Carl DeMaio and Reform California have released their “Plain English” voter guide to give you an easy-to-understand explanation of the ballot measures and grade candidates.
California’s General Election is underway and ballots must be returned by November 8, 2022. With a bunch of confusing ballot measures and hundreds of candidates running for office, voters can feel overwhelmed and lost.
This “Plain English” voter guide makes voting simple – especially when it comes to the ballot measures and local offices that do not allow candidates to disclose their party affiliation. Endorsements below are given only to candidates who “passed the test” on these crucial criteria: opposing taxes, fighting crime, improving schools, creating jobs, and defending personal freedoms.
2022 offers a real chance for a wave election to block costly tax hikes and elect common-sense leaders - but to do that we need your help in turning out your friends, family and neighbors to vote and share this easy-to-understand voter guide with them!
How to Use the Guide – 7 Sections:
- Review Statewide Ballot Measures
- Review Your Local Ballot Measures
- Review Statewide Candidate Races
- Review Legislative Candidate Races (Congress/State Legislature)
- Review Your County Candidate Races
- Review Your City Candidate Races (unless you live in unincorporated area)
- Review Your School District Candidate Races
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Statewide Ballot Measures
Prop 1 — NO
Official Title: Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Plain English Translation: Eliminates Any Restrictions on When Abortions Can Be Performed
Prop 1 is being sold publicly as merely a codification of a pro-choice position in the California state constitution but it actually goes far further than that. The actual text of this ballot measure would repeal the current ban on abortions after 23 weeks of a pregnancy and allow the right to a late-term abortion up to the moment of birth. Prop 1 would give California one of the most extreme abortion laws in the country. This measure may also interfere with existing state laws that allow for Sexually Violent Predators to be placed under mandatory chemical treatment to limit their sex drive and desires. Reform California recommends a NO vote.
Prop 26 — NO
Official Title: Allows In-Person Roulette, Dice Games, Sports Wagering on Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Plain English Translation: Protects Tribal Gaming Rights, But Enriches Trial Lawyers Through More Frivolous Lawsuits
Prop 26 affirms the current practice of allowing only federally-recognized Native American tribes to operate roulette, dice games, and sports wagering on tribal lands, subject to compacts negotiated by the Governor and ratified by the Legislature. It would also allow on-site sports wagering at privately operated horse-racing tracks in specified counties for ages 21 and up. Unfortunately, the measure contains a “poison pill” to expand the use of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) to allow unscrupulous trial attorneys to file frivolous lawsuits to shakedown small businesses. Reform California recommends a “NO” vote on Prop 26.
Prop 27 — NO
Official Title: Allows Online and Mobile Sports Wagering Outside Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Plain English Translation: Allows Private Businesses to Engage in Online Gambling to Compete with Native American Tribes
Prop 27 would expand gambling in California beyond casinos currently operated by Native American tribes by allowing private businesses to operate online and mobile sports wagering for persons 21 and up. Native American tribes say this competition from private businesses will undermine their ability to fund programs for their tribes. Reform California recommends a NO vote.
Prop 28 — NO
Official Title: Provides Additional Funding For Arts And Music Education In Public Schools. Initiative Statute.
Plain English Translation: Earmarks Mandatory Funding from the Existing State Education Budget for Arts and Music Programs
Prop 28 is an earmark - or a requirement that the state spend at least a certain amount of funds from the state budget for the exclusive benefit of art and music programs. The earmark mandates that 1% of required state funding be set aside for arts and music programs and then allocates a greater proportion of the funds to schools serving more economically disadvantaged students. Earmarks are not free money - so any earmark will have to come at the expense of other important programs — including programs for fundamental academic areas like reading, writing, arithmetic, etc. Reform California recommends a NO vote.
Prop 29 — NO
Official Title: Requires On-Site Licensed Medical Professional At Kidney Dialysis Clinics And Establishes Other State Requirements. Initiative Statute
Plain English Translation: Imposes Costly Regulations on Kidney Dialysis Clinics to Benefit Organized Labor Unions
Prop 29 may be familiar to voters since it has been rejected TWICE before in 2018 and 2020. Why does it keep appearing on the ballot? Wealthy labor unions force the measure on the ballot in an attempt to impose new costly regulations on kidney dialysis clinics that would benefit the interests of the unions. Prop 29 requires specific medical personnel on site during treatment at outpatient kidney dialysis clinics - whether or not the personnel are even needed. The measure also increases mandatory state reporting and prohibits clinics from closing or substantially reducing services without state approval. A "no” vote keeps your doctors and clinics more independent from state control. Reform California recommends a NO vote.
Prop 30 — NO
Official Title: Provides Funding for Programs to Reduce Air Pollution And Prevent Wildfires by Increasing Tax on Personal Income Over $2 Million.
Plain English Translation: TAX INCREASE - Increases Income Taxes to Fund a Variety of New Government Programs
Prop 30 is a massive income tax increase - even though California already has the highest income taxes in the country of any state. Prop 30 imposes a 1.75% tax increase for personal incomes over $2 million. Revenue for the proposition aims to go toward climate change measures, but the definition of programs eligible for these new funds is quite broad as to allow the funds to be used in a wide-range of ways. Reform California recommends a NO vote.
Prop 31 — NO
Official Title: Referendum on 2020 Law that Would Prohibit the Retail Sale of Certain Flavored Tobacco Products.
Plain English Translation: Should California Ban the Sale of Flavored Tobacco?
Prop 31 is a “referendum” or question on whether a proposed state law should be implemented or rejected. State Senate Bill, SB 793, which prohibits the retail sale of certain flavored tobacco products and tobacco flavor enhancers. A “yes” vote would uphold and pass the law into effect, banning the retail sale of these flavored tobacco products. A “no” vote would overturn the law and tobacco companies would be allowed to sell flavored tobacco products in the state.
Local Ballot Measures
Measure G — NO
Official Title: Tax On Commercial Cannabis Businesses
Plain English Translation: Increase Taxes on Pot Shops
No matter where you stand on the issue of legalized marijuana use, Measure G is a massive tax increase on pot shops. While the measure claims to fund “parks,” “police,” and more, it contains loopholes that allow the funding to be diverted to other projects. A NO vote will block this tax increase.
Measure H — NO
Official Title: Hemet Transactions And Use Tax Continuation Measure
Plain English Translation: Extend 1% Sales Tax Rate Permanently
Measure H is essentially a massive tax increase. It is an extension of the current 1% sales tax rate that voters approved in 2016, and it would last until ended by voters (in other words: permanently). A NO vote blocks the tax rate from continuing, effectively giving city residents a tax cut starting in 2027! Vote NO to lower your tax bill.
Measure J — NO
Official Title: To improve school … equipment and support student achievement ... shall Alvord Unified School District’s measure be adopted authorizing $248,000,000 in bonds
Plain English Translation: Shall the City Take Out $248 Million in Bonds to be Repaid by Taxpayers to Give a Line of Credit to a Poorly Managed School District?
Measure J is effectively a massive tax increase on city residents through a bond. Bonds are government loans that must be paid back by taxpayers. This bond is being used as a replacement for improving efficiency with current resources. A NO vote blocks this bond and saves taxpayers millions.
Measure L — NO
Official Title: Shall the measure to keep parks/recreational facilities safe/clean … be adopted levying 7¢ per building square foot annually on single-family residential units, … authorizing bonds/ appropriation limit of $21,000,000
Plain English Translation: Shall the City Adopt a Massive Property Tax Increase to Pay for the Annexation of Cathedral City?
Measure L is effectively a massive property tax increase on city residents to pay for the annexation and service of Cathedral City, which could cost homeowners an additional $200 a year. A NO vote blocks this massive tax increase.
Measure M — NO
Official Title: To renovate ... Beaumont Library ... shall Beaumont Library District’s measure be adopted to issue $24,000,000 of bonds at legal rates
Plain English Translation: Shall the City Take Out $24 Million in Bonds to be Repaid by Taxpayers to Give a Line of Credit to a Poorly Managed School District?
Measure M is effectively a massive tax increase on city residents through a bond. Bonds are government loans that must be paid back by taxpayers. This bond is being used as a replacement for improving efficiency with current resources. A NO vote blocks this bond and saves taxpayers millions.
Statewide Candidate Races
- Governor - Brian Dahle
- Lt. Governor - Angela Underwood Jacobs
- Attorney General - Nathan Hochman
- Treasurer - Jack Guerrero
- Controller - Lahnee Chen
- Secretary of State - Rob Bernosky
- Superintendent of Public Instruction - Lance Christensen
- State Insurance Commissioner - Robert Howell
- State Board of Equalization 1 - Ted Gaines
- State Board of Equalization 2 - Peter Coe Verbica
- State Board of Equalization 3 - You’re Doomed
- State Board of Equalization 4 - You’re Doomed
Justices of the California Supreme Court
- Patricia Guerrero: NO
- Joshua P. Groban: NO
- Martin J. Jenkins: NO
- Goodwin Liu: NO
Justices of the California Courts of Appeal
First District
- Therese M. Stewart: NO
- Alison M. Tucher: NO
- Ioana Petrou: NO
- Carin T. Fujisaki: NO
- Victor A. Rodriguez: NO
- Tracie L. Brown: NO
- Jeremy M. Goldman: NO
- Teri L. Jackson: NO
- Gordon B. Burns: NO
Second District
- Frances Rothschild: NO
- Judith M. Ashmann: NO
- Luis A. Lavin: NO
- Audrey B. Collins: NO
- Brian S. Currey: NO
- Laurence D. Rubin: NO
- Lamar W. Baker: NO
- Hernaldo J. Baltodano: NO
- John L. Segal: NO
- Maria E. Stratton: NO
- John Shepard Wiley Jr.: NO
- Elizabeth Annette Grimes: YES
Third District
- Harry Hull: YES
- Laurie Earl: NO
- Stacy Boulware Eurie: NO
- Peter Krause: YES
Fourth District
- Judith McConnell: NO
- Martin N. Buchanan: NO
- Truc T. Do: NO
- Manuel A. Ramirez: YES
- Carol D. Codrington: YES
- Michael J. Raphael: NO
- Frank Menetrez: NO
- Kathleen E. O’Leary: NO
- William W. Bedsworth: NO
- Eileen C. Moore: NO
- Joanne Motoike: NO
- Maurice Sanchez: NO
Fifth District
- Brad R. Hill: YES
- Bert Levy: NO
- Jennifer Detjen: NO
Sixth District
- Mary J. Greenwood: NO
- Charles E. Wilson II: NO
- Cynthia C. Lie: NO
Legislative Races
- US Senate - Mark Meuser
- US Congress - District 25 - Brian E. Hawkins
- US Congress - District 39 - Aja Smith
- US Congress - District 41 - Ken Calvert
- US Congress - District 48 - Darrell Issa
- State Senate – District 32 - Kelly Seyarto
- State Assembly – District 36 - Ian Weeks
- State Assembly – District 47 - Definitely Not Christy Holstege
- State Assembly – District 58 - Bernard William Murphy
- State Assembly – District 60 - Hector Diaz-Nava
- State Assembly – District 63 - Bill Essayli
- State Assembly – District 71 - Kate Sanchez
County Candidate Races
- Board of Supervisors, District 5 - Jeff Hewitt
- Auditor-Controller - Ben Benoit
- Judge of the Superior Court, Office #4 - Natalie Lough
City Candidate Races
City of Corona
City Council
- District 1: Gary Greenwood
- District 5: Either candidate is acceptable
City of Eastvale
City Council
- District 4: Anuradha Saini
- District 5: Michael McMinn
City of Hemet
City Council
- District 5: Linda Krupa
City of Jurupa Valley
City Council
- District 1: You’re Doomed
City of Menifee
City Council
- District 2: Ricky Estrada
City of Moreno Valley
Mayor
- You’re Doomed
City of Murrieta
City Council
- District 1: Jon Levell
- District 2: Ron Holliday
- District 5: Cindy Warren
City of Norco
City Council (Two seats)
Strategic Voting: While you may vote for up to 2 candidates in this race, please do not vote for any other candidate or candidates, as you may inadvertently knock recommended candidates out of the race. We need to spike the votes for our reform-minded candidates and let left-wing voters split their votes for the other candidates.
- Brent Sakamoto
City of San Jacinto
City Council (Two seats)
- Valerie Vandever
- Kevin Saunders
City of Temecula
City Council
- District 1: Jeff Chrapczynski
- District 3: Brenden Kalfus
- District 5: Bill Weston
City of Wildomar
City Council
- District 1: You’re Doomed
- District 3: Matthew Baldwin
School Districts
Alvord Unified School District
- Trustee Area 1: Wendel W. Tucker
Corona-Norco Unified School District
- Trustee Area 2: Chris Raahauge
Hemet Unified School District
- Trustee Area 5: Kenneth W. Prado
Hemet Unified School District
- Trustee Area 7: Megan Haley
Jurupa Unified School District
- Trustee Area 5: You’re Doomed
Lake Elsinore Unified School District
- Trustee Area 1: You’re Doomed
- Trustee Area 2: Jennette Vanderpool
- Trustee Area 5: Jill Juanita Leonard
Menifee Union School District
- Trustee Area 3: J. Kyle Root
Moreno Valley Unified School District
- Trustee Area 1: Jeffrey J. Giba
- Trustee Area 3: Definitely not Cleveland Johnson
Murrieta Valley Unified School District
- Trustee Area 1: Nicholas Pardue
- Trustee Area 2: Courtney Cooper
- Trustee Area 3: Julie Vandegrift
Nuview Union School District
- Douglas Frey
- Jaime Sanchez
- Scott R. Sewell
Perris School District
- Trustee Areas 1 & 3: You’re Doomed
- Trustee Area 5: Carol Jiménez
Perris Union High School District
- Trustee Area 1: Steve Campos
Riverside Unified School District
- Trustee Area 1: Duffy Atkinson
- Trustee Area 5: Paula M. Truelock
San Jacinto Unified School District
- Trustee Area 5: Debbi Rex
Temecula Valley Unified School District
- Trustee Area 1: Jason Craig
- Trustee Area 2: Danny Gonzalez
- Trustee Area 3: Jennifer “Jen” Wiersma
- Trustee Area 4: Dr. Joseph Wayne Komrosky
Val Verde Unified School District
- Trustee Area 1: Melinda Young
- Trustee Area 4: You’re Doomed
Special Districts
Eastern Municipal Water District
- Division 2: Stephen J. Corona
Rancho California Water District (4)
- Carol Lee Brady
- John V. Rossi
- William Everett Plummer
- J.D. Harkey
Election Integrity: The “S.A.F.E.” Way to Vote
NOTE: This Election Guide reflects the endorsements made by Carl DeMaio and Reform California and should not be taken as an official endorsement or position of iHeartMedia.
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