A New Voice for the “Purple District”: Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom on CA Prop 50 and Saving Californian Jobs

The geographic and political landscape of California is far more complex than the headlines often suggest. While the political fights in Sacramento may seem dominated by the urban cores of Los Angeles and the Bay Area, the true engine of the state, and the battleground for its political soul, often lies in the Central Valley. It’s important that we amplify the voices of the leaders fighting for these essential, yet often overlooked, communities. That’s why it was a distinct privilege to welcome California Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom to The Legal Lens Podcast for the first time, though I’m sure she will quickly become a fan favorite.

Assemblymember Ransom represents California’s 13th Assembly District, which includes the diverse areas of Stockton, Tracy, and Mountain House. She is a powerhouse of local experience, having served for two decades in her community on the Tracy City Council and various commissions before being elected to the Assembly in 2024. As one of the few African American women representing this critical region, she brings a perspective that is both distinct and necessary for modern California governance.

In our conversation, Ransom offered her perspective on the national fight over California’s Proposition 50, passionately defended the rights of her constituents, and detailed her success in authoring landmark legislation on everything from tenant rights to lithium battery safety and agricultural protection. She proved that while she may be a “freshwoman” in the State Assembly, she is certainly “not new to this.”

To get the full depth of this conversation, I strongly encourage you to listen to our discussion on The Legal Lens Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Simplecast, and everywhere you get your podcasts for free, or you can listen to this powerful episode in its entirety here:

Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom: Why the Central Valley is a Battleground for Consumer Rights and National Democracy

I am confident you will appreciate Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom’s directness and deep understanding of the issues impacting her district and all of California. To help you easily navigate the episode, here are relevant time stamps to help you navigate the episode:

23:55 – Introducing Assemblymember Ransom and the Central Valley’s 13th District
26:05 – The Demographics and Importance of California’s Agricultural Center
26:55 – Assemblymember Ransom’s Two Decades of Local Service
28:25 – The Central Valley’s Role in the Proposition 50 Pushback
32:50 – AB 1414: Protecting Consumer Choice from Forced Landlord Internet
33:45 – AB 899: Prioritizing California Jobs with California Glass Makers
34:45 – AB 1285: New Safety Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries and Electric Cars

“We need to make sure that the choices we are making represent my community as well, and the Central Valley represents the agricultural interests of our state, which is California’s top industry. I also represent the newest city in California, which is called Mountain House. We have a lot of people who come from the Bay Area for affordable housing,” said Ransom.

The Heart of California: The 13th Assembly District

Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom wasted no time defining her district, making it clear that the Central Valley is an economic and cultural force distinct from California’s other power centers. She has been a member of the California State Assembly for 10 months as of our conversation.

“The Central Valley is not LA, nor is it the Bay, so we need to make sure that the choices that we are making represent my community as well,” said Ransom.

The 13th District is the World’s Agricultural Center, representing California’s top industry, including almonds, asparagus, and wine grapes. It is also a rapidly growing area. This influx has created a new set of challenges, including rising housing prices.

Ransom described the district as a true “purple district,” politically, featuring a mix of suburban, urban, agricultural, and rural communities. Its demographics are incredibly diverse, with the population being 13% African American, 38% Latino, and the rest composed of white and East Asian populations.

Her election as an African American woman in such a diverse and complex district speaks volumes about her decades-long commitment to the community she serves, notably having served on the Tracy City Council, the Tracy Planning Commissioner, as a grand juror, and in nonprofits.

“I’ve spent the last two decades representing, in some form or fashion, this community, so people have gotten a chance to know me over twenty and know my work and that I am all about making sure we have equity and representation. I’ve served the community at all the different levels,” explained Ransom.

Prop 50: Giving Voters the Choice to Maintain Balance

The discussion naturally turned to California Proposition 50, which had a significant impact on her district. Ransom is a vocal “Yes” on Prop 50 and explained her position by emphasizing California’s historical role as a defender of the vulnerable.

“This is a special election that we are trying to get done before we head into the midterms, which is going to happen next June. This will determine what our congressional ballot is going to look like. There is one question on the ballot right now – do you want to give California the opportunity to suspend the Constitution in our redistricting commission’s previous voter maps created in 2021? That’s what we’re grappling with right now,” explained Ransom.

She went on to mention that, ultimately, this is about balancing power in the United States.

“California has always stood in for the least of us. If you look at a lot of different historical moments, California is always coming to the rescue – we kind of like that big brother who doesn’t let anybody bully people, whether it’s LGBTQ or immigrants,” said Ransom.

She saw the proposition as a necessary defense against a national administration that was actively demanding states like Texas redraw lines to ensure continued partisan control.

The proposed change impacts the Central Valley heavily, where five Republican congressional seats would become more competitive as opposed to making them Democratic seats.

“Most, if not all, of those seats are based in the Central Valley of California, in my area, and we would be impacted. There’s a lot of uproar because one city would be split into three Congressional seats, meaning they’ll be represented by three different Congressmen and might not get that unified support. But on the other side of the coin, the argument is that you’re going to have three congress representatives to go to. So there are two schools of thought,” reflected Ransom.

Ransom touched on what makes this situation controversial.

“People, in my opinion, aren’t really listening to what we are voting on. We are voting to give you a choice. And the reason why this is easy for me is that we’re not making the decision for you. We’re saying, do you want to redraw the lines? We are saying, California, what do you wanna do? The choice is yours. We’re giving people the power to choose their leaders,” said Ransom.

Unlike Texas, which dictated its new maps to disenfranchise voters, California is asking its citizens to vote on the temporary map change. For Ransom, this has provided her peace of mind.

“This is why I can sleep at night with this decision. What we’re seeing is a lot of partisan rhetoric. You’ll hear Republicans call this a power grab and that we’re redrawing seats. But we’re actually asking the people if they want to draw the seats,” explained Ransom.

Legislative Wins: Protecting Consumers and Jobs

Assemblymember Ransom came into her role with the deep experience of a local leader, resulting in a rapid series of legislative wins that have been signed into law:

AB 1414: Ending Forced Internet and Bulk Billing
AB 899: Supporting California Glass Manufacturers
AB 1285: Lithium Battery Fire Safety

AB 1414: Ending Forced Internet and Bulk Billing

Assembly Bill (AB) 1414 empowers consumers against corporate landlords who force tenants to use a single, often substandard, internet provider, a practice called bulk billing.

“If you live in an apartment or if you have a property owned by a big corporation where they are forcing you to have an Internet service they’ve chosen, they’ve been getting kickbacks and doubling what they have been charged. They also get a steep discount from the Internet company. You may not even get the best service or be able to use your senior or student discount. Our bill, AB 1414, was signed by the governor this week and now allows you to opt out of the landlord’s forced internet service called bulk billing. We’re really proud of that,” said Ransom.

AB 899: Supporting California Glass Manufacturers

While 80% of wine sold across the nation is made in California, most of the glass bottles were sourced from foreign countries like China. Assembly Bill (AB) 899 addresses this by prioritizing California glass makers, providing incentives to keep manufacturing local.

“AB 899 prioritizes California and provides incentives for the foreign California glassmakers, which happen to all be in the Central Valley. It keeps our glass manufacturing local. It saves over a thousand jobs, and it’s really important that we prioritize California workers over foreign countries, especially when we have the product that’s coming right here from California, so I’m really proud that that was signed by the governor yesterday,” Ransom proudly shared.

AB 1285: Lithium Battery Fire Safety

As the Chair of the Assembly Emergency Management Committee, Ransom immediately focused on public safety.

Following devastating fires, particularly the Palisades fire, she recognized the new threat posed by lithium-ion batteries in electric cars and large storage facilities, fires that cannot be put out with water. This, she said, creates a community safety hazard.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1285, which was signed into law, creates crucial community safety standards for the handling and storage of these batteries, safeguarding both communities and first responders. This is a vital piece of legislation as California transitions to all-electric vehicles by 2045.

Do You Want to Hear More Powerful Insights from Legal and Policy Experts Like Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom? Subscribe to and Download the Legal Lens Podcast!

Our discussion with Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom offered a powerful reminder that political leadership requires a deep connection to local communities and the courage to take on national fights. From defending the sanctity of the vote with Prop 50 to securing economic and public safety wins with AB 1414, AB 899, and AB 1285, Ransom is a powerful voice for equity and justice.

In this pivotal moment, staying informed is more important than ever. Stay informed, inspired, and empowered. Listen and subscribe to my podcast on Simplecast or by clicking below!

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This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment law attorney in your state or city.