The Crush - January 2022 - 6

STATE FOCUS
2022 Elections and the Importance of CAWG PAC
By Michael Miiller
Every 10 years, state and federal
legislative district lines are
redrawn to reflect the results
of the most recent census.
The California Redistricting
Commission last month finished
its work in creating our new
district lines. Those new districts
will substantially shake things up in the state Capitol. With your
help, CAWG PAC has a rare opportunity in 2022 to help shape the
California Legislature for the next 10-12 years.
AGRICULTURE IS NOT A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST
" Communities of interest " are a major consideration in drawing
the lines. Generally speaking, a community of interest is a
neighborhood, community or group of people who share common
policy concerns and would benefit from being represented
together in a single district. Unfortunately, several agricultural
regions were redrawn in a manner that protects urban, suburban
and coastal areas as communities of interest, while discounting
agriculture as a community of interest.
For example, Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) was elected two
years ago in a largely agricultural district that included the Salinas
Valley and Central Valley. However, her new district runs down
the coast from Santa Cruz to Pismo Beach. Much of that district is
currently represented by Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz).
Additionally, Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis
Obispo) was elected to a Central Coast district that includes the
area around Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. His new district
runs up the coast from San Luis Obispo to Santa Cruz. In this new
district, the commission decided San Luis Obispo has more in
common with Pebble Beach than it does with neighboring Santa
Maria. Assemblymembers Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Mark
Stone (D-Carmel) currently represent most of Cunningham's new
district.
Growers in the Central Valley are also seeing new lines that
increase urban and suburban voices and do not recognize
agriculture as a community of interest. For example,
Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) was elected to
represent a district that includes Lodi winegrape growers.
However, his new district is made up of only suburban Elk Grove
and parts of urban Sacramento.
IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE
Many legislators have decided it is time to try something
new. Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) has
stepped down to lead the California Labor Federation and
6 JANUARY 2022
Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Fairfield) has also resigned.
Assemblymembers Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield), Cristina Garcia
(D-Bell Gardens) and Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) have
chosen to run for Congress.
Additionally, Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-Marin
County) is running for California insurance commissioner and
Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) is running
for Los Angeles County supervisor. Also, Sen. Connie Leyva
(D-Chino) and Assemblymembers Bill Quirk (D-Hayward),
Patrick O'Donnell (D-Long Beach) and Jose Medina (D-Riverside)
have announced they will not seek reelection in 2022.
ME MOVE? NO, YOU MOVE!
Several California assemblymembers and senators find
themselves living in a district where there are two incumbents.
Democrat and Republican leaders in the Assembly and Senate
want to avoid incumbent legislators of their respective caucuses
living in the same district and having to run against each other in
2022 or 2024. To resolve this, elected officials will be encouraged
by their party leaders to move to a district where there is no
incumbent.
For example, Sen. Caballero is moving from Salinas to Merced to
continue representing the Central Valley agricultural communities
she currently serves. However, this may result in a race between
Caballero and Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), who has also
announced her candidacy for the same seat.
CAWG PAC & WHY IT MATTERS
Considering all of the above and more, there are dozens of races
of importance, and 2022 is shaping up to be an election year
that could result in significant changes in Sacramento. Over
the last few years, CAWG PAC has been one of the most active
agricultural PACs in California. It is crucial that CAWG PAC
and other agricultural interests significantly engage in the 2022
elections.
It is imperative that CAWG support lawmakers who understand
our industry and want to advance viable public policies that serve
a public purpose without harming businesses, employees and
communities.
PLEASE CONSIDER
A DONATION TO
CAWG PAC TODAY!
CLICK HERE TO
DONATE ONLINE

https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/final_maps https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/final_maps https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/final_maps https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/final_maps https://www.cawg.org/Wine1/Advocacy/Donate_to_the_PAC/Shared_Content/Advocacy/Give_Now.aspx?hkey=87638485-f313-4395-9cd6-862920d56250 https://www.cawg.org/Wine1/Advocacy/Donate_to_the_PAC/Shared_Content/Advocacy/Give_Now.aspx?hkey=87638485-f313-4395-9cd6-862920d56250

The Crush - January 2022

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