Dave LeClark

    

The Honorable Dave LeClark
Leader of the Social Democrats of the Inland Empire
In office August 18, 2015 – March 27, 2023
Preceded by	Cleveland Davison
Succeeded by	Frank Gonzales
Member of the Inland Empire Provincial Assembly for the 30th district
In office November 6, 2014 – November 8, 2022
Preceded by	Martin Cameron
Succeeded by	Ethan Duncan
Personal details
Born	(1987-11-08) November 8, 1987 Coachella, Inland Empire, Sierra, Kingdom of Sierra
Political party	Social Democrats
Domestic partner	Diego Harris (since 2006)
Education	University of Sierra, Riverside
Occupation	Community organizer, politician

David Joseph LeClark (born November 8, 1987) is a Sierran political activist, community organizer, and politician who served as a member of the Inland Empire Provincial Assembly for the 30th district between 2014 and 2022. A member of the Social Democrats, he served as Leader of the Social Democrats of the Inland Empire from 2015 to 2023 and was the youngest party leader to be elected, having been elected at the age of 27 and was the youngest provincial party leader in the Inland Empire prior to his resignation.

Born in the province, LeClark has been involved in politics since his time in college and was originally a community organizer before running for public office. LeClark was first elected to the provincial assembly during the 2014 general election where he unseated then-incumbent Democratic-Republican Martin Cameron. He would be elected leader of the Inland Empire Social Democrats in 2015 and succeeded Cleveland Davison who had resigned due to health-related issues. He would be re-elected to the provincial assembly in 2018. In 2022, he would garner media attention for his open denial of the allegations of electoral interference by the United Commonwealth in the 2021 Sierran federal election and accused Maggie Chan and the DRPS of betraying working-class and progressive voters for withdrawaling from the Second Kwon ministry and accused her of engaging in a "neoliberal coup attempt". His statements caused controversy and this would be credited with his defeat in the 2022 Inland Empire general election on November 8 and his party suffering historic losses. After the election, he announced his resignation as party leader and would complete it following the conclusion of the leadership election. He formally stepped down on March 27, 2023, and was succeeded by Frank Gonzales.

A self-identified socialist and progressive, Dave LeClark is one of the most left-wing officeholders in the Inland Empire and has been a notable voice for left-wing and progressive causes and policies in the traditionally conservative province. He has supported protecting and advancing abortion rights, LGBT rights, and supports universal healthcare having backed the National Health Protection Act of 2020. He supports an increase in the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour, universal basic income, and a federal jobs guarantee.