Michael Geraghty
Your candidate for our California State Assembly District 51
Why I’m Running
A commitment to our children — and their children.
We owe it to our children, and then to their children, to fix this. I have the skills to get results, having co-founded and built two manufacturing companies, a construction company, and a trade association in my career. It’s about time I start paying back for the wonderful opportunities I was afforded.
With your help WE CAN DO THIS!
My Story
Family roots. Entrepreneurial drive. Independent thinking.
We’re all either immigrants or the descendants of immigrants. Even Native Americans. Their ancestors just arrived about 15,000 years earlier than the rest of ours. Not much of a difference when you consider North America has been home to countless species of plants and animals for hundreds of millions of years.
My great grandfather arrived in the 1880s. Immigrants often make great entrepreneurs, and being an Irishman, he did what you might expect. He opened the first saloon in my hometown in Minnesota.
James Geraghty tending bar (1911)
James Geraghty (hat & vest) & Michael's grandfather (right, bow tie)
James Geraghty's 1892 application & certificate of citizenship.
Career & Life Experience
I grew up in a family of Democrats, the oldest of seven kids. At age 12, I campaigned door-to-door for JFK. By the time I entered college I had become distrustful of both major political parties. Although I attended events like Democrat Joe Lieberman’s private celebration following his Vice Presidential nomination and a Republican Senatorial Inner Circle meeting in Washington, I voted for third-party candidates in every Presidential election before 2020.
For most of my life I focused on being a dad, building organizations, and sailing when I found the time. I co-founded and built two Los Angeles-based manufacturing companies, a trade association, and a small construction business that built or remodeled about 10,000 kitchens and baths in Southern California.
Then I retired a couple of years ago, I decided the best way I could give back for all of the great opportunities I was given would be to help the local Republican Party as a volunteer. I had no intention of running for office, but in February 2026 I decided someone has to stand up who wants a common-sense approach to government. So here I am.
My preferred form of meditation is riding my bike, smelling the salt air along the western edge of our beautiful 51st Assembly District. I’m addicted, having logged nearly 15,000 miles in the past six years. If I’m elected, I may need to put a stationary bike in my office.
Why I’m Running to Serve You
The city we love is losing its greatness.
I’ve lived on the West Side of LA for over 40 years. Like you, I’ve watched the city we all love lose its greatness.
• Our violent crime rate has risen to over twice the national average.
• The quality of our children’s education has declined, and it’s now mediocre at best.
• The homeless population has soared, with no solution regardless of how much we spend.
• All while our per capita cost of government continues to remain among the highest in our nation.
We owe it to our children, and to their children, to work together to fix this. I don’t want them to be forced to move to Texas, and I’m sure you don’t want your kids to be forced to leave either.
Micheal Meeting With Chloe Cole
My Values
Simple principles that guide every decision.
My values are pretty simple.
Treat people as you wish to be treated.
Never keep doing the same thing the same way and expect different results.
Appreciate the privilege we all share: the good fortune to be born in the greatest nation God and man have created.
Give more than you get. It’ll turn out you’ll get more than you expected.
Always say what you mean, and never make a commitment you cannot honor.
The last one is why I never got into politics. Politicians say what they think you want to hear. Entrepreneurial business people say what they think, whether you like it or not. They know life is confusing enough. All deception does is add to the confusion, and in a private company, confusion leads to failure.
Improve Leadership in Los Angeles
Los Angeles deserves leadership focused on results, accountability, and real solutions.
Michael Geraghty is running for California State Assembly District 51 to address the issues that affect families every day — public safety, education, affordability, homelessness, and economic opportunity.
For over 40 years living in the Westside of Los Angeles, Michael has watched violent crime increase, classrooms decline, and the cost of living rise faster than families can keep up.
This campaign is focused on restoring safety, strengthening families, and rebuilding trust in state government through thoughtful, responsible leadership.
Serious Problems Require Serious Leadership To Restore Los Angeles
The 7 Key Issues
Protect Women’s Rights
Women’s rights are under attack. Our State Assembly, led by our current Democrat Caucus Chairman and our AD51 representative Rick Zbur, continues to allow biological men to compete against women in women’s sports and share women’s bathrooms and locker rooms. This is physically dangerous and denies women their hard-fought right to equal athletic competition and the associated academic scholarships.
As your representative, I will do everything I can to restore these important women’s rights.
Protect Children & Parental Rights
Our State Assembly, led by our current AD51 representative Rick Zbur, has passed bills allowing child mutilation. Worse, Sacramento Democrats are passing bills that make it easier for this to occur without a parent’s knowledge or consent.
The latest bill in this attack on parental rights is AB495, which allows an adult with a “mentoring relationship” to authorize child transgender treatment and even surgery. Governor Newsom signed this bill into law in October 2025.
As your representative, I will do everything I can to restore these important parental rights and protect our children from irreversible acts of abuse.
Reverse the Decline in the Quality of Our Children’s Education
California is a wealthy state, ranking #2 in median household income. Californians pay more in taxes than almost anyone. At $10,319 per capita, we rank #2 among all states in total state and local taxes.
Despite our wealth and the high level of taxes we pay, our children are at best receiving mediocre educations. Our overall educational quality now ranks in the lower half of all states.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests 4th and 8th graders for proficiency in math, reading, science, and writing. California students rank in the middle to bottom half in all four categories.
This needs to change. Our children’s success will determine California’s future.
Improve the Safety & Quality of All Our Neighborhoods
The #1 requirement for increasing safety is reducing crime.
In the past 10 years, all four AD51 cities — Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills — have experienced rising violent crime while the national violent crime rate has remained stable or slightly declined.
Our two most “progressive” cities — Santa Monica and West Hollywood — have become our most violent cities.
Local governments need to lead the way, but Sacramento politicians can start helping instead of hindering them.
Neighborhood quality can be improved in a number of ways, starting with protecting the existence of our single-family neighborhoods.
Create Jobs & Economic Opportunity
You can measure the economic vitality of a state in many ways. One of the best measures of in- vs. out-migration of taxpaying citizens is U-Haul’s annual report by state.
California ranks dead last and has for the past five years.
If we don’t become business-friendly, employers like Oracle, Chevron, Charles Schwab, and SpaceX will keep leaving for Texas, Florida, and other leading job-growth states.
Those of us who remain will be burdened with larger percentages of total state and local taxes. It’s a recipe for disaster.
Make LA More Affordable
Despite having some of the most aggressive rent control laws, all ten of the states with the highest average apartment rental rates are run by Democrats. California ranks 4th highest.
You’d think that would mean landlords are making a lot of money. You’d be wrong.
California is one of the least attractive rental property investment states. The reason rents are high and landlords are hurting is government-induced unaffordability.
This affects the cost of food, gas, utilities, insurance — almost everything.
We can make California more affordable. All it takes is electing people who have the skills and commitment to do it.
Reduce Homelessness with Compassion & Accountability
California has about four times the per capita homeless rate of each of the three fastest-growing Republican-run states — Texas, Florida, and Tennessee.
The key to success in addressing homelessness is a combination of compassion and accountability.
High-homeless states offer a lot of compassion but little to no accountability or measurable success in reducing homelessness.
This approach clearly doesn’t work regardless of the amount of taxpayer money thrown at the problem.
Take Action: Select Michael Geraghty for AD51
Serious Problems Require Serious Leadership
If you believe Los Angeles deserves practical reform, measurable outcomes, and leadership grounded in research and experience, I invite you to take the next step.
Solving problems where it mattered most.
A Record of Real-World Results
I have the skills to get results, having co-founded and built two manufacturing companies, a construction company, and a trade association in my career. The things I’m proudest of in my career didn’t have anything to do with making money.
Decades of Experience
In 1972, I helped the International Wildlife Rescue Foundation design and build temperature-controlled ponds to successfully treat hypothermia in waterfowl caught in a San Francisco Bay oil spill.
Compassionate Support
In 1989, I helped organize an international relief effort that delivered flotation devices to treat patients at the Vishnevsky Burn Institute in Moscow. A horrific Ural Mountain train crash killed hundreds and severely burned hundreds more. This was right before the fall of the USSR, and Moscow was already falling apart.
Solution Oriented
In 1985, I helped the large animal curator at the San Diego Zoo design a subterranean heating system that better simulated cave conditions in order to promote successful in-captivity breeding. A similar system reduced arthritis in their Komodo dragons.
It’s about time I start paying back for the wonderful opportunities I was afforded. With your help WE CAN DO THIS!
Quick links
The Issues
If you believe Los Angeles deserves practical reform, measurable outcomes, and leadership grounded in research and experience, I invite you to take the next step.
© Michael Geraghty AD51. 2026. All Rights Reserved.