Political Notes: CA LGBTQ rights group wades into 1st 2026 legislative race

Statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization Equality California has waded into its first 2026 legislative race as it eyes seeing the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus in Sacramento grow its ranks in next year’s elections for Assembly and state Senate seats. The affinity group for out legislators counts a record 14 Democrats among its membership.

Not part of the caucus is Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego), the first out gay GOPer elected to the California Legislature. In his freshman term, DeMaio will be running for reelection next year, as will the seven out Democratic assemblymembers currently serving in the lower chamber.

Lesbian Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley) and gay Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) will also be seeking reelection in 2026. Among those aiming to join them in the upper chamber of the Legislature is Juan Camacho, a gay immigrant who lives in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles with his husband, Justin Keller, a nurse practitioner, and their beagle, Rookie.

Camacho, who has held various governmental affairs roles, currently with the American Beverage Association, is running for the open state Senate District 26 seat next year. In addition to covering his micro-neighborhood, it also includes Koreatown, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and Vernon.

As Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) is termed out, the race to succeed her has attracted a host of candidates. In early June, drag queen Maebe A. Girl, who uses her given name of Maebe Pudlo on the ballot, jumped into the contest.

As the Bay Area Reporter noted last month, she is the first known transgender person to launch a 2026 legislative campaign in the Golden State. To date, the Legislature has not had a trans person serve in it.

This month, in addition to Camacho, environmental activist Sarah Rascón also announced her candidacy for the Senate seat. Others running include Los Angeles Community College District Trustee Sara Hernandez and former Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, who lost her bid to join the Los Angeles City Council last year after being charged with a DUI. (Carrillo pleaded no contest and was fined and ordered to do community service.)

To date, the B.A.R. is aware of 19 LGBTQ candidates seeking California legislative seats next year. The list could continue to grow, as the deadline to file isn’t until next spring ahead of the June primary that will determine the candidates who will appear on the November ballot.

With Camacho president of the board for the Equality California Institute, the educational arm of EQCA, it came as no surprise that he secured EQCA’s endorsement July 8, a day after officially launching his Senate bid. According to EQCA’s online endorsement tracker, he is the first legislative candidate running next year to secure the political group’s support.

“Juan’s unwavering commitment to protecting our fundamental freedoms and uplifting the voices of those too often left behind makes him exactly the kind of champion we need in Sacramento,” stated EQCA Executive Director Tony Hoang, a gay man. “We’re confident that Juan will continue to be a powerful advocate for full, lived equality and will deliver results in our fight to ensure every Californian, no matter who they are or whom they love, can thrive.”

Asked about EQCA’s early endorsement decision in the race, Pudlo told the B.A.R. she was disappointed to learn it didn’t open up the endorsement process to all candidates in the race with its decision to directly endorse Camacho.

“The decision is misaligned with their mission statement: ‘Equality California brings the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people.’ My trans voice was not heard in this particular instance,” noted Pudlo, who also identifies as nonbinary and had sought the U.S. House seat formerly held by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D) in the last three elections.

She has been active in protesting the Trump administration’s roundup of immigrants in Los Angeles in recent weeks. She also has been taking part in the protests at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for its ending various gender-affirming health care services last month for trans youth.

“We must stand together in solidarity for trans people, immigrants, BIPOC, Palestinians, working class people, and all marginalized communities,” she wrote in an Instagram post this month. “Now is the time for intersectional coalition-building. Now is the time for universal healthcare, in California and the nation. We wouldn’t need to do this if healthcare was universal and guaranteed in this filthy rich nation.”

As for Camacho, he also picked up last week the endorsement of gay Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, a former assemblymember himself from the Los Angeles area. He had already secured the backing of gay Assemblymembers Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) and Mark González (D-Los Angeles) at the outset of his candidacy last Monday, July 7. (Zbur is a former executive director of EQCA.)

“As a proud immigrant and civil rights leader raised in a working-class family, my friend Juan Camacho knows what it means to struggle, to fight for a seat at the table, and to never forget where you come from,” stated González, who is the Assembly’s majority whip this session. “He has the heart, the experience, and the drive to deliver real results for working families in the state Senate. Our communities deserve a relentless champion – someone who reflects our values and puts people before politics.”

Born in México, Camacho came to California as a toddler with his family, first settling in the San Gabriel Valley. He later earned a B.A. in political science and history from UC Davis then went to work for several Democratic politicians, such as former U.S. senator Barbara Boxer and former assembly speaker Fabian Núñez, as well as 21st Century Fox and the Fox Corporation.

“I’m running for state Senate to fight for working families – by creating good jobs, supporting small businesses, making housing more affordable, raising wages, building safe communities where families can thrive, and ensuring access to quality, affordable healthcare for all,” stated Camacho. “I’m running because I refuse to let MAGA extremists, masked federal agents, or even the president of the United States divide us or threaten our California values.”

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