The 2026 mid-term general election is upon us!
We have a lot of work to do between now and election day on Tuesday, November 3! Please reach out to us at wpadmin@socogreen.org if you can help!
Below is the Green Party of Sonoma County If you have not already voted, be sure to vote as soon as possible, before November 3rd.
For info about where to vote or drop off your ballot, visit the Registrar of Voters voter info page.
Green Party of Sonoma County Voter Guide
The Green Party of Sonoma County has evaluated the candidates and state measures on the ballot in Sonoma County. Here are our recommendations:
Mathew Lopez a Green Party member running for Healdsburg City Council Mathew is a teacher, coach, scientist, and bilingual Spanish speaker who is wired to solve problems and look for practical ways to lift the quality of life for everyone in the Healdsburg community. Endorsed by the Press Democrat too!
James Woodruff for Sebastopol City Council James knows that we face many difficult, complex issues, and good people can disagree on the best path forward. He pledges to respect all voices and to be a good listener. He values community service and wants to protect the wonderful Sebastopol community that we know and love. Endorsed by the North Bay Labor Council!
Eric Vazquez for Petaluma City Council, District 3 Healthy decisions are made when the voices at the table are treated with respect and we focus on solutions rather than conflict. Eric’s goal is not only to push for the solutions we see working today, but also to challenge ourselves to expand the scope of what we can provide, both as a city and regional partner in the North Bay.
Melanie Jones-Carter for Santa Rosa City Council, District 4 Melanie has spent decades getting things done in her community on the boards, commissions, and committees that shape daily life in Santa Rosa. Combined with a 30-year career in organizational management, that’s experience that money can’t buy. Now she’s bringing that same hands-on, experienced approach to the Santa Rosa City Council.
Joanna Paun for Sonoma County Supervisor District 2 Joanna is an elected school board trustee and dedicated educator. She’s a proven leader focused on affordability, accountability, and delivering results for Sonoma County families. She’s running to bring people together around practical solutions, grounded in community and guided by shared values.
Melanie Bagby for Sonoma County Supervisor District 4
Melanie served two terms on the Cloverdale City Council and served as Mayor during the 2019 floods and fire/shelter-in-place order. She has demonstrated that she can lead during a crisis, build coalitions, and deliver results. Sonoma County needs leadership that will prioritize what matters to you.
Jackie Elward for California State Assembly District 12 At a time when all that we care about is under attack, Jackie Elward is the real leader the North Bay needs to tackle our affordability challenges, protect our neighbors, defend our values, and secure our way of life. Jackie is a Rohnert Park Councilwoman, educator, labor organizer, and immigrant with deep roots in the North Bay. She’s never been afraid to speak truth to power or to stand up for what’s right.
Jane Kim for California Insurance Commissioner Jane Kim has spent her career expanding opportunity and affordability for working families in California. As the only candidate not taking a dime from the insurance industry, fossil fuel industry, corporate PACs, or self-funding her campaign, Jane is ready to be the independent voice Californians deserve.
Statewide Ballot Initiatives:
- Prop. 1 – No recommendation. Prop 1 authorizes $11.25 billion in state general obligation bonds for housing affordability programs, including multifamily rental housing, mortgages for veterans, supportive housing, preservation of existing affordable housing, and downpayment assistance.
- Yes on Prop 2. Prop 2 increases California’s Rainy Day Fund, approved by voters in 2014, to provide funding for education, health care, public safety, and other essential services during economic downturns.
- YES on Prop 3. Prop 3 keeps the wealthiest Californians paying their share so our public schools get the funding our students deserve, and will protect almost $15 billion annually in existing funding for schools and students.
- YES Prop 4. Prop 4 repeals the ban on public financing of campaigns, enacted in 1988, and allows state and local governments to create programs that provide candidates with public funds under spending limits and eligibility rules.
- Prop. 5 – No recommendation. Prop 5 is about recall elections. Under current law, voters elect replacement candidates at the same time as the recall election. This measure instead fills recall vacancies by subsequent special election or appointment.
- No on Prop 37. Prop 37 authorizes up to $25 billion in bonds to offer eligible California buyers, earning less than 200% of area median income fixed-rate mortgages for up to 17% of the purchase price of a primary residence “qualified new home.” Despite helping mid-income homebuyers, the bond will increase the California state debt liability, and has a potential to artificially inflate the housing market. The Green Party believes that housing is a human right and emphasizes addressing the housing needs of the lowest income earners through social housing, rent protection, vacancy taxes, fair housing laws, ending tax breaks for developers, and funding Community Land Trusts.
- No on Prop 38. Prop 38 authorizes the state to issue $8.4 billion in general obligation bonds to fund immunology and immunotherapy research through grants to California-based public and nonprofit medical research institutions and an immunology and immunotherapy research institute affiliated with the University of California. The Green Party supports scientific research but we believe a better solution is to ensure everyone pays their fair, proportionate share of the taxes in order to fund research in public universities.
- NO on Prop 39. Prop 39 requires voters to present government-issued identification when casting ballots and requires election officials to use government data to confirm voter citizenship and report verification rates. We don’t have a problem with non-citizens voting. The problem with low turnout of voters stems from lack of representation and the inability for us to vote for what we really want. The Green Party’s solution is sweeping electoral reforms such as Proportional Representation, publicly funded elections, overturning Citizens United, and Ranked Choice Voting.
- YES Prop 40. Prop 40 is a one-time 5% billionaire’s wealth tax on the accumulated wealth of taxpayers and trusts with covered assets valued over $1 billion to fund state health care programs, food assistance programs, and public education.
- NO on Prop 41. Prop 41 is a very confusing measure designed to trick voters and nullify the Proposition 40 billionaire wealth tax. Enough said.
- NO on Prop 42. Prop 42 is another very confusing measure also designed to trick voters and nullify the Proposition 40 billionaire wealth tax. Enough said.
- NO on Prop. 43. Prop 43 Requires two-thirds vote by any local government electorate to enact, extend, or increase local special tax initiatives and prohibit local governments and ballot initiatives from enacting ad valorem property taxes (An ad valorem tax is a financial charge imposed on the fair market value of the property, reflecting its assessed worth) except those authorized elsewhere in the state constitution. Both of these requirements would further limit voters’ ability to raise taxes for local government services. The Green Party’s core value of social justice and our policies on tax reforms are in contradiction to the impact of this measure.
- Yes on Prop 44. Officially titled, “The Clinic Funding Accountability and Transparency Act,” Prop 44 requires nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or community health clinics to spend at least 90% of their annual total revenue on services for patients and support services, rather than management and overhead. While their stated mission is to “provide primary and preventive care to low-income and underserved populations,” some clinics spend less than 50% of their funding on providing care. The Green Party’s stance on social justice, healthcare as a human right, and our support for service workers in the SEIU led to our decision.
- NO on Prop 45. Prop 45 guts the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California’s most important air and water quality protection law. Prop 45 undermines public participation and lets developers fast-track the polluting projects that damage our communities and the environment.
Of note in California, there are two Greens for State Assembly in the General Election. If you have a friend in these areas, let them know!:
Victor Hernandez, Assembly District (AD) 59 (Orange County)
Mark Rendon, AD 14 (East Bay)
Governor. In the primary election, the Green Party of California (GPCA) endorsed Butch Ware for Governor. In the general election, the GPCA has not made an endorsement. For more information on statewide issues, please visit the website of the Green Party of California.
You should have received your ballot in the mail by now. If not, and for other questions about the election, contact the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters.
That’s everything for now. Thank you so much for being Green and standing for Green Values!
Please contact us if you have questions about the Green Party or would like to get involved.
Thank you!
Green Party of Sonoma County Email: wpadmin@socogreen.org Phone: 707-285-7215