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Richmond Progressive Alliance
AbbreviationRPA
FounderGayle McLaughlin
Founded2003
Headquarters2540 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond CA 94804, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, US
IdeologyProgressivism
Social democracy
Environmentalism
Political positionCenter-left
Colours  Yellow
  Blue
Website
richmondprogressivealliance.net

The Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) is a progressive political group in Richmond and western Contra Costa County, California, United States. RPA formed in 2003 by local progressives.

RPA is an umbrella organization for progressives and leftists, regardless of political party. RPA members include voters registered as Democrats, Greens, and Independents.[1] Similarly, RPA electeds include Democrats, Greens, and Independents.[2]

RPA mostly focuses on local elections. RPA routinely wins seats on the Richmond City Council. Richmond has non-partisan elections, which helps groups like RPA win and wield power.[3] This is similar to Progressive Dane. Richmond also elected all city council seats on a top-3 city-wide basis, which empowered RPA.[3] In 2020, Richmond adopted single-member districts for its city council.[4] In 2024, Richmond's mayor and city council voted to send a ranked-choice voting measure to voters.[5]

RPA supports higher taxes and lower pollution for the local Chevron refinery; opposition to racial profiling; and opposition to urban casino development in Point Molate. During the 2000s and 2010s, the alliance altered the balance of power in the city and reduced the representation of Chevron-backed candidates.[6][7] RPA increased school funding, ended cooperation with ICE for non-criminals, and enacted Ban the Box.[8] While RPA has been in power, Richmond saw a 75% decrease in homicide.[8] Taxes on Chevron, supported by RPA, amounted to $204 million, which RPA invested in social programs.[3]

Notable members include Gayle McLaughlin and Jovanka Beckles.

History

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Origins

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In 2003[7][6][2] or 2004,[1][3] an "unlikely group of Greens, Latinos, progressive Democrats, African Americans, and free spirits" founded RPA.[3] Co-founders included Gayle McLaughlin,[7][1][2] Marilyn Langlois,[6] and Andrés Soto.[7] McLaughlin cited Peter Camejo's run in 2002 as Green Party candidate for Governor of California as their inspiration for getting involved in politics.[1]

2000s

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In 2004, RPA member Gayle McLaughlin, a Green and a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member,[2] won a city council seat in Richmond.[3] They were the first RPA member to do so.

In 2005, RPA supported transfer of the former Zeneca site at Campus Bay to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.[9]

Sign advertising McLaughlin's 2006 run for mayor of Richmond

In the 2006 Richmond, California municipal elections, Gayle McLaughlin won the election for mayor against incumbent Democrat Irma Anderson.[1] This made Richmond the largest city in the United States to have a Green mayor.

In 2008, RPA supported ballot measure Measure T which would substantially increased business license fees for large corporations like Chevron, owner of the Chevron Richmond Refinery. RPA opposed, Measure U, which would enable casino building, like the one proposed for the former Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot, was successfully defeated at the ballot box.

After the 2007–2008 financial crisis, Richmond saw extensive foreclosures.[10] In 2008, Richmond began fining banks $1000 per day if they failed to maintain their property, and had collected $1.5 million by 2014.[10] In 2014, RPA and McLaughlin supported an underwater mortgage bailout program which would use eminent domain to obtain better terms for underwater homeowners;[3][10] however, banks threatened a capital strike and Congress passed a law banning the practice.[3]

2010s

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In 2010, RPA negotiated with Chevron to contribute millions of dollars for the city to reinvest in itself instead of facing Measure T which would have forced a change in the utility tax which would have made them potentially contribute more.[11]

In 2012, RPA member Jeff Ritterman proposed Measure N, a tax on sugary drinks. Community Coalition Against Beverage Taxes, funded by the American Beverage Association, spent $2.4 million to defeat it. It was rejected by 66.9% of voters.[12]

In 2014, Richmond municipal elections attracted national media attention, as they were seen as a "David versus Goliath" race in the wake of the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court case.[13] Chevron spent about $3.1 million to support its own slate of candidates and break progressive control of the council,[14][7] which was more than Chevron had spent in total on all US Congress races from 2008 to 2012.[3] According to McLaughlin, Chevron "bought up every billboard in town".[7] In the mayoral election, RPA endorsed Mike Parker for Richmond mayor. However, Parker withdrew from the race in August and endorsed Tom Butt, in order to avoid splitting the left and center-left vote.[15] Butt beat Chevron's mayoral candidate, Nat Bates, with more than 51 percent of the election and avoiding a run-off. In the city council election, RPA took all 3 open seats, with McLaughlin, Martinez, and Beckles beating out Chevon-backed candidates Donna Powers, Charles Ramsey, and Al Martinez.[16][7]

In 2016, RPA won 2 additional city council seats, giving them 5 of 6 city council seats and 5 of 7 voting seats in the Richmond government.[17] Richmond voters approved a controversial rent-control and just-cause eviction measure written and backed by the RPA.[6] RPA's rent control measure passed,[18] which soured relations between RPA and mayor Butt, who opposed the measure.[19]

In 2017, RPA endorsed three members for McLaughlin's empty seat, including Langlois and Ada Recinos.[6] In a surprising decision, the council picked Recinos over Langlois.[20]

In 2018, McLaughlin created the California Progressive Alliance, a statewide offshoot of the RPA which endorses progressive candidates for state and federal elections.[2] McLaughlin ran for Lieutenant Governor of California, but lost.[21]

In the same year, RPA member Jovanka Beckles and former Obama 2008 campaign coordinator Buffy Wicks competed for the California Assembly District 15 seat. Richmond mayor Tom Butt and the California Progressive Alliance endorsed Wicks. Wicks went on to beat Beckles by 12 points and win the seat.[22][23]

In 2019, Butt blamed the Richmond Progressive Alliance for obstructing appointments to city positions, which are done typically at the prerogative of the mayor.[24]

Electoral history

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The table below shows the number of RPA elected officials after the November election:

Year Richmond City Council Mayor of Richmond Refs
2004
1 / 6
 did not control [25][26]
2006
0 / 6
 Gayle McLaughlin [27][28]
2008
1 / 6
 Gayle McLaughlin [29][30]
2010
2 / 6
 Gayle McLaughlin [31][32]
2012
2 / 6
 Gayle McLaughlin [33][34]
2014
3 / 6
 did not control [35][36]
2016
5 / 6
 did not control [37][38]
2018
3 / 6
 did not control [39][40]
2020
4 / 6
 did not control [41][42]
2022
4 / 6
 Eduardo Martinez [43][44]
2024 TBD Eduardo Martinez [45][46]

Election results

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RPA has fielded electoral candidates for local and state offices. RPA candidates usually run in nonpartisan elections or as No Party Preference (NPP) independent candidates.

Statewide elections

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Year Candidate Office State District Votes % Result Notes Ref
2018 Gayle McLaughlin Lieutenant Governor California At-Large 263,364
4.0%
 Lost ran as No Party Preference (NPP) candidate; endorsed by CNP, DSA, GPCA, OR, PFP, PP, and RPA [39][47]

State legislature elections

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Year Candidate Office State District Votes % Result Notes Ref
2024 Jovanka Beckles Senate California 7 [45]
2024 Margot Smith Assembly California 14 [45]
2018 Jovanka Beckles Assembly California 15 90,405
46.4%
 Lost ran as Democratic candidate; secured 15.8% in an all-party blanket primary and advanced to the general election. lost to Buffy Wicks [39][47]

Local results

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Year Candidate Office City District Votes % Result Notes Ref
2024 Claudia Jimenez City Council Richmond 6 nonpartisan election [45][46]
2024 Melvin Willis City Council Richmond 1 nonpartisan election [45][46]
2024 Sue Wilson City Council Richmond 5 nonpartisan election [45][46]
2024 Otheree Christian WCC School District Contra Costa 2 nonpartisan election [45][46]
2024 Cinthia Hernandez WCC School District Contra Costa 3 nonpartisan election [45][46]
2022 Eduardo Martinez Mayor Richmond At-Large 10,319
39.2%
 Won nonpartisan election [43][44]
2022 Doria Robinson City Council Richmond 3 1,145
39.62%
 Won nonpartisan election [43][44]
2022 Jamin Pursell City Council Richmond 4 2,027
32.6%
 Lost nonpartisan election [43][44]
2020 Gayle McLaughlin City Council Richmond 5 4,576
51.75%
 Won nonpartisan election [41][42]
2020 Claudia Jimenez City Council Richmond 6 4128
54.17%
 Won nonpartisan election [41][42]
2020 Melvin Willis City Council Richmond 1 2557
58.15%
 Won nonpartisan election [41][42]
2020 Jamela Smith-Folds WCC School District Contra Costa 1 13,227
56.77%
 Won nonpartisan election [41][42]
2020 Otheree Christian WCC School District Contra Costa 2 5,357
36.14%
 Won nonpartisan election [41][42]
2020 Demetrio Gonzales-Hoy WCC School District Contra Costa 4 10,092
49.48%
 Won nonpartisan election [41][42]
2020 Leslie Reckler WCC School District Contra Costa 5 10,093
37%
 Won nonpartisan election [41][42]
2020 Consuelo Lara CC Board of Education Contra Costa 1 41,905
50.25%
 Won nonpartisan election [41][42]
2018 Melvin Willis Mayor Richmond At-Large 12,917
44.28%
 Lost nonpartisan election [39][40]
2018 Eduardo Martinez City Council Richmond At-Large 8,833
11.24%
 Won nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 2nd place [39][40]
2018 Ada Recinos City Council Richmond At-Large 7,350
9.36%
 Lost nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 6th place [39][40]
2016 Ben Choi City Council Richmond At-Large 10490
20.41%
 Won nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 1st place [37][38]
2016 Melvin Willis City Council Richmond At-Large 12137
23.62%
 Won nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 2nd place [37][38]
2014 Gayle McLaughlin City Council Richmond At-Large 8,754
16.95%
 Won nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 1st place [35][36]
2014 Eduardo Martinez City Council Richmond At-Large 7,629
14.77%
 Won nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 3rd place [35][36]
2014 Jovanka Beckles City Council Richmond At-Large 8,322
16.11%
 Won nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 2nd place [35][36]
2012 Marilyn Langlois City Council Richmond At-Large 8,610
11.3%
 Lost nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 4th place [33][34]
2012 Eduardo Martinez City Council Richmond At-Large 10,956
14.38%
 Lost nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 5th place [33][34]
2010 Gayle McLaughlin Mayor Richmond At-Large 9,841
41.58%
 Won nonpartisan election, ran as open Green candidate [31][32]
2010 Jovanka Beckles City Council Richmond At-Large 8,135
13.36%
 Won nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 3rd place [31][32]
2010 Eduardo Martinez City Council Richmond At-Large 6,564
10.78%
 Lost nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 6th place [31][32]
2008 Jovanka Beckles City Council Richmond At-Large 11,090
14.75%
 Lost nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 4th place [29][30]
2008 Jeff Ritterman City Council Richmond At-Large 12,180
16.2%
 Won nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 1st place [29][30]
2006 Gayle McLaughlin Mayor Richmond At-Large 7,343
37.73%
 Won nonpartisan election, ran as open Green candidate [27][28]
2006 Jim Jenkins City Council Richmond At-Large 4,825
22.36%
 Lost nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 5th place [27][28]
2004 Gayle McLaughlin City Council Richmond At-Large 11,191
28.84%
 Won nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 2nd place [25][26]
2004 Andres Soto City Council Richmond At-Large 8,318
21.44%
 Lost nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 4th place [25][26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Brenneman, Richard (November 17, 2006). "Green Candidate's Lead for Richmond Mayor Grows". The Berkeley Daily Planet.
  2. ^ a b c d e Chan, Bonnie (December 2018). "California's Political Revolution". Jacobin.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Richman, Shaun (11 January 2017). "From Company Town to Rebel City: Richmond, California Shows How Progressives Can Win". In These Times.
  4. ^ Lauer, Katie (April 1, 2022). "Richmond City Council selects redistricting map ahead of November election". East Bay Times.
  5. ^ "Richmond City Council Moves Forward with Ranked Choice Voting Ballot Measure". CalRCV.
  6. ^ a b c d e Taylor, Otis R. Jr. (September 4, 2017). "Marilyn Langlois likely choice for seat on Richmond City Council". San Francisco Chronicle.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Cagle, Susie (9 October 2019). "Richmond v Chevron: the California city taking on its most powerful polluter". The Guardian.
  8. ^ a b Hirsch, Michael (July 12, 2018). "Taking on Dirty Power in Richmond, California". The Indypendent.
  9. ^ Brenneman, Richard (22 April 2005). "Legislation, Protest Target Richmond Sites". The Berkeley Daily Planet.
  10. ^ a b c Dewan, Shaila (January 11, 2014). "Eminent Domain: A Long Shot Against Blight".
  11. ^ "Richmond and Chevron Reach Agreement". The Berkeley Daily Planet. 10 May 2010.
  12. ^ "Voters resoundingly reject Richmond 'soda' tax". East Bay Times. 2012-11-06.
  13. ^ "The Rachel Maddow Show". NBC News. November 5, 2014.
  14. ^ "Chevron Spends Big, And Loses Big, In A City Council Race". NPR. November 5, 2014.
  15. ^ Mary (August 11, 2014). "Richmond Progressive Alliance mayoral candidate Mike Parker withdraws, throws support to Tom Butt". San Francisco Bay View.
  16. ^ Jones, Carolyn (November 6, 2014). "Chevron's $3 million backfires in Richmond election". SFGate.
  17. ^ "Willis' and Choi's City Council wins bring victory for RPA, Mayor Butt voices concern". Richmond Confidential. November 9, 2016.
  18. ^ "Richmond Progressive Alliance sweeps up at the polls; rent control measure passes". East Bay Times. November 10, 2016.
  19. ^ Rosales, Betty Marquez; Booth, Edward; Harvey, Barbara (November 6, 2018). "Election results: RPA loses grip, Mayor Butt re-elected Richmond Confidential". Richmond Confidential.
  20. ^ Slowiczek, Josh (September 13, 2017). "In surprise move, Richmond City Council votes Ada Recinos, 26, to succeed Gayle McLaughlin". Richmond Confidential.
  21. ^ Taylor, Otis (July 17, 2016). "Richmond's Gayle McLaughlin running for lieutenant governor". San Francisco Chronicle.
  22. ^ Marzorati, Guy (November 7, 2018). "Buffy Wicks Defeats Jovanka Beckles in East Bay Assembly Race". KQED.
  23. ^ Taylor, Otis (12 November 2018). "Buffy Wicks' experience running others' campaigns pays off with her Assembly win".
  24. ^ Ravani, Sarah (May 23, 2019). "Richmond mayor, council clash over appointments to police commission". San Francisco Chronicle.
  25. ^ a b c "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  26. ^ a b c "Contra Costa County Statement of Votes" (PDF). Contra Costa County Recorder.
  27. ^ a b c "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  28. ^ a b c "Contra Costa County Statement of Votes" (PDF). Contra Costa County Recorder.
  29. ^ a b c "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  30. ^ a b c "2008 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
  31. ^ a b c d "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  32. ^ a b c d "2010 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
  33. ^ a b c "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  34. ^ a b c "2012 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
  35. ^ a b c d "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  36. ^ a b c d "2014 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
  37. ^ a b c "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  38. ^ a b c "2016 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
  39. ^ a b c d e f "2018 Endorsements". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  40. ^ a b c d "2018 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g h i "2020 Endorsments". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i "2020 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
  43. ^ a b c d "2022 Voter Guide". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  44. ^ a b c d "2022 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h "2024 Voter Guide" (PDF). Richmond Progressive Alliance.
  46. ^ a b c d e f "2024 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
  47. ^ a b "Statewide Direct Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 5, 2018" (PDF). California Secretary of State.
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