Rusty Hicks | |
|---|---|
| Chair of theCalifornia Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office July 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Alex Gallardo-Rooker (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1979 or 1980 (age 45–46)[1] Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Austin College (BA) Loyola Marymount University (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Unit | United States Navy Reserve |
Rusty Hicks is an American trade unionist, serving as Chair of theCalifornia Democratic Party since 2019. Having succeededEric C. Bauman, Hicks unsuccessfully ran forCalifornia's 2nd Assembly District in2024.[2][3]
Hicks was born inFort Worth, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government fromAustin College, before moving toLos Angeles in 2003, where he earned aJuris Doctor fromLoyola Law School.[4]
Hicks worked on theBarack Obama 2008 presidential campaign as the California political director.[5]
Hicks also worked as a legislative aide to California Assembly membersMike Gordon andTed Lieu.[citation needed] From November 2014-November 2019, Hicks served as the president of theLos Angeles County Federation of Labor.[6][5]
Hicks won the June 4, 2019, CA Democratic Party chairmanship election after the resignation of Eric C. Bauman and was re-elected in 2021, defeatingKimberly Ellis.
In 2021 he moved from the Los Angeles area toArcata, California.
In December 2023, after AssemblymanJim Wood in a surprise announcement said he wouldn't be seeking re-election the month prior, Hicks announced his run for theCalifornia State Assembly with Wood's endorsement amongst a field of 5 other Democratic candidates.[7][8] Hicks faced scrutiny and calls for resignation from local Democratic Party leaders with many accusing him of "attempting tocarpetbag his way into the State Legislature" and for refusing to step aside as Chair while campaigning for office, but agreeing to recuse himself from matters relating to the District.[9] Hicks campaign received strong support from many statewide leaders and organizations, but failed to gain the needed support from local leaders and organizations within the District with many of it going toSanta Rosa city councilmemberChris Rogers, who was seen as the frontrunner and the progressive candidate in the race with Hicks seen as the moderate. Hicks ultimately ended up in 3rd place in the March 5jungle primary behind aRepublican school board trustee fromDel Norte, Michael Greer, and Rogers. Rogers went on to win in theNovember 5 General Election by a 65.9% to 34.1% margin.[10][11][12]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alex Gallardo-Rooker Acting | Chair of theCalifornia Democratic Party 2019–present | Incumbent |
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