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California State Assembly

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California State Assembly


What does a California Assemblymember do?

The California Meeting is one-half of our state legislature. Together with the State Senate, it basically serves as California’s Congress.

State lawmakers draft and move legal guidelines that govern your entire state. These legal guidelines can present advantages that aren’t granted by the federal authorities, resembling paid household go away or in-state tuition for undocumented faculty college students. They will impose guidelines that apply statewide, like restrictions on shopping for weapons, prohibiting recording calls with out consent, or not permitting eating places to offer single-use plastic straws except a buyer requests it. They will additionally set minimal requirements for the state and permit cities and counties to go additional — as an illustration, the state minimal wage is $15 an hour for companies with greater than 25 staff, however the metropolis of L.A.’s hourly minimal wage will go as much as $16.04 beginning July 2022.

There are 80 meeting districts throughout California, every with its personal assemblymember. L.A. County alone has 24 of these districts. Every member serves two-year phrases.

For those who’ve voted in earlier elections, your meeting district might have modified due to final yr’s redistricting course of, which occurs as soon as a decade after the Census rely. You may enter your handle into this software from CalMatters to see whether or not your district has modified.

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Round three-quarters of lawmakers in each California’s Meeting and State Senate are Democrats, which means we don’t simply have Democratic majorities, however supermajorities. That doesn’t imply it’s all the time straightforward to move payments, although. There are nonetheless divisions amongst lawmakers that result in drawn-out arguments and forestall laws from shifting ahead.

The June 7 vote is a main vote. That signifies that the 2 candidates who obtain essentially the most votes in a district, no matter their occasion, will proceed on to the final election in November, and the one that wins essentially the most votes in November is the one elected to workplace.

You may acknowledge their work from…

Lately, the legislature has:

What’s on the agenda for the subsequent time period?

California has a number of issues to sort out — wildfires, local weather change, the highest poverty price within the nation, skyrocketing housing costs, threats of latest COVID-19 surges, and falling enrollment in public colleges and neighborhood schools, to call a couple of. The legislature should work out methods to handle all of those points and accommodate no matter new issues might come up.

The place do they go from right here?

Seats within the state legislature don’t get a number of consideration, however they’re good resume-building positions that may propel folks to outstanding positions in native, state and federal authorities. Former California assemblymembers embody L.A. mayoral candidates Karen Bass (at present a U.S. consultant) and Mike Feuer (at present L.A. metropolis lawyer), in addition to U.S. Consultant and Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy.

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Extra studying

The Candidates

Listed here are all of the candidates operating for twenty-four Meeting seats in L.A. County. We’ve listed every candidate’s title, occasion affiliation, marketing campaign web site, and marketing campaign finance the place data was obtainable. For sitting members of the Meeting, we’ve additionally included hyperlinks to their profiles in CalMatters’ Legislator tracker. The highest two candidates in every district, no matter occasion, will compete within the runoff election in November.

Three races in L.A. County are thought of extremely aggressive: District 34, District 39 and District 40.

Meeting District 34

From CalMatters’ 2022 Voter Information:

Sizzling race / Protected Republican

The District
From the San Andreas Fault to the Nevada border, this district takes within the entirety of California’s excessive desert — nearly. Parts of Palmdale, Lancaster and Victorville — the area’s most multiethnic and Los Angeles-connected cities — have been positioned into their very own Latino-majority district, leaving this yet another rural and extra conservative.

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Voter registration: 31.4% Democratic, 39.4% Republican, 20.2% no occasion choice

The Scoop
The issue with having an impartial redistricting fee is that generally it actually does behave independently. Simply ask Republican Assemblymembers Tom Lackey and Thurston “Smitty” Smith, each dwelling on this new excessive desert district. Neither moved, so GOP-leaning voters should decide their most popular incumbent.

Lackey, a former freeway patrolman, has been within the Meeting since 2014 and has developed a fame as a real average, consistent with his L.A. County-centered district. Smith is newer to the Capitol and a surer conservative vote.

The massive query is whether or not each incumbents, who dominate the sphere when it comes to identify recognition and fundraising, will safe the highest two spots and make it to November. Democrats make up a large minority of the district’s voters, so if all left-of-center voters rally behind the occasion’s endorsed candidate, Rita Ramirez Dean, it isn’t doubtless each Lackey and Smith will survive the first. However Ramirez has her personal flaws: She has run unsuccessfully for state or federal workplace a minimum of 9 occasions and after lately successful a seat on the Victorville metropolis council, she was kicked off after a majority of her colleagues deemed that she didn’t truly dwell there.

Rita Ramirez Dean, Retired Professor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: none discovered

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Paul Fournier (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: vote4paul.television/

Raj Kahlon, Actual Property Investor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: none discovered

Tom Lackey, Excessive Desert Assemblyman (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: lackeyforassembly.com
Meeting web site: ad36.asmrc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Lackey’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker.

Roger LaPlante, Veterans’ Advocate (No Social gathering Desire)
Marketing campaign web site: Twitter
Learn extra about LaPlante’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Thurston “Smitty” Smith, Assemblyman/Small Businessman (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: joinsmitty.com
Meeting web site: ad33.asmrc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Smith’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

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Meeting District 39

From CalMatters’ 2022 Voter Information:

Sizzling race / Protected Democratic

The District
This majority-Democrat district covers the northeastern elements of Los Angeles County, together with Palmdale, plus cities in San Bernardino County, together with Hesperia and Lancaster. The vast majority of voters listed here are Latino. The district is a blue cutout within the in any other case conservative-leaning excessive desert.

Voter registration: Democratic 47.3%, Republican 21.7%, no occasion choice 22.1%

The Scoop
No incumbent resides on this district, which suggests it’s an open seat. Democrat Andrea Rosenthal, who beforehand labored as political director for former Assemblymember Christy Smith, moved to this district to run, and earned the state occasion’s endorsement. She faces fellow Democrats Juan Carillo, a metropolis council member from Palmdale operating on his native cred with the backing of lots of the state Meeting’s Latino members, and former Assemblymember Steve Fox. A Republican-turned-Democrat who has a strained relationship with the state’s Democratic institution, Fox misplaced in 2016 after two lawsuits filed by former staffers, who alleged sexual harassment, being made to work with out pay and a hostile work atmosphere.

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The lone Republican within the race is Paul Andre Marsh, a veteran and neighborhood liaison.

Juan Carrillo, Councilmember, Metropolis of Palmdale (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: votejuancarrillo.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Steve G. Fox, Lawyer/Educator (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: electfox.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Paul Andre Marsh, Group Companies Liaison (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: paulmarshforassembly.com

Andrea Rosenthal, Housing Affordability Organizer (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: andreaforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

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Meeting District 40

From CalMatters’ 2022 Voter Information:

Sizzling race / Leans Democratic

The District
Anchored across the former Republican stronghold of Santa Clarita, this district reaches down throughout the Santa Susana Mountains into the north San Fernando Valley.

Voter registration: Democratic 41.8%, Republican 29.0%, no occasion choice 22.7%

The Scoop
Assemblymember Suzette Valladares, a Republican, is probably the highest electoral goal of the California Democratic Social gathering. Even with out redistricting, she would have been in for an enormous political battle, having received her seat in 2020 after a legion of little-known Democrats divided up the center-left vote. That left Valladares and one other Republican vying to characterize a district the place Democrats outnumber GOP voters. With the brand new electoral map, her district is even bluer. Within the Legislature, she has voted as one of the vital average Republican members.

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Which Democrat would be the one to take her on? Two, from reverse wings of the occasion, have risen to the problem. Pilar Schiavo, who campaigned for California to undertake a single-payer medical insurance system as a labor organizer, acquired the state occasion’s endorsement, together with the backing of a number of the state’s most progressive elected officers. Annie Cho, a South Korean immigrant who runs a public relations agency and completed third within the 2020 main, is operating beneath the banner of “accountable reform.” She has the backing of a number of the Legislature’s extra average members, together with a number of the greater names in Los Angeles metropolis politics.

Annie E. Cho, Businesswoman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: annieforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Pilar Schiavo, Nurse Advocate/Businessperson (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: pilar4ca.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
Learn extra about Schiavo’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Suzette Martinez Valladares, Assemblywoman/Educator (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: suzettevalladares.com
Meeting web site: ad38.asmrc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Valladares’ Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker.

Meeting District 41

Chris Holden, Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: holdenforassembly.com
Meeting web site: a41.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Holden’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker.

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Meeting District 42

Jacqui Irwin, State Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: jacquiirwin.com
Meeting web site: a44.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Irwin’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker.

Lori Mills, Businesswoman (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: lorimills4stateassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Ted Nordblum, Small Enterprise Proprietor (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: tednordblum.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
Learn extra about Nordblum’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Meeting District 43

Luz Maria Rivas, Assemblywoman/Science Educator (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: luzforassembly.com
Meeting web site: a39.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Rivas’ Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker.

Meeting District 44

Laura Friedman, Member of the State Meeting (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: votelaurafriedman.com
Meeting web site: a43.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Friedman’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

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Barry Curtis Jacobsen, Enterprise Proprietor (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: none discovered
Learn extra about Jacobsen’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Meeting District 46

Dana Caruso, Retired Assistant Principal (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: none discovered
Learn extra about Caruso’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Jesse Gabriel, Member of the California State Meeting (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: jessegabriel.com
Meeting web site: a45.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Gabriel’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker 

Meeting District 48

Blanca Rubio, Assemblywoman/Instructor (Democratic)

Marketing campaign web site: blancarubio.com 
Meeting web site: a48.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Rubio’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker 

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Meeting District 49

Burton Brink, Commissioner (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: burtonbrinkca.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
Learn extra about Brink’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Mike Fong, Member of the State Meeting, forty ninth District (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: mikefong.org
Meeting web site: mikefong.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Fong’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker 

Meeting District 51

Louis Abramson, Scientist/Group Organizer (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: louisforca.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Rick Chavez Zbur, Civil Rights Lawyer (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: rickchavezzbur.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Meeting District 52

Wendy Carrillo, Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: wendyforassembly.com
Meeting web site: a51.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Carrillo’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

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Gia D’Amato, Buyer Service Consultant (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: giafor2022.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Mia Livas Porter, Environmental Advocate/Mum or dad (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: miaforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Meeting District 53

Toni Holle (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: Fb web page 

Freddie Rodriguez, Assemblymember/First Responder (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: freddierodriguez.com
Meeting web site: a52.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Rodriguez’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker 

Meeting District 54

Miguel Santiago, Member of the State Meeting (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: santiagoforassembly.com
Meeting web site: a53.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Santiago’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker  

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Meeting District 55

Keith Girolamo Cascio, Software program Developer (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: keithfor55.org

Isaac G. Bryan, Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: isaacbryanforca.com
Meeting web site: a54.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Bryan’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker  

Meeting District 56

Lisa Calderon, Member of the Meeting (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: lisacalderon4assembly.com
Meeting web site: a57.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Calderon’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker  

Jessica Martinez, Metropolis of Whittier Councilmember (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: Fb web page
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Natasha “Naty” Serrano, Procurement Purchaser (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: natashaforassembly.com
Learn extra about Serrano’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

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Meeting District 57

Reggie Jones-Sawyer, California State Assemblyman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: jonessawyerforassembly.com
Meeting web site: a59.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Jones-Sawyer’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker  

Meeting District 61

Tina Simone McKinnor, Non-Revenue Director/Businesswoman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: tina4ca.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Robert Pullen-Miles, Mayor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: robertpullenmiles.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Angie Reyes English, Councilwoman/Councilman’s Deputy (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: angieforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site 

Nico Ruderman, Neighborhood Councilmember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: nicoruderman.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

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James Arlandus Spencer, Environmental Marketing consultant (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: robertpullenmiles.com

Meeting District 62-2020 Quick Time period

It is a runoff race from an April 5 particular election. The winner will fill the rest of the Meeting time period left vacant after Assemblymember Autumn Burke stepped down in January.

Tina Simone McKinnor, Non-Revenue Director/Businesswoman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: tina4ca.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Robert Pullen-Miles, Mayor, Metropolis of Lawndale (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: robertpullenmiles.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
Learn extra about Pullen-Miles’ coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Meeting District 62

Maria Estrada, Accountant (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: Fb web page
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

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Anthony Rendon, Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: anthonyrendon.org
Meeting web site: speaker.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Rendon’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker

Meeting District 64

Elizabeth Alcantar, Mayor/Group Educator (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: elizabethalcantar.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
Learn extra about Alcantar’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Roberto “Rob” Cancio, Physician/Educator/Businessman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: votecancio.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Rose Espinoza, Government Director/Councilwoman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: roseespinoza.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Raul Ortiz, Jr., Pest Management Supervisor (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: Instagram

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Blanca Pacheco, Downey Mayor/Businesswoman (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: pachecoforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Ana M. Valencia, Instructor/Councilmember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: anavalenciaforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Extra studying about this race:

Meeting District 65

Mike Anthony Gipson, California State Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: mikegipson.web
Meeting web site: a64.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Gipson’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker  

Fatima Iqbal-Zubair, Public Faculty Instructor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: fatimaforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

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Meeting District 66

George Barks, Enterprise Proprietor (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: none discovered

Al Muratsuchi, South Bay Assemblymember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: al4assembly.com
Meeting web site: a66.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Muratsuchi’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker 

Meeting District 67

Param Brar, Protection Contract Supervisor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: parambrar.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Sou Moua, CAD Designer (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: Fb web page

Sharon Quirk-Silva, Assemblymember/Instructor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: sharonquirksilva.com
Meeting web site: a65.asmdc.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site
See Quirk-Silva’s Meeting file by way of CalMatters’ Legislator Tracker  

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Soo Yoo, Faculty Board President (Republican)
Marketing campaign web site: sooyooforassembly.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Meeting District 69

Al Austin, II, Lengthy Seashore Councilmember (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: alaustinforassembly.org
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Josh Lowenthal, Small Enterprise Proprietor (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: joshlowenthal.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

Merry Taheri, Citizen Police Commissioner (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: merrytaheri4assembly.com
Learn extra about Taheri’s coverage priorities and expertise on Voter’s Edge

Janet Denise Foster, Healthcare Administrator (Democratic)
Marketing campaign web site: janetdfoster.com
Marketing campaign finance: See all marketing campaign contributions by way of the California Secretary of State web site

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Extra studying about this race:

What questions do you’ve gotten in regards to the June 7 main election?

Whether or not it is about the best way to register to vote or making sense of a candidate’s platform, we’re right here that will help you get poll prepared.

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California

Your favorite movies starring California

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Your favorite movies starring California


Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Here’s what you need to know to start your weekend:

The best movies that capture the essence of California

The Essential California team this year expanded opportunities for readers to directly engage with the newsletter. Each week we ask readers to answer a question — from the best local restaurants to favorite books.

One question in particular got a lot of attention and sparked some debate: What is your favorite movie that captures the essence of California?

Below are the most mentioned movies and comments from readers about what makes these films special to California. We hope this list will help find something to watch this weekend. Enjoy!

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“Chinatown”

Adelaide writes: “It doesn’t get more iconic than a film noir that tackles tremendous geopolitical issues that still affect us to this day.”

And Jim writes: “How can you talk about movies that capture the essence of California and not mention one of the greatest movies of all time, ‘Chinatown’? Today, despite the state’s beauty and glorious climate (most of the time), it is still as corrupt and morally bankrupt as it was back in the days of stealing water from the Owens Valley.”

Paul Giamatti, left, and Thomas Haden Church in the 2004 movie “Sideways,” directed by Alexander Payne.

(Searchlight Pictures)

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“Sideways”

Raymond Ballesteros writes: “One of my all time favorite movies to see that truly captures the essence of California, hands down, is ‘Sideways.’

“Alexander Payne seizes the beauty and majesty of California’s Santa Barbara wine country, including a handful of wineries that encapsulates the hearts of fellow wine lovers across California and the country. Of course, not to be watched with a glass of Merlot!”

One man stands looking at another man who's holding a surfboard in front of him

Keanu Reeves, left, and Patrick Swayze in the 1991 film “Point Break.”

(20th Century Fox)

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“Point Break”

Fritzi Lareau write: “I am a tour guide and when touring the Golden State I show my guests ‘Point Break’ (the original with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze) or ‘Hollywood Homicide’ starring Harrison Ford.”

A black-and-white film still of a man with glasses looking skeptical

Edward James Olmos stars as Garfield High School math teacher Jaime Escalante in 1988’s “Stand and Deliver.”

(Warner Bros. Pictures)

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“Stand and Deliver”

Robert Reul writes: “One great film that is 100% California is ‘Stand and Deliver,’ with Edward James Olmos and an amazing cast of young actors. I have found few, if any, films that capture the absolute magic that can happen in the community of first-generation Americans, descended from hard-working Mexican immigrants.”

Jeff Bridges takes a fighting stance in "The Big Lebowski."

Jeff Bridges as the title character in the Coen Brothers’ “The Big Lebowski.”

(Merrick Morton / Gramercy Pictures)

Honorable mentions

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“Top Gun”

“The Birds”

“The Parent Trap”

“The Big Lebowski”

“Fast Times at Ridgemont High”

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“La La Land”

Want to wade into the debate over which movie captures the essence of California? Feel free to email us at essentialcalifornia@latimes.com.

The week’s biggest stories

President-elect Donald Trump stands at a podium, American flags behind him, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2023.

President-elect Donald Trump, shown at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2023, is stocking his cabinet with Floridians.

(Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

Florida is winning the political battle with California as Trump takes office

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  • Trump is stocking his cabinet with Floridians. And his plans to reverse California’s policies on the environment, crime, homelessness and education are facing far less pushback than they did during his first term.
  • Gov. Gavin Newsom has vowed to continue the fight against Trump’s policies but without what he called “a resistance brand” that defined his earlier clashes.
  • Meanwhile, healthcare is Newsom’s biggest unfinished project. Trump complicates the governor’s task.

Destructive waves keep thrashing Santa Cruz, causing millions of dollars in damage in recent years

Scientists say we are fighting H5N1 bird flu with one hand tied behind our backs

  • Scientists and health officials fear we’re on the precipice of another global pandemic as the H5N1 bird flu virus steamrolls its way across the globe. But when that could come to pass is hard to predict.
  • Just one mutation can make the bird flu a threat to humans, California researchers found.
  • L.A. County health officials are warning pet owners to avoid raw cat food after a feline died of bird flu.

California is growing again

  • The Golden State’s population grew by almost a quarter of a million residents in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a rebound that brings California almost back to its pre-pandemic numbers.
  • While California’s population gain of 232,570 people from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024, represents the largest numeric population increase in the nation’s West, it lagged behind Texas, which expanded its population by 562,941, and Florida, which grew by 467,347 people.

More big stories

Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here.

This week’s must reads

Illustration of a police search party in a snowy wooded area. Splatters of blood are seen in the snow.

(Emiliano Ponzi / For The Times)

A California inmate recruited “wives” to spread fentanyl across Alaska, federal authorities say.

The prisoner, Heraclio Sanchez Rodriguez, oversaw a sprawling drug ring that spread death and addiction to the most remote corners of Alaska, prosecutors say.

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More great reads

How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com.

For your weekend

a man in a green tracksuit with his hands behind his head

Refresh yourself on “Squid Game” before starting Season 2 on Netflix.

(No Ju-han / Netflix)

Going out

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Staying in

How well did you follow the news this week? Take our quiz.

A collection of photos from this week's news quiz.

(Times staff and wire photos)

Which creature gets top billing in the title of the Barry Jenkins–directed “Lion King” prequel that hit theaters last week? Plus nine other questions from our weekly news quiz.

Have a great weekend, from the Essential California team

Hunter Clauss, multiplatform editor

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Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.



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California

Winning $1.22 billion Mega Millions ticket sold in Northern California

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Winning .22 billion Mega Millions ticket sold in Northern California


One Californian has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold for the drawing Friday night.

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According to the California State Lottery, the jackpot ticket was sold in Cottonwood, within Shasta County limits. Two other 5 out of 5 winning tickets were sold in California; one in Roseville and another in San Bernardino.

The winner matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. The identity of the winner was not immediately known.

The total amount of the Mega Millions jackpot would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Friday night’s drawing is an estimated $549.7 million.

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Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continued to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grew. Until Friday, the last time a Mega Millions player hit the top prize was Sept. 10.

The largest-ever Mega Millions jackpot ticket worth $1.6 billion was sold in Florida in August 2023. Two prizes for its compatriot Powerball lottery have been larger.

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Mega Millions and Powerball are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is sold in Puerto Rico.

KTVU contributed to this report.

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State of California confirms an increase in Social Security payments as of Dec. 30

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State of California confirms an increase in Social Security payments as of Dec. 30


The State of California has confirmed that Social Security beneficiaries will receive an increase in their payments beginning December 30, 2024. This 2.5% increase is part of the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) applied across the United States for 2025. The COLA is based on inflation rates to ensure beneficiaries maintain their purchasing power.

The December 30, 2024 Payment

The first payment reflecting this increase will be for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Normally scheduled for January 1, this payment has been moved to December 30 due to the New Year’s Day holiday. This adjustment benefits millions in California and across the country, particularly those who rely on these funds for basic needs.

Types of Social Security Benefits

The Social Security program encompasses several types of benefits, all of which will see the 2.5% increase:

  1. Retirement Benefits: For individuals who have reached retirement age and contributed to the system during their working years.
  2. Disability Insurance (SSDI): For individuals unable to work due to a long-term disability.
  3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI): For low-income individuals, including seniors and people with disabilities.
  4. Survivor Benefits: Payments made to family members of deceased workers.

January 2025 Payment Schedule

Social Security payments are distributed based on the beneficiary’s birthdate. Here is the schedule for January 2025:

  • January 3: Payments for those who receive benefits before May 1997 or who also receive SSI.
  • January 8: Beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of the month.
  • January 15: Beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th of the month.
  • January 22: Beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st of the month.

The COLA increase will be reflected in all these payments.

Impact in California and Nationwide

California, home to more than 6 million Social Security beneficiaries, will see a significant impact from this adjustment. However, the increase is a nationwide policy benefiting over 70 million recipients across the United States.

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This adjustment aims to ease the financial burden on Americans as they face rising living costs, reinforcing the commitment to support the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

For more details about your payments, you can visit the official Social Security Administration (SSA) website.



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