From School Bus Driver to Statewide Candidate
Meghann Adams, a longtime school bus driver and union leader, is embarking on a bold new journey: running for California state controller. A resident of San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, Adams is representing the Peace and Freedom Party and aims to shake up the political status quo in Sacramento.
Adams, 42, has called the Bay Area home since 2007, having lived in cities and neighborhoods ranging from Oakland to the Mission District. Ultimately, she found her place in the Tenderloin, a gritty, working-class enclave where she feels most connected to the community. Now, she’s seeking to elevate her advocacy from the local to the state level.
Atypical Candidate with a Worker’s Perspective
Adams defies traditional expectations for a candidate running for controller, a position responsible for auditing the state’s finances and overseeing public spending. With her gray-streaked hair, tattooed arms, and signature accessories—including black leather cuffs and an Apple Watch—Adams embraces her working-class identity. At her campaign launch outside San Francisco City Hall, she stood confidently in a bright pink jumpsuit and delivered a powerful message to her small crowd of supporters.
“Politicians on both sides would have us believe we’re not smart enough to understand budgets or tough decisions,” Adams said. “I’m here to tell you that’s a lie. We are enough.”
Grassroots Movement Gaining Momentum
Adams is part of a broader slate of socialist candidates from San Francisco running for statewide offices. Among them are Ramsey Robinson, a social worker from the Tenderloin running for governor, and Frank Lara, a teacher and union leader from the Mission District, running for state superintendent of schools. These candidates argue that the long-dominant Democratic Party has failed to deliver meaningful change for California’s working-class communities.
Despite having limited name recognition and little experience in electoral politics, Adams is generating attention. Her campaign kickoff attracted several news cameras, and her TikTok announcement racked up nearly 45,000 views. She believes her lived experience and union background give her a strong foundation to challenge the incumbent, Malia Cohen, former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Union Leadership and Financial Acumen
During her decade as a school bus driver, Adams has been deeply involved in labor organizing. She began her union work as a trustee at SMART 1741, where she audited finances and rapidly advanced in leadership. In 2020, she became union president, helping members navigate pandemic-driven pay cuts and healthcare losses.
She also played a vital role in bringing the private contractor Zum into San Francisco’s school transportation system, leading negotiations for its first union contract. Adams views the controller’s role as an opportunity to continue this advocacy on a larger scale.
“I’ve been studying budgets, analyzing contracts, and holding employers accountable for years,” she said. “Now I want to do the same for the state.”
Policy Priorities and Auditing Goals
If elected, Adams pledges to conduct audits that scrutinize corporate tax incentives and housing affordability measures. She wants to expose companies that break promises or contribute to skyrocketing rents by hoarding properties. She also plans to initiate a feasibility study on public utilities, challenging PG&E’s monopoly on California’s energy market.
Another significant pillar of her campaign is financial transparency, particularly around the state pension fund. Adams aims to reveal investments that support companies involved in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a cause she believes deserves greater public scrutiny.
Additionally, Adams wants to examine the impact of federal and state budget cuts on vital services, such as rural hospitals, public schools, and transportation systems. While she acknowledges that the controller cannot directly enact policy, she sees auditing as a tool to apply public pressure.
Championing the Tenderloin and Beyond
Adams’ campaign is rooted in the struggles of underrepresented communities like the Tenderloin. Robinson, the gubernatorial candidate and Adams’ political ally, recently relocated to the neighborhood after being priced out of Japantown. He has long worked with children in the area and believes that poverty and substance abuse in the Tenderloin are the result of deliberate political neglect.
“California is the fourth-largest economy in the world,” Robinson said. “Yet we can’t ensure housing and basic needs for residents? That’s a political choice.”
He supports a small tax on the ultra-wealthy to fund essential services and believes growing interest in socialism makes this a pivotal moment for systemic change.
“When working people gain political and economic power, we can solve our problems,” he added.
Back to Work, But Eyes on Sacramento
As Adams wrapped up her campaign announcement, she returned to her day job—driving a girls’ field hockey team to their match in her pale green Honda Fit. Her campaign slogan, “Pull up! Beep, beep! Put a worker in the driver’s seat!” reflects her dual identity as a public servant and political hopeful.
She remains grounded in her responsibilities but is driven by a vision for a more equitable California. With the support of like-minded candidates and grassroots momentum, Adams is determined to make her voice heard in state politics.
This article is inspired by content from Original Source. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.