Democratic Party Endorses Chris Holden for LA County Supervisorial District 5, Aims to Flip Republican-held Seat

Assemblymember Chris Holden has received the endorsement of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party for his candidacy to represent the Los Angeles County Supervisorial District 5. The endorsement was ratified by the party’s Central Committee members on Tuesday, Dec. 12, following a unanimous recommendation from the Candidate Interview Committee.

Holden, who has a track record of advocating for increased wages for fast-food workers, protecting reproductive and abortion rights, and securing funding for the Metro Gold Line, is being backed by the party in hopes of flipping the only Republican-held supervisorial seat from red to blue.

“Assemblymember Holden has a proven track record of delivering solutions that work including increasing wages for fast-food workers, protecting reproductive and abortion rights, and securing millions for the Metro Gold Line,” Patt Sanders, Los Angeles County Democratic Party Vice Chair, said. “The next few years will be critical in ensuring that Los Angeles County continues to be a place that is an affordable, accessible, and progressive haven for everyone, no matter their background, ethnicity, or gender identity. We can’t trust the Republican Party to have our best interests.”

In addition to the county party’s endorsement, Holden has also received support from the Arroyo Democratic Club, ACT, Foothill Community Democrats, Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, and the California Working Families Party.

Holden expressed gratitude for the endorsements and pledged to address the root causes of homelessness, reduce crime through violence prevention, and invest in transportation and community infrastructure.

“I am grateful to the Los Angeles County Democratic Party for their support of our campaign for County Supervisor,” Holden said. “As your county supervisor, I’ll be a decisive leader who finds solutions to our longstanding challenges. I look forward to uniting our party and bringing a full board of progressive representation to our county.”

Holden, a Pasadena resident, former small business owner and lifelong Democrat, was elected to the Pasadena City Council at 28 years old and was the second African-American to serve as Mayor in the city’s history. He played a key role in the planning and execution of the initial stops connecting Pasadena to Downtown LA and helped extend the Gold Line further by securing $290 million in state funding for six new stations.

The Los Angeles County Supervisorial District 5, currently represented by Republican Supervisor Kathryn Barger, includes cities in the Antelope, Crescenta, and Santa Clarita Valleys and portions of the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys. The election will take place on March 5, 2024.