Two candidates are vying for a seat in California’s Assembly District 52, left vacant by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, who had a failed run for City Council in the primary. Women’s rights advocate Jessica Caloza will face justice advocate Franky Carrillo.
UPDATE: AP called the race for Caloza. Read more here.
The two Democrats emerged from a competitive primary eager to represent a diverse district that spans most of East Los Angeles and Glendale, as well as the neighborhoods of Lincoln Heights, Atwater Village, Silver Lake, El Sereno and Mount Washington. Focusing on critical issues affecting their community, Caloza and Carrillo are preparing to engage voters on topics they believe matter most to residents.
Caloza believes her commitment to public service is driven by a desire to create meaningful change. On the other hand, Franky Carrillo’s journey has been shaped by his personal experience with the justice system.
Both candidates, with their distinct backgrounds and grassroots connections, are poised to address issues that face District 52 residents.
Jessica Caloza
As a first-generation immigrant and child of working-class parents, Jessica Caloza navigated complex systems from a young age, including language barriers. “I became my parents’ interpreter and still am,” she said, emphasizing the need for resources for people of color.
During her tenure as a staffer for the city of Los Angeles, Caloza helped write Executive Directive 32, an initiative issued in December 2021 to address severe language barriers, knowing more than half of residents in the city of Los Angeles speak languages other than English.
“This is why I’ve committed my career to public service,” she said. “I bring experience from federal, state, and local levels, which will allow me to hit the ground running.”
As deputy chief of staff at the California Department of Justice, she focused on crime reduction and environmental protection. Caloza has also served as an L.A. Public Works Commissioner and in the U.S. Department of Education under the Obama administration. She has secured resources for underfunded schools, expanded union jobs and ensured equal pay for women, according to her website.
Caloza’s platform prioritizes affordable housing, education and reproductive rights. The candidate also wants to address the state’s “affordability crisis.”
“This is deeply important to me, and I have the experience to address so many issues that stem from this crisis, including affording gas, groceries, education and even the budget deficit at the state level.”
Caloza emphasizes the need for higher education to be more accessible and affordable, stating that community colleges require increased funding, as she advocates raising wages for teachers and support staff.
As an L.A. City Commissioner on the Board of Public Works from 2019 to 2021, Caloza cracked down on sexual harassment and helped create jobs for women. If elected, she says she’ll fight to protect funding for Planned Parenthood and access to critical health care services. A renter herself, she’s also committed to protecting renters from unlawful evictions
When asked how she stands out from her opponent, Caloza pointed to her track record as a public servant.
“I’ve been doing this work for over a decade,” she said.“My experience, effectiveness and the coalition of people that we are bringing together… is what it takes to get the job done on all of these issues.”
Caloza’s endorsements include the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Federation of Labor, California Federation of Labor Unions, and elected officials like California Attorney General Rob Bonta and L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis.
Franky Carrillo
Francisco “Franky” Carrillo has dedicated his life to advocating for justice reform. That’s because he has lived experience. As a teen, he was wrongfully convicted of murder in a drive-by shooting and served 20 years in prison. Carrillo’s conviction was overturned in 2011 after witnesses recanted their testimony. His story was also featured on the Netflix series “The Innocence Files.”
“As I think about the future, I think about being able to use what I experienced, use the pain and wisdom that I’ve acquired, stand up for the community, and be at the table,” Carrillo said.
Carrillo’s approach to his campaign emphasizes finding solutions to improve local schools, tackling homelessness, expanding healthcare access and reforming the justice system that failed him.
“I know what it’s like to be on the wrong end of a rigged system,” he shared, positioning his campaign as a means to reform broken systems. “My dad taught me to focus on fixing broken things.”
Since his release, Carrillo has gained significant political experience, serving on the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s advisory board, chairing L.A. County’s Probation Oversight Commission, and currently acting as senior policy advisor for the Los Angeles Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to exonerating the wrongfully convicted.
He aims to reduce gun violence by intensifying efforts to remove guns from streets, enforcing strict background checks for individuals under domestic violence and stalking restraining orders, as well as those with mental health concerns.
According to this campaign website, Carrillo advocates for increased per-pupil funding, competitive salaries for teachers, enhanced after-school programs, and smaller class sizes to address educational inequalities.
Additionally, he supports reproductive justice by safeguarding women’s rights to safe and legal abortions and will tackle environmental justice, by promoting initiatives to improve air and water quality in impacted communities.
When asked about how he stands out from his opponent, Carrillo cites his perseverance and resilience as a model voters can expect if elected.
“I survived a 20-year incarceration, and now I want to use my experiences to advocate for the community,” Carrillo said. “I’m here to ensure our voices are represented in the Assembly.”
Franky has received endorsements from the California Latino Legislative Caucus and Knock LA, as well as Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón, incumbent Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo and Hector Verdugo, the associate executive director of Homeboy Industries.
Go Jessica!!!