We Are California is a project of the left-of-center advocacy group California Calls that advocates for increasing taxes to fund government welfare programs. ^{1 2} It partners with local organizations in California to advocate for far-left policies in opposition to those of the second administration of President Donald Trump. ³

Following President Donald Trump being elected for the second time in 2024, We Are California published a press release claiming to be a new opposition organization formed in response to the election. We Are California was originally founded in 2016 and engaged in voter mobilization campaigns in support of left-of-center social and economic policies. ^{4 5}

Background

We Are California is a project of the left-of-center advocacy group California Calls that was founded in 2016. Following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, We Are California rebranded and claimed to be a new coalition created in opposition to the incoming second Trump administration. ⁴

In June 2016, California Calls announced the launch of its We Are California campaign. The announcement stated that it intended to contact over 100,000 voters in the state of California to encourage them to vote in opposition to “the richest 1%.” It goes on to argue that the interests of corporations and high-income individuals have resulted in policies that have caused California to have increased poverty rates, incarceration rates of ethnic minorities, and decreased school funding. ⁶

Response to the 2016 Presidential Election

In response to Donald Trump winning the 2016 presidential election, We Are California announced its five advocacy initiatives to oppose the Trump administration and partner organizations that support each initiative. ⁵

We Are California announced opposition to President Donald Trump’s support for deportations and repealing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). It refers supporters of such opposition to join the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Mobilize the Immigrant Vote, NDLON, PICO California, Presente.org, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).⁵

We Are California’s announcement advocates for protecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including preventing any revisions of the law. To support the initiative, it advises people to join Communities for a New California, Health Access California, Oakland Rising, and San Francisco Rising. ⁵

We Are California’s initial Trump opposition campaign also advocated for increasing tax rates for higher tax brackets. It supported California Proposition 55 in 2016 that raised taxes on higher earners to fund schools and social programs. The campaign also advocated for increasing tax rates of what it deems to be larger companies to subsidize housing, fund social programs, and schools. In support of its tax policy advocacy, We Are California advocated for joining Courage Campaign among groups mentioned for its other initiatives. ⁵

The 2016 opposition campaign also advocated for reducing incarceration rates and the overall prison population through policies such as California Proposition 47, which increased the threshold for felony sentences for crimes related to theft, requiring the amount of stolen goods to be over $950. It also made drug possession crimes a misdemeanor offense. ⁷ Partner organizations for the initiative included All of Us or None, Californians for Safety and Justice, and Black Organizing Project. ⁵

The campaign advocated environmentalist policies, including regulating vehicle emissions, greenhouse gas emission limits, and international environmental agreements. Partner organizations included 350.org, Coalition for Clean Air, California Environmental Justice Alliance, Nextgen California, and the Sierra Club. ⁵

Response to the 2024 Presidential Election

The day after former President Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, We Are California published an open letter that claims the second Trump administration will be “vindictive” and “punish California.” It goes on to argue that it is a “new effort” that will partner with activist groups based in California to oppose the Trump administration’s agenda. ³

Advocacy

We Are California advocates for left-of-center policies to address issues facing ethnic minorities, immigrants, and the LGBT community as well as to address socioeconomic issues. It advocates reparations for Native Americans and Black Americans who have allegedly been harmed by white supremacy and for publicly funded programs to prioritize low-income, ethnic minority communities. ¹

We Are California advocates for increasing the tax rate of higher-income persons and businesses to fund a socialized healthcare system and publicly funded social and welfare programs available to all individuals in California “regardless of immigration status.” This includes publicly funded housing, universal income, and welfare programs. It also advocates for publicly funded elder care and childcare. ^{1 2}

Partners

For its state-level partner organizations, We Are California lists ACCE Action, California Budget and Policy Center, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, California Immigrant Policy Center, Million Voters Project, and Power California. ⁸

For local partner organizations, We Are California lists Working Partnerships, San Francisco Rising, Oakland Rising, Dolores Huerta Foundation, Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy, Community Coalition, SCOPE, Innercity Struggle, OC Action, Alliance San Diego, and Inland Empire. ⁸

1. “Our Agenda.” We Are California, November 6, 2024. https://wearecalifornia.org/agenda/.
2. “Our Story.” We Are California, November 6, 2024. https://wearecalifornia.org/our-story/.
3. Warren-White, Josh. “We Are California Open Letter.” We Are California, November 6, 2024. https://wearecalifornia.org/open-letter/.
4. Luthi, Susannah. “California Group Rebranded as Anti-Trump Coalition Hours after the Election. It Could Suggest an Incoming Windfall for Progressive Orgs.” Washington Free Beacon, November 8, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/california/california-group-rebranded-anti-trump-coalition-hours-after-election-suggest-incoming-windfall-progressive-orgs/.
5. “Join the California Resistance. the 5 Fights That Will Shape the Future of Our State and How You Can Join from Day One. – California Calls.” California Calls, February 9, 2017. https://www.cacalls.org/join-the-california-resistance-the-5-fights-that-will-shape-the-future-of-our-state-and-how-you-can-join-from-day-one/.
6. “‘we Are California’: California Calls Pilots Bold Plan to Take Civic Engagement to a New Level.” California Calls, June 2, 2016. https://www.cacalls.org/we-are-california-california-calls-pilots-bold-plan-to-take-civic-engagement-to-a-new-level/.
7. “Proposition 47.” California Calls, February 18, 2015. https://www.cacalls.org/prop47/.
8. “Partner Organizations.” We Are California, November 6, 2024. https://wearecalifornia.org/partner-organizations/.