Press Release: Bernie Sanders Rolls Out List of California Endorsements Ahead of Los Angeles Rally

CALIFORNIA – Ahead of Sen. Sanders’ rally in Los Angeles with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez today, 40 elected officials, more than 80 community leaders, and more than 200 academics in the Golden State announce their support behind Sen. Sanders’ candidacy for President of the United States, demonstrating the growing momentum of the Bernie 2020 campaign in California.

The endorsements are in addition to 86 earlier endorsements from elected leaders, two major labor endorsements from National Nurses United and United Teachers Los Angeles, the grassroots network Bay Area Rising, the entire City Council of Coachella, and a statewide endorsement from the California Young Democrats.

"Having fought for the rights and dignity of working immigrant women for two decades, I trust Bernie Sanders to be a champion for justice for all of us,” said Oakland City Councilmember Nikki Bas. “Our nation needs a bold, principled leader who will end status quo politics and put the needs of everyday people before corporate profits. We must build a massive movement to win national rent control, deep investments in affordable housing, Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, immigration reform, and just alternatives to mass incarceration. I’m endorsing Bernie Sanders because he is building a movement to create a country that cares for all our families."

“Bernie Sanders is the child of immigrants - people who worked hard and who struggled to make a life in this country,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo. “That is where he comes from, that is who he is. Bernie Sanders has been explicitly articulating every single thing that we have been fighting for our entire lives. I still stand behind my words that not since the Rainbow Coalition of 1988 have we seen such a diverse and progressive movement for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party under the leadership of Bernie Sanders. Our nation needs a revolutionary movement and there is no other viable candidate to carry out our agenda backed by our core values. I stood with Bernie in 2016, and I am even more proud to stand with him today, and endorse his candidacy as the next President of the United States."

"We need a president who is committed to caring for the people of this country--from the men and women who bravely wore our nation's uniform to the young people who are sleeping on our streets," said Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, President of the California Young Democrats. "Bernie Sanders has always fulfilled our moral obligation to lift up all Americans and give them the opportunities they deserve to thrive."

“Bernie Sanders’ prophetic call to love and compassion is finding an answering cry for justice, especially among those who have suffered too hard for too long,” said Anna Harrison, Associate Professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University. “His clarion cry, 'Not me. Us,' is our best hope for the future."

“We are proud to have the endorsement of some of California’s most progressive and dedicated elected officials, community leaders, and academics,” said Rafael Návar, Bernie 2020 California State Director. “We have the grassroots support we need to win this election, and with these leaders on our side, Bernie Sanders will become the next President of the United States.”

The full slate of endorsements includes:
• Roberto Alcantar, Board Member, Southwestern Community College Governing Board
• Richard Barrera, Trustee, San Diego Unified School Board
• Philip Bautista, Coachella City Councilmember
• Megan Beaman Jacinto, Coachella City Councilmember
• Jesse Chavez, Highland City Council
• Eddie De La Riva, Mayor, City of Maywood
• Basim Elkarra, Trustee, Twin Rivers Unified School District
• Sean Elo, San Diego Community College District Trustee
• Cástulo Estrada, Vice-President, Coachella Valley Water District
• Francisco Estrada, Watsonville City Councilmember
• Nikki Fortunato Bas, Oakland City Council
• Waymond Fermon, Indio City Councilmember
• Orlando Fuentes, Vice President, Cosumnes Community Services District
• Neftali Galarza, Trustee, Coachella Valley Unified School District
• Jesus R. Gonzalez, Trustee, Coachella Valley Unified School District and Former Mayor of Coachella
• Josie Gonzalez, Coachella City Councilmember
• Aaron Gomez, San Luis Obispo City Councilmember
• Steven Hernandez, Mayor, Coachella
• Jennifer Holm, Trustee, Pajaro Valley Unified School District Area VII (Watsonville)
• Andy Hsia-Coron, Former President, Aromas-San Juan Unified School District Board of Trustees
• Eric Joyce, Oceanside Unified Trustee
• Daniel Lee, Culver City Councilmember
• Rey León, Mayor of Huron
• Tim Knox, Former Mayor of Amador City and Former Councilmember
• Emmanuel Martinez, Mayor Pro Tempore, Coachella
• Tim Fitzmaurice, former Mayor of Santa Cruz
• Abigail Medina, Member, San Bernardino City Unified School District
• Faauuga Moliga, Commissioner, San Francisco Board of Education
• Kevin McKeown, Councilmember, Former Mayor, City of Santa Monica
• Gayle McLaughlin, Former Mayor, City of Richmond
• Nick Occhipinti, Trustee, Jefferson Union High School District
• Peter Ortiz, Trustee, Santa Clara County Board of Education
• Gary Patton, Former Santa Cruz Supervisor
• Dean Preston, San Francisco Supervisor
• Demetrio Pruneda, Former Trustee, Hartnell College
• John Rizzo, Trustee, San Francisco City College Board
• Laura Santos, Trustee, Mt. San Antonio College
• Sheng Thao, Oakland City Councilmember
• Nestor Enrique Valencia, Bell City Council
• Mariko Yamada, Former CA Assemblywoman