In 1996, Kamlager-Dove was the spokesperson for the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) in Venice, California.[6] A year later, she was the organization's public art director during the restoration of the Venice graffiti pit.[7][8] After leaving SPARC, Kamlager-Dove worked as an assistant to actor Delroy Lindo.[9] She later worked as a public affairs director for the nonprofit child care corporation Crystal Stairs, headed at the time by Holly Mitchell.[10]
In 2010, Kamlager-Dove worked on the campaign to elect Mitchell to the California State Assembly, becoming district director after Mitchell's victory.[11][12] In 2015, she ran for Seat 3 of the board of trustees for the Los Angeles Community College District.[13] She won with more than 52% of the vote among four candidates on March 3, 2015.[14] Kamlager-Dove has sat on the board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles.[15]
Kamlager was an advocate for racial equity, access and social justice in the California State Assembly. She was vocal about restoring voting rights to parolees, strengthening standards for police use of force, and stopping the NCAA from preventing student athletes from receiving payment in connection with the use of the student athlete's name, image or likeness.[17][18][19][20] In 2019, she co-authored SB 188, the CROWN Act, which prohibits employers from enforcing policies surrounding "race-neutral" grooming or discriminating against people wearing natural or protective hairstyles.[21]
During her tenure in the Assembly, Kamlager-Dove sat on the following standing committees: Public Safety, Arts and Entertainment, Communications and Conveyance, Insurance and the powerful Rules committee.[22] She chaired the Select Committee on Incarcerated Women and led the legislature's Los Angeles County Delegation.[23] In 2020, Kamlager-Dove was appointed by the Speaker of the California State Assembly to serve on the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code.
Legislation
Fiscal issues
Kamlager-Dove sponsored AB 987, legislation to build a new arena for the Los Angeles Clippers. The bill was signed into law.[24]
Social issues
Kamlager-Dove sponsored two bills, AB 241 and AB 242, to mandate the incorporation of implicit bias training into continued education for healthcare professionals, lawyers, and judges.[25] The bills were intended to reduce disparities in health care and the judicial system in California.
Kamlager-Dove sponsored California's first hunting ban in decades with AB 1254, which ends the trophy hunting of bobcats, except under specified circumstances, until January 1, 2025.[26]
California State Senate (2021–2023)
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In November 2022, Kamlager-Dove was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for California's 37th district, replacing Karen Bass, who successfully ran for mayor of Los Angeles.