Labor Leader Ortega Seeks District 20 Seat

Assembly candidate Liz Ortega in front of a mural at the Teamsters Local 853 hall in Oakland.

Liz Ortega wants to move from heading organized labor in Alameda County to representing residents in the State Assembly’s District 20. She emphasizes her ability to talk to people and get things done as one reason to give her the job.

Long-time incumbent Bill Quirk decided not to run for re-election in District 20, which recently saw its lines redrawn. The District borders now include Castro Valley, San Leandro, Ashland, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, Fairview, Hayward, Sunol, and Union City. Parts of the district were shifted from District 18, represented by Mia Bonta.

Ortega became the first Latina to head the Alameda County Central Labor Council after decades of working for labor unions. She had previously spent five years as a Sacramento lobbyist for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, a bit public-employee union.

“I learned about the budget process and about negotiating with the governor. I found out what goes on, or doesn’t, in the middle of the night,” Ortega said.

She also learned that most people at the Capitol didn’t share her background or the perspective of an immigrant woman who moved here when she was three.

Ortega said she never thought of running for office herself until recently.

“Most of the things I‘ve done in my life I never intended to do ahead of time,” she laughed. “They just fitted into the trajectory of my life.”

Ortega said she would continue much of the work Quirk had done but bring a different perspective to the work.

“I’m not a scientist like him, so I’ll be taking my own experiences into things like saving the environment.”

She continued, “But I can bring a perspective a little closer to being an immigrant woman working two to three jobs just to get by and support her family.”

Her top priority in Sacramento will be an equitable and affordable recovery from the pandemic. She also supports affordable housing for all, including working people.

She also plans to work for job creation, fighting homelessness, quality public schools for all, environmental justice, and neighborhood safety.

Ortega sees bringing people together to reach solutions as one of her strengths, and why she has gotten endorsements from several elected officials.

“If you can’t actually get things done, you’re not really helping people,” she said.

California’s general election is on November 8. A primary is scheduled for June 7.