After more than a decade on the Artesia City Council, Mayor Ali Sajjad Taj is running for California’s 67th Assembly District in 2026.
Taj, who first joined the City Council in 2013, said his background in finance and local government has prepared him to address key issues in the state, including affordability, public safety and climate resiliency. Before serving on the City Council, Taj said he worked as a financial advisor at American Express.
“I’ve worked on these issues not just at the City Council level but also at the state level through my work with the League of California Cities,” said Taj, a Democrat who recently served as president of the nonprofit that advocates for cities statewide and supports local governments.
Taj, 57, was born and raised in Pakistan before moving to the U.S. in 1999. With an undergraduate degree in economics and political science and a master’s in public administration, he said he arrived with high hopes, only to find himself working minimum-wage jobs in Artesia to make ends meet.
“I came here to look for better opportunities … but eventually, I ran out of my savings. My first job was here in Artesia as a sales rep making $4.25 an hour back in the day at the Good Guys electronic store. I was also working at a Shell gas station,” said Taj.
“My first six months were extremely frustrating because, as you can imagine, I have a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree … working $4.25 an hour was really, really frustrating.”
But those early struggles, he said, shaped his understanding of the community and the people he now represents. When Taj ran for City Council in 2013, he said the city was facing some financial difficulty, and Taj believed his background in finance could help turn things around.
Affordability is a major focus of his campaign. Taj said he has seen firsthand how high housing costs impact working families, including his own.
“My son and daughter-in-law live in the district in Fullerton, and they have a kid, but they cannot buy a house at this time because of affordability, because of the fact that they just aren’t able to make ends meet,” he said. “That’s the story right now in California, and I want to change that. I want to make sure that … working families are able to live comfortably.”
Ada Briceño, a labor leader and former chair of the Orange County Democratic Party, has also announced a run for the 67th Assembly District.
Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-Fullerton, who is set to term out in 2026, has endorsed Taj.
The 67th District covers areas in both Los Angeles and Orange counties, including Artesia, Buena Park, Cerritos, Cypress, Hawaiian Gardens and La Palma, along with parts of Anaheim, Fullerton and Orange.
Beyond affordability, Taj said he’s campaigning on boosting public school funding, backing law enforcement, expanding affordable housing, assisting first-time homebuyers and renters and promoting clean energy initiatives.
Related Articles
Politics | Former Placentia Mayor Rhonda Shader running for California’s 34th Senate District Politics | Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco could announce run for governor on Feb. 17 Politics | California’s 45th District rated a toss-up in early 2026 election forecast Politics | Art dealer Esther Kim Varet launches bid for California’s 40th Congressional District Politics | Lawsuit alleges Irvine council candidate Tammy Kim of ballot ineligibility; Kim denies allegation Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Artesia Mayor Ali Sajjad Taj running for California’s 67th Assembly District )
Also on site :