Every Californian deserves the opportunity to thrive — no matter their race, ZIP Code, or background. Yet across our state, entrenched systems continue to shape unequal outcomes. Policies, investments, and institutional practices have too often benefited some communities while denying opportunity to others. These inequities are not random; they are the predictable result of decisions made over generations that have distributed resources and power unequally.
To create a fair and equitable California, we must first face and resolve these disparities. Reliable data can make inequity visible. When we measure racial disparities, we expose how, and for whom, systems are working or failing. Understanding racial disparities in each California legislative district lets policymakers, advocates, and community leaders identify the most severe inequities where action is most needed.
Table of Contents
- Measuring Racial Inequity, District by District
- Findings
- Why This Data Matters
- Turning Knowledge into Action
- Assembly Racial Disparity & Outcome Rankings
- Assembly District Profiles
- Senate Racial Disparity & Outcome Rankings
- Senate District Profiles
Measuring Racial Inequity, District by District
RACE COUNTS created profiles that provide a snapshot of racial equity in every California State Assembly and State Senate district. Drawing on data from RACE COUNTS, each profile highlights:
- How the district compares to the average for racial disparity and overall outcomes across each of the seven RACE COUNTS issues areas;
- The top five worst disparity and worst outcome indicators;
- The racial/ethnic group most impacted by racial disparities in the district.
Together, these profiles reveal where our government systems and policies fail Californians of color and where we most urgently need investments and reforms.
RACE COUNTS also created rankings tables that list the state legislative districts from most to least disparate across all indicators measured and for five of the seven issue areas. The tables also include rankings of each district from best overall outcomes to worst outcomes. This statewide view lets advocates and legislators see how their district stacks up, while also examining equity throughout all of California.
Findings
Some districts’ systems produce consistently lower outcomes across the indicators we measure. In other words, systems in these districts produce the lowest high school graduation rates, the lowest health insurance rates, etc. These districts include Senate Districts 26 (Northeast LA, Koreatown, East LA), 35 (Inglewood to San Pedro), and 28 (Mar Vista to South LA, and Assembly Districts 39 (Lancaster, Palmdale, Victorville), 54 (Koreatown, East LA, Montebello), and 57 (Downtown LA to Florence/Firestone).
Systems in some districts produce consistently higher racial disparities in outcomes. In other words, the differences in outcomes among races in graduation rates, health insurance rates, etc. are the largest. These districts include Senate Districts 7 (Richmond, Berkeley), 33 (South LA to Long Beach), and 2 (Del Norte to Marin counties), and Assembly Districts 75 (Inland San Diego County), 38 (Ventura County), and 35 (Kern County).
These racial disparities often extend beyond single districts into their regions. Overall, legislative districts exhibit higher racial disparities in outcomes in coastal areas and the border region. This is especially true with disparities in Housing indicators we measure. Education and Safety & Justice disparities are worse in and around more populated cities of color in these areas.
In contrast, we find worse environmental disparities in non-coastal or inland California. As a bright spot, we find lower racial disparities in economic outcomes in the Silicon Valley and suburban Los Angeles, two areas with renowned immigrant workforces.
Why This Matters
Racial disparities do not result from individual effort or culture—they are reflections of opportunity. When Californians of color experience disparities, it means our systems are not working fairly. Equitable systems produce equitable outcomes. When systemic racism and discriminatory systems go unchecked it harms all Californians. For example, inequities in wages and employment can negatively impact the broader economy. Greater equity in wages and employment could lead to greater consumer spending that, in turn, could drive economic growth and job creation.
Grounding decision-making in racial disparity data can help legislators and their staff members find where targeted investments, community partnerships, and policy changes can make the greatest difference. Community organizations can use these data to advocate for their neighborhoods and hold decision-makers accountable to reach equity goals.
Turning Knowledge into Action
Change begins with understanding. These profiles are designed to bridge the gap between data and policy. But data alone is not enough—it must be paired with courage and commitment.
We invite California’s elected officials, advocates, and residents to use these profiles as tools for action:
- Listen to the groups most affected by inequity.
- Partner with organizations rooted in those communities.
- Invest in solutions that dismantle systemic barriers and expand opportunity for all.
Every district has a role to play in building a fairer California. By confronting racial disparities, we move closer to a state where equity is not an aspiration—it’s a reality.
Assembly Racial Disparity & Outcome Rankings
Note: There are no rankings tables for Democracy and Access to Health Care because there is only one indicator for each of those issue areas, and thus no issue area index.
Assembly District Profiles
Senate Racial Disparity & Outcome Rankings
Note: There are no rankings tables for Democracy and Access to Health Care because there is no index for each of those issue areas, and thus no issue area index.