Who are we?
Founded on April 11, 2002, CALIFORNIALIST is a fundraising network that recommends pro-choice, Democratic women candidates to its members. Bettina  Duval, Founder of CALIFORNIALIST, initially brought together a group of 15 friends who formed the Founder’s Circle. Membership grew quickly and CALIFORNIALIST is now one of the few statewide organizations funding pro-choice, Democratic women candidates in California.

Why women only?
Women make up more than half of California’s population, but in our state legislature, men outnumber them by more than three to one. Because of term limits and redistricting, the number of elected women could decrease dramatically in the near future. It is a fact that women legislators tend to support issues beneficial to women and children. CALIFORNIALIST strives to elect and keep pro-choice, Democratic women in state politics so that women’s voices are equally represented in California state government.

Why Democrats only?
When working for women’s equality, personal liberty is at the heart of the issue. When you elect members from a designated party, they are bound to uphold their party’s platform. Included in the Democratic Party platform is the firm commitment to a woman’s right to choose: “Because we believe in the privacy and equality of women, we stand proudly for a woman’s right to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of her ability to pay.”

How do you decide whom to endorse?
The CALIFORNIALIST endorsement process is overseen by our Founder’s Circle. In order to be endorsed by CALIFORNIALIST, a candidate must be a pro-choice Democratic woman running for state level office in California. In addition, she must have strong name recognition in her community, the ability to fundraise, and an established campaign organization. Candidates must also agree to various criteria including mentoring another pro-choice, Democratic woman.

Where does the money go?
All contributions made directly to CALIFORNIALIST go to supporting our mission dedicated to developing a political pipeline of qualified Democratic women candidates and establishing a fundraising network to provide the resources necessary to help them win their elections. CALIFORNIALIST offers opportunities for members to select from our “list” of endorsed candidates and designate contributions to specific races. The benefit is twofold: we amplify our voices in Sacramento and pool resources for our candidates.

What does a CALIFORNIALIST membership cost?
You can join CALIFORNIALIST as a member with an annual contribution of $100 or more, student membership is $20 annually. You also pledge to write checks totaling at least $200 to a minimum of two CALIFORNIALIST recommended candidates throughout the year. If you would like to join our Leadership Council, there is a required minimum donation of $1,000 or more per year.

How do I get involved?
There are two ways to contribute. Become a member online by going to the CONTRIBUTE NOW section of our website and complet the secure online form. If you prefer to join by mail, download our membership form and mail to: 212 26th Street, Suite 150; Santa Monica, CA 90402.

How will my personal information be used?
We are required by Federal law to obtain, maintain, and submit to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) the name, mailing address, occupation, and employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $100 per calendar year. When you make an online contribution, this is why we ask you to provide this information, as it must be reported to the FEC and made available to the public. It is against the law for organizations to use this information for fundraising purposes. You may use an employment address in place of your home address, but P.O. Boxes are not acceptable.

Do you send general emails?
CALIFORNIALIST maintains several email lists to keep members, the press, interested individuals, and organizations informed about our activities, breaking news or important events. While we do coordinate our efforts with like-minded web sites on a strict opt-in basis, we do not share the email addresses on our lists. You may unsubscribe at any time by contacting us.

Do I need to register to use the site?
No, registration is not required, but we recommend that you subscribe to our newsletter to receive timely information.

Can I contribute to candidates even if I am not a member?
Yes, just visit the CONTRIBUTE NOW section of our website to contribute to the candidate of your choice on our secure online form. CALIFORNIALIST also has a candidate page on ACT BLUE at www.actblue.com/page/calistcandidates

Are contributions to CALIFORNIALIST and endorsed candidates tax deductible?
Contributions to CALIFORNIALIST are not deductible for income tax purposes. PAC ID#1243922.