Joe Biden Campaign Selects Staff In California

CALIFORNIA — Former Vice President and Presidential Nominee Joe Biden has chosen staff in California. Biden's campaign has selected a state director in Los Angeles and an organizing director in San Francisco, the campaign announced Monday.

Mark Gonzalaz, who has been the The Chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party since 2017, will act as Biden's state director. Gonzalaz has long been in service as a local leader within the Democratic Party, beginning in 2004 when he worked on the presidential campaign.

“As the son of immigrants who has spent years fighting along side and for my fellow Angelenos, I’m proud and honored to be joining Team Biden/Harris as California State Director to continue that fight all across our state and our nation to make sure Democrats win up and down the ballot here in California," Gonzalaz said in an email Monday. "This election is the most important, and a must win, and I’m ready to work with leaders all across California to make sure we send Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House”

Gonzalaz currently serves as District Director to Assemblymember Miguel Santiago and was previously a Senior Field Representative to former Speaker John Pérez.

Gonzalaz also worked for the 2005 City of Los Angeles mayoral race, the 2006 gubernatorial race, and the 2008 presidential campaign for Former President Barack Obama.

“California has always been the leader in ensuring necessary progress throughout our country. As we look towards the next 43 days until Election Day, we’re reminded how our world and our communities have changed throughout this pandemic, and these past four years," Gonzalaz said. "From healthcare, to worker’s rights, to Black lives, down to protecting immigrant rights and especially our right to vote, California will continue to lead on the issues because the future of our nation requires it."

Joining the campaign on the northern end of the Golden State is Lizzie Heyboer, who will serve as organizing director. Heyboer recently worked on Elizabeth Warren's campaign on the National Training Desk.

The democratic campaigner lives in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump's campaign hired Krista Pittman to act as California's state director, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Biden's campaign has spent $100 million on "on-the-ground" organizing so far, but the presidential nominee did not invest as heavily as other candidates during the primary.

While the campaign has mostly moved online amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Biden and Vice Presidential Nominee Sen. Kamala Harris are working on swaying those in "battleground" states.

Virtual events targeting California votes are however, on the horizon, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Harris returned to the Golden State last week to meet with Gov. Gavin Newsom at Pine Ridge School in Auberry, California to view the damage wrought by the Creek Fire. It was her first visit since becoming Biden’s running mate.