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California has more districts than most states. Here is the outcome of the California U.S. House Elections in 2022. This blog focuses on Districts 41 – 50. Many of these districts are connected to Los Angeles, Orange County, or San Diego county.
California’s 41st Congressional District
Wikipedia posted information about California’s 41st Congressional District:
California’s 41st congressional district is a congressional district in Riverside County, in the U.S. state of California. The district is currently represented by Republican Ken Calvert.
It includes the cities of Palm Springs, Menifee, Calimesa, Norco, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, and most of Corona. The representative for the 41st is Ken Calvert, who was redistricted from the 42nd district. It contains most of the western part of the Palm Springs Area with the exception of Cathedral City, as well as commuter towns in the Greater Los Angeles area, and exurban and rural areas in South-Western Riverside County.
Now that the district contains the heavily Democratic cities of Palm Springs and Palm Desert, along with the swing city of Corona and conservative areas in western Riverside County, such as Norco, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Wildomar, and Calimesa. The district is considered a swing seat, rated as a “Toss Up” by the Cook Political Report.
As of the 2020 redistricting, California’s 41st congressional district is located in the Inland Empire in Southern California. It is located entirely within Riverside County.
Riverside County is split between this district, the 25th district, the 39th district, and the 48th district. The 41st and 25th are partitioned by Terwillinger Rd, Bailey Rd, Candelaria, Elder Creek Rd, Bonny Ln, Tule Peak Rd, Eastgate Trail, Goldfish Rd, Rule Valley Rd, Laura Ln, Dove Dr, Lago Grande, Barbara Trail, Valley Dr, Foolish Pleasure Rd, Highway 371, Gelding Way, Puckit Dr, Indian Rd, Wellman Rd, El Toro Rd, Burnt Valley Rd, Cahuilla Rd, Highway 74, Bull Canyon Rd, Santa Rosa-San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, Fred Waring Dr, Washington St, Highway 10, Davall Dr, Dinah Shore Dr, Plumley Rd, Gerald Ford Dr, E Ramon Rd, San Luis Rey Dr, San Joaquin River, Stetson Ave, Hemet St, Cornell St, Gerard St, E Newport Rd, Domenigoni Parkway, Leon Rd, Grand Ave, State Highway 74, California Ave, W Devonshire Ave, Warren Rd, Ramona Expressway, San Jacinto River, Highway 79, Oak Valley Parkway, Champions Dr, Union St, Brookside Ave.
The 41st and 39th are partitioned by Corona Freeway, River Trails Park, Redley Substation Rd, Arlington Ave, Alhambra Ave, Golden Ave, Doheny Blvd, Bolivar St, Campbell Ave, Pierce St, Quantico Dr, Collett Ave, Buchanan St, Highway 91, 12397 Doherty Way-Magnolia Ave, BNSF Railroad, N McKinley St, N Temescal St, E 16th St, S Neece St, Indiana Ave, Skyridge Dr, Fillmore St, 2969 Fillmore St-La Sierra Ave, Cleveland Ave, McAllister Parkway, Corsica Ave, Hermosa Dr, John F. Kennedy Dr, Wood Rd, Colt St. Dauchy Ave, Van Buren Blvd, Bobbit Ave, Chicago Ave, Krameria Ave, 16510 Sendero del Charro-Mariposa Ave, Barton St, Cole Ave, Rider St, Greenwood Ave, Kabian Park, Goetz Park, Ethanac Rd, McLaughlin Rd, Sherman Rd, Tumble Rd, Watson Rd, Escondido Expressway, Mapes Rd, Ellis Ave, Antelope Rd, Rico Ave, San Jacinto River, Ramona Expressway, Lake Perris State Recreation Area, Gilman Springs Rd, Moreno Valley Freeway, Quincy St, Cloud Haven Dr, Holly Ct, Reche Vista Dr, Reche Canyon Rd, and Kessel Rd.
The 41st and 48th are partitioned by Ortega Highway, Tenaja Truck Trail, NF-7506, Tenaja, San Mateo Creek, Los Alamos Rd, Und 233 S Main Dv, Wildomar, Grand Ave, Rancho Mirlo Dr, Cooper Canyon Park, 42174 Kimberly Way-35817 Darcy Pl, Escondido Expressway, Scott Rd, Warren Rd, Summitville St, Indian Knoll Rd, E Benton Rd, Rancho California Rd, Overhill Rd, Green Meadow Rd, Crossover Rd, Exa-Ely Rd, Denise Rd, Wiley Rd, Powerline Rd, Wilson Valley Rd, Wilson Creek, Reed Valley Rd, Centennial St, Beaver Ave and Lake Vista
Dr. The 41st district takes in the cities of Wildomar, Canyon Lake, Menifee, Palm Springs, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Norco, and Corona, as well as the census-designated places Cherry Valley, Nuevo, Homeland, Sage, Idyllwild-Pine Cove and Woodcrest.
Ballotpedia provided information about Ken Calvert:
Ken Calvert (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 41st Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Calvert (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 41st Congressional District. He declared his candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Calvert was first elected to the U.S. House in 1992 to represent California’s 43rd Congressional District. He was elected to California’s 44th Congressional District in 2002 and served until his election to California’s 42nd Congressional District.
From 1992 to 2018, Calvert captured an average of 58.5 percent of the vote in each general election. The percentage of the vote he captured was lowest in his first election in 1992 where he garnered 46.7 percent of the vote. It was the highest in 2000 when he faced a Libertarian Party and Natural Law Party candidate in the general election and garnered 73.7 percent of the vote.
Ken Calvert was born in Corona, California. Calvert graduated from Corona High School in 1971. He earned an A.A. from Chaffey College in 1973 and a B.A. from San Diego University in 1975.
Calvert’s experience includes owning a business and working as a restaurant manager. He served as the chair of the Riverside County Republican Party.
Ballotpedia reported that Ken Calvert did not complete Ballotpedia’s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Ballotpedia provided information from Ken Calvert’s campaign website from 2012:
Calvert’s campaign website listed the following issues:
- Economy
Excerpt: “I began working in our family business in Corona at a young age. Before long, I started and ran my own business, learning valuable lessons about small businesses along the way. With an economics degree from San Diego State University and decades of community leadership and business experience, I understand what it means to sign the front of a payroll check, and what that paycheck means to families.”
- Education
Excerpt: “Communities across our country must constantly ask themselves if our children are getting the best possible education. It is not often that I agree with President Obama, but I do share his support for using meaningful performance pay systems to improve teacher quality and effectiveness. If we are going to give our students the best education, we must reward teachers who excel and give an extra effort.”
- Energy
Excerpt: “I believe the best way to confront our country’s energy challenges is by adopting an “all of the above” energy policy that takes aggressive steps towards reducing our dependance on foreign sources of energy. Federal incentives and coordinated research in developing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies are a critical component of solving our energy problems.”
- Healthcare
Excerpt: “I voted against ObamaCare and I believe it should be repealed. The process Washington Democrats used to produce the health care law was fraught with sweetheart deals, special interests carve outs, and forced on America under undemocratic rules. I believe Congress should repeal and replace the health care law with a renewed focus on the health care reform elements most Americans agree on.”
- Immigration
Excerpt: “As most Americans know, our immigration policies are broken. The worst step we can take is to grant amnesty to people who entered our country illegally. I oppose amnesty because it sends a horrible message to those who entered our country legally and to those thinking about immigrating to America in the future.”
Ballotpedia provided information about Will Rollins:
Will Rollins (Democratic Party) is running for election to represent California’s 41st Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Will Rollins was born in Torrance, California. Rollins earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 2007 and a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School in 2012. His career experience includes working as an assistant U.S. attorney.
Will Rollins completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Will Rollins is a former federal prosecutor who focussed on counterterrorism and counterintelligence cases in Southern California. He’s running for Congress because the attack on the U.S. Capitol underscored why America needs a new generation of leaders to end the toxic divisions that threaten our democracy and prevent us from solving problems together. After helping to prosecute some of the insurrectionists who attacked the US Capitol on January 6, Will decided to challenge Republican Congressman Ken Calvert, who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Coming of age at at time when being gay was a crime in some states, Will and his partner Paolo know that government-sponsored discrimination has lasting effects on all Americans, our economy, and our national security. That has motivated Will to improve the lives of others who face discrimination. Will’s mother and father, a public defender and a journalist, stressed the importance of justice and free speech at a young age. His parents taught him that although the system may not be perfect, every generation has a responsibility to improve it. With this in mind, Will is running for Congress to serve the 41st district of California and bring justice and accountability back to Washington.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your time in office?
- I became a national security and terrorism prosecutor because of 9-11. I wanted to help keep America safe. But over my career, I’ve seen the threats to our country change. Today, some of our biggest threats are right here at home, as people become radicalized by conspiracy theories and QAnon lies that spread across social media and echo on Fox News. This is a systemic problem. Extremists, Big Tech and media outlets are profiting from spreading division based on lies, even as they erode our democracy and make it easier for adversaries like China and Russia to exploit us.
- If Americans can start agreeing on basic facts again, we can start working together to tackle the big issues of our generation: reforming our criminal justice system, improving access to health care, growing our economy, and protecting our planet.
- Let’s kick out extreme politicians like Ken Calvert who spread the big lies and elect a new generation of leaders willing to save our democracy.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Fixing our broken information system, lowering costs on working families, expanding access to healthcare, and protecting the planet.
Ballotpedia provided information on Shrina Kurani:
Shrina Kurani (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 41st Congressional District. She lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Shrina Kurani was born in Riverside, California. Kurani earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Riverside in 2013. Her career experience includes working as the vice president of business and the chief of staff of the financial services company Republic, the CEO of FoodNest, and an engineer.
Shrina Kurani completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. Here are some of the questions she answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Growing up in Riverside County, I saw the lack of quality career opportunities. I’m a first-generation American and learned the value of hustle from my parents, who didn’t take a day off in 10 years as the family worked together to build a successful pool supply business.
Those opportunities are still out of reach for far too many people and career Washington politicians are too busy helping themselves, their political parties, and their corporate donors.
I’m an engineer, entrepreneur, and fact-based problem solver, not a politician. I’ve spent my career building businesses that reduce waste and create quality jobs. I’m running for Congress to make things work better in Washington so we can develop a sustainable future and build an Inland Empire where people feel safe, healthy, and have opportunities to succeed in fulfilling careers.
Please list below key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- I’m an engineer, entrepreneur, and fact-based problem solver, not a politician
- I’ve spent my career building businesses that reduce waste and create quality jobs.
- I’m running for Congress to make things work better in Washington so we can develop a sustainable future and build an Inland Empire where people feel safe, healthy, and have opportunities to succeed in fulfilling careers.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am passionate about (1) creating economic opportunity, including expanding quality jobs that support families by investing in training for skilled trades and technology jobs, and provide direct relief to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) making living more affordable by reducing prices for goods and repairing our supply chain so we produce critical supplies and medicines here at home, and cracking down on corporations that are taking advantage of the pandemic and inflating prices for their own profit, and (3) protecting our environment by taking bold, immediate action to tackle climate change, pushing for initiatives that increase the use of renewable energy, and prioritizing access to clean air, water, land and parks for everyone.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I grew up in my parents small business, a swimming pool and spa supply store. I learned learned the values of hard work, hustle, and resourcefulness from my parents while they worked seven days a week, with my brother and I helping after school and in the summers. The seed of entrepreneurship was planted for me as I saw my parents work together to grow the business to over 14 locations throughout the Inland Empire, with my mother managing the accounting and my father overseeing the employees and also engaging in the local community through the Chamber of Commerce and as a planning commissioner.
Ballotpedia provided information about John Michael Lucio
John Michael Lucio (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 41st Congressional District. Lucio lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
John Michael Lucio was born in Long Beach, California. Lucio served in the U.S. Navy. He earned a B.A. and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University in 2008 and 2011, respectively.
Ballotpedia provided information about Anna Nevenic
Anna Nevenic (Independent) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 41st Congressional District. She lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Anna Nevenic earned a B.S. in political science from San Francisco State University. Nevenic’s career experiences includes owning OAKS Nurses Registry and working as a nurse. She founded and has served as the director of United Children’s Network.
Ballotpedia provided information about Brandon Mosely
Brandon Mosely (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 41st Congressional District. He did not appear on the ballot for the primary on June 7, 2022.
Brandon Mosely was born in California.
Mosely completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Here are the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
A life-long resident of Riverside County, Brandon grew up the working-class son of a pastor and public-school bust driver. His parents moved there to start their family, escaping gang violence in Compton after his mother was nearly the victim of a drive-by shooting. The church helped Brandon’s parents find a better path forward, and it helped a young Barndon discover his passion: helping others. Brandon has been leading his community for practically his entire life – he preached his first sermon at 6 and was immediately hooked on the transformative power of service. After graduating from Vista del Lago High School in 2005, Brandon became the first in his family to attend college, matriculating into Cal State Dominguez Hills. Brandon likes to say he attends college on a “hope scholarship” – he always hoped he’d find a way to pay for it. With little support to fall back on, he had to pay his own way working full time; he’s still paying the loans off. Today, Brandon is a proud teacher and chair of the Rancho Verde High School Social Science Department. His work with ethnic studies has led to Val Verde Unified School District adopting the subject as a graduation requirement. He is the co-founder of People United Servicing Hope (PUSH), a non-profit that is helping disenfranchised communities throughout the Inland Empire. As an AVID teacher, Brandon is personally responsible for dozens of kids going to college every year.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- As an educator and pastor, I have assisted countless children to get the skills, preparation and mentorship needed to go on to attend and graduate College. Support that so many young people in the Inland Empire don’t have today.
- As a non-profit leader, I continue to work every day to fight injustices in our communities. We deserve a leader that is going to fight for a more just future and deliver families: affordable healthcare, a quality education and more pathways to reach the middle class.
- Ken Calvert has neglected working people for three decades and has spent his time cozying up to high-powered lobbyists and corporations to raise millions of dollars in special interest money.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
No American should have to make the choice between paying for their prescription drugs or the rent. In Congress, I’ll do everything in my power to expand access to quality and affordable healthcare and bring down the soaring costs of prescription drug pricing. I’ll push back against the insurance and pharmaceutical companies that put profits ahead of people. I’ll fight to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and ensure that those with preexisting conditions can’t be denied coverage.
Our COVID-19 crisis has further demonstrated how far out of reach access to basic healthcare is for so many Inland Empire residents. As we work to pull ourselves out of the pandemic, it has never been more imperative that we bring equity to our healthcare system.
We have seen during our Covid-19 crisis how the economy is stacked against working people. Too many hard-working people in the Inland Empire continue to be left behind. Our poverty rate in Riverside County is still higher than the national average. It’s imperative that we invest in quality job training and apprenticeship programs and provide small businesses with the relief them need to hire workers and pay a fair wage.
I support a national paid family leave program that provides workers with adequate protections when suffering from an illness or injury and focuses on strengthening our families. We need to ensure that hard-working people don’t lose their jobs for looking after their own wellbeing and those in their family.
February 22: Desert Sun posted an article titled: “Meet the three Democrats vying to challenge incumbent Ken Calvert for Congress” From the article:
In what could be one of the more competitive congressional races in California, a trio of Democrats are vying to be the main challenger against long-time GOP Rep. Ken Calvert, who will be seeking re-election in a new district that includes parts of Coachella Valley.
California’s once-in-a-decade redistricting process, which wrapped up in December, guaranteed that much of the valley will be represented by a new person in Congress. Democratic Rep. Raul Ruiz, who has represented the entire valley since 2013, is running in a district that includes Indio, Coachella, Cathedral City, and Desert Hot Springs, as well as Imperial County and a sliver of San Bernardino County.
Calvert has comfortably won re-election races over the past decade, but the state’s redistricting process resulted in him now running in a district with a fairly even ideological split: Republicans comprise 36.7% of voters in the new district, while Democrats make up 36.2% of the electorate, according to Political Data Inc., a statewide voting analytics firm.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also has targeted the district as one to flip, adding it to its nationwide list of “districts in play” in January.
Each of the Democrats running in the district – Will Rollins, Brandon Mosely and Shrina Kurani – are seeking victories that would mark historic milestones.
Rollins, a former federal prosecutor, would be the first openly gay man to represent the Cochella Valley in Congress, while Mosely, a teacher and nonprofit founder, is seeking to be the state’s first Black man sent to Congress in more than two decades. At 29, Kurani would be the youngest U.S. representative currently serving from California…
…At the local party’s pre-endorsement meeting in mid-February, none of the candidates garnered the requisite 70% threshold to gain the nomination, but Rollins led the pack with 57% of the vote, while Mosely got roughly 33% and Kurani had about 9% of the members’ support.
Rollins, the former federal prosecutor, is the only Democrat seeking the congressional seat who lives in the Coachella Valley, after moving with his partner from Canyon Lake to Palm Springs earlier this year…
…While working as a federal prosecutor in the Central District of California, a post he held until starting his campaign, Rollins says he saw a steady rise in domestic extremism and hate crimes that culminated with the Jan 6. 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol – an event that he says drove him to run for office.
“I think that seeing Ken Calvert vote to overturn the election after 140 police officers were injured in that attack – five officers died as a result of that attack – I think that’s what prompted me to (run),” Rollins said. “I didn’t want to look back on my life and regret not trying to unseat a Republican who undermined our democracy at a moment that is critical in the country’s history.”…
…Rollins also said he wants to serve in Congress by “improving the lives of the people who actually live here.” The 37-year-old criticized Calvert for supporting a GOP tax bill in 2017 that slashed rates for corporations and lowered individual rates at each income level.
“That’s a product of Calvert’s votes,” Rollins said.
Calvert responded to the criticism by pointing to the country’s 2019 unemployment rate, which was at its lowest level since 1969, as evidence of Republicans’ successful approach toward the economy…
…Since launching his campaign, Rollins has accrued several endorsements from larger organizations, including Equality California and the LGBTQ Victory Fund, as well as local officials, such as Palm Springs council members Geoff Koss and Christy Holstege. He also received the endorsement of the Desert Stonewall Democrats in mid-February…
…At 29, Kurani would be one of the youngest members of Congress if elected, and she believes her scientific background as a mechanical engineer – which led her to consult on environmental projects for Sempra Energy, NASA and a few international companies – would serve her will in helping craft federal climate policies.
“(Climate change) is a big part of what we need to get done in Congress, because that intersects with the economy, the cost of climate change – what we’re seeing, for example, with increased wildfire risk here, and what that does to debris falls and mudslides that are effecting residents,” Kurani said. “Often, everyday Americans end up footing the bill because we don’t have the proper insurance mechanisms in place.”
“If we’re going to protect our environment for future generations, for my future children and my future grandchildren, then we’re going to need to vote out the biggest enemies to climate legislation in Congress,” she added…
…Kurani, who also attended the United Nations climate negotiations in Glasgow last year, took aim at Calvert for his record on climate change, noting he has a lifetime voting score of 7% from the League of Conservation Voters.
In response, Calvert said he views climate change as an issue, but he criticized President Biden’s approach toward energy production, arguing the federal government should pursue policies that promote natural gas, which emits about half as much carbon dioxide as coal and 30% less than oil, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions…
…Mosley, a teacher and chair of the social sciences department at Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, was the first Democrat to announce his campaign to unseat Calvert, and he argues the work of Congress will improve if more working-class people win election to some of its seats.
“If we can send people who actually care about the average person to Congress, anything is possible,” Mosley said. “We keep saying: Can we get Medicare for All? Can we get student debt forgiveness? Can we get the Green New Deal? We can, if we change the people we send to Congress.”
Mosley, 35, considers himself to fall on the “progressive” end of the Democratic Party’s political spectrum, though he is wary of using labels that can cause people to “throw out” ideas…
…Mosley, who also directs a local non-profit focused on community-based mentoring and policing reforms, said he would continue to push for components of the Democrats’ roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better proposal, which as stalled in the Senate after passing the House in November.
“The (expanded) child tax credit, I think we don’t do enough messaging on that, and understand that we need to get that permanent and push for that,” Mosely said, adding that Democrats also “cannot give up” on paid family and medical care.
Calvert opposed the Build Back Better bill during the House vote in November, later telling The Desert Sun that the proposal would “be like pouring gas on a fire” for the country’s high inflation rates.
In seeking the seat, Mosely – who has picked up endorsements from Riverside County Democratic Party Chair Tisa Rodriguez and state Assemblymenber Sabrina Cervantes, D-Corona, – also hopes to break a decades-ling streak: A Black man has not represented California in Congress since 2000…
Ballotpedia provided information about Melissa Melendez
Melissa Melendez (Republican Party) was a member of the California State Senate, representing District 28. She assumed office on May 18, 2020. She left office on December 5, 2022.
Melendez (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 41st Congressional District. She did not appear on the ballot for the primary on June 7, 2022.
Melendez attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. She earned her B.A. in history and political studies and her M.B.A. in June 2008. She served in the United States Navy for ten years.
March 8: News Channel 3 KESQ.Com posted an article titled: “Senator Melissa Melendez files paperwork to run for 41st Congressional District” From the article:
Republican State Senator Melissa Melendez has filed papers to run in the newly drawn 41st Congressional district. The new district includes most of the Coachella Valley.
Melendez won a special election for the State Senate in May 2020. She is not able to seek reelection due to term limits.
Melendez is a U.S. Navy veteran who moved to California and started a small business. She served on the Lake Elsinore city council and eventually became mayor. A rising star within the party, Melendez was then elected to represent the 67th district state assembly in 2012, a position she held until being elected to the state senate in May.
The race for the 41st district is shaping up to be one of the most competitive congressional races in California.
Democrat Will Rollins and longtime Republican Congressman Ken Calvert have already announce their plans to run. Calvert would be seeking re-election…
March 8: The Desert Sun posted an article titled: “Republican state Sen. Melissa Melendez to run for Congress against GOP incumbent Ken Calvert” From the article:
…State Sen. Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, filled paperwork Monday with the Riverside County Registrar of Voters to run for California’s 41st congressional district, entering the fray in a race that already includes incumbent Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, one of the longest serving members of Congress, and three Democrats.
The 41st District was created last year in California’s latest round of redistricting, including Palm Springs, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert, along with Menifee, Norco, and Corona in western Riverside County.
For the past decade, the entire Coachella Valley has fallen within a single congressional district, the 36th, represented since 2013 by Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-La Quinta. Ruiz is now seeking re-election in the newly drawn 25th District, which includes Indio, Coachella, Cathedral City, and Desert Hot Springs, as well as Imperial County and a sliver of San Bernardino County.
Melendez, a Navy veteran who has represented the Coachella Valley in the State Senate since winning a special election in May 2020, cannot seek re-election due to term limits, and is inspired to seek a seat in Congress.
“I have immense support for my opponent; however, when Ken Calvert was first elected to Congress, I was in the military serving my country during Operation Desert Storm,” Melendez told the Desert Sun. “Since then, two of my five children have gone on to serve in the U.S. Navy, yet our representation in Washington has remained the same.”
“This is a clear indication to me it’s time for fresh ideas when it comes to representing Riverside County in our nation’s capital,” she continued. “I’ll have further comments once the filing deadline closes on Friday.”…
…”I’m running for re-election because I have the experience and seniority that enables me to deliver results for Riverside County, as I have done for many years,” Calvert said.
Melendez, a former mayor of Lake Elsinore, previously represented the 67th District in California’s Assembly for eight years before winning election to the Senate in 2020. During her tenure in the Legislature, she has heavily criticized Democrats’ approach on issues such as homelessness and criminal justice.
She has also been a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, meeting with the president in May of 2018 at the White House alongside other state Republicans.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Melendez has been an outspoken critic of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s policies. In late 2020, she introduced a proposal that would end Newsom’s declared state of emergency and thereby terminate the governor’s COVID-19 emergency powers. That resolution is now set for a Senate hearing on March 15…
…The new district features a fairly even partisan split, with Republicans comprising 36.7% and Democrats making up 36.2% of its registered votes, according to Political Data Inc., a statewide voting analysis firm…
March 15: News Channel 3 KESQ.Com posted an article titled: “Melissa Melendez misses filing deadline to run for Congress” From the article:
Republican State Senator Melissa Melendez will not be running for Congress. On Tuesday, News Channel 3 learned that Melendez missed the filing deadline to run in the newly drawn 41st congressional district.
The new district includes most of the Coachella Valley and is currently held by longtime Republican Congressman Ken Calvert…
May 18: Idyllwild Town Crier posted an article titled: “Anna Nevenic seeks Congressional seat” From the article:
Anna Nevenic is a No Party Preference candidate in the race for the 41st Congressional seat. However, many voters may recognize her as the frequent Democratic candidate in elections for state steps over the past decade.
In 2010, she entered the race that former Sen. Bill Emerson won to replace John Benoit as the state Senate member. She ran again for that office in 2014 and 2018 against Sen. Jeff Stone and in the 2020 election to replace him, which Sen. Melissa Melendez won.
Nevenic should be familiar to Hill voters despite her notoriety of unsuccessful efforts to gain elected office. However, she doesn’t find it discouraging.
“Thinking you can pull people out of misery, that is a sufficient force for me,” she believes.
Born in Yugoslavia, where she earned a nursing degree, at a young age in 1976 she immigrated to the United States. Eventually, she settled down in San Francisco, earned a degree from San Francisco State University in political science and German, married and raised a son who is a doctor. Divorced, she eventually moved to the desert where she now lives, to enjoy the warmer climate…
…”If I am elected, maybe I can help change consciences,” she believes. “I’ve worried about human suffering since I was a little child.”
Nevenic’s priorities and issues she favors starts with comprehensive, universal health care with major emphasis on preventative care. She advocated education reforms and emphasizes increasing literacy, job training for the new economy, after school programs and building healthy lifestyles. And infrastructure is a part of her platform. She would increase investments in renewable energy and expand all modes of public transportation…
May 26: The Desert Sun posted an article titled: “41st Congressional District: Candidates discuss views on inflation, Roe v. Wade, climate” From the article:
…In congressional and legislative races, the top two finishers in the primary election – regardless of party – will advance to the state’s general election Nov. 8.
With voting underway in California’s primary election that concludes on Election Day June 7, here are the written responses to questions posed by The Desert Sun from Calvert, Kurani, Rollins, Nevenic and Lucio.
Editor’s note: Responses have not been edited for spelling or grammar. (The Desert Sun)
What drove you to run for election in California’s 41st Congressional District?
Ken Calvert: The main reason I’m running is because we need to get our country back on track. Under President Biden and one-party Democrat rule in Washington we have seen one crisis after another. Recent polls show only 2 in 10 Americans think our country is on the right track. The Democrats in this race will be a rubber stamp for the Biden/Pelosi agenda that Americans are suffering under.
I’m also running because I want to continue delivering results for Riverside County. I have experience and seniority, especially on the House Appropriations Committee, that puts me in a unique position to ensure our region’s priorities are met. I am the only major party candidate who has lived in this district all their life. As a former small business owner, I also understand how difficult the times are for people trying to stay afloat right now and will work to relieve the inflationary pressures on businesses that translate into higher costs for consumers.
Shrina Kurani: My parents immigrated her in the ’80s, and they came to the United States seeking opportunity. I was born and raised in Riverside, and I grew up in my parents’ small business. They worked seven days a week, and I spent my summers and days after school playing amongst the pool filters and pumps, until I stared helping myself, sweeping floors and testing water for chlorine and alkalinity.
I graduated from US Riverside as a mechanical engineer and I’ve focused my career on how to make things work better. I’ve facilitated $2 million to small businesses in the area and over half a billion dollars across the nation, including to women-owned, LGBTQ-owned, and veteran-owned businesses, which has been critical throughout the pandemic.
If you look at Ken Calvert’s track record for the past three decades, he’s consistently voted against the interests of our community. Even during the pandemic, he voted against the American Rescue Plan which would bring $479 million to Riverside County, and is now voting against women’s rights and addressing the baby formula shortage…
Will Rollins: I became a national security and terrorism prosecutor because of 9/11. But over my career, I’ve seen the threats to our country change. Today, some of our biggest threats are right here at home, as people become radicalized by far-right conspiracy theories and disinformation. I have been on the front lines in the fight against extremism, helping to prosecute those who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6th and QAnon conspiracy theories.
This is systemic problem. Extremists, Big Tech, and media outlets are profiting from spreading division based on lies, even as they erode democracy and make it easier for adversaries like China and Russia to exploit us. We might not agree on who’s to blame for partisan disinformation, but we should agree that this level if divisiveness is unhealthy for our democracy and our communities. We need to end this cycle of division-for-profit by updating our laws to break down information bubbles and propaganda networks, to require transparency in advertising, and to create a modern Fairness Doctrine that protects the public’s right to be informed. And we need to get rid of politicians like Ken Calvert who believe service to one party – and one president – matters more than service to America itself.
If Americans can agree on basic facts again, we can stop fighting each other and start working together on issues like our economy, infrastructure, and climate change. That’s why I’m running for Congress.
Anna Nevenic: We need a change of direction in Washington. Most elected officials are too tied up to special interest and Super PAC’s to make progress on the issues that affect average Americans. I care deeply about the future of our country. As a nurse, volunteer and community activist, I worked and conversed with thousands of people from all walks of life. Those roles have prepared me, to be an effective advocate for schools, seniors, veterans, homeless people, and all residents in the district. I will support a plan that works for seniors instead of drug companies. There are economic, social, and conservation solutions based on successful programs. We must focus on our common goals, a better future for our children and grandchildren.
John Michael Lucio: Compared to other candidates who have been planning on running against the incumbent for a while, it was the January 6th insurrection on the Capitol and then how Calvert participated in trying to overturn the election that go me interested in running. Looking at Calvert’s 30-year history, Democrats were never able to competitively challenge Calvert. My seriousness in running originally was to try and pull Republican votes away from Calvert.
After seeing multiple Democratic candidates running in an open primary, there was no way my original plan would work. At that point, I decided I had to be in it to win it. What the 41st needs is an option besides right-leaning and left-leaning candidates. Candidates who only see the district as red or blue.
Besides the events of January 6th, the period after has been full of rhetoric, name calling, misinformation, and lies. I, like many other people, are just tired of the bullshit in politics. We need politicians who are about working together, doing what is right, and being transparent. Not anymore who are primarily swayed by party politics. That’s why I’m running to win…
June 7: Desert Sun posted an article titled: “41st Congressional District: Calvert, Rollins set to face off in November general election” From the article:
Republican Rep. Ken Calvert, the incumbent in California’s newly drawn 41st Congressional District, and Democrat Will Rollins are set to face off in the general election, after easily outpacing the three other candidates in the primary race to represent the district.
With 100% of the precincts reporting, Calvert led the five candidates with 34,002 votes – or 43.6% – according to results posted by the California Secretary of State’s office.
Rollins, who has won the endorsement of several Democratic members of Congress, came in second behind Calvert, with 27,733 votes, or 35.6%…
…Election night vote counting is complete but results are not final, according to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters. Approximately 150,000 vote-by-mail and 2,000 provisional ballots still must be processed. Ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day also remain to be counted. The updated results are expected at 6. p.m.
The Secretary of State must certify the results by July 15.
Ballotpedia provided the results of the Nonpartisan Primary Election for California District 41:
- Ken Calvert (R): 48.2% – 72,700 votes
- Will Rollins (D): 30.4% – 45,923 votes
- Shrina Kurani (D): 15.6% – 23,483 votes
- John Michael Lucio (R): 4.6% – 6,880 votes
- Anna Nevenic (Independent): 1.2% – 1,862 votes
November 14: Business Insider posted an article titled: “Results: Republican Rep. Ken Calvert defeats Democrat Will Rollands in California’s 41st Congressional District election” From the article:
Republican Rep. Ken Calvert eked out a narrow victory against Democratic challenger Will Rollins in California’s 41st Congressional District.
Polls closed in the state at 8 p.m. local time, or 11 p.m. EST.
Calvert is a senior member of the House Committee of Appropriations. First elected to the US House in 1992 to represent California’s 43rd Congressional District, Calvert is the longest-serving Republican of the state’s congressional delegation and one of the most senior members serving in the legislative body.
Prior to his time in Congress, the Riverside County Republican served in leadership roles with several local community volunteer organizations, including the Corona Chamber of Commerce, the Corona Rotary, and the Corona-Norco Family YMCA.
Calvert, who clinched former President Donald Trump’s endorsement along with endorsements from the California Republican Party and the state’s entire Republican House delegation, previously opposed same-sex marriage but joined 46 of his GOP colleagues to vote in support of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.
Rollins, Calvert’s challenger, is a former federal prosecutor who focused on counterterrorism and counterintelligence cases in Southern California. He decided to run for Congress after witnessing the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and working on some of the insurrection cases. A gay man, Rollins lives and campaigns with his partner.
Rollins trailed behind Calvert in the nonpartisan primary, securing 30.4% of the vote to Calvert’s 48.2%. Both men advanced to the general election. A month after the primary, Rollins was added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program, which pumps resources into tight races that national Democratic Party leaders believe can be flipped from Republican to Democrat…
…According to OpenSecrets, Calvert raised more than $3.3 million, spent $3 million, and had $730,000 on hand, as of October 19. His opponent, Rollins, raised more than $3.3 million, spent more than $2.5 million, and had $755,000 cash on hand.
As of late October, more than a dozen super PAC’s, national party committees, politically active nonprofits, and other non-candidate groups together spent more than $900,000 to advocate for or against candidates in this race, including during the race’s primary phase. Most of the spending was in support of Rollins…
Ballotpedia posted the results of the General Election for U.S. House California District 41:
- Ken Calvert (R): 52.3% – 123,869 votes
- Will Rollins (D): 47.7% – 112,769 votes
California’s 42nd Congressional District
Wikipedia posted information about California’s 42nd Congressional District
California’s 42nd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in California. The district is currently represented by Democrat Robert Garcia.
The 42nd district is located entirely within Los Angeles County, and is centered around Long Beach and its surrounding suburbs.
As of the 2020 redistricting, California 42nd congressional district has been geographically shifted to the South Bay region of Los Angeles Country. This district also takes in 2 of the Channel Islands, Santa Catalina and San Clemente, in the Southern California Bight.
Los Angeles County is split between this district and the 34th district, the 37th district, the 45th district, the 44th district, the 47th district and the 43rd district. The 42nd, 34th, and 38th are partitioned by S Gerhart Ave, Simmons Ave, Dewar Ave, W Beverly Blvd, Repetto Ave, Allston St, S Concourse Ave, Ferguson Dr, Simmons Ave/S Gerhart Ave, Highway 72, Goodrich Blvd, Telegraph Rd, S Marianna Ave, Noakes St, S Bonnie Beach Pl, Union Pacific Ave, S Indiana St, Union Pacific Railroad, Holabird Ave, S Grande Vista Ave, AT & SF Railway, Harriet St, and E 25th St.
The 42nd, 37th, and 43rd are partitioned by S Alameda St, E Slauson Ave, S Central Ave, Firestone Blvd-E 90 St, S Central Ave, E 103rd St, Success Ave, E 92nd St, Croesus Ave, and E 97th St.
The 42nd, 38th, 45th, and 47th are partitioned by Yates Ave, E Acco St, 6866 E Washington Blvd-2808 Vail Ave, S 14th St, AT & SF Railway, Church Rd, Telegraph Rd, Rio Hondo River, Veterans Memorial Park, Suva St, Guatemala Ave, Shady Oak Dr, Coolgrove Dr, Gallatin Rd, Samoline Ave, Paramount Blvd, Arrington Ave, Suva St, Charloma Dr, Lubet St, Highway 5, San Gabriel River, Palo Verde Ave, South St, Del Amo Blvd, Pioneer Blvd, Coyote Creek, Centralia Creek, Hawaiian Ave, Verne Ave, Bloomfield Park, Highway 605, 226th St, Dorado Cir, Cortner Ave, E Woodson St, Bloomfield Ave, Lily Ave, Marna Ave, Los Almos Channel, and the San Gabriel Bike Path.
The 42nd and 44th are partitioned by S Alameda St, Southern Pacific Railroad, Ardmore Ave, Long Beach Blvd, Pacific Blvd, Cudahy St, 2622 Cudahy St-3211 Santa Ana St, Santa Ana St, Salt Lake Ave, Patata St, 7038 Dinwiddle St-10112 Karmont Ave, Imperial Highway, Old River School Rd, Union Pacific Railroad, Gardendale St, Century Blvd, Highway 19, Laurel St, Clark Ave, Beach St, Bellflower Blvd, E Carson St, Woodruff Ave, Gonda Ave, E Wardlow Rd, N Los Coyotes Diagonal, McNab Ave, E Spring St, E Harvey Way, Faculty Ave, E Carson St, Norse Way, Lakewood Golf Course, Cover St, E 36th St, Cherry Ave, Atlantic Ave, W 25th St, W Willow St, Middle Rd-East Rd, 2300 E Pacific Coast Highway-W Anaheim St, E Anaheim St-Cerritos Channel, Piers S Ave, Highway 47, and Navy Mole.
The 42nd district takes in the cities of Downey, Huntington Park, Bell, Bell Gardens, Maywood, Signal, south Long Beach, east side Lakewood, and most of Bellflower.
Ballotpedia provided information about Robert Garcia:
Robert Garcia (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 42nd Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Garcia (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 42nd Congressional District. He declared his candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Garcia served as mayor of Long Beach, California, from 2014 to 2022. Before becoming mayor, Garcia served on the Long Beach City Council from 2009 to 2014, representing District 1. During his last two years on the city council, he served as vice-mayor.
Robert Garcia was born in Lima, Peru. Garcia earned a B.A. in communication studies from California’s State University at Long Beach, an M.A. in communication management from the University of Southern California, and an Ed.D. in higher education from California State University at Long Beach. His career experience includes working as a professor of public policy and communications at the University of Southern California, California State University at Long Beach. His career experience includes working as a professor of public policy and communications at the University of Southern California, California State University at Long Beach, and Long Beach City College.
Ballotpedia provided information about John Briscoe:
John Briscoe (Republican Party) was a member of the Ocean View Board of Education At-large in California.
Brisco (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 42nd Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
John Briscoe was born in Altadena, California. Briscoe earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and speech communication from California State University at Long Beach, a master’s degree in public administration from California State University at Long Beach, and a master’s degree in business administration from Claremont Graduate University in 1989. His career experience includes working as a broker and a property asset manager with Crestview Property Management. Briscoe has served as the vice president of the Ocean View School District Board of Education.
Ballotpedia provided information about Cristina Garcia:
Cristina Garcia (Democratic Party) was a member of the California State Assembly, representing District 58. She assumed office on December 3, 2012. She left office on December 5, 2022.
Garcia (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 42nd Congressional District. She lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
On February 9, 2018, Garcia announced that she was taking unpaid leave from her position in the Assembly due to an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. On May 17, she was stripped of her committee assignments after the State Assembly investigation into her actions concluded.
Cristina Garcia lives in Los Angeles, California. Garcia earned a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and a master’s degree and secondary teaching credential from Claremont Graduate University.
Ballotpedia provided information about Peter Mathews:
Peter Mathews (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 42nd Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Peter Mathews earned a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree from University of North Texas in 1973 and 1989, respectively. Mathews’ career experience includes working as a professor of political science and international relations at Cypress College. He is affiliated with the Progressive Democratic Club, California Teachers Association, and Progressive Democrats of America.
Peter Mathews completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Peter Mathews has spent 30 years as a College and University Professor. Peter Mathews is a full-time Professor of Political Science at Cypress College, an adjunct Professor of Sociology at Long Beach City College, has taught at California State University, Fullerton, and is currently featured as a Political Analyst and Commentator on several television and radio programs.
During 2012 and 2013, Peter Mathews served as a Political Analyst on KTLK Progressive Talk Radio’s popular “The David Cruz Show” in Los Angeles. Since 2003, Peter has been serving as a Political Analyst on CNN, CNN International, KNBC-TV, KCBS-TV, KTLA-TV, Sky News TV, Al Jazerra English TV, TRT World News TV, CNN radio, KPFA radio and guest host on KPFK radio, guest on NPR stations, and as a commentator on KNX News Radio and other venues.
On several occasions during 2014, Peter Mathews was a guest host on Pacifica Radio’s KPFK 90.7. FM with the theme of “Standing Up for Economic and Social Justice.” He was a contributing columnist for the Long Beach Register and on-line Orange County Register. and other publications.
He has been a guest op-ed writer in the Long Beach Press Telegram. Having lived, traveled, taught and conducted research in 27 countries including Britain, France, Denmark, Germany, Canada, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, India, and elsewhere, Peter Mathews has gained first-hand knowledge of public policy issues such as healthcare, education, economic development, international relations…
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- The Green New Deal to Combat Climate Change and Create High-Paying Jobs, with Full Employment and a Federal Jobs Guarantee In order to combat global climate change, Peter Mathews strongly supports the transition to a 100% renewable energy system that is carbon-free.
- Reduce Income Inequality to help the Working Poor and the Working Middle Class achieve the American dream. Skyrocketing income and wealth inequality is destroying democracy in America and dismantling the working middle class. There is something profoundly wrong with the income distribution in the United States Right now. It allows the top 1% to control the lives of the 99%. To help achieve this goal Peter Mathews believes we must guarantee tuition free college/Univerisyt and cancel student debt.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Reduce Income Inequality to help the Working Poor and the Working Middle Class do better and achieve the American Dream
Medicare for All, Single Payer Healthcare
Cancel Student Debt
Fully and Equally Funded Public Schools K-12
$20 Minimum Wage with Lower Taxes and Increased Federal Funding for Small Businesses to help pay their employees the minimum wage
Tuition Free College, Technical, Trade and Arts Schools for All
Women’s Rights / Gender Equity
Full Reproductive Freedom for Women
Get Corporate Money Out of Politics / Establish Public Financing of Elections
Fully Fund and Support Programs for Seniors (Expand Social Security)
Support LGBTQIA+
(You can read the rest of the list on Ballotpedia.)
Ballotpedia provided information about Nicole López:
Nicole López (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 42nd Congressional District. She lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Nicole López’s career experience includes working as an organizer and advocate.
Ballotpedia provided information on Julio Cesar Flores:
Julio Cesar Flores (Green Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 42nd Congressional District. Flores lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Julio Cesar Flores was born in Los Angeles, California.
Ballotpedia provided information about William Summerville:
William Summerville (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 42nd Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
William Summerville was born in Champaign, Illinois. Summerville served in the U.S. Air Force from 2001 to 2008. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Henderson University in 2000 and a graduate degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 2003. Summerville’s career experience includes working as a pastor and a hospice and hospital chaplain. Summerville has been affiliated with the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, American Baptist Churches of Rochester/Genesee Region, Feel the Bern Democratic Club Orange County, Association of Professional Chaplains, and Boy Scouts of America.
Summerville completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Reverend William Moses Summerville has a background in public service as far back as being in the Boy Scouts, a commissioned officer in the US Air Force Reserve as a Chaplain Candidate (2nd Lieutenant), and currently serves as a Pastor and Hospice/Hospital Chaplain. Politically, he was a top elected delegate for the 48th CA congressional district at the 2016 and 2020 DNC Convention, supporting Senator Bernie Sanders. He also served as a top elected 73rd Assembly District delegate for the CA State Democratic Party from 2017 through 2019. For his current run for congress, he has recruited a campaign staff that reflects the diversity of our country and the 42nd district. Reverend Summerville’s career as a chaplain and pastor, informed by his past struggles of financial and personal hardships, is what inspires him to fight for an America committed to justice. A justice that includes economic, racial, social, health care, and environment justice for us all. “I believe America should be a beacon of hope for humanity and the world. I am running on a simple platform: to “Serve the People.”
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- We need Medicare for All. Our health care system is in shambles and hurts the poor and struggling. We need a system where people don’t have to choose between putting food on the table or paying for the medication their children need. We need a system that emphasizes preventative health care to reduce overall costs and lighten the load on emergency rooms and urgent care clinics. We need to fully fund mental health services for wellness, social services, and spiritual care services. And we need a system that doesn’t put profit over people’s lives and stop electing officials that are indebted to health insurance companies. We need to pass healthcare legislation that will actually serve the people.
- We need Climate Justice. This is more than just fighting climate change. It’s being aware of how policy choices disproportionally impact deprive and disenfranchised communities. We need clean water, environmentally conscientious food production, and clean air for all. We have to redirect our efforts into re-inventing our energy and transportation systems to focus on clean energy instead of fossil fuels, leading to a better environment and millions of good-paying jobs. We have to preserve and protect national parks and lands from predatory corporate mining and lumber companies that destroy the environment. We need to invest in alternative clean construction resources that are cost effective and do less harm to the environment.
- We need Comprehensive Reparations. We fix racism, we fix America. We must root out systemic racism that is built into our political, financial, educational, and law enforcement institutions through meaningful policy change. Descendants of US chattel slavery need to be identified as a protected class and financially compensated for their enslaved ancestors on whose backs the wealth of our nation was built. The purpose of Comprehensive Reparations benefits everyone by correcting the wrongs of American history and creating a system of equality and egality for all.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
1. We need Campaign Finance Reform that takes corporations of dirty money out of the process. They have too much influence on candidates and expect quid-pro-quo from elected officials that end up putting the needs of a few wealth/corporate donors over the needs of the constituency. This includes reversal of Citizens United.
2. We need Voter Rights protections for all Americans. This means national standards that prevent gerrymandering and political bias that targets specific groups to disenfranchise them. Outlawing states from creating laws or government positions that allow public officials to overturn the popular vote. This also means making election day a national holiday so that the working classes can vote. In addition, we need to incorporate non-partisan civic organizations/programs for oversight of voting procedures and vote counting.
3. We need Public Education Reform. Increase federal and state funding for early childhood education, child care, public schools, educators, community schools, and after-school programs. Free public financing for public community colleges, universities, and vocational training schools. Cancel student debt. Seat a higher minimum salary that adjusts with the rate of inflation to attract and keep the best public school teachers. Invest in the right of teachers and their unions to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Ballotpedia provided information on Joaquín Beltrán:
Joaquín Beltrán (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 42nd Congressional District. Beltrán lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Joaquín Beltrán was born in Los Angeles, California. Beltrán’s career experience includes working as an engineer. He co-founded a public-private partnership.
Joaquín Beltrán did not complete Ballotpedia’s 2022 Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia provided information from Joaquín Beltrán’s campaign website:
“COVID SAFETY
CREATE JOBS AND GROW SMALL BUSINESSES
AFFORDABLE HOMES AND RENT
QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE
ADVANCING EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
CONSERVATION AND ANIMAL PROTECTIONS “
February 22: Latino Rebels posted an article titled: “Young Latina Running to Represent Her Hometown in California” From the article:
Nicole López is running for Congress like her life and her family’s lives depend on it.
“When I first started running for Congress, people said I needed to get my narrative right about why. So I boiled it down to one sentence: because of the pandemic. But the real story is more nuanced, says López, 27, a candidate in California’s newly redrawn 42nd congressional district, which will include parts of Southeast Los Angeles and Long Beach after the election.
“The part of the district I’m running for has been my home since birth. My dad grew up there. My grandmother and grandfather came here through the bracero program and set down roots in L.A., López tells Latino Rebels. “My district has a lot of heart. We work really hard.”
A half-century ago, López’s grandfather left his hometown in Michoacán, México to start a small business in Los Angeles transporting migrants from the border to Yakima, Washington, a family enterprise that has grown over the generations but was threatened by the pandemic.
“Like a lot of immigrant families, mine didn’t know how to fill out the applications for PPP loans,” recalls López. “As I spoke to the community members, they didn’t even know who their congressperson was. But people needed help. They needed to be kept safe during the pandemic. They needed to know how to reach out to their government for help. No one was helping them. Elected officials who claimed to represent our communities were not.”
López faces an uphill battle to win a seat in Congress after her hometown was redistricted last year. The districts currently represented by Reps. Lucile Roybal-Allard (40th) and Alan Lowenthall (47th) were combined following the 2020 census, and both California Democrats joined the wave of retirements their party faces this year, leaving the 42nd district with no incumbent…
April 12: Political Life posted an article titled: “Other than Robert and Cristina Garcia, who else is running for the 42nd Congressional District?” From the article:
…Joaquin Beltrán, Engineer/Community Organizer, Democrat
According to his website, Beltrán was born in East L.A., and grew up in Downey. He is the son of a seamstress and a machine operator. He states that his family has had their own small business, and that he has advocated for small businesses before the City Council.
On Twitter, Beltrán says he was on the Biden-Harris 2020 team, as well as Obama 2008. Facebook pictures show him many other elected officials, including Downey and East L.A.’s current Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Supervisor Hilda Solis, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Beltrán’s major policy headlines include “job creation,” “quality, affordable, accessible health care,” “make homes more affordable”, “action on climate change”, and “conservation and animal protections.”…
…Julio Cesar Flores, Education Administrator/Entrepreneur, Green
Julio Cesar Flores is the only candidate in the race who is not running in the two-party system. His website asks voters to support his “independent, third party candidacy.” In his bio, Flores says he was born in East L.A. and grew up in Huntington Park, and that his family faced many challenges. He narrates being homeless during his community college years, living out of his car, and eventually transferring to UCLA.
Flores previously ran for the 33rd State Senate seat, to represent much of the same area in the 42nd Congressional District. His campaign Facebook shows that he was active in the anti-war movement during the Trump era; he appears in pictures with Amy Martin, host of the anti-war Empire Files.
On the policy front, Flores is calling for Medicare for All, Gasoline Under $2, Housing the Veterans and Homeless, Publicly Owned Utilities, Green New Deal, and Immediate Citizenship for 14 million…
…Peter Mathews, Professor, Democrat
Peter Mathews is a Professor of American Government at Cypress College. On his teaching website, he quotes the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone for, “Politics is not about money and power games, it’s about improving people’s lives.”
Alongside his academic and teaching work, Mathews has been a guest on many platforms, including The Young Turks, CNN, and KTLA. He is the author of Dollar Democracy On Steroids, With Liberty and Justice for Some, How to Reclaim the Middle-Class Dream for All. Past interviews show that he is passionate on issues ranging from immigration to single-payer healthcare.
On his website, Mathews brands himself as “People powered, not corporate bought!” His policy headlines include the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, Tuition Free College, and Cancel Student Debt. On Twitter, Mathews currently has a pinned post showing him with a sign that reads “Protect Students Not Guns.”
Williams Moses Summerville, Pastor/Hospice Chaplain, Democrat
According to Summerville’s website, he grew up in the Chicago area, and settled in California after serving in the Air Force. He is a pastor and a hospice chaplain in Long Beach. He endured many personal hardships, including homelessness, and says he draws strength in overcoming past barriers.
Summerville has been involved in local protest movements, such as the caravan to Bruce’s Beach – a movement that called for racial justice. On the campaign trail, his Facebook shows that he is part of the #BankBlack movement.
He was involved in the Bernie Sanders movement, and voices support for many of the same policies advocated by the Senator, including “$15 living wage, free education from kindergarten through college, reparations, undocumented immigrant justice, ending forever wars, and health care as a human right in the form of Medicare for All”.
May 12: Long Beach Post News posted an article titled: “Amid scandal and legislative wins Cristina Garcia sees freedom in fearlessness” From the article:
Assemblymember Cristina Garcia has left no doubt that she’s positioning herself as the most left-wing candidate in the race for the 42nd Congressional District.
During a recent party at her Huntington Park campaign office, she showed a video of legendary farm workers labor organizer Dolores Huerta endorsing her bid…
…A host of local officials from throughout Garcias Southeast Los Angeles district praised her for her achievements, including a bill that required education of the history of (forced Mexican) deportations – which Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in 2015.
A prolific legislator perhaps known for her unabashed efforts to dispel taboos surrounding women’s menstruation, the former math teacher gained prominence during the Bell corruption scandal, took on a family dynasty to win her seat in the 58th Assembly District – and later had to fight for her political life amid allegations of sexual harassment and mistreatment of employees.
She is now taking on a fellow Democrat, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, for a newly drawn congressional seat in a rare intra-party race that features two prominent politicians with much different political styles…
…As 2018 began, Garcia questioned whether she should run again. She was chair of the Women’s Caucus, and had enjoyed significant legislative victories.
In addition to AB 617, Brown had signed Garcia’s AB 302, which mandated safe, clean lactation rooms in high schools across California, and AB 701, which rewrote the state’s antiquated definition to rape to finally include all forms of non-consensual sexual assault.
“I thought it would be my last year,” Garcia recalled. “Should I leave at the top?”
As it happened, Garcia spent much of 2018 fighting to salvage her career and reputation.
The allegations against her were serious. A staffer working for Assemblyman Ian Calderon (the nephew of Tom Calderon) told Politico that Garcia had squeezed his buttocks during an Assembly baseball game in 2014. Four other staffers sent a letter to Speaker Anthony Rendon saying Garcia’s workplace was “toxic” and included a lot of talk of alcohol and talk of sex, according to Politico.
Politico also reported that in 2014, she had used anti-gay slurs when referring to then-Assembly Speaker John Perez and had used anti-Asian language. Garcia has said she apologized for doing so.
On Feb. 2, 2018, Garcia issued a statement on the allegations against her, which contained both a denial and acceptance of responsibility….
…Garcia ended up taking an extended leave of absence from the Assembly that year, and Rendon removed her from all her committee assignments. Rendon, who had endorsed Garcia’s congressional campaign, denied multiple requests for an interview.
In May 2018, legislative investigators found that Garcia had violated the Assembly’s sexual harassment policy by “commonly and pervasively” using vulgar language when talking to her staff. They also concluded that Garcia asked employees to perform personal tasks and had disparaged elected officials, according to CalMatters…
Ballotpedia provided an article about Cristina Garcia titled: “Removal from committees following sexual misconduct investigation (2018)” It provides more information about what happened.
Ballotpedia provided information about the Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 42:
- Robert Garcia (D): 46.7% – 43,406 votes
- John Briscoe (R): 26.1% – 24,319 votes
- Cristina Garcia (D): 12.6% – 11,685 votes
- Peter Mathews (D): 3.7% – 3,415 votes
- Nicole López (D): 3.4% – 3,164 votes
- Julio Cesar Flores (G): 2,7% – 2,491 votes
- William Summerville (D): 2.5% – 2,301 votes
- Joaquín Beltrán (D): 2.4% – 2,254 votes
June 7: PRESS-TELEGRAM posted an article titled: “Election 2022: Long Beach Mayor Garcia takes large lead in 42nd House district; Republican Briscoe in 2nd”
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia appeared to take a commanding lead in the race for California’s newly formed 42nd Congressional District – with Republican John Briscoe trailing second, potentially setting up a two-party face off in the Nov. 8 general election.
The new district covers much of Long Beach and southeastern LA County.
Mayor Garcia had about 45% of the votes, as of 2:07 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, according to the LA county registrar. Briscoe, trailing behind, had secured 29%.
“Honored and proud to be your Democratic nominee for Congress tonight,” Garcia Tweeted on Tuesday night. “Thank you!”
Cristina Garcia, longtime State Assemblywoman, was shockingly well behind in third place, with about 13% of votes cast in her favor. The assemblywoman declined to comment on the early election results.
“I’ve been in front of the voters in Long Beach and Lakewood four times,” Briscoe said Tuesday evening. “I think the election will come out with Robert Garcia in front, and John Briscoe in second.”
The other candidates were well off the pace of the leaders. Democrats Peter Matthews, a longtime political science teacher at Cypress College, had about 4%; political organizer Nicole Lopez had about 3%; with hospice chaplain Rev. William Moses Summerville and political advocate Joaquin Beltran both securing around 2%.
Green Party member Julio Cesar Flores also had about 2% of the vote…
…The top two, as of Tuesday evening, were somewhat surprising, considering Cristina Garcia and Robert Garcia have been considered the likely frontrunners since they announced their respective campaigns for the newly formed District 42…
…Both Garcias expected strong support from different areas within the new district – though it appear Robert Garcia’s base, mostly comprised of his supporters in Long Beach, has shown up in larger numbers so far.
Long Beach is LA County’s second-largest city and the town in which Robert Garcia has proven to be a popular elected leader.
Cristina Garcia, meanwhile, portrayed herself as a natural successor to Roybal-Allard; much of her Assembly district, covering South and East Los Angeles, is in the new district, including Bell and Downey.
John Briscoe – a longtime elected board member of the Ocean View School District, in Huntington Beach, who ran and lost against incumbent Lowenthal for the 47th District in 2020 – also positioned himself as a natural candidate for the new district, positioning himself as the conservative voice for Californians in those areas.
District 42 is entirely in Los Angeles – and is overwhelmingly Democratic. Nearly 55% of the district’s registered voters are, in fact, Democrats, according to the California Secretary of State’s website. Only 16% are registered as Republicans…
June 8: Long Beach Post News posted an article titled: “Robert Garcia, John Briscoe frontrunners in race for 42nd Congressional seat” From the article:
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and businessman John Brisco are leading the race for the 42nd Congressional District, according to early returns.
Robert Garcia has claimed 45% of the vote while Briscoe has 29%. As for other candidates, Assemblymember Cristina Garcia has 13%, Peter Mathews has 4%, Nicole Lopez has 3 percent, William Summerville has 2%, Joaquin Beltran has 2% and Julio Flores also has 2%.
The votes counted so far include all of the vote by mail ballots received by county election officials before Election Day, as well as the in-person votes cast during the early voting period that began on May 29…
…If elected to Congress this fall, Garcia said he plans to tackle major issues including immigration, gun laws, reproductive rights and climate change.
Garcia, in an interview with the Post, said his first focus would be on the current threat to democracy.
“The single biggest issue right now in front of us is making sure that we actually have democracy in our country for the foreseeable future,” he said. “There’s extreme forces trying to destroy voting rights, trying to make sure people don’t have access to vote. These are things that we have to take on immediately.”…
…”Long Beach is my city, I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “I live here and I’m going to make sure this city is well-represented and also make sure the other cities north of us have equal and good representation.”
Robert Garcia’s campaign raised about $1.04 million – which is more than the other six candidates in the race combined, according to OpenSecrets. The money came from a wide range of interests, including real estate ($80,000), law firms ($30,346) and construction ($25,980), according to OpenSecrets.
Long Beach’s mayor also benefited from more than $2.3 million in spending from super PACs, of which $1.6 million was spent for him and the remaining $769,000 went towards negative ads and mailings against Cristina Garcia, according to OpenSecrets.
Briscoe, a real estate broker and Ocean View School District trustee, raised a little more than $252,000, virtually all of it from his own funds. Briscoe previously ran for Congress in 2018 and 2020 against Rep. Lowenthal, losing each time by nearly 30 percentage points…
…Cristina Garcia countered by leaning heavily on hometown support and her liberal credentials, which include a long list of legislative victories in environmental cleanup, good government and gender equity. Her endorsements includes a long list of Southeas L.A. County officials as well as famed political organizer Dolores Huerta.
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon had endorsed Cristina Garcia back in January, but suddenly endorsed Robert Garcia on June 5 for unclear reasons…
Ballotpedia provided information about the General election for U.S. House California District 42:
- Robert Garcia (D): 68.4% – 99,217 votes
- John Briscoe (R): 31.6% – 45,903 votes
November 8: ABC7.com posted an article titled: “Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia projected to win congressional seat over John Briscoe” From the article:
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia was well ahead in early results and projected to win the race for California’s 42nd congressional district.
Garcia, a Democrat who served 8 years as mayor, had a 2-1 lead over Republican John Briscoe in initial results.
Garcia was the first Latino and first openly gay mayor in the history of Long Beach.
He lost his mother to COVID and dedicated his win to her in his speech to supporters.
“That hard-working woman who worked in clinics, who cleaned houses, who was a true immigrant in every sense if the word, is why I am here today,” Garcia told the crowd. “Why my brother is here today. Her fight and love for this country is what made us today.”
Garcia will fill the seat of Rep. Alan Lowenthal, who is retiring.
November 8: NBC Los Angeles posted an article titled: “California’s Robert Garcia Heading to DC as First LGBTQ Immigrant to Serve in US Congress” From the article:
Robert Garcia, the Democratic mayor of Long Beach, California, is heading to Washington, D.C., as the first LGBTQ immigrant to serve in U.S. Congress.
Born in Peru, his mother immigrated with him to the United States when he was 5 years old. According to his campaign website, Garcia’s proudest moment is becoming a U.S. citizen and the reason he went into public service.
Garcia’s married to California State University, Long Beach, professor Matthew Mendez Garcia – making him not only the latest Hispanic immigrant to serve in the U.S. Capitol but also the first to do so as a member of the LGBTQ community.
“Hispanics are a community that loves our families, and that includes trans and LGBTQ people, but we must understand that if the Republicans win more seats in Congress, they will have the power to take away rights from women and gay people,” Garcia said in an interview with Telemundo. “And that is not what we want for this great country that must always go forward”…
California’s 43rd Congressional District
Wikipedia provided information about California’s 43rd congressional district:
California’s 43rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that is currently represented by Democrat Maxine Waters. The district is centered in the southern part of Los Angeles County, and includes portions of the cities of Los Angeles (including LAX) and Torrance. It includes the entirety of the cities of Hawthorne, Lawndale, Gardena, Inglewood, and Lomita. From 2003 to 2013, the 43rd district was based in San Bernardino County. The Hispanic-majority district encompassed the southwestern part of the county, and included San Bernardino and Rialto.
As of the 2020 redistricting, California’s 43rd congressional district is located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. This district includes Los Angeles International Airport.
Los Angeles County is split between this district, the 36th district, 37th district, 44th district, and the 42nd district. The 43rd and 36th are partitioned by W Florence Ave, Arbor Vitae St, Westchester Parkway, La Tijera Blvd, W 91st St, Cum Laude Ave, W 92nd St, Waterview St, Napoleon St, Vista Del Mar, W Imperial Highway, Aviation Blvd, Del Aire Park, E Sl Segundo Blvd, S Aviation Blvd, Marine Ave, Inglewood Ave, Highway 91, Redondo Beach Blvd, Hawthorne Blvd, and Sepulveda Blvd.
The 43rd, 37th, and 42nd are partitioned by E 91 St, McKinley Ave, E 88th Pl, Avalon Blvd, E Manchester Ave, S Normandie Ave, W 94th PL, S Halldale Ave, W Century Blvd, La Salle Ave/S Denker Ave, W 104th St, S Western Ave, W 108th St S Gramercy Pl, S Van Ness Ave, W 76th St, 8th Ave, W 79th St, S Victoria Ave, W 74th St, West Blvd, W 64th St, S La Brea Ave, 6231 S La Brea Ave-Flight Ave, W 64th St, 6403 S Springpark Ave-W Fairview Blvd, W Centinela Ave, Ave, S Central Ave, Firestone Blvd-E 90 St, S Central Ave, E 103rd St, Success Ave, E 91st, Croesus Ave, and E 97th St.
The 43rd and the 44th are partitioned by Alameda St, E 103rd St, Mona Blvd, E 107th Pl, 108th St, S Alameda St, Highway 105, Mona Blvd, Santa Fe Ave, E Stockton Ave, N Bullis Rd, Palm Ave/E Killen Pl, N Thorson Ave, McMillian St, Waldorf Dr/N Castlegate Ave, S Gibson Ave, Wright Rd, E Rosecrans Ave, Highway 710, Somerset Blvd, Myrrh St, Hunsake Ave, Alondra Blvd, E Greenleaf Blvd, Main Campus Dr, S Susana Rd, Highway 91, Highway 47, Calle Anita, 2605 Homestead Pl-266 W Apras St, 225 W Victoria St-18300 S Wilmington Ave, W Victoria St, Central Ave, Lincoln Memorial Park, 2600 W Billings St-2973 W Caldwell St, Malloy Ave/S Clymar Ave, W Alondra Blvd, S Figueroa St, W 182nd St, Electric St, and S Western Ave.
Ballotpedia provided information about Maxine Waters:
Maxine Waters (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 43rd Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2013. Her current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Waters (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 43rd Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Waters has served in the U.S. House since 1991 – serving California’s 29th Congressional District from 1991 to 2013, and the 43rd District since 2013. Waters served in the California State Assembly from 1977 to 1991.
In her 2018 re-election bid, Waters defeated Omar Navarro (R) by a vote of 77.7 percent to Navarro’s 22.3 percent. Waters has never garnered less than 71 percent of the vote in every general election she has run in since 1990.
Ethics Charges
In 2010, the Office of Congressional Ethics charged Waters with improper requests for a meeting with Treasury officials for OneUnited Bank. Waters’ husband owned stock in the bank and served as a director until a few months before Waters requested those meetings. OneUnited reportedly got an infusion of TARP money, which could have protected an estimated $200,000 in bank stock owned by Waters’ husband.
On June 6, 2012, the House Ethics Committee announced they would go ahead with the investigation, which had been delayed due to charges by Waters that lawyers for the committee were biased and violated House rules. In June 2011, Billy Martin, a former Justice Department prosecutor, was brought in to act as outside counsel. His inquiry corroborated some of Waters’ allegations, but concluded that a fair hearing was not denied.
The committee announced on September 21, 2012, that Waters did not violate House rules.
Ballotpedia provided information about Omar Navarro:
Omar Navarro (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 43rd Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Navarro was a Republican candidate for California’s 43rd Congressional District in the U.S. House. Navarro lost in the general election on November 6, 2018, after advancing from the primary on June 5, 2018.
Navarro was a 2016 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 43rd Congressional District of California.
Omar Navarro earned a B.A. in criminal justice from ITT Technical Institute. Navarro’s career experience includes owning a business and working for Sony, Samsung, and Amazon. He founded the South Bay Young Republicans.
Omar Navarro did not complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia provided information from Navarro’s campaign website:
Some Ideas Motivating Omar’s Campaign
- Places a high value on our nation’s Military personnel, Homeland Security and our First Responders
- Help find/hunt down/destroy and defeat terror cells here in our country.
- Lower the Crime Rate
- Make our Borders Safe and enforce our current immigration policies
- Enact legislation for high scrutiny of refugees
- Lower our Taxes
- Sustain and create more jobs
- Local control of education and the right of Parents to control their children’s education
- Less Regulations on small businesses and bring businesses back to our country.
- Better Educational Opportunities for all citizens
- Balance the nation’s budget, decrease the national debt and keep our government open.
- Be a Pro-Life Candidate
- Defund Planned Parenthood
- Federal Funding for Mental Health programs
Ballotpedia provided information about Allison Pratt:
Allison Pratt (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 43rd Congressional District. Pratt lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Allison Pratt was born in Los Angeles, California. Pratt’s career experience includes working as a youth advocate.
Ballotpedia provided information about Jean M. Monestime:
Jean M. Monestime (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 43rd Congressional District. Monestime lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
February 2: Newsweek posted an article titled: “Maxine Waters Tells GOP Opponent They ‘Got Tricked’ Into Running Against Her”. From the article:
Representative Maxine Waters has told her Republican opponent in the upcoming midterm elections that he “got tricked” into running against her in a district she’s won since 2012.
Republican Omar Navarro shared a video to Twitter on Tuesday of an encounter with Waters at the election filing office as he registered to run in California’s 43rd congressional district.
The GOP is hoping to take back the House of Representatives and the Senate in November’s elections but Waters, a Democrat, will likely be safely reelected as she won 71.7 percent of the vote in 2020.
Navarro tweeted: “I ran into Maxine Waters at election filing office and saw the preferential treatment she received from county employees.”
In the video attached to that tweet, Navarro can be heard greeting Waters. The congresswoman recognized and asked him if he was running again.
Navarro has been a perennial candidate in California’s 43rd district, losing to Waters in 2016, 2018, and 2020…
June 1, 2021: The Mary Sue posted an article titled: “Noted Homophobe Omar Navarro Complains That Cruella Ruined His Childhood” From the article:
…The latest case of aggrieved Republicans against hints of queerness comes from failed politician and Twitter pundit Omar Navarro.
Navarro tweeted, “The new Disney Cruella with Emma Stone just ruined my childhood with an openly flamboyant gay in the movie. Disney persist shoving the LGBT agenda down our throat.” (The tweet was posted on May 30, 2021.)…
…But who is Omar Navarro, and why does he feel the need to broadcast his homophobia on Twitter? Navarro is currently running for the seat of California’s 43rd Congressional district, which has been held by staunch Democrat and beloved meme queen Rep. Maxine Waters since 1991. Navarro has previously tried to unseat Waters in 2016, 2018, and 2020, and is running against her in 2022…
…But “no” isn’t in Navarro’s vocabulary, as evidenced by his 2019 arrest for violating a restraining order from his former girlfriend. He pled guilty to one stalking charge and served six months in prison. Navarro had previously been convicted for planting a tracking device on his ex-wife’s car in 2016…
June 2, 2021: Media Matters posted an article titled: “Here are the QAnon supporters running for Congress in 2022” It was updated on November 29, 2022. From the article:
Omar Navarro (lost general election)
Omar Navarro was a Republican candidate who ran in California’s 43rd Congressional District; He came in second in the nonpartisan blanket primary on June 7, which means under California election law, he appeared on the ballot in November’s general election. He was subsequently defeated in the general election. Navarro unsuccessfully ran for Congress in California’s 43rd Congressional District in 2020. Navarro has tweeted the QAnon slogan, and he later told Insider “that he believes in ‘some things’ that ‘Q’ says, including the human trafficking trope.” He also told Grid News that “my relationship with this movement is to expose dark human trafficking agenda in Hollywood and D.C.” He has also pushed the debunked Pizzagate conspiracy theory.
On October 3, 2022, Omar Navarro tweeted: “Where we go one, we go all!”
Ballotpedia provided information about the Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 43:
- Maxine Waters (D): 74.3% – 55,889 votes
- Omar Navarro (R): 11.9% – 8,927 votes
- Allison Pratt (R): 7.3% – 5,489 votes
- Jean M. Monestime (D): 6.6% – 4,952 votes
June 27, 2021: Insider posted an article titled: “A Trump-loving insurrectionist and a convicted stalker are among 36 QAnon supporters running for Congress in 2022”. From the article:
…Another congressional candidate who believes in the human trafficking theory is Omar Navarro, a convicted stalker running for California’s 43rd congressional district.
Navarro, who also features in HBO’s “Q: Into the Storm” documentary series, is one of the more recognizable faces of the QAnon world.
The California native, who last year spent six months in jail after pleading guilty to a stalking charge, told Insider in an interview that he believes in “some things” that “Q” says, including the human trafficking trope.
“I do believe that there’s human trafficking going on right now. I do believe that Hollywood has participated in some of this with pedophilia on and it’s something obviously we can’t ignore,” he said.
Navarro, who has gone viral multiple times on Twitter for his far-right and homophobic views, has previously pushed the debunked Pizzagate theory. He told Insider: “I feel like there are certain things going on. There’s something shady in that pizza shop.”
The California also defended using the popular QAnon slogan WWG1WGA (“Where we go one, we go all”) in a tweet posted on October 3, 2020, saying he ended up deleting it because he didn’t want Twitter to ban him…
October 22: The List posted an article titled: “Obstacles Maxine Waters Had To Overcome To Get Where She Is” From the article:
…Waters currently serves as the U.S. representative for California’s 43rd congressional district and chairs the House Financial Services Committee – the first woman and first African American women to do so (via New York Amsterdam News). In addition, Waters was named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in 2018,” in which she was described as being “adored and admired by people who care about social justice” and for showing “that she is not here for any nonsense.”
The congresswoman has stood in the face of numerous obstacles throughout her political career, letting nothing stand in her way to be the voice for the people and communities that are rarely heard…
Waters made strides as a member of the California State Assembly
In 1976, Maxine Waters successfully ran for the California State Assembly. For 14 years, she passed integral pieces of legislation in the state, including the first Child Abuse Prevention Training Program and the “prohibition of police strip searches for nonviolent misdemeanors”… As a Democratic Party Leader, she has served on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) since 1980 and was “instrumental” in creating the National Development and Voting Rights Institute.
During the 1980s, Waters co-founded the Black Woman’s Forum, a non-profit organization in Los Angeles (via Iowa State University).
In 1990, Waters branched nationally, winning a seat for the 29th District of California in 1990 (via AAREG). Then in 1992, she won a seat in the 35th district, which she held until 2013. Since then, she’s been the U.S. representative for California’s 43rd congressional district. During her tenure in each district, Waters “spearheaded health care, child care, education, and welfare reform”, as noted by Black Past…
Ballotpedia posted the results of the General election for U.S. House California District 43:
- Maxine Waters (D): 77.3% – 95,462 votes
- Omar Navarro (R): 22.7% – 27,984 votes
California’s 44th Congressional District
Wikipedia provided information about California’s 44th congressional district:
California’s 44th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California. The district is centered in South Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Harbor Region. It is currently represented by Democrat Nanette Barragán. The 44th district was created as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 Census.
The 44th district is composed of these cities and communities: Carson, Compton, East Compton, East Rancho Dominguez, Lynwood, North Long Beach, San Pedro, South Gate, Watts, Walnut Park, West Rancho Dominguez, Willowbrook, and Wilmington.
The congressional district is located in the southern portion of the state and includes part of Los Angeles County. The district’s current borders are delineated by the 110 freeway in its western border and takes an inward right following the 105 Freeway. Following S. Central Avenue north, it then zig-zags its way to Florence Ave at its apex. It’s eastern border runs mostly along the 710 Freeway until reaching the Pacific Ocean.
As of the 2020 redistricting, California’s 44th congressional district is located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County.
Southern Los Angeles County is split between this district, the 36th district, the 43rd district, and the 42nd district. The 44th and 36th are partitioned by Sepulveda Blvd, Normandie Ave, 253rd St, Belle Porte Ave, 256th St, 1720 256th St-1733 256th St, 1701 257th St-1733 257th St, 1724 257th St-W 262nd St, Ozone Ave, 263rd St, 26302 Alta Vista Ave-26356 Alta Vista Ave, Pineknoll Ave, Leesdale Ave, Highway 213, Palos Verde Dr N, 26613 Leesdale Ave-Navy Field, S Western Ave, Westmont Dr, Eastview Park, Mt. Rose Rd/Amelia Ave, 1102 W Bloomwood Rd-1514 Caddignton Dr, N Western Ave, W Summerland St, N Enrose Ave/Miraleste Dr, Miraleste Dr, Martin J Bogdanovich Recreation Center and Park, and Shoreline Park.
The 44th and 42nd are partitioned by S Alameda St, Southern Pacific Railroad, Ardmore Ave, Long Beach Blvd, Pacific Blvd, Cudahy St, 2622 Cudahy St-3211 Santa Ana St, Santa Ana St, Salt Lake Ave, Patata St, 7038 Dinwiddie St-10112 Karmont Ave, Imperial Highway, Old River School Rd, Union Pacific Railroad, Gardendale St, Century Blvd, Highway 19, Laurel St, Clark Ave, Beach St, Bellflower Blvd, E Carson St, Woodruff Ave, Gonda Ave, E Wardlow Rd, N Los Coyotes Diagonal, McNab Ave, E Spring St, E Harvey Way, Faculty Ave, E Carson St, Norse Way, Lakewood Golf Course, Cover St, E 36th St, Cherry Ave, Atlantic Ave, W 25th St, W Willow St, Middle Rd-East Rd, 2300 E Pacific Coast Highway-W Anaheim St, E Anaheim St-St-Cerritos Channel, Piers S Ave, Highway 47, and Navy Mole Rd.
The 44th and 43rd are partitioned by Alameda St, 103rd Blvd, E 107th Pl, E 108th St, S Alameda St, Highway 105, Mona Blvd, Santa Fe Ave, E Stockton Ave, N Bullis Rd, Palm Ave/E Killen Pl, N Thorson Ave, McMillan St, Waldorf Dr/N Castlegate Ave, S Gibson Ave, Wright Rd, E Rosecrans Ave, Highway 710, Somerset Blvd, Myrrh St, Hunsade Ave, Alondra Blvd, E Greenleaf Blev, Main Campus Dr, S Susana Rd, Highway 91, Highway 47, Calle Anita, 2605 Homestead Pl-266 W Apras St, 255 W Victoria St-18300 S Wilmington Ave, W Victoria St, Central Ave, Lincoln Memorial Park, 2600 W Billings St-2973 W Caldwell St, Maloy Ave/S Clyman Ave, W Alondra Blvd, S Figueroa St, W 182nd St, Electric St, and S Western Ave.
Ballotpedia provided information about Nanette Barragán:
Nanette Barragán (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 44th Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2017. Her current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Barragán (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 44th Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the primary scheduled March 5, 2024.
Barragán’s campaign website features endorsements from Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). She has also been endorsed by the California Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the Sierra Club, and more.
Ballotpedia provided information about Paul Irving Jones:
Paul Irving Jones (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 44th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Paul Irving Jones did not complete Ballotpedia’s 2022 Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia provided information from Paul Irving Jones’s campaign website.
INFLATION:
“Henry Kissinger wrote: Control Oil and you Control Nations.
Control Food and you Control the People.
The names have changed from Carter to Biden, Biden was a Senator when Carter was in office 40 years ago, and he was taking lessons for his turn to destroy our Country. In this same period of poor management and over spending (for some reason democratic governments continue to this day to believe they can spend their way out of inflation), Carter proved then it didn’t work and still doesn’t work, But here we are again with Biden, who has has just been names [sic] worst President in History not something to be proud of. in [sic] the Carter years another common factor was rapid energy and food cost, in 1973 the Arab-Israeli war the Arabs imposed an embargo on oil shipments to the U.S. that lasted into late 1974, what is common is that the Carter and Biden administration caused the energy shortage with poor management, drivers in 1973/1974 were hit with a 69% increase plus limited supplies, then as now they relied on foreign energy, there are some things in history that we have learned from and some we haven’t. This time based on what I have learned from history the difference between Carter and Biden, Carter was inept as well as the people in his administration and at the time were “Maybe” stupid, but in contrast between the two Biden knew and planned to do just what he said he would as Candidate Biden…
(NOTE: His views get much worse from there.)
Ballotpedia provided information about Morris Griffin:
Morris Griffin (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 44th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Griffin was a 2016 Democratic candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 44th Congressional District of California.
Morris Griffin was born in Newark, New Jersey. Griffin graduated from Dwight Morrow High School. He earned a B.A. from Washington State University. Griffin’s career experience includes working as a community activist.
June 1: Daily Breeze posted an article titled: “Harbor area Rep Nanette Barragán seeks reelectionagains newcomers” From the article:
South Los Angeles and Harbor area residents will decide whether they want a new congressional representative this month.
Rep Nanette Barragán, D-Los Angeles, is seeking reelection to California’s 44th Congressional District, which she’s led since 2017. But Rev. Paul Jones, a Republican, and Democrat Morris Griffin, an activist and L.A. County maintenance technician, are seeking to unseat her…
…About 56% of registered voters list their party preference as Democratic, according to the most-recent data from the California Secretary of State’s office. About 15% are registered Republicans…
…Barragán, who could not be reached to comment for this story, is the likely frontrunner, in terms of name recognition, legislative experience and campaign cash.
Barragán, a former Hermosa Beach City Council member, was first elected to Congress in 2016 and has run reelection twice, most-recently in 2020…
…Barragán is the vice chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. She is also on the House Committee on Homeland Security and chairs its subcommittee on border security, facilitation, and operations. She has also been a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce since 2019; when she was first appointed, she became the first Latina in a decade – and only second ever – to serve on that committee, according to her congressional website.
June 7: Ballotpedia provided the results of the Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 44:
- Nanette Barragán (D): 68.8% – 58,594 votes
- Paul Irving Jones (R): 24.1% – 20,569 votes
- Morris Griffin (D): 7.2% – 6,110 votes
June 7: Long Beach Post News posted an article titled: “Rep. Nanette Barragán takes early lead in 44th Congressional Race” From the article:
Early results in the race to represent the 44th Congressional District show incumbent Democrat Nanette Diaz Barragán in a lead over her challengers Morris Falls Griffin, a Democrat, and maintenance technician Paul Jones, a Republican minister.
Barragán has claimed 70% of the vote, or 23,740 votes, while Jones has 22% (7,623 votes) and Griffin has 8% (2,546 votes).
The votes counted so far include all of the vote by mail ballots received by county election officials before Election Day, as well as the in-person votes cast during the early voting period that began on May 29.
Barragán, who was first elected in 2016, was widely expected to win reelection this year.
Redistricting changed the borders of the 44th District, giving it a larger share of Long Beach. The district now includes parts of the city west of Signal Hill and north of Pacific Coast Highway to the city’s boundaries in North Long Beach…
…Griffin, who lives in Inglewood, called himself a problem solver during a recent interview.
He’s worked for the county for 33 years, Griffin said. And in 2000, while serving as a shop steward with the Local 721 chapter of the Service Employees International Union, secured $300 year-end bonuses for all Los Angeles County custodial workers for as long as they are in the position.
“I feel like I’m a voice for the voiceless,” Griffin said.
Seeing Rodney King getting beaten by LA police led Griffin, a former Washington State University basketball player, to want to solve various community issues, including police brutality, he said.
Jones, originally from Chicago, has served in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a Vietnam War veteran and has worked as a computer instructor at multiple LAUSD elementary schools – including in Carson. He called himself a hands-on person who leads by example.
His time in the Marine Corps taught him how to organize folks toward positive outcomes, Jones said. It also taught him how to listen to others and help them find their own leadership skills, he said.
Housing and Homelessness
The biggest issue in the 44th District, Griffin said, is homelessness.
There should be rent control policies, he said, to restrict landlords from raising rents beyond a tenant’s means.
“We have have a rent control infrastructure in place based on the number of rooms in a dwelling and whether (the person is) on Social Security benefits,” Griffin said. “You can’t just start evicting people because they can’t afford” a rent hike…
…Jones, meanwhile, said the state’s efforts to build more housing for those without permanent shelter has not worked.
“Short term solutions (to homelessness) have not and will not work,” Jones said.
Building more housing for people who are homeless, he said, “does nothing but make it easier to continue drug abuse and add to mental illness with no incentive to get off the streets.”
Jones said income taxes should be suspended for one year to allow lower income households to keep more in their pockets. Seniors older than 65 who are [sic] have fixed incomes should not pay state or federal taxes, he added, as well as veterans and people who are living with disabilities that prevent them from working…
Barragán, as a member of the Congressional Homelessness Caucus and an advocate for public housing residents, has worked to ensure everyone in her district has access to affordable housing, according to her website.
“Families spend an increasing amount of their income just to keep a roof over their heads,” Barragán said. “I support legislation to protect seniors from foreclosures (and) make Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance more affordable.”…
Ballotpedia posted the results for the General election for U.S. House California District 44:
- Nanette Barragán (D): 72.3% – 100,160 votes
- Paul Irving Jones (R): 27.8% – 38,554 votes
California’s 45th Congressional District
Wikipedia posted information about California’s 45th Congressional District:
California’s 45th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California currently represented by Republican Michelle Steel. It was one of 18 districts that voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election while being won or held by a Republican.
The 45th district was created as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 Census.
The district is based in Orange and Los Angeles counties and includes all of Garden Grove, Westminster, Cerritos, Buena Park, Placentia, Hawaiian Gardens, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Artesia, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, and La Palma, as well as parts of Brea, Lakewood, and Fullerton…
…As of the 2020 redistricting, California’s 45th congressional district is located in Southern California. It takes up western Orange County and east Los Angeles.
Orange County is split between this district, the 40th district, the 46th district, and the 47th district. The 45th and 40th are partitioned by Orange Freeway, E Lambert Rd, Sunrise Rd, Foothill Ln, Wandering Ln, N Associated Rd, E Birch St, S Valencia Ave, La Plaza Dr, La Floresta Dr, La Crescent Dr, Highway 90, 1053 E Imperial Highway-343 Tolbert St, Vesuvius Dr, Rose Dr, Wabash Ave, 6th St, Golden Ave, Carbon Canyon Creek, E Yorba Linda Blvd, Jefferson St, 1401 Zion Ave-N Van Buren St, Buena Vista Ave, 17225 Orange Blossom Ln-1480 E Howard Pl, 17511 Pine Cir-Orchard Dr, Mariposa Ave, Lakeview Ave, E Miraloma Ave, Fee-Ana St, Sierra Madre Cir, E Orangethorpe Ave, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Kensington Ave, N Kramer Blvd, Carbon Creek, and E La Jolla St.
The 45th and the 46th are partitioned by Santa Ana River, W Lehnhardt Ave, Gloxinia Ave, Lilac Way, Edinger Ave, Pebble Ct, 10744 W Lenhardt Ave-10726 Kedge Ave, 724 S Sail St-5641 W Barbette Ave-407 S Starboard St, Starboard St/S Cooper St, Taft St, Hazard Ave, N Euclid St, Westminster Ave, Clinton St, 14300 Clinton St-1001 Mar Les Dr, Mar Les Dr, 2729 Huckleberry Rd, N Fairview St, Fairview St, 13462 Garden Grove Blvd-13252 Marty Ln, Townley St/Siemon Ave, W Garden Grove Blvd, S Lewis St, W Chapman Ave, E Simmons Ave, S Haster St, Ascot Dr, W Orangewood Ave, S 9th St, 2209 S Waverly Dr-11751 S Waverly Dr, Euclid St, Haven Ln, W Dudley Ave, S Euclid St, Katella Ave, Dale St, Rancho Alamitos High School, Orangewood Ave, Barber City Channel, Arrowhead St, Del Ray Dr, Westcliff Dr, Lampson Ave, Fern St, Garden Grove Blvd, Union Pacific Railroad, 7772 W Champman Ave-Bently Ave, Highway 39, Western Ave, Stanton Storm Channel, Knott Ave, 6970 Via Kannela-6555 Katella Ave, Cerritos Ave, 10490 Carlotta Ave-Ball Rd, John Beat Park, S Knott Ave, Solano Dr, Monterra Way, Campesina Dr, Holder Elementary School, W Orange Ave, 6698 Via Riverside Way-Orangeview Junior High School, W Lincoln Ave, 195 N Western Ave-298 N Western Ave, 3181 W Coolidge Ave-N Dale St, W Crescent Ave, N La Reina St, W La Palma Ave, Boisseranc Park, 1-5 HOV Lane, Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton Creek, Whitaker St, Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles County Metro, W Malvern Ave, W Chapman Ave, E Chapman Ave, S Placentia Ave, Kimberly Ave, E Orangethorpe Ave, and 2500 E Terrace St-Highway 57.
The 45th and 47th are partitioned by Highway 405, Old Ranch Parkway, Seal Beach Blvd, St Cloud Dr, Montecito Rd, Rossmore Center Way, 12240 Seal Beach Blvd-Los Alamitos Army Airfield, Bolsa Chica Channel, Rancho Rd, Harold Pl, Springdale St, 6021 Anacapa Dr-Willow Ln, Edward St, Bolsa Ave, Goldenwest St, McFadden Ave, Union Pacific Railroad, 15241 Cascade Ln-15241 Cedarwood Ave, Highway 39, Edinger Ave, Newland St, Heil Ave, Magnolia St, Warner Ave, Garfield Ave, and the Santa Ana River.
The 45th district takes in the cities of Cypress, Brea, Placentia, Westminster, Garden Grover, Buena Park, Fountain Valley, and northern Fullerton, as well as the census-designated place Rossmoor.
Los Angeles County is split between this district, the 38th district, and the 42nd district. The 45th and 42nd are partitioned by San Gabriel River, Palo Verde Ave, South St, Del Amo Blvd, Pioneer Blvd, Coyote Creek, Centralia Creek, Hawaiian Ave, Verne Ave, Bloomfield Park, Highway 605, 226th St, Dorado Cir, Cortner Ave, E Woodson St, Bloomfield Ave, Lilly Ave, Marna Ave, and Los Almost Channel.
The 45th and the 38th are partitioned by Valley View Ave, Southern Pacific Railroad, Alondra Blvd, 15917 Canyon Creek Rd-12371 Hermosura St, Norwalk Blvd, 166th St, and Cerritos College Child Development-Alondra Blvd. The 45th district takes in the cities of Cerritos, Artesia, and Hawaiian Gardens.
Ballotpedia provided information about Michelle Steel:
Michelle Steel (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 45th Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2023. Her current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Steel (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 45th Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the primary scheduled March 5, 2024.
Steel served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 2015 to 2021.
Michelle Steel was born in Seoul, South Korea, and lives in Surfside, California. Steel earned a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California in 2010. She served on the California Board of Equalization.
Balllotpedia provided information about Jay Chen:
Jay Chen (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 45th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Jay Chen has served in the U.S. Navy Reserve and reached the rank of lieutenant commander. Chen’s career experience includes owning a real estate business. He earned a degree from Harvard University in 2001.
Jay Chen completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Luitenant Commander Jay Chen is a Navy Reserve Intelligence Officer, small businessowner, and a father of two. Jay is running for Congress to help working families in Orange County get ahead.
Jay Chen is the son of immigrants from Taiwan who came to America for a chance to live the American Dream. Jay learned the value of hard work by helping his parents’ small business. As a small businessowner himself, Jay knows firsthand the challenges facing local businesses. In Congress, he will ensure American small businesses get the help they need to stay open, work to lower taxes on the middle class, and he will take on big corporations that are price-gouging consumers and causing inflation.
Every child deserves a quality education. Jay Chen went to public schools, worked hard, and earned a scholarship to attend Harvard. He served on the School Board and is a Community College Trustee for Mount San Antonio Community College – helping students afford college and obtain skills training to get a good job. Local teachers support Jay Chen because they trust him to strengthen local schools.
Lieutenant Commander Jay Chen joined the Navy to serve his country, and holds a Top Secret security clearance. Jay has defended our freedoms, leading an intelligence team in the counterterrorism fight against ISIS in the Middle East and countering communist North Korean threats in Asia. Veterans groups back Jay because they know he will always put American first.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- Jay’s top priority is talking inflation and improving our economy by fixing our supply chains and bringing manufacturing back to the United States. Jay knows that maintaining roads and bridges and modernizing transit and railway systems creates good local jobs and is a critical investment in our future. Investing in America’s infrastructure is the best way to improve and create sustainable, clean transportation options for millions of Americans who commute daily while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and gridlock. Jay will work to improve transportation options and tackle traffic bottlenecks so that Southern California residents can spend more time with their families and less time on the road.
- As a community college trustee and former school board member, Jay is committed to expanding educational opportunities for all. In Congress, Jay will work to ensure that local public schools receive the resources and funding they need to reduce class sizes, invest in STEM programs, and hire exceptional teachers. He knows we can do better by investing in neighborhood schools to guarantee all children have equal access to a quality education. Jay will also support the expansion of early childhood education. A child’s future prospects should not depend upon the zip code that they grow up in. Jay is committed to creating safe and supportive school environments for students and educators.
- As a Lieutenant Commander in the US Naval Reserves, Jay understands the importance of supporting our veterans, those currently serving, and their families. The men and women who have fought for our country deserve the best healthcare and support services. That’s why in Congress Jay will work to streamline the VA, make it easier for younger veterans to enter the system, and make sure that all veterans can access the health care they deserve. One homeless veteran is one too many. We must support and fund programs that ensure housing for the men and women who have given so much to serve and protect our country. Jay supports expanding mental health and suicide prevention services for all those who served.
Ballotpedia provided information about Long Pham:
Long Pham (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 45th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Pham was an unsuccessful 2014 Republican candidate for District 34 of the California State Senate. He ran unsuccessfully for District 72 of the California State Assembly in 2012.
Long Pham’s career experiences includes owning a business and working as an engineer.
Ballotpedia provided information about Hilaire Fuji Shioura:
Hilaire Fuji Shioura (No party preference) (write-in) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 45th Congressional District. He lost as a write-in in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Shioura (RepublicanParty) also ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 40th Congressional District. He did not appear on the ballot for the primary on June 7, 2022.
Shioura (Independent) also ran for election for Governor of California. He did not appear on the ballot for the primary on June 7, 2022.
Shioura was elected to the Placentia Library board of trustees in 2020.
May 4: The Orange County Register posted an article titled: “Roe v. Wade: Here’s where Orange County House member, challengers stand on abortion rights”. From the article:
…45th District
Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach: “I believe in the right to live and I believe we need to protect the rights of unborn children. Life is sacred, and no one should have the power to unilaterally end it. I believe there are some exceptions to protect the life of the mother.”
Jan Chen, D-Hacienta Heights: “Reproductive rights should be protected at all costs and health care decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor, without interference from politicians. Attacks on Roe v. Wade and the right to an abortion endangers the health and safety of women across the country.
Long Pham, R-Fountain Valley: “I am opposed to abortion except for the case of rape and when the health of the mother is in danger”…
Ballotpedia provided the results of the Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 45
- Michelle Steel (R): 48.2% – 65,641 votes
- Jay Chen (D): 43.1% – 58,721 votes
- Long Pham (R): 8.6% – 11,732 votes
- Hilaire Fuji Shioura (No part preference) (Write-in): 0.0% – 6 votes
October 5: VietFact Check posted an article titled: “Is Congressional Candidate Jay Chen a Communist?” From the article:
Claim: Congreswoman Michelle Steel is currently running for reelection, she serves California’s 45th District, which includes Little Saigon. Steel recently released fliers of her opponent Jay Chen, who is a Democrat, claiming that he is a Communist sympathizer.
Rating: This claim is FALSE. Jay Chen is a member of the U.S. military, he is a Lieutenant Commander of the Navy Reserve, and he is also the son of Taiwanese immigrants who fled Communist China – it’s highly unlikely that Chen is a Communist. Steel also said that in 2010, Chen supported the Confucius Institute which is funded by the Chinese government. But at the time, that was a program supported by President George W. Bush and President Obama, as a way for American students to learn Mandarin.
Congresswoman Michelle Steel, who is a Republican, is currently running for reelection. She represents California’s 45th District, which contains Little Saigon. Recently, Steel released campaign fliers featuring a false image of her opponent Jay Chen, who is a Democrat, holding a copy of The Communist Manifesto. The text in the flyer says, “Jay Chen invited China into our children’s class,” and that “Jay Chen voted in favor of the Confucius Institute, an organization funded by the Chinese state, to the Hacienda La Puente school district to teach.”
The image in Steel’s campaign flier was doctored, and is not a real image of Chen. And Steel’s claim is an exaggeration…
…In 2010, the school board of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, which Chen was a part of, voted in favor of creating a new program to teach Mandarin to its students, funded by the Confucius Institute.
Funded by the Chinese government, the Confucius Institute was created in 2004 to promote Chinese language and culture through programs at schools and universities. Said Chen at the time, “From Oregon to Rhode Island, public schools have implemented the same program. As far as I can see, nothing sinister is going on.” At the time, there were around 200 Confucius Institute language classed in K-12 schools, including in Los Angeles and San Diego, and the school districts had to approve the materials taught in those classrooms…
…It was later discovered that the Confucius Institute also acted as propaganda for the Chines government, and many of those programs in the U.S. were ordered closed by the U.S. State Department in 2020…
…Chen has called the fliers “ridiculous.” He told the Los Angeles Times, “I thought it was really absurd and, beyond that, really dangerous the way she is exploiting fears within the immigrant community for political gain,” he said…
…Steel’s fliers have been criticized for red-baiting, when candidates accuse their opponents of being Communists in order to undermine their credibility. “This is red-bating, since it entails a Taiwanese American being accused of bringing Maoist thought into American classrooms,” Long T. But, a professor of global and international studies at University of California, Irvine, told the Los Angeles Times. “None of this is part of Chen’s educational platform.
Steel also has a history of falsely accusing her opponents of being Communists. In 2020, she falsely accused then Congressman Harley Rouda of being pro-Ho Chi Minh…
November 5: Fox 11 Los Angeles posted an article titled: “Protesters call for Rep. Steel to Resign over “hurtful” campaign ad”. From the article:
There are just days until the polls close for the 2022 midterms, and one California representative running for reelection is facing calls to resign, over an ad that demonstrators say pushes harmful stereotypes about Asian Americans.
Michelle Steel is a Republican candidate who is running for reelection in California’s 48th Congressional District, [sic – Michelle Steel and Jay Chen are running in California’s 45th District] which serves Orange County, against Democrat Jay Chen. In one of Steel’s campaign ads, a clip of her opponent is shown, implying that he wants to force Chinese propaganda on schoolchildren, with a voiceover saying that Steel is, “fighting to ban communist propaganda in our schools.”
Protesters gathered outside her office over the weekend, demanding an apology from Steel for the rhetoric pushed in the ad…
…Jake Tapper, who called it, “the most dishonest TV campaign ad, perhaps we’ve ever seen.”
Experts say not only is the ad dishonest, but it’s hurtful to an Asian-American community that’s been suffering recently from a rise in anti-Asian hate.
“It really is outrageous, in terms of, frankly how dangerous it is,” said Christian Dyogi Phillips, assistant professor of political science at USC. “Asian-Americans as a national group are very supportive of expanding healthcare, access to abortion, affirmative action. All of these issues that don’t really line up with Michelle Steel’s record.”
Phillips said the strategy might not be surprising from a white, male, GOP candidate, but it is from Steel, a Korean-American…
…In the end the demonstrators didn’t prompt Steel to resign or apologize. Her supporters even countered protesters with signs that read, “Jay Chen is a racist.”
“Michelle Steel and Jay Chen are both AAPI leaders. We respect them both,” said Charley Lu from I – Chinese American Political Action Committee. “But this continued rhetoric, we need to stop it.”
November 9: KCBX posted an article titled: “Why a Southern California congressional race hinges on Asian American voters”. From the article:
Little Saigon in Orange County, Calif., boasts the largest concentration of Vietnamese people outside Vietnam. Democrat and congressional hopeful Jay Chen showed up one day in September, dressed in his uniform from the U.S. Navy Reserves. He was there to visit the Museum of the Republic of Vietnam, a one-room collection of artifacts donated by veterans and refugees of the country’s civil war, tucked in the back corner of one of the shopping centers…
…Candidates come to such local highlights – and make a point of commemorating their visits in the press – because Vietnamese Americans make up the largest Asian American voting bloc in the area, a constituency that can swing an election. In the newly drawn congressional district of CA-45 that Chen is running in, they comprise 16% of all voters. Other key AAPI groups in the area include people of Korean, Chinese and Indian descent – together accounting for a third of all registered voters. Chen is Taiwanese American, and he is running against Republican incumbent and Korean American Michelle Steel. The election is a truly California affair: intersectional and immigrant, where race and political identity meet.
The fight for Orange County underscores the complexity of the Asian American vote. Demographics are not destiny here – both Republican and Democratic strategists can pull data suggesting an AAPI swing one way or the other. It has become one of the most closely watched congressional races this election cycle, and will likely trigger a rethink for politicos on how they’ve traditionally surveyed Asian Americans…
…Nationally, Asian Americans are one of the fastest-growing groups of the U.S. electorate, with record voter turnout in 2020. Experts say the voting block cares about the same domestic issues as other voters. But with overseas connections still strong for many, especially first-generation voters, U.S. foreign policy ends up playing an unusual role in Asian American voter choice, a phenomenon known as homeland politics.
The term describes how the political choices of immigrants are influenced by their attachments and concerns about their home country…
For many Americans who have fled authoritarian states, there is often a preference for the party they believe has a tougher approach to non-democratic states…
Ballotpedia provided the results of the General election for U.S. House California District 45:
- Michelle Steel (R): 52.4% – 113,960 votes
- Jay Chen (D): 47.6% – 103,466 votes
November 14: CBSNews posted a short article titled: “Republican Michelle Steel wins reelection”. From the article:
AP projects Republican Michelle Steel has been reelected to represent California’s 45th Congressional District. The contentious campaign led to a neck-and-neck race between Steel, the incumbent, and her competitor Jay Chen.
The newly redrawn 45th District Representative represents Cerritos to Buena Park and South to Westminster, Garden Grove and Fountain Valley – it is the largest Vietnamese community in the nation.
- Michelle Steel (Republican) – 96,114 votes – 53.8%
- Jay Chen (Democrat) – 82,447 votes – 46.2%
November 15: LAist posted an article titled: “45th Congressional District Results, Michelle Steel Beats Jay Chen In Contentious Race”. From the article:
Republican Michelle Steel has secured a second term in Congress after a pitched battle for the 45th House district that drew national attention because of her anti-Communist ads targeting opponent Democrat Jay Chen.
While votes are still being counted, the AP called the race for Steel late Monday.
In a statement released on social media Monday night, Steel said: “I have been firm in my commitment to deliver for Southern California, and will continue to work to lower taxes, stop inflation, and keep the American Dream alive for working class families.”
The Chen campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment.
November 16: LAist posted Live results of the 45th Congressional votes:
- Michelle Steel (Republican) – 101,958 votes – 53.82%
- Jay F. Chen (Democrat) – 87,486 votes – 46.18%
California’s 46th Congressional District
Wikipedia provided information about California’s 46th Congressional District:
California’s 46th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California.
It has been represented by Democrat Lou Correa since 2017, when he succeeded Loretta Sanchez, who retired to run for the U.S. Senate. This district is based in Orange County and includes the communities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Stanton, as well as parts of Orange and Fullerton. It is both the most Democratic-leaning and most Latino congressional district in Orange County.
The congressional district contains the theme park Disneyland and Angel Stadium.
From 2003 to 2013 the district covered part of Los Angeles County and Orange County. It included Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and Rancho Palos Verdes.
As of the 2020 redistricting, California’s 38th congressional district is located in Southern California. It is entirely within western Orange County.
Orange County is split between the district, the 40th district, the 45th district, and the 47th district. The 46th and 40th are partitioned by E La Palma Ave, E Jackson Ave, E Frontera St, Santa Ana River, Riverside Valley, Costa Mesa Freeway, N Tustin St, E Meats Ave, N Orange Olive Rd, Garden Grove Freeway, 16909 Donwest-16791 E Main St, E Chestnut Ave, 16282 E Main St-717-S Lyon St, E McFadden Ave, Warner Ave, and Red Hill Ave.
The 46th, 45th, and 47th are partitioned by Red Hill Ave, E Alton Parkway, Costa Mesa Freeway, Sunflower Ave, Harbor Blvd, MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana River, W Lehnhardt, Gloxinia Ave, Lilac Way, Edinger Ave, Pebble Ct, 10744 W Lehnhardt Ave-10726 Kedge Ave, 724 S Sail St-5641 W Barbette Ave-407 S Starboard St, Starboard St/S Cooper St, Taft St, Hazard Ave, N Euclid St, Westminister Ave, Clinton St, 14300 Clinton St-1001 Mar Les Dr, 2729 Huckleberry Rd, N Fairview St, Fairview St, 13462 Garden Grove Blvd-1352 Marty Ln, S Lewis St, W Chapman Ave, E Simmons Ave, S Haster St, Ascot Dr, W Orangewood Ave, S 9th St, 2209 S Waverly Dr-11751 S Waverly Dr, Euclid St, Haven Ln, W Dudley St, S Euclid St, Katella Ave, Dale St, Rancho Alamitos High School, Orangewood Ave, Barber City Channel, Arrowhead St, Del Rey Dr, Westcliff Dr, Lampson Ave, Fern St, Garden Grove Blvd, Union Pacific Railroad, 7772 W Chapman Ave-Bently Ave, Highway 39, Western Ave, Stanton Storm Channel, Knott Ave, 6970 Via Kannela-6555 Katella Ave, W Orange Ave, 6698 Via Riverside Way-Orangeview Junior High School, W Lincoln Ave, 195 N Park, 1-5 HOV Lane, Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton Creek, Whitaker St, Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles County Metro, W Malvern Ave, W Chapman Ave, E Chapman Ave, S Placentia Ave, Kimberly Ave, E Orangethorpe Ave, and 2500 E Terrace St-Highway 57.
The 46th district takes in the cities of Santa Ana, Stanton, Anaheim, southern Fullerton, and western Orange.
Ballotpedia provided information on Lou Correa:
Lou Correa (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 46th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2017. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Correa (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 46th to the U.S. House to represent California’s 46th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Correa was elected to the seat in 2016. In his 2018 re-election bid, Correa defeated Republican Russell Lambert by a vote of 69 percent to 31 percent.
Coreea represented District 34 in the California State Senate from 2006 to 2014. Prior to joining the state senate, Correa was a member of the California State Assembly from District 69 from 1998-2004 and served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 2004-2006.
Correa earned his B.A. in economics from California State University-Fullerton, his MBA from UCLA and his Juris Doctor from UCLA. His professional experience includes working as a teacher in the Rancho Santiago Community College District and as an investment banker and real estate broker.
Ballotpedia provided information on Christopher Gonzales:
Christopher Gonzales (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 46th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Christopher Gonzales graduated from Irvine High School. Gonzales served in the U.S. Army and reached the rank of first lieutenant. He earned bachelor’s degrees in social ecology and political science from the University of California at Irvine and a juris doctor from the University of California at Los Angeles. Gonzales’ career experience includes owning a law firm and working as a lawyer.
Christopher Gonzales did not fill out Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. Ballotpedia provided information from Christopher Gonzales’s 2022 campaign website:
AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIVE
- Enhance the ability to provide for your family
- Reduce household living costs and gas prices
- Provide more educational opportunity including school choice
- Create better and higher paying jobs
AN ENRICHED COMMUNITY
- Restore funding of the police
- Ensure safer streets
- Continue community improvements
- Reduce small businesses regulators
- Improve schools and education options
- Promote independent healthcare decision making without government intervention and mandates
A STRONGER NATION
- Support tax policies that put more money in your pocket
- Advocate for a strong military
- Promote energy independence
- Fight for personal freedoms and Constitution rights
Ballotpedia provided information from Michael Ortega:
Michael Ortega (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 46th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Michael Ortega was born in Chicago, Illinois, and lives in Anaheim, California. Ortega earned a degree from the Southern California in 2013. His career experience includes working as a biomedical engineer and educator. Ortega has been associated with the Orange County Democratic Socialists of America.
Ortaga completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Collection survey in 2021. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Mike is a lifelong organizer that has worked the ground to fight for his community, and in the lab to save lives as a biomedical engineer. Through his work, he has seen how low-income families are denied opportunities reserved for the wealthy and powerful few.
Mike, the youngest of 8, was born to immigrant parents from Ecuador and Puerto Rico. They struggled to get by, but his parents took care to provide him with every opportunity. From their perseverance and sacrifice, Mike learned how to fight for a better world in his schools, workplaces, and country.
Mike now lives in Anaheim with his wife and soon-to-be firstborn son. Through his organizing career, he has mentored underprivileged student, championed efforts to unionize, and led campaigns to protect our undocumented workers. He is running now to act on the issues that matter most to his community that can’t wait for tomorrow: affordable housing, Medicare for All, protecting our immigrant neighbors, and enacting a Green New Deal.
Please list 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- Today, Lou Correa, the Democrat representing our district, fights to keep prescription drug prices high. Every year we send Lou to Washington to focus on the profits of the pharmaceutical industry that funds his campaigns…and every year more people are exploited by price gouging. It’s clear to me that our district deserves better than this level of conservatism and self-serving opportunism.
- There is no time to wait for a hero to save us. Impending crises like climate change will wait for no one. We have to work together in our communities, on the ground, to battle big monied interests. My district – the people of Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Orange – are ready for change today. We need: Medicare for All, affordable housing, a strengthened education system, and to abolish ICE. We need a Green New Deal to bring sustainable union jobs to Orange County – making our district a hub where we can learn the skills necessary to protect our planet. We understand the stakes, and are ready to work to turn the tide right here in our hometowns. Because when we work together, we win.
- Today, Lou Correa, the Democrat representing our district, fights to keep prescription drug prices high. Every year we send Lou to Washington to focus on the profits of the pharmaceutical industry that funds his campaigns…and every year more and more people are exploited by price gouging. It’s clear to me that our district deserves better than this level of conservatism and self-serving opportunism.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Single-payer healthcare to modernize a broken healthcare system that funnels working people’s money into insurance corporations.
A Green New Deal resolution and Civilian Climate Corps to combat the climate emergency before us. This includes union jobs and retraining programs to bolster the America working force with good-paying jobs.
Amnesty for all undocumented workers to stop deportations. Abolish ICE to stop the immoral cruelty towards our immigrant neighbors. Provide a path to citizenship with less red tape.
Strengthen our education system through federal programs to provide funding. We know our children and teachers deserve the best, so let’s do everything we can do [sic] deliver.
Create a federal program for students to attend college tuition-free, expand access to trade schools and apprenticeship programs.
Strengthen the American family through programs like Universal Child Care and Pre-K,
Institute a federal National Rent Control program.
Strengthen labor laws, tie the minimum wage to inflation, and set a fair tax rate similar to what our nation’s Greatest Generation instituted.
Ballotpedia provided information about Mike Nguyen:
Mike Nguyen (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 46th Congressional District. Nguyen lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Nguyen also ran for election to the Orange Unified Board of Education to represent Trustee Area 7 in California. Nguyen lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Mike Nguyen was born in Vietnam. Nguyen’s career experience includes working as an engineer.
Ballotpedia provided information about Felix Rocha:
Felix Rocha (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 46th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Felix Rocha was born in San Antonio, Texas. Rocha served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1972. He earned an associate degree from Golden West College in 1998. Rocha’s career experience includes working as a federal senior special agent.
Felix Rocha completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I am a retired Federal Special Agent. I worked for the U.S. Department of Justice (INS) for over 33 years. I am also a Christian. My views and my standards are conservative. I am a Christian Conservative.
My priorities are: BORDER SECURITY – Two to three million illegal aliens have invaded our Nation and President Biden is totally responsible for this He has encouraged them to enter the United States illegally. He stop the construction of the Wall on our Southern Border. He totally jeopardized our National Security and the Democrats went along with his stupid idea;
CRIME/DRUGS – By stopping construction of our Border Wall, President Biden openly permitted an entry of violent criminals and drugs to be smuggled to America. Our Borders were secured before he became President. He ruined our National Security and flaunted his power with disregard to the safety of our Citizens and the Democrats went right along with his stupid idea also;
ENERGY CRISIS – President Biden caused our nation to suffer the worst energy crisis in the history of the United States. Two years ago, a gallon of gasoline costed $2.00 and now a gallon of gasoline cost us $6.00 or more. Our Congress must immediately restart the Keystone pipeline that President Biden shut down. Our President made a horrible mistake when he shut down the Keystone pipeline for no reason and the Democrats went along with his stupid idea again.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- Border Security
- Energy Crisis
- Crime and Drugs
NOTE: Felix Rocha also answered a question titled: “What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? After reading what he wrote, it decided not to post his answer to that question because it was extremely racist.
Ballotpedia provided information about Ed Rushman:
Ed Rushman (independent) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 46th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Ed Rushman was born in Covina, California. Rushman earned an associate degree from Long Beach City College, bachelor’s degree in business from Kaplan University, and master’s degree in business administration from Long Beach State University. His career experience includes working as a technical manager, project manager, and professional services leader.
Ed Rushman completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I’ve made a career of doing what needs to be done, raising a family here while doing it. I’ve done every job there is in information technology, in many kinds of businesses, small and large. In the past couple of decades, I’ve specialized in the recovery or failed or falling projects, drawing on my experience in people, process, and technology, and earned a couple of degrees on the way so I’d understand the business better, as well as economics conferences and other events to learn more about how everything works, not just information systems. I’ve listened to, and learned from, a lot of people from all over the country, and the world.
When no one is really fixing a problem, I look for someone with a real solution and if I can’t find anyone, I ask a lot of questions and develop a solution with everyone’s perspectives taken into account. I’ve done this a lot, and most of the time it works. When I fail, I figure out why and carry that lesson forward.
I’ve run twice before. It’s tough without a party to do the legwork, doing the door-to-door myself, but it’s a great experience and nearly everyone I meet encourages me.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- Free Congress from big money and Party politics, starting with the 46th district
- Represent the people so well that voters will reject partisan politics
- Bring respectful discourse, real teamwork in the office and with all I encounter
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Legislation should be entirely about what is good for the Nation and not about obligations to special interests or Party. It should not be about personal gain in wealth or power. It is a sacred duty to the people, and should be pursued with that as the highest principle. People in our district struggle to reconcile protections for the poor with protections for unborn children, and the response from Democrats was to back abortion to birth.
Money drives elections, and neither the wealthy Democratic nor Republican donors understand the values of the common people. Our district has a lot of hard-working people, many are immigrants, who Brough ancient values with them that they thought America respected, only to be told their values are backward and wrong.
The Dream Act – Congress has put this off for nearly two decades, and this is a prime case of partisan politics. This is a humanitarian necessity, and 800,000 Dreamers serve in our military, pursue education, and work, paying taxes and living like the rest of us. We must resolve this while developing a more sustainable immigration policy that will not put us in this position again. There is massive public support, but Congress will not act.
Above all, I am passionate about government working for all the people, not just serving the most powerful, those who can pay to have their ideals promoted. Government should not be a tool for domination.
April 20: The Orange County Register posted an article titled: “Elections 2022: Get to know Rep. Lou Correa, five more candidates in 46th District primary” From the article:
Three-term Democratic incumbent faces challenges from the left and the right in redrawn 46.
There’s ultra-conservative former border patrol agent Felix Rocha Jr. and biomedical engineer Mike Ortega, who’s a former member of the Socialist Party.
There’s Republican Mike Nguyen, an aerospace engineer-turned real estate developer, and there’s attorney Christopher Gonzales, who got the backing of the State GOP.
Then there’s project manager Ed Rushman, who’s the only independent running in the House race.
Those five candidates are challenging three-term Rep. Lou Correa, D-Anaheim, in the June 7 primary to represent the newly 46th District in Orange County. The two candidates who get the most votes in June advance to the decisive November election.
Meet the CA-46 candidates
Lou Correa (D)
What’s one thing you would do to make housing more affordable for residents of your district?
There is a housing shortage. Although this is a local issue, I would encourage building more affordable housing. At the federal level, I will continue to support Section 8 vouchers, but the reality is that there is a shortage of housing units.
When it comes to COVID-19 vaccines and government policy, which do you support?
Limited mandates
What would you do to address rising inflation?
To address rising inflation, I would reduce energy prices and fix the supply chain.
Christopher Gonzales (R)
What’s one thing you would do to make housing more affordable for residents of your district?
I would address the rising household living costs and inflation. People need to keep the money they earn and not have it taken for increased taxes and higher costs. We need to reduce government spending, eliminate spending, eliminate bloated bureaucracies and stop wasting resources.
Do you support increasing the number of the seats on the U.S. Supreme Court?
No.
What is your stance on abortion rights?
I am Pro-Life from conception to natural death.
Mike Nguyen (R)
What’s one thing you would do to make housing more affordable for residents of your district?
Energy independent, less regulations, creating more friendly work environments, less taxes, more incentive for low housing builders.
Do you support increasing the number of seats on the U.S. Supreme Court?
No.
When it comes to COVID-19 vaccines and government policy, which do you support?
No mandates
Mike Ortega (D)
What’s one thing you would do to make housing more affordable for residents in your district?
I would fight to pass a National Rent Control bill, which is a cap on rent increases: 3% or 150% of consumer price index, whichever is higher. We must ensure that housing authorities and tenant associations are funded to their needs and end backdoor privatization schemes on housing developments.
Do you support increasing the number of seats on the U.S. Supreme Court?
Yes
What is your stance on abortion rights?
The state has no place in controlling a woman’s agency over her reproductive system. These decisions are not easy for American women and families, so we should not have barriers in place that make those decisions even harder. Therefore, we must ensure that the right to abortion is protected on a federal level.
Felix Rocha (R)
What’s one thing you would do to make housing more affordable for residents of your district?
Provide working families and veterans in the 46th District with a one-time housing loan for them to buy a home.
Do you support increasing the number of seats on the U.S. Supreme Court?
No
What is your stance on abortion rights?
I do not agree with abortion; except in the case of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is endangered.
Ed Rushman (NPP)
What’s one thing you would do to make housing more affordable for residents of your district?
Not take money from Real Estate donors as the incumbent does. Making decisions based on achieving affordable housing instead of pleasing those who helped create the problem would be an excellent start. Ending partisanship would help the national economy, not just the district.
Do you support increasing the number of seats on the U.S. Supreme Court?
No
What’s your stance on abortion rights?
According to the Guttmacher Institute: Oregon, Vermont, Colorado, New Hampshire, DC, Alaska, New Jersey and New Mexico currently have no 24-week, or even viability prohibitions on abortion, and that other states are going that way. Doe v Bolton permits this and Congress cannot override a Supreme Court decision. I won’t vote to fund abortions.
June 7: The Orange County Register posted: “2022 Election Updated 46th District primary results show Lou Correa, Chris Gonzales out front”. From the article:
While Correa is heavily favored to win the seat, it’s been tough to predict who might join him on the ballot in November.
Democratic Rep. Lou Correa and attorney Christopher Gonzales, who got the backing of the state GOP, took the No. 1 and No. 2 spots as early results posted Tuesday night in the six-man primary contest for the 46th House District race in central Orange County.
“I’m honored,” Correa said by phone from Washington, D.C. as initial results posted. “I’m homegrown. I love Orange County, I love my community and I work for them day in and day out.”
In third place was Republican Mike Nguyen, an aerospace engineer-turned real estate developer. Trailing behind were biomedical engineer Mike Ortega, a progressive Democrat who’s a former member of the Socialist Party; conservative Republican Felix Rocha Jr., who’s former border patrol agent; and project manager Ed Rushman, who’s the only independent running in a local House race…
…The two candidates who get the most votes in today’s primary will advance to the decisive November election, which will decide who will spend the next two years representing residents in Anaheim and Santa Ana along with portions of Orange, Fullerton and Stanton…
…The first round of results tonight will come from ballots that were mailed before Election Day. Those returns expected to skew in favor of Democrats, since Trump and the other GOP leaders sowed distrust in mail-in ballots. As in-person votes from today are added to the mix, vote count may shift a bit more to the right…
Ballotpedia posted information about the Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 46:
- Lou Correa (D): 49.1% – 37,311 votes
- Christopher Gonzales (R): 15.6% – 11,823 votes
- Michael Ortega (D): 12.3% – 9,211 votes
- Mike Nguyen (R): 12.1% – 9,162 votes
- Felix Rocha (R): 9.3% – 7,084 votes
- Ed Rushman (Independent): 1.7% – 1,264 votes
October 4: The Orange County Register posted “Christopher Gonzales, CA-46 candidate, Election 2022 questionnaire” From the article:
Ahead of the November elections, The Orange County Register compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below, with responses only edited for grammar and punctuation.
…The Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case that could give state legislatures greater influence over federal election rules. What do you see as the role states play in elections, even federal contests, and should there be a limit to that power?
State and local government are best at creating and enforcing law. However, I would like the federal government to enact some nationwide laws that ensure that all elections in our country are fair and honest. I would like to see laws that provide that only citizens can vote, that one produces proper identification, and I would eliminate ballot harvesting which is very suspect of fraud.
Do you support additional mandates to force businesses and residents to move toward cleaner energy? If so, what’s one such mandate you would support? And if not, what would be your plan to help accelerate the move to cleaner energy?
I do not favor mandates. I like business and personal incentives for cleaner energy. Science and technology are the keys to cleaner energy. With encouragement and assistance from government and a free market, our nation and industry will create the desired energy goals.
…One question that has been raised post-Roe is whether women who reside in states that have outlawed abortions could be prosecuted for getting the procedure done out of state – or whether someone who helps a woman go out of state for abortion should/could be held liable. Where do you stand on this? If you believe there should be repercussions, why and for who? If you don’t, should there be stronger federal protections for women and those who aid them?
I am 10,000% pro-life. I believe every life has great value from the womb to the tomb. I want your babies to live. Please do not destroy them. I am about saving lives, not criminalizing abortion. I want to change hearts and have people love and respect one another…
October 5: The Orange County Register posted: “Lou Correa, CA-46 candidate, Election 2022 questionnaire” From the article:
The Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case that could give state legislatures greater influence over federal election rules. What do you see as the role states play in elections, even federal contests, and should there be a limit to that power?
Every legally registered American citizen must be given the opportunity to vote. Elections across the country should have a baseline set of standards to provide all American citizens the opportunity to vote. States should not have the opportunity to enhance access to the ballot box.
Do you support additional mandates to force businesses and residents to move toward cleaner energy? If so, what’s one such mandate you would support? And if not, what would be your plan to help accelerate the move to cleaner energy?
Some mandates do work, such as mandating minimum “miles per gallon” standards. Moving to cleaner energy must continue with a balanced approach that invests in R&D and renewables while keeping “prices at the gas pump” affordable to working families.
…One question that has been raised post-Roe is whether women who reside in states that have outlawed abortions could be prosecuted for getting the procedure out of state – or whether someone who helps a woman go out of state for an abortion should/could be held liable. Where do you stand on this? If you believe there should be repercussions, why and for whom? If you don’t, should there be stronger federal protection for women and those who aid them?
This is a personal and private decision that should be left to the woman, her doctor, and her God – and not a decision made by the government. If a person decides to travel to another state, that is their right to do so. They should not be prosecuted…
November 8: The Orange County Register posted: “Rep. Lou Correa on track for reelection in California’s 46th House District” From the article:
Rep. Lou Correa appears to be poised to win a fourth term representing voters in central Orange County.
Early vote counts released late Tuesday, Nov. 8, by the Orange County Registrar of Voters, showed Correa, D-Santa Ana, with a strong lead over his Republican challenger, Christopher Gonzales, in the race for the 46th congressional district.
Though more votes will be counted in coming days, most experts have pegged Correa, 64, as a safe bet to win reelection. The recently redrawn CA-46 – which covers Santa Ana and Anaheim with slices of Orange, Fullerton and Stanton – is deeply blue, with county data showing Democrats accounting for 49.3% of the district’s registered voters, versus 21.6% who are registered Republican and 23.3% who have no party preference.
Since first winning a seat in the House in 2016, Correa, a former Orange County Supervisor, has voted with congressional Democrats on most big issues, including abortion access, climate, gun control and the economy. Correa is a member of the Blue Dog caucus, a group of 19 House Democrats who push for what they view as fiscal responsibility.
This year, Correa has campaigned on the Biden administration’s track record on issues such as the Inflation Reduction Act, infrastructure spending and job growth. In the Register’s candidate questionnaire, Correa ads said he wants the Biden administration to do more than help immigrants, particularly DREAMers, become citizens…
Ballotpedia provided information about the General election for U.S. House California District 46:
- Lou Correa (D): 61.8% – 78,031 votes
- Christopher Gonzales (R): 38.2% – 48,257 votes
California’s 47th Congressional District
Wikipedia provided information about California’s 47th Congressional District:
California’s 47th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. State of California.
Following 2020 redistricting, the district shifted to Orange County to contain Irvine, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Seal Beach. It is currently represented by Democrat Katie Porter.
Competitiveness: The district, a Democratic-leaning swing district with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+3, includes the heavily Democratic city of Irvine, and Republican-leaning coastal cities such as Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.
As of the 2020 redistricting, California’s 38th congressional district is located in Southern California. It covers the South Coast Metro Area of Orange County.
Orange County is split between this district, the 45th district, the 46th district, the 40th district, and the 49th district. The 47th, and 45th and 46th are partitioned by Highway 405, Old Ranch Parkway, Seal Beach Blvd, St Cloud Dr, Montecito Rd, Rossmoor Center Way, 12240 Seal Beach Blvd-Los Alamitos Army Airfield, Bolsa Chica Channel, Rancho Rd, Harold Pl, Springdale St, 6021 Anacapa Dr-Willow Ln, Edward St, Bolsa Ave, Goldenwest St, McFadden Ave, Union Pacific Railroad, 15241 Cascade Ln-15241 Cedarwood Ave, Highway 39, Edinger Ave, Newland St, Heil Ave, Magnolia St, Warner Ave, Garfield Ave, the Santa Ana River, MacArthur Blvd, Harbor Blvd, Sunflower Ave, Costa Mesa Freeway, E Alton Parkway, and Red Hill Ave.
The 47th, 40th and 49th are partitioned by Barranca Parkway, Jamboree Rd, Warner Ave, Harvard Ave, Myford Rd, Loma Ridge Nature Preserve, Bee Canyon Access Rd, Portola Parkway, Highway 133, Highway 241, Bake Parkway, San Diego Freeway, Ridge Route Dr, Moulton Parkway, Santa Maria Ave, Via Vista, Alta Vis, Santa Vittoria Dr, Avenida del Sol, Punta Alta, Galle Azul, Bahia Blanca W, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Highway S18, Aliso & Wood Canyons, Vista del Sol, Highway 1, Stonington Rd, Virginia Way, 7th Ave, and Laguna Beach.
The 47th takes in the cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach.
Ballotpedia provided information about Katie Porter:
Katie Porter (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 47th Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2023. Her current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Katie Porter (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent California. She declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Katie Porter was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Porter earned a B.A. from Yale University in 1996 and a J.D. from Harvard University in 2001. Her career experience includes working as a law professor with the University of California at Irvine; a consumer and bankruptcy attorney with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the World Bank, the Federal Judicial Center, and the Uniform Law Commission; and a law clerk to Judge Richard S. Arnold of the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals.
Ballotpedia provided information about Scott Baugh:
Scott Baugh (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 47th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Scott Baugh lives in Huntington Beach California. Baugh earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Liberty University and a J.D. from the Universally of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. His career experience includes owning a business and working as a lawyer. Baugh has served as chairman of GRIP (Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership), a board member of the George T. Pfleger Foundation, a founding board member of Angel Force USA, a founding trustee of Pacifica Christian High School, a board member of the Orange County Classical Academy, and the founding chairman of the OC Marathon Foundation.
Ballotpedia provided information about Amy Phan West:
Amy Phan West (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 47th Congressional District. She lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Amy Phan West was born in Da Nang, Vietnam. West earned an associate degree in business from Orange Coast College and a bachelor’s degree in education from California State University at Long Beach. Her career experience includes co-owning an independent rental car consortium. West has been associated with Concerned Woman for American (CWA).
NOTE: Wikipedia provided information about Concerned Women for America (CWA), a social conservative, evangelical Christian non-profit women’s legislative committee in the United States. Headquartered in Washington D.C., the CWA is involved in social and political movements, through which it aims to incorporate Christian ideology. The group is primarily led by well-funded anti-feminist interests.
The group was founded in San Diego, California in 1978 by Beverly LaHaye, whose husband Timothy LaHaye was an evangelical Christian minister and author of The Battle for the Mind, a well as a coauthor of the Left Behind series.
Ballotpedia provided information about Brian Burley:
Brian Burley (Republican Party) is running for the U.S. House to represent California’s 47th District. He declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Brian Burley was a candidate for at-large member of the Huntington Beach City Council in California. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Brian Burley earned a bachelor’s degree in political economy and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Southern California. Burley’s experience includes owning an information technology consulting company. He has been affiliated with the Orange County Central Committee for the Republican Party in California.
Ballotpedia provided information about Errol Webber:
Erroll Webber (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 47th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Webber also ran for election for Governor of California. He did not appear on the ballot for the primary on June 7, 2022.
Erroll Webber was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Webber earned an undergraduate degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2008. His career experience includes working as a documentary film producer and cinematographer. Webber has served as a member of the Legacy Republican Alliance and the South Los Angeles-Inglewood Republican Assembly.
May 4: The Orange County Register posted an article titled: “Roe v. Wade: Here’s where Orange County House members, challengers, stand on abortion rights”. From the article:
Among the 28 candidates running for one of the six House seats that include portions of Orange County, the eight Democrats all support upholding national safeguards on abortion access created half a century ago by a now-endangered Supreme Court ruling in the case of Roe v. Wade.
No local Republican running for Congress is speaking in support of such protections, with most instead endorsing limited or complete bans on abortion rights…
…Here’s how local candidates summed up their stance on abortion rights in written responses of 50 words or less:…
…47th District
Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine: “All Americans should be free to decide for themselves if and when to start a family. There is no economic security without bodily autonomy – the ability to control our own bodies. The right to seek an abortion is protected by the Constitution, and federal law should respect this right”.
Scott Baugh, R-Huntington Beach: “Life begins and conception. Others may disagree as to precisely when life begins, but there should be no disagreement as to whether it’s OK to abort children who have reached the point of viability. We need to promote a culture of life in America – not a culture of termination.”
Brian Burley, R-Huntington Beach: Did not respond. (In 2020, he said, “I am pro-life but I believe in exceptions).
Errol Webber – R-Costa Mesa: “We must protect all life at all stages of life, including those in the womb”
Amy Phan West – R-Huntington Beach: “I am staunchly pro-life.”…
August 4: NBC News posted an article titled: “In a key swing district, Katie Porter clashes with GOP opponent over inflation and ‘Orange County values”. From the article:
In a rough year for Democrats, Republican Scott Baugh is trying to bring this Orange County swing district back to its GOP roots after it abandoned his party.
But he’s navigating a culturally changing region, now wary of a Republican Party transformed by Donald Trump, and a rising Democratic star in two-term Rep. Katie Porter, who, as one Republican operative lamented, “has more money than God.”
“I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think it was winnable,” Baugh said in an interview at his campaign office in Newport Beach. “Yeah, we can return it.”…
…California’s new 47th District sits at the nexus of cross-currents shaping the 2022 election. While economic pain and President Joe Biden’s unpopularity threatens Democrats’ hold on power, cultural issues like abortion, as well as Trump’s enduring grip on the party, could put a ceiling on GOP prospects in the suburbs.
A Porter defeat would be a harbinger of a red wave. Conversely, a Republican failure here could indicate that voters who have left the GOP in well-educated and suburban districts aren’t coming back, limiting the party’s gains. The race is a top Republican target in the battle for House control, and Democrats’ campaign arm has listed Porter as a “front-liner” in defending their majority…
…The Republican strategy is to make this and other Orange County races a referendum on an unpopular president and rising prices, but Porter argues her rival doesn’t have a plan to combat rising gas and grocery prices, other than hurling “epithets.”
“Look, I live here. I’m raising my kids here. I drive my minivan around here, and I’m filling up those same gas tanks. I’m walking to those same grocery stores,” Porter told NBC News during an interview in Huntington Beach. “It’s a major problem, and we have to fight it on several fronts.”
The answer to rising costs, Porter said, is to pass the recent deal between Democrats empowering Medicare to negotiate drug prices, invest in U.S. manufacturing through the recent chips law and fight “price gouging, including by big oil companies.”
To lower prices, Baugh said, lawmakers should boost the supply of goods, “quit spending so much money” and balance the budget.
“You have to reform entitlements” like Social Security and Medicare, which have too many “unfunded liabilities,” he continued, and he said raising the retirement age should be “one of the tools you have to use” as part of a legislative compromise to cut safety net spending…
Recently, Porter has voted with her party to codify federal protections for legal abortion in the Women’s Health Protection and same-sex marriage in the Respect for Marriage Act. She also voted for legislation that would ban assault weapons.
Baugh said he’d vote against all those bills if he were a congressman…
Ballotpedia posted the results for the Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 47:
- Katie Porter (D): 51.7% – 86,742 votes
- Scott Baugh (R): 30.9% – 51,776 votes
- Amy Phan West (R): 8.3% – 13,949 votes
- Brian Burley (R): 7.1% – 11,952 votes
- Erroll Webber (R): 2.0% – 3,342 votes
November 5: ABC7 posted an article titled: “Race for Congressional District 47 in Orange County heats up”. From the article:
The race for California Congressional District 47 between incumbent Katie Porter and business owner Scott Baugh is heating up.
Both are caught in a tight race to see who will represent residents living in parts of Orange County.
“I’ve had an amazing time getting to know hundreds of thousands of new voters, showing them through my actions that I will listen to them and fight for them in Washington,” said Porter.
Due to redistricting, the candidates would represent communities along the coast from Seal Beach to Laguna Beach as well as Costa Mesa and Irvine.
“Our campaign is strong,” said Baugh. “We have hundreds of volunteers. We’re walking thousands of doors. We’re making thousands of phone calls.”
Porter said she wants to continue to fight for her constituents and said inflation plus the rising cost of living is impacting every one.
“I’m in the grocery stores, I’m at the gas pumps, and I feel it too,” she said. “What I did in Congress was to show that about half of every extra dollar that we are paying this year is going to line the pockets of the biggest corporations in the world. Corporate profits are at 70-year record high.”
However, Baugh said voters want change.
He believes Porter has hurt the middle class by supporting bills that spend too much money and don’t allow production to take place.
“She’s out of touch and she needs to be replaced,” Baugh said. “The Democrats address it by spending more and taxing more. They call it the Inflation Reduction Act, but only in Washington and D.C. would you have a spending and tax problem and solve it with a spending and tax solution.”
While District 47 is equally split between Republicans and Democrats, Baugh and Porter each believe they have the momentum on their side heading into Election Day.”
“Republicans have a lot more enthusiasm,” Baugh said. “A lot of the Independents are leaning towards the Republican view of life, the American way of life. They don’t want socialism in this country, and I think the coast of Orange County rejects socialism in this country. They’re more conservative and they’ll vote for me on Election Day.”
Porter thinks otherwise.
“I don’t think Orange County is red or blue,” she said. “I think Orange County shared some common values about wanting to make sure they can take care of their family, valuing safe communities, wanting to make sure that someone’s watching out for their tax dollars and standing up to government waste. That’s exactly what I’ve done in my time in Congress and that’s what I promise to continue doing.”…
November 8: Business Insider (via MSN) posted an article titled: “Live Results: Democratic Rep. Katie Porter faces off against Republican Scott Baugh in California’s 47th Congressional District election”. From the article:
California’s 47th Congressional District candidates
Porter is running for her third term in the House and sits on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Prior to being elected to Congress in 2018, she taught bankruptcy law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law and served as a consumer and bankruptcy attorney for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the World Bank, the Federal Judicial Center and the Uniform Law Commission. She also clerked for Judge Richard S. Arnold of the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals.
The 48-year-old Irvine Democrat has a massive campaign war chest – she ranks in the top five among congressional fundraisers.
Porter was elected to the House in 2018, flipping the seat held by former Republican Rep. Mimi Walters to become the first Democrat in history to flip the 45th Congressional District, a longtime Republican stronghold. In 2020, she retained her seat against Republican Greg Raths.
She is a strong supporter of abortion rights and helped pass the Women’s Health Protection Act in the House, which would codify Roe v. Wade abortion protections if enacted.
Baugh, Porter’s challenger, is an attorney who owns the business law firm, Scott Baugh & Associates. Prior to running for Congress, Baugh represented Orange County in the California Assembly, served as its Republican leader, and chaired the Orange County Republican Party for 11 years.
This is Baugh’s third time running for the 47th Congressional District seat. In 2018, Caught came in fourth in a crowded nonpartisan primary, which put him out of the general election. And in 2020, he withdrew from the primary.
Baugh came in second to Porter in the 2022 nonpartisan primary, bringing in 30.8% of the vote to Porters 51% – enough to qualify him for the general election…
…California’s 47th Congressional District is an affluent coastal district that covers a large swath of Orange County. It includes the city of Irvine, where Porter taught consumer law at the University of California, Irvine, as well as the coastal cities of Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and Newport Beach.
After the district lines were finalized, Porter announced she would switch districts to run in the new 47th District, a coastal district that encompasses her hometown of Irvine.
…According to OpenSecrets, Porter has raised $22.7 million, spent $24.1 million, and has about $8.9 million on hand, as of October 19. Her opponent, Baugh, has raised $2.7 million, spent nearly $2.6 million, and has $130,000 cash on hand, as of October 19…
November 10: AP (via Yahoo! News) posted an article titled: “Notable uncalled House races include Boebert and Katie Porter”. From the article:
…CALIFORNIA’S 47th DISTRICT
Two-term Rep. Katie Porter, part of the 2018 class of freshman women who helped Democrats capture the House, was locked in a competitive fight with Republican Scott Baugh in a Southern California district Republicans had high hopes of capturing.
Porter was facing Baugh, a former state representative, in a district that includes Orange County, where Republicans once held sway but that has become more Democratic.
President Joe Biden carried the district in 2020, but Republicans placed it in the heart of their target list this year, expecting low approval for Biden to help lift Baugh. Though still hopeful here, Republicans failed to defeat 2018 Democrats running in seats Biden won in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas and elsewhere…
November 14: CBS News reported on California’s District 47 Election:
Two-term Rep. Katie Porter, part of the 2018 class of freshman women who helped Democrats capture the House, was locked in a competitive fight with Republican Scott Baugh in a Southern California district Republicans had high hopes of capturing.
Incumbent Rep. Katie Porter, famous for her attacks on the CEOs of massive corporations while armed with her “Whiteboard of Justice,” jumped to a huge lead early on in the race against her competitor in attorney Scott Baugh.
However, a redrawn district and an apparent swing in favor of a “red wave” throughout Orange County, Porter’s lead has diminished to just a few thousands votes.
CBS News reported these results:
- Katie Porter (Democrat): 51% – 93,400 votes
- Scott Baugh (Republican): 49% – 90,430 votes
November 16: The New York Times posted the following information about California’s 47th Congressional District Election Results:
Representative Katie Porter, a powerhouse fund-raiser and a popular figure for the activist left, is being challenged by the Republican Scott Baugh, the former leader of the California Assembly, in a newly drawn district that leans slightly Democratic.
- Katie Porter (Democrat): 129,463 votes – 51.4%
- Scott Baugh (Republican): 122,543 votes – 48.6%
- 93% of votes were in
Ballotpedia provided the results of the General election for U.S. House California District 47:
- Katie Porter (D): 51.7% – 137,374 votes
- Scott Baugh (R): 48.3% – 128,261 votes
November 18: NBC News posted an article titled: “Progressive favorite Katie Porter wins re-election after days of counting” From the article:
Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., the whiteboard-wielding lawmaker and progressive star, won her re-election race, NBC News projected on Friday.
After days of vote counting, Porter staved off a challenge from former state Assemblyman Scott Baugh, a Republican, to win a third term in Congress.
President Joe Biden called Porter on Wednesday night to congratulate her on the victory.
Porter, 48, is best known for viral videos of her sharp questioning of witnesses testifying before Congress. The former law school professor often used a dry-erase board to list user-friendly facts and figures to help make her point.
She has served in the House since 2019, representing the 45th Congressional District, and is deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
In the 2022 midterm election cycle, Porter raised more than $23 million compared to Baugh, who raised more than $2 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Baugh, 60, served as an assemblyman in California’s Legislature from 1995 to 2000. During his last year in the statehouse, he was the assembly’s GOP leader. More recently, Baugh was chairman of the Orange County Republican Party from 2004 to 2015.
The 47th Congressional District in coastal Orange County between Long Beach and San Clemente was once been [sic] dominated by Republicans but now is more mixed.
The race for the new 47th Congressional District seat has been listed as a “toss up” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
California’s 48th Congressional District
Wikipedia provided information about California’s 48th Congressional District:
California’s 48th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in San Diego County in Southern California. It is currently represented by Darrell Issa.
From 2013 to 2023, the district includes Costa Mesa, Emerald Bay, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niquel, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, and parts of Garden Grove, Midway City, Aliso Viejo, Santa Ana and Westminster.
It was very competitive and had recently been won by each of the two main parties. In the 2018 House elections, Democrat Harley Rouda became the district’s representative, defeating incumbent Republican Dana Rohrabacher. Road was then defeated by Republican Michelle Steel in the 2020 elections.
From 2003 to 2013, the district included the cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest (formerly known as El Toro), parts of Irvine and parts of Newport Beach and San Juan Capistrano.
As of the 2020 redistricting, California’s 48th congressional district is located in Southern California. The district encompasses some of the East Country and all of the Mountain Empire areas of San Diego County, and part of south western Riverside County.
San Diego County is split between this district, the 49th district, the 50th district, the 51st district and the 52nd district. The 48th and 49th are partitioned by Gavilan Mountain Rd, Sandia Creek Dr, De Luz Rd, Marine Corps Base Pendleton, Sleeping Indian Rd, Tumbleweed Ln, Del Valle Dr, Highland Oak St, Olive Hill Rd, Via Puerta del Sol, N River Rd, Highway 76, Old River Rd, and Little Gopher Canyon Rd.
The 48th and 50th are partitioned by Gopher Canyon Rd, Escondido Freeway, Mountain Meadow Rd, Hidden Meadows, Reidy Cyn, N Broadway, Cougar Pass Rd, Adagio Way, Calle Ricardo, Tatas Place, Rue Montreux, Jesmond Dene Rd, Ivy Dell Ln, N Centre City Parkway, Highway 15, Richland Rd, Vista canal, Woodland Parkway, W El Norte Parkway, Bennet Ave, Elder Ln, Nordahl Rd, Calve Dr, Deodar Rd, Highway 78, Barham Dr, 2315-2339 Meyers Ave, Hill Valley Dr, Country Club Dr, Auto Park Way, Highway 56, N Centre City Parkway, W Valley Parkway, N Juniper St, Highway 78, N Hickory St, E Mission Ave, Martin Dr, E Lincoln Ave, N Ash St, E Grand Ave, Bear Valley Parkway, Old Guerjito Rd, San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, San Pasqual Trails Openspace, San Dieguito River Park, Bandy Canyon Rd, Santa Maria Creek, Highland Valley Rd, West Ridge Trail, Palmer Dr/Summerfield Ln, Pomerado Rd, and Caramel Mountain Ranch Openspace.
The 48th and 51st are partitioned by Sabre Springs Openspace, Scripps Miramar Openspace, Beeler Canyon Rd, Sycamore Canyon Openspace, Weston Rd, Boulder Vis, Mast Blvd, West Hills Parkway, San Diego River, Highway 52, Simeon Dr, Mission Trails Openspace, Fanita Dr, Farmington Dr, Lund St, Nielsen St, Paseo de Los Castillos, Gillespie Air Field, Kennedy St, San Vicente Freeway, Airport Dr, Wing Ave, W Bradley Ave, Vernon Way, Hart Dr, Greenfield Dr, E Bradley Ave, 830 Adele St-1789 N Mollison Ave, Peppervilla Dr/N Mollison Ave, Pepper Dr, Greta St/Cajon Greens Dr, N Mollison Ave/Buckey Dr, Denver Ln, Broadway Channel, N 2nd St, Flamingo Ave/Greenfield Dr, Dawnridge Ave/Cresthill Rd, Groveland Ter/Camillo Way, Sterling Dr, Kumeyaay Highway, E Madison Ave, Granite Hills Dr, E Lexington Ave, Dehesa Rd, Vista del Valle Blvd, Merrit Ter, E Washington Ave, Merrit Dr, Dewitt Ct, Emerald Heights Rd, Foote Path Way, Highway 8, Lemon Ave, Lake Helix Dr, La Cruz Dr, Carmichael Dr, Bancroft Dr, Campo Rd, and Sweetwater Rd.
The 48th and 52nd are partitioned by San Miguel Rd, Proctor Valley Rd, Camino Mojave/Jonel Way, Highway 125, Upper Otay Reservoir, Otay Lakes Rd, Otay Valley Regional Park, Alta Rd, and Otay Mountain Truck Trail. The 48th district takes in the cities of Santee, Poway, and northern Escondido, as well as the census-designated places Ramona, Rancho San Diego, Winter Gardens, Bostonia, Alpine, Campo, Hidden Meadows, Fallbrook, Valley Center, and Bonsall.
Riverside County is split between this district and the 41st district. They are partitioned by Ortega Highway, Tenaja Truck Trail, NF-7506, Tenaja, San Mateo Creek, Los Almost Rd, Und 233, S Main Dv, Wildomar, Grand Ave, Rancho Mirlo Dr, Copper Canyon Park, 42174 Kimberly Way-35817 Darcy Pl, Escondido Expressway, Scott Rd, 33477 Little Reb Pl-33516 Pittman Ln, Keller Rd, Menifee Rd, Clinton Keith Rd, Max Gilliss Blvd, Highway 79, Borel Rd, Lake Skinner, Warren Rd, Summitville St, Indian Knoll Rd, E Benton Rd, Rancho California Rd, Overhill Rd, Green Mountain Rd, Crossover Rd, Exa-Ely Rd, Denise Rd, Wiley Rd, Powerline Rd, Wilson Valley Rd, Wilson Creek, Reedy Valley Rd, Centennial St, Beaver Ave, and Lake Vista Dr. The 48th district takes in the cities of Temecula and Murrieta.
Ballotpedia provided information about Darrell Issa:
Darrell Issa (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 48th Congressional District. He assumed office on January, 2023. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Issa (Republican Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 48th Congressional District. He declared his candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Issa is a former Republican member of the U.S. House representing California’s 49th Congressional District from 2001 to 2019. On January 10, 2018, he announced that he would not seek re-election to the 49th Congressional District in 2018. “While my service to California’s 49th District will be coming to an end,” he said, “I will continue advocating on behalf of the causes that are most important to me, advancing public policy where I believe I can make a true and lasting difference and continuing the fight to make our incredible nation an even better place to call home.” In the 115th Congress, Issa served as the Chair of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
On September 19, 2018, President Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Issa to head the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
In 2003, Issa was a contributor to the recall election of then-Governor Gray Davis. In October 2007, Issa announced that he was supporting the Presidential Electoral Reform Act, a ballot measure that would have changed how California selects its representatives to the presidential electoral collage.
Darrell Issa was born in Cleveland Ohio. Issa served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1980. He earned a B.A. from Siena Heights College in 1976 and reached the rank of captain. Issa’s career experience includes founding and working as the CEO of Directed Electronics.
Ballotpedia provided information about Stephan Houlahan:
Stephen Houlahan (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 48th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Stephen Houlahan lives in Santee, California. Houlahan earned a bachelor’s degree from San Diego in 2003. His career experience includes working as a nurse.
Stephen Houlahan completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
MEET STEPHEN HOULAHAN Stephen lives and breathes California’s 48th congressional district. Raised in Santee, he has traveled the U.S. as a nurse, catching sight of the Rockies and vast beauty of Alaska, but always returned home to the Golden State. Raised by a hardworking single mom, Stephen knows what families in California are going through. His mom worked two jobs to make ends meet, while Stephen slept in the family living room and helped raise his younger sister.
Working since he was 13 years old, Stephen is full of grit and determination. He attends the university of San Diego, earning both a Masters in Nursing and an MBA. He went on to serve his neighbors on the City Council and as Vice Mayor. Working across party lines with four Republicans as the lone Democrat, he stopped a power plant and pipeline from threatening the air and water quality in his community and the health of his neighbors. He has protected his community from corruption by fighting for and passing term limits and took on the entire council to call for inclusionary housing policies in the face of corporate development.
Before serving on the frontlines of COVID, Stephen ensured that emergency responders were paid a fair wage and had the resources they needed do their jobs. Dismayed and angry about the mismanagement of the COVID crisis and the failures of elected officials – Stephen is running to protect his family, friends, and neighbors.
Please list 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- COVID-19 National Recovery – COVID-19 is personal for me. In the early days of the pandemic, I was called by the ICU to help triage patients and prepare for crisis standards of care. The possibility of my decisions impacting who got critical care and who didn’t is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. COVID-19 moved fast; our response must be stronger than ever before: Make suer everyone who wants to be vaccinated is able to. California is one of the most vaccinated states, and because of that, we have some of the lowest infection and mortality rates from COVID in the country.
- Healthcare – The US spends the most money per capita on healthcare in the world, but we rank among the lowest when it comes to health outcomes. I know how painfully inefficient our healthcare system is – I work in it every single day. Medicare and Medicaid As your congressman, I will expand medicare to 55+, streamlining healthcare for folks who are most likely to use it. I will also propose “Medikid” to help cover the more than 4 million uninsured children in our country. Big Pharma Big Pharma is placing a huge burden on millions of Americans every year. I know because my own medicine cost $42,000 per year. As your congressman, I will stand up to Big Pharma and make sure every American can access the medication they need.
- Energy and Climate – The US subsidizes fossil fuels to the tune of tens or hundreds of billions of dollars every year. This subsidy comes out of your pockets and goes straight into the pockets of fossil fuel CEOs and shareholders. Meanwhile, the market is moving away from fossil fuels – coal fired power plants are closing left and right, the price of solar and wind power is dropping every day, and if we don’t jump on this train, it’s going to leave without us (with China at the helm). California can be the global leader in solar energy. Early investments here can lead to huge returns. As a clean energy champion, I led the way to establish Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) in California’s 48th.
Ballotpedia provide information about Matthew Rascon:
Matthew Rascon (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 48th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Matthew Rascon was born in San Diego, California. Rascon earned an associate degree from Grossmont Community College in 2017. His career experience includes working in security. Rascon has been affiliated with the Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, and Alliance for peace building.
Matthew Rascon completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I’m Matthew Rascon, a life-long California, Catholic, and proud San Diegan.
Like many in my generation, I’ve grown up living through an endless stream of “unprecedented times.” From the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, the 2008 market crash, constant wars, ever increasing political divide and even a global pandemic, there hasn’t been a lull for decades and our politicians seem to be actively working against doing what needs to be done to fix the issues our Nation faces instead, embracing the status quo and taking actions to protect their own vested interests.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- TERM LIMITS: work with members from both sides of the isle to push for a joint resolution imposing much needed term limits on the house and senate.
- MANDATORY DIVESTITURE: tirelessly fight for laws requiring elected members of Congress to divest from financial interests by date of inauguration, removing conflicts of interest before they can compromise the legislature.
- CONSEQUENCES: I will work to try and bring true consequences to members of Congress who would break from established guidelines and laws. Those in elected office should be held to a hire [sic] standard and face more than mere fines for betraying the public trust.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I’m dedicated to pursuing proper representation and government accountability.
I’m also very passionate about tribal sovereignty and repairing damage done to America’s first peoples, the pursuit of improved infrastructure and US agriculture and Economic independence.
As representative of CA 48th, I would fight for the issues that matter most to my fellow citizens that call this district home. And push for policies and laws that will help CA-48 and the whole nation flourish.
Ballotpedia provided information about Lucinda Jahn:
Lucinda Jahn (independent) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 48th Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the primary scheduled March 4, 2024.
Lucinda Jahn was born in Oceanside, California and lives in Ramona, California. Jahn served in the U.S. Air Force from 1982 to 1985. Jahn’s career experience includes working as an entertainment industry professional.
December 21: Times of San Diego posted an article titled: “Reps. Jacobs, Issa to Seek Re-Election in New 51st, 48th Congress Districts in 2022” From the article:
First-term Rep. Sara Jacobs announced Tuesday that she will seek re-election to the House of Representatives in the new 51st District in 2022. Hours later, Republican Rep. Darrell Issa said he’d seek the new 48th District seat.
The new district in central San Diego County includes much of Democrat Jacob’s current 53rd District, but also parts of the county previously represented by Scott Peters, Issa, and Juan Vargas.
California lost one seat in Congress after the 2020 Census, but population growth in San Diego County ensured that five districts remain, even though their boundaries and numbers have shifted…
May 26: The Coast News Group posted an article titled: “Interview with Lucinda Jahn, 48th Congressional District candidate” From the article:
Lucinda Jahn doesn’t want your money, she wants a voice.
Jahn is one of four candidates on the June 7 primary ballot to represent California’s redrawn 48th Congressional District. Following the November election, the district’s new boundary lines extend from the U.S.-Mexico border to Temecula, encompassing communities such as Poway, Santee, Lakeside, Alpine, Ramona and parts of Escondido…
…No single incident sparked Jahn’s desire to run for office. As a mother of two, she wants to work toward a representative government body for future generations.
“I want them to live in a country under the protection of the Bill of Rights,” Jahn said. “It’s there for a reason to limit the abuse of power from a government that doesn’t need to be micromanaging your life.”
Her platform encourages conservative fiscal responsibility, as well as civic responsibility and economic independence. She’s running on term limits, blended health care, and simplifying the tax code. Jahn calls herself the “Zero Donate Candidate.”…
…Jahn believes that certain things need to be addressed at the border. When asked about her views on immigration, particularly for migrants entering the United States through Mexico, she said there needs to be change.
“Not regulating that border and not accounting for these people is not humane,” Jahn said. “We’ve had people dying to say I need water for fear of being deported. If you’re going to be in this country, I think you should be able to participate in the rights and responsibilities and the other protections under the law.”
She would also like to redefine the term “asylum” in U.S. immigration policy. She is not opposed to people entering the United States but would rather not be a haven for every “social problem,” she said…
…She said she believes that the government should not impact personal choice, speaking on behalf of gay marriage and pro-choice.
The Founding Fathers “were trying to limit the power of government to those things that impacted the public order,” she said. “So your personal choice … does not impact the broad public order.”…
May 26: The Coast News Group posted an article titled: “Interview with Matthew Rascon, 48th Congressional District candidate” From the article:
The youngest candidate for the 48th Congressional District seat to The Coast News he’s making government reform his top priority.
Community volunteer Matthew Rascon is one of four candidates on the June 7 primary ballot seeking to represent California’s 48th Congressional District, which now extends from the U.S.-Mexico border to Temecula, encasing communities such as Poway, Santee, Lakeside, Alpine, Ramona and parts of Escondido.
Fiftieth District incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa will face Rascon, Stephan Houlahan (registered nurse) and Lucinda Jahn (entertainment technician).
Rascon, 27, has his eyes set on cleaning up regulatory framework and to “bring some actual change” to Congress.
“In order for us to have better representation, real representation,” Rascon said, “first and foremost, we need to be better laws in place and regulations within the Congress itself.
Rascon continues, illustrating that, like construction project, “you need a solid foundation or nothing will last.
“I feel like the foundation is really what’s lacking right now with government, he said.
Rascon and his three opponents are vying for he two-candidate ballot on November 8. He hopes to sway voters with his policies on term limits and mandatory divestiture – and hold lawmakers accountable for those who don’t comply.
Rascon proposes a two-term limit for senators and a six-term limit in the House of Representatives – calling for a maximum cap of 20 years in Congress.
To Rascon, this goal prevents one person from choke-holding office and redirects political parties from incumbent-driven efforts to ones that focus on the issues…
June 3: The Coast News Group posted an article titled: “Interview with Stephen Houlahan: 48th Congressional District candidate” From the article:
Depending on who you ask, Stephen Houlahan is “that guy” in the 48th California Congressional District.
Walking door-to-door with Houlahan, homeowners may recognize him as their former councilman or th guy who helped stop a power plant from breaking ground in Santee. Or, he was just a man knocking on their door.
“Most people are interested if you start talking about issues that apply to them,” Houlahan said, who grew up in Santee.
Houlahan, who tries to canvas several times a week to reach possible constituents, is one of three candidates challenging incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-50) on the June 7 primary ballot to represent California’s redrawn 48th Congressional District…
…Issa, who currently represents the 50th District, will face Houlahan, a Democrat and registered nurse; Democrat and community volunteer Matthew Rascon, and independent candidate Lucinda Jahn, an entertainment technician…
Ballotpedia provided the results of the Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 48:
- Darrell Issa (R): 61.5% – 101,280 votes
- Stephen Houlahan (D): 27.8% – 45,740 votes
- Matthew Rascon (D): 9.1% – 14,983 votes
- Lucinda Jahn (Independent): 1.6% – 2,614 votes
November 8: Fox5 San Diego posted an article titled: “Issa wins election in 48th Congressional District” From the article:
Republican Darrell Issa has won reelection in the 48th Congressional District, the Associated Press projected Tuesday night.
As of Wednesday morning, Issa had garnered 60% of the vote compared to his Democratic opponent Stephen Houlahan’s nearly 40%…
…The Cook Political Report and other non-partisan analysts rated the new 48th a “solid Republican” district, indicating it could be an uphill climb for a Democratic challenger.
Issa is a familiar face in both the San Diego region and in Washington, where he serves on the powerful House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees. He is a retired U.S. Army captain and former CEO who has served as a lawmaker in various districts since 2000.
Issa has long made border security and immigration central issues in his campaigns, saying “we can’t keep our country safe if we don’t secure the border.” The congressman promotes greater funding for resources for Border Patrol, harsher penalties for smugglers and rejecting the concept of “sanctuary cities.”
A conservative who aligned himself closely with former President Donald Trump when he was in office, Issa has been a fierce critic of President Joe Biden’s administration.
Ballotpedia posted the results of the General election for U.S. House California District 48:
- Darrell Issa (R): 60.4% – 155,171 votes
- Stephen Houlahan (D): 39.6% – 101,900 votes
California’s 49th Congressional District
Wikipedia provided information about California’s 49th Congressional District:
California’s 49th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California. The district is currently represented by Mark Levin.
The district currently covers the northern costal areas of San Diego County, including Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, and Encinitas, as well as a portion of southern Orange County, including San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch, and Coto de Caza. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is in the district.
In the 2016 election, Darrell Issa won by a margin of less than 1%. In the 2018 election, this district was considered to be a major battleground. Rep. Issa announced that he would not seek reelection. Following the November 6, 2018 election, Democrat Mike Levin became the district’s congressman.
As of the 2020 redistricting, California’s 49th congressional district is located in Southern California. It covers the North County region of San Diego County, and south east Orange County.
San Diego County is split between this district, the 48th district and the 50th district. They are partitioned by Gavilan Mountain Rd, Sandia Creek Dr, De Luz Rd, Marine Corps Base Pendleton, Sleeping Indian Rd, Tumbleweed Ln, Del Valle Dr, Highland Oak St, Olive Hill Rd, Via Puerta del Sol, N River Rd, Little Gopher Canyon Rd, Camino Cantera, Corre Camino, Tierra del Cielo, Elevado Rd, Vista Grande Dr, Warmlands Ave, Queens Way, Canciones del Cielo, Camino Loma Verde, Alessandro Trail, Friendly Dr, Edgehill Rd, Catalina Heights Way, Deeb Ct, Foothill Dr, Clarance Dr, Highway S14, Smilax Rd, Poinsettia Ave, W San Marcos Blvd, Diamond Trail Preserve, S Rancho Santa Rd, San Elijo Rd, Rancho Summitt Dr, Escondido Creek, El Camino del Norte, San Elijo Lagoon, Highland Dr, Avocado Pl, Jimmy Durante Blvd, San Dieguito Dr, 8th St, Nob Ave, Highway S21, and the San Diego Northern Railway.
The 49th district takes in the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Vista.
Orange County is split between this district, the 40th district, and the 47th district. They are partitioned by Alicia Parkway, Pacific Park Dr, San Joaquin Hills Trans Corridor, Cabot Rd, San Diego Freeway, Via Escolar, Arroyo Trabuco Creek, Oso Parkway, Thomas F Riley Wilderness Park, and Ronald W Casper’s Wilderness Park, Aliso & Wood Canyons, Vista del Sol, Highway 1, Stonington Rd, Virginia Way, 7th Ave, and Laguna Beach.
The 49th district takes in the cities of San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, and Laguna Nigel, as well as the census-designated place Ladera Ranch.
Ballotpedia provided information about Mike Levin:
Mike Levin (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 49th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2019. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Levin (Democratic Party) us running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 49th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Levin defeated Diane Harkey (R) by a vote of 56.4 to 43.6 percent.
Mike Levin ran on progressive campaign themes including abortion access, gun policy reform, and Medicare for all.
Levin’s campaign website featured endorsements, among others, from the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, Democracy for America, the Human Rights Campaign, NARAL, League of Conservative Voters, Everytown for Gun Safety, and planned Parenthood Action Fund. Levin was also endorsed by President Barack Obama (D) and U.S. Senators Kamala Harris (D), Diane Feinstein (D), and Elizabeth Warren (D), among others.
Mike Levin was born in Inglewood California. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in 2001 and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 2005. His career experience includes working as an attorney specializing in environmental and energy regulation compliance and governmental affairs. Levin previously served as the executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County and as a board member for the Center for Sustainable Energy.
Ballotpedia provided information about Brian Maryott:
Brian Maryott (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 49th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Bryan Maryott was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and lives in San Juan Capistrano, California. Maryott earned a bachelor’s degree from American International College in 1986. His career experience includes working as a certified financial planner professional, the senior vice president of a company, and a staff director in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Brian Maryott completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I am a conservative businessman, Certified Financial Planner professional, former Mayor, and founder of a non-profit. I am also a husband, and a father to three children. As a local elected official and former management executive, I have proven that I can work with anyone who has good ideas, and I will bring that exact same approach to Congress. I have spent the majority of my career helping hundreds of individuals and families save for a rainy day, send their kids to college, retire with dignity, and invest in their future. I am accustomed to seeing the issues through the eyes of parents, elderly Californians, business owners, and working people from every walk of life. I am not going to DC to become a political celebrity or increase my twitter followers, I am going to bring a strong voice for fiscal conservatism and back to basics government.
Please list below 3 messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- We have an obligation to secure our sovereign border, and make it safe and manageable for everyone. It is time to end the chaos, crime, and human misery.
- 80% of Americans support term limits and they are right. Our founders never intended for service in Congress to be a life long career and it’s time we limited service. I will be a vocal proponent of term limits.
- We need more people in Congress with a strong and extensive business background. Our country us currently being mismanaged and we are loading debt on our children and future generations at an alarming rate. It is time we started striving for concrete results, and restored confidence in our federal government.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
We must get our nation’s financial house in order. I am eager to collaborate and lead on efforts to re-evaluate the role of federal government, and prioritize areas for reform. The CBO did a recent study and concluded that at the current rate of borrowing and spending increases – in twenty years over half of our annual tax revenues will be spent just servicing our debt. That is outrageous, and this kind of management is imperiling the quality of life for future generations.
I am passionate about helping to from a strong wall of opposition to the idea of government taking over healthcare. We can do so much better with healthcare – affordability, access, and innovation. However, none of this will be possible if we succumb to the disastrous idea of letting government run it. We are a warm and caring nation, and we can see to it that nobody does without care, but nationalizing the industry is not the way to do it. I am anxious to join the efforts to enhance every area of healthcare.
Ballotpedia provided information about Lisa Bartlett:
Lisa Bartlett was a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors in California, representing District 5. She assumed office in 2015. She left office on January 2, 2023.
Bartlett (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 49th Congressional District. She lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Lisa Bartlett was born in Culver City, California. Bartlett has served on the board of directors of the National Association of Counties, Orange County Transportation Authority, Orange County Fire Authority, Transportation Corridor Agencies, and South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Lisa Bartlett completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions she answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I am running for Congress because, like many of you, I believe our country and state are headed in the wrong direction, and we desperately need an honest change in leadership to reverse course.
I was born and raised in Southern California and a resident of South Orange for over 30 years. As an executive and businesswoman, I spent decades leading teams, delivering results, and always setting the highest standards of excellence for myself and those around me.
I am going to Congress to fight to fight for American families. I am going to Congress to fight for you. We are under attack, whether you are talking about rising inflation, skyrocketing crime, failing education, and weak foreign policy. I’ll take my years of experience as a business executive Mayor, and County Supervisor of the 6th largest county in the United States to help renew California and America, so we prosper for future generations. I will listen to you and ensure your voice is heard in the 49th District and in Washington D.C.
I would be honored to earn your trust and your vote. I look forward to working together to fix our country.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for you time in office?
- Oppose Mandates
- Secure the Border
- Address Homelessness
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Border Security
Parental and Student Rights
Combating Inflation
Election Integrity
Addressing Homelessness
Opposing Mandates
Ballotpedia provided information about Christopher Rodriguez:
Christopher Rodriguez is a member of the Oceanside City Council in California, representing District 2. He assumed office on January 1, 2019. His term ended in 2022.
Rodriguez (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 49th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Rodriguez ran for election to the Oceanside City Council to represent District 2 in California. He won the general election on November 6, 2018.
Christopher Rodriguez served in the United States Marine Corps from 2002 to 2006. Rodriguez’s career experience includes working as the president and CEO of a real estate and mortgage company.
Christopher Rodriguez completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Christopher Rodriguez is a decorated combat Marine, small businesses, City Councilman, husband, father of 7, and Republican candidate for Congress in CA-49th. Nothing was ever handed to Christopher in life, but his “no excuses” attitude drove him to overcome poverty, violence, and street life to be a successful family man, business leader, and decorated Marine in service to our country.
He served two combat tours in Iraq – he was among the first marines to push into Baghdad at the start of the war, and then in a second combat tours in Iraq – he was among the first marines to push into Baghdad at the start of the war, and then in a second combat tour received the Purple Heart in Fallujah due to injuries sustained when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his platoon.
Returning to California after military service, Christopher entered the real estate business. He learned quickly, opened his own office, and was recognized as one of the top Hispanic Realtors in the U.S. Christopher also fights for his community serving as an Oceanside City Council Member where he has pushed for lower taxes, and common-sense solutions to fix the homeless crisis plaguing California cities.
The Rodriguez family is a busy household with Christopher and his wife Sarah, 7 kids, 4 dogs, and a pot-bellied pig named Bacon. A man of faith, he credits all his success to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- Secure Our Borders – Democrats have created a border crisis all by themselves by promising free healthcare and benefits for anyone who comes to this country illegally. That’s wrong. The border crisis has created nightmare scenarios of child trafficking, human sex trafficking, drugs and even terrorists who have been apprehended at the southern border because of a liberal’s desire to create a crisis that will allow them to open up the borders to anyone. A country without borders is not a country and in Congress I’ll fight for secure borders that treat people with dignity, while respecting our laws. As someone of Hispanic heritage I can tell you firsthand that people like me are among the staunchest advocates of our strong border policies.
- Stop the Spending Death Spiral – We’ve got to stop printing money. Our monetary policy is completely out of control. The amount of new money that has been created out of thin air in the past year alone is staggering and it’s causing an inflationary spiral that is a hidden tax on regular folks. The cost of gas, food, groceries, every day items is rising – we all can see it. That’s a direct result of our government printing far too much money to pay for ridiculous spending. Meanwhile, our government continues to pay people not to work while plenty of jobs are available. In Congress I’ll work to cut spending and incentivize people to work again. The dignity of work and living independent of others is part of the American Dream.
- Promote America as a Leader of the World Stage – whether it’s caving to China, Russia, Iran or Hamas – American has to lead. We can’t let the WHO or the United Nations tell us what to do. As a combat Marine I know exactly what it means to lead. We outing to be ashamed of the way China has manipulated the WHO in covering up their culpability in the COVID-19 pandemic. All of this is about leadership. I’ll fight for an American that puts its own interests first and that means putting all the interests of freedom-loving people around the world first.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
As a Hispanic Combat Marine, my campaign is about fighting for the promise of the American Dream. That promise is not a guarantee but an opportunity. I believe that the American Dream is at risk if we don’t immediately. My campaign theme is simple: No Excuses. Too many D.C. politicians like my opponent Mike Levin make excuses for why they can’t get something done. All they do is blame. They don’t lead. I’m a Marine. I’ve led men in combat, and in the private sector, I’ve built a successful small business out of nothing – no excuses. Nothing was handed to me in life, and nothing will be handed to me in Washington DC should I have the honor of serving in Congress. I tell my sons that ‘men make plans, boys make excuses’ – we need strong men and women leaders in DC who refuse to back down, who stand up for what they believe, and who don’t apologize for fighting for America a country they love.
Ballotpedia provided information on Josiah O’Neil:
Josiah O’Neil (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 49th Congressional District. O’Neil lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Josiah O’Neil served in the U.S. Army. O’Neil’s career experience includes working as a police officer, a deputy sheriff, and a special agent with the United States Department of State.
Ballotpedia provided information on Nadia Smalley:
Nadia Smalley (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 49th Congressional District. She lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Nadia Smalley was born in Flint Michigan. Smalley’s career experience includes working as a nurse and businesswomen.
Nadia Smalley completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions she answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
NADIA B. SMALLEY political agenda includes solar development for public utilities budget resolutions for district 49 job development food programs elementary to college homeless displacement advocacy rule developments CBD recreational and medical marijuana advocacy. Ms. SMALLEY has remained the CEO of Phyllis Wheatley Inc, a nonprofit organization that deals with the California homeless and displaced Ms. SMALLEY is also the CEO of American security and Janice Elizabeth’s soul Food kitchen in Oceanside. Ms. SMALLEY is a local blues vocalist a skilled hospice nurse a mother of 4 and grandmother of 11 Ms. SMALLEY has dedicated the past 20 years being a vocalist and a skilled hospice nurse a mother of 4 and a grandmother of 11 Ms SMALLEY has dedicated the past 20 years being a voice and a advocate in the democratic political arena.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- Homeless Advocate
- PreK to College nutrition
- Hospice nurse Alzheimer’s Geriatric health
What areas of public policy are you personally invested about?
Gun control and safety measures
Homeless research and awareness
Food regulations toxic additives
Public works and sanitation
Ballotpedia provided information about Renee Taylor:
Renee Taylor was a member of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District in California, representing District 1. Taylor assumed office in 2012. Taylor left office in 2016.
Renee Taylor (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 49th Congressional District. Taylor lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Renee Taylor has served in the U.S. Air Force and California Air National Guard. Taylor’s career experience includes working as an information technology and cybersecurity manager. She has served on the Orange Country Veteran’s Advisory Council (OCVAC).
January 3: San Clemente Times posted an article titled: “OC Supervisor Lisa Bartlett Announces Run for 49th District Seat” From the article:
Orange County Board Supervisor Lisa Bartlett announced last week her candidacy to represent California’s newly-drained 49th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Bartlett will run as a Republican against incumbent Rep. Mike Levin, a Democrat, as well as fellow Republicans Brian Maryott, the previous district challenger and former San Juan Capistrano council member and Christopher Rodriquez.
Bartlett serves as a supervisor for the county’s Fifth District, which encompasses Dana Point, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and other cities south of Irvine, had been on the board since 2014.
“Never in my lifetime can I remember a point where Congress was this far out of touch with the everyday experience of working-class Americans and families,” Bartlett said in her announcement. “Much like California, our country is headed in the wrong direction and in desperate need of new and common-sense leadership.”
“At a time when families are struggling to pay for gas, put food on the table, and deal with the cost of inflation, Mike Levin is literally cheering on trillions of dollars in government spending, much of which is for pet projects,” Bartlett added, referring to Levin’s support of the Build Back Better Act, a $2 trillion bill that passed the House in November and awaits a Senate vote.
Bartlett pledged to focus on the issues of quality of life, the economy, education, and public safety…
March 29: The Coast News Group posted an article titled: “Maryott changes ballot designation following Bartlett complaint” From the article:
49th Congressional District candidate Brian Maryott has officially changed his ballot designation after a complaint filed by Republican primary challenger Supervisor Lisa Bartlett alleged the former San Juan Capistrano mayor misled voters about his professional employment status.
Per documents published online by the California Secretary of State’s Office, Maryott changed his job title from “Certified Financial Planner” to “Businessman/Nonprofit Executive” for the June primary ballot.
In a statement issued Monday, Bartlett claimed state officials had forced Maryott to change his ballot designation as a result of a complaint her campaign had filed last week.
“The decision by the Secretary of State to force Brian Maryott to change his ballot designation only further confirms what we already knew – Maryott is deliberately misleading voters and pretending to be someone he’s not,” Bartlett said in a statement.
However, Maryott’s campaign has denied Bartlett’s allegation sand said he voluntarily made the change as a result of issues unrelated to the complaint.
“We recently and pro-actively amended our ballot title with the Secretary of State’s office, making a change unrelated to any threats from desperate candidates,” said Megan House, Maryott’s campaign manager in a statement. “The CFB Board of Standards does not allow Certified Financial Planner professionals to advertise our credentials without the trademark, and the Secretary’s office does not allow these trademarks.”
In response to a request for comment, the Secretary of State’s Office issued the following statement regarding its decision to change Maryott’s ballot designation, clarifying that the agency made its decision independently and not specifically based on Bartlett’s request.
“We don’t approve/disapprove a ballot designation based on 3rd party complaints. We do receive them, but we don’t base our review on them,” said Joe Kocurek, a representative for the state office. “We review the ballot designation worksheet and any accompanying materials provided by each candidate, then we reach out to a candidate if there is an issue of any sort with their proposal. We spoke with this candidate and we came up with a ballot designation that was acceptable for him and us,”…
June 8: The Coast News Group posted an article titled: “Lawsuit against Oceanside councilman Rodriguez headed to jury trial” From the article:
A lawsuit against Oceanside City Councilman Chris Rodriguez will go to a jury trial in October after the 49th Congressional District candidate was accused of failing to repay nearly half a million in loans to a former business partner.
Mary Harper, a San Diego real estate investor, originally filed the lawsuit in 2019, alleging that Rodriguez owns her and her family almost $500,000 that they loaned him to work on properties in Vista, Temecula and El Cajon.
Harper claims that instead of repaying the loans, Rodriguez sold the properties and used some of the money to improve his personal residence on Puerta de Lomas in the Morro Hills area at the border of Oceanside and Fallbrook.
The case will go on trial on Oct. 7 in San Diego County.
Brian Maryott, one of Rodriguez’s opponents in the Republican primary, seized on the news of the lawsuit, arguing the nature and credibility of the accusations against Rodriguez should be a disqualifying factor for his candidacy…
…Rodriguez wholly denies the claims made in the lawsuit and suggested that Maryott is trying to utilize allegations against him to score political points.
“One hundred percent of the allegations are false, this lawsuit is frivolous,” Rodriguez said. “Establishment candidate Brian Maryott is throwing out last-minute desperate attacks. Why? Because he’s losing. Polls show us leading. What does Maryott do? He panics. Yes, I’ve been named in lawsuits before, most people in business have. There’s not an elderly woman owed $500,000, this type of nonsense is right out the Democrat playbook. I will not stoop to Maryott’s level.”…
Ballotpedia provided information about the Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 49:
- Mike Levin (D): 48.9% – 92,211 votes
- Brian Maryott (R): 19.0% – 35,805 votes
- Lisa Bartlett (R): 10.7% – 20,163 votes
- Christopher Rodriguez (R): 9.6% – 18,248 votes
- Josiah O’Neil (R): 7.8% – 14,746 votes
- Nadia Smalley (D): 2.5% – 4,804 votes
- Renee Taylor (R): 1.4% – 2,597 votes
October 22: Times of San Diego posted an article titled: “GOP Congress Hopeful Maryott Didn’t Keep Promise on FEC Filings, Group Says” From the article:
A Democratic-aligned watchdog group is calling out Republican congressional candidate Brian Maryott for not fulfilling a promise to amends financial disclosures.
In August, End Citizens United found public Venmo records that suggest Maryott and his committee – with him as treasurer – made payments via that mobile app to campaign staffers. The group filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission.
Maryott – challenging 49th District incumbent Rep. Mike Levin for a second time – assailed ECU as a “liberal activist group” but vowed to correct “a handful of honest reporting mistakes” made before the campaign was in full swing.
Two months ago, the former San Juan Capistrano mayor said: “We will work quickly and proactively to take the common step of amending our filing, if that turns out to be necessary.”
This week, in End Citizens United said it found no record of amended FEC filings…
…According to the poll-watching website fivethirtyeight.com, Levin’s chances of winning re-election are 84 in 100. In 2020, Levin defeated Maryott 53.1% to 46.9%.
Levin also leads in the money race. According to filings as of September 30, Levin has raised $4.45 million and spent $3.93 million – compared with Maryott taking in $3.66 million and spending $3.12 million.
Levin listed having $2 million cash on hand, and Maryott nearly $500,000.
It isn’t known whether Maryott is still paying staff via Venmo, however…
November 3: CBS8 posted an article titled: “President Biden visits San Diego, first campaign stop in Oceanside” From the article:
…On Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Todd Gloria welcomed Biden to San Diego at MCAS Miramar.
Biden’s first stop on his two-day visit to San Diego started with a campaign event supporting incumbent Rep. Mike Levin who is facing a tight Congressional race for California’s 49th District against Brian Maryott.
More than a thousand people packed the gym at MiraCosta College to hear the president’s remarks on Thursday…
…The president’s return to heavily Democratic California in the run-up to Election Day speaks to the looming threat for his party in a turbulent midterm election year when Republican appear poised to take control of the House, a grim prospect for Biden heading into the second half of his term, the Associated Press reported.
Biden’s visit Thursday is centered on safeguarding two-term Rep. Mike Levin in a district with a slight Democratic tilt that cuts through San Diego and Orange counties and which Biden carried by double digits in the 2020 presidential election.
Levin defended his seat with a 6-point win in 2020, and the district remained largely intact after the once-in-a-decade adjustment of boundary lines after the census. This year, his race is considered a toss-up as Levin and other Democrats face historical midterm headwinds that typically punish the party in the White House, while soaring prices at the supermarket and gas pump have contributed to make once-safe incumbents vulnerable…
November 3: CBS8 posted an article titled: “Brian Maryott holds opposing rally to President Biden visit in Oceanside”
The Republican candidate challenging Incumbent Rep. Mike Levin in the tight Congressional race for California’s 49th District held a rally, just a few miles from where President Biden was speaking Thursday.
The opposing rally was hosted by Reform California and urged attendees to support to Republican candidate Brian Maryott who is running for the seat.
“While Joe Biden is in town he should apologize that’s what he should be here for. A failed president trying to prop up a failed congressman,” said Brian Maryott.
The 49th District includes the cities of Oceanside, Encinitas, and portions of Orange County. Back in 2020 Maryott was defeated by Levin but he believes this time the election will be different.
“Everyday people are saying to me I voted for Levin last time. People sense something is screwed up and they are losing their piece of mind about their personal finances and personal safety and health circumstances,” Maryott said.
Republicans see the midterms as an opportunity to pickup the 49th District. Tonight, inflation, schools and crime were hot topics…
November 11: San Diego Tribune (via MSN) posted an article titled: “Rep. Mike Levin’s lead widening in 49th Congressional District” From the article:
Rep. Mike Levin’s narrow lead in the close race for his coastal North County and Orange County seat widened to 4.2 percentage points after additional vote counts were released by San Diego and Orange County election official Friday evening.
The change reflected the latest update on ballot returns for the seat, one of a handful that could decide control of Congress and shape Southern California’s position on energy, environment and the economy.
With a total of 211,021 votes counted between the two counties, Thursday’s figure was up a point point [sic] from his tentative lead Thursday evening, but fall smaller than the wide lead he initially appeared to hold in early returns on election night.
Only a portion of the projected votes have been counted, and it will likely take a week or more before final results are known. Ballots counted so far reflect a little under 40 percent of registered voters in each county, and San Diego County official have said they expect turnout of about 60 percent after all mail ballots are received and tabulated.
On Tuesday night, when early election returns showed him leading by a wider margin, the Democratic congressman from San Juan Capistrano declared confidence, saying “when all is said and done, we will prevail.” Although his lead had diminished by Wednesday morning, as ballots continued to be counted, he said in news interviews that hew as still hopeful of victory.
His Republican opponent Bryan Maryott warned supporters Tuesday that early election returns would likely favor Democrats and could be disappointing. On Wednesday, as leaders of his party regarded disappointing results in congressional races nationwide, he appeared buoyed by the tightening race.
“We expect that as more votes are counted, we will close the 2% gap and that the voters of (the 49th Congressional District) will send a financial planner to Congress,” he said in a statement…
Ballotpedia provided information about the General election for U.S. House California District 49:
- Mike Levin (D): 52.6% – 153,541 votes
- Brian Maryott (R): 47.4% – 138,194 votes
November 16: KPBS posted an article titled: “Democrat Mike Levin wins reelection in California’s 49th Congressional District” From the article:
Incumbent Mike Levin, a Democrat, won reelection to U.S. House in California’s 49th Congressional District, according to a race call from The Associated Press. Levin, was challenged by Republican candidate Brian Maryott.
“With the vast majority of votes tabulated and the race called in our favor, it is with great honor and humility that I will return to serve California’s 49th District in the United States House of Representatives again,” Levin said in a statement…
…Mike Levin’s background is in environmental law and energy regulatory compliance. He has served two terms as the 49th District representative. Since the start of his term in 2019, Levin has worked on legislation to transition towards zero-emission vehicles, more sustainable power generation, climate action, and cleaner energy. Levin is the vice chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee where he has jurisdiction over veteran housing, homelessness, G.I. bills, and transition assistance.
Brian Maryott’s background is in finance as a certified financial planner. This is his third attempt at the 49th district seat. He considered himself a conservative businessman who has spent his career helping families save money and invest in their future. After growing his financial planning business, he managed hundreds of employees and billions in client assets. He was formerly mayor of San Juan Capistrano. In December 2020, Maryott launched non-profit PlanIT Kids, to provide free financial planning services to families…
November 17: Times of San Diego (via MSN) posted an article titled: “Democrat Levin Wins Re-Election in North County as Republicans Take House Majority”. From the article:
Rep. Mike Levin, a Democrat representing coastal North San Diego and Orange County, was assured victory Wednesday in the 49th Congressional District, defeating Republican Brian Maryott 52.6% – 47.4% in a key battleground race for control of the House of Representatives.
“With the vast majority of votes tabulated and the race called in our favor, it is with great honor and humility that I will return to serve California’s 49th District in the United States House of Representatives again,” Levin said in a statement….
…Meanwhile Republicans were projected to win a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, setting the stage for two years of divided government as President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party held control over the Senate.
The victory gives Republicans the power to rein in Biden’s agenda, as well as to launch potentially damaging probes of his administration and family, though it falls short of the “red wave” the party had hoped for.
The final call came after more than a week of ballot counting, when Edison Research projected Republicans had won the 218 seats they needed to control the House Republican victory as California’s 27th Congressional district took the party over the line.
The party’s current House leader, Kevin McCarthy, may have a challenging road ahead as he will need his restive caucus to hold together on critical votes, including funding for the government and military at a time when former President Donald Trump has launched another run for the White House…
…Even though the expected “red wave” of House Republicans never reached shore, conservatives are sticking to their agenda.
In retaliation for two impeachment efforts by Democrats against Trump, they are gearing up to investigate Biden administration officials and the president’s son Hunter’s past business dealings with China and other countries – and even Biden himself…
California’s 50th Congressional District
Wikipedia provided information about California’s 50th congressional district:
California’s 50th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California and encompasses parts of the Mid-Coast and northeastern parts of San Diego County. Scott Peters is currently the U.S. representative for California’s 50th congressional district.
The district is currently in San Diego County. It includes costal and central portions of the city of San Diego, including neighborhoods such as Caramel Valley, La Jolla, Point Loma and Downtown San Downtown San Diego; the San Diego suburbs of Poway and Coronado; and the campuses of schools such as the University of California, San Diego (partial), Point Loma Nazarene University, the University of San Diego, and various colleges of the San Diego Community College District. Much of this territory was in the 52nd district from 2013 to 2023.
From 2003 through 2013, California’s 52nd consisted of many of San Diego’s northern and eastern suburbs, including Santee, Lakeside, Poway, Romona, La Mesa, Alpine, Winter Gardens, Both this area is now part of the 50th district.
As of the 2020 restricting, California 50th congressional district is located in Southern California. It encompasses most of the South Bay region of San Diego County.
San Diego County is split between this district, the 48th district, the 49th district, the 51st district, and 52nd district. The 50th and 48th are partitioned by Gopher Canyon Rd, Escondido Freeway, Calle Ricardo, Tatas Place, Rue Montreux, Jesmond Dene Rd, Ivy Dell Ln, N Centre Parkway Highway 15, Richland Rd, Vista Canal, Woodland Parkway, W El Norte Parkway, Bennet Ave, Eisner Ln, Nordahl Rd, Calavo Dr, Deodar Rd, Highway 78, Barham Dr, 2315-2339 Meyers Ave, Hill Valley Dr, Country Club Dr, Auto Park Way, Highway 56, N Centre City Parkway, W Valley Parkway, N Juniper St, Highway 78, N Hickory St, E Mission Ave, Martin Dr, E Lincoln Ave, N Ash St, E Grand Ave, Bear Valle Parkway, Old Guerjito Rd, San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, San Pasqual Trails Openspace, San Dieguito River Park, Bandy Canyon Rd, Santa Maria Creek, Highland Valley Rd, West Ridge Trail, Palmer Dr/Summerville Ln, Pomerado Rd, and Caramel Mountain Ranch Openspace.
The 50th and 49th are partitioned by Gopher Canyon Rd, Camino Cantera, Corre Camino, Tierra del Cielo, Elevado Rd, Vista Grande Dr, Warmlands Ave, Queens Way, Canciones del Cielo, Camino Loma Verde, Alessandro Trail, Friendly Dr, Friendly Dr, Edgehill Rd, Catalina Heights Way, Deeb Cr, Foothill Dr, Clarance Dr, Highway S 14, Smilax Rd, Poinsettia Ave, W San Marcos Blvd, Diamond Trail Preserve, S Rancho Santa Rd, San Elijo Rd, Rancho Summit Dr, Escondido Creek, El Camino del Norte, San Elijo Lagoon, Highland Drive, Avocado Pl, Jimmy Durante Blvd, San Dieguito Dr, 8th St, Nob Ave, Highway S21, and the San Diego Northern Railway.
The 50th and 51st are partitioned by Camino del Norte, Highway 15, Carmel Mountain Rd, Ted Williams Parkway, Del Mar Mesa Overspace, Los Penasquitos Creek, Inland Freeway, Governor Dr, Pavlov Ave, Stetson Ave, Milikin Ave, Regents Rd, Ducommun Ave, Bunch Ave, Branting St, Streseman St, Pennant Way, Highway 52, San Diego Freeway, Sea World Dr, Friars Rd, Kumeyaay Highway, and Highway 805.
The 50th district takes in the cities of Coronado, San Marcos, and Southern Escondido as well as the San Diego neighborhoods of San Pasqual, Rancho Bernardo, La Jolla, Point Loma, University City, Torrey Pines, Mission Beach North Park, Hillcrest, South Park, Golden Hill, Pacific Beach, Caramel Valley, Pacific Highlands Ranch, and Black Mountain Ranch.
Ballotpedia provided information about Scott Peters:
Scott Peters (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California’s 50th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Peters (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 50th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Peters was first elected to the seat on 2012, defeating Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray. In his 2014 bid for re-election, Peters defeated Republican Carl DeMaio by 3.2 points. That year, California 52nd Congressional District was rated a battleground district by Ballotpedia.
In 2016, Peters defeated Republican Denise Gitsham in the general election by 13 points. California’s 52nd Congressional District race was rated as safely Democratic in 2016. He won re-election in 2018, defeating Republican Omar Qudrat in the general election by 27.6 points.
He has served on the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary Committee and the Science Space, and Technology Committee.
Ballotpedia provided information about Corey Gustafson:
Corey Gustafson (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 50th Congressional District. Gustafson lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Corey Gustafson was born in San Diego, California. Gustafson graduated from San Pasqual High School. He earned a degree from San Diego State University. Gustafson’s career experience includes owning a business and working as an educator.
Corey Gustafson completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Corey Gustafson is a conservative businessman, university lecturer, and native San Diegan who is running for Congress to restore common-sense representation to the 50th Congressional district. Too much power and influence have shifted to Washington D.C. and Corey will redirect it back to where it belongs – with the people of San Diego.
Corey was born in San Diego and raised in Escondido. He graduated from San Pasqual High School and San Diego University while working for his parents’ small business.
He learned about hard work and entrepreneurship by working in small businesses, whether it meant getting up early for prep work or mopping bar floors.
In 2019, Corey cofounded Dogleg Brewing Co. in Vista with his business partners. Dogleg Brewing aimed to bring together two of San Diego’s iconic industries: golf and craft beer. Not coincidentally, they are also two of Corey’s favorite pastimes. Dogleg opened just months before the pandemic starts, but the Dogleg team persevered to make it through the pandemic.
Corey’s other passion is university teaching. Since 2014, he serves a the director of the Oxford Study Abroad International Relations program. During the course, he lectures in American foreign policy and the national security process.
From 2016 to 2019, he was a lecturer in American Government at California State University-San Bernardino.
Corey is currently engaged to his fiancé, Kathryn, a small business owner and native San Diegan.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- Lower Taxes-Washington DC has a spending problem and politicians continue to spend by the trillions. How are they planning to pay for it? More tax hikes on American families who are already dealing with record inflation. Corey believes San Diego families deserve to keep more or their hard-earned money. He’ll fight to cut taxes and he’ll put a stop to reckless spending.
- Stop inflation- Inflation is a tax on all of us. It’s never been harder to make ends meet in California, with skyrocketing gas prices, housing costs and prices for everyday items like groceries. The inflation unleashed by trillions of dollars in spending by DC politicians has put our families and business on the brink. Corey will fight to stop reckless spending and lower taxes.
- Fight Crime- San Diego is experiencing an unprecedented rise in crime. It’s no mystery why: understaffed law enforcement, failed leadership, and politicians who were unwilling to stand with our first responders when they needed it the most. While others support defunding the police, Corey will always be a proud supporter of law enforcement. He believes we must be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Fighting for the American Dream, empowering the individual and providing opportunity to all Americans.
Ballotpedia provided information about Kylie Taitano:
Kylie Taitano (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 50th Congressional District. She lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Kylie Taitano was born in Tamuning, Guam. Taitano earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at San Diego in 2014. Her career experience includes working as a software engineer. Taitano is a co-founder and CEO of Code with Her.
Kylie Taitano completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. Here are some of the questions she answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
Kylie Taitano is a San Diego based women-in-tech who has been an active resident of the 50th district for the past 11 years. She studies Computer Science at USCD before becoming a software engineer at Intuit San Diego and graduated from UCSD with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science. She is also the co-founder of Code With Her, a San Diego based non profit whose mission is to close the gender and diversity gap in tech by providing real-world coding experiences to students within San Diego County and across the nation.
Born on the beautiful US island territory of Guam, her Filipina and Indigenous Chamorro heritage and upbringing taught her that community is built on respect, reciprocity and taking care of each other. These values are core to who Kylie is and is the driving force behind why she puts community first.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- San Diego deserves un-bought leaders who put community first
- Kylie accepts no corporate money
- San Diego deserve a progressive leader who represents them
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
The Green New Deal: The scientific community says we have 11 years to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. The climate crisis is already damaging our coastline and our way of life and we must act badly and with urgency to combat its devastating impacts. Read here on the big impact to San Diego county where insurance companies are dropping coverage for homes because of increasing fire risk.
Healthcare for All: The United States has by far the most expensive and one of the least effective healthcare systems compared with our international peers. It prioritizes excessive profits by healthcare, pharmaceutical, and insurance corporations above all else, and leaves too many people price-gouged when needing care. It’s past time for us to catch up to other modern nations in embracing and rapidly moving towards Medicare For All, a single-payer universal healthcare system with no premiums, co-pays, deductibles, surprise bills, confusing networks, or enrollment periods.
Democracy Reform: What is damaging to our democracy is the influence of big money in politics from well-funded corporations and special interest groups. As a member of Congress I will support laws that reduce the influence of big money in politics, including overturning Citizens Unites which currently allows corporations and other special interest groups to spend unlimited amounts of money on our elections.
Ballotpedia provided information about David Chiddick:
David Chiddick (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 50th Congressional District. Chiddick lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
David Chiddick served in the U.S. Navy. Chiddick’s career experience includes co-owning a coffee shop.
Ballotpedia provided information about Adam Schindler:
Adam Schindler (independent) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 50th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.
Adam Schindler was born in Paterson, New Jersey. Schindler earned a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University in 1994, a graduate degree from George Mason University in 2002, and a Ph.D from the University of California at Berkeley in 2008. His career experience includes working as a science and medical writer. Schindler served in the first class of the AmeriCorps NCCC, a national service program.
Adam Schindler completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Here are some of the questions he answered:
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I am a scientist who has committed my career to advancing knowledge and improving people’s lives. I received a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and performed research at the National Institutes of Health, Duke University, and UC San Diego. I and am an author on 12 scientific publications. I currently work as a science and medical writer in the pharmaceutical industry, where I develop documents that translate scientific discoveries into clinical treatments.
Prior to entering science, I served in the first class of AmeriCorps NCCC, a national service program, where I lived in army barracks at Aberdeen Proving Grounds (MD). My team helped build a park In Baltimore and a day care center in West Virginia, and I fought fires in Idaho.
I live in San Diego with my wife, a professor of Biology at Scripps Institute of Oceaography, and two children.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- Congress Should Serve the People. Congress should make decisions with the public good as the top priority. A Congress that is primarily concerned with raising money is not a Congress that can serve the people. The influence of money on Congress is something that I will call attention to and fight against. I will seek to reverse permissible campaign finance laws, and will advocate for greater transparency so that we know what our representative are doing and who they are meeting. To ensure that I avoid conflicts of interests, I will not take money from corporate PACs, hold private fundraisers, or own individual stock.
- The Time for Action is Now. We face threats to our democracy and our environment that can no longer be ignored. The future of our country depends on the actions of our leaders, yet Congress does not seem to appreciate the urgency of the moment. I will fight for action to protect our democratic freedoms, especially our right to vote, and to stop global warming so that the beauty of our country is protected for my kids and future generations.
- We Need Better Scientific Leadership. It has been frustrating as a scientist to see how we responded to the pandemic. Decisions were made without clear reason or adequate communication with the public. Worse still, we made decisions that were not in the best interests of the public health, and people suffered. A major reason for our poor response is that we have few scientists in Congress, and lack the expertise to provide oversight of our scientific agencies to ensure that the government fulfills its obligation to protect people’s well-being in the future, I will work to improve our scientific infrastructure and leadership
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
As a biological scientist, I am especially interested in issues related to science and medicine. I will work to improve our healthcare system and provide affordable, comprehensive care to people. I am also interested in the environment, particularly becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible to stop climate change and protect the country. I also want to change the way things are done in Congress because it is not working for the American people.
December 22, 2021: Scott Peters posted news titled: “NEWS: Rep. Scott Peters Will Run for Re-election in the New CA-50” From the news:
Rep. Scott Peters to Run for Re-election in the New CA-50
San Diego – Today, Scott Peters for Congress campaign confirmed that Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) will run for re-election in the newly drawn San Diego coastal district identified as California 50.
“As the region and nation fight to overcome the devastating health and economic impacts of COVID, the ability to continue to bring federal resources home is what we need to recover,” Peters said. “My growing seniority in Congress puts me in a position to deliver, as does my track record of being able to work with everyone to solve problems.”
“I’ll continue to fight for a strong, diverse economy where every person and family has a shot at opportunity, prosperity and security. I’ll continue to stand up for middle class families, for clean air and water, for our veterans and active-duty men and women, and for our children and grandchildren who are counting on us to save the planet from the perils of climate change,” he said.
Peters added that in 2022, he’ll continue to represent the people of California’s 52nd congressional district with the same energy and commitment he’s always brought to the job. He will also introduce himself to the people of the new California 50 who he’s not yet had the honor to represent; he hopes to earn their support.
Scot Peters is a Democrat who has served in the House of Representatives since 2013. He was the first Democrat to represent San Diego City Council District 1 and defeated a 12-year Republican incumbent in 2012 to turn San Diego’s congressional delegation to a democratic majority for the first time in County history. He is a member of the powerful House Energy & Commerce committee, Vice Chair for Policy of the new Democratic Coalition, which is the largest ideological caucus in the House, and he is a Vice Chair for the Western Region of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
February 1: San Diego Jewish World posted an press release titled: “Jewish Congressional Candidate Adam Schindler: “I Want to Fight for People'” From the press release:
Scientist and public health advocate Adam Schindler announced on January 12 that he is running for U.S. House of Representatives in California’s 50th Congressional District. Schindler, a San Diego resident and father, is challenging incumbent Scott Peters because Peters receives campaign contributions from corporations and opposed legislation that would have made prescription drugs more affordable and combatted global warming.
“I am running for Congress because I want to fight for people,” Schindler said. “Corporations have too much power and its is hurting our country. We will only be able to make the change we need protect our environment and improve our healthcare system when we stand up to corporations and the politicians like Scott Peters that side with them.”…
…Adam pledges to be an honest politician who will work for the best interests of the people he represents. He will not accept money from PACs or hold private fundraisers and will disclose his activities. He will advocate for greater transparency, accountability, and integrity from our government.
February 6: Pacific Daily News posted an article titled: “Filipina-CHamoru politician Kylie Taitano runs for Congress in San Diego” From the article:
Kylie Taitano would be the first Filipina-CHamoru woman in Congress if she wins the congressional race in California’s 50th district.
Although one of two opponents on the Democratic ticket include incumbent Scott Peters, she feels she has a good shot at winning. That’s because the 50th district was redrawn after the 2020 Census, tilting the area toward a more progressive constituency.
“Although I’ll be elected to represent the people in my San Diego district, my job as a congresswoman will be to create laws that will impact the entire nation, including our territories,: Taitano said.
“I will be able to lend my voice and advocate for Guam on national issues,” she continued. “I can’t do this alone. I need the help of my community within San Diego, on Guam and beyond, to help us get to Washington.”
Because she is not taking a penny from corporations or lobbyists, she is counting on everyday working people to support her on her campaign – whether that’s through making a donation in any amount, volunteering their time to knock on doors or making phone calls and sending text messages to constituents. But the most important support comes from a vote on Election Day…
Ballotpedia provided information about the Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 50:
- Scott Peters (D): 52.3% – 89,894 votes
- Corey Gustafson (R): 29.9% – 51,312 votes
- Kylie Taitano (D): 9.4% – 16,065 votes
- David Chiddick (R): 5.4% – 9,333 votes
- Adam Schindler (Independent): 3.0% – 5,168 votes
Ballotpedia provided information about the General election for U.S. House California District 50:
- Scott Peters (D): 62.8% – 168,816 votes
- Corey Gustafson (R): 37.2% – 99,819 votes
November 9: Fox 5 San Diego posted an article titled: “Peters wins reelection in 50th Congressional District” From the article:
Rep. Scott Peters has won reelection in the 50th Congressional District, the Associated Press projected Tuesday night.
Peters, a Democrat, had garnered 60% of the vote compared to his Republican opponent Corey Gustafson’s 40%, election results showed as of Wednesday afternoon…
…The Cook Political Report and other non-partisan analysts rate the 50th a “solid Democratic” district, indicating it could be an uphill climb for a Republican candidate to win there…