John M. Erickson

A New Kind of Democratic Leader

John Erickson is a West Hollywood City Councilmember and former Mayor, Chief of Staff at the Alliance for a Better Community, and former Vice President of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. As Mayor, he expanded renter protections, built housing and homelessness programs that worked, and delivered a $31 million budget surplus while investing in public safety and social services. He's running for State Senate to stand up to Donald Trump's attacks on California and take on the special interests that have made the state unaffordable.

About John

Councilmember. Chief of Staff at Alliance for a Better Community. Former VP of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. John Erickson, represents a new kind of Democratic leader—one who has proven to be a courageous, proactive, and effective leader who will never give up a fight for what’s right. As a community organizer and skilled policymaker, John builds coalitions and works across the aisle to get things done. He has been advocating for a better world ever since he was a young boy in Ripon, Wisconsin. His trajectory from advocate for all to nonprofit executive, community organizer and public servant began at the age of 6 when he started accompanying his grandmother Gladys to volunteer at the local food bank. Still in elementary school, John started accompanying Gladys to the state capitol to lobby for veterans’ and women’s rights. While organizing and advocacy have always been part of John’s life, it was when he was selected to become a City Council intern that he saw the importance of having outspoken, bold advocates in public office. After completing his internship with the Council, John went on to become a council deputy for former Mayor Abbe Land and a city staffer tasked with advancing policies and initiating programs around women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, the environment, and civic engagement. In 2020, John was elected to city council on a platform of neighborhood preservation, housing and homelessness, renters’ rights, healthcare, equity, and sustainability. After leaving the city, John served as a Legislative Representative for LAX—Los Angeles Airport—and then went on to work as the VP for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. During his tenure at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, John was instrumental in protecting access to healthcare and reproductive freedom for all. After the Dobbs decision, John was instrumental in helping California become a sanctuary state for reproductive freedom. On the City Council, when COVID and MPOX hit the community hard, John made sure the city protected residents and small businesses, especially those most at risk. Already skilled at navigating Sacramento, John was part of the End Statute of Limitation on Rape (ERSOL) Campaign, which overturned California’s statute of limitations on rape and sexual assault in 2016. He led state efforts for Grab-and-Go legislation, which cracked down on small business thefts, created a program to distribute drink-spiking test strips in bars to crack down on date rape, and initiated a remarkably successful drone program and anti-gun violence ordinance that has led to a reduction in violent criminals. In his city, John authored groundbreaking legislation on aging in place for seniors and the successful homelessness program, WeHo Cares. He has made healthcare more accessible to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. Many of his initiatives have become models for cities throughout the country. Under his leadership as mayor, he helped amass a $31 million budget surplus while expanding city services for public safety and city services. As the Vice President of the California Contract Cities Association, and a member of the National League of Cities, the Clean Power Alliance, and the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, John is already at the forefront of the issues most impacting the 24th Senate District. His grasp of how government works from top to bottom—what works and what doesn’t—will inform the kind of meaningful change he will make in Sacramento. Currently, John works as Chief of Staff for the Alliance for a Better Community, where helps protect our community from ICE and advance the rights of the Latino community across Los Angeles County. In 2017, John became then-Governor Brown’s appointee to the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. He serves on the board of the Los Angeles Women’s March Foundation and was a lead organizer for the historic Resist March, serves on the National Board of the National Organization for Women (NOW), and is a former President of the ACLU of Southern California. He is a frequent volunteer at Project Angel Food, helping to feed the homebound and food insecure. John graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a B.A. in English and Women’s Studies. He went on to receive his Ph.D. in American Religious History from Claremont Graduate University and a Dual-Master’s Degree from Claremont Graduate University. John and his dog Winnie are proud renters and are often seen cycling and hiking throughout the 24th Senate District.