CADEM Chairman Rusty Hicks Announces Run For Assembly

California Democratic Party (CADEM) Chairman Rusty Hicks announced on Thanksgiving that he would be running for Assembly next year, which, if successful, would be his first elected office.

Originally from Ft. Worth, Texas, Hicks moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to get his law degree from Loyola Marymount University. Instead of moving back following graduation, Hicks stayed, with his first political position coming in 2008 when he was the California political director for then Presidential candidate Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Over the next several years, Hicks worked as a legislative aide in Sacramento for several Democratic Assemblymembers, including Ted Lieu and Mike Gordon, before being chosen as the next Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President in 2014. Hicks stayed in that position until 2019 when he was chosen as the next CADEM Chairman, a position he has held since.

Since becoming the CADEM Chairman, Hicks has had a somewhat mixed reaction from Democrats in the state. While he has been praised for keeping the party line on issues and for helping the party get more state legislative seats, he has also been criticized for allowing Republicans to make a comeback in the number of house this. This not only includes regaining nearly all of the flipped Orange County seats from the blue wave election of 2018, but also Republicans gaining a crucial two seats and the Democrats losing one in 2022, which have been often cited as being key for the Republicans taking back the House.

Hicks has also faced a lot of criticism in recent years over not wanting to count late arriving CADEM delegate ballots despite precedent allowing it within the party, as well staying largely silent on former CADEM Secretary Melahat Rafiei resigning in 2022 over bribery allegations.

Despite a rocky tenure, Hicks announced earlier this week that he will be running next year for the 2nd district state Assembly seat. The 2nd district, which encompasses much of Northwest California including all of Del Norte County, Mendocino County, Humboldt County, and Trinity County, as well as part of Sonoma County, is currently represented by Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa). However, with Wood deciding earlier this month that he wouldn’t run for reelection because of a sick mother and wanting to spend more time with his family, the largely blue district had a rare Assembly opening.

Hicks runs for Assembly

Over the last few weeks, many local leaders declared their candidacy, including Healdsburg Mayor Ariel Kelley (D), Mendocino County Supervisor Ted Williams (D), Santa Rosa City Councilor Chris Rogers (D), and Del Norte County School Board member Michael Greer (R). However, the race reached a new level of clout following Hicks joining the race.

“My life’s work has been dedicated to uplifting and empowering those around me- ensuring they got a helping hand when they needed it most,” said Hicks on X. “In the State Assembly, I will bring my experience as an educator, organizer and veteran to help our North Coast neighbors and all Californians. I’m dedicated to tackling the challenges our North Coast communities face. And I’m ready to bring my experience of getting real results for real people to the State Assembly.”

Today, I officially launch my campaign for CA’s 2nd Assembly District.

I’m dedicated to tackling the challenges our North Coast communities face. And I’m ready to bring my experience of getting real results for real people to the State Assembly.

Join us! https://t.co/E37Im6b9jq pic.twitter.com/zd2Fbs8BvL

— Rusty Hicks 🇺🇸 (@rustyhicks) November 21, 2023

Despite Hicks being the most high-profile candidate in the race by far, local political experts told the Globe on Friday that Hicks would need more than just his party leader status to win in the second district. They also noted that a loss by Hicks in the district would severely hurt his chances in any future elections.

“Hicks has been CADEM’s leader since 2019, and that is one hell of a thing you can put on your resume when running for office,” explained Ellen Griffin, a pollster who focuses on races in Southern Oregon and Northern California, to the Globe. “But, in this race, it isn’t enough. Rogers has already gotten dozens of endorsements from other Assemblymembers and lots and lots of Mayors and city council members in the area. Kelley and Williams both have crucial support, and Greer already has a lock on conservatives and a lot of centrist voters. Those local connections are crucial in a district race, and being the chair of a party doesn’t exactly bring everyone in, you know?

“If Hicks loses the race, it can be pretty embarrassing. The state party leader losing an election for Assembly? That isn’t a good look, especially in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly 3 to 1. Hicks doesn’t have an elected track record, and losing his first race off the bat, while being Party chairman for the state would follow him around for years.

“This is a race to watch, because it could give a very good look into how Democrats, even just within a District, truly see the Chairman of the party.”

As of Friday, it is unknown if Hicks would remain CADEM Chairman if elected to the Assembly.