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| Cathleen Gagliani won a hotly contested State Senate race to give Democrats 29 votes and the LGBT caucus an 8th member |
After trailing since Election Day, Democrat Cathleen Galgiani overtook Bill Berryhill by more than 2,100 votes Wednesday night, assuring her of victory in their hotly contested 5th Senate District race.
Thomas Lawson, Galgiani's campaign manager, said the trend is clear and that her victory will make Thanksgiving Day even sweeter.
Berryhill's campaign consultant, Duane Dichiara, stopped short of conceding defeat but admitted, "It's a tough row to hoe" now.
Galgiani inched ahead of her Republican opponent on the strength of her showing in San Joaquin County.She started Wednesday about 1,500 votes behind and now leads by 2,111 votes.If Galgiani's win is confirmed it will mean that Democrats will have 29 seats in the 40-member Senate, 2 more than the two-thirds super-majority needed to place constitutional amendments directly on the ballot and pass new taxes. Astonishingly, Democrats will also have a super-majority in the Assembly, and openly gay Speaker John Pérez will lead the largest Democratic caucus in a century, with at least 54 members in the 80-member lower house.
John A. Pérez (Assembly District 53)
Toni Atkins (Assembly District 78)
Richard Gordon (Assembly District 24)
Tom Ammiano (Assembly District 17)
Susan Eggman* (Assembly District 13)
Ricardo Lara* (Senate District 33)
Cathleen Galgiani* (Senate District 5)
Mark Leno (Senate District 11)California would have had a record NINE openly LGBT members if my friend Luis Lopez had won his intra-party race against Jimmie Gomez in my Assembly District (the 51st in Los Angeles), but unfortunately that did not happen.
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| Governor Jerry Brown (D-California) signed State Sen. Mark Leno's Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Education Act into law today |
Maryland: Senator Rich Madaleno (D-18) and Delegates Maggie McIntosh (D-43), Heather Mizeur (D-20), and Anne Kaiser (D-14), Bonnie Cullison (D-19), Mary Washington (D-43), and Luke Clippinger (D-46)
California: Senators Mark Leno (SD-3) and Christine Kehoe (SD-39), Assemblymembers John Perez (AD-46), Ricardo Lara (AD-50), Tom Ammiano (AD-13), Toni Atkins (AD-76) and Rich Gordon (AD-21)So, it's not all bad news out there.
June 2010 (FIVE) January 2011 (SEVEN)
ASSEMBLY
Tom Ammiano (AD-13) Tom Ammiano (AD-13)
John Perez (AD-46) John Perez (AD-46)
Ricardo Lara (AD-50)
Toni Atkins (AD-76)
Richard Gordon (AD-21)
SENATE
Christine Kehoe (SD-39) Christine Kehoe (SD-39)
Mark Leno (SD-3) Mark Leno (SD-3)
Roy Ashburn (SD-18)
Republican State Senator Roy Ashburn was arrested 2 a.m. Wednesday morning for driving under the influence (DUI) less than a block from the well-known gay bar Faces in Sacramento. There was another man (so far, unidentified) in the car at the time of the arrest.Ashburn has been a loud opponent of LGBT rights and has organized and hosted anti-gay marriage rallies for the Traditional Values Coalition. He also has a 100% rating from the anti-gay Capitol Resource Family Impact group for voting against every LGBT rights bill during his tenure.Here is a video of a local television station's coverage of the scandal:
[...]
Ashburn is being term-limited out of office in 2010. In January he surprised supporters by announcing that he would not be running for the U.S. House or the powerful California State Tax Board, two jobs he'd publicly had his eye on for the last year. Ashburn divorced his wife in 2003.
ANTI-GAY VOTING RECORD: In March 2009, Sen. Ashburn voted against a Senate resolution declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional. Ashburn voted three times to oppose the creation of Harvey Milk Day. In September he voted against California recognizing out of state same-sex marriages. In 2008 he voted to oppose an expansion of the state's insurance laws to include sexual orientation as a protected class.
The Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Act, also signed today, holds that same-sex couples married before the passage of Proposition 8 must be recognized as married spouses in California, regardless of whether they married in California or in another state or nation. In addition, the new statute also confirms that same-sex couples married outside of California after November 5, 2008, must be given all of the rights, protections and responsibilities of married spouses under California law, with the sole exception of the designation of "marriage."The heterosexual supremacists are going to lose their **** over this one.
"We are grateful that the Governor has signed this critical bill, which provides much needed protections for same-sex couples who have legally married out of state, or will in the future, and who deserve to be treated like any other married couple," Kors said. "This bill will allow same-sex couples to get married in other states and countries and ensure they are treated equally under the law when they return to California. Ultimately, however, restoring the freedom to marry is the only way to ensure that all Californians receive the dignity and respect that comes with marriage."
"When California offered marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2008, spouses who were already married in another state or country were prohibited from re-marrying in California," said Senator Leno. "Now those couples and their families are in limbo because their rights and protections under law are not clear. This new law will ensure that same-sex couples are protected by existing California law that recognizes all marriages equally, regardless of where they are performed."
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger surprisingly signed into law Equality California's Harvey Milk Day bill, AB 2567. This means that "the governor proclaim May 22 each year as Harvey Milk Day. It would encourage public schools and educational institutions to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on that date (which was Harvey Milk's birthday).
Legislation that would declare May 22 "Harvey Milk Day" in California passed the California legislature for the second year in a row on Thursday. Last year, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill but this time there will be a lot more attention given to how he deals with SB 572.A few weeks ago, Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, announced that Milk would be one of a dozen men and women -- including pilot Chuck Yeager, entertainer Carol Burnett and "Star Wars" filmmaker George Lucas -- inducted into the California Hall of Fame this year.
In July, Obama awarded Milk a posthumous Medal of Freedom. And in February, Sean Penn won a best actor Oscar for the title role in the critically acclaimed film "Milk."
A spokeswoman for Schwarzenegger said the governor has not taken a position on Leno's bill. But the senator feels bullish, given Milk's burnished image in Hollywood and beyond.
"If there's one thing Arnold Schwarzenegger understands, it's box office," Leno said. "And Harvey Milk now has box office."
It's regrettable that the restoration of marriage rights to gays and lesbians has to be subject to strategic political calculation. But it's also hard to argue with the conclusion reached by Equality California, the state's largest gay-rights group, that the repeal of Proposition 8 would have a better chance in 2012 than in 2010.Openly gay State Senator Mark Leno was the chief sponsor of the marriage equality bill passed by the California Legislature in 2005 and 2007 and vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.
Other gay-rights groups plan to push forward with a ballot measure in 2010.
Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, said he agrees with the decision to wait. "There is much work to be done in winning the hearts and minds of California voters," he said, citing polls that showed public opinion has not shifted notably since November.
However, polls show an unmistakable correlation between voters' ages and their support for marriage equality, and each election cycle brings another wave of young voters. The issue also is advanced as Californians who may be instinctively uncomfortable with the idea of same-sex marriage consider the effect of this discrimination among neighbors and colleagues who are denied the rights, responsibilities - and societal reverence - of marriage.
The delay is wise in giving advocates of marriage equality the time - and resources - to educate and motivate voters to remove this vestige of discrimination from the state constitution.
Newsom said today he believes that a 2012 ballot initiative makes sense, considering the fragmented state of the same-sex marriage coalition.It will be interesting to see the 2010 proponents rebut these arguments from same-sex marriage supporters with data and analysis, instead of emotion and "magical thinking."
"In a perfect world we'd go forward next year, but the reality is we're not united," Newsom said.
"Time is definitely our ally," especially with thousands of younger, liberal Californians registering to vote, he said.
On Tuesday March 24th there is a special election to fill the vacancy in the 26th State Senate district caused by Mark Ridley-Thomas becoming a Los Angeles County Supervisor last December.Eight candidates are running to replace Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in November, in the district, which is politically liberal and ethnically and economically diverse. Six Democrats, one Republican and one Peace and Freedom Party member are on the ballot in the district, which includes several Westside communities, parts of South Los Angeles, Baldwin Hills, Ladera Heights, Culver City, West Hollywood, Silver Lake and Larchmont, among others.MadProfessah has endorsed Curren Price, who is also endorsed by Equality California, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and State Senate Pro Tem Darrel Steinberg and openly LGBT Senators Mark Leno and Christine Kehoe. Curiously, Speaker Karen Bass has not endorsed Curren Price, and I believe part of her assembly district overlaps SD-26.
The district's registration -- 66% Democratic -- and voting history virtually ensure the seat will again go to a Democrat. But if no candidate musters a majority of the ballots Tuesday, another special election will be held May 19, with the top vote-getter from each of the three political parties with candidates in the race.
That means whichever Democrat comes out on top Tuesday will be the next representative of the district, said Allan Hoffenblum, publisher of the California Target Book, which provides nonpartisan, detailed analyses of the state's political districts.
"The only question is can it be won outright, or will the Democratic winner have to go to a runoff," said Hoffenblum, who, like other political experts watching the race, sees Assemblyman Curren Price Jr. as the front-runner.
Curren Price for LGBT Equality
EQCA PAC Fundraiser
Hosted by Sheryl Lee Ralph & Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes
Special Guest
Assemblymember Curren Price (D-Los Angeles)
Sunday, March 22
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Mid-City/Country Club Park
Los Angeles
For event address, to become an event host or RSVP, email or call 323.461.100
TowleRoad has posted pictures of the press conference to promote legislation to create a holiday remembering openly gay politician Harvey Milk held yesterday in San Francisco attended by 2-time Oscar winner Sean Penn and SB 572's sponsor, State Senator Mark Leno and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, as well as several other local openly gay politicians.Both resolutions are sponsored by Equality California and were drafted by EQCA and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, plaintiff and lead counsel, respectively, in the marriage case brought before the California Supreme Court.Here is the text of the resolution:
Leno’s Senate Resolution 7 and Ammiano’s Assembly Resolution (number to be assigned) specify that significant revisions to the Constitution mandate distinct procedures and require a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature before going to voters. The resolutions are co-authored by Sen. Christine Kehoe and Assemblymember John A. Perez, both members of the LGBT Legislative Caucus, and Senate Pro Tem Speaker Darrell Steinberg.
[...]
“Proposition 8’s revision to the California Constitution violates key structural checks and balances built into our legal system,” said Sen. Leno. “Overnight, the constitutional protections of thousands of tax paying, law abiding California citizens were stripped from them by a simple majority vote, without a prior two-thirds vote by both houses of the legislature, thereby trampling on their fundamental right to equal protection.”
"Any major revision to the state Constitution should not be allowed to circumvent the legal system,” said Assemblymember Ammiano. “The fact is, Proposition 8 was improperly instituted through the ballot process without legislative involvement. I am proud to author this crucial resolution urging the courts to right the social travesty of Proposition 8 and ensure any similar future measures are approached in an appropriate and legal manner."
If it stands, Prop 8 would be the only California initiative to successfully change the California Constitution to take away a right from a targeted minority group.
WHEREAS, Article XVIII of the California Constitution mandates
distinct procedures for revision and amendment of the California
Constitution; and
WHEREAS, Article XVIII provides that, while a proposed amendment
to the California Constitution can be accomplished through the
initiative process, a proposed revision of the California
Constitution must originate in the Legislature and must be approved
by a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature before being
submitted to the electors; and
WHEREAS, The California Supreme Court, in Livermore v. Waite
(1894) 102 Cal. 113 and subsequent decisions, has held that a
revision is a substantial change to the "underlying principles" of
the California Constitution or to the structure of our "basic
governmental plan"; and
WHEREAS, Subdivision (a) of Section 8 of Article II of the
California Constitution defines the initiative power as the ability
to propose and pass statutory laws and constitutional amendments, but
not constitutional revisions; and
WHEREAS, Article III of the California Constitution establishes a
separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial
branches of California's government; and
WHEREAS, Under the separation of powers doctrine established by
Article III of the California Constitution, the courts have the
ultimate authority to interpret and enforce the principle of equal
protection, particularly where government discrimination on a suspect
basis or the selective denial of a fundamental right on a suspect
basis is at issue; and
WHEREAS, The distinct procedures mandated for revision and
amendment of the California Constitution, and the crucial
deliberative role of the Legislature in any proposed revision of our
Constitution, constitute key structural checks in the system of
checks and balances mandated by Article III of the California
Constitution; and
WHEREAS, The distinction between revision and amendment, and the
distinct procedures assigned to each, in Article XVIII of the
California Constitution, as well as the separation of powers mandated
by Article III, are entitled to the highest respect as the
expression of the people's will; and
WHEREAS, The principle of equal protection, which prohibits
unequal government treatment of historically targeted minority groups
and ensures that laws enacted by a majority must apply equally to
all people, is a foundational principle underlying our Constitution
and our democratic system of government; and
WHEREAS, The requirement of equal protection of the laws plays an
essential structural role in our basic governmental plan by providing
a necessary check on the exercise of majority power and, in
particular, by prohibiting the enactment of measures that facially
single out a historically targeted minority group for adverse
treatment and selective exclusion from an important right; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature is specially suited to examine and debate
significant changes to the principles and structure that underlie
the California Constitution, and is structured for precisely such a
task; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 8, which was titled "Eliminates the right of
same-sex couples to marry," was put forward as an initiative measure
and enacted by the electors by a bare majority of the vote in the
November 4, 2008, general election; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 8 purports to amend the California
Constitution to eliminate a fundamental right only for a particular
minority group on the basis of a suspect classification, while
permitting the majority to retain that fundamental right; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 8 would severely undermine the foundational
principle of equal protection by establishing that any disfavored
minority can be targeted to have its fundamental rights stripped away
by a simple majority vote; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 8 would substantially alter our basic
governmental plan by eliminating equal protection as a structural
check on the exercise of majority power and by permitting majorities
to force groups defined by suspect classifications to fight to
protect their fundamental rights under the California Constitution at
every election; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 8 would violate the separation of powers
doctrine by stripping the courts of their core, constitutionally
mandated function and traditional authority to enforce equal
protection to prevent government discrimination against minority
groups and the selective denial of fundamental rights on suspect
bases; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 8 would also violate the separation of powers
doctrine by intruding on the vital role of the Legislature in
vetting revisions to the California Constitution and by sidestepping
the constitutionally required rigors of the legislative process; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate
opposes Proposition 8 because it is an improper revision, not an
amendment, of the California Constitution and was not enacted
according to the procedures required by Article XVIII of the
California Constitution; and be it further
Resolved, that the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution
Bastian, a member of the Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors, announced his gift at the group's annual gala fundraiser in San Francisco Saturday, July 26. It is the largest personal contribution toward the campaign against Prop 8 to date, according to HRC officials.
Although Bastian is single, does not live in the state, and does not have any close gay friends who are Californians planning to marry, he said he sees the marriage fight in the state as a "battle line." And with the Mormon Church already raising funds to pass Prop 8, Bastian said it was imperative that he become involved in the fight.
"As a Mormon I know it costs a lot of money to preach. The Mormons will raise a lot of money in support of Prop 8 in November," said Bastian, who divorced his wife in 1994 and is the father of four sons. "It upsets me deeply. I want to tell the Mormon Church to stay out of my business."
[...]
A graduate of Brigham Young University, Bastian excelled at computer programming and co-founded the WordPerfect Software Company with Alan Ashton in 1978. Forbes magazine estimated his wealth to be $1.1 billion at one time, and Bastian has funneled his money to gay causes and numerous arts groups in Utah.
Mark Leno's campaign for the State Senate got a big boost yesterday with the public endorsement of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (3rd in line for the Presidency, after Vice President Dick Cheney.)
Overall, this survey of 1000 voters out of which 516 were determined to have already voted or to be likely voters, has a margin of error of 3.2% as to the favorable/unfavorable ratings and 4.4% as to who voters would vote for. The poll is fresh—from last Tuesday May 13 to Wednesday May 14. It was released Thursday [May 15].This is a big change from a poll back in March which Mad Professah blogged about that showed Leno and Nation basicaly tied for the lead and Migden trailing badly.
Leno has by far the best favorability rating—34% to 16% overall and a whopping 48% to 10% favorable rating amongst those who the survey determined had already voted and a 44% to 11% favorability advantage with those who are likely voters.
Nation has a 23% to 15% favorability rating and this is 35% to 24% with those already voted and 23% to 15% with those who are deemed likely to vote.
Migden has a 34% to 17% unfavorable rating and her negatives with those who have already vote[e]d—38% to 25%--and likely voters—33% to 20% parallel this.
Nation has a narrow lead amongst conservatives 41% to 37% over Leno, get[s] beaten by Leno 37% to 30% by moderate voters, and is trounced by liberal voters (the bulk of the Democratic primary vote in this district) with 47% to 17% voting for Leno. Migden badly trails Leno in all of these categories. Leno even wins the women’s vote 35% to 25% in this survey.
January 2007 January 2009
Assembly
Mark Leno (AD-13) Tom Ammiano (AD-13)
John Laird (AD-27) John Perez (AD-46)
Chris Cabaldon (AD-8)
State Senate
Christine Kehoe (SD-39) Christine Kehoe (SD-39)
Carole Migden (SD-3) Mark Leno (SD-3)
Sheila Kuehl (SD-23)
