A bold, people-first agenda focused on opportunity, justice, and a better future for every Californian.
College shouldn’t be a financial burden, and every Californian deserves access to quality education. That’s why Abdur Sikder is committed to making public colleges and universities tuition-free. Community colleges will eliminate tuition and enrollment fees for all students, while expanding evening, online, and career-focused programs for working adults.
The California State University system will phase in tuition-free access for first-generation students, those in STEM and teaching majors, and middle-income families, with tuition rates locked to inflation once fully funded. This approach keeps students in-state, reduces debt, and ensures more students graduate successfully.
Education funding also needs to be fair and effective. California currently spends billions on corporate tax breaks, many of which fail to create real jobs or benefit communities. By auditing these incentives and redirecting low-impact or redundant credits into a dedicated Education Trust Fund, we can provide stable, predictable funding for schools. Incentives that genuinely create high-quality jobs will remain, ensuring that corporations contribute to a skilled workforce while families receive the education support they deserve—without raising taxes.
Graduates should not be burdened with debt, and that’s why this plan introduces a “pay only when you can” system. Graduates contribute a small, fixed percentage of their income only after reaching a set threshold, such as $60,000 per year. Payments automatically pause if income falls below that level, and they stop entirely after a fixed number of years or once a lifetime cap is reached. This system protects teachers, nurses, social workers, and public servants, eliminating interest, defaults, and credit damage while creating a self-sustaining funding cycle that is fair and transparent.
California’s higher-education system is currently fragmented, outdated, and expensive to operate. To address this, a statewide digital platform will unify admissions, financial aid, and enrollment systems while centralizing IT, procurement, and financial processing. This reduces administrative overhead, eliminates redundant contracts, and frees up resources for classrooms, faculty, and student support. Students will experience faster, smoother processing, and the system will be more transparent, accountable, and modern.
In short, this plan ensures that every Californian has access to affordable, high-quality education; that funding is fair and sustainable; and that the system works efficiently for students, educators, and communities alike—all without raising taxes on working families.
← Back to IssuesEveryone in California deserves access to healthcare, regardless of their job, income, or immigration status. Abdur Sikder’s plan transitions the state toward universal coverage, creating a single, unified public system that guarantees healthcare for every resident. Coverage is automatic, comprehensive, and portable, eliminating gaps caused by employment changes, income fluctuations, or other life circumstances. By replacing fragmented private plans with one streamlined public framework, every Californian is ensured access to care, and no one falls through the cracks.
Lowering the cost of medications is a key part of this plan. California will leverage its size and purchasing power to negotiate state-level pricing for essential prescription drugs such as insulin, asthma medications, and heart treatments. When markets fail, the state will expand public manufacturing of generic drugs and cap out-of-pocket costs for life-saving medications. These measures reduce costs for patients while generating significant savings for the healthcare system overall.
Preventive care and telehealth services are central to improving health outcomes. The plan emphasizes early intervention through free annual checkups, screenings, and mental health services, reducing reliance on emergency treatment and lowering long-term healthcare costs. Telehealth will be expanded to serve rural communities, seniors, and working families, ensuring that care is accessible wherever it is needed most.
To make healthcare truly universal, the plan includes automatic enrollment for uninsured residents. Using existing tax, Medi-Cal, and DMV data, California can enroll residents by default, while allowing people to opt out if they choose. Continuous coverage will remain in place even during job changes or income shifts, removing bureaucratic barriers and ensuring no one is left uncovered.
The outcome is clear: every Californian has healthcare, costs for families decrease, and the state benefits from a healthier, more productive population. Healthcare becomes a right, not a privilege—ensuring that no one is left behind in the Golden State.
Housing is the foundation for a stable life, and every Californian deserves a safe, permanent place to call home. Abdur Sikder’s plan focuses on building state-owned, affordable housing near major transit corridors, ensuring residents have easy access to jobs, schools, and essential services. By prioritizing land near rail stations, bus hubs, and job centers, the state can maintain permanently affordable rents and fast-track approvals, bypassing local red tape for state projects. This creates stable, connected communities while addressing the housing crisis head-on.
In addition, the plan turns unused commercial buildings into immediate housing solutions. Vacant offices and retail spaces, especially in downtowns and transit-rich areas, can be repurposed faster and more cost-effectively than new construction. These mixed-use developments integrate housing with clinics and other community services, delivering homes quickly while avoiding urban sprawl.
Housing is not just about shelter—it’s about support. The plan pairs affordable housing with mental health and addiction services, providing on-site care, continuous case management, and addiction treatment. By focusing on long-term stability rather than temporary shelters, residents can permanently exit homelessness, reducing relapses, incarceration, and emergency room visits.
To protect renters and prevent homelessness before it starts, statewide rent stabilization and vacancy control measures are strengthened. Rent increases between tenants are controlled, unjust evictions are prevented, and renters are protected from displacement. This proactive approach keeps more people housed and maintains strong, stable communities.
The result is clear: fewer people living on the streets, lower public spending on emergency services, and stronger, safer neighborhoods. Housing is the foundation of opportunity, and this plan ensures that every Californian has the stability they need to thrive.
← Back to IssuesEnsuring civil rights are respected in California requires more than laws on paper—it requires active enforcement. Abdur Sikder’s plan calls for statewide audits of employers, housing providers, schools, and state agencies to ensure compliance with civil rights laws. Strong penalties will be applied for discrimination based on race, gender, religion, disability, or immigration status, and results will be publicly reported to guarantee transparency and accountability. This approach protects rights in practice, not just in theory.
Pay equity is a critical part of fairness. The plan promotes pay transparency by requiring companies to disclose salary ranges and banning retaliation against workers who discuss wages. Enforcement of equal-pay laws will be strengthened to close wage gaps and ensure that all employees receive equal pay for equal work.
Investing in historically underserved communities is another cornerstone of this approach. Public funds will be directed toward schools, healthcare, transit, and housing where the need is greatest, with measurable outcomes to ensure resources truly reduce inequality. This ensures that opportunity reaches every neighborhood, lifting communities rather than leaving them behind.
Finally, justice should not depend on income. Legal aid services will receive increased funding to protect immigrants, renters, workers, and families, guaranteeing access to due process and basic rights for all Californians.
The outcome is clear: stronger civil rights enforcement, fair wages, equal opportunity, and communities that thrive. This plan ensures dignity, justice, and equity for every Californian.
← Back to IssuesCalifornia is committed to leading the nation in clean energy while creating good-paying jobs. The plan begins with a rapid transition to a fully renewable power grid, expanding solar, wind, and battery storage while modernizing the grid for peak demand and wildfire resilience. Priority will be given to community-owned and local energy projects, ensuring reliable, clean power that lowers long-term energy costs for everyone.
To stop the expansion of pollution and build a sustainable economy, California will end all new permits for oil and gas drilling. Fossil fuel subsidies will be redirected toward clean energy manufacturing, workforce retraining programs, and unionized green jobs, reducing emissions while creating high-quality employment opportunities.
Transportation, the state’s largest source of pollution, will also undergo a major transformation. Buses, rail, and government vehicle fleets will be fully electrified, while EV rebates and charging infrastructure will be targeted to low-income and rural communities. Zero-emission freight and port operations will further reduce pollution, resulting in cleaner air and lower transportation costs for families.
Buildings will play a key role in cutting emissions. All new construction will be required to meet net-zero standards, while existing public buildings will be retrofitted first. Homeowners and small landlords will receive incentives to adopt energy-efficient upgrades, reducing utility bills and lowering long-term carbon output.
The result is a California with zero carbon emissions, cleaner air, healthier communities, and a model for global climate leadership. By taking bold, practical steps, California can lead the world in sustainable energy solutions while supporting its workforce and families.
← Back to IssuesCalifornia is modernizing government services to make life easier for everyone. A single, secure digital portal will allow residents to access taxes, licenses, benefits, healthcare, and education all in one place. By reducing paperwork and delays, and making the platform mobile-friendly, multilingual, and fully accessible, services become faster, simpler, and more efficient—bringing government into the 21st century.
Technology will also be harnessed to serve the public interest. State-funded AI will assist in healthcare diagnostics, education support, and traffic optimization, always under human oversight to ensure transparency and fairness. This approach delivers better services at lower costs while maintaining accountability and public trust.
To fuel innovation and economic growth, California will invest in research and innovation hubs in partnership with public universities and community colleges. Funding will support breakthroughs in clean energy, biotech, AI, and infrastructure, ensuring discoveries, startups, and jobs stay in California.
Finally, protecting residents’ data is a top priority. Strict limits on data collection, strong cybersecurity standards for all state systems, and clear rights for residents over their personal information ensure that innovation does not come at the cost of privacy. This approach creates a state where technology empowers people, strengthens public services, and maintains trust.
← Back to IssuesCalifornia is committed to ensuring that anyone ready and willing to work can find meaningful employment. Through a state job guarantee program, the state will create public jobs in infrastructure, caregiving, climate resilience, and disaster response, offering living wages and basic benefits while acting as an automatic stabilizer during economic downturns. This ensures that no willing worker is left idle.
Local entrepreneurs and small businesses will also be empowered through state-backed, zero-interest loans for startups and expansions, with priority given to women-, minority-, and locally owned businesses. The simplified application process and fast approval will strengthen small businesses and create more local jobs.
To connect education directly with employment, California will expand paid apprenticeships in healthcare, construction, technology, and green energy, in partnership with unions, community colleges, and employers. These programs allow residents to earn while they learn, equipping workers with the skills needed for high-demand industries without accumulating debt.
Finally, the state will invest in future industries such as AI, clean technology, and advanced manufacturing, supporting research hubs and domestic production to keep high-paying, innovative jobs in California. This strategy aims to create near-zero unemployment, raise wages, and build a resilient, forward-looking economy where opportunity is available to all.
← Back to IssuesPublic safety in California starts with prevention and community trust. By shifting the focus to community-based policing, officers work closely with neighborhoods to understand concerns and co-create solutions, moving beyond purely punitive approaches. Neighborhood patrols, local advisory boards, and engagement programs help strengthen relationships between law enforcement and residents, making communities safer and more resilient.
At the same time, mental health crisis response teams are expanded to handle situations that do not involve criminal activity. Specialized teams of social workers, clinicians, and trained officers respond to emergencies involving mental health, ensuring proper care, reducing unnecessary arrests, and improving long-term outcomes for individuals in crisis.
Investing in youth programs is another cornerstone of crime prevention. Early intervention through mentorship, after-school activities, vocational training, counseling, and sports provides opportunities and guidance that reduce the likelihood of crime. Supporting young people helps break cycles of poverty and criminal activity before they begin.
Finally, California will embrace data-driven strategies to prevent crime effectively. By analyzing trends, identifying high-risk areas, and deploying resources strategically, the state can maintain public safety without over-policing or disproportionately targeting marginalized communities. Together, these approaches create safer neighborhoods, stronger relationships, and a more just and secure California.
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