By Oakland Post Staff

Registration Deadline: Friday, January 31 at Noon

OAKLAND, CA — A diverse group of progressive, results-driven candidates running to represent Assembly District 18 in the California Democratic Party announced endorsements from a slate of local elected and community leaders, including Oakland Councilmembers Zac Unger and Noel Gallo, BART Director Victor Flores, former Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb, and former Emeryville Mayor and candidate for Alameda County Supervisor John Bauters.

Organized as the “Housing & Climate Progressive Democratic Slate,” the team of 13 is running in an election happening right now that often flies under the radar – the California Democratic Party’s Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMs). Normally ignored by most voters, this year’s ADEM election might carry additional weight with President Trump in the Oval Office.

“November’s election showed that the Democratic Party has been on the wrong track,” said Ben Gould, a candidate and organizer with the slate. “California has an opportunity – and a responsibility – to show the country what Democrats can achieve. It’s time for a change in leadership and a new approach to ensuring the Democratic Party can meet the needs of working families.”

The ADEM elections are grassroots elections where Democrats from each Assembly District vote for their local representatives to the state party. These ADEM representatives help shape the party platform, endorse candidates, and influence the policy direction of Democrats throughout California.

However, this election is often missed by most voters because of an elaborate registration and voting process. Unlike normal elections, in order to vote for ADEMS, registered Democrats must go online to www.ademelections.com to register for a ballot before January 31st at noon. Then, CADEM will send a special PIN via traditional paper mail, delivered by USPS, with instructions for how to go online to vote. Anyone who requests a ballot, and receives the mailed instructions, will then be able to cast their vote online before Feb. 23.

Here in AD-18, those incumbents include Kalimah Priforce, an Emeryville councilmember who was notably recently censured by his peers for ethics violations, failing to comply with campaign finance laws, and violating confidentiality. Priforce was elected in 2023, when less than 600 votes were cast despite 172,000 Democrats being eligible to vote.

The Housing & Climate Progressive Democratic Slate includes a mix of both notable community leaders, and some new names that offer a fresh perspective for the California Democratic Party. The slate members are:

• Sam Davis (former Oakland School Board Director)
• Nate Hanson (affordable housing developer)
• Regina Chagolla (Emery Unified School District Board Member)
• Cathy Adams (President of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce)
• Genice Jacobs (anti-trafficking activist)
• Ben Gould (environmental policy consultant)
• Sam Gould (former candidate for Emeryville City Council and housing & safe streets advocate)
• Lauren Wilson (transportation and urban planning advocate)
• Zac Bowling (housing activist)
• Bobbi Lopez (victim services deputy)
• Shawn Danino (former candidate for Oakland City Council At-Large and housing/mobility policymaker)
• Ashlee Jemmott (deputy policy analyst)
• Arielle Fleisher (transportation policy advisor)

Democrats can vote in the ADEM election by visiting www.ademelections.com to register before Friday, Jan. 31 at noon. After registering online, voters will receive a code via USPS mail from CADEMS, which can be used to vote before Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.

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