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Headshot of Buffy Wicks

Buffy Wicks

Democrat, State Assembly
District 14, Oakland
Time in office:
  • Assembly: 2018-present

News coverage of Buffy Wicks

Bio

Buffy Wicks, 48, became one of the most powerful Democrats in the Assembly when she was appointed in late 2023 to chair the appropriations committee. She’s a leader in creating more housing for California. She had a key role in reforming the state’s signature environmental law. Prior to her election to the Assembly in 2018, Wicks was credited as one of the architects of the grassroots model that helped get Barack Obama elected president in 2008. She was deputy director at Obama’s White House Office of Public Engagement. Wicks graduated from the University of Washington with a political science degree. She lives in Oakland with her husband and daughters.

Leader Badges

Housing Badge
Environment Badge

Ideology

Left

Moderate

Right

Bill Activity

0

Of 36 bills:
12 Passed
2 Failed
22 Pending

For this session year, this legislator initiated 36 bills: 12 passed, 2 failed, and 22 are currently pending.

Alignment Meter

See all-time percentage of this legislator’s alignment with any organization based on total votes.

xx%votes: xx

Financials

This feature tracks three sources of money intended to help a candidate win election: 1-Money given directly to a candidate’s committee, 2-Money given to an Independent Expenditure Committee, 3-Money given to a political party. (NOTE: Senators are elected every four years. Twenty of the 40 Senators are on the ballot in even-numbered years, so Senators may do little or no fundraising in the first two-year session of their Senate term).

Election

This display shows money given directly to the incumbent’s campaign committee (NOTE: The industry categories for donors come from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research organization for campaign finance. Some contributions are “uncoded,” meaning they have not been assigned to an industry sector. As a result, the total for each sector is also an estimate).

Agriculture

$12.0K

Communications & Electronics

$51.5K

Construction

$22.0K

Energy & Natural Resources

$41.0K

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

$134.9K

General Business

$80.0K

Government Agencies/Education/Other

$59.2K

Health

$101.5K

Ideology/Single Issue

$32.5K

Labor

$242.4K

Lawyers & Lobbyists

$10.5K

Party

$150.0

Transportation

$73.5K

Uncoded

$287.4K

Unitemized Contributions

$293.4K

Candidate Donations

Individuals, corporations, organizations and committees are limited to a maximum donation to candidates of $5,500 for the primary and for the general elections.

Total
$1.4M

205.0% higher than the average legislators

Independent Expenditures

Money from Independent Expenditure Committees (IEC) for advertising or grassroots activity targeting a candidates run for office is unlimited, but it cannot be spent in coordination with the candidate or the candidate's campaign.

Total
$315.0

100.0% lower than the average legislators

Grand Total for Elections

$1.4M

156.0% higher than the average legislators

This is a total of the money targeting this legislator's campaign(s) including direct donations to the candidate, money spent by Independent Expenditure Committees and money from political parties.


Influence

There are three categories of donations to legislators after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the legislator. The three categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel, 3-Behests.

Giver
Value
Date
Description
Rendon for Assembly 2022$42.98Sep 10, 2021pirit/Bottle of Wine (Birthday - Truett Hurst Petit Sirah
California Building and Construction Trades$26.1Dec 21, 2021lunch
Rendon for Assembly 2020$24.64Jan 28, 2021Organizational Session and Swearing-In Photo book
California Manufacturers & Technology Association$14.25Sep 9, 2021beverage
Low for Assembly 2022$12.15Jul 14, 2021"Vaccinated" T-Shirt
API Legislative Caucus Foundation$7.5May 24, 2021gift bag
Assemblymember Reyes for Assembly 2022$7.5Mar 4, 2021mask

Gifts

Legislators are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $10 per month from registered lobbyists. Gifts from any other single source are limited to $590 in a calendar year.

Gift Received Rating
#67/120

This legislator is ranked 67th highest for the amount of personal gifts received.

Committees

Most of the policy work in the state Capitol is done in “Standing” committees. Legislators also work on budget subcommittees. There are also “Special” and “Select” committees with a more narrow topic focus. And there are “Joint” committees with members from the Senate and Assembly.

Hearings

Featured Comments

Below are links to the video and transcript of recent, substantive comments by this legislator in committee hearings or floor sessions.

Preview image for AB 94053SEC
Sep 13, 2025

AB 940

Economic development: industry strategies.

Preview image for AB 10431MIN
Sep 12, 2025

AB 1043

Age verification signals: software applications and online services.

Preview image for AB 85346SEC
Sep 12, 2025

AB 853

California AI Transparency Act.

Preview image for AB 9403MIN
Sep 11, 2025

AB 940

Economic development: industry strategies.

Preview image for AB 94021MIN
Sep 10, 2025

AB 940

Economic development: industry strategies.

Preview image for AB 134016MIN
Sep 9, 2025

AB 1340

Transportation network company drivers: labor relations.

Preview image for AB 6711MIN
Sep 9, 2025

AB 671

Accelerated restaurant building plan approval: California Retail Food Code: tenant improvements.

Preview image for AB 102140SEC
Sep 8, 2025

AB 1021

Housing: local educational agencies.

Preview image for AB 71257SEC
Sep 4, 2025

AB 712

Housing reform laws: enforcement actions: fines and penalties.

Preview image for AB 59355SEC
Sep 4, 2025

AB 593

CalFresh: data sharing.

Preview image for AB 134016MIN
Sep 3, 2025

AB 1340

Transportation network company drivers: labor relations.

Preview image for AB 15332MIN
Jul 17, 2025

AB 1533

Claims against the state: appropriation.

View All Hearings

District

View of map with yellow overlay for Assembly District 14 boundaries.
District 14 is a Safe Democratic District
Democratic Party candidate has a very high likelihood of winning in an election

Previous Election (2024):

Buffy Wicks
68.5%
WON
Margot Smith
31.5%

Party Registration

Census Data

Median age0102030

Median age