Sara Hernandez
DemocraticQ1 California is rich in natural resources (i.e. oil, with California being the 7th largest oil producing state in the nation) and, as of June 2025, conserves 26.1% of its lands and 21.9% of its coastal waters. Given California’s resources, what policies would you pursue or continue, if any, in regard to land management and use?
“California’s land-use policy should be guided by the best available science to conserve natural resources and protect the health and quality of life of current and future generations.
California should maintain its commitment to conserve 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030, with measurable outcomes that protect biodiversity hotspots, wildlife corridors, watersheds, wetlands, and other critical habitats. We should also invest in habitat restoration, wildlife connectivity, and science-based forest and wildfire management, including prescribed and beneficial fire. Management of public lands should include greater partnership with California Native American tribes and incorporate traditional ecological knowledge.
We must also responsibly address the legacy of oil production. Operators should be required to safely plug idle and orphaned wells and remediate contaminated land so taxpayers and communities are not left paying for environmental damage.
Finally, conservation must go hand in hand with access to nature. Too many urban and underserved communities lack parks, trees, and green space. As State Senator, I would work to strengthen biodiversity while expanding access to nature, improving air and water quality, and helping communities become more resilient to climate change.”
KEYWORDS: Conservation, Biodiversity, Restoration, Stewardship, Resilience
Q2 California is one of the leading states with the most data centers which are important facilities for processing and storing data. However they also have several environmental and health impacts, such as significant water usage and noise pollution, which can lead to decrease in net economic gains. What policies, if any, do you support in managing existing data centers or establishing additional data centers?
“Tech billionaires should not make the rules while working families pay the price. Data centers power our economy, but their growth cannot threaten our water, grid, or communities.
I oppose new data center construction unless four strict conditions are met:
Union Labor: Facilities must be built entirely with union labor.
Water Protection: No community drinking water or groundwater. Data centers must use closed-loop cooling or recycled water.
Ratepayer Protection: Working families must never subsidize tech energy demands. Data centers must pay their own transmission and infrastructure costs.
Grid Enhancement: Data centers must strengthen our grid by bringing new clean generation and battery storage online and funding local grid upgrades.
Approvals must also account for cumulative environmental and public-health impacts, including noise, backup-generator emissions, and proximity to homes, with continuous monitoring and meaningful penalties.
California can lead in technology without sacrificing our resources—but only with strict rules, real enforcement, and consequences for bad actors.”
KEYWORDS: Union Labor, Water Protection, Ratepayer Protection, Grid Reliability, Accountability
Q3 In 2025, approximately 33% of students in K-12 schools across California met or exceeded science standards, and teacher shortages have resulted in districts hiring teachers with substandard credentials in math and science. What evidence-based policies, if any, would you follow to increase science proficiency and access to quality education across the state and why?
“Here’s a tighter version at 189 words:
As a former public middle school teacher and current community college trustee, I believe improving science proficiency starts with ensuring every student has a highly qualified teacher and meaningful, hands-on instruction.
California should invest in proven teacher recruitment and retention programs, including teacher residencies, paid student teaching, and financial assistance for educators who commit to teaching science and math in high-need schools.
Students also need access to laboratories, up-to-date instructional materials, environmental and outdoor education, project-based learning, and teachers with ongoing professional development. Resources should be prioritized for schools serving low-income and disadvantaged communities. A student’s ZIP code should never determine whether they have access to excellent science teachers, laboratories, or advanced STEM coursework.
California must also strengthen pathways from K-12 science education to community colleges, universities, apprenticeships, and careers in fields such as health care, clean energy, biotechnology, engineering, manufacturing, and environmental science.
Finally, the state should regularly measure student progress, evaluate which interventions are producing results, and invest in what works. California cannot remain a global science and technology leader without ensuring its students have the education and opportunities to participate in that future.”
KEYWORDS: Teacher Quality, Hands-On Learning, STEM Equity, Career Pathways, Accountability
Q4 Healthcare is an important resource to Californians, with publicly supported programs such as Medi-Cal providing coverage covering roughly half of all Californians including 14.5 million low-income residents. According to the Center on Healthcare from West Health-Gallup, California has an overall healthcare grade of “C” over the categories of cost, quality, and access, with gaps in rural health coverage, environmental health threats, workforce shortages, and affordability challenges. What policies, if any, do you support to address the healthcare of Californians and why?
“I believe healthcare is a human right. No one should have to choose between getting the care they need and paying their rent or putting food on the table. California should continue working toward universal healthcare that provides affordable, high-quality care to everyone, regardless of income, employment, or immigration status.
As we work toward that goal, we need to protect Medi-Cal and strengthen the community clinics, hospitals, and providers that millions of Californians rely on.
We also have to address our healthcare workforce shortage. As a community college trustee, I have seen firsthand the role our public colleges can play in preparing nurses, behavioral health professionals, and other healthcare workers for good-paying careers. We should expand these programs and provide scholarships, loan repayment, and residency opportunities that bring more providers into underserved communities.
We also need to invest in primary and preventive care and hold down prescription drug and healthcare costs.
Ultimately, having an insurance card is not enough. Success means every Californian can actually get timely, affordable, quality care when they need it.”
KEYWORDS: Universal Healthcare, Medi-Cal, Workforce, Affordability, Preventive Care
Q5 Infectious disease outbreaks in California, like measles and foodborne illnesses, are on the rise and have had significant impacts on the state’s health, agriculture, and produce economy. In some counties in California, vaccination rates are low, making communities potentially vulnerable to measles outbreaks. Furthermore, California is responsible for over a third of the US’s fresh produce, which is a common source of foodborne illness. What policies, if any, do you support for implementing preventative measures and mitigating strategies against outbreaks?
“California is better off investing in a strong public health system that prevents disease and catches outbreaks early than waiting until people are sick and reacting to a crisis.
I support maintaining California’s evidence-based childhood vaccination requirements and making recommended vaccines affordable and accessible to every family. Public health information should be transparent, available in multiple languages, and based on the best available science. We should use data to identify communities with lower vaccination rates and provide targeted education and access.
California also needs strong laboratories, epidemiologists, public health workers, and disease reporting systems so we can quickly identify and contain outbreaks.
As one of the nation’s largest food producers, California must also maintain strong food safety standards from farms to grocery stores. That means better testing and traceability, protecting agricultural water, enforcing sanitation standards, and working closely with growers, processors, and public health agencies to prevent contamination before people get sick.
Public health depends on public trust. Officials should be clear about what we know, what we don’t know, and what people can do to protect themselves. Decisions should be driven by science and evidence, not misinformation or political pressure.”
KEYWORDS: Prevention, Vaccinations, Disease Surveillance, Food Safety, Public Trust
Q6 Distrust in science has been on the rise among the general public and policymakers, which has been associated with changes in federal funding for scientific research. In order to bridge this gap, how do you think scientists and policymakers can work together to strengthen their communication?
“Science should play an important role in policymaking, but building public trust takes more than presenting people with facts. It requires real communication between scientists, policymakers, and the communities affected by our decisions.
I believe scientists should be brought into the policymaking process earlier. California has some of the best universities, research institutions, and scientific experts in the world, and lawmakers should be using that expertise when developing policy. Scientists should also be able to communicate what the research tells us, what it does not tell us, and where there is still uncertainty.
Just as importantly, policymakers and researchers need to listen to residents, workers, patients, farmers, teachers, and others who understand firsthand how policies affect their communities. Public hearings, community forums, and advisory panels can help bring those perspectives into the process.
Policymakers should be transparent about how scientific evidence informed a decision while recognizing that they must also weigh costs, benefits, and competing community needs. Good policy comes from using the best available evidence, listening to people, and being honest about how decisions are made.”
KEYWORDS: Science, Transparency, Community Input, Collaboration, Public Trust
Q13 The Los Angeles Metro system serves millions of riders every month, with increases in ridership associated with the expansion of Metro stations. Access to public transportation is associated with less air and noise pollution, fewer harmful chemicals, and overall healthier communities. Yet, the Metro still faces public safety concerns, and expansion projects have encountered delays and cost increases while risking community displacement. What policies, if any, do you support regarding Los Angeles public transit infrastructure? Describe evidence that has informed these policies.
“I believe mobility is a civil rights issue. A safe, reliable public transit system connects people to jobs, education, healthcare, and opportunity, while reducing traffic and pollution. I support expanding Metro bus and rail service and increasing the frequency of buses and trains. I will also push for a universal TAP card across transit systems, fast underground Wi-Fi and cell service, cleaner and safer stations, and more than 500 miles of protected bike lanes. I support CEQA exemptions for bike lanes and light rail so good transportation projects can move faster. But expansion also requires accountability. Projects should have clear timelines and budgets, and state funding should prioritize improvements that actually increase reliability and ridership. Transit investments should also strengthen the communities they serve rather than displace them. I support building more affordable and workforce housing near major transit hubs while protecting existing renters from displacement. Los Angeles should have a world-class transportation system where people feel safe walking, biking, waiting for a bus, or riding Metro—and where getting around without a car is a practical option for every family.”
KEYWORDS: Transit Expansion, Safety, Reliability, Connectivity, Affordable Housing