Endorsements
CFT endorses Malia Vella for East Bay Assembly seat
Special Election – June 29, 2021
Malia Vella is running for Assembly District 18 in a Special Election. She is currently the vice mayor of the city of Alameda and is a native of the East Bay district, having grown up in Alameda and San Leandro and attended high school in Oakland. She has spent her career advocating for working people and the communities of Assembly District 18.
“We are proud to stand with a labor champion like Malia Vella who has spent her career fighting for working families in Assembly District 18,” said CFT President Jeff Freitas. “We look forward to working with her to support our students and their families, and the educators and classified professionals who call this Bay Area district home.”
The primary Special Election for this seat will be on June 29 and, if necessary, a runoff Special Election will be held on August 31.
No on the Recall of Governor Gavin Newsom
Date not set
CFT emphatically opposes the campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom
CFT President Jeff Freitas blasted the recall campaign as being out of touch with California values and an expensive waste of time.
“California educators and classified professionals unequivocally stand with Governor Newsom and urge all Californians to vote no on the recall,” Freitas said. ”Make no mistake about it, the forces that are behind the recall do not have our students’ or our communities’ best interests at heart.
CFT endorses David Miller and Jose Luis Pacheco for CalPERS Board
Voting period — August 27 to September 27, 2021
The CFT has endorsed two candidates for the CalPERS Board. Ballots for the election will be mailed to members of CalPERS, who will have one month to cast their votes — from August 27 to September 27. CalPERS members may find more information about the election, including who is eligible to vote and how to change your mailing address if necessary on the CalPERS website.
CFT endorses re-election of Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond
June 7, 2022
The CFT is proud to endorse Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond for his re-election campaign. Superintendent Thurmond has been a champion for public schools and our school communities and has proved to be an unwavering fighter for students, teachers, and classified professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CFT endorses Isaac Bryan for Los Angeles Assembly seat
Special Election – May 18, 2021
Results Update: On May 18, Isaac Bryan was elected to the California Assembly.
Isaac Bryan, a leading community organizer and policy activist in Los Angeles and advocate for Black and brown Angelenos, is running for Assembly District 54 in a Special Election.
Bryan is the founding Director of the UCLA Black Policy Project, a think tank dedicated to advancing racial equity through rigorous policy analysis. Bryan has organized for environmental justice, racial equity, housing justice, and the reimagining of our criminal legal system. He shares CFT values on public education and workers’ rights.
The special election for this seat will be on May 18 and, if necessary, a runoff will be held on July 20.
CFT endorses Sydney Kamlager for Los Angeles state senator
Special Election – March 2, 2020
Results Update: On March 2, Sydney Kamlager was elected to the California Senate.
The CFT has endorsed Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager in the Special Election for Senate District 30, which will be held on March 2. The district includes Downtown Los Angeles, Culver City, parts of Inglewood, and several other LA neighborhoods.
General Election 2020
CFT endorsements for November 3 and how to be a smart voter during the pandemic
NEW THIS YEAR! Due to the pandemic, mail-in ballots were mailed to every registered voter in California. The ballots went out in early October. Use this summary guide to assist you in voting this year.
- Download the CFT Endorsement Sheet
- Analysis from the California Labor Federation
- Analysis from the Labor Federation
- Analysis from the Labor Federation
- Analysis from the Labor Federation
- Analysis from the Labor Federation
- Analysis from the Labor Federation
- Analysis from the Labor Federation
- Find our endorsements here
Presidential Primary Election 2020
Vote in the March 3 California primary
California will hold its first March Primary Election this year because the Legislature moved the statewide primary forward from June so that Californians can have a greater say nationally. You may find CFT endorsements below. Your vote matters now more than ever!
General Election 2018
CFT recommends Thurmond for State Superintendent & Newsom for Governor
- Get endorsements on your phone, tailored to your local ballot, from The Educators Choice online voter guide.
- Download the CFT Endorsement Sheet containing the union’s recommendations for California statewide offices, ballot measures, and legislative races, or find them below.
Tony Thurmond for Superintendent of Public Instruction
The CFT endorses Richmond Assemblymember Tony Thurmond for state superintendent of public instruction. President Josh Pechthalt said Thurmond, a former social worker, has demonstrated “time and again he is a champion of public education. His policy positions solidly align him with the needs of students, parents, and educators.”
Gavin Newsom for Governor
The CFT has endorsed Gavin Newsom for the state’s top office. Newsom has an impressive track record of public service as the current lieutenant governor of California and the former mayor of San Francisco.
Newsom presents a clear progressive vision for our state anchored by fully funded and supported public schools. He has articulated a willingness to continue local control, hold charter schools accountable, and identify further sources of stable revenue to fund public education and vital social services.
Primary Election 2018
CFT endorses Thurmond for State Superintendent and Newsom for Governor
- Get endorsements on your phone, tailored to your local ballot, from The Educators Choice online voter guide.
- Download the CFT Endorsement Sheet containing the union’s recommendations for California statewide offices, ballot measures, and legislative races, or find them here in our Endorsements section.
General Election 2016
CFT endorses Hillary Clinton for U.S. President, Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate
The AFT and the CFT have endorsed Hillary Clinton for President of the United States. In vision, experience and leadership, she is the candidate we need in the White House. Clinton is a tested leader who has fought for the issues most important to AFT members and our communities as a U.S. Senator from New York with a 100 percent AFT voting record, and as U.S. Secretary of State.
Primary Election 2016
CFT endorses Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate
The CFT offers a custom electronic slate card — with candidates and ballot issues relevant to you, based on where you live. Go to The Educators Choice and type in your address. A page tailored to your local ballot will load, with endorsed candidates ranging from U.S. senator to your local school and college board trustees.
Below is the complete list of state and federal races in which CFT has endorsed. Candidate names followed by an asterisk (*) indicate incumbents.