Laura Wells holds a BA in foreign languages from Wayne State University, where she was a scholarship student and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She later earned a Masters of Education from Antioch University. Wells has extensive experience in finance, business analysis, and computer programming. She has been a prominent figure in the Green Party, serving in various leadership roles at the county and state levels. Wells co-founded the national Green Party newspaper, Green Focus, and played a key role in the successful adoption of Instant Runoff Voting in Oakland.

Laura Wells combines a deep commitment to environmental sustainability with a unique approach to economic policy, advocating for localized, community-focused energy solutions while simultaneously opposing nuclear power and carbon sequestration. Her fiscal policies reveal an unexpected convergence with opposing factions on environmental regulations, suggesting a highly calculated approach to protecting regional industrial interests. Wells's support for a Single Payer Universal Health Care system in California, alongside her opposition to Proposition 13 and government bailouts, indicates a willingness to challenge traditional economic paradigms. Her endorsement of Instant Runoff Voting and successful campaigns for its adoption in Oakland underscore her dedication to enhancing democratic participation. Wells's ideological positioning and policy stances create a fascinating tension between progressive environmentalism and a localized economic approach.