Political Notebook: Gulledge aims to be first gay Black CA state senator
South Los Angeles resident Jamaal Gulledge is aiming to be California's first gay Black state senator. But the first-time candidate faces an uphill climb in raising enough money to get his name and message out to voters.Gulledge is seeking the open 28th Senate District seat that represents West and South Los Angeles as well as Culver City, Mar Vista, Palms, and Ladera Heights.
In a recent phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter, he said he had raised less than $7,000 for his campaign.Gulledge, 36 and a human resources manager at UCLA, has attracted little support, so far, among Democratic leaders and LGBTQ groups in terms of endorsements.
He said he has contacted more than 30 groups about receiving their support in the race."It has been a challenge raising money," he acknowledged. "I am reaching out to consultants to help me boost my fundraising."Working in his favor, however, is that no local elected leaders have entered the race to date, a rather rare situation considering open legislative seats usually attract interest from those on city councils or county boards of supervisors looking to advance to higher office.
Of those running, no candidate secured a pre-endorsement in mid-February from the Democratic Party ahead of its convention.Plus, one contender for the seat, Patrick MacFarlane, announced last week he had decided to end his campaign.
