Indivisible Santa Cruz County — CA-19 Endorsement Process

For the first time, ISCC is running a formal endorsement process for the CA-19 Congressional primary. We believe this is the most powerful thing we can do right now.

How it works 

We sent questionnaires to all 7 candidates and received 5 responses. Questions were developed with input from our Issue Teams and California Indivisible's statewide primary framework. Each candidate's unedited responses are included in this document.

We're also working on organizing a candidate forum on Zoom in the next two weeks — watch for details. After the forum, the endorsement ballot will go out to all members accepted on or before 4/30/26. If the forum does not occur, the endorsement ballot will be sent out when that decision is made. You'll have 48 hours to vote, so watch your inbox.

Why we're endorsing in the primary

In California's deep-blue districts, the primary is the election. That makes it our most powerful lever. The Tea Party used this strategy to remake the GOP from within; Mamdani's New York primary win showed what's possible when a campaign offers a real theory of power. That wave can start here.

We're evaluating candidates on their willingness to confront the current Administration, their independence from PAC money, and their commitment to structural change. Working Families Party, DSA, Sunrise, and Indivisible National are all calling for exactly this. The moment is now.

Watch Indivisible Co-Founder Leah Greenberg on why primaries matter

How to evaluate candidates

Ask yourself: What's their platform? Why are they running? Who funds them? What have they done for the community? Who opposes them?

Useful resources:

• OpenSecrets — money in politics

• FEC Campaign Finance Data

• Ballotpedia — candidate profiles

• Review the candidate websites

NOTE: Names will appear in the same order as they do on our ballots. These names are randomized on our ballots.  

We will use the following criteria to make an endorsement:

1. Members who have been added to the ISCC membership rolls by April 30, 2026 will be eligible to vote

2. At least 5% of total ISCC membership must participate in the vote for an endorsement to be valid.

3. A candidate must receive at least 60% of the total votes cast by eligible ISCC members to be endorsed.