Mike Anthony Gipson, a Democrat and current California state assemblymember, is running for the State Board of Equalization District 3 seat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
The Board of Equalization oversees property tax administration across California. Samuel P. Sukaton, also a Democrat, is the other candidate in the race, according to BallotReady election data.
Candidate information
- Name: Mike Anthony Gipson
- Party: Democratic
- Residence: Carson, California
- Born: June 25, 1966, in Los Angeles
- Education: High school diploma, John C. Fremont High School; associate's degree, Los Angeles Southwest College; bachelor's degree in business/management, University of Phoenix
Experience and public service
Gipson lives in Carson. He has served as assemblymember for District 65 in the California State Assembly since 2014, according to BallotReady profile data. He served as Assembly Democratic Caucus chair from 2021 to 2023, according to LegiStorm. He is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, according to Wikipedia.
Before the Assembly, Gipson served as a councilmember on the Carson City Council, according to BallotReady. He also worked as a police officer at the Maywood Police Department, a staff aide and a nonprofit leader and community organizer, according to BallotReady and Ballotpedia.
Gipson said on his campaign website that he is "the longest-serving Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair in California history" and that he "helped lead our state through significant budget shortfalls, while always protecting working families and our most vulnerable communities."
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Gipson's campaign website and candidate questionnaire responses.
Taxes and budget: Gipson said he would use the Board of Equalization seat to increase audits and oversight to identify and close tax loopholes used by large corporations and wealthy individuals. He said he would also work to reduce the tax burden on working families, seniors on fixed incomes and small businesses.
Housing: Gipson said he supports continued investment in affordable housing development and expanded resources for homeless people, including increased funding for shelters, health care and mental health services.
Education: Gipson said he would fight to improve neighborhood schools and ensure California's K-12 public schools have the resources they need. He also called for reinvestment in community colleges and public universities to keep them affordable and accessible.
Public safety: As a former police officer, Gipson said he believes local law enforcement needs support and additional resources to tackle crime. He also said he supports programs that "get kids off the streets and combat crime."
Environment: Gipson said he has worked to enact green energy programs and supports cap and trade policies.
Endorsements
The following endorsements were claimed by the endorsing organizations, according to BallotReady profile data:
- California Democratic Party
- California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
- AFL-CIO
- AFSCME California
- AFSCME Local 3299
- California Federation of Teachers
- California Teachers' Association
- California Professional Firefighters
- California School Employees Association
- Los Angeles County Democrats
- Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
- State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
- United Farm Workers
- Democrats for Israel Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Sentinel Editorial Board
Candidate issue positions and claims about experience are based on campaign materials and questionnaire responses provided by the candidate. The Santa Monica Wave presents them for voter information and does not independently verify candidate claims about their own records.
