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Ted Gaines

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Ted Gaines
Image of Ted Gaines

Republican Party

California State Board of Equalization District 1
Tenure

2019 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

6

Prior offices
California State Senate District 1
California State Assembly District 4

Compensation

Base salary

$181,721

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Lewis & Clark College

Personal
Profession
Business owner
Contact

Official website

Official Instagram

Official YouTube

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Ted Gaines (Republican Party) is a member of the California State Board of Equalization, representing District 1. He assumed office on January 7, 2019. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.

Gaines (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the California State Board of Equalization to represent District 1. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Gaines is a former Republican member of the California State Senate, representing District 1 from 2011 to 2019. He was first elected to the chamber on January 4, 2011.

Gaines previously served in the California State Assembly from 2006 to 2011.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Gaines graduated from Lewis & Clark College. Gaines' professional experience includes owning Gaines Insurance. Gaines has been affiliated with the NRA, Bayside Church, and the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association of Sacramento.[1][2][3]

Issues

Healthcare audit

In January 2014, Gaines supported an audit of California's health care exchange after it was reported that Covered California, the state's health exchange, had spent $1.37 million on an advertising campaign. The exchange faced a $78 million deficit during the next fiscal year due to cutbacks in federal funding. “What a waste of money — oh, my gosh,” said Gaines in an interview. “I looked at the video and was blown away that they would spend money on that. And for them to think that people would want to sign up for health insurance from seeing it? Give me a break.”

Gaines formally requested the audit with the chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the same committee that discovered the exchange’s fiscal shortfall. Gaines, the vice chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Insurance, said Covered California did not have a credible plan to cover its deficit and feared that policy holders would be hit with a large rate increase.[4]

Legislative scorecard

Capitol Weekly, California's major weekly periodical covering the state legislature, publishes an annual legislative scorecard to pin down the political or ideological leanings of every member of the legislature based on how they voted on an assortment of bills in the most recent legislative session. The 2009 scores were based on votes on 19 bills, but did not include how legislators voted on the Proposition 1A (2009). On the scorecard, "100" is a perfect liberal score and "0" is a perfect conservative score.[5][6]

On the 2009 Capitol Weekly legislative scorecard, Gaines ranked as a 6.[7]

Elections

2022

See also: California State Board of Equalization election, 2022

General election

General election for California State Board of Equalization District 1

Incumbent Ted Gaines defeated Jose Altamirano in the general election for California State Board of Equalization District 1 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ted Gaines
Ted Gaines (R)
 
55.5
 
1,390,533
Image of Jose Altamirano
Jose Altamirano (D) Candidate Connection
 
44.5
 
1,114,423

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,504,956
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Board of Equalization District 1

Incumbent Ted Gaines and Jose Altamirano defeated Braden Murphy and Nader Shahatit in the primary for California State Board of Equalization District 1 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ted Gaines
Ted Gaines (R)
 
55.1
 
858,912
✔
Image of Jose Altamirano
Jose Altamirano (D) Candidate Connection
 
21.5
 
334,818
Image of Braden Murphy
Braden Murphy (D) Candidate Connection
 
14.5
 
225,428
Image of Nader Shahatit
Nader Shahatit (D) Candidate Connection
 
9.0
 
139,922

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,559,080
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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Campaign finance

2021

Gavin Newsom yes/no recall question

Gavin Newsom recall, 2021

Gavin Newsom won the Governor of California recall election on September 14, 2021.

Recall
 Vote
%
Votes
Yes
 
38.1
 
 4,894,473
✔
No
 
61.9
 
 7,944,092
Total Votes
 12,838,565

It has been certified. Source

Gavin Newsom replacement question

The ordering on the candidate list below does not reflect the order in which candidates will appear on the recall ballot. Click here to read Ballotpedia's policy on ordering candidate lists.

General election

Special general election for Governor of California

The following candidates ran in the special general election for Governor of California on September 14, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Larry Elder
Larry Elder (R)
 
48.4
 
3,563,867
Image of Kevin Paffrath
Kevin Paffrath (D) Candidate Connection
 
9.6
 
706,778
Image of Kevin Faulconer
Kevin Faulconer (R)
 
8.0
 
590,346
Image of Brandon Ross
Brandon Ross (D) Candidate Connection
 
5.3
 
392,029
Image of John Cox
John Cox (R)
 
4.1
 
305,095
Image of Kevin Kiley
Kevin Kiley (R)
 
3.5
 
255,490
Image of Jacqueline McGowan
Jacqueline McGowan (D)
 
2.9
 
214,242
Image of Joel Ventresca
Joel Ventresca (D) Candidate Connection
 
2.5
 
186,345
Image of Daniel Watts
Daniel Watts (D) Candidate Connection
 
2.3
 
167,355
Image of Holly Baade
Holly Baade (D) Candidate Connection
 
1.3
 
92,218
Image of Patrick Kilpatrick
Patrick Kilpatrick (D) Candidate Connection
 
1.2
 
86,617
Image of Armando Perez-Serrato
Armando Perez-Serrato (D)
 
1.2
 
85,061
Image of Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner (R)
 
1.0
 
75,215
Image of John Drake
John Drake (D) Candidate Connection
 
0.9
 
68,545
Image of Daniel Kapelovitz
Daniel Kapelovitz (G)
 
0.9
 
64,375
Image of Jeff Hewitt
Jeff Hewitt (L)
 
0.7
 
50,378
Image of Ted Gaines
Ted Gaines (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.7
 
47,937
Image of Angelyne
Angelyne (No party preference)
 
0.5
 
35,900
Image of David Moore
David Moore (No party preference)
 
0.4
 
31,224
Image of Anthony Trimino
Anthony Trimino (R)
 
0.4
 
28,101
Image of Doug Ose
Doug Ose (R) (Unofficially withdrew)
 
0.4
 
26,204
Image of Michael Loebs
Michael Loebs (No party preference) Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
25,468
Image of Heather Collins
Heather Collins (G)
 
0.3
 
24,260
Image of Major Singh
Major Singh (No party preference)
 
0.3
 
21,394
Image of David Lozano
David Lozano (R)
 
0.3
 
19,945
Image of Denver Stoner
Denver Stoner (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
19,588
Image of Samuel Gallucci
Samuel Gallucci (R)
 
0.2
 
18,134
Image of Steven Chavez Lodge
Steven Chavez Lodge (R)
 
0.2
 
17,435
Image of Jenny Rae Le Roux
Jenny Rae Le Roux (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.2
 
16,032
Image of David Bramante
David Bramante (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.2
 
11,501
Image of Diego Martinez
Diego Martinez (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
10,860
Image of Robert Newman
Robert Newman (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
10,602
Image of Sarah Stephens
Sarah Stephens (R)
 
0.1
 
10,583
Image of Dennis Richter
Dennis Richter (No party preference) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
10,468
Image of Major Williams
Major Williams (R) (Write-in)
 
0.1
 
8,965
Image of Denis Lucey
Denis Lucey (No party preference) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
8,182
Image of James Hanink
James Hanink (No party preference) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
7,193
Image of Daniel Mercuri
Daniel Mercuri (R)
 
0.1
 
7,110
Image of Chauncey Killens
Chauncey Killens (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
6,879
Image of Leo Zacky
Leo Zacky (R)
 
0.1
 
6,099
Image of Kevin Kaul
Kevin Kaul (No party preference)
 
0.1
 
5,600
Image of David Hillberg
David Hillberg (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
4,435
Image of Adam Papagan
Adam Papagan (No party preference) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
4,021
Image of Rhonda Furin
Rhonda Furin (R)
 
0.1
 
3,964
Image of Nickolas Wildstar
Nickolas Wildstar (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.1
 
3,811
Image of Jeremiah Marciniak
Jeremiah Marciniak (No party preference) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
2,894
Image of Joe Symmon
Joe Symmon (R) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
2,397
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Miki Habryn (No party preference) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
137
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Roxanne (D) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
116
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Stacy Smith (D) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
81
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Vivek Mohan (No party preference) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
68
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Thuy Hugens (American Independent Party of California) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
19
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
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Vince Lundgren (No party preference) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
5

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 7,361,568
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018

See also: California State Board of Equalization election, 2018

General election

General election for California State Board of Equalization District 1

Ted Gaines defeated Tom Hallinan in the general election for California State Board of Equalization District 1 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ted Gaines
Ted Gaines (R)
 
51.4
 
1,436,547
Image of Tom Hallinan
Tom Hallinan (D)
 
48.6
 
1,355,782

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,792,329
(100.00% precincts reporting)
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.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Board of Equalization District 1

Tom Hallinan and Ted Gaines defeated Connie Conway and David Evans in the primary for California State Board of Equalization District 1 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Tom Hallinan
Tom Hallinan (D)
 
39.4
 
606,159
✔
Image of Ted Gaines
Ted Gaines (R)
 
32.6
 
500,879
Image of Connie Conway
Connie Conway (R)
 
18.4
 
283,477
Image of David Evans
David Evans (R)
 
9.6
 
147,473

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 1,537,988
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.

2016

See also: California State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016.[8]

Incumbent Ted Gaines defeated Rob Rowen in the California State Senate District 1 general election.[9][10]

California State Senate, District 1 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ted Gaines Incumbent 64.02% 287,314
     Democratic Rob Rowen 35.98% 161,502
Total Votes 448,816
Source: California Secretary of State


Incumbent Ted Gaines and Rob Rowen defeated Steven Baird in the California State Senate District 1 Blanket primary.[11][12]

California State Senate, District 1 Blanket Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ted Gaines Incumbent 49.39% 140,739
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Rob Rowen 36.59% 104,262
     Republican Steven Baird 14.02% 39,958
Total Votes 284,959

2014

See also: California down ballot state executive elections, 2014

Gains ran for California Commissioner of Insurance in the 2014 election.[13] He was nominated along with Democratic incumbent Dave Jones in the top-two primary election on June 3, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.

Results

Primary election
California Insurance Commissioner, Blanket Primary, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDave Jones Incumbent 53.1% 2,106,671
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTed Gaines 41.6% 1,651,242
     Peace and Freedom Nathalie Hrizi 5.4% 212,991
Total Votes 3,970,904
Election results California Secretary of State


General election
Insurance Commissioner of California, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDave Jones Incumbent 57.5% 4,038,165
     Republican Ted Gaines 42.5% 2,981,951
Total Votes 7,020,116
Election results via California Secretary of State

2012

See also: California State Senate elections, 2012

Gaines won re-election in the 2012 election for California State Senate District 1. He and Julie Griffith-Flatter (D) advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, defeating Les Baugh (R) and Bogdan Ambrozewicz (I). Gaines was victorious in the general election on November 6, 2012.[14][15][16]

California State Senate, District 1, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTed Gaines Incumbent 63.7% 263,256
     Democratic Julie Griffith-Flatter 36.3% 150,111
Total Votes 413,367
California State Senate, District 1 Blanket Primary, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJulie Griffith-Flatter 30% 68,497
     Republican Les Baugh 16.4% 37,441
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTed Gaines Incumbent 48.3% 110,168
     Independent Bogdan Ambrozewicz 5.2% 11,923
Total Votes 228,029

2011

See also: State legislative special elections, 2011; California state legislative special elections, 2011

Gaines won election in the January 4, 2011 special election to fill a vacancy in the 1st District of the California State Senate. Gaines advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, defeating Ken Cooley (D).[17][18]

2010

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2010

Gaines won re-election to the 4th District seat in 2010. He advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, defeating Joseph C. Kammerer in the June 8 primary, receiving 43,154 votes to Kammerer's 7,229. He then advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, defeating Dennis J. Campanale and Daniel D. Frederick in the November 2 general election.[19][20]

California State Assembly, District 4 General Election (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Ted Gaines (R) 109,672
Dennis J. Campanale (D) 68,306
Daniel D. Frederick (Peace and Freedom) 8,647
California House of Representatives, District 4 Republican Primary (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Ted Gaines (R) 43,154
Joseph C. Kammerer (R) 7,229

2008

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2008

In 2008, Gaines was re-elected to the California State Assembly District 4. Gaines (R) ran unopposed and finished with 166,736 votes.[21] Gaines raised $565,028 for his campaign fund.[22]]</ref>

California State Assembly District 4
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Ted Gaines (R) 166,736

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ted Gaines did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2021

Candidate Connection

Ted Gaines completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gaines' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

After nearly 36 years of marriage, I’m a father of six, and a grandfather of seven. I’m a Christian, a long time business owner and experienced public servant. I’ve been fighting for the rights of my constituents for the past 20 years, starting with my position as placer county supervisor as well as elected office in the State Assembly and Senate. I’m now the highest ranking republican in the state, representing 10 million Californians on the Board of Equalization. In addition, I own an independent insurance agency and have been in the industry for over 40 years with an intimate understanding of the challenges facing both the public and private sectors in California. I know firsthand what this state is capable of, and it is frustrating beyond words to see the future of this great state threatened by incompetent governance and backwards policies. It's said in Proverbs 29:18 that “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” I know that with the right leadership and the right vision, we can unleash California’s massive potential and make it once again the pride of our nation. Together our future is bright.
  • I have a proven track record in public office of promoting the cause of liberty and fighting tooth and nail against California’s many disastrous policies.
  • I have spent the last four decades working in the private sector, and spent two of those four also representing my constituents in public office at the same time. I have unique insight into the process of policy making as well as the real world effects those policies have on California businesses.
  • My campaign is one of optimism, not pessimism. My governorship will overcome the current hyper-partisan political climate to lift Californians up everywhere.
First and foremost, we must tackle the out-of-control crime surge that’s been plaguing our state. Decades of lax enforcement and codified criminal leniency have resulted in predictable disaster. Every day we see new footage of businesses being ransacked or innocent people being attacked in the street. New tent cities are popping up faster than we can count them, and corners of California that were once cherished for beauty and tourism are continuing to be crossed off destination lists everywhere. We must re-fund, not defund the police. In addition to the restoration of police support and repeal of weak on crime legislation, we must provide facilities where we can mandate care for those on the street that are incapable of taking care of themselves.

Secondly, we must reverse and revamp the economic trajectory in this state. A year and a half of suffocating lockdowns and business closures have gutted the heart of our economy, left our children without proper schooling, and eroded public faith in our institutions. It’s time to re-open our businesses, schools and churches and let life resume.

Next we need to form a coherent and cooperative framework to manage our natural resources. New water storage projects must be approved and built to relieve shortages, forest management must be tackled head on to address wildfires, and new energy options must be pursued to ensure that our energy grids can provide our homes and businesses with abundant and affordable access to energy.
I’m currently finishing Pioneers by David McCullough, which I think beautifully captures the essence of the indomitable American spirit.
I’ve been described as prudent and open to advice, as well as fiscally minded, and persistent.
What is important to me is that I uphold our democratic republic by returning the freedoms outlined by our Founding Fathers.
My very first job was working a paper route as a boy, and then I spent several years as a Groundskeeper at Shasta Linen Supply.
Free to Choose by Milton Friedman
Minimum Wage by Blake Shelton

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

Gaines’ campaign website stated the following:

“

My family came to California in 1853 and flourished in the rough-and-tumble Gold Rush economy. I’m forever thankful for this state and I’m fully committed to a future as bright as our past. But we are so far removed from the freewheeling environment that attracted the dreamers of ’49. California could not have a Gold Rush today. Government would choke it off immediately, regulate and tax it out of existence.

Why is that the case?

I served in the legislature for many years and although I typically disagreed with the Democrat majority, I knew them personally and know they acted in good faith. But it’s time to step back and look at the effects of the policies coming out of Sacramento, not just their intentions.

Has California government made the state more affordable? Safer? More livable? Has it lifted up our most vulnerable? Has it provided the basic infrastructure we need at a reasonable price? For someone who loves this state, who is a father of six children who all live here and seven grandchildren (four born this year!), it breaks my heart to say the answer to those questions is, without a doubt, “NO.”

I want a “YES” California. A California where families can buy homes, take vacations, save for retirement and for their kids’ educations. Where we can all be safe, free, and prosperous. A state that is confident and plans and builds for the future. We have the most beautiful state in the union, and we should match it with the best government.

As Governor, I will be open to all ideas and committed to working with everyone sincere in their efforts to improve our state. Here are some ways I will restore the freedom and promise that made California an unrivaled destination for builders and creators from around the country and the world.

Proposition 13:
Before Proposition 13, property owners were subject to huge increases in their property taxes. Some elderly and other fixed-income homeowners couldn’t keep up with the increases and were forced to sell their homes. Family budgets were blown apart by massive and unpredictable tax increases.

I want stability for families and seniors so they can plan for the future. I don’t want a return to the days of property tax sticker shock that forced people out of their homes. That’s why Prop. 13 is so important.

I was an straight-A rated legislator by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and will defend and protect Proposition 13 and crush any attempts to increase property taxes.

Tax Increases:
Taxes are unavoidable, but we should strive to make them fair, simple, and as low as possible. I want to honor the hard work that goes into earning a living by guaranteeing that our workers and entrepreneurs keep as much of their earnings as feasible.

In Sacramento, it’s too easy to see every problem as not enough money and every solution as higher taxes. But we need to move beyond that tired model. It hasn’t worked well for our state. For too long, Californians have paid some of the highest taxes but gotten some of the worst services and results.

Before we even consider another tax increase, we need to exhaust other avenues to make government more efficient and responsive to taxpayer needs. We need to review all of our spending to make sure we aren’t forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for wasteful or frivolous programs. We need to look for low-cost solutions to our problems and remember that every dollar government spends is earned by – then taken from – a taxpayer. We need to treat every tax dollar with the greatest respect.

It’s for those reasons that I will oppose new taxes. Government growth has put a heavy burden on our families and I want to lighten that load. I will defeat all new tax increase efforts and push affordability so middle-class families are not priced out of our state.

Gas Tax:
For years we’ve been paying some of the highest gas taxes in the nation and have some of the worst roads. That’s a terrible bargain for taxpayers!

We have a chance to turn that around though, by altering some of the state’s labor and environmental rules to make road building here faster and more affordable. Our costs to build and maintain roads are way out of line with most other states, but that is a policy problem that can be addressed in Sacramento.

High gas taxes also punish our poorest Californians, who spend more of their incomes on necessities. They are hard on commuters who might not be able to simply pull up stakes and move closer to their work. They hurt rural Californians who might be driving 45 minutes to see their doctor or to get to a grocery store.

The gas tax is mercilessly regressive. That’s why I’ll repeal our highest-in-the-nation gas tax and use the state’s overflowing general fund to rebuild our once-great road system without crushing our working families.

Public Safety:
I want every Californian to feel safe in their homes. I want everyone to be excited for a family visit to San Francisco and our other great cities, not scared. We should all be able to leave belongings in our locked cars without fearing a smash-and-grab theft. That’s the minimum we want in a civil society. But right now, that means we need to have a firmer hand with those who would victimize their fellow Californians.

I’m sure most people have seen the viral videos of open, broad-daylight crime in our state. These brazen crimes tell me that some of our policies, even if they are well intentioned, are creating the wrong environment. One that tells criminals they can operate without consequence. That sentiment will rot a society quickly and it must be stopped.

That’s why step one to a safer California must be holding criminals accountable. I will overturn Prop. 47 to make our cities, neighborhoods, and businesses safer. I will always support law enforcement, who are risking their lives to protect us and our property. Instead of defunding police, I’ll strive for “re-funding the police,” so they have the tools, training, and personnel needed to enforce our laws. I won’t take guns away from law-abiding citizens while putting 70,000 felons back on our streets. I will never lose sight of the trauma suffered by victims and their families.

That will be a start. But I will also invest in reintegration and rehabilitation programs for released inmates so they can more easily re-enter society productively and have a lower likelihood of committing additional crimes.

Housing:
Did you know that adjusted for cost of living, California has the highest poverty rate in the nation? It’s like the old saying goes, “It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you keep.” Californians might make good nominal incomes but don’t have much left after paying for the basics. High income taxes, gas prices and energy prices definitely tell part of that story, but nothing drives our poverty more than astronomical housing prices. I want every family in our state to afford the American Dream of homeownership. That won’t happen with the median housing price around $800,000.

We need to build vastly more housing. The good news is, we can do it! Homebuilders obviously want to build more homes. Homebuyers are desperate for affordable homes. The building trades are happy to have work that sustains their members and supports families. We just need to give them a helping hand.

One important step we can take is to lower the cost of construction. We might not be able to change the cost of lumber but government can act to remove some of the cost drivers it’s forced onto housing in past years. As Governor, I will slash costly regulations and cap fees that push housing prices out of reach for young families. I will unleash a building boom that promotes housing affordability.

I want people to know that they can build a future in this state without spending half of their incomes on housing.

Homelessness:
If you live in any city in California, it’s obvious that homelessness is growing unchecked right now. Tent cities are lining entire city blocks and areas such as Los Angeles’ Skid Row are much larger than that.

This issue is one of the most challenging for our state. Many of the homeless are not simply lacking housing but have mental health or substance abuse issues. We’ve seen and heard of seemingly random, violent attacks from transients on others around the state. Ending homelessness is not just a question of putting a roof over someone’s head – there are other problems that must be addressed to ensure long-term improvements in their lives and in our public spaces.

I’ve come to believe that an entirely voluntary approach is a failure. For many homeless, coercion will be necessary to get them help and integrated back into society and living the lives that they deserve.

Our current homeless crisis, with tens of thousands living without shelter, without medical treatment, without mental health services, is inhumane. To look at the streets of San Francisco or Los Angeles is to know that merely inviting this population to use these services, is inadequate.

I will ensure homeless get off streets through humane, mandatory treatment.

Energy:
Let’s be an ambitious state! It is frustrating when state government pleads with Californians to limit their energy use during heat waves. Instead, we should be building a power system that meets our needs even when they spike, as they do every single summer.

And we can make it affordable, too. Our residential electricity rates have risen dramatically as we’ve worked to integrate more renewable energy into our power grid. Even if that is a worthy goal, it should not be our only goal. We need to be cost-competitive with other states so our energy-intensive businesses will stay home and provide jobs right here. We need relief to families who are paying more and more of their budgets for this basic good.

I will support reliable, affordable, and abundant energy so we don’t suffer blackouts and create energy poverty. Immigration and Border Security:

In my years of meeting with constituents up and down the state, I have rarely been as inspired as when I have visited with immigrants and heard their stories. Just this year I met with a man whose family had lost everything in his home country, who fled on a boat that was adrift at sea for days before being rescued and finally making his way to America, then California, as a refugee. He and his family had nothing. They crammed into a studio apartment and started picking up paper and other recyclable material off the street for extra money. Decades later, he owns a massive recycling company and is wealthy man. Only in America!

God bless him and his family for their work and success.

California is home to more immigrants than any other state and Silicon Valley is brimming with the world’s technology talent. We have thousands and thousands of success stories here and I look forward to many more in the future.

But our immigration system has problems that we must address. Our border is in crisis and not enough is being done federally to control who enters our country. Illegal drugs such as Fentanyl flow freely across the border and ruin lives as they fall into the hands of users. Policy should decide who and what enters the United States, not a lack of enforcement. I will authorize all available state resources to the border to aid the federal government in border control.

I welcome all immigrants who come here legally, but as Governor, I will end Sanctuary Cities and deport dangerous criminals here illegally.

Wildfires:
My former Senate District and current Board of Equalization District are home to some of California’s most beautiful forests and rugged terrains. That’s a rough combination for wildfires, though, and the state must do more to thin out our forests in select areas to help protect life and property. I’ve seen firsthand the devastation these wildfires leave behind, met with people who’ve lost loved ones, talked to families who don’t know how they will rebuild their homes and their lives. Wildfire trauma lasts far beyond the flames themselves.

This is not a problem that will be solved quickly, even with the best policies and implementation. There are simply too many acres that need to be treated, but I will make massive forest thinning and improved management a top priority to prevent damaging wildfires. I will make it a top priority to harden the wildland-urban interface to protect homes and provide the most safety for our efforts. I will also reward homeowners who create adequate defensible space around their homes.

Vehicle Registration:
This may not be the biggest issue facing the state, but it’s got great symbolic importance and changing it would make a practical difference in our lives, as well. I have talked to people who have moved out of state or are planning on moving out of state, and the cost of car registration comes up all the time! The feeling is that it’s another area where California government gouges citizens. I agree. There is no reason why this state, sitting on a massive surplus in our general fund, can’t lower car registration fees. When you add registration to our ultra-expensive gas prices, Californians could be paying thousands more a year than people in other states to drive the exact same cars!

I have spent my career trying to get more money back into taxpayer pockets. Sometimes it’s not one big cost that’s the burden, but many smaller costs that add up. This is a great example of a smaller area where better policy could help create a more affordable California.

I will lower car registration to $40 every-other-year on all vehicles while fully funding public safety.

Voting:
I’ve been through many elections and I’m thankful that I’ve had volunteers reviewing ballots, monitoring county procedures, to ensure that the ballots counted in my races met all legal requirements. We are so blessed to live in a democratic republic where our votes have meaning. Our favored candidates might not always win but it’s good to know that the system works fairly.

I want reasonable safeguards to protect that tradition of fair and free elections, for everyone in California. We should be fanatical about our voter rolls, ensuring they are up to date before every election. Voting should require a valid ID – provided at no cost to the voter – so that poll workers can ensure no fraudulent votes are cast.

We all win when we have faith in our elections.

I will ensure election integrity and require Voter ID to prevent fraud.

Water:
I talked earlier about a “YES” California, a state that tackles problems and isn’t afraid to act. That’s the mindset we need for new water storage. We haven’t built a new state water project facility since 1978, when the state had a population of around 20 million. Now we have around 40 million! Conservation is great and we are more effective with our water than we were then, but conservation can only be part of a solution. We need to build more water storage now to meet current needs and growth in the future.

When I was in the legislature, I successfully fought to get more than $3 billion for new water storage into our state water bond. But the projects identified in that bill, notably Sites Reservoir, have not gotten the bond money they need to finish construction.

Droughts are natural, but water shortages aren’t. Adequate water storage lets us bank water in wet years to use in dry years. Wouldn’t it be nice to have Sites Reservoir available to meet our needs this summer, when the state is asking us to cut back our water use?

We should say “YES!” to building more dams, freeways, airports, bridges and on and on down the line, so we leave a legacy of useful, first-class infrastructure for generations to come.

I will fight for new water storage such as Sites Reservoir so suburban families can water the lawns where their kids play, and farmers can have every drop they need.

High-Speed Rail:
This one is simple: I will kill the wasteful high-speed rail project and redirect funds to our roads.

With our high-speed rail, never before have so many, paid so much, for so little. This project failed every test of good governance when it passed out of the legislature to the ballot and has only gotten worse from there.

Almost all trips in California are taken in automobiles on roads. Let’s build the world’s best road and freeway system to meet the actual needs of California travelers.

California:
Let’s work together, Democrat and Republican, young and old, men and women, every race, every creed, to make the Golden State once again the envy of the nation and world. Our future is bright! [23]

”
—Ted Gaines’ campaign website (2021)[24]

2012

Gaines' website highlighted the following campaign themes:[25]

  • Taxes
Excerpt: "High taxes hurt families and small businesses and harm our economy. I strongly oppose any plan that raises taxes in California. I oppose any scheme to lower the vote requirement for tax increases or to dismantle Proposition 13, which has protected generations of Californians from unfair property tax increases."
  • Budget
Excerpt: "California’s deficit and yearly budget crisis is the direct result of years of reckless spending decisions by the Legislature. We need to tear up the legislature’s credit card and put a cap on spending, to stop the rapid growth of government."
  • Jobs
Excerpt: "Economic recovery will come from the private sector, not from government. In fact, government policies have harmed our state’s economy and driven businesses to other states or countries."

2011


Ted Gaines on budget and tax issues.[26]

Gaines' 2011 special election campaign site emphasized several key policy positions and campaign themes:[25]

  • Budget: "California’s deficit and yearly budget crisis is the direct result of years of reckless spending decisions by the Legislature. We need to tear up the legislature’s credit card and put a cap on spending, to stop the rapid growth of government."
  • Jobs: "Economic recovery will come from the private sector, not from government. In fact, government policies have harmed our state’s economy and driven businesses to other states or countries. We need to end the anti-business attitude in Sacramento and invite good, job-creating businesses back to California with lower taxes and less onerous regulations."
  • Taxes: "High taxes hurt families and small businesses and harm our economy. I strongly oppose any plan that raises taxes in California. I oppose any scheme to lower the vote requirement for tax increases or to dismantle Proposition 13, which has protected generations of Californians from unfair property tax increases. I have an “A” rating from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association."

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.

Ted Gaines campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022California State Board of Equalization District 1Won general$299,683 $401,975
2021Governor of CaliforniaLost general$287,447 $287,278
2016California State Senate, District 1Won $793,660 N/A**
2014California Commissioner of InsuranceLost $211,743 N/A**
2012California State Senate, District 1Won $443,795 N/A**
2011California State Senate, District 1Won $329,379 N/A**
2010California State Assembly, District 4Won $498,361 N/A**
2008California State Assembly, District 4Won $537,061 N/A**
2006California State Assembly, District 4Won $569,606 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

State legislative tenure

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in California

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of California scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.








2018

In 2018, the California State Legislature was in session from January 3, 2018 through August 31, 2018.

Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the chamber.
Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on "policy that will support a healthy, just and resilient agriculture and food system."
Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to labor.
Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
Legislators are scored on "how they voted in accord with CMTA."
Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to the interests of consumers.
Legislators are scored on their votes on the association's position legislation.
Legislators are scored on their votes on issues pertaining to children.
Legislators are scored on their votes on issues pertaining to children.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the interests of seniors.
Legislators are scored on their votes on behavioral health issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on LGBT issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to the interests of health care consumers.
Legislators are scored on how they voted on taxpayer related issues.
Legislators are scored on how they voted on bills related to the interests of California cities.
Legislators are scored on their votes on the organization's priority legislation.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the interests of home care providers.


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Committee assignments

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

California committee assignments, 2017
• Governmental Organization
• Insurance, Vice chair
• Transportation and Housing
• Emergency Management

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Gaines served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Gaines served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Gaines served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Gaines served on these committees while a member of the California State Assembly:

See also

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External links

Officeholder

California State Board of Equalization District 1
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Ted Gaines' 2021 campaign website, "Meet Ted," accessed August 5, 2021
    2. ↑ California State Board of Equalization, "Ted Gaines," accessed August 5, 2021
    3. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 27, 2021
    4. ↑ WatchDog.org, "California senator seeks audit of state Obamacare exchange," accessed February 6, 2014
    5. ↑ Capitol Weekly, "Capitol Weekly's Legislative Scorecard," December 17, 2009
    6. ↑ Fox and Hounds Daily, "Random Thoughts on the Political Scene," December 18, 2009
    7. ↑ Capitol Weekly, "2009 Capitol Weekly State Legislative Scorecard (Archived)," accessed March 13, 2014
    8. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed April 18, 2017
    9. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for the November 8, 2016, General Election," accessed September 7, 2016
    10. ↑ California Secretary of State, "2016 General Election results," accessed December 23, 2016
    11. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices," accessed April 4, 2016
    12. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Statement of Vote," accessed August 22, 2016
    13. ↑ California Secretary of Education, "CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Candidates & Elected Officials," accessed August 15, 2013
    14. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed March 13, 2014
    15. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary election results," accessed March 13, 2014
    16. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
    17. ↑ Roseville Press-Tribune, "Ted Gaines wins Senate race," January 4, 2010
    18. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 13, 2014
    19. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed March 13, 2014
    20. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
    21. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2008 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
    22. ↑ Follow the Money, "Campaign funds," accessed March 13, 2014
    23. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    24. ↑ Ted Gaines’ campaign website, “Issues,” accessed July 28, 2021
    25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 tedgaines.com, "Issues," accessed March 13, 2014
    26. ↑ youtube.com, "Ted Gaines for State Senate," accessed March 13, 2014

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