other council members. Candidates in this special election are running to fill the remainder of her term through 2024.
Seven candidates ran in the primary election held in April 2023. Since no candidate secured a majority of the votes, the top two candidates have advanced to the run-off general election.
Primary election results: Imelda Padilla, 26%; Marisa Alcaraz, 21%; Marco Santana, 19%; Rose Grigoryan, 15%; Isaac Kim, 11%; Antoinette Scully, 6%; Douglas Dagoberto Sierra, 3%. Imelda Padilla and Marisa Alcaraz will compete in the June 17 run-off general election.
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Endorsements: Imelda Padilla has received the endorsement of some local and state groups, including Laborers Local Union Local 300, East Area Progressive Democrats, and Latinas Lead California. She has also received the endorsement of several local officials including three members of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board, Dr. George McKenna III, Rocío Rivas, and Scott Schmerelson, and District 7 LA City Council Member Monica Rodriguez, and Rep. Tony Cardenas.
Electoral History: Padilla ran for a seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District board in 2017, advancing to the run-off with 31% of the vote. She lost to a challenger in the general election by 3 points.
Top Issues: Homelessness and housing, community policing, improving public infrastructure, library improvements, and youth workforce development
Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Padilla is a community organizer who has worked for Heritage Sierra Medical Center, Los Angeles County Women and Girls Initiative, and Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy. In these roles, she liaised with communities and local elected officials to increase access to local programs and resources. Although she supports ordinance 41.18, Padilla has also advocated for continued action to address homelessness and housing, including a repeal of Municipal Code 85.02, which moves RV housing to industrial parks and disrupts the parking access of business owners and customers. As a member of City Council, she would seek to provide regional leadership in police reform, improving economic development, supporting green infrastructure, and funding recreation programming for young people.
Other background: Padilla is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Padilla’s campaign has raised $422,000 and has not received donations from police, corporate PAC, or fossil fuel interests. However, she did receive donations from police and fossil fuel interests during her 2017 run for LAUSD.
Last updated: 2023-05-11
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Endorsements: Marisa Alcaraz has the endorsement of some local groups, including UFCW 770 and ILWU Local 94. She has also received the endorsement of current Councilmembers Curren Price and Heather Hutt, and Assm. Wendy Carrillo.
Electoral History: Alcaraz has not run for public office before, and is the only candidate in this race who has experience working for city government.
Top Issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, police reform, renewable energy and climate protections, economic improvements, government transparency
Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Alcaraz is a longtime City Council staffer, and has most recently served as the Environmental Policy Director and Deputy Chief of Staff to Councilmember Curren Price for ten years. During her time at City Hall, she has provided leadership on several labor and economic initiatives, including the citywide hotel worker minimum wage, Hero Pay for pandemic grocery workers, the Fair Work Week ordinance, and the pilot of LA’s Guaranteed Basic Income program. Her environmental work has included improving local healthy food access, and securing funding for parks improvements. She supports ordinance 41.18, an anti-camping law that prohibits unhoused people from sitting or sleeping on public property, and is in favor of hiring more officers to the LAPD.
Other background: Alcaraz grew up in the Lake Balboa neighborhood and is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Alcaraz’s campaign has raised $161,000 and has received donations from police and real estate interests.Last updated: 2023-05-11Endorsements: Marisa Alcaraz has the endorsement of some local groups, including UFCW 770 and ILWU Local 94. She has also received the endorsement of current Councilmembers Curren Price and Heather Hutt, and Assm. Wendy Carrillo.
Electoral History: Alcaraz has not run for public office before, and is the only candidate in this race who has experience working for city government.
Top Issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, police reform, renewable energy and climate protections, economic improvements, government transparency
Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Alcaraz is a longtime City Council staffer, and has most recently served as the Environmental Policy Director and Deputy Chief of Staff to Councilmember Curren Price for ten years. During her time at City Hall, she has provided leadership on several labor and economic initiatives, including the citywide hotel worker minimum wage, Hero Pay for pandemic grocery workers, the Fair Work Week ordinance, and the pilot of LA’s Guaranteed Basic Income program. Her environmental work has included improving local healthy food access, and securing funding for parks improvements. She supports ordinance 41.18, an anti-camping law that prohibits unhoused people from sitting or sleeping on public property, and is in favor of hiring more officers to the LAPD.
Other background: Alcaraz grew up in the Lake Balboa neighborhood and is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Alcaraz’s campaign has raised $161,000 and has received donations from police and real estate interests.
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Endorsements: Marisa Alcaraz has the endorsement of some local groups, including UFCW 770 and ILWU Local 94. She has also received the endorsement of current Councilmembers Curren Price and Heather Hutt, and Assm. Wendy Carrillo.
Electoral History: Alcaraz has not run for public office before, and is the only candidate in this race who has experience working for city government.
Top Issues: Homelessness and affordable housing, police reform, renewable energy and climate protections, economic improvements, government transparency
Governance and Community Leadership Experience: Alcaraz is a longtime City Council staffer, and has most recently served as the Environmental Policy Director and Deputy Chief of Staff to Councilmember Curren Price for ten years. During her time at City Hall, she has provided leadership on several labor and economic initiatives, including the citywide hotel worker minimum wage, Hero Pay for pandemic grocery workers, the Fair Work Week ordinance, and the pilot of LA’s Guaranteed Basic Income program. Her environmental work has included improving local healthy food access, and securing funding for parks improvements. She supports ordinance 41.18, an anti-camping law that prohibits unhoused people from sitting or sleeping on public property, and is in favor of hiring more officers to the LAPD.
Other background: Alcaraz grew up in the Lake Balboa neighborhood and is a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley.
Candidate fundraising and pledges: Alcaraz’s campaign has raised $161,000 and has received donations from police and real estate interests.Last updated: 2023-05-11
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Based on our analysis, the two candidates for this position have distinct visions for the district. We recommend that you choose the candidate who best aligns to your values in this race.
The Race
This seat was most recently held by former Councilmember Nury Martinez who resigned in October 2022 after serving for nine years, including two years as President of the body. Martinez’s resignation came after leaked audio revealed her use of crude, racist language in a private discussion with two other council members. Candidates in this special election are running to fill the remainder of her term through 2024.
Seven candidates ran in the primary election held in April 2023. Since no candidate secured a majority of the votes, the top two candidates have advanced to the run-off general election.
Primary election results: Imelda Padilla, 26%; Marisa Alcaraz, 21%; Marco Santana, 19%; Rose Grigoryan, 15%; Isaac Kim, 11%; Antoinette Scully, 6%; Douglas Dagoberto Sierra, 3%. Imelda Padilla and Marisa Alcaraz will compete in the June 17 run-off general election.