Skip to content

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 2023
  • criminal-justice

SB94

Would allow a person sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole to petition for judicial review and resentencing if they have served at least 25 years of their sentence or were convicted of a crime that happened before 1990. Passed by the Senate; held in the Assembly.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • environmental-protection

SB252

Would require the state's public retirement systems, CalPERS and CalSTRS, to divest of all fossil fuel investments by 2031. Passed by the Senate; held in the Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • workers-rights

SB399

Bans companies from requiring employees to attend closed-door meetings designed to communicate particular religious or political views; prohibits companies from retaliating against an employee for failing to attend such a gathering. Passed by the Senate; in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

SB50

Would limit traffic stops -- for minor violations like car registration issues or broken tail lights -- that are often the starting point for violent and fatal police interactions. Passed by the Senate; held in the Assembly.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • gun-violence-prevention

AB28

Establishes an 11% tax on firearm and ammunition sales and routes the revenues to the new Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Fund to finance prevention, safety, response, and investigation programming. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • economic-justice
  • health

AB616

Would improve affordability and medical transparency by authorizing the public disclosure of financial reports and data from large medical groups, providers, and physician organizations. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • economic-justice
  • housing

AB12

Caps the security deposit required by any landlord for a rental unit at no more than one month of rent. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • workers-rights

AB504

Would give unionized public employees the right to sympathy-strike with other public employee unions. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • workers-rights

AB524

Would ensure protection against discrimination for individuals who are caregivers for family members. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • environmental-justice
  • environmental-protection

AB1167

Improves environmental accountability by requiring oil well owners to establish a bond to cover the full expense of plugging, decommissioning, and restoring the oil well site. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • workers-rights

AB1484

Expands worker rights by allowing temporary employees of cities and counties to join existing bargaining units alongside permanent employees. Passed by the State Legislature and signed by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • education

AB1604

Would increase charter school accountability by placing more regulations and reporting requirements on financial distributions from the Charter School Facility Grant Program, which provides facilities and operations funding for many charter schools in the state. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • workers-rights

AB1699

Would require certain education employers to offer open positions to existing classified staff for 10 days before opening the position for applications from the general public; mandates that the employer must provide job training to an interested, but unqualified, internal candidate. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • criminal-justice

AB280

The California Mandela Act would limit the use of solitary confinement in jails, prisons, and private detention centers and protect certain populations from ever being placed in solitary confinement, including youth, the elderly, pregnant people, and people with certain disabilities. Passed by the State Legislature and held by the author in the Assembly to allow for more conversations with the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • health
  • workers-rights

SB616

Guarantees five days of paid sick leave for most workers in California. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • economic-justice
  • housing

AB309

Would create a Social Housing Program and develop up to three qualified social housing projects for people of all income levels on state property. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • workers-rights

AB647

Prevents the new owner of a grocery store or distribution center from executing mass layoffs of existing workers or retaliating against workers who are involved in collective bargaining efforts. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • economic-justice
  • housing

SB567

Closes loopholes that allow for rampant abuse of the no-fault just causes for eviction and provides mechanisms for accountability and enforcement. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • workers-rights

SB686

Would extend workplace safety laws to the majority of domestic workers, including nannies, homecare workers, and housekeepers. Passed by the State Legislature; vetoed by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2023
  • health

SB779

Expands public healthcare reporting requirements to include data from Community Health Centers on labor, revenue, workforce development, and mergers and acquisitions. Passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • voting-rights

AB1416

Creates greater political transparency by adding the names of organizations, businesses, and individuals supporting or opposing a ballot measure directly to the ballot label so that voters can see the information as they vote

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • workers-rights

AB257

Establishes a statewide, 10-member Fast Food Council through 2029 to determine minimum wages, working hours, and health and safety standards across the sector

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • housing

AB2053

Establishes the California Housing Authority to efficiently meet housing needs across the state by producing and acquiring development for mixed income communities

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • workers-rights

AB2183

Expands the existing in-person secret ballot process by which farmworkers can unionize to include new procedures for mail ballots, authorization cards, and petition signatures

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • criminal-justice

AB2167

Requires that courts consider alternatives to incarceration in criminal sentencing, including collaborative justice, restorative justice, and diversion programs

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • reproductive-choice

AB2223

Provides immunity from liability for a pregnant person by eliminating the requirement that a coronor investigate and document a fetal death

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • criminal-justice

AB2435

Installs stronger criminal justice protections by allowing jury instructions to direct jurors to consider a lesser charge if the defense and evidence align to the conviction of a lesser offense

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • environmental-protection

AB2840

Regulates Inland Empire emissions pollution near homes, schools, hospitals, and playgrounds by requiring that warehouse distribution centers adhere to local measures to reduce health and safety impacts

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

SB731

Expands educational and work opportunities by sealing the arrest and conviction records of any person who has completed their sentence and had four years without justice involvement, with the exception of sex offenders

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • health

SB57

Allows Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland to provide overdose prevention programs, including safe injection sites with sterile consumption supplies, trained staff, and treatment resources

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • housing

SB679

Addresses homelessness and the low income housing crisis by creating the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency to centralize efforts to increase funding, preservation, development, and updated zoning across the region

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • criminal-justice

AB2632

Mandates that all prisons or similar facilities create and follow written standards for segregated confinement, including protections for disabled individuals, people under the age of 26, and people over the age of 59

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • criminal-justice

AB960

Expands the type of conditions that would qualify an incarcerated person for compassionate release and mandates that any inmate who is medically incapacitated be reviewed for release without individual recommendation from the Department of Corrections

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • environmental-protection

SB1137

Prohibits establishing new oil and gas wells, or updating existing wells, within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, nursing homes, or hospitals

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

AB256

Expands the Racial Justice Act to allow individuals convicted before January 1, 2021, to petition the court on instances of racial bias in their cases

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • criminal-justice

AB503

Minimizes the duration of a court issued probationary period for a minor to no more than 6-month increments

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • voting-rights

AB759

Transitions District Attorney and County Sheriff elections to presidential primary years instead of gubernatorial primary years by providing the 2022 electeds with a one off 6-year term

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • environmental-protection

SB260

Increases climate accountability by requiring corporations to annually report and verify their greenhouse gas emissions

Oppose
floor_votes 2022
  • criminal-justice

SB262

Provides that 90% of bail premiums must be returned to defendants if charges are dismissed or not filed, and ensures that defendants out on bail will not be charged for costs related to the conditions of their release like electronic monitoring devices

Oppose
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 duration of a court issued probationary period for a minor to no more than 6-month increments

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
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

AB256

Expands the Racial Justice Act to allow individuals convicted before January 1, 2021, to petition the court on instances of racial bias in their cases

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 statewide, 10-member Fast Food Council through 2029 to determine minimum wages, working hours, and health and safety standards across the sector

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • immigration

AB937

Repeals the requirement that the Department of Corrections identify undocumented inmates subject to deportation, prohibits state or local agencies from conducting or facilitating immigration arrests, and disallows courts from considering immigration status in probation, rehabilitation or other diversion program placement decisions

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

Expands educational and work opportunities by sealing the arrest and conviction records of any person who has completed their sentence and had four years without justice involvement, with the exception of sex offenders

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
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice

AB503

Minimizes the duration of a court issued probationary period for a minor to no more than 6-month increments

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice

AB503

Minimizes the duration of a court issued probationary period for a minor to no more than 6-month increments

Oppose
floor_votes 2021
  • criminal-justice
  • racial-justice

SB731

Expands educational and work opportunities by sealing the arrest and conviction records of any person who has completed their sentence and had four years without justice involvement, with the exception of sex offenders

Oppose

Corporate Money

Type Amount
Real Estate $111,000
Oil & Gas $104,250
Cops $86,100
Health Insurance $41,800

2023 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
Reproductive Freedom for All
39
California Food + 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.