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WHO WE ARE

Cooperative Campaigns is a volunteer cooperative of political activists dedicated to building a Santa Ana and Orange County where all residents have the opportunity to remain and thrive. ​

01

COOPERATIVE CAMPAIGNS WAS FOUNDED IN 2019.

  • Several long-time political activists and community organizers got together in late 2019 to form Cooperative Campaigns.

  • Wanting to defend the critical policy reforms the city has passed, we decided to pool together all of our campaign, organizing, activism, fundraising skills and more to coordinate with and help progressive candidates win in Santa Ana.

  • We choose ‘cooperative’ as our name because the word means “involving mutual assistance in working toward a common goal.”

02

WE'RE 100% VOLUNTEER-RUN.

  • We do not get paid to do this work.

  • Candidates do not pay us a fee or anything at all for services that we provide.

  • We do not get foundation money, direct donations, or any other donated funds at all.

  • Our members pay for necessary expenses out of our own pockets -- meals for volunteers, our website, graphic design, etc.

  • We often donate money to the candidates that we support.

03

WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS.

We follow a criteria for endorsing candidates. These include:

  • They align with our platform.

  • They have a community base.

  • Refuses to seek support from special interests such as the POA and CA Apartment Association.

  • Values & upholds multiracial and cross-cultural solidarity, demonstrates a commitment to it in their track record and platform.

  • They demonstrate respect for volunteers, grassroots orgs, and more, and will continue to do so as an elected official.

  • They have a demonstrated track record that suggests they can follow through on campaign promises.

04

OUR CANDIDATES RECEIVE FREE CAMPAIGN SUPPORT AND RESOURCES

These include:

  • PDI Coaching

  • Text plans and content support

  • Voter universe targeting

  • Fundraising support

  • Canvassing, phone banking, texting voters

  • AND MORE

05

SINCE 2020, WE'VE HELPED ELECT 4 CANDIDATES AND RE-ELECT 2

​2020: ALL 4 CANDIDATES ON OUR SLATE WON

  • We backed Vicente Sarmiento in his campaign for Santa Ana Mayor.

  • Political newcomer Jessie Lopez reached out to us for support; we helped build her campaign infrastructure and added her to our slate.

  • We supported Carolyn Torres and Dr. Alfonso Alvarez in their re-election to school board.

​

2022: 3 CANDIDATES ON OUR SLATE WON

  • Benjamin Vazquez was elected to Santa Ana City Council Ward 2.

  • Katie Brazer-Aceves was elected to SAUSD Trustee Area 4.

  • Vicente Sarmiento was elected to OC Supervisor District 2.

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