California 2026 Election Issues
California 2026 Legislative Candidates Diverge on Gas Prices, Housing, and Public Safety
Anonymous
Key Points
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Avelino Valencia said studies suggest E15 could cost about 20 cents less per gallon than conventional fuel, and said he had asked the California Air Resources Board for more transparency about the Low Carbon Fuel Standard’s potential effect on fuel prices.
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Juan Carrillo said he would judge success by whether California’s gas-price premium over the national average falls meaningfully and stays lower; he also called for maintaining adequate fuel reserves and making it easier to bring additional fuel into the state.
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Anna Slotky Reitano said she handled thousands of cases and dozens of jury trials as a public defender. She emphasized that courtroom delays can cost people work, childcare or housing, and said judges should be prepared, punctual and respectful of litigants’ time.
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Jose Ugarte said housing projects approved in Council District 9 have included market-rate, affordable and permanent supportive units, and that he would fast-track city approvals so applicants are not left waiting more than a year for a response.
California's 2026 election is shaping up as a clash over three issues voters care most about: gas prices, housing costs, and public safety. Legislative candidates split sharply on how to tackle expensive fuel, while Los Angeles mayoral and city candidates agreed housing is critical but disagreed on the path forward. From police staffing to corporate accountability, the race reveals competing visions for the state's future.
Gas Prices: Expand Supply or Regulate Profits
Celeste Rodriguez, running for Assembly District 43, wants to penalize oil companies for excess profits and push transparency in pricing and cleaner transportation options. In contrast, Juan Carrillo and Avelino Valencia back expanding fuel supply. Carrillo said he would judge success by whether California's gas-price premium over the national average falls meaningfully. Valencia noted studies suggest E15 fuel could cost about 20 cents less per gallon than conventional fuel. Both candidates want California to make it easier to bring additional fuel into the state and maintain adequate reserves.
Valencia also criticized state fuel regulations and taxes as cost drivers. He asked the California Air Resources Board for more transparency about the Low Carbon Fuel Standard's potential effect on prices. The competing approaches reflect a fundamental split: whether to fix gas prices by squeezing oil profits or by letting the market expand supply.
Los Angeles Housing: Density, Transit and Community Control
Los Angeles candidates broadly back building more housing but differ sharply on how. Jose Ugarte and Timothy Gaspar favor streamlining approvals and directing density toward transit corridors and commercial areas. Ugarte said housing projects in Council District 9 have included market-rate, affordable and permanent supportive units, and that he would fast-track city approvals so applicants wait no more than a year for a response. Estuardo Mazariegos advocates social housing, community land trusts and stronger tenant protections.
Mayor Nithya Raman and Mayor Karen Bass both backed gentle density near transit alongside neighborhood planning. Bass defended city-led housing initiatives against state mandates like SB 79, emphasizing local control. Both mayors emphasized that housing must coexist with community input and respect for existing neighborhoods.
Public Safety: Staffing, Diversion and Civilian Response
Public safety and police staffing featured heavily in city-candidate responses. Mayor Raman said public-safety spending should be judged by results while maintaining current LAPD staffing levels. Bass cited falling crime as validation of the city's approach. Some candidates advocated expanding civilian crisis response to handle calls that don't require armed officers.
City Attorney candidate Marissa Roy supported prosecution for violent threats and diversion for some nonviolent offenses tied to mental health or addiction. She also pledged civil enforcement against harmful corporations. The divide reflects tension between law-and-order candidates and those seeking reform through diversion and reallocation.
Judicial Race: Case Management and Court Efficiency
Judicial candidate Anna Slotky Reitano emphasized her background handling thousands of cases and dozens of jury trials as a public defender, paired with county-counsel experience. Slotky Reitano said courtroom delays can cost people work, childcare or housing. She pledged judges should be prepared, punctual and respectful of litigants' time. Her pitch centers on court efficiency and empathy for the people courts affect.
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