California State Assembly — District 23
✦ AI Race Summary
AD-23 covers southern San Mateo County and northern Santa Clara County — Half Moon Bay, Redwood City (south), Menlo Park, Atherton, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, parts of Sunnyvale and Cupertino. Incumbent Marc Berman is seeking another term, with two Republican challengers splitting the conservative vote. Issues center on Peninsula housing production, Caltrain/HSR, Stanford-area development, and Coastside coastal-resilience funding.
Candidates · sorted by endorsements
Five-term Assemblymember (first elected 2016) and former Palo Alto City Councilmember. Chairs the Assembly Committee on Elections; previously chaired the Higher Education Committee, where he was the deciding vote that shelved Alex Lee's wealth-tax bill (publicly calling it "very misleading"). One of the most consistent pro-housing votes in Sacramento — supported SB 35, ADU reform, and SB 79 transit-oriented housing. Born in Dallas, raised in Palo Alto; political science degree from Georgetown, JD from USC.
BAJC-Action · Endorsed
Hindu United Vote · Endorsed
Businessman; one of two Republicans on the AD-23 ballot.
Small business owner; one of two Republicans on the AD-23 ballot.