| Richmond Progressive Alliance | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | RPA |
| Founder | Gayle McLaughlin |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | 2540 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond CA 94804, Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, US |
| Ideology | Progressivism Social democracy Environmentalism |
| Political position | Center-left |
| Colours | Yellow Blue |
| Website | |
| richmondprogressivealliance | |
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. Similarly, RPA electeds include Democrats, Greens, and Independents.
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. This is similar to Progressive Dane. Richmond also elected all city council seats on a top-3 city-wide basis, which empowered RPA. In 2020, Richmond adopted single-member districts for its city council. In 2024, Richmond's mayor and city council voted to send a ranked-choice (instant-runoff) voting measure to voters.
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. RPA increased school funding, ended cooperation with ICE for non-criminals, and enacted Ban the Box. While RPA has been in power, Richmond saw a 75% decrease in homicide. Taxes on Chevron, supported by RPA, amounted to $204 million, which RPA invested in social programs.
Notable members include Gayle McLaughlin and Jovanka Beckles.
History
Origins
In 2003 or 2004, an "unlikely group of Greens, Latinos, progressive Democrats, African Americans, and free spirits" founded RPA. Co-founders included Gayle McLaughlin, Marilyn Langlois, and Andrés Soto. McLaughlin cited Peter Camejo's run in 2002 as Green Party candidate for Governor of California as their inspiration for getting involved in politics.
2000s
In 2004, RPA member Gayle McLaughlin, a Green and a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member, won a city council seat in Richmond. 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.
In the 2006 Richmond, California municipal elections, Gayle McLaughlin won the election for mayor against incumbent Democrat Irma Anderson. 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. In 2008, Richmond began fining banks $1000 per day if they failed to maintain their property, and had collected $1.5 million by 2014. In 2014, RPA and McLaughlin supported an underwater mortgage bailout program which would use eminent domain to obtain better terms for underwater homeowners; however, banks threatened a capital strike and Congress passed a law banning the practice.
2010s
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.
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.
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. Chevron spent about $3.1 million to support its own slate of candidates and break progressive control of the council, which was more than Chevron had spent in total on all US Congress races from 2008 to 2012. According to McLaughlin, Chevron "bought up every billboard in town". 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. 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.
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. Richmond voters approved a controversial rent-control and just-cause eviction measure written and backed by the RPA. RPA's rent control measure passed, which soured relations between RPA and mayor Butt, who opposed the measure.
In 2017, RPA endorsed three members for McLaughlin's empty seat, including Langlois and Ada Recinos. In a surprising decision, the council picked Recinos over Langlois.
In 2018, McLaughlin created the California Progressive Alliance, a statewide offshoot of the RPA which endorses progressive candidates for state and federal elections. McLaughlin ran for Lieutenant Governor of California, but lost.
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.
In 2019, Butt blamed the Richmond Progressive Alliance for obstructing appointments to city positions, which are done typically at the prerogative of the mayor.
Electoral history
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 | |
| 2006 | 0 / 6 | Gayle McLaughlin | |
| 2008 | 1 / 6 | Gayle McLaughlin | |
| 2010 | 2 / 6 | Gayle McLaughlin | |
| 2012 | 2 / 6 | Gayle McLaughlin | |
| 2014 | 3 / 6 | did not control | |
| 2016 | 5 / 6 | did not control | |
| 2018 | 3 / 6 | did not control | |
| 2020 | 4 / 6 | did not control | |
| 2022 | 4 / 6 | Eduardo Martinez | |
| 2024 | TBD | Eduardo Martinez |
Election results
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
| 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 |
State legislature elections
| Year | Candidate | Office | State | District | Votes | % | Result | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Jovanka Beckles | Senate | California | 7 | |||||
| 2024 | Margot Smith | Assembly | California | 14 | |||||
| 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 |
Local results
| Year | Candidate | Office | City | District | Votes | % | Result | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Claudia Jimenez | City Council | Richmond | 6 | nonpartisan election | ||||
| 2024 | Melvin Willis | City Council | Richmond | 1 | nonpartisan election | ||||
| 2024 | Sue Wilson | City Council | Richmond | 5 | nonpartisan election | ||||
| 2024 | Otheree Christian | WCC School District | Contra Costa | 2 | nonpartisan election | ||||
| 2024 | Cinthia Hernandez | WCC School District | Contra Costa | 3 | nonpartisan election | ||||
| 2022 | Eduardo Martinez | Mayor | Richmond | At-Large | 10,319 | 39.2% | Won | nonpartisan election | |
| 2022 | Doria Robinson | City Council | Richmond | 3 | 1,145 | 39.62% | Won | nonpartisan election | |
| 2022 | Jamin Pursell | City Council | Richmond | 4 | 2,027 | 32.6% | Lost | nonpartisan election | |
| 2020 | Gayle McLaughlin | City Council | Richmond | 5 | 4,576 | 51.75% | Won | nonpartisan election | |
| 2020 | Claudia Jimenez | City Council | Richmond | 6 | 4128 | 54.17% | Won | nonpartisan election | |
| 2020 | Melvin Willis | City Council | Richmond | 1 | 2557 | 58.15% | Won | nonpartisan election | |
| 2020 | Jamela Smith-Folds | WCC School District | Contra Costa | 1 | 13,227 | 56.77% | Won | nonpartisan election | |
| 2020 | Otheree Christian | WCC School District | Contra Costa | 2 | 5,357 | 36.14% | Won | nonpartisan election | |
| 2020 | Demetrio Gonzales-Hoy | WCC School District | Contra Costa | 4 | 10,092 | 49.48% | Won | nonpartisan election | |
| 2020 | Leslie Reckler | WCC School District | Contra Costa | 5 | 10,093 | 37% | Won | nonpartisan election | |
| 2020 | Consuelo Lara | CC Board of Education | Contra Costa | 1 | 41,905 | 50.25% | Won | nonpartisan election | |
| 2018 | Melvin Willis | Mayor | Richmond | At-Large | 12,917 | 44.28% | Lost | nonpartisan election | |
| 2018 | Eduardo Martinez | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 8,833 | 11.24% | Won | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 2nd place | |
| 2018 | Ada Recinos | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 7,350 | 9.36% | Lost | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 6th place | |
| 2016 | Ben Choi | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 10490 | 20.41% | Won | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 1st place | |
| 2016 | Melvin Willis | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 12137 | 23.62% | Won | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 2nd place | |
| 2014 | Gayle McLaughlin | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 8,754 | 16.95% | Won | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 1st place | |
| 2014 | Eduardo Martinez | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 7,629 | 14.77% | Won | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 3rd place | |
| 2014 | Jovanka Beckles | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 8,322 | 16.11% | Won | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 2nd place | |
| 2012 | Marilyn Langlois | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 8,610 | 11.3% | Lost | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 4th place | |
| 2012 | Eduardo Martinez | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 10,956 | 14.38% | Lost | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 5th place | |
| 2010 | Gayle McLaughlin | Mayor | Richmond | At-Large | 9,841 | 41.58% | Won | nonpartisan election, ran as open Green candidate | |
| 2010 | Jovanka Beckles | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 8,135 | 13.36% | Won | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 3rd place | |
| 2010 | Eduardo Martinez | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 6,564 | 10.78% | Lost | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 6th place | |
| 2008 | Jovanka Beckles | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 11,090 | 14.75% | Lost | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 4th place | |
| 2008 | Jeff Ritterman | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 12,180 | 16.2% | Won | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 1st place | |
| 2006 | Gayle McLaughlin | Mayor | Richmond | At-Large | 7,343 | 37.73% | Won | nonpartisan election, ran as open Green candidate | |
| 2006 | Jim Jenkins | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 4,825 | 22.36% | Lost | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 5th place | |
| 2004 | Gayle McLaughlin | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 11,191 | 28.84% | Won | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 2nd place | |
| 2004 | Andres Soto | City Council | Richmond | At-Large | 8,318 | 21.44% | Lost | nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 4th place |
See also
- American Left
- Democratic Socialists of America
- Progressive Dane
- Green Party of the United States
- History of the socialist movement in the United States
- List of mayors of Richmond, California
References
- ^ Brenneman, Richard (November 17, 2006). "Green Candidate's Lead for Richmond Mayor Grows". The Berkeley Daily Planet.
- ^ Chan, Bonnie (December 2018). "California's Political Revolution". Jacobin.
- ^ Richman, Shaun (11 January 2017). "From Company Town to Rebel City: Richmond, California Shows How Progressives Can Win". In These Times.
- Lauer, Katie (April 1, 2022). "Richmond City Council selects redistricting map ahead of November election". East Bay Times.
- "Richmond City Council Moves Forward with Ranked Choice Voting Ballot Measure". CalRCV.
- ^ Taylor, Otis R. Jr. (September 4, 2017). "Marilyn Langlois likely choice for seat on Richmond City Council". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ Cagle, Susie (9 October 2019). "Richmond v Chevron: the California city taking on its most powerful polluter". The Guardian.
- ^ Hirsch, Michael (July 12, 2018). "Taking on Dirty Power in Richmond, California". The Indypendent.
- Brenneman, Richard (22 April 2005). "Legislation, Protest Target Richmond Sites". The Berkeley Daily Planet.
- ^ Dewan, Shaila (January 11, 2014). "Eminent Domain: A Long Shot Against Blight".
- "Richmond and Chevron Reach Agreement". The Berkeley Daily Planet. 10 May 2010.
- "Voters resoundingly reject Richmond 'soda' tax". East Bay Times. 2012-11-06.
- "The Rachel Maddow Show". NBC News. November 5, 2014.
- "Chevron Spends Big, And Loses Big, In A City Council Race". NPR. November 5, 2014.
- Mary (August 11, 2014). "Richmond Progressive Alliance mayoral candidate Mike Parker withdraws, throws support to Tom Butt". San Francisco Bay View.
- Jones, Carolyn (November 6, 2014). "Chevron's $3 million backfires in Richmond election". SFGate.
- "Willis' and Choi's City Council wins bring victory for RPA, Mayor Butt voices concern". Richmond Confidential. November 9, 2016.
- "Richmond Progressive Alliance sweeps up at the polls; rent control measure passes". East Bay Times. November 10, 2016.
- Rosales, Betty Marquez; Booth, Edward; Harvey, Barbara (November 6, 2018). "Election results: RPA loses grip, Mayor Butt re-elected Richmond Confidential". Richmond Confidential.
- Slowiczek, Josh (September 13, 2017). "In surprise move, Richmond City Council votes Ada Recinos, 26, to succeed Gayle McLaughlin". Richmond Confidential.
- Taylor, Otis (July 17, 2016). "Richmond's Gayle McLaughlin running for lieutenant governor". San Francisco Chronicle.
- Marzorati, Guy (November 7, 2018). "Buffy Wicks Defeats Jovanka Beckles in East Bay Assembly Race". KQED.
- Taylor, Otis (12 November 2018). "Buffy Wicks' experience running others' campaigns pays off with her Assembly win".
- Ravani, Sarah (May 23, 2019). "Richmond mayor, council clash over appointments to police commission". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "Contra Costa County Statement of Votes" (PDF). Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "Contra Costa County Statement of Votes" (PDF). Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "2008 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "2010 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "2012 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "2014 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "Richmond Progressive Alliance". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "2016 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "2018 Endorsements". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "2018 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "2020 Endorsments". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "2020 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "2022 Voter Guide". Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "2022 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "2024 Voter Guide" (PDF). Richmond Progressive Alliance.
- ^ "2024 General Election". Contra Costa County Recorder.
- ^ "Statewide Direct Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 5, 2018" (PDF). California Secretary of State.
