CALIFORNIA VOICES TO WATCH - CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS -
CALIFORNIA ISSUES TO WATCH
YES ON PROPOSITION 50
https://cadem.org/yes-on-proposition-50/
YES on Proposition 50
Donald Trump and Texas Republicans are making an unprecedented power grab to steal congressional seats and rig next year’s election before voting even begins. They want to steal enough seats to control Congress regardless of how the people vote.
If Californians don’t act now, Donald Trump will seize total power for two more years.
Proposition 50, also called the Election Rigging Response Act, will ensure that our votes still count and that Congress and the President don’t get to ignore the people without consequences.
Take action today and organize for YES on Prop 50!
https://gavinnewsom.win/reach-slides
https://gavinnewsom.win/reach-guide
RISING STATE LEADERS - VOICES & ISSUES TO WATCH
California’s 2026 Gubernatorial Race — Candidates of Color
o Tony Thurmond: Superintendent of Public Instruction, focused on income equality, education, and climate.
o Xavier Becerra (no campaign site confirmed yet): Former HHS Secretary and Attorney General.
o Antonio Villaraigosa: Former LA Mayor running again with experience in public leadership.
o Betty Yee: Former State Controller focused on transparency and climate justice.
NATIONAL VOICES, PEOPLE, AND PLACES TO WATCH AND RESEARCH
Empowering Communities Through Representation and Civic Engagement
As of May 2025, comprehensive national data on the number of African American and other people of color running for office in the 2025–2027 election cycles remains limited. However, significant milestones and emerging trends in political representation are evident across the country.
While Bay Area Women United (BAWU) does not endorse political candidates, we are committed to educating and informing our community about rising leaders. We encourage you to conduct your own research to determine who best represents your values and will advocate for our democracy.
We also aim to inspire the next generation to lead with purpose. Representation matters. Awareness matters. And your vote absolutely matters.
Did You Know?
National Trends in Candidate Diversity
· Representation Gap: People of color make up approximately 41% of the U.S. population but accounted for only 28% of general-election candidates in 2022.
· Party Affiliation: Among Democratic candidates, 16% were Black, whereas nearly 90% of Republican candidates were white. This underscores the ongoing need for increased diversity in political representation.
Notable Elections and Rising Mayors (2025)
- Barbara Lee: Elected as Oakland’s first Black woman Mayor in April 2025.
- John Ewing Jr.: Became Omaha, Nebraska’s first Black mayor in May 2025.
- Hon. Brandon Scott: is a rising superstar and the Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. Mayor Scott touts violence reduction, increased youth programs in first term report - CBS Baltimore https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/mayor-brandon-scott-baltimore-city-first-term/ (https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/baltimore-mayor-brandon-scott-details-4-1-billion-proposed-fiscal-year-budget/)
Notable Governors to watch (2025-26)
- Hon. Wes Moore of Maryland: Governor Moore Statement on Trump Deploying the National Guard in D.C. - Press Releases - News - Office of Governor Wes Moore https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press/pages/governor-moore-statement-trump-deploying-national-guard-dc.aspx
- Hon. Gavin Newsom: Governor Newsom secures federal court victory, Trump’s use of National Guard in Los Angeles illegal | Governor of California https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/09/02/governor-newsom-secures-federal-court-victory-trumps-use-of-national-guard-in-los-angeles-illegal/
- Hon. Karen Bass: Why 2025 will be a pivotal year for Karen Bass — and LA | Opinion https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/01/karen-bass-los-angeles-2025/
- XYZ
OTHER NOTABLES
Historic Senate Wins: Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester
o Angela Alsobrooks: Former Prince George’s County Executive and now Maryland’s first Black U.S. senator.
o Lisa Blunt Rochester: Delaware’s first woman and Black U.S. senator.
Kentucky 2026 U.S. Senate Race — Pamela Stevenson
o Pamela Stevenson: State Representative and retired colonel, aiming to become Kentucky’s first Black U.S. senator.
Looking Ahead: 2027 Mayoral Elections
(Campaign sites may vary based on reelection status.)
o Brandon Johnson – Mayor of Chicago
o Cherelle Parker – Mayor of Philadelphia
o Paul Young – Mayor of Memphis
Additional Source
o Read more about Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester’s historic win in Teen Vogue.
Final Thought: Your Vote Counts
At Bay Area Women United, we cannot emphasize this enough: Know your power. Know your vote. Use both.
If you’re not part of the solution, you may unknowingly be feeding the confusion and chaos.
Let’s show up — not just on Election Day, but every day — by training, mentoring, organizing, and inspiring others to lead with courage and conviction.