Sacramento is in need of thoughtful and rational Democrats in the Legislature. Assemblyman and former San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos fits that bill.

One thing to get out of the way: Ramos faces only nominal opposition this time with Scott P. Olson, who isn’t running much of a campaign.

Regardless, it will be difficult for Republicans to mount much of a campaign against Ramos in the 45th Assembly District, which includes Fontana, Highland, Rialto, Redlands and San Bernardino.

Ramos is very much a moderate Democrat with an eye toward practical solutions to California’s problems. Unlike many Democrats, he’s clear-eyed, for example, about the need for California to take a balanced approach toward energy policy. As much as he favors a greener future, he speaks directly about the need for lawmakers to consider the trade-offs, including the rising cost of energy and the impact that has on Californians.

In a recent interview, Ramos wondered if a better use of the Legislature’s special session might be the state’s homelessness crisis. He wants to see better coordination and results in homelessness programs, rather than seeing the problem attacked in silos.

Ramos has also continued his focus on mental health as a legislative priority. “For our children to thrive, we must ensure their safety,” he explained to this editorial board. “I have witnessed the impact of bullying and suicide in our communities and the impact it has on our youth. The governor signed one of my bills, AB 1767, which expanded school district suicide prevention policies. Another bill that was signed into law was AB 34, which addressed social bullying in our school system.”

And, as the first Native American elected to the state Legislature, he has made a point of carrying legislation to promote better recognition of and policies for the state’s tribal communities. This includes legislation to address substance abuse in tribal communities and better respond to missing and endangered Indigenous people.

While we don’t agree with Ramos on everything, we think he’s a reasonable voice in a mostly unreasonable Legislature. We encourage him to continue his efforts to push for balance within his party and and continue his efforts advocating on tribal issues.