Ali Taj
Ali Taj is the current Mayor Pro Tem of Artesia and has served three terms as Mayor. He served as President of the League of California Cities in 2022 and 2023, representing all 482 California cities. He is the son of Pakistani immigrants and would be the first Pakistani American member of the California State Assembly if elected. His Sacramento priorities are education funding, public safety, affordable housing, and economic growth for the working families and small businesses across the district.
Why We Endorsed: Ali Taj is a three-term Mayor of Artesia and former statewide President of the League of California Cities. He has a pro-housing record and a proven ability to broker agreements across cities, counties, and parties
Alignment With NCC Priorities: Ali's leadership of the League of California Cities required him to broker housing, water, and infrastructure agreements across the entire state, which is direct evidence of the cross-jurisdictional pragmatism NCC values. His public safety platform engages with the street conditions and encampment issues that NCC's homelessness task force is working to address. His endorsements include outgoing Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, who has held this seat for three terms, along with State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Senator Josh Newman, Senator Bob Archuleta, Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco, Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, and Assemblymember Mike Gipson.
Learn More: tajforassembly.com
Assembly District
67
The Race
District 67 stretches from Cerritos to Anaheim and covers Orange County cities including Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma, and parts of Fullerton along with Artesia and Hawaiian Gardens in Los Angeles County. The seat is open because Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva is termed out. Taj faces fellow Democrats Ada Briceno, the co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, Mark Pulido, a Cerritos City Councilmember, and Paul Gonzales. Republicans Paulo Morales, a former Cypress councilmember, and Adrian Oscar Ayub, a realtor, are also on the ballot. The race is well funded and competitive, with more than $6 million spent across the field.
A New California Starts With This Slate
Together, these fourteen candidates are the slate NCC believes can move California forward in 2026. They come from cities and counties up and down the state, from different backgrounds and different parties, and from different chapters of California's story. What they share is a commitment to getting things done: finding solutions to homelessness, building the housing, securing the water and energy, and growing the middle class jobs that working Californians need now. NCC stands behind each of them, and we are asking voters in their districts to join us. The California Dream is worth fighting for, and these are the leaders who will help us bring it back within reach.
June 2026 NCC Races: the map highlights Senate Districts 12, 14, 22, 26, and 34, and Assembly Districts 12, 31, 34, 35, 47, 65, 66, 67, and 68