For Immediate Release
July 9, 2026
“NO on Proposition 39” (Voter ID) Announces Campaign Team and Endorsement from Senator Alex Padilla
Campaign calls on Californians to fight back against measure that would make voting more difficult for U.S. citizens, expose Californians’ private information to identity theft, and fuel Donald Trump’s election denial and voter suppression campaign
SACRAMENTO – Californians for Voting Rights, the campaign committee opposing the Trump-inspired voter ID ballot initiative (Prop 39), announced the campaign team that will lead the “NO on Prop 39” effort and also announced the campaign’s first endorsement from a statewide elected official, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA).
The campaign team is as follows:
General Consultants: Erica Kwiatkowski Nielsen and Shwetika Baijal with Golden Campaigns. They have worked on six successful statewide ballot initiatives in California, including Proposition 1 (Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom) in 2022 and have worked with Governor Gavin Newsom, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Votes.
Strategic Communications: Tenoch Flores, former Communications Director for the California Democratic Party and strategic communications consultant with more than twenty-five years experience in advocacy and campaign communications. Tenoch helped pass Proposition 64 (marijuana legalization) and successfully supported winning ballot initiatives with the California Democratic Party.
Paid Media: Dan Newman and Brian Brokaw with The Media Company LLC. Dan and Brian have decades of experience shaping California’s political and media landscape and have been involved in some of the highest-profile candidate and ballot measure campaigns in California history. They have led winning efforts for Governor Gavin Newsom, Vice President Kamala Harris and numerous successful ballot initiatives.
Polling: David Binder of David Binder Research has more than 30 years of experience and is a nationally recognized pollster and focus group moderator with deep expertise in California. His clients have included President Barack Obama, Governor Gavin Newsom, members of both houses of Congress, and dozens of labor, environmental, and health advocacy groups.
“Our voting rights are under attack across the country and the ACLU is proud to fight back against voter suppression in California,” said David Trujillo, Executive Director ACLU California Action, and a member of the campaign committee. “We have worked alongside California voters to expand access to the ballot and protect fair elections. We are not going back. We know that voters will see this ballot measure for what it is, yet another form of Trump-inspired election rigging and we are confident that we have brought on the right team to fight back against this assault on our right to vote.”
“We are also excited to announce that Senator Alex Padilla, one of California’s most steadfast champions of voting rights, has endorsed our campaign, and we welcome his support and his leadership as California defends itself against yet another Trump overreach.”
Under Prop 39, those voting in person would be required to show a government issued ID. That would create long lines at polls and increase the risk of eligible voters being turned away. Californians who vote by mail – roughly 80% of voters in the state – would have to include a personal ID number with their ballot envelope that would have to exactly match state records, potentially exposing them to identity theft and other forms of fraud. Meanwhile, name changes, frequent moves, and housing instability create additional ID traps for eligible voters.
“Trump and his MAGA allies will do anything to hold on to power because they know their failing agenda is going to cost them at the polls,” said Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). “Their response? Make it harder to vote. Prop 39 will block citizens from voting and waste hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars chasing Trump’s election conspiracies. California, join me in fighting back — vote NO on Prop 39.”
Voters who do not take extra steps to tell officials which ID they plan on using for voting purposes may not get a mail ballot at all or could face additional challenges at the polls.
“California Common Cause has always fought for every vote to be counted and to stop laws that strip away people’s right to have their voices heard,” said Darius Kemp, Executive Director of California Common Cause. “Prop 39 would hurt all voters, especially Black and Latino Californians and other underrepresented communities, by creating unfair barriers and new ways to reject valid ballots.”
Millions of women who changed their names at marriage, young people, and people with disabilities would be among the largest groups of impacted voters.
“California’s elections are already safe and secure, and Prop 39 is a costly and unnecessary measure that would create new barriers for eligible voters trying to make their voices heard,” said Jenny Farrell, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of California. “This proposal would especially harm millions of Californians whose identification documents may not perfectly match their current information – including the many women who have changed their names after marriage – creating needless confusion and obstacles at the ballot box. The League of Women Voters of California is proud to stand with Senator Padilla and partners across the state to defeat Prop 39 and protect every Californian’s freedom to vote.”
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Paid for by Californians for Voting Rights, sponsored by California Donor Table & ACLU of Northern California. Committee’s Top Funders: ACLU of Northern California, California Donor Table.
