In the East Bay, families are doing everything right—and still getting squeezed. Costs are up, paychecks don’t stretch, and too many corporations pile on junk fees and price hikes. I’m running to deliver real relief and stop the rip-offs.
What I have delivered in the Senate:
Passed crackdowns on junk fees so prices are honest upfront.
Fought price gouging during emergencies so seniors and families aren’t exploited.
Expanded the Renter’s Tax Credit, strengthened consumer protections, and pushed accountability for bad actors that drive up costs.
On Council: held developers accountable and expanded renter protections to keep families stable.
In Congress:
Take on Corporate Greed and Price-Gouging: Break up monopolies, crack down on price-gouging, stop junk fees, and hold corporations accountable when they raise prices while making record profits.
Ban junk fees nationwide and strengthen consumer protections.
Take on monopolies and consolidation that raise prices for groceries, energy, healthcare, and housing.
Cut prescription costs and cap out-of-pocket expenses so people can afford care.
Protect seniors on fixed incomes and crack down on scams and predatory pricing.
Protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, and Veterans’ Benefits
No cuts. No privatization. No political games with the benefits people earned and rely on.
Make Childcare and Family Life Affordable: Expand paid family leave, universal childcare, after-school programs, tutoring, and family tax relief so people can afford to work, raise children, and start a family.
Lowering Costs & Making Life Affordable
I’m a renter with the dream of buying my first home. During the Great Recession, my family lost our business and our home—and nearly 15 years later my family are still renting. Too many families are still locked out of homeownership. Housing is the foundation for everything: stability, safety, and a fair shot at the American Dream.
In the Senate, I was the only State Senator who didn’t own a home—this fight is personal. I’ll continue to push for affordable housing, strong renter protections, and pathways to homeownership.
What I have delivered in the Senate:
$300 million for down-payment assistance for first-time buyers.
Expanded the Renter’s Tax Credit to help with monthly costs.
Capped HOA fines at $100 to stop unfair financial hits.
Nation-leading zombie mortgage protections to protect equity and stop predatory foreclosure tactics.
Defend mobile-home communities and keep longtime residents from being displaced.
On Council: expanded rent stabilization from 1,000 to 10,000 units, strengthened tenant protections, reduced homelessness by 22%, and held bad developers accountable.
In Congress:
Prioritize Housing At All Income Levels, Homeownership: Increase funding for affordable, social, workforce, and starter housing; cut red tape; speed up construction; and expand paths to homeownership.
Protect & Help Renters: protect renters, increase renter’s tax credit, create a down-payment assistance program for first time homebuyers
Build more housing at all income levels—starter homes, condos, apartments, and senior housing.
Stop Wall Street and private equity from buying up single-family homes and pricing families out.
Stronger renter + homeowner protections against junk fees, predatory mortgages, and displacement.
Fund solutions to homelessness that are humane, practical, and effective.
Housing At All Income Levels
Healthcare is my family’s story. My dad ran a small business. Before the Affordable Care Act, he was diagnosed with diabetes and tried to switch plans for better coverage — only to be denied because of a short lapse and a “pre-existing condition,” the very diagnosis he had just received. My dad was rationing his insulin to save money until the ACA protections finally kicked in. Today, in his 70s, it’s still a fight to afford insulin, medications, and the checkups that keep him alive. Families deserve peace of mind, not a system stacked against patients.
What I have delivered in the Senate:
$35 insulin cap so families don’t have to ration medicine.
Supported CalRx $11 insulin to bring prices down.
Pushed prescription cost accountability so middlemen and drug companies can’t gouge patients.
Expanded coverage on mental health and substance-use coverage and crisis prevention.
In Congress:
Lower premiums, deductibles, co-pays, prescription drug prices, and out-of-pocket costs — and move toward universal, affordable healthcare so no family goes bankrupt because they got sick.
Protect Medicare and Medi-Cal and stop cuts that hit seniors, kids, and people with disabilities first.
Cap out-of-pocket costs and end surprise billing.
Take on drug price gouging and lower prescription costs.
Expand mental health care and strengthen local clinics so appointments aren’t months away.
Care close to home: stronger clinics and community health centers so families aren’t waiting months or driving hours for an appointment.
Healthcare You Can Afford & Count On
I earned my Doctorate of Social Work and I’m a proud product of Alameda County public schools, with student loans that held me down. Families want safe schools, strong basics, and real opportunity—college, trade, or a good-paying job—without starting adulthood buried in debt.
What I’ve done in the Senate:
Two free school meals for every student—real savings for families.
Universal transitional kindergarten so more kids start ready to learn.
After-school and summer learning expansion (TK–6) for working families.
CSU Direct Admission so qualified students—especially first-gen—get a clear path to college.
Strengthen school suicide-prevention policy and prioritize behavioral health professionals.
Secured $1.5 million for Fremont community Wi-Fi to close the homework gap.
Pushed pay equity for staff at the California School for the Deaf and Blind (Fremont).
What I will do in Congress:
Protect Title I and IDEA funding and expand tutoring and after-school.
Lower college and career-training costs—protect Pell, expand apprenticeships/CTE.
More counselors and mental health supports on campus.
Broadband as basic infrastructure so every student can compete.
Strong Public Schools & Real Pathways to Success
I watched endless wars, leaders who misled the public, and a political system where big money got louder after Citizens United — while working families paid the price. Too often, the powerful got more powerful: monopolies grew, rights were rolled back, and everyday people — seniors, women, children, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and other vulnerable communities — were told their safety and dignity could wait. That’s backwards. Congress needs to put people first. Democracy only works when rights are protected, corruption is punished, and no one is above the law—no matter how rich or connected.
What I have delivered in the Senate:
Advanced protections for workers’ freedom of employer influence
Strengthened protections for reproductive freedom and privacy.
Supported safeguards that protect immigrants, patients, and students from fear tactics and protect personal information.
Supported immigration legal services so families have due process.
Supported junk-fee crackdowns and price-gouging enforcement to protect seniors and working families.
Led a bipartisan human rights resolution prioritizing civilian protection, humanitarian aid, and accountability.
In Congress:
Ban congressional insider trading and strengthen ethics and anti-corruption rules.
Defend voting rights, civil rights, and equal protection for women, seniors, kids, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and vulnerable communities.
Secure, fair, and humane immigration with due process and faster legal pathways.
War as a last resort—diplomacy first, clear goals, and accountability before committing lives and taxpayer dollars.
Defending Democracy & Protecting Rights
Small businesses are the backbone of our communities — they create jobs, keep our downtowns alive, and hold neighborhoods together. As the daughter of small business owners, I know the stress of making payroll and the fear that one more fee or delay could shut the doors. Government should make it easier to start and grow a business — not bury owners in red tape while big corporations get special treatment.
In the Senate, as Chair of the Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee, I’ve focused on clear rules, strong consumer protection, and a fair shot for honest businesses — while building a workforce plan that keeps good jobs local.
With an MBA and experience on Hayward’s Economic and Budget Committees, I helped guide COVID recovery, strengthen reserves, and improve the city’s financial standing — because strong small businesses mean stable communities.
I’ll always fight for mom-and-pop shops, local hiring, and wages people can actually live on.
What I’ve done in the Senate:
As Chair of the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee, I’ve focused on two things: protecting consumers and helping businesses thrive — with clearer rules, stronger enforcement against bad actors, and a practical approach that recognizes not every business is the same.
More money + easier access to capital: California expanded and used state-backed programs that help small businesses qualify for loans (especially for very small and underserved businesses).
Free hands-on help to start and grow: The state put more funding into free 1:1 advising, classes, and technical assistance so owners can get help with permits, planning, financing, marketing, and compliance.
More chances to win government contracts: California pushed agencies and contractors to buy more from certified small businesses, including on big infrastructure projects, so Main Street businesses can compete and get paid.
Investments that create local jobs (and customers): The state continued major economic development awards to drive expansion and job creation—bringing more payroll, suppliers, and spending into local communities.
I’ve it easier to get a loan, easier to get expert help, and easier to win contracts—so small businesses can open faster, keep the doors open, and hire locally.
What I will do in Congress:
I’ll fight for a pro-small-business agenda that’s simple and measurable: lower costs, less red tape, more customers, and a stronger workforce. That means:
Cut red tape and streamline permits so entrepreneurs can start faster and grow sooner.
Revitalize Main Street with targeted tax relief and credits for small businesses, not special-interest carveouts.
Reward local hiring and livable wages so growth means opportunity for working families.
Expand support for startups and first-time entrepreneurs — especially women-, immigrant-, and minority-owned businesses.
Help small businesses offer retirement options so workers can build security and employers can retain talent.
Build a 21st-century economy by growing manufacturing, biotech, and next-gen industries across our region.
Connect people to high-paying careers through workforce pipelines in AI, tech, and advanced manufacturing — so businesses can hire locally and families can get ahead.
Create Good-Paying Jobs and Raise Wages: Raise the federal minimum wage, expand apprenticeships and trades, support local hiring, and create jobs that let people afford to live where they work.
Supporting Small Businesses & Local Jobs
My father was murdered—a case that remains unsolved. I’ve been a victim of theft, hate speech, and violence. Like so many, I know what it means to demand justice and feel ignored. Enough is enough. Everyone deserves safety, dignity, and accountability.
As a State Senator, I passed bills making Organized Retail Theft a crime, deepfakes and pornographic images of children illegal, and officers must show their face, and ensure no one is above the law.
On City Council, I pushed for stronger crime-solving efforts, independent investigations of fatal police shootings, better response times, and mental health-focused crisis response. I’ve championed both enforcement and reform—because no one is above the law, and the punishment must fit the crime.
We must modernize outdated laws, prioritize victims, address root causes of crime, and create real paths to accountability and rehabilitation. I’m committed to public safety that works—for everyone.
What I have delivered in the Senate:
Protected seniors and families from surprise changes in care by requiring clear, upfront disclosures in retirement communities
Strengthened school suicide-prevention expectations so schools respond faster and more consistently when kids are at risk
Kept families together by removing unfair barriers that block reunification in court
Helped refugees get support sooner by improving access to essential information and resources
Protected the privacy of families receiving assistance by strengthening confidentiality rules
Respected faith and culture in the workplace by allowing state employees to swap a holiday to observe a religious or cultural day
Kept children safe during emergencies by creating clear, legal caregiving plans so kids stay with trusted caregivers—not left to chance
I’ve focused on what families actually feel—safety, dignity, and stability—and I’ve gotten it done.
What I’ll do in Congress:
The Fight Against Hate in All its Forms (Anti-Semitism, Asian-Hate, Islamophobia, Racism, Bigotry)
Enforcing the Law & Holding Offenders Accountable
Expanding Criminal Courts & Services
Protecting Our Most Vulnerable Communities
Appropriate Response to Mental Health & Homeless Crisis Calls
Crack down on dealers, gun trafficking, and organized crime—focus on the dealers and networks fueling violence, not working families.
Protect children and vulnerable people—stronger tools to stop exploitation, trafficking, and repeat predators.
Prevent crime before it happens—fund proven community violence prevention, youth programs, and mental health crisis response so fewer families become victims.
Support law enforcement with accountability—resources, staffing, and training paired with clear standards and transparency to keep the public safe and protect civil rights.
Cut repeat crime—expand reentry pathways to jobs and treatment so people don’t cycle back and communities stay safer.
Ensure all law enforcement abides by the law
Public Safety and Justice for All
As a former environmental consultant, I know the cost of inaction—our planet is in crisis. Climate change is real, and we see it in rising wildfires, droughts, and extreme weather.
Climate change is the smoke in our lungs, the fire risk outside our doors, and the rising bills hitting family budgets. As a former environmental consultant, I’ve seen the cost of delay up close: when government waits, families pay.
Communities are forced to pay twice — paying more for gas and utilities, and paying with their health when pollution, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat hit. I lead with one rule: protect the most vulnerable first — kids with asthma, seniors in dangerous heat, workers on the frontlines, and neighborhoods that have carried the burden of pollution for decades. We can cut pollution, lower costs, and create good-paying jobs at the same time — and we must.
I’m committed to bold environmental policies that protect our future while also ensuring a sustainable structure for power.
What I’ve done in the Senate:
I’ve fought to protect families’ health and their pocketbooks—because clean air and clean water don’t matter if people can’t afford to stay in their homes.
Strengthened wildfire protection by pushing to make Cal Fire a year-round service, so we’re not “off season” when fires don’t take a break.
Took on utility price gouging—holding utilities accountable and challenging CPUC-approved rate hikes that hit working families and seniors the hardest.
Put environmental justice first by demanding stronger protections and real accountability in communities burdened by pollution.
Focused on energy affordability and reliability so the clean-energy transition doesn’t become another bill families can’t pay.
Planned for a responsible refinery transition that protects public health, prevents supply shocks, and supports workers and local communities.
Invested in resilience so communities are better prepared for wildfires, extreme heat, and climate emergencies.
As a City Councilmember, I pushed regional wildfire prevention, shoreline protection, and supported a local Green New Deal — because climate action should mean safer communities and good local jobs.
What I’ll do in Congress:
I’ll deliver an environment plan that’s about health, safety, and lower costs—with polluters and price gougers finally held to account.
Cut energy costs and stop price gouging while accelerating clean energy and grid upgrades that improve reliability.
Protect clean air and safe drinking water everywhere—no community should be treated like a sacrifice zone.
Hold polluters accountable with stronger enforcement, monitoring, and “polluter pays” rules when companies harm public health.
Hold bad actors accountable—utilities and insurance companies included—so families aren’t punished for corporate failure and greed.
Build localized disaster response and resilience: wildfire mitigation, smoke readiness, extreme-heat protections, and faster recovery support.
Create good-paying clean jobs by growing American manufacturing in clean tech and training workers for the jobs of the future.
I’ll fight for clean air, clean water, and lower bills—because protecting people comes first.
Fighting for a Greener Future
Social Justice & Civil Rights
Civil rights are under attack—from the rollback of Roe v. Wade to rising hate and growing inequality. I believe in a future where everyone has the freedom to live with dignity, make their own decisions, and be treated equally under the law.
I’m proud to be the only candidate with a 100% rating with Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice, and Equality CA for my work in the Senate. I’ve consistently fought for reproductive freedom, LGBTQIA+ rights, racial justice, and equal access to healthcare, housing, and opportunity.
But justice also means supporting modern families—women, children, and seniors who are too often unheard and overlooked. I’ve lived the reality of caregiving, economic hardship, and personal sacrifice. I know what it means to balance dreams with responsibility.
Our most vulnerable are also our most valuable. That’s why I’m committed to policies that support caregivers, protect civil rights, expand access to healthcare and childcare, and ensure every family—regardless of its makeup—has the opportunity to thrive.
Freedom isn’t real if it only belongs to some people. Civil rights means you can live your life with dignity—make your own healthcare decisions, raise your family safely, and know your government will protect you, not target you. I’ve always been clear: no one should be harassed, discriminated against, or stripped of rights because of who they are, where they come from, how they worship, or how much money they have.
What I’ve done in the Senate
Protected reproductive freedom by standing firm against efforts to roll back access to care and by defending the right to make personal medical decisions without political interference.
Strengthened civil liberties and public accountability—including pushing policies that prevent anonymous or deceptive enforcement practices and protect the public from abuse of power.
Protected survivors and closed loopholes that failed them, because safety and justice shouldn’t depend on someone’s status, income, or circumstances.
Defended privacy and basic dignity for people receiving assistance and for families navigating the system—so getting help doesn’t mean losing your rights.
What I will do in Congress
Protect reproductive healthcare nationwide—stop federal bans, defend access to contraception and family planning, and protect the right to privacy in healthcare decisions.
Expand equal protection under the law—stronger enforcement against discrimination in housing, employment, education, and healthcare, including pregnancy discrimination.
Support working families’ freedom to thrive—paid family leave, universal childcare, and protections so parents aren’t punished for having a family.
Hold bad actors accountable—whether it’s government officials violating civil rights, corporations abusing the public, or extremists threatening communities.
Protect civil liberties for everyone—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or immigration status—because rights only matter if they apply to all of us.