Kevin de León
2020 - Present
2024
3
Kevin de León is a member of the Los Angeles City Council in California, representing District 14. He assumed office on October 15, 2020. His current term ends on December 9, 2024.
De León is running for re-election to the Los Angeles City Council to represent District 14 in California. He is on the ballot in the primary on March 5, 2024.
Biography
De León's professional experience includes working as a senior associate with the National Education Association and working for the One Stop Immigration & Educational Center.
He joined the Alliance for a Better California and the California Teachers Association as a member.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: City elections in Los Angeles, California (2024)
General election
The primary will occur on March 5, 2024. The general election will occur on November 5, 2024. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Los Angeles City Council District 14
The following candidates are running in the primary for Los Angeles City Council District 14 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Kevin de León (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Wendy Carrillo (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Nadine M. Diaz (Nonpartisan) | |
| Genny Guerrero (Nonpartisan) | |
| Teresa Y. Hillery (Nonpartisan) | |
| Ysabel J. Jurado (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Miguel Santiago (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Eduardo Vargas (Nonpartisan)  | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Mayoral election in Los Angeles, California (2022)
General election
General election for Mayor of Los Angeles
Karen Bass defeated Rick J. Caruso in the general election for Mayor of Los Angeles on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Karen Bass (Nonpartisan) | 54.8 | 509,944 |
 | Rick J. Caruso (Nonpartisan) | 45.2 | 420,030 | |
| Total votes: 929,974 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Los Angeles
The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Los Angeles on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Karen Bass (Nonpartisan) | 43.1 | 278,511 |
| ✔ | | Rick J. Caruso (Nonpartisan) | 36.0 | 232,490 |
| Kevin de León (Nonpartisan) | 7.8 | 50,372 | |
 | Gina Viola (Nonpartisan) | 6.9 | 44,341 | |
 | Mike Feuer (Nonpartisan) (Unofficially withdrew) | 1.9 | 12,087 | |
 | Andrew Kim (Nonpartisan) | 1.5 | 9,405 | |
 | Alex Gruenenfelder (Nonpartisan) | 1.0 | 6,153 | |
 | Joe Buscaino (Nonpartisan) (Unofficially withdrew) | 0.7 | 4,485 | |
 | Craig E. Greiwe (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 2,439 | |
 | Mel Wilson (Nonpartisan) | 0.4 | 2,336 | |
| Ramit Varma (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 1,916 | |
| John Jackson (Nonpartisan) | 0.2 | 1,511 | |
| Total votes: 646,046 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
See also: City elections in Los Angeles, California (2020)
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Los Angeles City Council District 14
Kevin de León won election outright against Cyndi Otteson, Raquel Zamora, Mónica García, and John Jimenez in the primary for Los Angeles City Council District 14 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin de León (Nonpartisan) | 52.6 | 25,083 |
| Cyndi Otteson (Nonpartisan) | 19.5 | 9,294 | |
| Raquel Zamora (Nonpartisan) | 13.6 | 6,483 | |
| Mónica García (Nonpartisan) | 11.0 | 5,222 | |
| John Jimenez (Nonpartisan) | 3.3 | 1,595 | |
| Total votes: 47,677 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
A complete list of de León's endorsements can be found on his campaign website here.
2018
General election
General election for U.S. Senate California
Incumbent Dianne Feinstein defeated Kevin de León in the general election for U.S. Senate California on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Dianne Feinstein (D) | 54.2 | 6,019,422 |
| Kevin de León (D) | 45.8 | 5,093,942 | |
| Total votes: 11,113,364 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. Senate California
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. Senate California on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dianne Feinstein (D) | 44.2 | 2,947,035 |
| ✔ | | Kevin de León (D) | 12.1 | 805,446 |
 | James P. Bradley (R) | 8.3 | 556,252 | |
 | Arun Bhumitra (R) | 5.3 | 350,815 | |
 | Paul Taylor (R) | 4.9 | 323,533 | |
 | Erin Cruz (R) | 4.0 | 267,494 | |
 | Tom Palzer (R) | 3.1 | 205,183 | |
 | Alison Hartson (D) | 2.2 | 147,061 | |
 | Roque De La Fuente (R) | 2.0 | 135,278 | |
 | Pat Harris (D) | 1.9 | 126,947 | |
| John Crew (R) | 1.4 | 93,806 | |
 | Patrick Little (R) | 1.3 | 89,867 | |
 | Kevin Mottus (R) | 1.3 | 87,646 | |
| Jerry Laws (R) | 1.0 | 67,140 | |
 | Derrick Michael Reid (L) | 0.9 | 59,999 | |
 | Adrienne Nicole Edwards (D) | 0.8 | 56,172 | |
 | Douglas Howard Pierce (D) | 0.6 | 42,671 | |
 | Mario Nabliba (R) | 0.6 | 39,209 | |
 | David Hildebrand (D) | 0.5 | 30,305 | |
| Donnie Turner (D) | 0.5 | 30,101 | |
| Herbert Peters (D) | 0.4 | 27,468 | |
 | David Moore (Independent) | 0.4 | 24,614 | |
 | Ling Shi (Independent) | 0.4 | 23,506 | |
 | John Thompson Parker (Peace and Freedom Party) | 0.3 | 22,825 | |
| Lee Olson (Independent) | 0.3 | 20,393 | |
 | Gerald Plummer (D) | 0.3 | 18,234 | |
 | Jason Hanania (Independent) | 0.3 | 18,171 | |
 | Don Grundmann (Independent) | 0.2 | 15,125 | |
| Colleen Shea Fernald (Independent) | 0.2 | 13,536 | |
 | Rash Bihari Ghosh (Independent) | 0.2 | 12,557 | |
| Tim Gildersleeve (Independent) | 0.1 | 8,482 | |
| Michael Fahmy Girgis (Independent) | 0.0 | 2,986 | |
| Total votes: 6,669,857 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Leigh Scott (R)
- John Estrada (R)
- Steve Stokes (D)
- Michael Eisen (Independent)
- Topher Brennan (D)
- Timothy Charles Kalemkarian (R)
- Jerry Leon Carroll (Independent)
- Charles Junior Hodge (Independent)
- John Melendez (D)
- Caren Lancona (R)
- Stephen Schrader (R)
- Donald Adams (Independent)
- Richard Mead (Independent)
- Clifton Roberts (Independent)
- Michael Ziesing (G)
- Jazmina Saavedra (R)
2014
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Incumbent Kevin De Leon (D) and Peter Choi (D) defeated William "Rodriguez" Morrison (D) in the blanket primary. De Leon defeated Choi in the general election.[2][3][4]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Kevin De Leon Incumbent |
65.8% | 57,412 | |
| Democratic | Peter Choi | 34.2% | 29,848 | |
| Total Votes | 87,260 | |||
2010
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2010
De León was eligible but did not seek re-election in 2010. He instead sought election to the district 22 seat of the California State Senate. De León defeated Alejandro Menchaca and Edward Paul Reyes in the June 8 primary. He then won unopposed in the November 2 general election.[5][6]
| California State Senate, District 22 Democratic Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Kevin de León (D)
|
18,743 | |||
| Edward Paul Reyes (D) | 3,757 | |||
| Alejandro Menchaca (D) | 3,727 | |||
| David Rosas (D) | 5,775 | |||
2008
In 2008, de León was re-elected to the California State Assembly District 45. De León (D) finished with 70,869 votes while his opponent Philip Alexander (R) finished with 15,506 votes.[7]
| California State Assembly District 45 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Kevin de León (D)
|
70,869 | |||
| Philip Alexander (R) | 15,506 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2022
Kevin de León did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
De León's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
HOMELESS ACTION PLAN On any given night in Los Angeles, more than 41,000 people go to sleep without a place to call home. Single mothers and fathers, veterans and the working poor, those with medical needs and others who just need a second chance; their struggles are an indictment of our tattered social safety net and a bureaucracy that has paralyzed itself into inaction. For several years in my early twenties, I was homeless. I lived in my car, relied on the kindness of friends for a place to stay, and even spent two years sleeping on the floor of an office building where I worked. Like so many Angelenos today – I had a job; I just couldn’t afford to pay the rent. It’s that experience that drives me to act with urgency, where others have preferred to triangulate, study, and poll-test the best way out of our city’s homelessness crisis. That’s why I moved so quickly to create more homeless housing opportunities in the last year than anyone else in the City. All told, I have created over 1,600 units of emergency housing since being sworn into City Council – and we’re not done yet. In fact, just 10 months into my term, the City Council unanimously adopted my “25×25” plan– 25,000 units by the year 2025 – in order to help house those who are experiencing homelessness. Anyone can make big promises about solving homelessness, but the difference is: I’m already doing something about it. As Mayor, I will take this same action-based approach and hit the ground running to get our fellow Angelenos off the street and into housing, and to get them the help they need. Problem: Not enough housing options to lift struggling Angelenos into housing Solution: Build emergency units at the scale this emergency demands
Problem: Too many who are still housed are in danger of losing their home Solution: Focus on homelessness prevention— not just services for those already experiencing homelessness
Problem: Lack of mental health and addiction services Solution: Create a Los Angeles Department of Public and Mental Health to create accountability and capacity
MAKING L.A. AFFORDABLE When the average cost of a rental in Los Angeles is $2,500 per month, and the average price of a home is just shy of $1,000,000 – if you’re not super-wealthy, you’re super out-of-luck. As Mayor, I will be a champion for working people, making sure that everyone pays their fair share, including corporations and the super wealthy, so that the working families and small businesses who make this city go can thrive. And here’s why: I know firsthand what it feels like to live on the margins. Growing up, there were many months when my mother – who often worked more than one job just to make ends meet – didn’t have the money to pay the rent. When the landlord would come knocking on our door, she would raise a finger to her lips, and in a hushed voice she would say, “Shh, callense! No digan nada!” “Shh, be quiet. Don’t say anything.” In my early twenties, I spent years living out of my car, relying on the kindness of friends for a place to stay, even sleeping on the floor of an office where I worked. I had a job – I just couldn’t afford to put a roof over my own head. Since then, it’s only gotten worse for so many Angelenos. Most people in Los Angeles spend more than half their take-home pay on rent, if they are lucky to find a place they can afford at all. This is not the Los Angeles that we all want. Whether you’re a teacher, a firefighter, a carpenter, a street vendor or a small business owner, you deserve to have a liveable, affordable Los Angeles. As Mayor, I will be a champion for working people – enacting my plan to put this city to work for all Angelenos by addressing inequality, and making sure everyone who lives in this city has access to affordable housing. From containing rising rents, the cost of paying the monthly bills, and housing costs to helping small businesses recover from the pandemic, we’re looking at innovative ways to make this city work better for you. Problem: Housing feels out-of-reach for too many people Solution: Downpayment support for first-time homebuyers; mandate affordable housing in every new project
Problem: The cost of living in Los Angeles is too high Solution: Help people earn higher wages, and encourage small business growth
Problem: Shrinking pathway to the middle class Solution: Create jobs, free up capital for LA’s small businesses and entrepreneurs
PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN Where I grew up, witnessing crime was a part of everyday life. The Mayor’s most important job is to keep Angelenos safe and to ensure that they’re treated with dignity and respect. Every Angeleno has the right to be safe. As Mayor, I will make sure criminals are held accountable. Public safety is more than just putting more cops on the beat– it’s about working to prevent crime before it happens. Public safety is a complex issue that requires informed, thoughtful, and realistic solutions. Scare tactics and outlandish promises might grab headlines, but they don’t make a city safer. My plan centers around adding resources in targeted ways to address our actual public safety needs and rethinking how we approach policing. It calls for reforming our culture of policing, getting illegal guns off the streets, and using proven approaches to stop crime before it starts. Reforming policing does not mean letting criminals off the hook. The truth is – most neighborhoods still want good, highly trained police officers to respond when we call 9-1-1, but we can have that and make significant investments in services for neighborhoods beyond policing in a more comprehensive approach to public safety. Problem: Police are stretched too thin Solution: Use the right tool for the job
Problem: Crime is on the rise Solution: Fix the causes, not just the symptoms of crime
Problem: Making LAPD more accountable Solution: Reform the fundamentals
Transportation Plan Transportation helped define our city. From a car culture known the world over, to the first freeway in America (the Arroyo Seco Parkway), to traffic that has become iconic in its own right, as well as our famous lack of public transit, how we get around the city is a defining part of who we are as Angelenos. But transportation is so much more than how we travel between two points. Transportation is an issue of economic equity and environmental justice. It’s how we work and how we join communities. I am working towards making a more connected Los Angeles– especially to our communities of color and in the San Fernando Valley– and making public transportation cheaper, cleaner, and safer. One of the easiest ways to green our city is to allow more people to ride public transit, but that means making public transit better. It means more stops in the place people live and work, it means cutting costs for riders, and making our fleet all electric. I’m putting forward a transportation plan that puts the needs of working Angelenos at its center. Problem: Many cannot afford the extra cost of public transportation Solution: Subsidizes fares for youth and seniors
Problem: The San Fernando Valley is disconnected from Metro LA and the Westside Solution: Prioritize the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor Project
Problem: Metro serves only a fraction of Angelenos and is inaccessible to many Solution: Create a more efficient and safe Metro that gets more Angelenos where they want to go
Problem: LA’s transit systems operate independently Solution: Create synergy between DOT, Metro and Metrolink
Problem: Metrolink is underutilized by riders Solution: Make Metrolink trains cheaper to ride, accessible and more frequent
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN Climate change is an existential threat to human existence, and in California we see it more and more every year. From droughts, to a seemingly never-ending wildfire season, climate change is here, and we have to do everything within our power to mitigate its most damaging and deadly effects. That’s why as President of the California Senate, I made California the national leader in fighting climate change. I authored and passed the historic SB 100 which made California the largest economy in the world to commit to a clean energy grid by 2045; and legislation to ensure that our climate investments go to the underserved communities most sharply impacted by the effects of air pollution and climate change. But environmental policy is about much more than just fighting climate change – it is about environmental justice. It is about ensuring that no matter what zip code you live in, you have access to clean air and greenspace. It is about righting the historical wrongs which concentrated industry and pollutants in poorer communities of color, while preserving parks for those who already had so much. That’s why I wrote AB 31, which funded the creation of at least 22 parks in Los Angeles alone, with an eye to equity and environmental justice. Every child should be able to feel green grass underneath their feet. Every mother and father should be able to send their kids outside to play without worrying about the air they breathe. Every Angeleno should be able to enjoy the natural wonders of this land we call our home. Problem: Los Angeles still has some of the dirtiest air in the nation Solution: Bring electrification within reach for Angelenos
Problem: As the climate warms, too many Angelenos have no defense from the heat Solution: Expand and maintain our Urban Canopy
Problem: The Port of Los Angeles is one of the greatest contributors to air pollution in the region Solution: Use LA’s economic leverage to green the port
Problem: Too many Angelenos have no access to open space Solution: Supercharge the building of parks
Problem: The electrical grid is aging and unable to keep up with demand Solution: Work with DWP to modernize the grid NOW
Education Plan Our kids, no matter their zip code, all deserve the best possible education. Growing up, I was no star student, but I had teachers who believed in me and made sure that I achieved my potential. That’s what we all want for our kids, but our education system is failing too many of them— and their parents. Early in my working life, I spent years fighting for our teachers and their families as a labor organizer for the California Teachers Association and the National Education Association. Those fights helped shape my dedication to our schools. The Mayor may not be in charge of LAUSD, but they can have a big impact. A Mayor can just be satisfied with the status quo– or they can push hard for change. I believe that the Mayor of Los Angeles needs to take an active role in supporting students and our teachers. As President Pro Tem of your California State Senate, I helped our schools become more energy efficient with Proposition 39, and I’m already working with LAUSD to transition to zero-emission school buses which will have a demonstrable impact on air quality along bus routes. I’ve outlined my plans to make our schools work better for all of our students, be better stewards of our tax dollars, and help our students move from high school to the working world. Problem: School schedules make it hard for working parents to be active in their children’s schools. Solution: Match the school day to work times
Problem: LAUSD funnels money for high-need students to security Solution: Protect funds meant for high-need students
Problem: There is a gap between total graduation rates and those of English learners, students who are differently abled, and students in foster care Solution: Restore vital services which were discontinued during the height of the pandemic
Problem: Many students don’t see a path after high school Solution: Expand vocational training and apprenticeship programs
|
” |
| —Kevin de León's campaign website (2022)[9] | ||
2020
Kevin de León completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by de León's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I love Los Angeles and CD 14 and I've represented the majority of the district for the last 12 years. I am running to take on the biggest challenges facing Los Angeles: addressing the city's housing crisis and tackling its regional transportation issues. The construction of affordable and workforce housing is crucial to the economic development and prosperity of the city. The lack of public transportation options has become a serious quality of life issue for many residents. We are not without options or solutions-we have to reject the politics of apathy and cynicism that have kept us stuck in the status quo. I want to make our city more progressive, more inclusive, more welcoming, and more supportive for every Angeleno. That's why I'm running for City Council.
- This race is a question of leadership, not values.
- I think we can do better, think bigger and bolder and come up with more creative solutions - together.
- We are going to re-imagine our district in a way that benefits us and the rest of Los Angeles.
Environmental justice, clean & renewable energy, justice for our immigrant community, homelessness & housing, social safety net programs, improving access to quality education and making our world a more sustainable, more equitable, and more compassionate place.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2018
Campaign website
DeLeón's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Leader on the Environment and Clean Energy With his leadership and landmark legislation, Senator de León has established California’s reputation as a recognized global leader in the battle against climate change and a pioneer in creating a clean energy economy. He played a central role in crafting a bipartisan deal this year to extend California’s cap-and-trade program with $1 billion of the generated revenue to tackle diesel pollution and bolster electrification of our transportation and vehicles. Continuing steady progress in energy efficiency, Kevin has put California on a path to 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 – the largest state in the nation to do so – with an eye toward becoming 100 percent renewable by 2045. California is by far the nation’s clean-energy leader and it is paying workforce dividends with the creation of well over 500,000 clean energy jobs in the Golden State – 10 times more than there are coal jobs in the entire nation. With SB 1275 (2014), he created a rebate initiative to make electric cars more accessible to working families with the goal of placing one million low-emission vehicles on the road. Recognizing the disproportionate suffering from pollution and climate change in disadvantaged communities, Senator de León successfully passed SB 535 (2012) which requires California to spend at least 25 percent of cap-and-trade revenue to benefit low-income communities. This law is resulting in new transit, energy efficiency, renewable energy and affordable housing projects across the state. Also in 2012, Senator de León co-chaired the successful Proposition 39 campaign closing a corporate-tax loophole and creating a $2.5 billion revenue fund for energy-efficiency upgrades in schools. Exemplifying his longtime commitment to increasing access to the environment, Kevin’s first legislative measure when he arrived in Sacramento allocated park funds for communities lacking parks and green space, resulting in 126 park projects across the state - the largest initiative of its kind in the nation. Tackling pollution in his district, Senator de León was instrumental in bringing attention and accountability to the hazardous pollution caused by the Exide battery recycling plant in Vernon, which for years had operated illegally while contaminating nearby communities with lead, arsenic, and other toxins. Senator de León has since secured millions of dollars for cleanup, while implementing oversight and reform measures at the Department of Toxic Substance Control to prevent similar future occurrences. Kevin’s record on the environment and energy has been studied by international leaders as they lay out their own steps to confront climate change and build clean-energy economies. He led the California delegation to the U.N. Climate Talks in Peru and Morocco and accompanied Governor Brown to Paris in 2015 to showcase California’s landmark accomplishments. Transportation, Housing and Infrastructure The road to California’s future infrastructure has long been in disrepair. This year, Senator de León led the Legislature in creating solutions that will benefit future generations of Californians. He was instrumental in shepherding SB 1 (Beall) into law this year, making an additional $5.4 billion a year investment in road, freeway, bridge and transit projects over the next decade. The result will be lower commute times, safer roads and job creation. Senator de León also this year successfully passed SB 5, giving Californians the opportunity to make long-overdue investments in our parks and flood-control infrastructure with a $4 billion general obligation bond measure on the June 2018 ballot. At a time when homeownership in California is at its lowest point since the 1940’s, Senator de León led the Senate in moving legislation to fund new development, streamline approval processes, strengthen existing laws, and create more local accountability to build new housing and increase homeownership across the Golden State. Focusing on the most vulnerable, like returning veterans and the homeless, the Senate passed landmark measures to help those with the fewest options when it comes to housing. In 2016, Senator de León championed the “No Place Like Home” initiative, an innovative and ambitious proposal to address homelessness in California by securing $2 billion in bond financing for construction and rehabilitation of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless Californians suffering from mental illness. Immigrant Protection With a firm understanding in the contributions of the undocumented community to California’s culture and economy, Kevin has led the fight against local law enforcement being commandeered to enforce federal immigration laws. This year, he passed SB 54, the California Values Act, which prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies, including school police and security departments, from using resources to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest people for immigration enforcement purposes. The bill also directs the state Attorney General to develop model policies to be implemented by public schools, libraries, hospitals, courthouses and other public facilities that would limit “to the fullest extent possible” assistance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. With President Trump's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, Senator de León was instrumental in negotiating $30 million to assist the nearly 250,000 Dreamers in California with legal services as well as “safety net” funding to help DACA students stay in school should they become unable to work to support their education. In 2015, Senator de León led a bicameral coalition to sponsor legislation that addresses lapses in our justice and labor systems creating serious challenges for the California’s immigrant community, including stronger wage theft laws, securing u-visas from law enforcement, and providing healthcare for undocumented children. In 2013, he brokered a compromise with Governor Jerry Brown to ensure signage of a law which allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses, gain access to insurance, and step out of the shadow economy. Before joining the Legislature, Senator de León taught citizenship courses to immigrants and led opposition to 1994’s Proposition 187, a voter-approved statewide initiative that denied government services to undocumented immigrants. Voice for the Working Class Senator de León was a lead negotiator with Governor Jerry Brown and the state’s unions to secure a $15 minimum wage in California, and then shepherded the legislation through both houses to the Governor’s desk. He overcame powerful opposition from Wall Street to pass SB 1234, which created Secure Choice retirement-savings program for California’s private-sector low-income workers. Secure Choice was the first automatic IRA program of its kind in the nation and will help millions of Californians achieve retirement security when fully implemented. Senator de León has also authored workers’ compensation reform that lowered insurance costs for businesses, while increasing workers’ benefits. He also authored legislation that strengthens the Labor Commissioner’s authority in tackling the scourge of wage theft in cities across California - especially Los Angeles which has been dubbed the “Wage Theft Capital of the U.S.” Senator de León also negotiated the expansion of California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program, replacing the program’s lottery system with a process that quantifies job creation and economic benefits to the state’s economy. Women's Advocate When Planned Parenthood advocated this year for an increase in higher Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for reproductive health care, Senator de León carried their fight into budget negotiations and secured $50 million from Proposition 56 tobacco tax revenue. Guided by a strong belief in a woman’s right to control her own health care, Senator de León has been stalwart defender for preserving federal funding for family planning as a Republican-led Congress continues to target Planned Parenthood for defunding. Senator de León’s strong and unwavering advocacy for access and choice has been recognized by Planned Parenthood with a consistent 100 percent voting record and numerous awards, with special recognition in 2014 for legislative leadership. Alarmed by the serious problem posed nationwide by sexual violence on college campuses, Senator de León set out to find solutions for California. In 2014, his bill to prevent sexual assault on college campuses was first law in the nation to require affirmative consent, earning him the recognition from Marie Claire last year as one of the “ten biggest supporters of women’s right in U.S. government.” Ms. Magazine selected his “yes means yes” measure as the most significant legislative victory on behalf of women for 2014. He followed up with legislation in 2015 that requires public high schools teaching health education classes to include sexual assault prevention in their curricula. Also in 2015, he empowered women in the workforce with state budget funding for thousands of more slots for subsidized child cares. Public Safety and Negotiating the Budget Throughout his decade in the legislature, Senator de León has fought for sensible gun control. In 2016, he led the charge to enact the most stringent gun control policies in a generation, including his groundbreaking SB 1235 requiring background checks for anyone who buys or sells ammunition. In three years serving as the Senate’s lead in negotiating the budget, Senator de León has secured critical investments that strengthen the bookends of a student’s educational career, pushing for new investments in childcare and higher education. Under his leadership, California has added over 20,000 additional slots for California students in the University of California and the California State University. Both budgets during his tenure as Senate leader have been delivered on time, provided protective reserves, paid down debt, provided relief funding for the drought, and wisely invested in children and working families.[8] |
” |
| —Kevin de León for U.S. Senate[10] | ||
Campaign advertisements
The following is an example of an ad from DeLeon's 2018 election campaign.
|
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Rules, Chair |
| • Rules |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, de León served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Rules, Chair |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, de León served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Appropriations, Chair |
| • Energy, Utilities and Communications |
| • Governmental Organization |
| • Public Safety |
| • Arts |
| • Emergency Management |
| • Legislative Budget |
| • Joint Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, De León serves on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Elections and Constitutional Amendments |
| • Energy, Utilities and Communications |
| • Governmental Organization |
| • Health |
| • Audit |
| • Rules |
| • Rules |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, De León served on these committees while a member of the California State Assembly:
| California committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Appropriations, Chair |
| • Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media |
| • Governmental Organization |
| • Health |
| • Joint Legislative Budget |
| • Natural Resources |
Issues
Legislative scorecard
Capitol Weekly, California's major weekly periodical covering the state legislature, publishes an annual legislative scorecard to pin down the political or ideological leanings of every member of the legislature based on how they voted on an assortment of bills in the most recent legislative session. The 2009 scores were based on votes on 19 bills, but did not include how legislators voted on the Proposition 1A (2009). On the scorecard, "100" is a perfect liberal score and "0" is a perfect conservative score.[11][12]
On the 2009 Capitol Weekly legislative scorecard, De León ranked as a 94.[13]
Ballot measure committee
De León sponsors a campaign committee called "Believing in a Better California." In 2011-2012, the committee raised $188,150 and spent $168,385. Of the $168,385 that was spent, $35,400 (about 21%) went to help pass or defeat ballot measures.[14]
De León took four trips to Las Vegas with funds from "Believing in a Better California." According to an investigative report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, while in Las Vegas he attended "marquee prizefights and host glitzy fundraisers, in one case handing out boxing gloves with his autograph to Sacramento lobbyists in attendance."[14]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Campaign donors
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
2014
De León won re-election to the California State Senate in 2014. During that election cycle, De León raised a total of $863,862.
| California State Senate 2014 election - Campaign Contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top contributors to Kevin de León's campaign in 2014 | ||||
| United Nurses Association Of California / Union Of Health Care Professionals | $24,600 | |||
| California Faculty Association | $19,900 | |||
| California Medical Association | $17,100 | |||
| State Building & Construction Trades Council Of California | $16,400 | |||
| California Association Of Highway Patrolmen | $16,400 | |||
| Total Raised in 2014 | $863,862 | |||
| Source: Follow the Money | ||||
2010
In 2010, de León raised $846,803 in contributions.[15]
His four largest contributors were:
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| AT&T | $15,800 |
| California State Pipe Trades Council | $15,600 |
| California Association Of Realtors | $15,600 |
| California Teachers Association | $15,600 |
2008
De León's top five campaign contributors in the 2008 election were:[16]
| Contributor | 2008 total |
|---|---|
| California Teachers Association | $14,400 |
| SEIU California State Council | $14,400 |
| Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters | $14,400 |
| Electrical Workers Local 11 | $12,200 |
| Southern CA Pipe Trades District Council 16 | $12,000 |
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of California scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the California State Legislature was in session from January 3, 2018 through August 31, 2018.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the chamber.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on "policy that will support a healthy, just and resilient agriculture and food system."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to labor.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on "how they voted in accord with CMTA."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to the interests of consumers.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on the association's position legislation.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues pertaining to children.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues pertaining to children.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the interests of seniors.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on behavioral health issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on LGBT issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to the interests of health care consumers.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on taxpayer related issues.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on bills related to the interests of California cities.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on the organization's priority legislation.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the interests of home care providers.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the California State Legislature was in session from December 5, 2016 through September 15, 2017.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the California State Legislature was in session from January 4 through August 31. The formal session ended on August 31, but constitutionally the session adjourned sine die on November 30.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the California State Legislature was in session from December 1, 2014, through September 12, 2015.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the California State Legislature was in session from January 6 to August 30.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the California State Legislature was in session from December 3, 2012, to September 13, 2013
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the California State Legislature was in session from January 4 to August 31.
|
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary election candidate list," accessed March 27, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed July 15, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed December 14, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2008 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Kevin de León's campaign website, “Issues,” accessed May 17, 2022
- ↑ Kevin de León for U.S. Senate, "About Kevin," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ Capitol Weekly, "Capitol Weekly's Legislative Scorecard," December 17, 2009
- ↑ Fox and Hounds Daily, "Random Thoughts on the Political Scene," December 18, 2009
- ↑ Capitol Weekly, "2009 Capitol Weekly State Legislative Scorecard (Archived)," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 San Diego Union-Tribune, "Ballot campaigns fund Vegas trips," February 22, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "de León, Kevin," accessed May 29, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "de León, Kevin," accessed May 29, 2015
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Los Angeles City Council District 14 2020-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
California State Senate District 24 2010-2018 |
Succeeded by Maria Elena Durazo (D) |
| Preceded by - |
California State Assembly |
Succeeded by - |
| |||||||||
