SAN DIEGO (FOX 5 / KUSI) — San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Board Trustee Sabrina Bazzo announced her campaign for California State Senate (D-40) on Monday.
According to the district website, Bazzo was a public health educator of 30 years and has been an elected school board member since 2020. Currently Bazzo serves on the SDUSD Audit and Finance Committee.
California Senate District 40, which includes cities like Escondido, Poway and Ramona, is currently represented by Republican Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones.
“I am running to turn the 40th Senate District Blue and deny MAGA Republicans a voice they’ve used to support Trump,” Bazzo said in a news release.
While Bazzo only recently announced her campaign, she is endorsed by several members of the school district, including Richard Barrera, Cody Petterson, Shana Haza and Sharon Whitehurst Payne.
Bazzo hopes to defend education funding, expand healthcare and not allow immigration enforcement agents to enter school grounds without warrants.
“Teachers and staff will not allow ICE onto our campuses without a signed judicial warrant,” Bazzo said. “We stand vigilant and ready to provide support for our children and families if a loved one is taken by ICE, as has happened in San Diego County to parents dropping off their kids at school.”
Last week the SDUSD voted to support Proposition 50, California’s proposed redistricting map, Bazzo said she’s proud of the work she’s done on the school board with initiatives like this.
“Just last week, I joined my colleagues in a unanimous vote in support of Proposition 50 to stop Trump from stacking the Congress and stealing the mid-term elections,” Bazzo said.
Bazzo shared that healthcare was an especially personal issue for her as her husband was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer in 2023 before passing away earlier this year.
“As his primary caregiver, I saw firsthand the struggles within our healthcare system,” Bazzo said. “We spent countless hours—sometimes days—in crowded ERs waiting for a hospital bed. And this was with good insurance. Many families face even tougher battles.”
In her husband’s memory Bazzo said she will advocate for investing in healthcare infrastructure, greater access to primary care and support for families and caregivers during a medical crisis.
“I am proud California has been standing tall against Donald Trump – and we must continue to stand tall,” Bazzo added. “My candidacy is a referendum on California as a bastion of the Trump Resistance.”
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