With the Bay Area region's lack of affordable apartments to rent and sky high home prices, both of which are exacerbating the number of unhoused individuals on the streets, the housing policies promoted by the two candidates in the special election for an East Bay Assembly seat have been a key focus of the race.
Competing in the August 31 runoff for the open 18th Assembly District seat are queer social justice attorney Janani Ramachandran and Alameda Unified School Board president Mia Bonta.
The two women are vying to succeed Bonta's husband, Rob Bonta, who resigned earlier this year to become California's attorney general.