James C. RamosIncumbent
Candidate for Assembly District 45
James C. Ramos is a Democratic Assembly member. He represents District 45. That district covers San Bernardino County, in the Inland Empire. He is seeking re-election in November 2026. He belongs to the Serrano and Cahuilla tribes. Ramos was born and raised on the San Manuel Indian Reservation. That reservation is in San Bernardino County. He attended San Gorgonio High School. He earned an A.A. in business from Victor Valley College. He later earned a B.S. in business. That was from California State University, San Bernardino, with a focus in accounting. He also earned an MBA. That was from the University of Redlands. Before the Legislature, he worked in fast food. He also worked as a janitor. That was for the San Bernardino City Unified School District, while he was a student. Ramos served as chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. He was the first Native American elected to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. He later served as chair of that board. He was named to the State Board of Education. He also served as a trustee on the San Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees. He also served on the California Native American Heritage Commission, and chaired it from 2008 to 2018. Ramos was first elected to the State Assembly in November 2018 and became the first California Native American in the state Legislature. He has held the District 45 seat since December 2022 and was re-elected in 2024. His current term ends December 7, 2026. Home: near the San Manuel Indian Reservation, San Bernardino County, California. Job: State Assemblymember, the current incumbent. Prior office: In the Assembly since December 2018; incumbent in District 45 since December 2022. He was on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors before that, and served as its chair. He was also named to the State Board of Education. He served on and chaired the California Native American Heritage Commission from 2008 to 2018.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Supports easing regulatory burdens on small businesses and protecting them from what he calls frivolous lawsuits.
Source → - Taxes & Cost of Living
Authored legislation (AB 53) providing a state tax exemption for military retirement pay for state retirees and survivors.
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Authored legislation (AB 249) requiring Continuums of Care programs to include youth-specific entry points and housing services for homeless youth, and has supported streamlined construction standards for temporary homeless shelter "sleeping cabins."
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Supports funding and resources for law enforcement and firefighters and authored the Feather Alert system (AB 1314) for missing Native Americans; no specific public position found on gun safety policy.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
Has supported measures to increase penalties for repeat retail theft offenses (AB 1772) and authored a bail-related bill enacted following a 2022 deputy shooting.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Advocated for restoring state funding for California's Indian Health Program and has pushed for expanded mental health resources, including an Office of Suicide Prevention.
Source → - Reproductive & Social Issues
On civil rights specifically, authored legislation (AB 1369) protecting Native American students' right to wear tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies; no public position found on abortion/reproductive rights or LGBTQ rights specifically.
Source → - Education & Schools
Authored a measure requiring California K-12 curriculum to accurately reflect the historical mistreatment of Native Americans, and states he opposed budget cuts to schools while favoring increased education investment.
Source → - Family & Social Services
Authored a bill (AB 273) that would have imposed additional protocols on social workers, probation officers, and juvenile courts when a foster child goes missing; the bill was vetoed.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Authored legislation (AB 1748) intended to strengthen health and clean-air protections in decisions about where warehouses are sited.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Has authored government-accountability/oversight legislation, including a bill (AB 553) requiring the DOJ's Bureau of Gambling Control to track employee hours and expenses, and bills requiring UC/CSU campus audits related to repatriation of Native American remains.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.