Build More Affordable Housing – Now
Creating opportunity for California families starts with making housing more affordable.
As Mayor of Salinas, Anna championed an innovative first-time homebuyers program, a progressive inclusionary housing ordinance, and helped to develop over 2,000 affordable housing units in the city. As Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency under Governor Jerry Brown, Anna led efforts to distribute millions to reduce veteran homelessness and to create accessible, independent housing opportunities for disabled veterans. She also advanced funding for affordable housing and community sustainability projects that reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while ensuring rural communities were included in the grant process.
In the State Senate, Anna authored the Middle Class Housing Act (SB 6) — a landmark law that unlocks underutilized commercial land for affordable and workforce housing, cutting through red tape and paving the way for new housing options in communities across California.
Governor Brown said Anna Caballero served “with distinction and a real sense of public service.” In 2015, the League of California Cities Past Presidents honored her with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for her significant and unique contribution to housing policy in the state.
As Treasurer, Anna will build on that legacy by cutting red tape and streamlining regulations in the Treasurer’s office to accelerate affordable housing construction. She will work to expedite projects funded by the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee to expand access to tax-exempt private activity bonds — key tools for financing housing.
Tackling Homelessness
Anna Has A Track Record Of Getting It Done
Through her work with Governor Jerry Brown, Anna helped make housing more affordable for veterans and working families across California. As our Assemblymember and State Senator she passed the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act, allocating $300 million for affordable housing and transportation. She also passed a bill allocating $200 million in Park Bonds and incentivizing cities to build affordable housing. But she knows we have so much more to do to help low-income families be successful. Anna wants to expand the affordable housing programs to more veterans and families and provide subsidies for more people to attend community college and increase their earning power.
Anna always stands with hard-working families. Civil rights icon and Labor leader Dolores Huerta praised Anna as a hard-working public servant who has dedicated her career to improving the lives of others. Anna provided legal assistance to farmworkers in need of fair representation. In the Assembly, she passed a bill streamlining the creation of farmworker housing and took a 10% pay-cut in her Assembly salary in order to show solidarity with other government workers whose salaries were being cut.
As Treasurer, Anna will expand state investments in affordable housing. She’ll prioritize bond financing and incentives for cities building housing and infrastructure to support struggling communities. With a track record of securing hundreds of millions in funding for housing and public transportation, Anna will ensure California’s financial resources uplift those most in need.
Healthcare
Anna Wrote The Distressed Hospital Loan Program Saving Healthcare Access For Millions
Dozens of hospitals and healthcare facilities across the state were on the brink of financial insolvency, threatening health care access to millions of Californians, many from low-income and rural communities. Anna believes health care is a right and authored the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, allowing the facilities to keep their doors open.
Anna has focused on illness prevention, supporting early intervention clinics, and reducing the cost on working families. Anna understands we must provide real care for families who rely on emergency rooms for their primary healthcare needs.
As the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress threaten to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in Medi-Cal, Anna is ready to lead as Treasurer to ensure health care access is available to all Californians.
As Treasurer, Anna will leverage state investments to support community health centers, expand clinic infrastructure, and champion funding for new medical schools in underserved communities. She understands that financial policy must improve people’s lives — and she’ll use the Treasurer’s office to reduce healthcare disparities and support early intervention efforts that keep families healthy and reduce long-term costs.
Retirement Security
Anna has a strong commitment to protecting and expanding retirement security for public employees.
Anna has a strong commitment to protecting and expanding retirement security for public employees. Her legislative decisions reflect a belief in transparency, accessibility, and financial sustainability in the pension system. By advocating for policies that safeguard retirement benefits while promoting responsible fiscal management, she continues to be a key proponent of a robust and equitable retirement framework for California’s workforce.
As Treasurer, Anna will strengthen CalSavers and other public retirement programs, ensuring every worker — including gig and part-time workers — can retire with dignity. She’ll fight for transparency, oversight, and investment strategies that prioritize working families, not Wall Street profits.
Education
Anna is the product of California public schools and holds a law degree from UCLA.
She knows first hand the importance of public education and how it can lift families up. Through her many years of public service, Anna has helped to rebuild crumbling schools, saved libraries from closing, has pledged to prevent further cuts by the state to local schools, expanded access to kindergarten, supported vocational education and financial aid to Dreamers.
In the legislature Anna signed a pledge to prevent any further cuts to education and to restore over $11.2 billion in funding owed to schools and community colleges. Anna is proud to have authored SB 490, ensuring that school districts provide locally grown food to our children. Anna believes that providing high quality food to our school children is a duty owed to all California families.
As Treasurer, Anna will champion school infrastructure investments and sustainable bond financing to support early childhood education, community colleges, and career training. She’ll ensure state investments prioritize equity — including food programs, library access, and clean, safe learning environments.
Gang Violence-Crime
Anna Caballero works with first responders to protect our families.
As Mayor, Anna started Partners for Peace, a non-profit dedicated to developing effective violence prevention strategies by focusing on literacy, early childhood education and strengthening families and children. Anna convened a select committee on youth violence prevention and held hearings all over the state to examine the issues facing cities and rural communities, and the best practices being utilized to reduce crime. Anna also authored a bill that would have exposed parents and other adults to criminal charges if they recruited minors to join a gang, and she helped to secure millions of state funding for gang violence prevention programs.
Anna was awarded the Crime Fighter Award from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California and Legislator of the Year Award from the California State Sheriff’s Association. When Anna was Mayor of Salinas, violent crime reached an all-time low. Keeping kids and communities safe is one of Anna’s highest priorities.
As Treasurer, Anna will prioritize state funding for proven anti-violence programs and community-based public safety strategies. She’ll ensure the state’s financial tools support cities and nonprofits working to reduce crime through youth development, mental health support, and economic opportunity.
Veterans
When Anna was a cabinet secretary, the state Agency she oversaw made it easier for small businesses owned by disabled Veterans to get state contracts.
She made sure that millions of dollars to reduce veteran homelessness was allocated efficiently statewide. She also helped veterans and their families have access to affordable, stable housing as well as counseling, health clinics, disability benefit advocacy and family and childcare services. She is proud to have helped nearly 700 returning veterans and their families find housing as a legislator.
As State Treasurer, Anna will expand access to housing, education, and job training for veterans using targeted state investments and contracting opportunities. She’ll ensure bond financing supports veteran housing developments and that the Treasurer’s office is a champion for service members transitioning to civilian life.
Women and Equality
As the first female Mayor of Salinas and the highest-ranking Latina in the Brown administration at the end of her service, Anna has been a trailblazer for women’s right and equal pay for equal work.
As a State Senator, Anna co-sponsored Proposition 1, guaranteeing every woman’s right in California to an abortion. As Cabinet Secretary, Anna oversaw the enforcement of civil rights violations.
Anna received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood for every year she was in the legislature, and was given an Award of Excellence by the California State Commission on the Status of Women.
As State Treasurer Anna will ensure state investments advance gender equity, and she will hold financial institutions accountable for fair lending, contracting, and wage practices. She’ll push for equal opportunity in public financing and use her seat on boards and commissions to uplift women in business, public service, and the broader economy.
Tackling the Climate Crisis and Protecting California’s Future
Senator Anna Caballero understands that California’s future depends on bold, equitable action to address climate change, improve air quality, and protect communities from extreme heat and pollution.
Throughout her public service, Anna has focused on ensuring that environmental progress includes rural and underserved communities.
In the State Senate, Anna authored SB 306, which helps communities prepare for the growing threat of extreme heat by expanding access to cooling centers and climate-resilient infrastructure. She also led on SB 905, which advances carbon removal and clean air strategies that reduce emissions and improve public health — particularly in communities most impacted by pollution.
Anna has championed investments in sustainable housing and infrastructure, promoted clean water access, and supported funding programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating green jobs and healthier neighborhoods.
As State Treasurer, Anna will:
- Prioritize green investments in clean energy, water systems, and sustainable infrastructure;
- Use the Treasurer’s office to accelerate climate-smart public finance tools;
- Ensure environmental bond funds are deployed equitably and effectively;
- And push for transparency and accountability in climate-related spending.
Anna Caballero believes California can be a national model for climate resilience — one that reinvests in people, protects natural resources, and builds a better future for the next generation.