Fil-Am candidate for state assembly leads in California Democratic Party vote

Jessica Caloza (center) with Fil-Am supporters at a fundraiser on Oct. 12. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

LOS ANGELES – Jessica Caloza, the Filipino-American millennial running for a seat in the California State Assembly, emerged as the leading candidate in Assembly District 52’s California Democratic Party pre-endorsement conference vote over the weekend.

“As a lifelong Democrat, I am honored to have earned the support of a diverse coalition of so many local grassroots Democrats across the district,” said Caloza, a longtime public servant and community organizer, in a statement.

“Democratic activists make up the backbone of our party, and I’m proud to have earned their critical vote. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all of the local delegates in AD-52 who gave me their support,” she said.

Caloza finished first place, receiving 45 votes (45.5 percent of those voting) while the other three candidates received a range of 0 to 16 votes. Since none of the candidates received over 50 percent of the vote, the party’s official recommendation was “No Consensus.”

Jessica Caloza. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Caloza –a first-generation immigrant who was born in Quezon City, Philippines–has gained high-powered endorsements from top elected leaders, including lawmakers Judy Chu and Ted Lieu, California Assembly Majority Leader Isaac Bryan, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Senators Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and Dave Min.

She is also backed by powerful unions—the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California State Council and the California Federation of Teachers. SEIU represents 2 million workers in health care, property services and the public sector.

Speaking at a recent campaign fundraiser, Caloza thanked her working-class parents who have inspired her to fight for working families.

“My mom was a cashier at different gas stations, at the 99 Cents store, and put herself through vocational school and retired as a nursing assistant,” Caloza told the Fil-Am community and business leaders who attended the event. “My dad was a janitor who worked his way up and retired as a hospital orderly.”

The Oct. 12 fundraiser was hosted by Emmy Award-winning producer Lisa Lew, the daughter of the late lawyer and former Monterey Park Mayor Gonzalo Monty Manibog, the first Fil-Am to become an elected official in Southern California.

If elected, Caloza would be the first Filipino woman in the state legislature.

Caloza was the first in her family to graduate from college. After graduation from UC San Diego, she knew she wanted to be in public service. “I saw how government can change lives,” she said.

Caloza with business leaders Van Dichoso and Lily Tan at the Oct. 12 fundraiser. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

She has served in various roles in government, most recently as the deputy chief of staff to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Previously, Caloza served as a Los Angeles public works commissioner and also worked in President Barack Obama’s administration as an education policy advisor.

Jessica Caloza has also served as a community organizer on President Obama’s campaign and worked for social justice nonprofits that provided critical services to immigrants, working families and youth.

The 52nd Assembly District includes parts of Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Glendale and Silver Lake. The incumbent, Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, is retiring to run for the L.A. City Council District 14.

TSB