Matthew Adams
Candidate for Assembly District 9
Matthew Adams is a Democrat. He is running for California State Assembly District 9. The election is November 3, 2026. He faces Republican incumbent Heath Flora. Adams, 30, grew up in Woodbridge, California. He went to Lodi High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in government. It is from Sacramento State, from 2017. Adams has worked as a substitute teacher. He also taught math, science, and social studies. That was at the middle and high school level. He was a regional field organizer for Equality California. He was a volunteer services coordinator. That was for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento. He was a high school league director for ComedySportz Sacramento. That is an improv comedy group. He interned for former District 9 Assemblymember Jim Cooper. Adams has not held elected office before. This is his first run for public office. He announced his run in October 2025. He moved back to Woodbridge to live with his parents during the race. Adams says he came out as asexual about a decade before running. He calls himself heteroromantic. Local media say he could become the first openly asexual member of the California Legislature, if elected. In the June 2, 2026 primary, Adams placed second among candidates for the seat. He got about 25.9% of the vote. That let him advance to the general. Flora got about 30.6% in that primary. Adams won the California Democratic Party's endorsement at its January 2026 convention. He is also endorsed by Equality California. Age: 30. Home: Woodbridge, California, San Joaquin County. Occupation: Educator, substitute and middle and high school teacher. He is also a community organizer. Prior office: None. This is his first run for elected office.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Supports vocational/technical training and apprenticeship expansion and protecting family farms and agricultural jobs, but has not stated a specific position on minimum wage or general labor/union policy.
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Supports a "housing-first" approach to homelessness paired with expanded tenant protections, eviction-prevention programs, and behavioral health/substance-abuse treatment for unhoused people.
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Frames public safety primarily around prevention -- expanding behavioral health treatment, crisis response teams, and early intervention -- rather than around traditional policing/enforcement measures; has not stated a specific position on police funding/staffing or gun policy.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
General orientation toward addressing "root causes" (housing instability, mental illness, addiction) rather than punishment-focused approaches, without a detailed platform on sentencing, bail, prosecution, prisons, or drug policy specifically.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Supports universal health coverage for Californians, expanded mental health services and crisis response, and community-based care models, along with veterans' access to health care.
Source → - Reproductive & Social Issues
Supports LGBTQ-inclusive policy, including mandatory LGBTQ school-climate surveys; no specific public statement found on abortion/reproductive rights.
Source → - Education & Schools
Supports smaller class sizes, expanded early childhood education, more vocational/technical training in high schools, and reduced college costs; opposes cuts to K-12 funding.
Source → - Family & Social Services
Supports expanded veterans' services (education, job training, health care access) as part of his social-services agenda; no specific public statements found on child care, paid family leave, or food assistance.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Supports sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation as a stated policy priority, without detailed positions on emissions targets, oil/gas policy, or the renewable energy grid specifically.
Source → - Water & Natural Resources
Opposes the Delta Conveyance Project (Delta Tunnels), and supports modernizing water infrastructure (storage, canal and levee upgrades) and investing in rainwater collection and wastewater reuse while protecting agricultural water access.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Supports campaign finance reform and refuses corporate PAC money, framing his candidacy around reducing the influence of "big money" and corporate interests in state politics.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.