Rusty Hicks

American attorney and activist

Rusty Hicks

Chair of the California Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office July 1, 2019
Preceded by	Alex Gallardo-Rooker (Acting)

Personal details
Born	1979 or 1980 (age 43–44)^[1] Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Austin College (BA) Loyola Marymount University (JD)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Unit	United States Navy Reserve

Rusty Hicks is an American attorney serving as chair of the California Democratic Party. Hicks won the June 4, 2019, chairmanship election after the resignation of Eric C. Bauman and was re-elected in 2021. He unsuccessfully ran for California's 2nd Assembly District in 2024, ultimately placing 3rd in the March Primary.^[2]^[3]

Early life and education

Hicks was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government from Austin College, before moving to Los Angeles in 2003, where he earned a Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School.^[4]

Career

Hicks worked on the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign as the California political director. ^[5]

Hicks also worked as a legislative aide to California Assembly members Mike Gordon and Ted Lieu.^{[citation needed]} From November 2014-November 2019, Hicks served as the president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.^[6]^[5] In 2021 he moved from the Los Angeles area to Arcata, California.

In December 2023, after Assemblyman Jim Wood in a surprise announcement said he wouldn't be seeking re-election the month prior, Hicks announced his run for state assembly with Wood's endorsement amongst a field of 5 other Democratic candidates.^[7]^[8] Hicks faced scrutiny and calls for resignation from local Democratic Party leaders with many accusing him of "attempting to carpetbag his way into the State Legislature", and for refusing to step aside as Chair while campaigning for office, but agreeing to recuse himself from matters relating to the District.^[9] Hicks campaign received strong support from many statewide leaders and organizations, but failed to gain the needed support from local leaders and organizations within the District. Hicks would ultimately fail to advance to the November General Election, placing 3rd in the March Primary behind progressive Santa Rosa city councilmember Chris Rogers.^[10]^[11]

References

^ Mai-Duc, Christine; Willon, Phil (June 1, 2019). "California Democratic Party elects new chair to lead an organization pushing further left". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
^ Graham, Andrew (5 February 2024). "Rusty Hicks is bringing statewide firepower to the race to be the North Coast's Assembly member. What that means depends on who you ask". The Press Democrat. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
^ www.pressdemocrat.com https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/rusty-hicks-concedes-santa-rosas-chris-rogers-heads-to-an-easy-general-el/. Retrieved 2024-03-29. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ "Rusty Hicks - Loyola Law School, Los Angeles". www.lls.edu. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
^ ^a ^b "Rusty Hicks: The Next Chair of the California Democratic Party?". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2019-03-14.
^ "Rusty Hicks Resigns as President of LA Federation of Labor". The LA Fed. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
^ Maxwell, Kate (November 12, 2023). "mendovoice.com/2023/11/assemblymember-wood-announces-he-will-not-run-for-reelection".
^ "Assemblymember Jim Wood Endorses Rusty Hicks in Crowded Race to Be His Successor". Lost Coast Outpost. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
^ "Election 2024 | Rusty Hicks role as Assembly candidate, California Dems chair incenses some delegates". Times-Standard. 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
^ "Democratic Party chair Rusty Hicks assailed as outsider in bid for North Coast Assembly seat". Los Angeles Times. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
^ "Santa Rosa's Chris Rogers Secures General Election Spot for State Assembly". KSRO. Retrieved 2024-03-30.