Janet Nguyen

State assembly

F
District

AD-72

Party

republican

Score
0
Contact

Download printable version

Let’s go ahead and get one thing out of the way — we don’t expect every single member of the California Legislature to be a progressive. But we think it’s fair to expect legislators to actually reflect the values of their districts. Sen. Janet Nguyen hails from a moderately progressive district. Since 2012, her Orange County district has voted progressively on statewide ballot measures more than half the time.

How, then, does Sen. Nguyen represent her constituents in Sacramento? Poorly. She earned a Courage Score of 3, voting with corporate lobbyists and against nearly every critical piece of progressive legislation in the Senate.

Let’s start by taking a look at Nguyen’s district. Voters went to the ballot box in 2016 and said Yes, time and again, to progressive causes. Strong majorities voted to tax the wealthy to fund education and health care (61.9% on Prop 55), a tobacco tax to fund research (62.8% on Prop 56), reforming California’s parole and juvenile trial system (61.5% on Prop 56) and to reduce gun violence (63.5% on Prop 63).

This is a new Orange County, with moderate voters and more diverse demographics. Why, then, does Janet Nguyen cast vote after vote in favor of draconian, inhumane policies that favor the rich and powerful at the expense of everyday Californians?

It’s clear that when Nguyen gets what she wants, her constituents lose.

Nguyen voted to allow Big Pharma to keep paying off doctors (SB790) — Big Pharma 1, Patients 0.

Nguyen voted to allow food establishments to continue using costly and environmentally catastrophic styrofoam containers (SB705) — Polluters 1, Environment 0.

Nguyen voted to allow state and local funds to be used in aggressive federal deportations that rip families apart, put immigrants at risk, and threaten local economies — Donald Trump, Jeff Sessions and ICE 1, California Families 0.

Nguyen voted to allow overzealous prosecutors to pursue convictions against children under 12 (SB439), against greater transparency for law enforcement by mandating local agencies make public their most current training materials (SB345), and against needless sentence lengthening tack ons when an offender has a prior conviction, a practice which disproportionately impacts low-income communities (SB180) — Draconian Law Enforcement Practices 3, Sensible Progressive Change 0.

All told, Nguyen votes against progressive priorities every chance she gets, despite her district’s clear progressive values. Maybe we can help her see the reality of Orange County in 2018 and and start doing her job?

Votes

Type Year Categories Name Description Vote
floor_votes 2021
  • health
  • workers-rights

AB84

Extends supplemental paid sick leave for certain essential workers.

No Vote
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice

AB503

Minimizes the time youths spend on probation and tailors probation conditions to meet their individual needs.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • environmental-protection

AB1200

Bans toxic PFAS chemicals in paper food packaging.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • housing

AB838

Requires a city or county that receives a complaint of a substandard building or a lead hazard violation to inspect the building and document the violations.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • economic-justice

AB889

Mandates written notice of intended closure of a grocery establishment, provision of safety net programs and local workforce training services information to each employee of the grocery establishment, and city tracking of grocery closures for potential intervention.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • racial-justice

AB256

Makes the California Racial Justice Act of 2020 retroactive, allowing previously convicted defendants to challenge racial discrimination.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

AB292

Limits disruptions to rehabilitative programming in prisons by prioritizing incarcerated persons for similar programs when transferred to a new facility.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • economic-justice

AB1177

Sets in motion the nation's first public banking option, closing a critical financial services gap in many disadvantaged communities.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • environmental-protection

AB1371

Prohibits online retailers from using single-use packaging, and mandates certain businesses establish at-store recycling and plastic bag reuse programs.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

AB990

Prohibits the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from denying in-person contact visits as a disciplinary measure.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • environmental-protection

AB1371

Prohibits online retailers from using single-use packaging, and mandates certain businesses establish at-store recycling and plastic bag reuse programs.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • environmental-protection

AB1395

Codifies California’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2045.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • workers-rights

AB257

Establishes a Fast Food Sector Council to set industry wide standards on wages, working hours, and other working conditions.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • immigration

AB937

Protects those deemed eligible for prison release from being transferred to immigration detention.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

AB292

Limits disruptions to rehabilitative programming in prisons by prioritizing incarcerated persons for similar programs when transferred to a new facility.

Excused
floor_votes 2021
  • economic-justice
  • health

SB510

Ensures that anyone who wants a COVID-19 test or vaccine can get one without paying extra out-of-pocket costs.

Excused
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

AB333

Reduces the list of crimes that can accompany gang enhancements and separates gang allegations from underlying charges at trial.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

SB81

Provides guidelines to judges on the use of sentence enhancements, which have been disproportionately applied to people of color and those suffering from mental illness.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • gun-violence-prevention
  • racial-justice

AB481

Requires law enforcement agencies to receive approval from their governing bodies before acquiring military equipment.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

SB483

Provides resentencing hearings for anyone currently serving a sentence made up of certain (now eliminated) sentencing enhancements.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

SB73

Stops mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent offenders of drug crimes, and replaces with paths to rehabilitation, probation and treatment.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • workers-rights

SB357

Repeals “loitering for purpose of prostitution” law, which results in profiling and harassment of sex workers.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

SB731

Expunges or seals most criminal records for those who have completed their sentences.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

AB48

Prohibits the use of injurious and life-threatening projectiles or chemical agents by law enforcement agencies when dispersing protests.

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • environmental-protection

AB1346

Mandates the adoption of cost-effective and technologically feasible technology to prohibit engine exhaust from certain new off-road engines.

Oppose

Corporate Money

Type Amount
Real Estate $82,800
Oil & Gas $74,850
Cops $47,800
Health Insurance $36,300

2021 Score Card Grades from Partners

Partner Score
ACLU
20
Equality CA
17
Health Access
50
Planned Parenthood
25
Sierra Club
0
United Domestic Workers
63
United Food & Commercial Workers Western States Council
33
NARAL
39
California Food and Farming Network
67
Dream Alliance
16
CA Environmental Justice Alliance
27
California Environmental Voters
11

Contact Janet Nguyen

    NOTE: Although you may be disappointed with your representative, please be respectful. Use this opportunity to offer constructive feedback. Please abstain from negative, disparaging language, including, but not limited to: expletives, comments about race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion, and anything specific to appearance.