Election 2026: Meet the candidates for State Senate District 6

Editor's note: Latest in a series focusing on Placer County races. Voters will choose between candidates in the Senate District 6 in the upcoming election. The Gold Mountain California News Media team sent two of the three candidates on the ballot a series of questions to better understand their backgrounds, priorities and reasons for running. Running in the race are: Incumbent Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks), Democrat Sean Frame and Democrat Sara Velasco. Velasco did not respond to our attempt to make contact. Here are their responses: ROGER NIELLO (incumbent senator, R-Fair Oaks) Why are you running for this seat? As a lifelong resident of Sacramento County and a small business owner, I am running to bring fiscal sanity and accountability back to state government. California is facing massive structural deficits and an ever-increasing cost of living. My goal is to use my experience as a CPA and business leader to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently, our economy remains competitive, and our state government focuses on the basics of public safety, infrastructure and a functional education system. What is the biggest issue in your district and how do you plan to address it? The affordability crisis, driven by the high cost of energy, housing and groceries, is the most pressing issue. I plan to address this by: Reducing the Regulatory Burden: I've introduced legislation like SB 981, which requires agencies like CARB to analyze the cost-of-living impacts of their regulations on residents. Energy Reform: Pushing for a more balanced energy portfolio to lower the nation-leading utility and gas prices that burden California families. Fiscal Responsibility: Fighting against "gimmicks and tricks" in the state budget to address the $60+ billion deficit without raising taxes on hard-working residents. What unique approach would you bring to your position? As a former CPA, I bring that lens to every piece of legislation. Most legislators focus on the intent of a law; I focus on the math and the long-term fiscal impact. My background in the private sector means I understand how Sacramento's decisions directly affect a business's ability to hire and a family's ability to save. I prioritize bipartisan oversight. My work on the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee attempts to ensure the executive branch is held accountable for how it manages state emergencies and public funds. Outside of your official capacity, what do you like to do in your spare time? I am a dedicated family man and enjoy spending time with my wife, Mary, our five adult children, and our six grandchildren. Being part of a large family in the Sacramento area keeps me grounded. SEAN FRAME (Democrat) Why are you running for this seat? I am running for this seat because I know that regular people are not receiving adequate representation and resources from our State. We have the highest rates of poverty and homelessness, a broken and now defunded health system that was traded for illegal wars and tax breaks for the 1%, an education system that fell from being one of the nation's best to being near the bottom, and a climate crisis that is making life both dangerous and unaffordable. Our current representative hasn't done anything to solve these issues, but I know we can. We are the 4th largest economy on Earth. It's time we put California First and solved these problems for our region and the state. What is the biggest issue in your district and how do you plan to address it? The biggest issue in our District and our State is that life has become unaffordable. Costs for food, fuel, rent, education, housing, and healthcare are out of control. We have to fix this or we will never achieve the California dream we've all been promised. Unlike our current Senator, I actually have plans to solve the affordability crisis caused largely by a rogue Federal Government that is punishing our State and corporations who use us as their piggy bank. We will pass single-payer healthcare and become the state every business person dreams of living in. As our economy grows, we will fund public banks to build the affordable housing we need and we will return education funding — from pre-school to graduate school — to the levels previous generations enjoyed. We will take on the climate crisis and become the hub of sustainable innovation. This is what California First looks like. What unique approach would you bring to your position? I have the unique experience of being a business owner, a public employee, and someone with elected experience. This allows me to consider financial issues from a business perspective while also bringing an understanding of how public goods and community-based solutions can solve the big issues we face. My hobby is organizing people for action, so I will take this approach into the Legislature to build the coalitions required to get things done. Outside of your official capacity, what do you like to do in your spare time? My favorite thing to do (outside of my public work) is to attend concerts. I love everything from alternative country to punk to Indy to hip hop and funk. Don't be surprised when you see your State Senator out for the evening at a show (when the schedule allows, of course.). I will be regularly out in the community and look forward to meeting and getting to know your readers!