Oliver Ma

Oliver Ma graduated from University High School. Ma earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 2019 and a law degree from Harvard Law School. Ma's career experience includes working as an attorney.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Oliver Ma grew up in Southern California in an immigrant family. Graduating from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School, he pursued a career in law to fight for working families, representing tenants against slumlords and defending immigrant families against illegal ICE raids.

He has spent the last several years on the frontlines in Bakersfield, seeing firsthand how corporate landlords, broken policies, and political corruption devastate communities. Along the way, he has trained volunteers to protect protestors for Palestine, litigated cases that stopped ICE’s attacks on our communities, and organized for housing justice and tenant protections.

Oliver is running so that when you pay your taxes, you see the results outside your window. So families go to sleep at night, without the fear of eviction or deportation. He’s running because California has and will continue to lead change.

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?

Affordable homes & Stable rents.

The median rent in California is over $2,800 a month—more than half the average paycheck. That’s not sustainable. Oliver will prevent corporate slumlords from buying up entire neighborhoods, fight to expand rent control statewide, and protect tenants from unjust evictions. Housing should be affordable, stable, and safe for every Californian.Protecting immigrant families.

California is home to more immigrants than any state in the country. Oliver has spent his career taking ICE to court and defending families against deportation. As Lt. Governor, he’ll hold ICE accountable for illegal raids, shut down for profit detention centers, and support community rapid response networks. Families belong together, and California must lead in protecting them.Divest from Apartheid & Invest in Justice.

The UC schools alone hold more than $32 billion in assets tied to the apartheid in Palestine. Oliver believes California’s investments should reflect its values. That means divesting from those that profit from oppression — including the genocide in Gaza. Those dollars should work for you — funding schools, keeping clinics open, and making sure no one lives one paycheck away from losing their home.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Affordable homes & Stable rents.

Protecting immigrant families.

Divest from Apartheid & Invest in Justice.

Unions for all.

Healthcare as a right.

Climate Jobs & Wildfire Resilience.

Universal Childcare & Caregiver Support.

Free & Reliable Public Transit.

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

Truth, transparency, honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

As an organizer in the Kern Rapid Response Network I have trained more than 350 volunteers to defend their communities against ICE. We have delivered food to thousands of families afraid to go to work, given dozens of know your right presentations, and helped file two lawsuits against the Trump administration.