Our Defend Democracy campaign for the 2026 midterms has launched a month earlier than expected. The three Third Act working groups (a.k.a. chapters) in California came together to take an unprecedented step and made our first two political endorsements in advance of the June 2 primaries. 

We have endorsed Tom Steyer for governor and Randy Villegas for the Democratic candidacy in the critical California Congressional District 22 race in the Central Valley, including Fresno and Bakersfield.

Tom Steyer and Randy Villegas are both climate champions vetted by an environmental coalition of Third Act’s Gray Pac, NRDC Action Fund, Centers for Biological Diversity Action Fund, California Environmental Voters, Climate Center Action Fund, and Food and Water Action. 

Many ways to make a difference

We know that phone banks and door-to-door canvassing give a campaign a 5% or greater bump. Postcard writing campaigns can add 1% to campaign success. All California voters will receive ballots in the mail during the first full week of May, and Third Act Bay Area will focus on phone banking to reach voters on carefully targeted calling lists. Making phone calls by computer is anonymous and we can do it from home; we won’t have to spend travel time and gas money on a canvass campaign.

This month, please make a commitment to donate one hour or more of your time before the June 2 primary to elect our endorsed climate champion candidates:

• During the month of May, the Steyer campaign offers many volunteer opportunities. Visit their volunteer page to select among phone banks, texting, canvassing, letter writing, postcard writing, and digital action options.
• You can help the Villegas campaign by joining a Calls for Climate phone bank with Third Act members on Tuesday, May 19, and Tuesday, May 26. We want to help Randy win the June primary and move closer to a midterm win in November. The Villegas campaign offers additional volunteer opportunities on the Mobilize platform — find them here.
• To support climate candidates around the country, sign up here to join us in making calls to voters to flip the U.S. House! Food and Water Action will lead this phone banking program in partnership with our environmental organization friends.

From the June 2 primaries until the November midterm election, Third Act Bay Area will register voters, knock on doors, make phone calls, and write postcards. We will volunteer from Stockton to Bakersfield in two key Congressional districts, 13 and 22.