WHAT TO DO: 10-MINUTE TASKS
Right now, there are 3 things we can do:
Supporting the upcoming Bill
The measure which is currently in our State Legislature is Assembly Bill 1984 (i.e. AB 1984).
Although it will not pass this year, it will be reintroduced next year (with a different number).
A way we can already help the upcoming Bill gather support is to ask our legislators in the Assembly and the Senate to co-author AB 1984, if they have not yet done so.
What To Do
Step 1: check whether your current legislators are already known supporters of AB 1984, i.e. are among its 'co-authors'.
Check for both your state assembly member and your state senator.
How to check
Step 2: contact your state assembly member and state senator.
- If they are already a co-author of the bill, thank them for it.
- If not, ask them to co-author AB 1984 and its succesor.
How to contact them
The simplest way to contact them is to use one of their online contact forms:
- either on the CA State official websites:
- or from their personal website, which you should be able to find from here.
Your message does not need to be long: what legislators really want to know is what you want them to support.
Here are a few examples of messages for inspiration — and if you want to see the text of Bill AB 1984, you can find it here.
Sample messages
Dear Assemblymember [Last Name] / Senator [Last Name],
As a resident of your district, I am writing to ask you to co-author AB 1984, and when the time comes it successor. This bill ensures that corporations formed or operating under California law do not receive the power to spend money in our elections. I urge you to support it, and I thank you for your service.
I am one of your constituents, and I care deeply about keeping our democracy accountable to ordinary people. AB 1984 does more than state a position: it changes the Corporations Code so that political spending is not among the powers the state grants. Please stand with the voters you represent and support this bill and its successor by becoming one of their co-authors.
Writing to you as someone who lives and votes in your district: please become a co-author of AB 1984 and its successor. Corporate money should not carry more weight in our elections than the people. I thank you for your leadership in protecting our elections.
As a voter you represent, I believe AB 1984 recognizes a simple truth: election spending should not be among the powers that our state grants corporations. I respectfully urge you to become a co-author of this bill and its successor, and thank you for defending fair elections.
I am one of the many people in your own district who want big money out of politics. AB 1984 is a concrete way toward this. Please support it and its successor on behalf of the constituents you serve by becoming one of their co-authors.
California Senate Joint Resolution 18 (SJR 18)
A Joint Resolution of direct relevance for resetting corporate powers in California has been passed by our legislature. It is called SJR 18 (i.e. Senate Joint Resolution 18, 'Senate' because this is where it originated, that is was first introduced, and 'Joint' because it needs to be passed by both chambers, the Senate and the Assembly).
A joint resolution is a measure used by our state legislators to formally express an opinion and/or make a formal request to other governmental organizations or officials.
SJR 18 officially expresses the California "Legislature's strong disagreement with the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and [would] encourage states to adopt policies to limit the powers of corporations to contribute to political campaigns, consistent with the United States Constitution.”
Although a resolution does not have the force of law, it has been a great opportunity to gather support for the policy before a bill, which would have the force of law, gets proposed next legislative cycle — i.e. next year. Indeed, this is precisely why SJR 18 was introduced.
It has now been adopted by our Legislature and recorded as official by the Secretary of State,the state's record keeper.
What To Do
Step 1: check whether your assembly member and senator voted for SJR 18.
How to check
Find out here who your state legislators are. This should also give you links to their personal websites.
IN THE CA SENATE
Voted "YES" on SJR 18:
Benjamin Allen (District 24), Bob Archuleta (District 30), Jesse Arreguín (District 7), Angelique Ashby (District 8), Josh Becker (District 13), Catherine Blakespear (District 38), Christopher Cabaldon (District 3), Anna Caballero (District 14), Sabrina Cervantes (District 31), Dave Cortese (District 15), Maria Elena Durazo (District 26), Tim Grayson (District 9), Melissa Hurtado (District 16), John Laird (District 17), Monique Limón (District 21), Mike McGuire (District 2), Jerry McNerney (District 5), Caroline Menjivar (District 20), Steve Padilla (District 18), Eloise Gómez Reyes (District 29), Laura Richardson (District 35), Susan Rubio (District 22), Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (District 28), Henry Stern (District 27), Thomas Umberg (District 34), Aisha Wahab (District 10), Akilah Weber Pierson (District 39), Scott Wiener (District 11)
Voted "NO" on SJR 18:
Steve Choi (District 37), Megan Dahle (District 1), Shannon Grove (District 12), Brian Jones (District 40), Roger Niello (District 6), Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (District 19), Kelly Seyarto (District 32), Suzette Martinez Valladares (District 23)
Did not vote on SJR 18:
Marie Alvarado-Gil (District 4), Lena Gonzalez (District 33), Sasha Renée Pérez (District 25), Tony Strickland (District 36)
IN THE CA ASSEMBLY
Voted "YES" on SJR 18:
Dawn Addis (District 30), Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (District 4), Patrick Ahrens (District 26), David Alvarez (District 80), Joaquin Arambula (District 31), Anamarie Ávila Farías (District 15), Jasmeet Bains (District 35), Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (District 16), Steve Bennett (District 38), Marc Berman (District 23), Tasha Boerner (District 77), Lisa Calderon (District 56), Jessica Caloza (District 52), Juan Carrillo (District 39), Damon Connolly (District 12), Sade Elhawary (District 57), Mike Fong (District 49), Jesse Gabriel (District 46), Robert Garcia (District 50), Mike Gipson (District 65), Mark González (District 54), Matt Haney (District 17), John Harabedian (District 41), Jacqui Irwin (District 42), Corey Jackson (District 60), Ash Kalra (District 25), Maggy Krell (District 6), Alex Lee (District 24), Josh Lowenthal (District 69), Tina McKinnor (District 61), Al Muratsuchi (District 66), Stephanie Nguyen (District 10), Liz Ortega (District 20), Blanca Pacheco (District 64), Diane Papan (District 21), Darshana Patel (District 76), Gail Pellerin (District 28), Cottie Petrie-Norris (District 73), James Ramos (District 45), Rhodesia Ransom (District 13), Celeste Rodriguez (District 43), Michelle Rodriguez (District 53), Chris Rogers (District 2), Blanca Rubio (District 48), Pilar Schiavo (District 40), Nick Schultz (District 44), LaShae Sharp-Collins (District 79), José Luis Solache (District 62), Esmeralda Soria (District 27), Catherine Stefani (District 19), Avelino Valencia (District 68), Christopher Ward (District 78), Lori Wilson (District 11), Rick Chavez Zbur (District 51), Robert Rivas (District 29)
Voted "NO" on SJR 18:
Leticia Castillo (District 58), Phillip Chen (District 59), Laurie Davies (District 74), Carl DeMaio (District 75), Diane Dixon (District 72), Stan Ellis (District 32), Heath Flora (District 9), Heather Hadwick (District 1), Josh Hoover (District 7), Natasha Johnson (District 63), Tom Lackey (District 34), Joe Patterson (District 5), Kate Sanchez (District 71), Tri Ta (District 70), Greg Wallis (District 47)
Did not vote on SJR 18:
Juan Alanis (District 22), Mia Bonta (District 18), Isaac Bryan (District 55), Jeff Gonzalez (District 36), Gregg Hart (District 37), Alexandra Macedo (District 33), Sharon Quirk-Silva (District 67), David Tangipa (District 8), Buffy Wicks (District 14)
In addition, several state legislators also supported the resolution more strongly, by co-authoring it:
Step 2: contact your state assembly member and state senator.
- If they voted yes on SJR 18 thank them for it. Also thank them for co-authoring it if they did.
- If they did not vote for SJR 18, tell them what you think of their decision.
How to contact them
The simplest way to contact them is to use one of their online contact forms:
- either on the CA State official websites:
- or from their personal website, which you should be able to find from here.
Here are a few examples of messages for inspiration — to be adapted to your own thoughts and feelings of course. If you want to see the text of the resolution itself, you can find it here.
Sample messages
Dear Assemblymember/Senator [Last Name],
Expressing thanks (voted yes):
As a resident of your district, I am writing to thank you for supporting SJR 18 by voting for it / co-authoring it. This resolution puts the Legislature on record against the Citizens United decision and encourages states to limit corporate spending in our elections. A government that answers to people rather than deep pockets depends on reforms like this. I thank you for your service.
I am one of your constituents, and I care deeply about keeping our democracy accountable to ordinary people. SJR 18 sends a clear message that California rejects the flood of corporate and dark money unleashed by Citizens United. So thank you for standing with the voters you represent and voting "yes" on this resolution/co-authoring it.
Expressing disappointment (voted no):
Writing to you as someone who lives and votes in your district: I am deeply disappointed that you voted "no" on SJR 18. Corporate dark money should not drown out the voices of real Californians, and this resolution affirms that our state wants reform. By opposing it, you clearly sided with corporate interests and against the voters who elected you.
As a voter you represent, I believe SJR 18 recognizes a simple truth: unlimited corporate spending in elections threatens the integrity of our democracy. By voting "no" on it, you expressed the belief that our elections belong to corporations as much as human beings like myself. As a voter, I find this position both disturbing and personally demeaning.
Expressing disapointment (did not vote):
I am one of the many people in your own district who want big money out of politics. SJR 18 is a meaningful step: it tells Congress and other states that California stands for transparency and accountability in campaign finance. I am disapointed that you did not vote in favor of it. By not voting "yes" on SJR 18, you missed a great opprotunity to show leadership in protecting our elections. I would like to know: what kept you from voting? I am asking because I intend to take your answer into account.
Spread the word
Tell your friends and family in California about the effort to put an end to corporate and dark money political spending, and share this page with them.