
Senate Bill 271 restores California’s long-standing
eligibility criterion for candidates seeking the office
of Sheriff. Specifically, SB 271 allows all registered
voters to run for Sheriff. From our state’s founding
in 1850 until 1989 — 139 years — California
operated under what SB 271 proposes: anyone could
run for Sheriff. In 1989, the law changed to allow
only law enforcement officers to run for Sheriff. This
severe restriction is unreasonable, dramatically
shrinks the pool of eligible candidates, and
effectively eliminates accountability for Sheriffs
since so few people can challenge them for
reelection. This dysfunction plays out regularly in
California, with some Sheriffs refusing to enforce
state law around immigration or refusing to enforce
public health orders around COVID-19.
SB 271 simply reverts California law to what it was
from the State’s founding until 1989 and thus allows
voters to choose from a broader pool of candidates
with more diverse backgrounds and skill sets and
greater accountability. This bill will not prevent
candidates with law enforcement experience from
seeking or occupying the office. Instead, SB 271 will
allow for a broader pool of candidates with more
diverse skill sets, lead to greater gender and ethnic
diversity in candidates, and provide for better
management of Sheriff departments.
June 12, 2025 Press Release
Sonoma County Democrats Condemn Homeland Security’s Assault and Detainment of Senator Alex Padilla “We Stand with Our Democracy. We Stand with Senator Padilla.” Sonoma County, CA — The Sonoma County Democratic Party unequivocally condemns the [...]
Resolution Urging Reconsideration of the Proposed Budget’s Draconian Asset Limitation Provision to Qualify for Medi-Cal Coverage
WHEREAS, Governor Newsom’s 2025-26 May Revision Budget proposal1 includes a provision to reimpose a draconian asset limitation of just $2,000 per individual or $3,000 per couple for seniors and disabled adults to qualify for Medi-Cal [...]
Resolution to Oppose Extreme Overreach by Federal Authorities in Response to Peaceful Demonstrations Against ICE
Whereas, the Sonoma County Democratic Party stands in solidarity with the people of Los Angeles exercising their right to non-violently protest, and with Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Newsom in their call for withdrawal of [...]
Sonoma County Democrats Denounce ICE Raids, Political Retaliation, and Trump’s Escalating Federal Overreach
“We Stand with the people of Los Angeles" Sonoma County, CA — The Sonoma County Democratic Party condemns the violent escalation of federal immigration enforcement across Los Angeles, the obstruction of Representative Maxine Waters in [...]
Sonoma County Solidarity Coalition
The Sonoma County Democratic Party has coordinated an exciting new action group: the Sonoma County Solidarity Coalition. The SCSC is a coalition of local Democratic Clubs, Indivisible groups, union representatives, social justice activists, environmentalists, pro-democracy [...]
NO KINGS DAY – EVERYWHERE BUT DC
June 14 - NO KINGS is a National Day of Action and Mass Mobilization: As Trump hosts his self-serving military parade in DC, we’re rising up everywhere else -- at 650 protests and counting, all [...]