march 2024 primary
State Assembly
What is an Assembly Member?
An elected official who represents a geographic district within California’s State Assembly.
The State Assembly is made up of 80 members, and is one part of the two part state legislature. Think of it like our statewide house of representatives.
Assembly members author legislation, build coalitions across the state and with their colleagues in the State Senate, and represent their constituents’ interests at the state level.
San Francisco has two Assembly members that cover the Western and Eastern half of the city, so who you vote for depends on where you live. The 17th District is the East side and the 19th District is the West side.
They serve a two-year term, with a term limit of 12 years. The salary and benefits of this full-time position total $122,694 per year.
Why You Should Care
Even though almost every legislator in the California State Legislature agrees on nationwide issues like a woman’s right to choose and LGBTQ rights, it’s important to pay attention to who represents us in our statehouse. The legislature passes bills that have the power to create tangible improvements for streets conditions and public safety in San Francisco.
Our Vision for this Office
We want skilled legislators who have proven they can pragmatically deal with pressing issues like homelessness, public safety, and our city’s economic recovery. The State Assembly has the ability to craft targeted legislation to address these issues in San Francisco, while having to worry less about local opposition groups blocking their ideas. Our ideal candidate for this office is one that can maximize this power and deliver real results for our city.
Not sure about your district? Check it out at the Department of Elections website.
Matt Haney for Assembly District 17
Why we’re voting for him: During his first full term as a State Assemblymember, Haney has enacted a total of 11 bills, making him a more prolific lawmaker than five of his colleagues who have been in office for similar lengths of time. He’s taken action on some of the most pressing issues facing San Franciscans: the drug crisis, public safety, and housing.
TogetherSF Action has advocated for addressing both the treatment and law enforcement components of the drug crisis, and Haney has taken action on both. On the treatment side: His Assembly Bill 663 made drug addiction treatment more easily accessible by allowing mobile pharmacy vans operated by California counties to carry addiction treatment drugs like buprenorphine.
On the public safety side, Haney voted for AB 701, a bill that increased the fines and criminal sentences associated with dealing fentanyl. Haney also voted in favor of AB 474, which would have required state emergency officials and police to work with local law enforcement to combat fentanyl dealing. Fentanyl and associated criminal punishments were part of the legislature’s difficult, ongoing conversation surrounding how to combat the opioid epidemic. Haney’s votes were all aligned with our vision for a safer and more prosperous California free of open-air drug dealing and use.
Haney also authored AB 1485, which makes it easier for the state to enforce its housing laws by allowing the California Attorney General to step in on legal cases involving housing production laws. This bill is an encouraging step to force the city to meet its state-mandated housing goals by 2031—a step our own city government has been reluctant to take.
With a proven track record, we are confident that Haney will continue to be a strong advocate for the interests of San Franciscans in the State Assembly.
Assembly District 17 includes neighborhoods like the Financial District, SoMa, Nob Hill, the Castro, the Mission and as far as Outer Mission and Excelsior.
Catherine Stefani for Assembly District 19
Why we’re voting for her: In her current role as District 2 Supervisor, Stefani has taken action to support credible solutions to our city’s toughest problems: homelessness, public safety, and mental health. She has demonstrated political courage on citywide issues like housing, fighting for several large-scale housing projects and waging uphill battles against her colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to get these projects approved.
Stefani has been strong on public safety, supporting a robust police department and the creation of the office of victims’ rights. She is a vocal advocate for stronger gun regulations, which is always a relevant issue in the Capitol. She has amassed an impressive variety of endorsements, ranging from State Senator Scott Wiener to the National Union of Healthcare Workers. We think these facts signal her broad political appeal and ability to cross ideological lines.
Having proven that she’s ready for higher office by supporting policy positions that benefit the entire city, we believe Stefani will represent San Francisco voters well in the State Assembly by creating practical, results-oriented laws. Stefani’s fluency in state legislative topics, broad political appeal, and ability to cross ideological lines should make her an excellent representative in the Capitol for West Side voters.
Assembly District 19 includes neighborhoods like the Marina, the Sunset, the Richmond as well as Daly City and Colma.
Paid for by TogetherSF Action (tsfaction.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.