endorsements

+ Los Angeles City Council District 4: Nithya Raman *

Nithya is the former executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, a nonprofit borne out of the #MeToo movement, and founder of SELAH, a volunteer-driven nonprofit providing services to the unhoused population in Los Angeles. With degrees from Harvard and MIT in urban planning, Nithya spent years fighting for basic services in the slums of Chennai, India. In 2014, she worked in LA City Hall, producing a huge report on how $100 million was being spent on homeless services. She found that the majority of the money was being spent on cruel and ineffective criminalization, rather than shelter, housing, and services. Nithya’s campaign is centered around ending homelessness in LA and fighting for affordable housing. Meanwhile, the incumbent David Ryu is taking tens of thousands of dollars from developers.

Nithya is calling for 100% renewable energy by 2030, a walkable, bikeable city with great public transportation, and a sustainable water plan to make Los Angeles fully water independent. Nithya understands the housing and environmental crisis facing our city and the power that the City Council has to create solutions. Nithya is running a transparent campaign focused on empowering the community to take action and engage in local politics. Sunrise LA is proud to be fighting alongside Nithya and the many incredible organizations on her side.

Website: https://nithyaforthecity.com/

+ California State Assembly District 53: Godfrey Santos Plata

As a former teacher, Godfrey Santos Plata is no stranger to organizing with youth. His experiences as a Koreatown renter, Filipino immigrant, and organizer are also vital to his understanding of the concerns of everyday people living in his district.

“Having worked as an educator, I’ve seen firsthand what youth-led movements can accomplish and how inspiring their demand for change can be. Our youth understand that environmental issues like climate change and pollution affect them and our most vulnerable communities first. I want to fight with them to ensure that access to clean air, water, and—more broadly—a viable future is a right for all, not a privilege reserved for just a few.”

Website: Godfreyforassembly.com/

+ California State Assembly District 64: Fatima Iqbal-Zubair

Fatima had no intention of running for state assembly this year, but as a high school teacher in Watts and a leader of Watts Rising, she could not help but notice that her students were becoming more and more terrified of the future — and that her state assembly member Mike Gibson was not doing nearly enough to address the environmental crisis in her district. Nearly twenty-five percent of California’s oil refineries are located in District 64. There are six toxic sites and hundreds of oil wells right next to schools, homes, and hospitals.

Getting California to 100%clean energy by 2030 is a top priority for Fatima, as well as investing in affordable housing and public schools. She is not taking any money from developers or fossil fuels. Meanwhile, Mike Gibson has taken money from Chevron, Valero, Phillips 66, Signal Hill Petroleum, Marathon Petroleum, the California Independent Petroleum Association, and more. His voting record speaks to the influence that this fossil fuel money has had on his tenure — he voted no on SB 100, the bill committing California to 100% clean energy by 2045, and has either been absent or voted no on environmental bills that would regulate fossil fuels and single-use plastic.

Fatima has come to our meetings and canvassed with us. We know she has the spirit and commitment to bring about real change in her district and in California, fighting to end environmental racism and bring about a Green New Deal.


Website: https://fatimaforassembly.com/

+ California Congressional District 29: Angelica Dueñas

With freeway corridors and the Sun Valley power plant, CA-29 is one of the most polluted districts in LA County. Angelica is a mom, activist, and local leader who has served on her Neighborhood Council for years. She was inspired to get involved in electoral politics by Bernie Sanders’ campaign in 2016 and ran for congress, and although she didn’t win, she learned how to run a grassroots campaign to engage her community. Meanwhile, incumbent Tony Cárdenas is an establishment politician who takes money from corporations, Big Pharma, and the fossil fuel industry.

Angelica is running on a bold and detailed Green New Deal platform, Medicare For All, humane immigration reform, and ending U.S. militarism. She understands that environmental, economic, and social justice need to be at the core of a national Green New Deal. We are thrilled to support a true grassroots leader like Angelica.


Website: https://www.angelica4congress.com/

+ California Congressional District 34: David Kim

David has spent his professional career lending his voice to the underrepresented in our communities- most recently, fulfilling our great country’s promise to immigrants by serving as their attorney in immigration court. His professional experience granted him a perspective that has shaped his campaign: humanity-focused policies, a commitment to understanding our local communities and constituents’ needs, and a refusal to take corporate/PAC donations, all to guarantee that he represents the will of the people- to put his Community First.

“It is an incredible honor to receive the endorsement of Sunrise Movement. We the people are looking multiple existential crises in the eye, and in order to come together and beat them, we need leaders that listen to the experts and put the needs of society above personal profit. As your candidate, I promise to fight for passing the Green New Deal and I will continue to refuse money from organizations that borrow against our people and communities’ future.” - David Kim

Website: https://davidkim2020.com/

+ Burbank City Council: Konstantine Anthony *

Konstantine is an autistic, formerly homeless Burbanker, and his policy platform is shaped by his lived experiences. He is known in Burbank for putting rent control on the November ballot, and for his work on AB5. He attended the protests to shut down the Grayson fossil fuel power plant in Glendale.

As a Transportation Commission member, he advocates for bike and bus lanes, and fare-free transit. He understands that climate, housing, and transit issues are all linked, and must be addressed holistically. His climate platform calls for the planned Intermountain gas plant to be replaced with a renewable plan, or otherwise to withdraw Burbank from the project.

If elected, he would be the first openly autistic person ever elected to public office in California.

Konstantine does not accept donations from corporations, corporate PACs, developers, landlords, realtors, police unions, or fossil fuel interests.

Website: http://konstantineanthony.com/

+ LA County Board of Supervisors: Holly Mitchell *

Nicknamed the “5 Little Kings”, the County Supervisor gig is one of the most powerful locally elected positions in the entire country. Unlike the city - which has a balance of power between its Council and the Mayor, County Supervisors are both legislators and executives. When you factor in that each Supervisor seat represents nearly 2 million people, you end up with a position of power that is pretty unaccountable to the public. Sitting County Supervisors are rarely defeated, which means whoever wins this race will likely become a fixture of LA politics for the next 12 years.

Let’s compare the two candidates - Holly Mitchell would likely be the most environmentally friendly County Supervisor in history - as State Senator, she introduced a ban on fracking twice, she supports a strong 2,500ft buffer zone on oil drilling, and has refused donations from the oil and gas industry.

Meanwhile, her opponent Herb Wesson continues to take oil money, has left environmental justice communities out to dry after promising to take action against urban drilling, and has helped fostered a pay-to-play culture as President of LA City Council. From environmental justice, to criminal justice - the impacts form this race will be BIG. We don’t need another corrupt politician like Herb Wesson looking for their chance to become king - Holly is the clear choice.

Website: https://www.hollyjmitchell.com/