Assembly District 17 Candidates

A recently published poll from YouGov found that the most common reason people who voted for Biden did not vote for Harris was the Biden administration's failure to end the war in Gaza. In California specifically, 2024 represented a turnout loss of around 9%. Incredibly, almost every single one of these 1.7 million voters who voted in 2020 but did not vote in 2024 were Democrats. As a likely, tangible result, California failed to end forced labor among prisoners, failed to increase the minimum wage, and reclassified certain drug offenses to felonies. It paints a clear picture. The Democratic party tried to appeal to the center at the expense of the base, and the base abandoned it. 

My name is Vivian, and I'm trying to push us back to our base. I want to move us towards evidence-based and compassionate policies in criminal justice, housing, and health care. I want us to firmly reject a return to a "tough on crime" style of policy that an enormous sum of research has repeatedly concluded does not work. I want to stop our state energy companies from price gouging customers while skimping on critical infrastructure repairs. I want to ensure that people are not priced out of their neighborhoods for lack of affordable housing. If Democrats want to start winning elections, if it wants to be serious about fixing California and the nation as a whole's problems, we need to be focused on turning out the vote of the underprivileged, and we're only going to do that if we elect and endorse candidates that push for real reform, not compromised half-measures. I'm running to do exactly that. Republicans lose to Democrats. Democrats lose to the couch. For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why I am running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few.

My name is Gloria Berry, and I proudly call San Francisco my birthplace and home. My mother dedicated her career as a secretary for the Federal Government, while my father drove the iconic cable cars of our city for 25 years. I started my education in the public school system, but after enduring persistent strikes, my mother made the decision to transition me to private school in the seventh grade. In pursuit of higher education, I enlisted in the military, serving for 13 years—our financial situation made college unaffordable at the time, and I believed that acquiring a skill while supporting my future education was the best path forward. In the Navy, I specialized in telecommunications. Unfortunately, upon returning to San Francisco, I faced challenges in securing a position in the tech industry and ultimately spent eight years as a correctional officer. 

In 2012, my life took a challenging turn when I was diagnosed with incurable cancer. During my battle with the disease, my health deteriorated, and I found myself facing homelessness. Yet, amidst these hardships, I discovered a profound commitment to my community. I actively participated in protests and attended city hall hearings, with my first protest advocating for the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal. This experience ignited my passion for public service, and in 2018, I began to explore the possibility of running for office. In 2019, I made history as the only progressive candidate to win in Assembly District 17. The following year, I ran independently for the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee and emerged victorious. I have since had the honor of serving on the Guaranteed Income Committee, appointed by Assemblyman Matt Haney, as well as the San Francisco Reparations Committee and the Southeast Community Council. I am also a member of the California State African American Caucus and currently serve on the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee. I am known for my transparency and have earned the trust of the community I serve. With gratitude, Gloria Berry

My name is Venecia Margarita and I am a humanitarian who is a mother, an auntie, a daughter, a niece, a cousin, a neighbor, a godmother, and a comadre and friend to many. I was born in Los Angeles and raised in San Francisco. I am a product of the public school system and the foster care system in San Francisco. I am a proud Gator graduate of San Francisco State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Raza Studies, Political Science, and a Master's in Social Work. I have worked in the community as a counselor, social worker, volunteer, educator, and community organizer. We need to advocate for the land, the children, the elders, the animals, the most disenfranchised communities and all of humanity. We need to advocate for the quality in education and ethnic studies so that today and tomorrow's generations will know the truth in history. We need to advocate for a better health care system and harmonious living conditions for all. We need to do this together with educators, health workers, small business owners, parents, union workers, neighbors, students, communities that are multi-cultural and multi-lingual, the LGBTQ+ community, and every day people who want a better today and tomorrow for the seven generations to come. Let's leave mother earth in a better place than when we got here. We owe this to humanity and to mother earth. This is why I am running for Assembly District 17 as a Delegate for the California Democratic Party.

Sierra Fischer (she/her) is a Bay Area native who has always been proud of the beauty and resiliency of communities across California. After completing undergraduate studies across Northern and Southern California, they found a home in San Francisco, where their passion for collective empowerment and grassroots organizing took root. As a passionate community organizer and advocate, Sierra has focused her career on championing policies that uplift working families and marginalized communities. 

An advocate for child care and educators, Sierra has a critical understanding of how access to quality education transforms lives from youth to adulthood and how investments in education can uplift entire communities and break cycles of poverty. They support reforming Prop 13 to increase funding for public schools, ensuring that California’s children have the resources they need to succeed. 

Through their time serving on the San Francisco Young Democrats and their experiences across various progressive campaigns, Sierra has worked to elevate the voices of young activists and students, often excluded from political spaces. They are committed to advocating for policies that center youth issues including: climate action, affordable housing, and mental health support. A staunch advocate for education and health care for all, they believe these are fundamental rights that must be prioritized to ensure every Californian has the opportunity to thrive.

Sierra Fischer is running to ensure that the Democratic Party reflects the voices and values of everyday people - not corporations or elite interests. Sierra will advocate for policies that create meaningful, lasting change for working families, young people, and our most vulnerable neighbors.

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why I am running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few.

Cheryl Thornton is a dedicated community leader and grassroots organizer committed to social justice and equity. She serves as an SEIU 1021 COPE Delegate, advocating for fair labor policies and workers’ rights. Cheryl is also the Co-Chair of the Harriet Tubman African-American Democratic Club, where she champions political engagement and empowerment within the African-American community. With a deep passion for activism, Cheryl works tirelessly to build stronger, more inclusive communities.

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why Cheryl is running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few.

Isabella is a born and raised San Franciscan and lifelong resident of the Lower Haight. She is an early childhood educator with many years of experience serving San Francisco’s diverse populations. Additionally, she is a proud small business owner, who, along with her partner, operates a retail store that showcases the work of the city’s talented artists and designers. She is a member of Small Business Forward, a progressive advocacy organization, and ECE SF, an advocacy group that promotes social and economic justice in early childhood education policy.  She is running to advocate for affordable housing, sustainable environmental solutions, and affordable healthcare and education for all. She is fighting to protect the rights of all Californians from the noxious influence of corporate interests in California politics. 

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why Isabella is running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few.

I am a proud mom of a third grader at SFUSD. My parents are refugee survivors of political persecution. As a child who was mute, I benefited from early prevention programs and Gifted And Talented Education (GATE). I believe it is a right for every child to have individualized support that best suits their needs.

With a 20-year career rooted in service and education, I have been a lifelong advocate for marginalized children, families, and communities, from birth to adulthood. Through my family’s experience and the past seven years of leadership in early childhood development, I recognize the sacrifices that shape the journey of parenthood and understand the impact of trauma on children's development. I am committed to closing equity gaps for underserved communities by prioritizing early interventions for those who need them most.

Zip codes are social determinants to children’s lifelong success. Educational outcomes are directly connected to public health. I am passionate about addressing public education, housing, homelessness, transportation, environmental health, and healthcare to better serve all families, build healthy communities, and ensure a future where every child has opportunities to thrive.

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why I am running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few.

Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Activist | Researcher | Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club Vice President

From my years in suicide prevention and mental health research, I’ve learned that complex problems often seem daunting due to our fear of failure, not because the solutions are inherently complex. The real challenge is breaking through barriers—naysayers, doubt, and fears—to implement effective solutions.

I believe this is also true in politics. My years of community organizing have taught me that true leadership is about showing up, demonstrating care, and uniting communities around practical solutions that create lasting change. While bringing people together—given diverse trauma histories, emotions, and lived experiences—can be challenging, doing so is the pathway to create meaningful, lasting change.

This is why I believe that our party must recognize that safety is a priority for Californians and understand that a genuine sense of public safety is only possible when we trust scientists, researchers, experts, and psychologists. Without a sense of safety, not much else is possible.

Achieving a real sense of public safety will require us to fight harder than ever, especially over the next four years, for every aspect of our well-being, including education, an economy that works for all, healthcare-for-all, housing-first initiatives, a fair press, and a decarbonized, vastly improved transit system. Failing to do so will continue to lead to political and humanitarian crises we can no longer afford.

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why I am running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few.

My name is Joshua Rudy Ochoa, I’m 25 years old, and I’m a community organizer, renter, queer/bi, SEIU 1021 member, mixed-race and I was born into a working-class, single-mother household. I came to San Francisco in 2017 to study Political Science and Urban Studies & Planning at San Francisco State University, where I became involved in student government for over four years, including as student body president. In that time, I expanded our Gator Transit Pass, led the student volunteer effort during the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines, registered 1650+ students to vote in 2020 election, divested SFSU’s Foundation from fossil fuels, and raised our student minimum wage to $15/hr.

After graduating, I got deeply involved in organizations and Democratic clubs, including the San Francisco Young Democrats, Harvey Milk LGBTQ+ Club, SF Berniecrats, and DSA SF. My efforts have been to get more young people politically engaged, campaign for progressive candidates and ballot measures, and fight to address the priorities of working people. I ran in March 2024 for the SF Democratic Party’s Central Committee on the Labor & Working Families slate, and while I fell just short of victory, I’m proud of every single one of the 24,917 votes I received. I currently work for the SF Youth Commission where I help support and uplift young advocates to create positive change. I live in Duboce Triangle with my fiancée Allan, and our pets Becky and Felix.

Let’s fight for a California Democratic Party that stands behind working people, protects vulnerable communities, addresses climate change, builds affordable housing, expands public transit, guarantees universal healthcare & free college, and builds an economy for all!

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why I am running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few.

Let’s get to work!

I am a San Francisco native. I am passionate about climate justice, redistributive justice, and ending proposition 13. I believe that basic services and human rights such as medical care and housing should not be profit centers. I think that a world run by unchecked corporate power cheapens and degrades everyone. I think that we need to fund public transit and reinvest in our communities in California. I am against everything the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association has ever done.

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why I am running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few. 

I am a born and raised San Franciscan, a father, president of my local neighborhood association, co-founder of the North Beach Farmers Market, and on the boards of North Beach Citizens and Sts Peter and Paul School. I am running to represent you as an Assembly Delegate because I believe in a California where working families, young people, and seniors can thrive. Our state is facing a housing affordability crisis and rising cost of living that threaten the stability of our communities. We need bold, progressive leadership that centers people, not profits.

I am committed to electing leaders who reflect our communities, fight for justice, and win elections to defeat harmful Republican policies.

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why I am running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few.

I would be honored to earn your vote and work toward a better, more equitable California.

Director of research and policy for an affordable housing developer/provider. Background in community development and tenant advocacy. JD from UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings.) Experienced municipal bureaucrat who served in the San Francisco Department of Elections.

California is facing an unprecedented affordability crisis, which is in real time being exacerbated by the fires in Los Angeles. We need to address, among many other issues, the affordable housing crisis, the insurance crisis, and the cost of childcare and education. We need to elect representatives with subject matter expertise who will propose and advocate for solutions that allow everyone to live with safety and dignity.

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why I am running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few. 

Justin Dolezal is a small business owner, tenant advocate, and founder of Small Business Forward, a progressive advocacy group. He is running because he believes that Californians deserve a Democratic Party that prioritizes social, economic, and environmental justice. He will fight for solutions to address income inequality, policies that favor truly affordable housing, climate policies that ensure an equitable future for our children, and justice for our immigrant and LGBTQ communities. The Democratic Party must oppose our country's rising right-wing tide by offering a vision of the future in which all Americans can thrive, and he will fight for that vision for California.

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why I am running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few. 

Vince Crisostomo, age 63, is a queer identifying native Chamorro based in San Francisco who’s been living with HIV/AIDS over 35 years.  He is passionate about community and bringing health care and social justice equity to people of every sexual identity, HIV status, gender, race and age. He has dedicated over 30 years to HIV/AIDS activism and serving LGBTQ communities at international, regional, national and grassroots levels.

Crisostomo has been an HIV/AIDS activist for more than 35 years in the U.S. and abroad, serving as an organizer, peer advocate, outreach, education and training provider, researcher and executive. Diagnosed with AIDS in 1995, Crisostomo brings a unique personal perspective to the challenges faced by medically disadvantaged populations and deep connections within the BIPOC and LGBTQ communities. He has been a caretaker to many friends and loved ones affected or lost to the AIDS epidemic as well as a caretaker to his own parents. Vincent is a current member of the San Francisco Mayor's Long-Term Care Coordinating Care Council, has chaired the city’s HIV & Aging Work Group, served on the SF Dignity Fund Steering Committee and currently co-chairs the SF Dignity Fund Oversight Committee. He is currently the Director of Aging Services at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. He was appointed to the San Francisco Human Rights Committee’s LGBTQI+ Advisory Committee in 2020 and sits on the California Master Plan on Aging’s Equity in Aging Committee.

For too long, the Democratic Party has been influenced by corporations and big money. That’s why Vince is running as part of the Grassroots Rising Slate, a coalition of community organizers, small business owners, union workers, parents, and everyday people who believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for. We are running independent of state elected officials because we are accountable to the many, not those who already hold systemic power. Together, we hope to swing the pendulum of power back to the community so that the party works for all of us, not just an elite few.