Rick Chavez ZburIncumbent
Candidate for Assembly District 51
Rick Chavez Zbur is a Democratic Assembly member. He represents District 51. That district includes Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, and Santa Monica. He has held the seat since December 2022. He won an open-seat race that year. He was then re-elected in 2024. He advanced from the 2026 primary with 54.1% of the vote. Zbur holds a bachelor's degree in history from Yale College. He holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He practiced environmental law for about three decades. That was at the firm Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles. He retired from that firm in 2014. After that, he served as Executive Director of Equality California. That is the state's largest LGBTQ civil rights group. He held that role until 2021. He once chaired the California League of Conservation Voters board, from 2011 to 2017. He has served on other boards too. These include Lambda Legal and the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. He also served on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. In the Assembly, he sits on several committees. These include Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism, and Judiciary. He also serves on Natural Resources, Rules, and Utilities and Energy. He belongs to the Legislative Progressive Caucus. Born March 2, 1957. Home: Los Angeles, California, in Assembly District 51. Job: California State Assemblymember, the current incumbent; he is a retired environmental attorney. Prior office: Incumbent since December 2022.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Supports expanding state tax credits for the film and television industry to preserve and create jobs in California.
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Has opposed at least one major state bill to expand housing density near transit, favoring preservation of single-family zoning, while separately authoring legislation on RV lot programs and a 'California Housing Security Act.'
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Supports gun-violence prevention measures targeting hate-motivated violence; has also spoken out against aggressive federal immigration enforcement actions in his district.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
Supported legislation to strengthen retail theft enforcement.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Has authored legislation expanding consumer protections for preventive health care and access to In-Home Supportive Services, and established a Rare Disease Advisory Council.
Source → - Reproductive & Social Issues
Longtime LGBTQ civil-rights advocate; served as Executive Director of Equality California and on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles prior to taking office.
Source → - Family & Social Services
Supports expanding In-Home Supportive Services access for seniors and people with disabilities.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Supports climate, wildfire-prevention, drought, and clean-air funding and established a local climate advisory body; brings a long environmental-law and advocacy background to the role.
Source → - Water & Natural Resources
Supports state bond funding for safe drinking water and drought preparedness in his district.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.