Marc Berman

Marc Berman was born in Dallas, Texas, and lives in Menlo Park, California. Berman graduated from Palo Alto High School. He earned a B.A. in political science from Georgetown University in 2002 and a J.D. from the University of Southern California in 2008. Berman's career experience includes working as a political partner with the Truman National Security Project; the development director of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF); an attorney with Merino Yebri, LLP, and Latham & Watkins, LLP; and pro bono counsel with the youth development nonprofit Spark. He served on the Palo Alto City Council.[1][2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

In 2016, I was elected to represent you in the State Assembly, where I’ve worked tirelessly to deliver for our communities.

When the COVID pandemic hit, I immediately led the passage of permanent vote-by-mail in California so that no Californian had to risk their life to participate in our democracy. And with abortion rights under attack, I’ve fought to protect and expand the right to choose here in California, earning a lifetime 100% voting record from Planned Parenthood.

Too many students grow up in the shadow of some of the world’s most successful tech companies, but go to schools that don’t teach them the skills they need to one day work at those companies. That’s why I led the effort to create a statewide Computer Science Coordinator at the Department of Education, and I will not stop until every high school student in California has access to computer science education.

We can no longer kick the can down the road on our housing and homelessness crisis. That’s why I’ve written bills to reduce red tape and build more affordable housing, and I have supported efforts to build more housing for working class families in California.

As your Assemblymember, I’ve always led with my progressive values. I’ve authored bills to establish a first-in-the-nation firearm violence prevention training program for physicians; provide suicide prevention training for middle and high school students and staff; and create a Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

While voting rights are under attack in other states across the country, Marc has led the fight to expand access to the ballot and make sure our voting systems are secure. Marc believes that our democracy is stronger when everyone participates, which is why he’s written over a dozen laws to make it easier to vote, to crack down on misinformation about the voting process, and to protect our elections from bad actors who want to undermine our democracy.

Marc realized how dangerous it would be to vote in person in the middle of the COVID pandemic, so he wrote the landmark law for California to be a permanent vote-by-mail state.

Marc wrote the law for CA to be the first state in the country to have its own Office of Elections Cybersecurity.Access to safe and legal abortion is a fundamental right for every Californian. In the State Assembly, Marc is fighting back against attacks on women’s rights by MAGA politicians and extremist judges. He supported the law to maintain the privacy of patients’ medical records and ensure that pregnancy loss is not criminalized, as well as expanding birth control access and training for medical professionals who provide abortions. Marc will always protect access to birth control, abortion, and the full range of reproductive healthcare.Millions of Californians struggle every day with the high cost of housing in the Bay Area and throughout the state. For teachers, nurses, and other middle-income Californians, this means super commutes to work, less time with their families, and limited ability to save. The impact is much more dire on the low-income workers our communities rely on to function, leading to a homelessness crisis among the working poor. We can’t continue kicking the can down the road. Marc has been a vocal advocate for the need to act responsibly and build more housing across California

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Strengthening our Democracy.

Addressing the Housing Shortage and Homelessness.

Helping Students Succeed and Preparing Them for the Future.

Protecting Reproductive Freedom.

Tackling the Climate Crisis.

Reducing Gun Violence in our Communities.

Reducing Crime and Retail Theft.

Protecting Consumers.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Empathy, a strong work ethic, and the ability to build a coalition are critically important for elected officials to be successful for their constituents and their district.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked as a helper for a farmer at the Menlo Park farmers market when I was twelve or thirteen years old. After every shift I would take my hard earned $20 ($5/hour) and go to Trader Joe's to buy a package of cookies. Most of the remainder would go towards sports cards.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Governor Gavin Newsom

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo

Congressmember Kevin Mullin

Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis

California Attorney General Rob Bonta

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma

California State Controller Malia Cohen

California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond

California State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara

Retired Congressmember Jackie Speier

Retired Congressmember Mike Honda

Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte

Housing Action Coalition

California Democratic Party

California Labor Federation

California Environmental Voters

Sierra Club California

Equality California

Marc Berman did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Marc Berman did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.