A Message from the Presidents

Dear League Members and Friends, As we approach our Annual Meeting on June 13 at La Familia Counseling Center in South Sacramento, I find myself reflecting on what a remarkable year this has been for our League. We have witnessed both the strength of our democratic traditions and the very real threats facing them — and through it all, this community of volunteers has shown up, time and again, to defend the freedom to vote. Read More

Lilli Duval and Claudia Bonsignore

---

Back to Top

Spotlight

Our Biggest Showing Yet! – Big Day of Giving 2026

From Brenda Main
This year’s Big Day of Giving was nothing short of extraordinary for our League. We rallied 38 donors who together contributed $6,337, shattering our $4,000 goal and unlocking the full $2,000 matching grant from Pat Singer.

That means every gift helped power more than we had even dared to plan for. With a donor retention rate of nearly 42%, we are not only growing our base of supporters, we are deepening the commitment of people who return year after year because they believe in our mission.

These dollars are already at work sustaining nonpartisan voter education, candidate forums, youth engagement, and the volunteer infrastructure that keeps our League strong and visible across Sacramento County.

Most of all, this was a team victory. From the Fundraising Committee’s months of preparation, to board members who reached out personally to their networks, to every donor who gave online or by check, this success belongs to all of you. Thank you for proving once again that when our League asks, our community answers.

Don't wait until the next day of giving, give today.

---

Back to Top

League in Action

LWVS Receives ASPA Community Service Award

On May 6, the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County received the Community Service Award from the Sacramento Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) at their annual awards dinner. Claudia Bonsignore accepted the award on behalf of the League, joined by Lexie Tesch, Ashley Acosta, and Morgaine Wilkins-Dean. The League was nominated by Andres Mayorga, whose advocacy on our behalf we deeply appreciate. This recognition is a tribute to every volunteer, board member, and partner who has helped sustain our work in Sacramento.

Cordova High School Mock Election

From Marge Patzer               On April 27, the Voter Services team led a mock election at Cordova High School, engaging approximately 400 students in a hands-on experience with the voting process. Many thanks to volunteers M. and C. Patzer, C. Peth, S. Fricano, T. Colosimo, J. Sugar, and C. Marque for making this happen. Programs like these plant the seeds of lifelong civic participation and the energy in the room reminded us why this work matters.

Sí Se Puede Y Gracias Por Todo

By Charlene Jones Edited by Tommy Yap More than anything, Sí Se Puede Y Gracias Por Todo was a reminder of how much community work depends on people willing to give their time, energy, and care to others. We are deeply grateful to the volunteers, planning team, attendees, and sponsors who made the evening possible and helped raise nearly $4,000 to support the League’s voter education and outreach programs. While the event featured powerful remarks from United Farm Workers President Teresa Romero and honored Tina Reynolds and Isela Bravo for their leadership and service, the event ultimately reflected the collective effort behind civic engagement and community advocacy. Thank you to everyone who showed up, pitched in, and helped make the evening meaningful.

Claudia Bonsignore Quoted in Sacramento Bee

In coverage of California's June 2 primary election, Claudia Bonsignore was quoted in The Sacramento Bee discussing voter research resources and the League's nonpartisan election guides. It is always a proud moment when our League is recognized as the go-to source for trustworthy, unbiased election information. Read it here.

Sacramento Earth Day 2026

The 2026 Earth Day was a success! Organized by the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS), the League and fellow community members celebrated Sacramento civic life. (Sacramento Earth Day)

---

Back to Top

Action Opportunities

LWVS Annual Meeting — Friday, June 13, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

at La Familia Counseling Center, South Sacramento. Join us as we celebrate the year, install new officers, and look ahead. Registration details to follow via email.

California Statewide Primary Election — Tuesday, June 2

Make sure you're registered, know your candidates, and have a voting plan. Visit VOTE411.org for the League's nonpartisan voter guide.

LWVC National Convention 2026

Registration closes May 22. Don't miss your chance to attend the statewide convention and help shape California League priorities for the next two years. Register here.

LWVC Primary Election Reform Webinar Series

LWVC is running a spring series on primary reform, with upcoming sessions covering additional California regions. Watch the LWVC newsletter for the next session date and sign-up link.

---

Please login to lwvsacramento.org for member-only information. Check the Calendar weekly, as new events and news from California and National League are posted regularly.

---

Back to Top

News Reel

Sacramento City Council Tackles $66M Budget Gap

Sacramento City Council is working to close a $66.2 million budget deficit through a combination of job cuts, service reductions, and fee increases. The proposed budget eliminates 147 positions while reducing parks maintenance, pool hours, and several police programs including mounted patrol and ShotSpotter technology. The council approved hundreds of fee hikes to generate additional revenue, with a final budget vote expected in June. If approved, residents would face reduced city services and higher costs for parking violations, pet licenses, and facility rentals. (The Sacramento Bee via Yahoo! News)

Voter ID initiative qualifies for the November 2026 California ballot.

On April 24, California Secretary of State Shirley Weber confirmed that a sweeping voter ID and citizenship verification measure had qualified for the November ballot after supporters submitted over 1.3 million signatures. If passed, voters would be required to show a government-issued ID at the polls and provide identifying information on mail-in ballot envelopes. The League of Women Voters of California is leading a broad coalition to defeat the measure, which it says would create unnecessary barriers–particularly for women, seniors, voters with disabilities, and communities of color. (CalMatters, LWVC)

California Faces Redistricting Pressure After Supreme Court Ruling.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act has intensified pressure on California Democrats to redraw congressional and legislative maps in response to Republican gerrymandering efforts nationwide. The ruling prohibits states from considering race to create majority-minority districts while allowing purely partisan map-drawing, potentially putting at risk any California district that relied on the Voting Rights Act to justify its boundaries. California already holds Democratic advantages in 48 of its 52 congressional seats following voter approval of Proposition 50 in November 2025, though Democratic Party leaders say there are currently no plans for immediate redistricting. If California acts, experts warn it could further escalate the nationwide redistricting war and threaten the state’s independent redistricting commission. (Los Angeles Times via MSN)

Supreme Court hollows out a landmark law that had protected minority voting rights for 6 decades

The U.S. Supreme Court has further weakened the Voting Rights Act by striking down a Louisiana congressional map that created a second Black-majority district and by sharply limiting how Section 2 can be used to challenge racial discrimination in voting. In a 6-3 decision written by Justice Samuel Alito, the conservative majority said Section 2 only bars deliberate discrimination, not voting rules that merely have discriminatory effects, making it much harder for minority voters to prove their rights were violated. Voting rights experts and civil rights advocates warn this ruling will encourage gerrymandering, reduce the number of districts where Black and Hispanic communities can elect their preferred candidates, and leave the 61-year-old law “a shadow of its former self.” (AP News)

Trump Seeks to Attach SAVE Act to Housing and FISA Bills

President Trump is pushing to attach his SAVE America Act to two must-pass bipartisan bills—housing affordability legislation and the FISA reauthorization—threatening to derail both efforts. The SAVE Act would require voter ID and proof of citizenship for federal elections, ban mail-in voting except for limited circumstances, and prohibit transgender women from participating in women’s sports. Both the housing bill, which is scheduled for a House vote next week, and the FISA Section 702 reauthorization facing a June 12 deadline require bipartisan support to pass. Attaching Trump’s legislation would almost certainly kill Democratic support for both bills, jeopardizing critical housing reform and intelligence surveillance authority. (POLITICO)

Lawyers urge judge to block Trump order that would create eligible voter list, limit mail ballots

Lawyers for Democrats and civil rights groups are asking a federal judge to block President Donald Trump’s executive order, arguing he exceeded his authority by ordering federal agencies to build a national list of adults the government considers confirmed U.S. citizens and share it with states before each federal election. Opponents say there is no legal way to create such a list and warn the order is designed to pressure states into restricting voter registration and ballot access, creating “maximum chaos and confusion” for local election officials ahead of upcoming primaries and midterm elections. (AP News)

Washington, D.C. debuts ranked choice voting in 2026.

Washington, D.C. is preparing to use ranked-choice voting for its June 2026 primary elections after voters approved Initiative 83 in 2024. Under the new system, voters can rank up to five candidates in each race, and if no one wins a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place candidates are eliminated in rounds while their supporters’ votes move to their next choices until someone passes 50 percent. Supporters say this change will ensure winners have majority support and reduce “spoiler” candidates in crowded fields, while the city’s elections board is planning a public education campaign to help voters learn how to use the new ballots. (DC News Now via Yahoo)

Multiple States Push to Redraw Maps After Supreme Court Ruling

Republicans have gained advantage in a national redistricting battle following a pair of court rulings that weakened federal protections, with Louisiana and Alabama leading efforts to redraw congressional maps. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry postponed the May 16 congressional primary to allow lawmakers to revise districts after an April 29 Supreme Court ruling invalidated a majority-Black congressional district, though multiple lawsuits challenge his authority to delay elections. Alabama Republican officials are seeking to revert to a 2023 U.S. House map that was approved but never used, which could help them gain an additional seat, while requesting federal courts dismiss the existing court-ordered map. At least nine states have either completed or are actively pursuing mid-decade redistricting changes. If successful, these redistricting efforts could further accelerate partisan map-drawing nationwide and potentially impact control of the U.S. House. (PBS News)

---

Back to Top

Member Submissions

Women Prisoners in California

By Eileen Heaser Jane Dorotik, a formerly incarcerated woman and now an advocate for women in prison, recently published a powerful op-ed in The Sacramento Bee (April 23, 2026) describing the conditions women face in California's state prison system — and the urgent need for reform. Her piece draws on the "No Time to Wait" report from the California Coalition for Women Prisoners and the UC Berkeley Law Policy Advocacy Clinic (March 2026), which documents systemic gaps in healthcare, programming, and reentry support for incarcerated women. The report and op-ed both call for legislative and administrative action. League members interested in criminal justice policy will find this an essential read. (Sacramento Bee)  Submitted by Eileen Heaser

---

Member submissions are authored by submitting members.
They may be lightly edited for formatting and the occasional error. If you are a member and would like to be featured, please email tommy.civicsoutreach@tommyyap.com. 

---

Back to Top

---

Back to Top

Welcome New Members

Noralee Bauthues-Stewart
Kristina Sazaki
Jessica Swart
Vanessa Feher Castagna
Lori Parrington
Theresa Nolten
Joseph Kannathumadam
Kimberly Wiley

---

Back to Top

Previous Issues

February 2026 March 2026 April 2026

---

Back to Top