Candidate Q&A: 7 face off in state's 6th Congressional District

Editor's note: The latest in a series focusing on area races. Voters will choose between seven candidates in the race for California's 6th Congressional District in the upcoming election. Gold Mountain California News Media reached out to each candidate with a series of questions to better understand their backgrounds, priorities and reasons for running. We did not hear back from Martha Guerrero. Here are the responses from Lauren Babb Tomlinson, Michael Stansfield, Thien Ho, Tyler Vandenberg, Richard Pan and Kevin Kiley: LAUREN BABB TOMLINSON Occupation: Chief Public Affairs Officer, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Experience: Former Chair, California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Contact/website: lbtforcongress.com, hello@lbtforcongress.com Why are you running for this position? I'm running for Congress because our families deserve better. I've been fighting for health care access and standing with communities devastated by Republican cuts. I've seen what happens when Planned Parenthood is forced to close its doors, five communities and over 20,000 people left without essential care. Families like ours deserve affordable health care, quality child care, and good-paying jobs so we can meet our basic needs with dignity. For me, it's simple: as a mom, my family always comes first, and in Congress, I will fight for your family the same way. With the passage of Prop 50, how has that forced you to pivot as a candidate and recognize the priorities of the District you want to represent? As someone who lives and works in this community and has led healthcare access efforts here, I know this district. I've been organizing and advocating alongside the working families of CA-06. Our communities need lower costs, better wages, access to quality healthcare, and our fundamental freedoms protected. That's what I've been fighting for and that's exactly what I'll fight for on day one in Congress. Prop 50 may have redrawn the lines, but it didn't change the fundamental challenges families in this district are facing every single day. What is the biggest issue in your district and how do you plan to address it? Affordability is the biggest issue facing the working families of CA-06. We need to ease the everyday costs that families face: from healthcare and housing to food and education. I will work to prevent price gouging on groceries and essential goods, expand programs to help first-time homebuyers and strengthen renter protections, and fight for student loan debt relief. I'll work to create jobs and drive economic growth, helping families get ahead. What unique approach would you bring to your position? I'm not a career politician — I've been on the frontlines, fighting for health care access and standing with communities devastated by Republican cuts. As the former chair of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls I created a multimillion-dollar grant program to support women and families to recover after COVID-19. I'm running for Congress because working families like mine deserve a voice fighting for them in Washington. As a young mom raising a one-year-old, I know firsthand how hard it is to keep a family fed, healthy, and safe. My childcare costs almost as much as my mortgage, groceries cost more every week, and the bills keep coming. Families are being asked to do more with less, and the same old playbook from career politicians just isn't working anymore. Outside of your official capacity, what do you like to do in your spare time? My spare time looks a lot like most working parents', it revolves around my family. I'm very intentional about protecting two evenings a week just for my son and husband, and we try to have dinner together as often as possible, even when the campaign schedule makes that a challenge. My son didn't sign up for any of this. He just wants his mom. So I keep him off the trail and try to just be present for him. Those morning routines of making breakfast and getting him to daycare are some of my favorite moments of the day. They remind me why I'm running in the first place. MICHAEL STANSFIELD Occupation: Applications Engineer\Author Experience: US Citizen Contact/website: LearningHowToFly.one Why are you running for this position? Campaigns are funded primarily by seniors, because life has allowed them to accumulate wealth. Consider the recent election for Thomas Massie. He received the majority vote from 55 and younger and still lost. For this reason, politicians pander to the elderly for support. Meanwhile revolutions are caused by the young. No one worries about 85 year olds storming the capital. Massie acted like a pressure gauge to release the built up tension in society. As the pressure release valves for the young are forced out sooner or later the boiler is going to explode. I run as a Republican to show the Evangelical in love the path from the Bible as a hope for humanity. Why the Bible? Because it is a source of morality that does not revolve around money that they might listen to. It is also an act of love to meet with people where their heart actually is. It is a way of saying your wrong and I love you at the same time. It also shows the young how to respectfully show their conservative parents a different path. For this two books were written. Contra-Zionism to show to the conservative world a Bible that calls for love between Jew and Palestinian as an example for all of us. The second book Learning How to Fly2, an understanding of all the political philosophies and why each is so vital to humanity. With the passage of Prop 50, how has that forced you to pivot as a candidate and recognize the priorities of the District you want to represent? As I am from Rocklin California and my goal was to reach out to conservative evangelicals, my previous district was a perfect fit as it was primarily conservative. As I moved into a more liberal district it was the signatures from college students that put me on the ballot. I told them if you want to free Palestine you have to be able to understand the Bible, because if you are arguing humanism you will never reach a person that forms their humanity around the Bible. What is the biggest issue in your district and how do you plan to address it? The young in our society sympathize with the Palestinian struggle because both feel voiceless in their society. For them if Palestine can be free and if the government can hear the cries of the Palestinian, Persian, and Muslim peoples may be there is hope for the rest of us. I see humanity as different musicians in an orchestra each insisting that their instrument is the greatest and the others are flawed. When the truth is that each is beautiful and needed. The conductor is God and his wand is love. If we can only listen, we will all play in tune. What unique approach would you bring to your position? My mother was a missionary, and my father was ordained as a pastor. So I know the Bible very well. I started asking questions and showed people a God that deeply love's a cares about Muslims. Pastors said I asked dangerous questions. So I went to Bible College and wrote my thesis on the Palestinian's right to the Holy Land and was expelled. So I wrote books that were banned on the subject. I started Bible Studies on my books at several universities in Portland Oregon, well until ICE raided my house and confiscated my books. I hear about an America that is centered on freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and to be honest I don't know what that means anymore. Outside of your official capacity, what do you like to do in your spare time? I am in Technical Support and Engineering because I like riddles. How can you create a direct democracy in a world of billions of people? How do all the philosophies and religions fit together? How can humanity be united and still retain their individuality? If God is love, what is God's answer is a world of hate and war? These are the questions and more that I ponder. My answers are in those banned books, banned and republished under different names over and over again. THIEN HO Occupation: Sacramento County District Attorney Experience: 25 years as a public servant, keeping our communities safe Contact/website: www.thienhoca.com, info@thienhoca.com Why are you running for this position? I fled a violent dictatorship in Vietnam and came to America as a political refugee. My family risked everything to escape, believing in the promise of America, where the law protects the innocent and freedom belongs to everyone. That promise is why I became a prosecutor. As Sacramento County District Attorney, I put public safety over politics. I prosecuted the Golden State Killer and fought sex trafficking. I took bold action to reduce homelessness and got people into treatment. I held businesses accountable for stealing from workers and forced corporate polluters to pay for their damage. And, I made sure no county resources assisted ICE. But now Donald Trump is putting himself ahead of working families and threatening our constitutional rights. My family came to America to escape tyranny and I will never allow it to take root here. I am running for Congress because we need a prosecutor who can take the fight from the courtroom to Congress, standing up to Trump, break the MAGA majority, and ensure accountability. In Congress, I will defend the rule of law and protect our freedoms. As immigrants, my family struggled with rent and buying groceries. Today, families are wondering if they can put dinner on the table, pay for rent or see a doctor. In Congress, I will fight to make housing, healthcare, and groceries more affordable for working families. America gave my family freedom and opportunity. I am running to protect that promise for every family. With the passage of Prop 50, how has that forced you to pivot as a candidate and recognize the priorities of the District you want to represent? Prop 50 changed the geography, but it hasn't changed my message. I am focused on defending our democracy, fighting corruption, and ensuring everyone in our communities can feel safe. My record as District Attorney speaks to delivering for the communities I serve, and I will continue to do so in Congress. What is the biggest issue in your district and how do you plan to address it? I am running for Congress to defend our democracy, hold corrupt officials and corporations accountable, and stop the abuse of our immigrant communities by ICE. My family fled a dictatorship - I never thought I'd see the rise of one in this country. Our democracy is under real threat from Donald Trump and those who are undermining the institutions that protect all of us. In Congress, I'll defend our democracy. As District Attorney, I've held corporations that polluted our environment and public officials breaking the law accountable. When a shady business was stealing its workers' wages, I stood up and prosecuted them to the full extent of the law. I'll fight to end the deep corruption happening in Washington and make government work for regular people again. Finally, the weaponization of ICE against our communities. When Donald Trump and ICE asked my office to help with their illegal and inhumane deportations, I refused. Families in our district are living in fear because this administration has turned immigration enforcement into a tool of intimidation. I'll fight every day to end those abuses. What unique approach would you bring to your position? My background gives me a perspective you won't find anywhere else in this race. I came to this country as a refugee and have spent decades ensuring the justice system worked for everyone, not just the powerful. That combination of lived experience and prosecutorial discipline shapes how I approach every problem. I've never waited for permission to take on hard cases. I prosecuted the Golden State Killer, corporations that were stealing wages, hate crimes, and we stood up to federal immigration overreach when it conflicted with public safety. I'll continue to take on the tough fights in Congress. Outside of your official capacity, what do you like to do in your spare time? I love to go fishing, which requires great patience. It also gets me outside in an opportunity to relax. TYLER VANDENBERG Occupation: Democratic Candidate, Marine Corps Veteran Experience: 7 Years US Marine Corps, Master's in Public Policy Degree from Harvard Kennedy School, Jeopardy! Champion, Great Society Democrat Contact/website: www.tv4ca.com Why are you running for this position? I'm running for this position to defend our democracy, rebuild our Great Society, and secure a safe America for everyone. After two terms of Kevin Kiley's unresponsive and harmful representation, our community deserves so much better. Holding Trump accountable and defending the Constitution are essential priorities, but so too is building a better future with Medicare for All, Homes Every Generation Can Afford, a Green New Grid, and fully funded Social Security. We also need to ensure that our immigrant neighbors, LGBTQ+ communities, and folks of all faiths and colors and creeds are safe in this country. We need a representative who can do all this and more, and that is why I'm in this race. With the passage of Prop 50, how has that forced you to pivot as a candidate and recognize the priorities of the District you want to represent? Prop 50 was the right thing to do to defend our democracy. Rather than forcing me to pivot, Prop 50 and the changed districts have demonstrated the value of consistency as a candidate and continued clarity in my policy positions. Folks across the old California 3rd and the new California 6th know what I stand for and the future I am fighting to build. Across California, our neighbors are demanding a safer, more affordable tomorrow; that was true before Prop 50, it's true now, and will remain true as long as we fail to take action on this issue. What is the biggest issue in your district and how do you plan to address it? Affordability. To address spiking gas and food prices, we must end the disastrous Iran War right away. To address healthcare costs and collapsing care infrastructure caused by the Big Beautiful Bill, we must finally institute Medicare for All and cover everyone: it's cheaper, more effective, and more efficient than our current system. To bring down housing costs, we need federal investment to build thousands of new homes and provide preferential mortgages to our first responders and public employees. And to bring down energy costs, we have to take on PG&E and build new Green Grid infrastructure: solar power is now the cheapest form of energy in human history, and we have to take advantage of this fact. What unique approach would you bring to your position? Unlike my predecessor, I look forward to hosting regular town halls and always keeping my door open to constituents. I intend to fight for all three key priorities at the same time: holding Trump accountable, rebuilding our Great Society, and ensuring a safe America for everyone. I am committed to doing all of these things at once, and that commitment combined with the courage and creativity to act in this fraught time is what sets me apart from all other candidates on the field. Outside of your official capacity, what do you like to do in your spare time? I've just finished a Master's Degree in Public Policy which occupied most hours when I was not on the full-time campaign trail. When I do have free time, I'm a passionate outdoorsman in all seasons, which is also the basis of my drive to defend our public lands from sale and to preserve our environment. RICHARD PAN Occupation: Pediatrician, UC Davis educator, and former California State Senator Experience: I represented the Sacramento region in the California State Assembly and State Senate, where I chaired the Assembly and Senate Health Committees. As a physician and legislator, I led California's implementation of the Affordable Care Act, reduced the uninsured rate by almost two-thirds, authored landmark school vaccination laws, and worked to lower prescription drug costs, including legislation to make insulin available at $11. Contact/website: www.drpanforcongress.com Why are you running for this position? I am running for Congress because families are working harder and still having trouble affording essentials, including health care, housing, food, child care, and education. I have spent my career as a pediatrician listening to families, and I know government decisions have a direct impact on the health and safety of children and families and their ability to get ahead. In the Legislature, I got results: securing health care coverage for over 4 million Californians, lowering prescription drug costs, protecting children from preventable disease, and standing up for science and facts. I am running to bring that same approach to Congress and fight for the families and communities I have served for many years. With the passage of Prop 50, how has that forced you to pivot as a candidate and recognize the priorities of the District you want to represent? Prop 50 changed the district, but it did not change what people want from their Congressmember: someone who will listen, show up, and strive to make government work for them. I represented more than 60 percent of this district in the legislature and know many of the neighborhoods. Regardless of party, people are worried about making ends meet as prices soar, getting health care for loved ones who are sick or injured, and losing their constitutional rights and liberties because of who they are. What is the biggest issue in your district and how do you plan to address it? Families are struggling to afford essentials including gas, food, health care, child care, and education. To fund his wars and billionaire tax cuts, Trump said "It's not possible for us to take care of day care, Medicaid, Medicare" In Congress, I will protect Medicare and Social Security and roll back the cuts to Medi-Cal and food assistance passed in Trump's "big, beautiful bill". I will restore tax credits for people purchasing Covered California plans and oppose the destruction of health agencies including FDA, CDC and NIH whose scientists keep our food and medications safe, fight disease outbreaks, and research new cures. I will oppose tariffs and wars that are increasing prices. In the legislature, I reduced the uninsured by two-thirds, lowered prescription drug costs including $11 insulin, and funded in-home care for seniors and people with disabilities. I secured federal funds to keep fire stations open and to help people with getting housing. I know how to deliver for my district and for Californians. What unique approach would you bring to your position? I bring the experience of a physician and accomplished legislator who solved difficult issues and delivered results. As a practicing pediatrician, I listen to families, study the science, and provide guidance to help families make informed decisions for their children. In Congress, applying facts and science to lawmaking is critical to making government work for the people. I swore an oath to protect the health and safety of children and to protect the Constitution. I have stood up for public health against vitriol, death threats and even physical assault by RFK Jr's anti-vaccine extremists. I will always put the well-being of my constituents ahead of political expediency. Outside of your official capacity, what do you like to do in your spare time? Community service is central to my life. Before I was elected to public office, I partnered physicians with neighborhoods to build healthier communities, and I founded a non-profit to provide health, vision, and dental coverage for over 65,000 children in five counties including Placer, El Dorado, and Sacramento counties. The Medical Board of California recognized me as Physician Humanitarian for my work. I have also served on nonprofit boards, including United Way California Capital Region, and currently serve with Improve Your Tomorrow and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. I also enjoy teaching at UC Davis, studying history, and traveling with my wife and children. KEVIN KILEY Occupation: United States Representative Experience: U.S. Representative, California Assembly Representative, California Deputy Attorney General, Public school teacher Contact/website: www.ElectKevinKiley.com Why are you running for this position? I was born, raised, and went to local public schools our area. This is my home. And my number one priority as your Representative is to protect our quality of life. As the only Independent in the House of Representatives, I will continue to put the people of California's Sixth District first – not partisan politics. With our families being squeezed by the cost-of-living crisis, our district needs a representative who will answer to them, hold political leaders on both sides accountable, and work towards common sense solutions to make life more affordable. The two terms I have served in Congress show what independent leadership makes possible. We received the only Build Grant in the State of California, bringing $22.5 million to our district to clear up traffic at the Highway 65 / Interstate 80 interchange. I passed the bipartisan Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to protect this national treasure. We have secured an additional $300 millions in grants and appropriations and assisted 6,000 constituents with federal issues. I also wrote the Medicare Protection Act to stop hikes in premiums hurting our seniors and helped deliver historic tax relief for working and middle-income families. I am running to fix the brokenness of our politics, to combat the waste and fraud that is far too common in our state, to invest in our schools, to protect Social Security and Medicare, and to safeguard our public lands. I am running so that government can help expand opportunity rather than stand in the way of it. With the passage of Prop 50, how has that forced you to pivot as a candidate and recognize the priorities of the District you want to represent? Gerrymandering is a plague on our democracy, and further erodes the public trust in government that is already sinking to all-time lows. That's why I have opposed it everywhere – in Texas and California, in Florida and New York. And it's why I've introduced legislation to end this redistricting war, which is further polarizing our politics at the expense of voters. The vast majority of Americans favor independent redistricting commissions like the one California had before Prop 50. Gerrymandering elevates partisanship above everything else for one party's gain over the other, making everyone worse off. In Congress I have always looked for common ground, co-sponsoring legislation like the Fix It Act, which would extend healthcare tax credits for 22 million Americans; helping pass bipartisan legislation to make housing more affordable; and fighting to quadruple the State and Local Tax deduction for California taxpayers. I have also fought against policies that make life less affordable – including high gas taxes in Sacramento and tariffs in Washington. The people of this district want someone that will work for them, and I will be an active partner with anyone in Congress who will help make life more affordable for working families. What is the biggest issue in your district and how do you plan to address it? The cost-of-living crisis is undoubtedly the number one issue for people in our district, and for people of all ages and backgrounds throughout California. California has the highest cost of living in the country, where we pay about $1.80 above the national average for gas, the highest electricity rates in the country, and we rank among the most costly states for housing, water, and groceries. While politicians from both parties blame each other instead of addressing the pocketbook problem hurting Californians, as an Independent I can uniquely hold leaders in Washington and Sacramento accountable for failed policies. I have proposed limiting the gas tax, supported expanding domestic energy production, successfully fought for tax relief that uniquely benefits Californians, and voted to stop tariffs that raise our prices even more. What unique approach would you bring to your position? In Congress I will continue to serve as a bridge for my constituents to their government in D.C. In just over three years in Congress, we have closed 6,000 cases, helping constituents get their tax refunds, their Social Security checks, or the VA benefits. Ahead of our nation's 250th anniversary, it is important to remember that our Founders, despite their differences, were able to forge a new nation unlike any that had come before. We need representatives who can bring our country together around shared principles, who are open-minded problem solvers, and who will assure our government is accountable to the people. Outside of your official capacity, what do you like to do in your spare time? I enjoy reading, going outdoors, watching sports (lifelong Kings fan), and spending time with family.