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For immediate release |
Contact: Douglas MacLean |
California Democratic Party Endorses Sandré Swanson for 16th Assembly District
Swanson receives overwhelming 70% of district delegate vote.
Sacramento—Sandré Swanson, former Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and candidate for the 16th Assembly District, captured the official endorsement of the California Democratic Party at their annual state convention today.
Swanson said of the endorsement, “Words cannot describe how honored I am to have received such a strong show of support from the Democratic grassroots in our district, and to have their support ratified by the Democratic Party state convention. I respect the decisions of these party members because they have historically done the hard work to win campaigns. I have been a lifelong Democrat, working in the community my entire career, and appreciate their endorsement of my 30 year record of service to this district. I also appreciate their acceptance of my legislative priorities to promote the education, health and safety of our children.”
Delegates from the 16th Assembly District, which includes Alameda, Piedmont, and most of Oakland (80%), voted Saturday afternoon to endorse one of three candidates, Sandré Swanson, John Russo, or Ronnie Caplane, or to withhold an endorsement for the race. Of the 24 delegates who voted, 17 voted for Swanson (70.8%), 0 for Russo, 0 for Caplane, and 7 for no endorsement (29.2%). The vote was ratified on the convention floor by the full body of 3,000 delegates in attendance from throughout the state on Sunday morning. This action officially confers the party’s endorsement on Swanson.
Swanson stated he believes the official support of his record of service and legislative agenda by the California Democratic Party will draw an important distinction for voters in the upcoming June 6th Democratic Primary election. All candidates are vying to replace Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, who cannot run for reelection due to term limits.
The Democratic State Party’s official support for Swanson is added to a long list of endorsements Swanson has received, including the California Teachers Association, the California Nurses Association, the California Labor Federation, the Sierra Club, the California League of Conservation Voters, and OakPAC, the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Elected officials endorsing Swanson’s campaign include Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Ron Dellums, State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, Assembly Majority Whip Karen Bass, and Assemblymember Mark Ridley-Thomas, Democratic Caucus Chair .