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Portrait of James RamosPhoto: webapi.assembly.ca.gov

CA · Officeholder

James Ramos

DAssembly Member · District 45

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: California Assembly District 45

Biography

James Ramos, a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe and a lifelong resident of the San Manuel Indian Reservation, became the first California Native American state lawmaker in 2018. He represents the 45th Assembly District, which includes Fontana, Highland, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino.[1]

He served on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, including as board chair from 2015 to 2017, and is a former chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.[1] Ramos earned an associate degree in business at Victor Valley College, a bachelor's degree in accounting at California State University, San Bernardino, and an MBA from the University of Redlands.[1]

  1. 1.Biography | Assemblymember James C. Ramos · California State Assembly Democratic Caucus Official record

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-19.

California Assembly District 45

James Ramos is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for California Assembly District 45 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

  • Jobs & cost of living409 with · 5 against414 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Surveillance pricing.

      Existing law, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), grants a consumer various rights with respect to personal information that is collected or sold by a business, as defined, including the right to direct a business that sells or shares personal information about the consumer to third parties not to sell or share the consumer’s personal information, as specified.

      May 27, 2026 · Passed 42–21 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Surveillance pricing.

      Existing law, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), grants a consumer various rights with respect to personal information that is collected or sold by a business, as defined, including the right to direct a business that sells or shares personal information about the consumer to third parties not to sell or share the consumer’s personal information, as specified.

      May 12, 2025 · Passed 47–20 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Unfair Competition Law: hotels.

      Existing law, the Unfair Competition Law (UCL), makes various practices unlawful and provides that a person who engages, has engaged, or proposes to engage in unfair competition is liable for a civil penalty and subject to injunction, as specified. The UCL authorizes actions prosecuted under its provisions to be brought by certain public attorneys, including by the Attorney General, a city attorney of a city having a population in excess of 750,000, or by a county counsel of any county within which a city has a population in excess of 750,000.

      May 27, 2026 · Passed 52–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All jobs & cost of living votes
  • Rights & public safety308 with · 11 against319 votes

    Most contested

    • No

      Criminal procedure: discrimination.

      Existing law prohibits the state from seeking or obtaining a criminal conviction or sentence on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin, as specified. Existing law allows a defendant to establish a violation of these provisions under specified circumstances, including when a longer or more severe sentence was imposed on the defendant than was imposed on other similarly situated individuals convicted of the same offense and other specified conditions are met.

      May 28, 2026 · Failed 33–22 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Criminal procedure: Safer Communities Through Opportunities Act.

      Existing law authorizes a judge in the superior court in which a misdemeanor is being prosecuted to offer misdemeanor diversion to a defendant. Existing law, upon successful completion of the terms, conditions, or programs ordered by the court, makes the arrest upon which the diversion was imposed deemed to have never occurred, except as specified relating to application to be a peace officer. This bill, the Safer Communities Through Opportunities Act, would authorize a court to exercise its discretion to grant pretrial diversion on a felony offense, subject to certain exceptions.

      Sep 13, 2025 · Failed 34–27 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Elections: ballot disclosures.

      Under existing law, the ballot label for a statewide measure contains a condensed version of the ballot title and summary prepared by the Attorney General, including a fiscal impact summary prepared by the Legislative Analyst, followed by a listing of the names of the measure’s supporters and opponents.

      Sep 13, 2025 · Failed 37–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All rights & public safety votes
  • Climate & energy188 with · 2 against190 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Conservation: the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority.

      Existing law establishes various entities for specified purposes over specific geographic areas of the state, including the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority and California Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, among others. This bill would establish the Monterey Bay Area Stewardship Authority, a regional entity with jurisdiction extending throughout the Monterey Bay region, as defined.

      May 28, 2026 · Passed 43–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act: California Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund.

      Existing law, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (act), regulates certain single-use packaging and plastic single-use food service ware, as provided. As part of its comprehensive statutory scheme, the act requires producers of covered materials to reduce and recycle covered plastic material and to ensure that covered materials that are offered for sale, distributed, or imported in or into the state on or after January 1, 2032, are recyclable or compostable, as provided.

      Aug 30, 2026 · Passed 41–24 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Diesel-powered on-track equipment: decommissioning: resale and transfer restrictions.

      Existing law provides various provisions applicable to all public transit and transit districts and includes specific requirements applicable to public entities that operate commuter rail or rail transit systems. This bill would prohibit a public entity that owns diesel-powered on-track equipment from selling, donating, or otherwise transferring ownership of that equipment for continued use after the public entity decommissions the equipment.

      Sep 9, 2025 · Passed 53–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All climate & energy votes
  • Health & care180 with · 0 against180 votes

    Most contested

    • No

      Physical therapists.

      Existing law, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, establishes the Physical Therapy Board of California to license and regulate physical therapists and the practice of physical therapy. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law defines the terms “physical therapist,” “physical therapist assistant,” and “physical therapy” and sets forth the scope of practice of a physical therapist.

      May 28, 2026 · Failed 26–19 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Health care coverage: investments: disclosure.

      Existing federal law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), requires each state to establish an American Health Benefit Exchange to facilitate the purchase of qualified health benefit plans by qualified individuals and qualified small employers. Existing state law creates the California Health Benefit Exchange, also known as Covered California, to facilitate the enrollment of qualified individuals and qualified small employers in qualified health plans offered by participating carriers as required under PPACA.

      May 27, 2026 · Passed 56–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Medi-Cal: managed care organization provider tax.

      Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law imposes a managed care organization (MCO) provider tax on licensed health care service plans and managed care plans contracted with the department.

      Jun 15, 2026 · Passed 54–19 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All health & care votes
  • Education & families165 with · 1 against166 votes

    Most contested

    All education & families votes
  • Housing & rent135 with · 4 against139 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      The Social Housing Act.

      Existing law creates a housing authority in each county or city, which functions upon the adoption of a specified resolution by the relevant governing body. Existing law authorizes these housing authorities, within their jurisdictions, to construct, reconstruct, improve, alter, or repair all or part of any housing project. Existing law establishes various programs that provide housing assistance.

      Jun 2, 2025 · Passed 47–20 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Mortgage forbearance: state of emergency: wildfire.

      Existing law authorizes a borrower to request forbearance on their residential mortgage loan for a period of 12 months if, among other things, the borrower affirms that they are experiencing financial hardship that prevents them from making timely payments on the loan due directly to the wildfire disaster described in the proclamation of a state of emergency issued by Governor Gavin Newsom on January 7, 2025, or the federally declared disaster, declared on January 8, 2025, related to the Eaton Wildfire, the Palisades Fire, and the Straight-line Winds.

      May 26, 2026 · Passed 49–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Regional planning: standardized spatial planning datasets.

      Existing law establishes the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation in the Governor’s office for the purpose of serving the Governor and the Governor’s cabinet as staff for long-range planning and research and constituting the comprehensive state planning agency. This bill would require the office, on or before July 1, 2028, to compile, standardize, maintain, and make publicly available through a consolidated online platform a core set of statewide standardized spatial planning datasets, as defined.

      Aug 27, 2026 · Passed 52–19 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All housing & rent votes
  • Technology & privacy83 with · 3 against86 votes

    Most contested

    • No

      Automated license plate recognition systems.

      Existing law prohibits a public agency, which includes the state, a city, a county, a city and county, or any agency or political subdivision of the state, a city, a county, or a city and county, including, but not limited to, a law enforcement agency, from selling, sharing, or transferring automated license plate recognition (ALPR) information, except to another public agency, and only as otherwise permitted by law. Existing law defines ALPR information as information or data collected through the use of an ALPR system.

      Sep 13, 2025 · Passed 41–29 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Surveillance pricing.

      Existing law, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), grants a consumer various rights with respect to personal information that is collected or sold by a business, as defined, including the right to direct a business that sells or shares personal information about the consumer to third parties not to sell or share the consumer’s personal information, as specified.

      May 27, 2026 · Passed 42–21 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • No

      Surveillance pricing.

      Existing law, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), grants a consumer various rights with respect to personal information that is collected or sold by a business, as defined, including the right to direct a business that sells or shares personal information about the consumer to third parties not to sell or share the consumer’s personal information, as specified.

      May 12, 2025 · Passed 47–20 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All technology & privacy votes
  • Transportation85 with · 0 against85 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Vehicles: Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee.

      Existing law requires the Chair of the California Transportation Commission to create a Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation to guide the development and evaluation of a pilot program assessing the potential for mileage-based revenue collection as an alternative to the gas tax system. Existing law additionally requires the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the commission, to implement the pilot program, as specified. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2027.

      Jan 29, 2026 · Passed 49–21 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      Streets and highways: pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

      (1) Existing law grants the legislative body of a city certain powers with respect to city streets and highways, including the power to construct and maintain those streets and highways. Existing law grants the board of supervisors of a county general supervision, management, and control of county highways and authorizes the board of supervisors to lay out, construct, improve, and maintain county highways.

      May 28, 2026 · Passed 49–19 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      District elections: initiatives.

      Existing law prescribes the procedures by which a proposed ordinance may be submitted to the governing board of a district by an initiative measure. These procedures do not apply to specified districts, including a district formed under a law that does not provide a procedure for elections. This bill would authorize the voters of any district that has authority to impose a transactions and use tax for transportation purposes to impose a retail transactions and use tax by an initiative measure.

      Sep 4, 2025 · Passed 50–19 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All transportation votes
  • Foreign affairs & defense7 with · 0 against7 votes

    Most contested

    • Yes

      Tariffs.

      This measure would urge President Donald J. Trump to avoid raising the cost of living for American consumers by rescinding the tariffs that he has imposed since taking office in January 2025 and refunding the American people for the costs passed on to them by his tariffs. The measure would also urge the United States Congress to enact a joint resolution to rescind President Trump’s tariffs and to oppose all future unilateral and arbitrary tariff increases imposed by President Trump.

      Apr 20, 2026 · Passed 60–13 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      The Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026.

      Under existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership for very low and low-income households, and downpayment assistance for first-time home buyers.

      Jun 25, 2026 · Passed 61–7 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    • Yes

      International trade: tariffs: impact study.

      Existing law establishes the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (”GO-Biz”) to, among other duties, serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Existing law requires the Transportation Agency to establish a freight advisory committee to, among other things, participate in the development of the state freight plan.

      Sep 9, 2025 · Passed 69–5 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗

    All foreign affairs & defense votes

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 17 of 745 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Rights & public safety (10), Housing & rent (3), Technology & privacy (3)

  • Peace officers: secondary employment.

    A yes vote agreed to the Senate's amendments to AB 1537 (Peace officers: secondary employment) sending the bill to the governor. (AI-written)

    What it does: Existing law provides that every executive or ministerial officer, employee, or appointee of the State of California, or any county or city therein, or any political subdivision thereof, who knowingly asks, receives,…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 46–3, Republicans 0–19

    Aug 30, 2026Official record ↗

  • Corrections: jail administrators.

    What it does: Existing law authorizes a board of supervisors of any county to, by resolution, establish a department of corrections, to be headed by an officer appointed by the board, which has jurisdiction over all county function…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 41–5, Republicans 0–19

    Aug 26, 2026Official record ↗

  • Law enforcement: masks.

    What it does: Existing law makes it a crime for a law enforcement officer to wear a facial covering in the performance of their duties, except as specified. Existing law defines law enforcement officer for these purposes as anyone…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 44–3, Republicans 0–19

    Aug 26, 2026Official record ↗

  • County of San Bernardino Citizens Redistricting Commission.

    What it does: Existing law requires the board of supervisors of each county, following each decennial federal census, and using that census as a basis, to adjust the boundaries of any or all of the supervisorial districts of the co…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 53–2, Republicans 0–19

    Aug 25, 2026Official record ↗

  • Criminal procedure: discrimination.

    What it does: Existing law prohibits the state from seeking or obtaining a criminal conviction or sentence on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin, as specified. Existing law allows a defendant to establish a violation…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 33–2, Republicans 0–20

    May 28, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

AB 1128 · CA ASSEMBLY

Mobilehome parks: rent caps: City of Torrance.

Not votingNO VOTE

Motion: AB 1128 Muratsuchi Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law, the Mobilehome Residency Law, prescribes various terms and conditions of tenancies in mobilehome parks. The law defines “mobilehome park” for these purposes to mean an area of land where 2 or more mobilehome sites are rented, or held out for rent, to accommodate mobilehomes used for human habitation. The law caps the amount by which management of a qualified mobilehome park may increase the gross rental rate for a tenancy over the course of any 12-month period.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Failed 28–18·Substantive·Sep 1, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 113 · CA ASSEMBLY

Budget Act of 2026.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 113 GABRIEL Concurrence in Senate Amendments

The Budget Act of 2026 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2026–27 fiscal year. This bill would amend that budget act by amending, adding, and repealing items of appropriation and making other changes. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill. This bill would declare that it makes an appropriation for the usual current expenses of the state, and shall go into immediate effect. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 61–11·Substantive·Sep 1, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1156 · CA ASSEMBLY

Williamson Act contracts: cancellation fees: photovoltaic solar facilities.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1156 WICKS Concurrence in Senate Amendments

The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (act), otherwise known as the Williamson Act, authorizes a city or county to contract with a landowner to limit the use of agricultural land to agricultural use if the land is located in an agricultural preserve designated by the city or county, as specified. Existing law authorizes the county or city to cancel a contract under certain circumstances and conditions.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 56–6·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1159 · CA ASSEMBLY

Student personal information.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1159 Addis Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law, the K–12 Pupil Online Personal Information Protection Act (KOPIPA), generally protects the personal information of a student enrolled in a K–12 course of instruction, defined as a “pupil,” by prescribing requirements and prohibitions applicable to an operator of an internet website, online service, online application, or mobile application with actual knowledge that the site, service, or application is used primarily for K–12 school purposes and was designed and marketed for K–12 school purposes.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 70–4·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1294 · CA ASSEMBLY

Real property tax: welfare exemption: moderate-income housing.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1294 Haney Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing property tax law, pursuant to constitutional authorization, provides for a “welfare exemption” for property used exclusively for religious, hospital, scientific, or charitable purposes and that is owned or operated by certain types of nonprofit entities, if certain qualifying criteria are met.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 64–5·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1307 · CA ASSEMBLY

Licensed Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1307 Ávila Farías Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law, the Licensed Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program, requires the Dental Board of California to issue 3-year nonrenewable permits to practice dentistry to dentists from Mexico who meet specified criteria. This bill would repeal those provisions and replace them with a new Licensed Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program. Under that new program, the bill would require the board to issue a 3-year nonrenewable license to practice dentistry to an applicant who meets specified criteria, and require participants in the program to comply with specified requirements.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 77–1·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1331 · CA ASSEMBLY

Workplace surveillance.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1331 Elhawary Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement within the Department of Industrial Relations. Existing law authorizes the division, which is headed by the Labor Commissioner, to enforce the Labor Code and all labor laws of the state the enforcement of which is not specifically vested in any other officer, board, or commission. This bill would limit the use of workplace surveillance tools, as defined, by employers, including by prohibiting an employer from monitoring or surveilling employees in a bathroom located in the workplace, except as specified.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 61–7·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1349 · CA ASSEMBLY

Consumer protection: ticket sellers.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1349 BRYAN Concurrence in Senate Amendments Move The Previous Question By AGUIAR-CURRY

Existing law provides comprehensive regulation of ticket sellers, defined as a person who, for compensation, commission, or otherwise, sells admission tickets to a sporting, musical, theater, or any other entertainment event. In this regard, existing law, among other things, prohibits specified ticket selling practices and imposes certain recordkeeping and disclosure requirements. If an event is canceled, existing law requires that the ticket price be fully refunded to the consumer whether by an original seller, event presenter, ticket reseller, or ticket resale marketplace, as specified.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 59–12·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1609 · CA ASSEMBLY

Customer service chatbots.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1609 Zbur Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law prohibits a person from using a bot, as defined, to mislead another person about the bot’s artificial identity to incentivize the purchase or sale of goods or services, among other things. Existing law requires an operator of a companion chatbot, as defined, to provide a disclosure regarding the companion chatbot’s artificial identity if a reasonable person interacting with the companion chatbot would be misled to believe that the person is interacting with a human.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 58–18·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗
AB 1642 · CA ASSEMBLY

Wildfires: contamination standards.

YesVOTED

Motion: AB 1642 HARABEDIAN Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Existing law establishes the Department of Toxic Substances Control, which regulates the handling and management of hazardous waste and hazardous materials, and establishes the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the State Air Resources Board. Existing federal law sets action levels for lead in dust and emission standards for asbestos, and existing state law sets workplace standards for asbestos. Existing law authorizes local health officers to take specified actions to protect public health and establishes procedures for the remediation of certain contaminated properties.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 61–1·Substantive·Aug 31, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 1414 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.