Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: Ayanna Davis
Current job title: Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees Member; LAUSD Early Education Center Principal
Political party affiliation: Democratic
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: I was elected to the Compton Unified School District Board of Trustees in 2022, and currently serve as Legislative Representative of the Board.
City where you reside: Compton
Campaign website or social media: ayannadavis.com
Do you believe balancing the state budget should rely more on spending cuts, new revenue streams or a combination? Tell us how you would propose tackling California’s projected budget deficit. (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Balancing the budget should never come at the expense of the most vulnerable Californians. Though my budget strategy heavily focuses on new revenue streams, I firmly believe a combination of strategies would be the most effective way to balance the budget if done correctly.
I would focus on a combination of first eliminating outdated tax breaks, improving accountability in state spending, and closing corporate loopholes that allow large companies to avoid paying their fair share. Cuts, if necessary, should avoid critical services like healthcare, education and social safety net programs. The goal should be a balanced and responsible approach that strengthens long-term stability without sacrificing the well-being of our communities.
For you, what’s a non-starter when talking about budget cuts? Why? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I would not support any measure or budget action that limits the delivery of public services or weakens California’s social safety net. Our safety net programs are lifelines for working families, older adults, people with disabilities, and vulnerable communities, and undermining them would run counter to my commitment to protecting the public good. I would make clear that I will always stand with frontline workers and the communities they serve, advocate for responsible alternatives that do not harm essential services, and ultimately vote no on any proposal that puts Californians at risk.
What are the top three most pressing issues facing the state, and what would you propose, as a state legislator, to address them? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Three of California’s most urgent challenges are affordability, education inequality, and housing.
As the cost of housing continues to skyrocket while wages remain stagnant, we need to do more to ensure that working families don’t just get by, but thrive. As the daughter of a working-class family, I understand the importance of uplifting our workers and their families to ensure they are treated with the dignity they deserve. In the Assembly, I’ll fight to raise wages and create good-paying jobs that come with healthcare and retirement benefits.
Building a more equitable public education system will be another one of my top priorities in the State Assembly. Too many of our schools are underfunded and understaffed. We need systemic change, and we can accomplish this by fully funding education, increasing pay for classroom teachers, expanding the use of technology in the classroom, bolstering STEM courses, increasing extracurricular programs and the arts, after-school programs, making higher education more accessible for all, and so much more. I’ll also continue to advocate for investments in early care and early learning, so that our students are empowered with the development tools they need to succeed from an early age.
I am also committed to addressing our state’s housing and homelessness crises. In the Assembly, I will work to cut red tape so that we can build more affordable housing, and work to expand shelters and mental health services so that we can address the root causes of homelessness.
What specific policy would you champion in the statehouse to improve the cost of living for residents? Would you see this having an immediate impact on Californians or would it take some time? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
The cost of housing is one of the biggest barriers facing working Californians, and addressing it requires both immediate relief and long-term change. I support a comprehensive approach that includes building more affordable housing near jobs and transit, cutting red tape that slows down construction, and protecting renters from unfair evictions and skyrocketing rent increases.
I also support expanding programs that help first-time homebuyers and investing in workforce housing for essential workers like teachers, nurses, and caregivers. Every working family deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to live, and I’ll fight to make that a reality across California.
There have been numerous efforts made in the state legislature to curtail federal immigration enforcement in California, from prohibitions on agents wearing masks to banning federal officers from future employment in a public agency. Do you see any area where the state could better protect its residents from the federal government’s widespread immigration crackdown? Would you prefer the state work more hand-in-hand with the federal government on immigration? Where does the role as a state legislator fall into your beliefs here? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I definitely think there is room for California to do more in strengthening protections for undocumented people, especially around due process, access to legal resources, and ensuring that enforcement actions don’t undermine public safety. When people are afraid to report crimes or seek care, it hurts entire communities. When people are too petrified to take their children to school or go to work, it hurts the economy. We must safeguard the most vulnerable while ensuring that the federal government is transparent and held accountable for all unethical behaviors. Ultimately, my focus is on making sure our communities are safe, informed and treated right, because that’s what effective governance looks like.
Health care costs — like in many other areas — are continuing to rise. What policies, specifically, would you support or like to champion that could lower premiums or out-of-pocket expenses? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Nobody should have to choose between paying rent or paying for medical care. Having lost my own health coverage in college and needing to work immediately to regain it, I understand how deeply healthcare insecurity affects families. I support comprehensive healthcare reform that expands affordable coverage, caps out-of-pocket costs, and ensures working families can access quality care through collective bargaining agreements. In the next legislative session, California will have to address the fallout from the Trump Medicare cuts, and I will fight for increased funding to protect medical recipients. At the state level, I will work to expand Medi-Cal eligibility and reduce prescription costs.
Would you support expanding state health care programs to ensure more residents — including those who are not citizens — are covered? How would you propose the state fund such an expansion? Or, how would you propose the people who cannot afford health care still get the necessary care they need without expanding state programs? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I support expanding state health care programs to cover all residents, including those who are not citizens. Too many Californians – especially those in underserved communities like mine – face significant barriers to accessing timely, affordable and high-quality healthcare. In the Assembly, I will always fight to ensure every Californian can access the care they need without going into debt.
When we invest in comprehensive healthcare coverage, we reduce costly emergency room visits, improve preventive care, and create healthier communities overall, which benefits everyone and can actually reduce long-term costs to the state. I would support exploring a combination of approaches for funding, including federal matching funds where available, and ensuring that wealthy individuals and corporations pay their fair share to support these vital services. Any funding approach must be sustainable and equitable.
As part of combating homelessness, elected officials often talk about the need to prevent people from losing their homes in the first place. What policies or programs should the state adopt to make housing more affordable for renters and homeowners? What do you propose the state do to incentivize housing development and expedite such projects? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Housing and homelessness are two of the most pressing issues facing our state, and I am prepared to tackle these crises head-on with bold, urgent action in the State Assembly.
To address the housing crisis, I will work to cut red tape and streamline permitting processes so that we can rapidly build more affordable housing for working families. Addressing affordability also means protecting the people who are already struggling to stay housed. I will fight for stronger protections for long-term renters, and will work to increase funding for housing assistance programs that support refugee and immigrant families.
We must also continue to push for deeper investments in supportive housing and wraparound services for those experiencing homelessness.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law in 2023 authorizing state energy regulators to penalize oil companies making excessive profits. But the California Energy Commission put off imposing the penalties last year after two oil refineries, which represent nearly a fifth of California’s refining capacity, said they would shut down operations. Those announcements prompted many to be concerned about soaring gas prices. What do you think of the commission’s decision? And how would you, as a state legislator, propose balancing California’s climate goals with protecting consumers from high gas prices at the pump? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
California can’t lose sight of the original goal of holding companies accountable and protecting consumers from price spikes that aren’t justified. I believe the state has a role in ensuring transparency in pricing and preventing excessive profits, but those policies have to be implemented in a way that doesn’t unintentionally reduce supply and drive costs even higher. My approach would be about balance. We must invest in a just transition through our climate goals that guarantees strong labor protections, job training, and economic opportunities for impacted workers. This process must be planned and deliberate so that no one is left behind.
In 2024, voters approved Proposition 36 to increase penalties for certain drug and retail theft crimes and make available a drug treatment option for some who plead guilty to felony drug possession. Would you, as a legislator, demand that more funding for behavioral health treatments be included in the budget? How would you ensure that money is used properly? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I believe that if we’re increasing penalties while also creating pathways to treatment and rehabilitation, California should be responsible for ensuring behavioral health services are fully funded and accessible. Without supplementing Proposition 36, we’re not addressing the root of the issue. But allocating funds without a system or a game plan will equally do a disservice to the constituency; we have to make sure those dollars are used effectively. As a legislator, I would push for transparency and accountability through regular audits to understand the value of every dollar spent. With the focus being on anti-recidivism and rehabilitation, there must be a game plan utilizing evidence-based approaches that have an effective, proven track record to ensure California remains on a path to safety.
What role should the state play in ensuring hospitals and doctors are providing gender-affirming care to LGBTQ+ residents? Similarly, what role do you believe the state could play should other states adopt policies that restrict that care? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
The state must protect the hospitals and doctors that are providing gender-affirming care to LGBTQ+ residents. As extremists across the country attempt to roll back civil rights and erase marginalized communities, it’s more important than ever that we fight to preserve funding for DEI initiatives, protect access to gender-affirming care, and ensure that healthcare systems are held accountable for equitable treatment across race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. That includes supporting inclusive training requirements for providers, opposing any efforts to weaken anti-discrimination protections, and working closely with unions to defend healthcare workers and patients from hate-fueled attacks.
Governments around the world are increasingly considering an age ban or other restrictions on social media use among young people, citing mental health and other concerns. Do you believe it’s the state’s responsibility to regulate social media use? Why or why not? And what specific restrictions or safeguards would you propose as a state lawmaker? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
As an educator and school board member, I’ve seen firsthand how social media impacts young people’s mental health and development. Students in our community face real challenges with cyberbullying, anxiety and the pressure that comes from constant social media engagement, particularly when they’re already dealing with barriers related to poverty and housing insecurity.
I believe the state has a responsibility to protect children, but we must be thoughtful about how we approach regulation. Rather than broad age bans that may be difficult to enforce, I would focus on requiring stronger age verification systems, enhanced privacy protections for minors, and transparency requirements for social media companies about their algorithms.
As I’ve seen through my work supporting social-emotional wellness programs and partnerships with organizations that provide behavioral health services to students and families, the most effective solutions often combine policy changes with expanded support services. Any social media regulation should be paired with increased funding for mental health resources in schools and communities, digital literacy education and programs that help young people develop healthy relationships with technology.
Artificial intelligence has become a ubiquitous part of our lives. Yet public concerns remain that there aren’t enough regulations governing when or how AI should be used, and that the technology would replace jobs and leave too many Californians unemployed. How specifically would you balance such concerns with the desire to foster innovation and have California remain a leader in this space? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Technology has an important place in our classrooms and workplaces, but it should always serve people, never replace them. I will stand against any effort to use artificial intelligence or automation in ways that threaten jobs or undermine the invaluable work of our classified and certificated employees. As policymakers, our responsibility is to make sure innovation lifts people up, not pushes them out. I will advocate for clear state standards that require worker input before new technologies are implemented in workplaces, and for retraining and upskilling programs that empower our employees to grow with these tools, not be left behind by them.
Statistically, violent crime rates in California is on the decline, but still, residents are not feeling safe or at ease in their communities. How do you see your role in the state legislature in addressing the underlying issues that make Californians feel unsafe in their own neighborhoods? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Exactly. While the data shows that violent crime is declining, people’s lived experiences don’t always reflect that. And perception matters, because if people don’t feel safe, that directly impacts how they live in their communities. As a state legislator, my role would be to address both the reality of public safety and the root causes that drive fear and instability.
Housing instability, along with economic instability and lack of access to opportunity, indirectly contributes to people not feeling safe. When people are struggling to meet basic needs, communities feel it. When elected, I will make it a priority to protect Californians and ensure that they are not only safe but feel safe as well.
What’s a hidden talent you have? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
My hidden talent is active listening. I developed it with my family by listening to my elders and living through their stories and retaining the gems they’d left behind. Because of this, I’ve developed the ability to not just hear people but make them feel heard, which is vital as an educator and as a leader. I also built that skill working closely with students, where understanding how someone communicates is just as important as what they say. It’s a talent I carry into every space I’m in.