The Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) is a progressive political group in Richmond and western Contra Costa County, California, United States. RPA formed in 2003 by local progressives.
RPA is an umbrella organization for progressives and leftists, regardless of political party. RPA members include voters registered as Democrats, Greens, and Independents. Similarly, RPA electeds include Democrats, Greens, and Independents. In 2024, Richmond's mayor and city council voted to send a ranked-choice (instant-runoff) voting measure to voters.
RPA supports higher taxes and lower pollution for the local Chevron refinery; opposition to racial profiling; and opposition to urban casino development in Point Molate. During the 2000s and 2010s, the alliance altered the balance of power in the city and reduced the representation of Chevron-backed candidates. Taxes on Chevron, supported by RPA, amounted to $204 million, which RPA invested in social programs.
thumb | upright | Sign advertising McLaughlin's 2006 run for mayor of Richmond
In the 2006 Richmond, California municipal elections, Gayle McLaughlin won the election for mayor against incumbent Democrat Irma Anderson. however, banks threatened a capital strike and Congress passed a law banning the practice.
In 2012, RPA member Jeff Ritterman proposed Measure N, a tax on sugary drinks. Community Coalition Against Beverage Taxes, funded by the American Beverage Association, spent $2.4 million to defeat it. It was rejected by 66.9% of voters.
In 2014, Richmond municipal elections attracted national media attention, as they were seen as a "David versus Goliath" race in the wake of the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court case. Chevron spent about $3.1 million to support its own slate of candidates and break progressive control of the council, which was more than Chevron had spent in total on all US Congress races from 2008 to 2012. According to McLaughlin, Chevron "bought up every billboard in town". Butt beat Chevron's mayoral candidate, Nat Bates, with more than 51 percent of the election and avoiding a run-off. In the city council election, RPA took all 3 open seats, with McLaughlin, Martinez, and Beckles beating out Chevon-backed candidates Donna Powers, Charles Ramsey, and Al Martinez. Richmond voters approved a controversial rent-control and just-cause eviction measure written and backed by the RPA. RPA's rent control measure passed, which soured relations between RPA and mayor Butt, who opposed the measure.
In 2017, RPA endorsed three members for McLaughlin's empty seat, including Langlois and Ada Recinos.
In 2018, McLaughlin created the California Progressive Alliance, a statewide offshoot of the RPA which endorses progressive candidates for state and federal elections. McLaughlin ran for Lieutenant Governor of California, but lost.
In the same year, RPA member Jovanka Beckles and former Obama 2008 campaign coordinator Buffy Wicks competed for the California Assembly District 15 seat. Richmond mayor Tom Butt and the California Progressive Alliance endorsed Wicks. Wicks went on to beat Beckles by 12 points and win the seat.
In 2019, Butt blamed the Richmond Progressive Alliance for obstructing appointments to city positions, which are done typically at the prerogative of the mayor.
Electoral history
The table below shows the number of RPA elected officials after the November election:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Richmond City Council
! Mayor of Richmond
! Refs
|-
| 2004
|
| did not control
|
|}
State legislature elections
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:80%"
! Year
! Candidate
! Office
! State
! District
! Votes
! %
! Result
! Notes
! Ref
|-
| 2024
| Jovanka Beckles
| Senate
| California
| 7
|
|
|
|
|
|-
| 2024
| Melvin Willis
| City Council
| Richmond
| 1
|
|
|
| nonpartisan election
|
|-
| 2022
| Doria Robinson
| City Council
| Richmond
| 3
| 1,145
|
| Won
| nonpartisan election
|
|-
| 2020
| Claudia Jimenez
| City Council
| Richmond
| 6
| 4128
|
| Won
| nonpartisan election
|
|-
| 2018
| Eduardo Martinez
| City Council
| Richmond
| At-Large
| 8,833
|
| Won
| nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 2nd place
|
|-
| 2016
| Melvin Willis
| City Council
| Richmond
| At-Large
| 12137
|
| Won
| nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 2nd place
|
|-
| 2014
| Eduardo Martinez
| City Council
| Richmond
| At-Large
| 7,629
|
| Won
| nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 3rd place
|
|-
| 2012
| Eduardo Martinez
| City Council
| Richmond
| At-Large
| 10,956
|
| Lost
| nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 5th place
|
|-
| 2010
| Jovanka Beckles
| City Council
| Richmond
| At-Large
| 8,135
|
| Won
| nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 3rd place
|
|-
| 2008
| Jeff Ritterman
| City Council
| Richmond
| At-Large
| 12,180
|
| Won
| nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 1st place
|
|-
| 2006
| Jim Jenkins
| City Council
| Richmond
| At-Large
| 4,825
|
| Lost
| nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 5th place
|
|-
| 2004
| Andres Soto
| City Council
| Richmond
| At-Large
| 8,318
|
| Lost
| nonpartisan election, vote for 3, 4th place
|