Beverly High alumnus runs for California Democratic Party delegate

After graduating Beverly High in 2011, Daniel Bral wanted to make his mark in the music entertainment industry. He’s now aiming for a different stage – to run for delegate to the California Democratic Party.

Bral announced last Monday he is running to represent the 50th Assembly District, which includes Beverly Hills. If he wins, he would be among 415 of California’s pledged delegates representing the Democratic Party in political assemblies.

The son of Jewish Iranian immigrants didn’t always plan to work in politics. But after completing a two-year stint at talent agency William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, he realized being a talent agent was not for him.

Bral then pivoted to a different scene – law school. He graduated from Loyola Law School in May and is currently waiting for his California Bar Examination results. Bral said he always had an interest in politics, but law school was the time when he got a chance to actually test out the political waters.

“I went and worked for [Los Angeles] Mayor Eric Garcetti for a little over a year and I was working in his office of economic opportunity, primarily with homelessness policies,” Bral said.

Bral later worked as a communications associate and law clerk for City Attorney Mike Feuer. It was a lot of writing, research and policy work, he said.

“I really want to be in a position where I can help other people,” Bral said. “That’s always been my driving force.”

Becoming a California Democratic Party delegate could be an entry point for him to do just that, he said.

There are a number of policies Bral said he plans to advocate for if he’s elected, ranging from homelessness, domestic justice and inequality, to democracy reform. He said one of his goals is also a foreign policy that focuses on diplomacy.

“I think it’s really important that we nurture relationships – not just with our allies but with countries that we don’t usually have strong ties with,” he said.

Bral credits his family for his empathy. He said he watched his mother donating to local charities throughout his childhood and now feels the same responsibility to others.

“I just want to help people who don’t get attention, don’t have a voice, don’t have representation often, feel like they’re overlooked and neglected,” Bral said. “Because I have that empathy – which is so sorely lacking in our leaders right now – and I’m not doing this for selfish reasons, I feel like I’m the right person for [delegate].”

The Assembly District Election Meeting, which is when registered Democrats can vote for delegates to represent their district, will be conducted through vote-by-mail. Ballots must be received by January 27. For more information on the election, visit www.adem.cadem.org. To register to vote, visit ademelections.com.