Introducing the Garry’s List Civic Impact Awards

The June 2 primary is coming. The ads, mailers, door knocks, and doom-posts are everywhere. And figuring out what to actually believe is harder than it should be.

But the signal is out there. It’s the creator who breaks down a ballot measure in two minutes. The newsletter that lands in your inbox and actually makes sense. The reporter who changed how you think about an issue. The tool that helped you figure out what’s on your ballot.

These are California’s political micro-influencers. They’re doing the real work — building trust, explaining complexity, reaching the people the big outlets miss. And almost nobody’s celebrating them.

So we are.

We’re opening nominations for our inaugural Garry’s List Civic Impact Awards — recognizing the people and platforms making California politics make sense.

The judges? You. The people who actually rely on this work know who’s earning your trust. So tell us who deserves a Garry’s List Civic Impact Award.

Send us an email at hello@garryslist or tag us on X. Tell us who/what you’re nominating, link their work, and explain why they deserve to be bookmarked, followed, and shortlisted. California nominations only, for now.

We’ll take it from there, and come back with the finalists for this community’s final vote.

Here are the categories.

Voice of the Year

A voice that makes California’s complex (and often opaque) political processes understandable. From ballot measures to bureaucratic quirks, these are the translators turning insider language into something clear, useful, and engaging.

Organizer of the Year

A trusted community organizer who shows up, speaks out, and actually breaks through. These are the people advocating for their communities in ways that cut past the noise, whether online or on the ground, and get others to pay attention and take action.

Best Political Ad of the Year

The ad you couldn’t ignore. Professional or DIY, polished or scrappy—what made you stop scrolling, hit replay, or keep thinking about it after? We’re looking for creativity that actually lands.

Best Civic Tech Platform in California

The builders making it easier to participate, understand, or engage. Which tools, apps, or platforms are meaningfully improving how Californians interact with their government, and deserve more attention and investment?

Best Community Newsletter

The publication that knows your community best. Hyperlocal, consistent, and plugged-in—who’s covering your neighborhood, city, or region in a way no one else is?

Best Political Newsletter

The one you actually read. What’s showing up in your inbox and keeping you informed, sharper, and more aware of what’s happening in California politics?

Best Political X Account

Who’s worth following for real-time insight, sharp commentary, or essential information? This is about signal over noise. These are accounts that consistently add value to the conversation.

Best Political YouTube Creator

Channels that go deeper than the headline. Who’s using video to explain, investigate, or challenge what’s happening in California politics in a way that keeps you watching?

Best Political TikToker

Short-form, high impact. Who’s using TikTok to inform, explain, or mobilize, without losing accuracy or substance?

Best Political Long-Form Investigative Journalism

Reporting that takes time and delivers. What work dug deeper, uncovered something important, or changed how you understand an issue in California politics?

We can’t wait to hear from you.