Q: What will be your top domestic and international priority in Congress?
A: I’m focused on tackling climate change, lowering costs for working families, protecting access to abortion and advancing immigration reform in the Senate. In the face of escalating attacks on voting rights and the integrity of our elections, I’m also working to strengthen and protect our democracy. I was proud to implement reforms here in California as the former Secretary of State to make our elections the most inclusive in the nation, and I’ve fought to pass those same reforms at the federal level.
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We also need to restore America’s climate leadership on the world stage. The historic investments in the Inflation Reduction Act that the Senate just passed will allow the United States to live up to its international commitments and allow us to reassert our leadership in urging all countries to do their part to address the climate crisis.
Q: How do you view the events of Jan. 6, 2021, in our nation’s Capitol and what led up to them? Do those events have implications about the future of the United States?
A: Donald Trump must be held accountable. Period. No one is above the law — not even former presidents. One of the first votes I took was to impeach former President Trump for his role in inciting the violent and deadly Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. The Jan. 6 committee has provided further evidence that Trump not only incited the violent insurrection to overturn our election on Jan. 6, 2021, he was derelict in his duties as commander in chief by refusing to stop it. The extremist groups that he motivated and mobilized are still threatening our democracy — they’re spreading disinformation online, they continue to attack the integrity of our elections and they remain relentless in their efforts to subvert the will of the people. The legitimacy of our elections and the future of our democracy are at stake.
Q: Inflation is at 40-year highs in the U.S., causing economic hardship for many Americans. What can the federal government do about this? What will you do?
A: We recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which will lower energy costs, health care premiums and prescription drug costs for millions of Californians, while enacting historic deficit reduction to fight inflation. I will continue working to lower costs for families, including by advocating for policies like the child tax credit, affordable housing, universal child care, paid family and sick leave, a crackdown on exorbitant oil company profits, and Medicare for All.
Q: Confidence in the Supreme Court is steadily declining. Should justices have term limits? Should the court be expanded? What if anything, should change about the high court?
A: From striking down the right to an abortion to overturning state efforts to prevent gun violence, the Supreme Court’s right-wing supermajority is rewriting history and undoing hard-won progress. The Supreme Court is facing a crisis of legitimacy, and Congress must work to blunt the impact of these extreme rulings. We need to thoughtfully rebalance and reform the court, and I’m open to various proposals to do that. I recently co-sponsored legislation, the Supreme Court Review Act, that would act as a check on activist Supreme Court decisions, because policymaking belongs in the halls of Congress — not the Supreme Court.
Q: What do you see as the implications of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade?
A: By reversing protections that women have counted on for half a century, the Supreme Court has put the lives and futures of millions of women at risk. We must protect women’s reproductive rights and freedoms by making Roe the law of the land. I’m a proud co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act in the Senate that would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law. I will continue fighting to protect the right to choose at the national level, and I will work to ensure that access to abortion services are protected in California and for those who travel here from out of state. I recently co-led the introduction of legislation to protect abortion providers in states like California where abortion remains legal and I’m a proud supporter of Proposition 1, which would enshrine the right to an abortion in our state Constitution.
Q: What will you do in Congress to combat climate change?
A: The climate crisis is not a far-off threat. It’s here right now, and we need to treat it with the urgency it demands. I’m proud that I helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act to aggressively tackle climate change. This historic legislation will lower our carbon emissions and invest billions in clean jobs, reduce pollution, support drought resiliency, bolster wildfire prevention, and preserve our coasts and public lands. I also helped secure significant investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to electrify our schools buses, replace our lead pipes and strengthen our electric grid. These are historic steps forward in the fight against climate change — but we know it’s not enough and we need to incorporate climate action into every aspect of policymaking. That’s why I’m a proud supporter of the Green New Deal.
Q: How should the U.S. approach the war in Ukraine? What should its involvement be?
A: The United States must help block Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, because it is clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambition to restore the Soviet Union won’t stop at Ukraine’s borders. President Joe Biden has demonstrated decisive leadership in unifying our allies and building a global coalition to impose economic sanctions on Russia. I support his decision to not send American troops into Ukraine and to instead provide significant military assistance to enable Ukraine to defend itself. We must continue working with our allies to provide military and economic assistance, and refugee and humanitarian support.
Q: How should the U.S. change its immigration policies? What specific changes would you pursue?
A: As the proud son of immigrants, this issue is personal for me, and I’ve prioritized immigration reform since my first day in the Senate. As the first Latino chair of the Senate judiciary committee’s immigration subcommittee, I’ve led efforts to restore humanity and dignity to our immigration system and protect the legal rights of asylum seekers. The very first bill I introduced in the U.S. Senate was legislation to provide citizenship to the essential workers who served on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. We must also provide a pathway to citizenship for the millions of “Dreamers,” farmworkers, noncitizen veterans, children who age out of their parents’ visas, and the millions of other immigrants who deserve better from our country.
Q: What specific issues about border life in San Diego and Tijuana will you prioritize?
A: Since arriving in the Senate, I’ve worked to address the transborder water pollution that has afflicted Southern California border communities for far too long. I co-led the introduction of legislation to designate the Environmental Protection Agency as the lead agency to tackle the problem, and I’ve worked with the EPA to improve sewage treatment in San Diego County and Tijuana.
We must also improve wait times at the Otay Mesa border to ensure that commercial, economic and humanitarian traffic can move efficiently across our border. I’ve been proud to secure funding that will revitalize critical infrastructure in the San Diego region, including $18 million for projects to improve water and transportation infrastructure and $24 million for upgrades to the San Diego International Airport. As I continue my work in the Senate, I will ensure that southern California cities continue to receive critical resources and support from our federal government.
Q: The nation is experiencing more mass shootings with higher death tolls in recent years. How would you address this issue?
A: It’s time that we act to protect our families and our communities from mass shootings and gun violence. We recently passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which will enact critical life-saving gun safety measures and make investments in the mental health of our communities. This is an important first step, and I’m looking forward to building upon this legislation to advance more common-sense solutions that will save lives.
Q: What did the U.S. government get right and wrong in its approach to the pandemic since its start in early 2020? How would you have responded differently?
A: When I arrived in the Senate in the midst of the pandemic, I got right to work to ensure that we could pass the American Rescue Plan, and I was proud of the immediate relief that we were able to deliver to essential workers, families and small businesses. I was also proud of our efforts to ensure that equity was at the forefront of our vaccination distribution and outreach efforts.
As California’s former Secretary of State, I was also proud of the historic reforms that we were able to implement to ensure that voters were able to safely cast their ballots during the 2020 election, such as universal vote-by-mail.
Q: How would you address the rising cost of private health insurance nationwide? Do you support government-subsidized health insurance for all Americans? Why or why not?
A: I am proud the Senate just passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which will lower health care premiums and prescription drug costs for millions of Californians. But Americans should not have to struggle with skyrocketing health care and prescription drug costs. It’s time that we join the rest of the developed world in guaranteeing access to affordable and quality health care for all.
Q: What can and should the federal government do to address the high cost of housing?
A: Housing is a human right. As we continue to face the historic affordable housing and homelessness crisis, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s going to take all levels of government working together to tackle this crisis. The federal government has a key role to play in leveraging the unmatched financial resources at our disposal, and I’ve introduced comprehensive legislation that would make a nearly $532 billion federal investment to address the affordable housing shortage and strengthen proven, locally-developed solutions to end homelessness.
Q: Reducing homelessness has been a focus for all levels of government in recent years. What would you do differently?
A: My Housing for All Act of 2022 would strengthen proven, locally-developed solutions to end homelessness. Many of the programs in the bill were inspired by efforts that were pioneered right here in California, like converting hotels and motels into housing for homeless and vulnerable individuals, creating a safe parking program to offer places for those who live out of their vehicles to park overnight, and increasing resources for eviction protection, crisis grants and library-based support programs.
Q: The U.S. national debt has exploded in recent decades. Are you concerned about this?
A: Yes. It’s important that we find solutions to move our country forward without raising the national debt. This is a key component of our Inflation Reduction Act, which will tackle inflation while reducing our federal deficit.
Q: Why should voters elect you over your opponent?
A: Since arriving in the Senate, I’ve worked to secure billions of dollars in relief for California families and small businesses, I’ve pushed for bold climate action to improve access to clean air and water, and I’ve introduced sweeping legislation to address the issues afflicting Californians the most — the homelessness crisis, affordable housing, and the increasing threat of wildfires and drought.
I’m the only candidate in this race who has a track record of delivering for Californians on a statewide and national level — and I’m seeking a full term in the Senate to continue fighting for Californians and for the critical issues at stake for our country — from tackling climate change to protecting the right to vote, defending reproductive rights and securing a path to immigration reform.
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Democratic registered nurse and former Santee City Council member Stephen Houlahan is challenging Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who is seeking his 11th term in Congress in the newly redrawn 48th Congressional District that represents much of east San Diego County.
Democratic registered nurse and former Santee City Council member Stephen Houlahan is challenging Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who is seeking his 11th term in Congress in the newly redrawn 48th Congressional District that represents much of east San Diego County.
Democratic registered nurse and former Santee City Council member Stephen Houlahan is challenging Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who is seeking his 11th term in Congress in the newly redrawn 48th Congressional District that represents much of east San Diego County.
There are two candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot for a six-year U.S. Senate term: Republican lawyer Mark Meuser and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat appointed to fill the vacancy left when Kamala Harris became vice president.
There are two candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot for a six-year U.S. Senate term: Republican lawyer Mark Meuser and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat appointed to fill the vacancy left when Kamala Harris became vice president.
While increased attention to diversity in hiring is critical, as important is shifting the culture of our existing employees.
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