Democratic Pre-Convention Endorsement

Assembly Candidate Das Williams Wins Democratic Pre-Convention Endorsement Conference In Overwhelming Fashion

Region 10 Democratic Party Delegates Voted 66-12 To Give Das Williams State Party Endorsement for Assembly District 35


VENTURA, CA — Santa Barbara City Councilmember Das Williams is proud to announce that he has picked up key support from the grassroots of the California Democratic Party (CDP), winning this morning’s Region 10 Pre-Endorsement Conference by a vote of 66-12.

Having received 82 percent of the vote from Democratic Party Delegates within Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, Das Williams well-surpassed the 70 percent needed to earn the formal endorsement of the State Democratic Party at the April Convention.

“Das Williams has dedicated his life to serving Santa Barbara and Ventura counties,” said E.J. Borah, local longtime Democratic activist. “He grew up here and knows our community. No other candidate in this race has a better understanding of we what need in Sacramento.”

“For too long, California has been held captive to the politics of Sacramento,” said Amanda Wallner, President of U.C. Santa Barbara Campus Democrats, who have also endorsed Das Williams. “To create true and lasting change, the citizens of our great state must take action. Today the local activists of the Democratic Party voted to endorse Das Williams for State Assembly because he has the most impressive record of grassroots organizing and is demonstrating his campaign’s commitment to the power of the people.”

Carol Lindberg of the Ventura Democratic Club added, “Das Williams is a coalition builder and has a proven record of getting things done. We need his leadership in Sacramento and I am proud to have given him my vote for the endorsement of the California Democratic Party.”

Garnering the formal support of Santa Barbara and Ventura County Democratic Party activists, as well as numerous other leaders and organizations representing labor and other key grassroots constituencies, Das Williams’ field campaign is likely to be unbeatable leading up to the June 8th primary.

“I am so honored by the overwhelming support my Assembly campaign received at today’s Pre-Endorsement Caucus,” said Das Williams. “I have always taken great pride in the work I have done to advance the core Democratic principles of fairness, opportunity, and investment, and today’s delegate vote represents a humbling recognition of my record.”

“Earning the California Democratic Party’s early formal endorsement would be a highlight of my career. I am so thankful for the confidence and support showed to me today by our Region 10 delegates,” ended Williams.

# # # #

For more about this dramatic turn in the campaign, with analysis, please read: Robert Cuthbert: Das Williams wins Democratic Party pre-convention endorsement

# # # #

Das Williams grew up on the Central Coast and is a product of local public schools. In 2003, Das Williams became the youngest person ever to be elected to the Santa Barbara City Council, and was re-elected in 2007. Das has worked as an educator, a policy aide for former Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, and a community organizer working to stop the development of a Wal-Mart in Ventura and enact local living wage laws in Santa Barbara and Ventura. Das serves on the Peabody Charter School Board and is a national board member of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Das received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and holds a graduate degree in Environmental Science & Management from the University of California at Santa.