An Interview with California Assembly Candidate Gracey Van Der Mark: A Homeless Welfare Mom's Journey Into Politics
Gracey Van Der Mark’s life story is anything but typical.
In this episode of the So, Does It Matter? Podcast, Jon Fleischman sits down with the Huntington Beach Councilmember and California State Assembly candidate for a candid, deeply personal conversation about her journey from poverty and homelessness to public office.
Gracey shares what it was like growing up in a low-income Los Angeles community, becoming a young mother, relying on public assistance, and experiencing homelessness — and how those experiences shaped her determination to create better opportunities for her children.
That fight led her into educational activism, local politics, and, eventually, to the Huntington Beach City Council majority that helped reshape the city's direction. Now, she is taking that experience to the next level by running for the California State Assembly.
In this episode, we discuss:
• Her personal journey through hardship and resilience
• What motivated her to get involved in local politics
• Her work addressing homelessness and public safety in Huntington Beach
• The challenges of pushing back against Sacramento mandates
• Why she believes lived experience matters in state leadership
The episode wraps with a lightning round where listeners get to know Gracey beyond politics, rounding out a conversation that is both deeply personal and sharply focused on California’s future.
🔗 Learn more about Gracey’s campaign:
