Our Methodology

Propositions and measures

1. Democracy

We recommend policies that increase individual access to voting and the democratic process.

2. Equity and Equality

We recommend policies that support increased equity and equality across all intersectional lines (race, gender, orientation, status, etc).

3. Empowerment

We recommend policies that facilitate community empowerment, giving everyday people more individual and collective control over their lives.

must meet the following criteria in order to receive our recommendation:

Candidates

must meet all three of the following criteria to receive our recommendation:

1. Politics

We prioritize progressive candidates, those who acknowledge climate change, housing insecurity and inequity, and law enforcement reform as fundamental issues for Sonoma County.

2. Representation

We prioritize Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQ+ candidates, and if none are available candidates who have pledged to increase said representation.

3. Honesty

We prioritize candidates who are beholden to their constituents, the voters, and not to corporations, business associations, or entrenched interests who leverage money to buy political change.

Local Politics Matter

In our voter guides you will find recommendations for local elections as well as state measures.  You will find that many elections allow the voter to choose more than one candidate as there are multiple open positions.  Sometimes we recommend enough to fill all available positions and other times we recommend less than, or none.  We only recommend those who meet our methodological criteria stated below and who provide accessible information. 

Why no national or statewide candidate recommendations?  We generally do not make recommendations on presidential or congressional candidates for two reasons.  The first is that the two party system usually leaves us with two options and the voter has likely made up their mind.  The second is that local elections involve smaller constituencies and thus your vote goes further and has more impact.  We spend our time researching these elections so we can help empower you.