Cabaldon began in government as Chief Consultant and Staff Director at the age of 24 to the California State Assembly Higher Education Committee and then Chief of Staff to the chair of Appropriations Committee. He began his professional career as Legislative Director of the University of California Students Association, before working for legislative higher education committee chairs Tom Hayden (of the Chicago Seven) and Marguerite Archie-Hudson (who succeeded Maxine Waters in the Assembly and later served as president of Talladega College).