Andrés Molina Will Serve as Acting Political Director
SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Democratic Party (CADEM) today announced a leadership transition that builds on years of historic growth and electoral success. Yvette Martinez, who has served as Executive Director of CADEM, will step into a new role as Senior Advisor to Chair Rusty Hicks on March 1, 2026. Melanie V. Ramil, a seasoned Democratic strategist who served as Deputy Executive Director of the Party, will assume the role of Executive Director. Andrés Molina, who is the Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, is also serving as Acting Political Director for CADEM as of January 1.
As head of the largest state Democratic Party in the nation, Yvette Martinez has played a central role in strengthening and stabilizing CADEM’s operations, expanding its organizing footprint, and driving winning campaigns up and down the ballot, including driving the party’s critical role in the overwhelming passage of Prop 50, the Election Rigging Response Act, in 2025. In her new role as Senior Advisor, Martinez will continue to provide strategic guidance as the Party prepares for the critical elections ahead.
“Yvette’s leadership has helped transform the California Democratic Party into a national model for organizing, coalition-building, and electoral success,” said CADEM Chair Rusty Hicks. “I am personally grateful for all she has done to lead the Party and for all that she will continue to do in lending her vast experience, vision, and steady hand as Senior Advisor.”
Over the past five years, under Martinez’s leadership, the California Democratic Party has cemented its role as the backbone of Democratic success nationwide. CADEM has helped deliver record Democratic turnout, protected and expanded Democratic supermajorities in the Legislature, elected and re-elected Democratic leaders at every level of government, and passed critical ballot measures to defend democracy, protect reproductive freedom, invest in working families, and advance climate and environmental justice. The Party has also built one of the largest and most sophisticated volunteer and voter-contact operations in the country, serving as a blueprint for state parties nationwide.
Martinez also brings decades of experience in state and federal government, political campaigns, and public policy. She previously worked for Governor Gavin Newsom as Southern California Director, served as Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, and was a campaign strategist for Alex Padilla for State Senate. Her career has included leadership roles at nonprofit organizations and consulting for California-based foundations, including directing an early childhood education program for the David & Lucile Packard Foundation and helping the Water Foundation prepare communities for climate change.
Melanie V. Ramil steps into the role of Executive Director after serving as Deputy Executive Director for the past year, where she has been leading strategic planning efforts and helping to strengthen the Party’s digital communications, organizing and training strategies, including playing an integral leadership role in the passage of Proposition 50.
A seasoned strategist and self-described “relentless idealist,” Ramil brings more than two decades of experience across the nonprofit, political, and public sectors. Prior to joining CADEM, she served as California Deputy State Director for the Harris-Walz campaign and previously held the role of Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Kamala Harris. As Executive Director of Emerge California, Ramil helped build a deep bench of Democratic women leaders and candidates across the state.
“Melanie is exactly the kind of leader CADEM needs as we look toward 2026 and beyond,” Hicks said. “She understands how to build strong teams, run disciplined campaigns, and turn values into victories.”
Andrés Molina, who will be serving as acting Political Director of the California Democratic Party, also brings a wealth of political experience. Appointed in 2022, Andrés Molina is the Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP), the largest County Central Committee in the nation. He is the first Latino and youngest Executive Director in LACDP’S history. In this role, Andrés oversees the organization’s daily operations and political strategy on behalf of more than 730 County Central Committee members and 3.1 million registered Democrats across Los Angeles County.
During his tenure, Andrés has chartered a record number of clubs, strengthened fundraising, expanded mail and digital programs, strategically deployed volunteer resources, increased the number of women, people of color, and young Democrats in leadership, and boosted local candidate endorsements by an average of over 100 per cycle.
Previously, Andrés served as Regional Organizing Director for Los Angeles County on the Harris–Walz California team.
“We are thrilled that Andrés is sharing his invaluable time and expertise with CADEM and look forward to creating strategic victories with him in 2026,” Hicks said.
With these strong leaders in place, the California Democratic Party is well-positioned to build on that momentum and continue organizing, mobilizing, and winning for Californians now and into the future.
