California's 45th Congressional District election (June 5, 2018 top-two primary)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 22
- Early voting: Oct. 8 - Nov. 5
- Absentee voting deadline: Postmark Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: No
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Incumbent Mimi Walters (R) and Katie Porter (D) advanced from the 2018 top-two primary to the general election in California's 45th Congressional District.
The 45th District primary was a battle between Porter and Democrats Dave Min, Brian Forde, and Kia Hamadanchy. Walters was the only Republican running. The 45th District was the only one of seven potentially vulnerable Republican-held California House seats where Democrats were not at risk of being shut out of the November general election.[1]
Prominent state and national endorsements were split among the Democratic candidates. A former aide to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Min was endorsed by the California Democratic Party.[1]
Porter, a consumer protection lawyer, was endorsed by progressive U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) as well as EMILY's List and Democracy for America.[1]
Forde worked in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Obama Administration and touted his experience in tech entrepreneurship and cryptocurrency.[2] He led the Democratic field in fundraising.
Hamadanchy was a former staffer for U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Sherrod Brown (D-Oh.), both of whom endorsed him.
A major issue dividing the Democratic field was support for a single-payer health insurance system. Min was the only Democrat to oppose it, saying voters in the traditionally Republican district would prefer a public option for Medicare. The fight over ideology took center stage at the February 2018 state Democratic convention, where Min's opponents attempted to block his endorsement by the party by saying he was not progressive enough.
Hillary Clinton (D) beat Donald Trump (R) in the 45th District by five percentage points in the 2016 presidential election.[1] Walters, however, won re-election by 17 percentage points. A Main Street Partnership Republican, she focused on fiscal, immigration, and military issues. She led all candidates in fundraising.[1]
What is California's top-two primary?
A top-two primary is a type of primary election in which all candidates are listed on the same primary ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of their partisan affiliations, advance to the general election.
California adopted the top-two primary when California Proposition 14, Top-Two Primaries Amendment, passed on June 8, 2010. The system took effect on January 1, 2011.
Washington was the first state to adopt the top-two primary for congressional and state-level elections in 2004. Nebraska also uses a top-two primary for state legislative elections, which are nonpartisan.California voter? Here's what you need to know. | |
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Primary election | June 5, 2018 |
Candidate filing deadline | March 9, 2018 |
Registration deadline | May 21, 2018[3] |
Absentee application deadline | May 29, 2018[3] |
General election | November 6, 2018 |
Voting information | |
Primary type | Top-two |
Early voting deadline | Available from May 7, 2018, to June 5, 2018[4] |
Polling locations: Go to this page to find early voting locations and your assigned precinct for election day. |
For more on related elections, please see:
- California's 48th Congressional District election, 2018
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2018
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2018
- Primary elections in California, 2018
Candidates and election results
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 45 on June 5, 2018.
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 45
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Mimi Walters (R) | 51.7 | 86,764 |
✔ | ![]() | Katie Porter (D) ![]() | 20.3 | 34,078 |
![]() | Dave Min (D) | 17.8 | 29,979 | |
![]() | Brian Forde (D) | 6.0 | 10,107 | |
John Graham (Independent) | 2.3 | 3,817 | ||
![]() | Kia Hamadanchy (D) | 1.9 | 3,212 |
Total votes: 167,957 | ||||
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If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Greg Ramsay (D)
- Eric Rywalski (D)
- Ron Varasteh (D)
Election updates
Satellite spending
- May 30, 2018: The Progressive Change Campaign Committee spent $20,000 opposing Dave Min.
- May 29, 2018: EMILY's List disclosed more than $31,000 in spending to support Katie Porter, bringing its investment in her candidacy to over $240,000.
- May 25, 2018: 314 Action, a super PAC supporting candidates with scientific backgrounds, announced it would spend $285,000 supporting Brian Forde.[5]
Campaign finance
- May 16, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures from May 16, 2018, showed the following:
- Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.5 million and had nearly $1.6 million in cash on hand.
- Brian Forde had raised nearly $1.5 million and had nearly $550,000 in cash on hand.
- Katie Porter had raised about $1.15 million and had about $172,000 in cash on hand.
- David Min had raised about $1.1 million and had nearly $250,000 in cash on hand.
- Kia Hamadanchy had raised more than $620,000 and had nearly $90,000 in cash on hand.
- March 31, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures for the first quarter of 2018 showed the following:
- Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.2 million and had nearly $1.7 million in cash on hand.
- Brian Forde had raised more than $1.2 million and had more than $660,000 in cash on hand.
- Katherine Porter had raised more than $1 million and had more than $575,000 in cash on hand.
- David Min had raised almost $900,000 and had more than $385,000 in cash on hand.
- Kia Hamadanchy had raised almost $575,000 and had nearly $150,000 in cash on hand.
Candidates
Brian Forde
A tech researcher and entrepreneur who worked in the Obama White House, Brian Forde ran for Congress saying he would focus on the tech industry, particularly cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, and bring greater understanding of the issues to Washington. His campaign was supported by a number of individuals involved in Bitcoin markets, and, according to the FEC, he received more contributions via Bitcoin than all previous donations combined.[6] He led the Democratic field in fundraising as of April 2018, but trailed incumbent Mimi Walters (R).
In addition to his experience in the tech industry, Forde's campaign highlighted his opposition to President Donald Trump, his desire to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, and his support for a single-payer healthcare system.[7] Forde was registered as a Republican until he changed it to Democratic in 2017. He said the registration change was overdue and that he had consistently voted Democratic since 2008.[8]
Forde served in the Obama White House for three-and-a-half years as a senior technology advisor before leaving to research and teach about digital currencies at the MIT Media Lab. He joined the Peace Corps and was based in Nicaragua in the early 2000s. He stayed in the country following his Peace Corps service and founded Llamadas SA, an internet phone service company.[9]
Kia Hamadanchy
A former staffer for U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown and Tom Harkin, Kia Hamadanchy said he decided to run for Congress when he heard President Donald Trump had issued an executive order restricting travel and immigration from seven majority Muslim nations, including Iran. Hamadanchy, whose parents immigrated from Iran, said “I couldn’t fathom the idea that my family, and families like my family, were being targeted in such a discriminatory and hateful way,” and decided to run the same day.[10] Harkin and Brown both endorsed his run for office as did U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) and Washington Lieutenant Gov. Cyrus Habib (D).
Aside from addressing Trump's travel restrictions, Hamadanchy said he would focus on healthcare, environmental, and education policy. He said he supports debt-free college and a single-payer healthcare system.[10]
Hamadanchy worked first for Harkin on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and then later for Brown's personal staff. Before working in the Senate, he attended the University of Michigan, where he received his bachelor's degree and his J.D.[11]
Dave Min
Dave Min ran for Congress with the endorsement of the California Democratic Party after receiving 60 percent of the delegate vote at the state party's nominating convention.[12] He criticized incumbent Mimi Walters (R) for supporting President Donald Trump on healthcare policy and for not holding townhalls for constituents.[13] His campaign was also endorsed by ten of California's congressional Democrats.
Min's campaign website included sections on opposing travel restrictions that President Donald Trump placed on majority Muslim countries, working toward universal healthcare by allowing Americans to buy into Medicare and offering a public option, and limiting carbon emissions. He also spoke about his parents, both of whom immigrated from Korea.[14]
Prior to running for office, Min worked as a law professor at the University of California, Irvine. While living in Washington, D.C., he worked as an aide for U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a policy director for the Center for American Progress, and a lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission. He received his bachelor's degree from Wharton and his J.D. from Harvard Law.[15]
Katie Porter
A law professor and consumer protection attorney, Katie Porter ran for Congress by touting her endorsements from potential 2020 presidential contenders and progressive influencers Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). She also criticized incumbent Mimi Walters for supporting President Donald Trump on healthcare and tax policy. In addition to Warren and Harris, she was endorsed by EMILY's List, Democracy for America, and the Off the Sidelines PAC managed by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), another potential 2020 presidential candidate.
Porter's campaign emphasized her support for Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All healthcare program, a ban of assault-style weapons, and reversing the 2017 tax bill supported by congressional Republicans.
Porter's professional experience includes serving as a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, and working as a consumer protection attorney. In 2012, she worked with then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris on banking oversight. She received a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where Elizabeth Warren was one of her professors.[16]
Mimi Walters
The district's incumbent since first being elected in 2014, U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters emphasized her plans to reduce taxes and the national debt; allow DACA recipients to stay in the country while also increasing border security, ending the diversity visa lottery, and tightening eligibility for family-based immigration; and increasing military pay and changing the reporting process for sexual assaults in the armed forces.[17] Walters was the only Republican who ran in the District 45 top-two primary.
Despite representing a district that voted for Hillary Clinton (D) in the 2016 presidential election, Walters expressed her support for Trump, saying, "He stands for what we stand for," and voted for nearly all of his preferred policies, including plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and overhaul the tax code.[18] After being elected, she joined the Republican Main Street Partnership, a group of centrist GOP lawmakers describing themselves as "solutions-oriented fiscal realists and defenders of national security, advancing positive policies that can command bipartisan support."[19]
Prior to being elected to Congress in 2014, Walters served in the California State Senate. Her professional experience includes working as an investment advisor at Drexel, Burnham and Lambert. She was the co-chair of the Orange County branch of the recall campaign for California Gov. Gray Davis (D) in 2003. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
List of candidates
General election candidates
- Mimi Walters (Incumbent) (Republican Party)
- Katie Porter (Democratic Party) ✔
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Primary candidates
- Mimi Walters (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
- Brian Forde (Democratic Party)
- John Graham (Independent)
- Kia Hamadanchy (Democratic Party)
- Dave Min (Democratic Party)
- Katie Porter (Democratic Party) ✔
Did not make the ballot:
= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
Timeline
- May 30, 2018: The Progressive Change Campaign Committee spent $20,000 opposing Dave Min.
- May 29, 2018: EMILY's List disclosed more than $31,000 in spending to support Katie Porter, bringing its investment in her candidacy to over $240,000.
- May 25, 2018: 314 Action, a super PAC supporting candidates with scientific backgrounds, announced it would spend $285,000 supporting Brian Forde.[5]
- May 22, 2018: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce disclosed $250,000 in spending to support Mimi Walters.
- May 16, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures from May 16, 2018, showed the following:
- Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.5 million and had nearly $1.6 million in cash on hand.
- Brian Forde had raised nearly $1.5 million and had nearly $550,000 in cash on hand.
- Katie Porter had raised about $1.15 million and had about $172,000 in cash on hand.
- David Min had raised about $1.1 million and had nearly $250,000 in cash on hand.
- Kia Hamadanchy had raised more than $620,000 and had nearly $90,000 in cash on hand.
- March 31, 2018: Campaign finance disclosures for the first quarter of 2018 showed the following:
- Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.2 million and had nearly $1.7 million in cash on hand.
- Brian Forde had raised more than $1.2 million and had more than $660,000 in cash on hand.
- Katherine Porter had raised more than $1 million and had more than $575,000 in cash on hand.
- David Min had raised almost $900,000 and had more than $385,000 in cash on hand.
- Kia Hamadanchy had raised almost $575,000 and had nearly $150,000 in cash on hand.
- February 25, 2018: Dave Min received the endorsement of the California Democratic Party.
- February 21, 2018: A Public Policy Polling survey paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which endorsed Katie Porter, found Mimi Walters with 42 percent, Porter with 16 percent, Min with 12 percent, Hamadanchy with 6 percent, and Forde with 4 percent.
Endorsements
Brian Forde
- Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.)
- Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.)
- 314 Action
Click [show] to see more endorsements | |||
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Kia Hamadanchy
- Former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)
- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Oh.)
- U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.)
- Lieutenant Gov. Cyrus Habib (D-Wash.)
Click [show] to see more endorsements | |||
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Dave Min
- California Democratic Party
- U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.)
Click [show] to see more endorsements | |||
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Katie Porter
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
- Warren said Porter “fought relentlessly for important protections that safeguard consumers and force banks to give families a fair shake.”
- U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)
- U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-N.Y.) Off the Sidelines PAC
- The Progressive Change Campaign Committee
- Democracy for America
- EMILY's List
- Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.)
Click [show] to see more endorsements | |||
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Mimi Walters
- California Republican Party
- Republican Party of Orange County
- California Republican Assembly
Click [show] to see more endorsements | |||
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Campaign finance
Campaign finance disclosures from May 16, 2018, showed the following:
- Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.5 million and had nearly $1.6 million in cash on hand.
- Brian Forde had raised nearly $1.5 million and had nearly $550,000 in cash on hand.
- Katie Porter had raised about $1.15 million and had about $172,000 in cash on hand.
- David Min had raised about $1.1 million and had nearly $250,000 in cash on hand.
- Kia Hamadanchy had raised more than $620,000 and had nearly $90,000 in cash on hand.
Campaign finance disclosures for the first quarter of 2018 showed the following:
- Mimi Walters had raised more than $2.2 million and had nearly $1.7 million in cash on hand.
- Brian Forde had raised more than $1.2 million and had more than $660,000 in cash on hand.
- Katie Porter had raised more than $1 million and had more than $575,000 in cash on hand.
- David Min had raised almost $900,000 and had more than $385,000 in cash on hand.
- Kia Hamadanchy had raised almost $575,000 and had nearly $150,000 in cash on hand.
The table below contains data from FEC Quarterly October 2017 reports. It includes only candidates who reported at least $10,000 in campaign contributions as of September 30, 2017.[26]
Democrats
Satellite spending
- 314 Action had spent about $304,000 supporting Brian Forde as of May 30.[27]
- The Courage Campaign had spent about $23,000 opposing Mimi Walters as of May 30.[27]
- EMILY's List had spent about $310,000 as of May 30. About $241,000 went toward supporting Katie Porter, about $68,000 went toward opposing Mimi Walters, and about $700 went toward opposing David Min.[27]
- End Citizens United had spent about $98,000 supporting Katie Porter as of May 30.[27]
- Giffords had spent $12,000 opposing Mimi Walters as of May 30.[27]
- PAC for a Change had spent about $7,000 opposing Mimi Walters as of May 30.[27]
- The Progressive Change Campaign Committee spent $20,000 opposing Dave Min on May 30.[27]
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce had spent $250,000 supporting Mimi Walters as of May 30.[27]
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Internal polls
California's 45th Congressional District | |||||||||||||||||||
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Poll | Poll sponsor | Mimi Walters (R) | Brian Forde (D) | Kia Hamadanchy (D) | Dave Min (D) | Katie Porter (D) | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||
Public Policy Polling (Feb. 20-21, 2018) | Progressive Change Campaign Committee | 42% | 4% | 6% | 12% | 16% | 21% | +/-3.9 | 648 | ||||||||||
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. |
Campaign strategies and tactics
Ideological differences and single-payer healthcare
David Min's opponents criticized him for being less progressive than them, particularly in his approach to healthcare policy.
During the debate over Min's endorsement by the California Democratic Party, Katie Porter said he was too moderate for the endorsement and that he was the preferred candidate of the moderate New Democrat Coalition.[28]
Moreover, Min did not support a federal single-payer health insurance system, while his opponents all did. Katie Porter made it the centerpiece of her campaign.[29]
Paige Hutchinson, Min’s campaign manager responded to questions about his ideology: “Dave is not the candidate who is furthest to the left. Do we think that better represents the district? Yes. No Democrat has won here. It’s a conservative district that’s rapidly changing, but people here care a lot about their taxes, and single payer would be a tremendous tax increase.”[28]
Min told Vox that a single-payer healthcare proposal was “very, very open to political attack" in a district that previously elected Republicans. He also said he was more open to other ways to achieve universal healthcare coverage like a Medicare public option or letting individuals 55 and older buy into Medicare.
He said, “I think there’s a distinction here between goals and means. Single-payer is one way of getting there, but it’s a far leap, and if single-payer becomes a detriment to getting to universal coverage, then I think you’re doing yourself a disservice.”[30]
At a debate in late May, Min said he was open to a single-payer system. According to the Washington Examiner, the change in his position came shortly after the Progressive Change Campaign Committee began running negatives ads against him that highlighted his opposition to single-payer.[31]
Porter's history with domestic abuse
On May 11, the Huffington Post wrote that individuals associated with Dave Min's campaign criticized Katie Porter for legal matters related to her divorce, which involved allegations of domestic abuse against her husband.
Kia Hamadanchy said that Min's campaign spread information about Porter's divorce and said that the details would make Porter unelectable.
Min's campaign responded with the following statement: “Dave won the endorsement of the California Democratic Party by running a positive campaign about the issues. To suggest otherwise is complete and utter nonsense."[32]
Min later wrote the following on Facebook: "Unfortunately, the [Huffington Post] story also falsely claims that Dave’s campaign started a whisper campaign around Katie’s domestic violence experiences in an attempt to win over Democratic Party delegates and win the party’s endorsement. This is absolutely untrue. This claim that we started a whisper campaign was based entirely on speculation by opposing campaigns or their surrogates...In our search, we identified only 4 delegates who heard details of Porter’s divorce. However, these four had not heard about the matter from Dave but rather from Kia Hamadanchy, who is one of the four sources for this story and a rival Democratic candidate. It is unfortunate that these facts were never presented in the story, despite our best efforts to connect the publication with these individuals."[33]
Campaign advertisements
David Min
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Had to grab it so here. pic.twitter.com/VbRZA04qR1
— David Dayen (@ddayen) May 21, 2018
Katie Porter
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Mimi Walters
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Campaign themes and policy stances
Brian Forde
Campaign website
Forde’s campaign website stated the following:
“ |
COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE In Congress, I will fight to: Rejoin the Paris Climate Accord Achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050 Divest of all federal funds from the fossil fuel industry Prevent offshore oil drilling Transition immediately to a clean energy economy that limits global average temperature increase to 1.5–2 C° above pre-industrial levels. PROVIDING A MODERN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM In Congress, I will fight to: Expand Medicare for all – limiting excess spending and curbing cost overages while providing exceptional healthcare for all Americans Create an Open Source Electronic Medical Record system Expand Medicaid and prevent applicants from having to drug test or meet work requirements in order to qualify Expand funding for the NIH and advocate for evidence-based research and practice guidelines Expand WIC, CHIP, and other programs for underserved and marginalized communities Protect Planned Parenthood and expand Title X family planning funding PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE In Congress, I will: Fight efforts to privatize Social Security and leave it vulnerable to the whims of the stock market Resist any attempts to cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or pull money out of Social Security to pay for other government programs Oppose efforts to turn Medicare into a voucher system, leaving the burden of health care on to the backs of seniors Allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices as the Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicaid currently do Demand better transparency from Medicare to diminish fraud and waste PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE From Sandy Hook to San Bernardino, gun violence has impacted far too many in our nation. One in three Americans knows someone who has been shot, including me. It's time we put books before bullets and focus on learning, not lockdowns. It's time we get rid of 18th century laws that do not reflect the reality of dangerous 21st century weapons of war. It's time 60- to 70-year olds in Congress fought the NRA with the tenacity with which 16- and 17-year-olds who cannot legally vote fight. I am proud to be a Moms Demand Action "Gun Sense Candidate of Distinction" and refuse any contributions from the NRA. In Congress, I will fight to: Digitize gun records Demand universal background checks Close the gun show and online loopholes that allow guns to be sold without background checks Create tax incentives and research funds for Gun Safety Technology Ban bump stocks Mandate National Gun Violence Restraining Orders Halt the sale of high-capacity magazines and the AR-15 assault-style rifle used in the Stoneman Douglas shooting Reinstate the Federal Assault Weapons Ban DEFENDING WOMEN'S RIGHTS & HEALTH At the White House, I worked with the Council on Women and Girls to advance women's equality, and diversity in the technology industry. I also helped launch the Department of Labor's Equal Pay App Challenge, an innovative initiative to arm women with the tools to negotiate higher wages. In Congress, I will fight for: Equal Pay for Women – It's been 54 years since President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act and we are still fighting the gender wage gap. I will support the Paycheck Fairness Act to bring women's wages to equal measure with men's. Paid Family Leave Fully funding the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to strengthen the agency's capacity to investigate sexual harassment Individual families maintaining control of decisions about family planning and a women's right to choose Planned Parenthood, a vital organization that provides healthcare for 1 in 3 women in America PASSING COMPASSIONATE IMMIGRATION REFORM As a member of Congress, I will: Support a clean DACA bill that provides a path to citizenship for DREAMers Provide a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million hardworking and tax-paying undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Work to reduce the fraud and abuse of H-1B and L1 visas fraud that enables companies to underpay foreign workers and replace American workers Propose the Keep Families Together Act which will prevent immigration authorities from separating undocumented parents from their children STANDING UP FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS In Congress, I will support: Condemning and fighting the offensive and un-American Trump-Pence transgender troop ban – because those who step up to serve in our military deserve our thanks and respect, not discrimination Strengthening federal and state hate crime laws Funding of federal programs that serve the LGBTQ community and those living with HIV and AIDS Mandating federal workplace protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Enacting federal anti-bullying laws to protect LGBTQ students and support putting into law protections for transgender Americans EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION In Congress, I will fight for: Debt-free college education Improved access to Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math Comprehensive computer science and coding instruction from 1st to 12th grade Pre-K for All Loan forgiveness for public school teachers DEFENDING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY But I also know that 21st century warfare is being fought online. Companies are being hacked, elections are being manipulated, and our electrical grid is vulnerable to attack by foreign governments. In Congress, I will fight to: Put further sanctions on North Korea Put pressure on the President to rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal Increase federal funding for the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) Upgrade our government's technology with a $3B IT Modernization Fund Pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act which would create an independent, bipartisan-appointed commission to investigate foreign interference in the 2016 election and prevent future attacks PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY & DATA Facebook to Equifax – if companies choose to profit off of your data, they have a solemn responsibility to protect your private information from being stolen. Oil companies are responsible for paying for their oil spills – and data companies should be responsible for paying for their data spills. In Congress, I will fight to: Protect all citizens from warrantless data collection Inform citizens about who can access the information that they put on the Internet Defend our constitutional rights to individual privacy Ensure an open and free Internet by supporting legislation to reinstitute net neutrality GROWING A STRONG ECONOMY & JOBS Of course, at the center of a stable economy ought to be a robust middle class – where all children grow up in safe, state-of-the-art schools; where college is affordable and workers are paid a livable wage; where every family has access to quality, affordable health care; and where seniors are guaranteed their benefits after a lifetime of hard work. In Congress, I will: Fight to increase wages and benefits to address the high cost of living in Orange County Support an increase in the minimum wage to $15 and peg it to inflation Expand support for job training programs for veterans Work to grow our investments in alternative and renewable “green energy” that creates 21st century jobs Support expansion of technical and vocational schools, as an alternative to higher education, so students can gain the skills and hands-on experience they need to jump into specialized careers with companies that are ready and eager to hire REFORMING OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM Americans also deserve equal protection under the law. Yet, when minorities are arrested at higher rates than Caucasians, injustice prevails. I believe in safeguarding the civil liberties of all Americans. In Congress, I will: Focus on investing in education, economic growth, and jobs -- investing in opportunity instead of squandering tax dollars building more prisons Fight to diminish the prevalence of extended solitary confinement Support programs that keep children who have been in the juvenile justice system from falling into a lifetime in the prison system Support services that facilitate successful reintegration of inmates into communities Sponsor the Racial Profiling Prevention Act Work to rebuild the civil rights protections broken down by the Trump administration HONORING OUR VETERANS In Congress, I will fight to: Fully fund the Veterans Administration Support all efforts to address the Veterans claims processing backlog Resist efforts by the Trump Administration to privatize the Veterans Administration Propose the G-IT Bill to provide funding to teach coding to returning veterans, to prepare them for leadership roles in the 21st-century economy. This bill would cover computer science degrees at universities, coding boot camps, incentives for businesses to hire G-IT grads, and allow service-members wounded in combat to finish their service attaining a computer science education. ADDRESSING INCOME INEQUALITY In Congress, I will fight to: Repeal the GOP Tax Bill which gives $1.5 trillion gift to large corporations and dramatically increases our deficit Raise the minimum wage to $15 and peg it to inflation Develop a fairer tax code that ensures everyone to pays their fair share SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING In Congress, I will fight to: Strengthen and expand the Housing Credit, to incentivize developers to create more affordable housing in our community Better fund federal rental housing subsidies for individuals and families most at risk for homelessness DEFINE OUR FUTURE Brian's experience and accomplishments have uniquely prepared him to serve in Congress at a time when technology is impacting every part of our lives. Brian has spent his life fighting to reverse climate change because he believes it is an urgent and moral obligation to our future generations to preserve and protect the Earth. He was personally selected by President Obama to lead the Climate Data Initiative, an effort to leverage open government data resources to forge cross-sector partnerships and build tools that will make America's communities more resilient to climate change. Brian believes that science is fact and that technology can be an equalizer and expand opportunity for all. In the Obama White House, he led Tech Hire, a program to broaden the availability of coding bootcamps across the country and provide technology jobs for women, people of color, and veterans. Brian believes that if you served our country, we are forever indebted to you for your service. That's why he will propose a new "G-IT" Bill that would retrain veterans and prepare them for leadership roles in the 21st-century economy. The bill would cover computer science degrees at universities, incentivize businesses to hire G-IT grads, and allow service-members wounded in combat to finish their service by attaining a computer science degree or completing coding bootcamps. [34] |
” |
—Brian Forde’s campaign website (2018)[35] |
Response to Ballotpedia
Forde provided the following description of his political philosophy to Ballotpedia:
“ | Americans are looking for new leaders — people who understand where they’re coming from and actually want to get things done.
As an entrepreneur, technologist, and policymaker, I’ve spent my entire career finding ways to bring government policies and business models into the 21st century – making them serve people the way they expect and deserve to be served. Our values are being challenged by an Administration hell-bent on taking us back to the injustices of the past, our full time jobs are turning into gigs, and our gigs are being automated out of existence. At this unique moment in history we have a choice. We can define our future or we can be defined by it. I choose to define it.[36][34] |
” |
—Brian Forde, 2018 |
Kia Hamadanchy
Hamadanchy’s campaign website stated the following:
“ |
HEALTHCARE The United States of America spends more on healthcare than any industrialized country in the world. Despite all this spending, we lag far behind other nations when it comes to healthcare quality, access, and outcomes. That needs to change. While the Affordable Care Act was an important step in the right direction, there is still a great deal of work to be done. More needs to be done to decrease the costs of copays, deductibles, premiums, and prescription drugs. I strongly believe that we should not take away healthcare from 22 million Americans or remove protections from those with a preexisting condition as Mimi Walters has voted to do. IMMIGRATION We need comprehensive immigration reform that includes a full and equal path to citizenship, which would bring millions of undocumented immigrants out of the shadows. It would also mean the creation of a guest worker program that would create a path for immigrants to come to this country temporarily when there is a demonstrated economic need. I strongly support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and oppose all efforts to put an end to the program. I support protecting families with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by ensuring them a path to citizenship and I will work to end family detention and the use of private immigration detention facilities. The Trump Administration has routinely targeted California’s immigrant communities and has unfairly labeled them as criminals and freeloaders. This blatant xenophobia is un-American. In Congress, I will be a voice for our immigrant neighbors, I will oppose the addition of a citizenship question on the census, and I will work to abolish the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement known as ICE. This organization, founded only in 2003, is unnecessary for border protection and routinely abuses its power by detaining law-abiding Americans and ripping California families apart in the process. Furthermore, I oppose efforts in Orange County to eliminate sanctuary policies for local families. We need to focus on protecting families, respecting each other regardless of our country of origin, and standing up to far-right extremists like Donald Trump. CAMPAIGN FINANCE A constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United and allowing Congress to set reasonable regulations on political donations. Requiring all “dark money” groups to disclose both their donors and their spending when engaged in activity meant to influence a federal election. Requiring all publicly traded companies to disclose their campaign spending to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Reforming the Federal Election Commission so that it is empowered to actually enforce our campaign finance laws. Establishing a small donor public matching system for all federal elections. Strengthening the rules that prohibit coordination between candidates and Super PACs. FIXING A BROKEN POLITICAL SYSTEM Applying federal conflict of interest laws to the President and Vice President. Banning lobbyists from engaging in political fundraising and bundling. A lifetime ban on lobbying for members of Congress and a five-year ban for senior congressional and executive branch staff. Changing the definition of who qualifies as a lobbyist by removing the loophole that allows one to avoid registering if they spend less than 20 percent of their time lobbying. Addressing the “revolving door” issue in our government by: Prohibiting government appointees from participating in any matters involving their former employers or clients for two years. Prohibiting any government appointees from working for any private entities that have benefited from any policy decisions they have made for at least two years. Prohibiting campaign donors and bundlers from being appointed as ambassadors. An end to partisan gerrymandering. VETERANS Ending veterans homelessness. Robust funding for veteran education benefits and regulations to ensure that veterans aren’t preyed upon by unscrupulous for-profit education companies. Combating veteran suicide and improving access to mental health options. Making sure veterans get the healthcare they deserve and have earned. Assistance for veterans transitioning from military life to civilian life. Standing up for undocumented veterans who served this country and are fighting deportation. Restoring VA and other service benefits for veterans who were dishonorably discharged for being gay. ENVIRONMENT Many people move to Orange County because of our natural beauty. Whether it’s surfing, hiking, swimming, jogging, or simply strolling through the park, you can find many residents of our district outside. That is why, as your Member of Congress, I will fight to protect our local environment. I will always stand in opposition to offshore drilling along Orange County’s coastline. I will advocate for new regulations aimed at preserving our national parks. I will support and sponsor legislation to keep our water and our air clean. FIGHTING FOR WORKING FAMILIES Raising the minimum wage to $15 dollars an hour and ensuring that it keeps pace with inflation. Addressing the fact that the United States is the only developed nation in the world that does not mandate paid sick and family leave. Working families deserve to know they will have the dignity and peace of mind to deal with unforeseen health issues or family issues and to take the time to be with their newborn child. Mandating that employees have advance notice of their schedules. Stopping wage theft. Access to affordable and quality childcare. Investing in early childhood education. Making sure that everyone can save for retirement by expanding savings programs. Job training and support for workers displaced because of globalization or automation. ECONOMY This means investing in America and in our workforce. It starts with a serious investment in infrastructure that will repair our country’s crumbling roads, bridges, and waterways, while also creating thousands of jobs. It means identifying opportunities to improve public transportation to alleviate the many traffic and congestion issues that we have in Orange County. The federal government must dramatically increase the money we invest in science, especially when it comes to medical research and clean energy technology. We once led the world when it came to government investment in research and development, and we must do so again. Our economy has always been strongest when it is based on innovation, and we must ensure that we are laying the groundwork for success. As the son of small business owners, I understand the important role that small businesses play in our economy. Starting your own business is the culmination of the American dream and we must make certain that entrepreneurs have the tools to thrive in our economy. This includes ensuring that people have access to the capital needed to both start and expand their businesses. It means a fair system that discourages monopolistic practices and that gives small businesses the opportunity to compete with larger corporations. Finally, I believe that it is important to protect consumers from those who seek to take advantage of them. Business should be free to compete, but they must also operate transparently and ethically. The financial crisis was a demonstration of how predatory and deceptive activity by corporations could have a devastating impact. In Congress, I will always fight to protecting consumers and their rights. TAX REFORM Real tax reform should also involve making it easier for both individuals and small businesses to actually file their taxes. Because you shouldn’t need a CPA to be able to understand your taxes or have to rely on tax preparers to be able to file them. Individual taxpayers should have the option of being able to avoid filing any kind of tax return at all by having the IRS gather all relevant information, compute how much in taxes are owed, and put all that information on a postcard that is sent to for verification for everyone who opts in. WOMEN’S RIGHTS Kia is unwavering in his support for a woman’s right to choose and believes that it is never the government’s place to get between a woman and her doctor. He believes that our belief in individual rights and freedoms means that no one has the right to make reproductive decisions for any woman. He also strongly supports increasing access to contraception and will proudly stand with Planned Parenthood. Finally we must address violence against women. Campus sexual assault remains far too prevalent in our country and more must be done to combat and end the problem. We must provide more resources and support for those who have been assaulted, require minimum training standards for those who handle these cases, accurate reporting as to the extent of the problem, a uniform process for discipline, and real penalties for universities who violate Title IX. Sexual assault in the military is also far too common and reforms must be made, including taking the reporting and prosecution of these crimes outside the chain of command. K-12 EDUCATION To close the achievement gap, it is essential Congress increases funding for Title I to make sure schools have the resources needed to be successful. I also support expanding the use of Promise Neighborhoods and Community Schools which have a comprehensive and holistic approach in helping students. These programs take into account the many things – inside and outside of the classroom – that go into a student’s success. We need to make sure we are offering the right support outside of the classroom so that each and every student has the ability to reach their highest potential. Congress needs to do more for teachers than just give lip service. I believe that we need to pay teachers a higher salary to retain the best talent and we must ensure that our public and private teachers and schools from preschool through college are provided with the resources they need so, in turn, they can provide our children with the most comprehensive learning environments. Parents deserve to know there are standards set for helping them to move their children forward so society as a whole can prosper. The United States has always been at the forefront of creativity and innovation, but globally we’re beginning to lag behind. As a nation, we must renew our commitment to STEM fields. I believe this starts with providing educational environments at an early age to our children to ensure their thinking and learning abilities are nurtured and fostered. We must continue to invest strongly in early childhood education that emphasizes technology and science. The future of the world economy will revolve around these fields and our children must be fully prepared so they can compete. We must also help to ensure high school students are prepared to flourish whether they choose to pursue a traditional four-year degree, vocational training, or something else entirely. Congress must support high schools in their efforts to expand access to vocational training and employment services. Doing so will let students understand the wide variety of options available and encourage them to pursue the fields best suited to their passions, needs, and abilities. As a staff member on the US Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and in the office of Senator Sherrod Brown I’ve worked to ensure our schools are properly funded and I led the effort to crack down on fraudulent corporate Charter school organizations which were fleecing taxpayers and hurting students. For our public schools to thrive, and for our teachers and students to succeed, they must be provided a level playing field and Congress must work in their favor. It’s clear as day: students and teachers need better representation. I want to be their champion in Congress. HOUSING I believe that federal government must work in concert with the state of California and local governments to take steps to incentivize an increase in the supply of housing and ensure that we are building housing across new developments to accommodate a wide variety of incomes and household types. California has a severe shortage of housing and new construction has quite simply failed to keep up with demand. More housing is needed and it needs to be high density and near both public transportation and employment centers to minimize driving and reduce both traffic and pollution. SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE HIGHER EDUCATION I favor taking the following additional steps in support of students and current student debt holders: Allowing student debt holders to refinance their loans at current rates. Making student loan debt dischargeable in bankruptcy. Aggressively cracking down on predatory institutions in the for-profit sector that are ripping off both students and taxpayers. Expand Pell Grants and index the maximum grant to inflation. Automatically enroll borrowers into income-based repayment plans if they fall behind on student loan payments. CIVIL RIGHTS LGBTQ Rights – I strongly support passage of the Equality Act, because I believe that no one should be fired or discriminated against in any way because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. I oppose Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and would introduce legislation to overturn it. Finally, I support a federal ban on conversion therapy. Voting Rights – There is no right more fundamental than the right to vote and America should do whatever it can to make it easier not harder to vote. We are the only advanced democracy in the world where efforts are actively underway to make voting more difficult. I believe that has to change. Criminal Justice Reform – The war on drugs has been a complete and abject failure and it is time to put an end for it and for new approaches when it comes to our criminal justice system and put an end to mass incarceration. As currently constituted we have a criminal justice system that only reinforces America’s history of racism and economic inequality. Police Violence – We must do more as a nation to ensure that justice is delivered for all Americans regardless of race and that means that a great deal of work must be done to build trust and accountability between law enforcement and the communities that serve. That is why I support establishment of a national use of force standard, strengthening federal civil rights laws, data transparency regarding the number of incidences of use of force by the police, a federal prohibition on racial profiling, reversing Donald Trump’s decision to lift the ban on providing military gear to local police, increasing the use of body cameras, and reforming civil asset forfeiture. COMMON SENSE GUN POLICY In the US Senate, I worked extensively on common sense gun policy, only to watch Republicans kill every good piece of legislation that came before them. I’m running to replace one of those impediments, Congresswoman Mimi Walters, and to make gun safety a priority, because I truly believe that a failure to act only puts more lives on the line. We must act and we must act now. That is why I support: Closing the gun show loophole and ensuring that every single person who wishes to buy a firearm in this country submits to a background check. Banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines. Lifting the restriction that prevents the government from funding research that explores the causes and effects of gun violence. Creating a federal database to track gun sales. Restoring the Obama Administration’s rule that would have made it harder for those with a mental illness to buy a firearm. Preventing anyone convicted of domestic violence or abuse from possessing or having access to a firearm. Repealing the Tiahrt Amendment which limits law enforcement’s ability to investigate gun crimes and prosecute gun dealers. Properly funding the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives so that they actually have the resources they need to enforce the gun laws already in existence. Investing in smart gun technology. Making real investments in mental health. Almost two-thirds of all gun deaths are suicides. We, as a country, continue to fail to invest in helping those with mental health issues and in making sure they do not have easy access to firearms that they can use to do harm to themselves and others. DISABILITY RIGHTS FOREIGN POLICY Rebuild and strengthen our relationships with European and NATO allies. Address the role that Russia played in our election and to put together a real plan to combat cyber attacks and influences on our nation. Come up with a plan to fight ISIS, both at home and abroad. Address the Syrian civil war, which is a humanitarian crisis. I do not believe the United States should send ground troops to Syria. Actually try to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as opposed to putting Jared Kushner in charge of the problem. Uphold the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Iran Deal, which is strongly supported by the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus, represents the best path of stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and preventing a war. End the war in Afghanistan. Implement trade deals that allow our workers to compete on a level playing field and which have enforceable labor and environmental standards. |
” |
—Kia Hamadanchy’s campaign website (2018)[37] |
David Min
Campaign website
Min’s campaign website stated the following:
“ |
Healthcare: I believe healthcare is a human right, and that we should be working towards a system in which everyone has healthcare coverage. Since I began my campaign in April, I’ve talked with thousands of residents of CA-45, and I’ve found that almost all of us share the same goals when it comes to healthcare reform—we want broader (ideally universal) coverage, cheaper rates, affordable copayments and prescription drugs, and a system that emphasizes primary care and prevention (as opposed to waiting until emergency care is needed). Of course, I will oppose efforts to cut Medicare and Medicaid, as Donald Trump and Mimi Walters have proposed (over $4 trillion in cuts were proposed in the latest House budget), and will work to strengthen and protect these lifeline programs. But this is not enough. We should explore every possible opportunity to achieve universal healthcare coverage. In the near term, this includes extending Medicare to those 55 and older, allowing all Americans the option to buy into Medicare or some other public option at an affordable price, and expanding the Children’s Health Insurance Program. I also believe we need to empower Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. If elected to Congress, I will fight to reform our healthcare system so that it achieves these policy goals. We need a system that allows all of us—children, parents, grandparents, veterans, students—to sleep better at night knowing that a catastrophic accident or illness won’t bankrupt our families. Preventing Gun Violence: Proud to have earned the Moms Demand Action Candidate Distinction. There are 33,000 gun deaths each year in the United States. Restrictions on gun access for domestic abusers, the mentally ill, those on the terrorist watch list—these are all common-sense gun reforms that we must get behind as a country. My wife Jane runs the Domestic Violence Clinic at UCI’s Law School, and has seen first-hand what happens when we fail to pass legislation that protects our most vulnerable populations. We must do better. Instead of trying to reduce the horrific toll of gun violence, Mimi Walters has cosponsored the Concealed Carry Reciprocity bill, which would actually override California’s own common-sense restrictions on who can carry weapons in public. I believe this bill is a threat to public safety. My wife Jane and I wrote more about our opposition to this bill in an Orange County Register op-ed. We should treat gun violence as public health issue, and use data to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from gun violence. This means adequate funding for research on the issue, which has far too often been blocked by the gun lobby. Mimi Walters has an A rating from the National Rifle Association and has consistently voted against reforms that would save lives. Immigration: I want my children to grow up in an America that represents the core values that drew my parents, and millions of immigrants just like them, to this country: the values of inclusion, diversity, and economic opportunity. I am fundamentally opposed to Donald Trump’s travel ban, and any other immigration policies that discriminate against people based on their race, religion, or national origin, and believe that such policies are contrary to the spirit and the letter of our nation’s Constitution and its laws. I also believe that Trump’s other immigration policies are a wasteful and immoral use of our tax dollars. Building a wall across our entire border with Mexico makes no sense when our own roads and bridges are in disrepair. As a practical matter, we don’t have the resources to enforce against all violations of our immigration laws, so we need to be smarter about how we spend federal tax dollars. Indiscriminate deportations break up families, increase crime, and heighten distrust of law enforcement in immigrant communities. At the same time, we ought to ensure that there is some pathway to citizenship in place for undocumented immigrants who are productive and law-abiding members of our society, especially those who were brought over at a young age and grew up here. I strongly oppose Trump’s decision to unilaterally end DACA and would do all I can to protect these young people, who are American in all but official status. My ultimate goal is an immigration policy that is both humane and efficiently uses our resources. Climate Change: This is the defining issue of our lifetimes, and we must take action. I support measures to begin immediately limiting carbon emissions. There is a scientific consensus that climate change is real, manmade, and potentially an existential threat, and so we must take that consensus seriously and stop denying basic, proven facts. We owe it to our children and future generations to take immediate and significant steps to curb the acceleration of climate change that we are seeing. At a bare minimum, we must reverse course on Donald Trump’s reckless decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and the EPA’s decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan. But we must also take more proactive steps. I support tax incentives to encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency; and government investment in research into breakthrough technologies such as batteries that could dramatically shift our energy use away from fossil fuels. America did not become the greatest economy on earth by looking backwards. The clean energy revolution is well underway. When it comes to energy, this administration is stuck in the 19th century, while other nations such as China are racing ahead into the future. The energy transition, if we take advantage of it, is not only a moral imperative but an enormous economic opportunity. Education: Investing in the future. Education is one of my top priorities for domestic spending. I believe we should significantly increase federal investments in education at the primary, secondary, and university levels. I support efforts to achieve universal pre-K, which studies have shown to lead to not only better educational outcomes but better adult health. I believe college should be debt-free, like it used to be, when a student working a part-time job could pay off her college costs and graduate with minimal or no debt. I support the expansion of existing federal programs offering student loan forgiveness. I also believe we must be more creative in developing new relief programs for students burdened by debt, as we’re facing a potential student loan crisis in the coming years. Having worked in public policy during the 2007-08 mortgage crisis, I am all too aware of the problems that debt can create, not just for struggling households but also for the broader economy. Federal education funding should not be tied to any requirements related to “school choice” or charter schools. I oppose efforts to use taxpayer money to fund private schools (i.e., charter schools and vouchers). Women's Issues: Protecting women’s health care and autonomy. The government should not be regulating the personal healthcare decisions of its citizens, and that includes women and their reproductive health. I oppose efforts to reduce funding to Planned Parenthood and the essential health care services it provides. I also believe strongly that we should take steps to ensure that women are treated more fairly across our society, including in their healthcare and in the workplace. On healthcare, in addition to supporting bills such as the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which would have cut funding for Planned Parenthood, Mimi Walters has specifically voted against maternity coverage, maternity leave, pregnancy leave, and a ban on gender-based insurance price discrimination. She has also voted against workplace protections for women and against laws preventing gender-based wage discrimination. I think she was wrong in all of these votes, and would seek to protect and further advance policies that seek to establish a level playing field for all Americans, regardless of their gender. LGBTQ Equality: Fundamental and non-negotiable. Supporting LGBTQ rights is a fundamental, non-negotiable issue for me, both because many of my friends throughout my life have been (or later became) part of the LGBTQ community, and because as a moral matter, I believe the government’s role should be to facilitate the ability of ALL its citizens to seek happiness and NOT to promote or support discrimination. When elected, I promise to fight to reverse the Trump administration’s attacks on the LGBTQ community, and to be a strong advocate for anti-discrimination legislation like the Fair and Equal Housing Act and federal funding of initiatives to support the LGBTQ community. Another legislative priority of mine will be comprehensive, inclusive immigration reform. One-third of the 1 million LGBTQ adult immigrants are undocumented. I will stand up for DREAMers and work to keep families from being torn apart. Economic Policy: Creating good-paying jobs that support a middle class standard of living. I’ve devoted my career to the goal of building an economy that works for people of all backgrounds. As a young lawyer at the SEC, as a senior Congressional advisor, as a policy director at the Center for American Progress, and as a law professor at UC Irvine, I’ve fought for nearly two decades to protect hard-working Americans by making our economy and our markets operate better and more fairly for everyone. I strongly believe in investing in priorities that have long-term value, to ensure a better future for the children of Orange County. As a nation, we need to invest in education, environmental protection, infrastructure, scientific research, and other areas that produce long-term benefits for all of us. Too often, we’ve abandoned our obligations to “pay it forward” to future generations. It’s time to reverse course, and start to put meaningful resources back into these priorities, creating more jobs for Orange County residents in the near term and restoring the foundations of the American Dream in the longer term. We need to explore various policy solutions that will help reduce the steep income and wealth inequality that threatens the stability and well-being of the United States. This includes improving and, where appropriate, expanding (rather than eliminating, as the House GOP has proposed) the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010. I also support efforts to strengthen the ability of workers to join together and collectively bargain for their employment contracts, to help address the asymmetric bargaining power held by large employers. We must proactively support the formation of small businesses and enable them to flourish. Small businesses in Orange County are a major engine of economic growth and job creation. I support the expansion of existing federal tax credit and business loan programs targeted at small businesses. Campaign Finance Reform Foreign Policy/Trade |
” |
—David Min’s campaign website (2018)[38] |
Response to Ballotpedia
In an email to Ballotpedia, Min listed the following campaign themes:
“ | Dave is running for Congress to create a better America for the children of Orange County—one that reflects our core values of diversity, tolerance, and opportunity that drew his parents and millions of others like them to this country in search of a better life. Dave will stand up to Donald Trump and his reckless and senseless policies, and will work tirelessly to create an economy that works for everyone so all Orange County families can prosper.[34] | ” |
—Dave Min (2018)[39] |
Katie Porter
Porter’s campaign website stated the following:
“ |
Medicare For All Women's Health Common Sense Gun Reform Reversing the Tax Bill Immigration Environment Public Education |
” |
—Katie Porter’s campaign website (2018)[40] |
Mimi Walters
Walters' campaign website stated the following:
“ |
Debt and Taxes In Congress, I am working to reduce taxes on all wage earners and job-creating businesses. Bloated government agencies must learn to operate more like businesses. The debt is a spending problem, not a tax problem. I voted for a balanced budget resolution that forces Washington to live within its means. The budget provides for a strong national defense, repeals Obamacare, strengthens and protects Medicare and Social Security for our seniors, and most importantly, balances in ten years without putting a single cent on the backs of taxpayers My work for taxpayers and fiscally responsible approach to government has earned me the support of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Immigration Secure the Border Help Dreamers Reform Chain Migration End the Diversity Lottery National Security Defeating ISIS and stopping the spread of Islamist ideology must be our highest priority. The terrorist attacks in Europe and here in the U.S. cannot continue. I support an aggressive frontal approach that seeks out and destroys the terrorists where they live and an American foreign policy that puts the interests of our nation and our allies first. I voted to increase the pay for our troops and to hold bureaucrats accountable for their mistreatment of veterans. The legislation I voted for also improves access to healthcare for our current service members, veterans, and their families and takes several necessary steps to prevent sexual assault in the military by improving the reporting process and enhancing victims’ rights. As the daughter of a U.S. Marine, I will never waiver in my support for the men and women who defend our nation and keep us free. |
” |
—Mimi Walters' campaign website (2018)[41] |
Noteworthy events
Dave Min endorsed by California Democratic Party
Dave Min received the endorsement of the California Democratic Party on February 25, 2018. He received the support of 30 of 50 District 45delegates, which passed the 60 percent barrier required for an endorsement.
Because he received between 60 and 66 percent of the vote, California Democratic Party rules allowed his opponents to gather 300 signatures and have the entire state convention debate the endorsement.
According to The Intercept, Min and his campaign workers attempted to prevent his rivals from obtaining the 300 signatures, but they were obtained and Min's supporters and opponents were able to debate his endorsement on the floor of the convention.
During the full convention session, state party Chairman Eric Bauman called for a vote on Min's nomination and determined that he won by voice vote.[28]
Republican district won by Hillary Clinton
This district was one of 25 Republican-held U.S. House districts that Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election.[42] Nearly all were expected to be among the House's most competitive elections in 2018.
Click on the table below to see the full list of districts.
Click here to see the 13 Democratic-held U.S. House districts that Donald Trump (R) won.
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+3, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 3 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made California's 45th Congressional District the 211th most Republican nationally.[47]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.95. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.95 points toward that party.[48]
State overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in California heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2016 elections, Democrats held both U.S. Senate seats in California.
- Democrats held 39 of 53 U.S. House seats in California.
State executives
- As of May 2018, Democrats held seven of 10 state executive positions and the remaining three positions were officially nonpartisan.
- The governor of California was Democrat Jerry Brown.
State legislature
- Democrats controlled both chambers of the California State Legislature. They had a 55-25 majority in the state Assembly and a 27-13 majority in the state Senate.
Trifecta status
- California was a state government trifecta, meaning that Democrats held the governorship and majorities in the state house and state senate.
2018 elections
- See also: California elections, 2018
California held elections for the following positions in 2018:
- 1 Senate seat
- 53 U.S. House seats
- Governor
- Seven other state executive positions
- 20 of 40 state Senate seats
- 80 state Assembly seats
- Two state Supreme Court justices
- 35 state Court of Appeals judges
- Local trial court judges
- School board members
Demographics
Demographic data for California | ||
---|---|---|
California | U.S. | |
Total population: | 38,993,940 | 316,515,021 |
Land area (sq mi): | 155,779 | 3,531,905 |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White: | 61.8% | 73.6% |
Black/African American: | 5.9% | 12.6% |
Asian: | 13.7% | 5.1% |
Native American: | 0.7% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander: | 0.4% | 0.2% |
Two or more: | 4.5% | 3% |
Hispanic/Latino: | 38.4% | 17.1% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate: | 81.8% | 86.7% |
College graduation rate: | 31.4% | 29.8% |
Income | ||
Median household income: | $61,818 | $53,889 |
Persons below poverty level: | 18.2% | 11.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. |
As of July 2016, California had a population of approximately 39,000,000 people, with its three largest cities being Los Angeles (pop. est. 4.0 million), San Diego (pop. est. 1.4 million), and San Jose (pop. est. 1 million).[49][50]
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in California from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the California Secretary of State.
Historical elections
Presidential elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the presidential election in California every year from 2000 to 2016.
Election results (President of the United States), California 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2016 | ![]() |
61.7% | ![]() |
31.6% | 30.1% |
2012 | ![]() |
60.2% | ![]() |
37.1% | 23.1% |
2008 | ![]() |
61.1% | ![]() |
37% | 24.1% |
2004 | ![]() |
54.4% | ![]() |
44.4% | 10% |
2000 | ![]() |
53.5% | ![]() |
41.7% | 11.8% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in California from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
Election results (U.S. Senator), California 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2016 | ![]() |
61.6% | ![]() |
38.4% | 23.2% |
2012 | ![]() |
62.5% | ![]() |
37.5% | 25% |
2010 | ![]() |
52.2% | ![]() |
42.2% | 10% |
2006 | ![]() |
59.5% | ![]() |
35.1% | 24.4% |
2004 | ![]() |
57.8% | ![]() |
37.8% | 20% |
2000 | ![]() |
55.9% | ![]() |
36.6% | 19.3% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in California.
Election results (Governor), California 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2014 | ![]() |
60% | ![]() |
40% | 20% |
2010 | ![]() |
53.8% | ![]() |
40.9% | 12.9% |
2006 | ![]() |
55.9% | ![]() |
39.0% | 16.9% |
2002 | ![]() |
47.3% | ![]() |
42.4% | 4.9% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent California in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
Trifectas, 1992-2017
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
California Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty years with Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Assembly | D | D | D | S | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2018
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2018
- United States Senate elections, 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Cook Political Report, "House: Democrats Risk Disaster in California's Top Two Primaries," May 2, 2018
- ↑ IVN, "Orange County’s “Bitcoin Candidate” Wants to Represent Disruptive Tech in Congress," April 19, 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 California Secretary of State, "Election dates and resources," accessed January 31, 2018
- ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Phone conversation with the California Secretary of State's Office," January 31, 2018
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Politico, "Democrats bank on millennials," May 25, 2018
- ↑ Bloomberg, "The Crypto Candidate for Congress," February 8, 2018
- ↑ Brian Forde for Congress, "Issues," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ Orange County Register, "Republicans-turned-Democrats challenging O.C. GOP Congress members," July 19, 2017
- ↑ Brian Forde for Congress, "About," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Huffington Post, "Meet the 31-Year-Old Determined to Be the First Iranian-American Elected to Congress," October 16, 2017
- ↑ Kia Hamadanchy for Congress, "About," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Dave Min gets Democratic endorsement for Congress after intense fight on the convention floor," February 25, 2018
- ↑ Dave Min for Congress, "Why I'm Running," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ Dave Min for Congress, "Issues," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ Orange County Register, "Dave Min, a UC Irvine law professor, will challenge Rep. Mimi Walters," April 5, 2017
- ↑ Katie Porter for Congress, "About," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ Mimi Walters for Congress, "Issues," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ Bloomberg, "Republican Candidates Face a Dilemma on Trump," February 18, 2018
- ↑ Republican Main Street Partnership, "About," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ Ballotpedia's Elections Team, “Email communication with Mike Stern," Communications Director for Brian Forde For Congress (CA-45), March 27, 2018
- ↑ Ballotpedia's Elections Team, “Email communication with Caron S. Berkley, Communications Director, Brian Forde for Congress," May 1, 2018
- ↑ Kia Hamadanchy for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ Dave Min for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed March 9, 2018
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Erica Kwiatkowski, Campaign Manager Katie Porter for Congress," January 17, 2018
- ↑ Mimi Walters for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed May 10, 2018
- ↑ FEC, "Federal Election Commission," accessed November 5, 2017
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 27.6 27.7 ProPublica, "California’s 45th District House Race - 2018 cycle," May 30, 2018
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 The Intercept, "THE STORY BEHIND THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVENTION’S FLOOR FRACAS," February 27, 2018
- ↑ Ozy, "THE QUESTION DIVIDING CALIFORNIA'S DEMOCRATS," November 21, 2017
- ↑ Vox, "Single-payer’s big test: can Medicare-for-all win in competitive House districts?" June 1, 2018
- ↑ Washington Examiner, "Liberals battle Democratic establishment in California swing district," May 31, 2018
- ↑ Huffington Post, "Katie Porter Survived Domestic Abuse, Only To Have It Used Against Her In Her Campaign," May 11, 2018
- ↑ Facebook, "Dave Min for Congress," May 12, 2018
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 34.5 34.6 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Brian Ford for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Kia Hamadanchy for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
- ↑ David Min for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
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- ↑ Katie Porter for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
- ↑ Mimi Walters for Congress, “Issues,” accessed May 29, 2018
- ↑ This figure includes Pennsylvania districts that were redrawn by the state Supreme Court in early 2018 and districts that flipped in special elections.
- ↑ The new 1st district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 8th District held by Fitzpatrick. Click here to read more.
- ↑ The new 5th district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 7th District held by Meehan. Click here to read more.
- ↑ The new 6th district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 6th District held by Costello. Click here to read more.
- ↑ The new 7th district was created in early 2018 due to court-ordered redistricting and most closely resembles the old 15th District held by Dent. Click here to read more.
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ California Demographics, "California Cities by Population," accessed April 2, 2018
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Quickfacts California," accessed April 2, 2018