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Aaron Reveles

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Aaron Reveles
Image of Aaron Reveles

Peace and Freedom Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

March 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of California, Santa Barbara, 2017

Graduate

Johns Hopkins University, 2020

Personal
Birthplace
Los Angeles, Calif.
Religion
None
Profession
Teacher
Contact

Aaron Reveles (Peace and Freedom Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 34th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on March 5, 2024.

Reveles completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Aaron Reveles was born in Los Angeles, California. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2017 and a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2020. His career experience includes working as a teacher.[1]

Elections

2024

See also: California's 34th Congressional District election, 2024

California's 34th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 34

Incumbent Jimmy Gomez defeated David Kim in the general election for U.S. House California District 34 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jimmy Gomez
Jimmy Gomez (D)
 
55.6
 
105,394
Image of David Kim
David Kim (D) Candidate Connection
 
44.4
 
84,020

Total votes: 189,414
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 34

Incumbent Jimmy Gomez and David Kim defeated Calvin Lee, Aaron Reveles, and David Ferrell in the primary for U.S. House California District 34 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jimmy Gomez
Jimmy Gomez (D)
 
51.2
 
41,611
Image of David Kim
David Kim (D) Candidate Connection
 
27.9
 
22,703
Image of Calvin Lee
Calvin Lee (R)
 
14.1
 
11,495
Image of Aaron Reveles
Aaron Reveles (Peace and Freedom Party) Candidate Connection
 
4.0
 
3,223
Image of David Ferrell
David Ferrell (D) Candidate Connection
 
2.8
 
2,312

Total votes: 81,344
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Reveles in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Aaron Reveles completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Reveles' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I am Aaron Reveles, and I am honored to be a candidate for the United States Congress.

I was born and raised in Boyle Heights, where I have deep roots in this working class community. I understand the district faces, soaring costs of living due to housing, healthcare, education, and everyday necessities like groceries and medicine. I have been on the front lines fighting for the right to jobs, housing, healthcare, immigration, and LGBTQ rights both on the streets and on the ballot for a decade.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in History from The University of Santa Barbara and a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University. and I have a strong background in Education and community involvement due to teaching for 5 years. I have honed my leadership skills over several political, social, and worker campaigns throughout the Eastside of Los Angeles.

  • Our campaign is driven by a bold vision for a United States were workers are in control of their government. We stand firmly for the working class, the marginalized, and the environment, rejecting corporate control of our government. In Congress, we will champion a guaranteed right to housing, ensuring that every American has access to safe and affordable shelter, regardless of their economic status. Universal rent control and rights will protect tenants from skyrocketing rents and unjust evictions, providing stability and security for renters.
  • We pledge to fight for Nationalized Healthcare ensuring that every American has access to quality healthcare without financial barriers. We will push for a Green New Deal, creating millions of jobs and addressing the climate crisis head-on, while investing in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure. Education is a right, not a privilege. We will work for tuition-free higher education and significant student debt relief
  • We also pledge to be at the forefront of the fight against imperialism. We believe in a foreign policy that prioritizes diplomacy, cooperation, and the well-being of people worldwide over military intervention and empire-building. We will work to end endless wars, withdraw troops from regions where they are not needed, and redirect resources toward the pressing needs of our own citizens. Our campaign is committed to socialism and worker control of our wealth.
I am passionate about a wide range of public policy including but not limited

Advocating for the collective or public ownership of key industries and resources.

Income and Wealth Redistribution

Universal Healthcare.

Worker's Rights

Housing as a guaranteed right

Quality Free Education From Pre-K to University or Trade

Expanded Social Safety Nets

Environmental and Climate Justice

Criminal Justice Reform

Anti-Imperialist Foreign Policy

Gender and Racial Equality:
My first job was with my Dad's small furniture business. I started when I was about 12 years old and finished when I was about 14. I would sweep the floors, and wipe and vacuum down the furniture. I provide customer service working on the floor and at the cash register.
The greatest challenge we will face is the decline of the United States empire This would result in economic decline in the United States and due to its capitalist economy we will have an increase in, income inequality, financial speculation, and corporate exploitation. We must prepare for this event and implement progressive taxation, wealth redistribution, and stronger labor protections.

The U.S.'s status as a world power is built on a foundation of imperialism, military interventions, and support for global capitalism. As our empire declines we must call for a reduction in military spending and an end to imperialist policies, redirecting resources toward domestic needs like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

Eventually we must propose alternative economic models, such as worker cooperatives, public ownership of key industries, and democratic planning, as ways to mitigate economic decline and address the needs of working-class Americans.
Like most Americans I am dissatisfied with the current trajectory of a majority of our government. While I am a proponent of term limits, I do not believe term limits alone will fixe our current situation. The reason why many of us are dissatisfied with government is because both the Republican and Democratic Parties work for the owning class, while there is no party in government that workers for the working class. We need reforms that will allow proportional representation and ranked choice voting to elect working class candidates. We also need to make it impossible for politicians to accept money from corporations, Democracy should be based on 1 person 1 vote, but if billionaires and corporations are allowed to fund elections this basic principle of democracy is crushed.
As independent socialists we are fundamentally at odds with the more centrist and corporate-friendly policies of both major parties. Compromising on these principles is seen as a betrayal of the core values of socialism and the working class.

In the past where progressive or socialist movements have compromised with major parties, they saw their policies watered down or abandoned.

Neither major party truly represents their interests and that both Democrats and Republicans are beholden to corporate and elite interests. Compromising with these parties is viewed as perpetuating a system that doesn't prioritize the needs of the working class and marginalized communities.

Major parties is often limited to incremental reforms that do not address the root causes of economic and social inequality. Instead, we must challenge the existing capitalist system.

We must exert pressure on the political establishment and to offer voters a genuine alternative to the status quo.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Reveles’s campaign website stated the following:

People's Power

Universal Bill of Rights
  • Living Wages — Guaranteed living wage for all workers, indexed to regional cost-of-living and adjusted for inflation.
  • Healthcare for All — Universally accessible healthcare system, free at the point of service, prioritizing preventive care and equitable treatment, with a focus on primary care facilities. End to for-profit healthcare and pharmaceuticals, ensuring that medical and health services prioritize patient care over profit.
  • Citizenship for All — Establish an accessible pathway to citizenship for all immigrants residing in the United States, providing a clear and fair process for naturalization.
  • Retirement for All — Comprehensive retirement security for every individual, ensuring financial stability regardless of employment history.
  • Universal Suffrage — Secure the right to vote for all residents of legal voting age, ensuring it cannot be denied or abridged for any reason.
  • Paid Leave — Mandated comprehensive paid sick, parental, and vacation leave for all workers.
Unconditional Right to Strike
  • Remove barriers to the right to strike, granting all workers, including public sector employees, unfettered access to collective bargaining. Strikes should be protected against any form of legal or economic retaliation, ensuring that workers can leverage this tool to enforce their demands, safeguard their interests, and negotiate better working conditions without fear of punitive consequences.
Workplace Democracy
  • Democratic Enterprise Boards — Require large and mid-market enterprises to implement democratic boards where at least 50% of board members are elected labor union representatives.
  • Co-determination Rights — Workers must have a decisive vote in major company decisions through a system of co-determination with oversight of executive compensation, operational changes, and policy developments.
People’s Republic
  • Electoral Reform — Implement Proportional Representation and Ranked Choice voting across State and Federal Legislatures and transition to publicly financed elections. Extend voting rights to all citizens, residents, and visa holders 16 years of age and older.
  • Eliminate Bureaucratic Gridlock — Abolish state and federal senate chambers along with the electoral college

Housing as a Human Right

Universal Rent Stabilization
  • Enforce a national rent cap increase limit at 1% or the Consumer Price Index rate, whichever is lower; total cessation of all residential evictions, including the legal right to counsel for tenants facing eviction.
Homeowner Protections
  • Democratic Enterprise Boards — Require large and mid-market enterprises to implement democratic boards where at least 50% of board members are elected labor union representatives.
  • Co-determination Rights — Workers must have a decisive vote in major company decisions through a system of co-determination with oversight of executive compensation, operational changes, and policy developments.
Housing Acquisition Fund
  • Establish a public fund dedicated to procuring residential properties from the private market, specifically targeting areas with high rates of homelessness and rent inflation. These properties will be held in public trusts to secure permanent affordability.
Housing Commons
  • Mandate federal support for the development and expansion of Community Land Trusts and Cooperative Housings. Provide grants and technical assistance for the conversion of public trust properties, emphasizing resident governance and prioritizing use-value over speculative investment.

No Justice, No Peace

Defund and Reallocate
  • Significant reduction of police budgets with the subsequent reallocation of funds towards community services that can address social issues more effectively. This seeks not only to reform but to transform the approach to public safety by addressing structural inequalities and redistributing power towards the community, with the goal of eventually rendering policing as it currently exists obsolete​.
Strict Civil Oversight
  • Require all municipalities to establish independent Community Control Boards with the power to make binding decisions on police department policies, personnel, and budget allocations. These boards would be composed entirely of civilians elected by community members. Their jurisdiction would encompass the power to hire, fire, and discipline officers; set departmental policies; oversee and direct budget allocations; and review incidents of use-of-force.
Decarceration and Rehabilitation
  • Legislate for the immediate release of all non-violent, parole-eligible, and at-risk inmates. Abolish the for-profit prison industry and invest in programs that facilitate the reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals into society, including job training and housing support. Restore full voting rights to all former and currently incarcerated individuals.

Landback

Full Sovereignty and Land Restoration
  • Full recognition of Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination, allowing Indigenous sovereign-states to govern themselves according to their own laws and customs. Indigenous lands will be restored to the size originally outlined in treaties, with compensation and land restoration provided for any areas now occupied by existing metropolises or other developments. Establish a “Treaty Compliance Office” to handle the restitution for lands that are currently urbanized, providing fair market compensation or land exchanges where possible.
Reparations
  • Mandate revenue-sharing agreements between federal, state, and private enterprises operating in North America. Create an Indigenous Nations Development Fund, sourced from these agreements, to finance reparations, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and cultural preservation initiatives within Indigenous communities.

Black Reconstruction

Reparations
  • Establish a federal reparations program, grounded in historical labor value assessments, that provides direct financial compensation to descendants of enslaved Africans. Launch a Black Community Reinvestment and Empowerment Program to channel funds into community infrastructure, education, and social services for Black Americans.
Land Restoration
  • Implement a land restitution policy that returns land and property wrongfully taken from Black Americans during historical periods of discrimination and segregation. This should include a comprehensive review of land ownership records and discriminatory practices, with the goal of restoring rightful ownership and compensating for lost value and opportunities. This program should be responsible for assessing and compensating lost property value and opportunities, with a dedicated budget to support the acquisition of land for community development and individual homeownership.

Anti-Imperialism

Sovereign Integrity and Non-Intervention Act
  • Draft a resolution demanding the U.S. government cease all forms of aggression and interference in the internal affairs of other countries, upholding their sovereignty and self-determination. This act would necessitate the termination of military and financial aid, as well as diplomatic ties with Israel, while committing full support to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
Shutdown Overseas Military Installations
  • Introduce a bill to shut down U.S. military bases overseas, especially those in the global south, with a structured plan for the immediate repatriation of all military personnel. The act would redirect funds previously allocated for these bases towards rebuilding and supporting impacted local communities.
Economic Non-Aggression Act
  • Enact legislation to end the practice of imposing sanctions, embargoes, and other economic measures that result in humanitarian distress, starting with the immediate cessation of embargoes against Cuba and the DPRK. This would include the creation of a monitoring body to ensure future economic policies do not inflict harm on civilian populations.
Wealth Equity and Global Solidarity
  • Establish a framework for a global wealth redistribution fund, aimed at providing reparations and development assistance to nations adversely affected by U.S. and Western policies of imperialism. This fund would be capitalized by reallocating a portion of the U.S. defense budget and soliciting contributions from international partners to support sustainable development projects in these nations.

Pro-Choice

Universal Reproductive Rights
  • Mandate the provision of comprehensive reproductive healthcare services within the universal healthcare system, assuring all individuals access to abortion, contraception, and related healthcare without financial burden.
Body Autonomy Amendment
  • Enshrine body autonomy as a fundamental human right, shielding such liberties from future legislative volatility.

Queer and Trans Liberation

Non-Discrimination Mandate
  • Introduce comprehensive anti-discrimination laws that categorically prohibits any form of discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, ensuring equal rights across all facets of public life.
Empowerment Initiative
  • Launch federal programs towards advocacy, support, and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ communities with a focus on youth, elders, and trans individuals.

Ecosocialism

Resource Efficiency and Renewable Advancement
  • Mandate a quantifiable reduction in resource usage across all industrial sectors, enforceable by a cap-and-trade system. Set definitive annual caps that decrease by a specified percentage, leading to a sustainable transition to renewable energy by 2035. Include a detailed support plan for workers, such as a Renewable Transition Assistance Program (RTAP), providing training, financial aid, and job placement services.
Community-Led Ecosystem Revitalization
  • Establish a targeted grant program financed by a tiered Environmental Impact Fee (EIF), where businesses contribute based on their carbon footprint and ecological impact. Grants will fund projects for restoring natural habitats and developing local stewardship councils, with priority given to proposals showcasing innovative, long-term ecological health strategies.
Public Trust Natural Resource Governance
  • Legislate the protection of key natural resources—identifying specific forests, water systems, and biodiversity areas—under a public trust doctrine. Outlaw private exploitation and charge newly formed Resource Stewardship Councils (RSCs) with creating management plans. These councils will include seats reserved for local community members, especially indigenous populations, and will operate with transparent governance and public oversight.
Environmental and Community Resilience Directive
  • Require Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) to include a “Community and Ecosystem Viability Assessment” (CEVA), evaluating the potential social and environmental impacts of proposed industrial activities. Impose substantial fines for damages, scaled according to the severity and duration of the impact. Direct these funds to the Environmental Resilience and Recovery Trust (ERRT), earmarked for repairing ecological damage and investing in community resilience projects that foster green job creation and sustainable development.

Tax the Rich

Progressive Wealth Taxation
  • Enact a law to tax only the top 10% of earners, targeting income and wealth disparities. This approach will leverage a progressive tax structure where increased revenue is solely derived from those most capable of contributing, thereby fostering economic balance and fairness.
    • The bottom 90% of earners would be exempt from income tax.
    • The top 10% of earners would be taxed according to the following progressive tax brackets:
      • Income from $175,001 to $250,000 taxed at 10%.
      • Income from $250,001 to $500,000 taxed at 20%.
      • Income from $500,001 to $1,000,000 taxed at 30%.
      • Income from $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 taxed at 45%.
      • Income over $5,000,000 taxed at 60%.
Corporate Tax Reform
  • Close significant corporate tax loopholes to ensure all corporations contribute their fair share.
  • Increase the statutory corporate tax rate to 33% to align with the goal of increasing corporate tax revenue.
Enforcement and Compliance
  • Strengthen tax enforcement and compliance measures to reduce tax evasion and avoidance.
  • Allocate additional resources to tax enforcement agencies to enhance their capabilities.[2]
—Aaron Reveles’s campaign website (2024)[3]

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Aaron Reveles campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* U.S. House California District 34Lost primary$0 N/A**
Grand total$0 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on November 2, 2023
  2. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. Reveles! Socialist for Congress, “Program,” accessed February 8, 2024


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Ami Bera (D)
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Adam Gray (D)
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Ro Khanna (D)
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Jim Costa (D)
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Raul Ruiz (D)
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Judy Chu (D)
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Luz Rivas (D)
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Ted Lieu (D)
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Young Kim (R)
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Dave Min (D)
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Democratic Party (45)
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