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: Ada Briceño
Current job title: Co-President UNITE HERE Local 11
Age: 53
Political party affiliation: Democratic
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: Elected member DNC, Former Chair OC Democratic Party
City where you reside: Cypress
Campaign website or social media: adabriceno.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.)
California should pursue a balanced approach that combines strategic spending cuts with new revenue streams, while ensuring budgets are not balanced on the backs of working people who have borne the brunt of the health and economic crises.
I would prioritize reducing wasteful spending and inefficiencies within government programs, while protecting essential services for working families. Cuts should first target non-essential or redundant administrative costs rather than programs that directly support our communities, such as healthcare, education, infrastructure improvements, and public safety.
However, cuts alone won’t solve our budget challenges. I would also explore opportunities to increase revenue from corporations and the top 1% to avoid cutting vital services for those who rely on them most — and crack down on tax loopholes and tax avoidance. This approach ensures we can maintain critical investments in housing, cost-of-living relief, healthcare, education, and workforce development without undermining the well-being of Californians.
It’s important that we make thoughtful, strategic decisions that protect working families while addressing fiscal responsibility. By combining efficient government operations with fair revenue generation from those most able to contribute, we can tackle the deficit while preserving the services and programs that strengthen our communities and economy.
For you, what’s a non-starter when talking about budget cuts? Why? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Cutting essential services that working families depend on is a non-starter for me. I will not support budget cuts that are balanced on the backs of working people who have borne the brunt of the health and economic crises.
Specifically, cuts to healthcare, education, infrastructure improvements, and public safety are unacceptable. These programs directly support our communities and protect the well-being of Californians. Emergency services like firefighting should also be protected, given the increasing risks our communities face.
Instead of cutting vital services, I would prioritize reducing wasteful spending and inefficiencies within government programs. Cuts should first target non-essential or redundant administrative costs rather than programs that directly support families.
I would also explore opportunities to increase revenue from corporations and the top 1% to avoid cutting services for those who rely on them most. We need to crack down on tax loopholes and tax avoidance, and close tax loopholes to ensure the wealthiest Californians pay their fair share.
It’s important that we make thoughtful, strategic cuts that won’t undermine the well-being of Californians. My budget priorities remain housing, cost-of-living relief, healthcare, education and workforce development, and support for working families. These investments in our communities should be protected, not sacrificed during difficult financial periods.
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.)
(a) Prioritizing the needs of working families — I will continue to fight to address economic justice, protect and strengthen collective bargaining rights, secure fair wages for all workers, and ensure safe working conditions.
(b) Tackling California’s affordability crisis — workers should be able to afford to live where they work. In the Assembly, I will work to lower the exorbitant cost of living in our state — including housing and rent costs, grocery prices, and ensure small businesses have the support they need to thrive. I will champion efforts to build more affordable housing and streamline overly burdensome regulations that are impeding our ability to solve our state’s housing crisis. No family should ever have to choose between keeping a roof over their head and food on the table or paying for lifesaving medications or healthcare procedures. I will be a tireless advocate to ensure every Californian has access to affordable, quality healthcare.
(c) Investing in the next generation — investing in our public education system and union apprenticeship programs to make sure every Californian has the opportunity to support their families and achieve their full potential.
These priorities reflect the real challenges facing Orange County families and California as a whole – from wages that don’t keep up with inflation to our state’s severe housing shortage and homelessness crisis.
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.)
Strengthening California’s antitrust laws to hold corporations accountable for driving up costs on working families. Californians are struggling to afford rent, groceries, transportation, and healthcare, while big corporations reap record profits. We need tougher penalties to rein in corporate abuses and restore fairness to our economy.
I strongly support current legislative efforts to strengthen the Cartwright Act, California’s antitrust law, and increase the penalties prescribed by the act. Corporate concentration and anti-competitive business practices are driving this affordability crisis. The bottom 40% of households spend at least 80% of their income on housing, food, transportation, and health care.
I will stand with working families by prioritizing policies that curb consolidation, promote competition, and ensure everyday Californians are not priced out of basic needs. This approach tackles the root causes of our affordability crisis rather than just treating symptoms.
While some relief may take time as markets adjust to increased competition, certain penalties and enforcement actions could provide more immediate relief by deterring price manipulation and corporate collusion. My goal is to ensure our economy serves working families, not just corporate interests, so that people can afford to live where they work and support their families with dignity.
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.)
Families across the state continue to feel the impact of hostile federal immigration policies. The Trump Administration’s ICE raids and indiscriminate deportations, including cases involving U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, have continued to spread fear in communities. Families are afraid to go to work, take their kids to school, or just go about their everyday lives. Peace of mind has been taken away.
The administration’s efforts in the courts seeking to allow them to detain people simply for speaking Spanish or English with an accent are a direct threat to the millions of Latinos in our state, undermining trust in public institutions and eroding fundamental civil rights.
As a state legislator, I believe California must continue to be a sanctuary for all residents, regardless of immigration status. We cannot allow federal overreach to terrorize our communities or undermine the trust between local law enforcement and the people they serve. When families are afraid to report crimes or cooperate with police due to fear of deportation, it makes all of our communities less safe.
We need to further limit cooperation between state and local agencies with federal immigration enforcement, while ensuring our policies don’t conflict with legitimate public safety concerns. The state should focus on protecting our residents’ fundamental rights and maintaining the trust necessary for effective community policing and public safety.
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.)
I support policies that prevent healthcare costs from shifting to working families and will fight to put an end to rising deductibles, copayments, and premiums. We cannot ignore the reality that millions of working Californians are still uninsured or underinsured.
We need a single-payer healthcare system in California. By eliminating the profit-driven interests of private insurers, we can create a more equitable and efficient system that lowers costs and reduces the strain on employers and workers. Our union’s experience with healthcare negotiations demonstrates that a unified system can achieve these goals.
I will also support updating outdated programs like the Medi-Cal Share of Cost program by increasing the maintenance need income level to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. No one should have to choose between accessing healthcare and paying for basic necessities like food and rent.
As I have throughout my career, I will continue to actively support healthcare reform by advocating for legislation, working with labor and community organizations, and ensuring that the voices of those most affected — like low-wage workers and immigrants — are heard in the policy-making process. I will prioritize a system that treats health as a human right, not a commodity.
However, as a labor leader who has spent decades advocating for my members at the bargaining table, I will work closely with unions to ensure we protect the healthcare benefits that workers have negotiated and prevent the elimination of hard-won benefits during any transition.
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 fully support Medicare for All in California as the most direct path to ensuring every resident has access to quality, affordable healthcare. As someone who came to this country as an immigrant from Nicaragua when I was 7 years old, I deeply understand the barriers that undocumented families face in accessing care. A universal, single-payer system would eliminate the patchwork of coverage gaps that too often force people to choose between keeping a roof over their head or receiving medical care.
I’ll continue advocating for fair reimbursement rates for programs like Medi-Cal, removing gate-keeping barriers, and protecting confidentiality so immigrants can seek preventive care, gender-affirming services, reproductive health, or general medical care without fear of retribution. I fully support increasing reimbursement rates for programs like Medi-Cal to ensure Californians relying on government-funded healthcare can access timely, high-quality care.
I believe we must explore comprehensive revenue solutions that ensure sustainable healthcare access while protecting working families from undue burden.
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.)
It is unconscionable that full-time workers can’t afford to live where they work, seniors are being priced out of their homes, and many young families have lost the dream of homeownership due to insurmountable housing costs.
I will fight for stronger tenant protections, such as universal just-cause eviction policies and expanded legal aid for renters. During the pandemic, I supported eviction moratoriums and rent relief programs to keep families in their homes, and we need to make these protections more permanent. I also support enforcing penalties against predatory landlords and expanding affordable housing options to prevent displacement.
To increase affordable housing, I will push for stronger inclusionary zoning policies that require developers to build more affordable units and invest in programs to create affordable housing, including converting vacant buildings into homes. We must also expand funding for affordable housing projects and streamline processes to get these developments built faster.
In my role as a union leader in the hotel industry I have focused on stopping short-term rentals from expanding and taking sacred housing stocks for profit. We must strengthen oversight and penalties against racial discrimination in housing and I look forward to leading efforts to implement these policies. Everyone deserves a safe and stable place to live.
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.)
I support holding Big Oil accountable for excessive profits that burden working families at the pump. The California Energy Commission’s decision to delay penalties after refinery threats demonstrates exactly why we need stronger measures to check the power of big polluters. As your assemblymember, I will advocate for policies that break oil companies’ stranglehold on our energy system — supporting legislation to recover climate-related losses from oil and gas companies, ending tax breaks and subsidies for fossil fuel corporations, and creating accountability measures that prevent supply manipulation to inflate prices.
The real solution is accelerating our transition to clean energy independence. I will push for aggressive investments in renewable energy infrastructure, stronger public transit, and clean energy projects that create good union jobs in our district — ensuring workers are never forced to choose between protecting the planet and protecting their livelihoods. By reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, we protect consumers from volatile gas prices, advance our climate goals, and give families affordable alternatives to driving. California can lead on climate action while protecting working families from corporate greed.
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.)
Yes, I absolutely support increased funding for behavioral health treatments in the budget. Addressing the root causes of drug use and crime requires real investment in diversion programs, court services, and behavioral health infrastructure — not just punishment.
I would explore opportunities to increase revenue from corporations and the top 1% to avoid cutting vital services for those who rely on them most.
To ensure proper use of behavioral health funding, I support stronger transparency in how money is being spent, so taxpayers know where these funds are going. We need robust oversight mechanisms and accountability measures to guarantee these dollars actually reach treatment programs rather than getting lost in bureaucratic inefficiencies.
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.)
I firmly believe that gender-affirming care is essential, medically necessary, and a matter of justice. I support requiring any publicly funded healthcare entity to provide or refer patients for comprehensive reproductive health services, including gender-affirming care, and will fight to enshrine these protections into policy so that transgender lives are valued, respected, and fully supported in California.
When other states adopt discriminatory policies, California must act as a sanctuary for those seeking gender-affirming treatment. With more than 400 pieces of legislation introduced nationally to restrict trans healthcare, we cannot stand idly by. Denying or delaying this care leads to economic injustice, housing instability, and lost opportunity. We must ensure every Californian has access to affordable, quality healthcare regardless of income or identity.
My commitment extends beyond healthcare access. I will work to ensure safe schools, fair treatment in health systems, and mental health support for LGBTQ+ youth, while building leadership pipelines for LGBTQ+ people of color in our communities.
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.)
School districts across the state are experiencing significant burdens as they respond to tech’s predatory and prevalent influence in the classroom, and to the youth mental health crisis caused by the unregulated environment enjoyed by the tech companies that designed their platforms.
The state has the obligation to regulate phone usage and access to social media particularly in schools. It has been well documented that excessive smartphone use contributes to anxiety, depression, and social isolation, as well as distractions that impede instructional time. It is critical that the burden of enforcement not fall solely on the teachers, but rather should be enforced district-wide so that teachers are not forced to “police” devices and are not held liable for confiscated property.
I support thoughtful solutions like AB 1043, which require devices to provide apps and websites with age assurance information so that they can adjust content and features accordingly, passed with overwhelming and bipartisan support. Protecting children from cyberbullying and exploitation with common-sense solutions is something leaders from both sides of the aisle can agree upon.
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.)
AI technology is being used by corporations to eliminate jobs and increase the workload for remaining workers, and this is a critical issue for our workforce, economy, and community safety. Technology should supplement and support skilled workers, not replace them.
California can remain a leader in innovation while protecting working families. In the Assembly, I will work collaboratively with labor unions to develop effective legislative solutions that prevent job loss and dangerous accidents across industries. I will also invest in training and upskilling programs so workers can thrive in a modern, digital workforce.
Having dedicated over 33 years to uplifting workers, I know firsthand the struggles working people face when corporations use technology to weaken worker power. As California leads in AI innovation, we must do so in a way that creates good-paying jobs rather than eliminating them and organized labor must always have a voice at the table when these decisions are being made.
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.)
I see my role as a bridge between officers and the communities they serve. I will promote initiatives that enhance positive interactions, improve transparency, and strengthen collaborative problem-solving between law enforcement and local organizations.
Building safe communities requires addressing both immediate public safety needs and the root causes of crime. This means supporting training that emphasizes de-escalation and community engagement, ensuring officers have the resources to do their jobs safely, and investing in programs that tackle economic opportunity gaps and inadequate support services before crime happens.
I also believe in strengthening reintegration resources for the formerly incarcerated. At UNITE HERE, we run a training fund that places formerly incarcerated people in union jobs with good benefits, giving them a steady income and a real path forward. That kind of investment pays dividends for whole communities.
What’s a hidden talent you have? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I have a talent for mentoring and building leaders. I am acutely aware that my own rise to become the first Latina president of my Local at the age of 26 would not have been possible had I not been blessed with mentors who invested hours and hours of time helping me navigate all of the roadblocks that come with leadership. I made many mistakes along the way, but thanks to their wisdom and guidance, I was able to keep most of the little issues from being huge ones.
I have always kept that in the forefront of my mind as my leadership role has increased, and I am mindful that the growth of the labor movement and the Democratic Party depends upon young activists seeing these organizations as vital and having space for a diversity of ideas and perspectives. I believe that it is my responsibility to leave any organization better off than when I found it, and that cannot happen unless I am continuously focused on bringing up the next generation of leaders.