CCRE Presents – California's 2026 Ballot: What's at Stake for Homeownership and Affordability?

Housing affordability and the cost of living have emerged as defining issues for California voters. As Californians prepare to vote on a series of consequential statewide ballot initiatives, the Center for California Real Estate (CCRE) will convene policy experts, industry representatives, and housing stakeholders to explore how these measures could impact homeownership opportunities, housing supply, economic competitiveness, and the future of the California Dream.

The discussion will examine several of the election's most significant proposals related to homeownership assistance, environmental review reform, affordable housing investment, taxation, and local government finance. Panelists will also explore broader questions about California's housing shortage, rising cost-of-living pressures, and the growing role of ballot initiatives in shaping public policy.

Through a housing and affordability lens, attendees will gain insight into the policy choices before voters and what the outcome of these measures could mean for current residents, prospective homebuyers, employers, local communities, and the state's long-term economic future.

Moderator

Dan Schnur

Professor, UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, Pepperdine University School of Public Policy, and USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Dan Schnur teaches courses at multiple California universities in politics, communications and leadership. He has also taught at Harvard University and George Washington University. He is the founder of the USC/LA Times statewide political poll. Previously, Schnur served as the national director of communications for the 2000 presidential campaign of U.S. Senator John McCain and was the chief media spokesman for California Governor Pete Wilson. In 2010, he was appointed chairman of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, where he implemented groundbreaking campaign finance disclosure requirements. Schnur has been an advisor to the William & Melinda Gates Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the James Irvine Foundation, and the Public Policy Institute of California. His commentaries have appeared in several newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. He has been a political analyst for CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and National Public Radio.

Panelists

Ben Allen

California State Senator

24th District

California State Senator Ben Allen represents the 24th Senate District, covering the Westside, Hollywood, South Bay, and Santa Monica Mountains communities of Los Angeles County. He was first elected in 2014 and is now serving his third term in the State Senate. Sen. Allen has thrown himself into the important work of state government, focusing on wise decision-making and pushing for reforms that address systemic inadequacies in our state. He has authored over 90 new laws in various areas from insurance, disaster relief, and environmental protection to consumer protection and electoral reform. During his first two terms in the Senate, fighting the climate crisis and protecting our state's precious natural resources have been among Sen. Allen’s top priorities. Prior to his election to the Senate, he served as President of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, lecturer at UCLA Law School, and worked as an attorney at the law firms of Bryan Cave LLP and Richardson & Patel and at the nonprofit Spark Program. Sen. Allen has a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude in history from Harvard University; a Master's degree in Latin American studies from the University of Cambridge; and a Juris Doctor degree from UC Berkeley.

Jennifer Barrera

President & CEO

California Chamber of Commerce

Jennifer Barrera has been part of the California Chamber of Commerce team since 2010. Barrera is well-known for her success rate with the CalChamber’s annual list of job killer legislation, efforts to reform the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and leadership working with employers on critical issues, including most recently those arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, she advises the business compliance activities of the CalChamber on interpreting changes in employment law. She led CalChamber advocacy on labor and employment and taxation from September 2010 through the end of 2017. As senior policy advocate in 2017, Barrera worked with the executive vice president in developing policy strategy. She was named senior vice president, policy, for 2018 and promoted to executive vice president on January 1, 2019. Barrera earned a B.A. in english from California State University, Bakersfield and a J.D. with high honors from California Western School of Law.

Carolyn Coleman

Executive Director & CEO

League of California Cities

Carolyn Coleman brings decades of experience as a leader and advocate in the public and private sectors. Under her leadership, Cal Cities advances policies to expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy that enhance the quality of life for all Californians. She joined Cal Cities in December 2016 after a decade as senior executive and director of federal advocacy with the National League of Cities (NLC) in Washington, D.C. During her tenure at NLC, she oversaw the organization’s advocacy efforts and worked closely with city leaders from across the country and all 49 state municipal leagues to protect and promote local interests before Congress, within the White House, and the courts. Prior to NLC, she was the deputy mayor for the city of Indianapolis, where she led the mayor’s public works, economic and community development, parks and recreation, and neighborhood services initiatives. She previously practiced law and held marketing leadership positions in the private sector. She is also an American Leadership Forum senior fellow and serves on the board of trustees of the University of Indianapolis, as well as the dean’s cabinet at the McGeorge School of Law. She also serves on the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy Board of Directors, as well as the Public Policy Institute of California’s Statewide Leadership Council. She holds a law degree from Indiana University and an undergraduate degree in business from the University of Kansas.

Chris Hoene

Executive Director

California Budget & Policy Center

Dr. Chris Hoene has led the California Budget & Policy Center since 2012. Under his leadership, the organization has grown significantly, shaped policies like the California Earned Income Tax Credit and strengthened partnerships to make the budget process more accessible for Californians. He has over 20 years of experience in state and local fiscal policy. Hoene previously served as the director of the Center for Research and Innovation at the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C., as an analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C., and as a fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California in San Francisco. Hoene holds a Ph.D. in political science from Claremont Graduate University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Idaho. In 2011, Hoene was elected as a fellow into the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) in recognition of his service to the state and local community. He is an advisory board member of End Poverty In California (EPIC) and the Equity Research Institute (ERI) at USC.

Sara Sadhwani

Associate Professor of Politics

Pomona College

Dr. Sara Sadhwani is an award-winning political scientist and governance reformer. Her research examines public opinion, voting rights, and the effectiveness of governance, with an emphasis on the representation of racial, ethnic and immigrant communities. She serves on the California Citizens Redistricting Commission and the Los Angeles County Governance Reform Task Force, implementing the first overhaul of the nation's largest county government in a century. Her analysis of elections has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, and other outlets. She provides regular election analysis for CBS-Los Angeles, including as a moderator of a 2026 gubernatorial debate. Professor Sadhwani has held fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation and at Stanford University’s Bill Lane Center for the American West. She has received congressional, gubernatorial and local recognitions for her work in public policy.