J. Weekly: State Jewish legislative caucus’ primary endorsements are a diverse bunch

BY EMMA GOSS | MAY 24, 2022

Among the Jewish candidates running for seats in the state Assembly in the June 7 primary election, seven now have the endorsement of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.

The 19-member caucus announced its endorsements Tuesday of Jewish Democrats running for the Assembly — four of whom are women. The list includes Jews of color, Jews who identify as LGBTQ and one, Christy Holstege, who is a “Jew by choice,” according to a press release. Holstege recently completed a one-year term as mayor of Palm Springs. The seven candidates “are people that we think are going to be good partners in working with us to advance the Jewish community’s top priorities in the state capital,” said caucus chair Jesse Gabriel.

Two of the candidates are running in the Bay Area.

Jennifer Esteen, 41, a nurse who is seeking public office for the first time, would become the first openly gay Black Jew in the Assembly if she prevails in the primary and then the Nov. 8 general election. She is running in District 20, an area spanning Fremont to Castro Valley.