2026 California General Election Environmental Justice Candidates

Assemblymember Mia Bonta has been a strong voice for immigrants’ rights, Medi-Cal protection, and addressing pollution in Oakland since her election in 2021. This year, she authored CEJA Action’s priority bill AB 40, the Community First Coal Review Act, requiring a full Environmental Impact Report before any local agency can approve a new or expanded large-scale coal facility.

Clarissa Cervantes has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental justice and progressive values as a current Riverside City Councilmember. Through her proactive and meaningful engagement with labor, environmental justice, and community groups, she has opposed proposed warehouse expansions to protect community health from increasing pollution. Learn more about Clarissa Cervantes and support her campaign here.

West Hollywood City Councilmember John Erickson’s career showcases his deep understanding of the intersections of class, race, gender, and the environment that lead to and compound injustice. As current Chief of Staff for the Alliance for a Better Community, where he works to protect Latino communities across Los Angeles from ICE, Erickson puts community safety first and advances community-driven solutions. Learn more about John Erickson and support his campaign here.

Sarah Rascon’s past experience as a statewide and local legislative staffer, coupled with her sustainability and environmental justice work for the California public agency Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), makes her uniquely suited for leading on environmental justice policy. She is committed to advancing equitable land use, co-governing with community, and protecting public health. Learn more about Sarah Rascon and support her campaign here.

A long-time progressive leader within the Assembly, Assemblymember Karla has led foundational worker, environmental, and racial justice legislation. His leadership has been key in expanding tenant protections and programs to address air pollution and hold polluters accountable.

Since being elected and endorsed by CEJA Action in 2022, Assemblymember Pellerin has been a strong and consistent vote on environmental justice issues. In her prior role as the Santa Cruz County chief elections official, she expanded voting accessibility to ensure that our democracy includes everyone, including non-English speakers and system-impacted voters.

Assemblymember Addis has worked to link local environmental justice issues to statewide solutions. In the legislature, she authored bills to protect local governments’ authority to restrict oil and gas pollution, and she stood with CEJA in advocating for health and safety protections from oil and gas drilling for future affordable housing development. In CEJA’s 2025 legislative scorecard, she scored 106% for always voting with EJ and leading on our priority issues.

Assemblymember Gregg Hart has been a strong environmental justice ally in the legislature, especially on our key issue areas of energy equity and climate justice. He has led on policies regarding public transit and clean energy for the central coast as well as oil and gas well clean up and remediation, working to ensure that taxpayers are not covering the cost.

Assemblymember Steve Bennett has a long history of supporting Ventura County’s frontline farmworking communities and creating California’s first multilingual farmworker resource center. Assemblymember Bennett has continued his leadership for California’s working families and democracy rights, especially in partnership with CEJA Action member organization CAUSE Action Fund. This year, he was awarded a 2026 CEJA Action Decision Maker award for his support in advancing the closure of polluting fossil fuel facilities in the Central Coast.

As a previous labor leader for over 20 years serving California’s healthcare providers, Assemblymember Schiavo has built broad coalitions between labor and community organizations to advocate for economic and environmental justice victories for tenants, working families, and communities of color. Schiavo has spearheaded and won district-wide resources supporting rental and utility assistance and rent hike protections. She is a leading voice for corporate polluter accountability in the legislature, pushing for the closure of Aliso Canyon and opposing proposed expansions of the facility.

Assemblymember Robert Garcia is a consistent supporter of environmental justice priorities in the legislature, regularly meeting and partnering with CEJA Action member organization Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ). As a former school teacher and school board member, he has spent his career serving students and families of color. He is an advocate for healthy homes and neighborhoods, quality education for all, and emphasizes the importance of environmental justice in San Bernardino.

As chair of the Natural Resources committee, Assemblymember Bryan has prioritized environmental justice communities’ concerns and authored bills to bring federal funding to disadvantaged communities in California, democracy rights, and work to hold Big Oil accountable to protect the health of communities living with oil drilling in their neighborhoods. This year, he authored AB 1457, sponsored by CEJA Action member Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment (CRPE), which aims to expand landmark EJ bill SB 1000 (2016) that requires cities and counties to add environmental justice goals to their long-term general plans.

Assemblymember Sade Elhawary is a social justice leader, never failing to speak up on behalf of marginalized and underinvested communities. As a former educator, community organizer, and public leader, Sade Elhawary has seen the ways that corporate polluters have poisoned communities and escaped accountability. She is committed to championing healthy, safe, well-resourced, and environmentally just South Los Angeles.

As a current Assemblymember and former San Diego city councilmember, Chris Ward has led alongside regional and statewide environmental justice organizations to combat climate change. This year, Ward authored CEJA Action priority bill AB 1813, the Community Renewable Energy Program Act, expanding access to community solar and storage for renters and low-income residents.

Senator Padilla has led on advancing meaningful solutions to the Tijuana River Valley pollution and public health crisis that has been left unaddressed in San Diego for years. As former Mayor and Councilmember of Chula Vista, Padilla led the approval of the city’s landmark Climate Action Plan to implement community choice energy and spearheaded the expansion of new parks, housing, and community spaces serving communities of color.

Senator Caroline Menjivar is one of California’s most progressive legislators, holding the line against right-wing federal attacks on immigrants’ rights, healthcare, and the environment. This year, she authored SB 1125, co-sponsored by CEJA Action member organization Leadership Counsel Action, to establish a low-income water rate assistance program to ensure all Californians have access to drinking water.