Rusty Hicks | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the California Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office July 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Alex Gallardo-Rooker (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1979 or 1980 (age 45–46)[1] Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Austin College (BA) Loyola Marymount University (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Unit | United States Navy Reserve |
Rusty Hicks is an American trade unionist, serving as Chair of the California Democratic Party since 2019. Having succeeded Eric C. Bauman, Hicks unsuccessfully ran for California's 2nd Assembly District in 2024.[2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Hicks was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government from Austin College, before moving to Los Angeles in 2003, where he earned a Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School.[4]
Career
[edit]Hicks worked on the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign as the California political director. [5]
Hicks also worked as a legislative aide to California Assembly members Mike Gordon and Ted Lieu.[citation needed] From November 2014-November 2019, Hicks served as the president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.[6][5]
Hicks won the June 4, 2019, CA Democratic Party chairmanship election after the resignation of Eric C. Bauman and was re-elected in 2021, defeating Kimberly Ellis.
In 2021 he moved from the Los Angeles area to Arcata, California.
Campaign for State Assembly
[edit]In December 2023, after Assemblyman Jim Wood in a surprise announcement said he wouldn't be seeking re-election the month prior, Hicks announced his run for the California State Assembly with Wood's endorsement amongst a field of 5 other Democratic candidates.[7][8] Hicks faced scrutiny and calls for resignation from local Democratic Party leaders with many accusing him of "attempting to carpetbag his way into the State Legislature" and for refusing to step aside as Chair while campaigning for office, but agreeing to recuse himself from matters relating to the District.[9] Hicks campaign received strong support from many statewide leaders and organizations, but failed to gain the needed support from local leaders and organizations within the District with many of it going to Santa Rosa city councilmember Chris Rogers, who was seen as the frontrunner and the progressive candidate in the race with Hicks seen as the moderate. Hicks ultimately ended up in 3rd place in the March 5 jungle primary behind a Republican school board trustee from Del Norte, Michael Greer, and Rogers. Rogers went on to win in the November 5 General Election by a 65.9% to 34.1% margin.[10][11][12]
Electoral history
[edit]2024
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Michael Greer | 39,052 | 27.6 | |
| Democratic | Chris Rogers | 27,291 | 19.3 | |
| Democratic | Rusty Hicks | 25,962 | 18.3 | |
| Democratic | Ariel Kelley | 19,740 | 14.0 | |
| Democratic | Frankie Myers | 18,065 | 12.8 | |
| Democratic | Ted Williams | 9,803 | 6.9 | |
| Democratic | Cynthia Click | 1,575 | 1.1 | |
| Total votes | 141,488 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Chris Rogers | 154,845 | 65.9 | |
| Republican | Michael Greer | 80,290 | 34.1 | |
| Total votes | 235,135 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2025
[edit]| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rusty Hicks | 1,490 | 64.6 | |
| Alan Vargas Cerna | 602 | 26.1 | |
| Joey Bernstein | 213 | 9.2 | |
References
[edit]- ^ Mai-Duc, Christine; Willon, Phil (June 1, 2019). "California Democratic Party elects new chair to lead an organization pushing further left". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ Graham, Andrew (5 February 2024). "Rusty Hicks is bringing statewide firepower to the race to be the North Coast's Assembly member. What that means depends on who you ask". The Press Democrat. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Graham, Andrew (March 22, 2024). "Rusty Hicks concedes, Santa Rosa's Chris Rogers heads to general election for North Coast Assembly seat". The Press Democrat. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
- ^ "Rusty Hicks - Loyola Law School, Los Angeles". www.lls.edu. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
- ^ a b "Rusty Hicks: The Next Chair of the California Democratic Party?". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2019-03-14.
- ^ "Rusty Hicks Resigns as President of LA Federation of Labor". The LA Fed. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
- ^ Maxwell, Kate (November 12, 2023). "mendovoice.com/2023/11/assemblymember-wood-announces-he-will-not-run-for-reelection".
- ^ "Assemblymember Jim Wood Endorses Rusty Hicks in Crowded Race to Be His Successor". Lost Coast Outpost. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
- ^ "Election 2024 | Rusty Hicks role as Assembly candidate, California Dems chair incenses some delegates". Times-Standard. 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ "Democratic Party chair Rusty Hicks assailed as outsider in bid for North Coast Assembly seat". Los Angeles Times. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ "Santa Rosa's Chris Rogers Secures General Election Spot for State Assembly". KSRO. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ "Results for the November 5, 2024, General Election: State Assemblymember" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ "November 5, 2024, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
- ^ "Election Results for 2025 Reorganizing Convention" (PDF). California Democratic Party. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
External links
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