David Mandel

David Mandel (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 7th Congressional District. He lost in the primary on March 5, 2024.

Mandel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

David Mandel was born in Chicago, Illinois, and lives in Sacramento, California. Mandel earned a bachelor's degree from New York University in 1974 and a law degree from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1984. His career experience includes working as an activist, an attorney, and a magazine and newspaper editor.^[1] Mandel has been affiliated with Sacramento Jewish Voice for Peace and Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestine.^[2]

Elections

2024

California's 7th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 7

Incumbent Doris Matsui defeated Tom Silva in the general election for U.S. House California District 7 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Doris Matsui (D)	66.8	197,429
	Tom Silva (R)	33.2	98,341

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 295,770
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 7

Incumbent Doris Matsui and Tom Silva defeated David Mandel in the primary for U.S. House California District 7 on March 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Doris Matsui (D)	56.5	89,485
✔	Tom Silva (R)	30.9	48,943
	David Mandel (D)	12.7	20,057

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 158,485
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Max Semenenko (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Mandel in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

David Mandel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mandel's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A Sacramentan since 1985, I have been involved for more than five decades as a participant and organizer in struggles for justice and peace in the United States and abroad. An elected member of the state and county Democratic Party central committees, I have led efforts to pass resolutions, legislative stances and platform planks supporting Palestinian human rights while also working alongside fellow progressives on worker rights, single-payer healthcare, greatly expanded affordable housing, stopping climate change, ending racism, patriarchy and predatory capitalism, and getting dirty money out of politics, among other priorities. I am not a career politician, but for decades I’ve been an advocate for honesty, peace and social justice, as a partner, father and grandparent, in my work as a journalist and an attorney for the disadvantaged and oppressed, and as a dedicated volunteer with numerous organizations carrying on the fight for a better world. I have campaigned for many like-minded candidates will work to mobilize the best parts of the movements they inspired, joining with the growing number in Congress determined to create a better country and world, while I continue to help building people’s movements in our neighborhoods, at workplaces and in the streets.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Ceasefire Now! Freedom & Justicefor All Palestinians: Use U.S. leverage to enforce an immediate, permanent cease-fire in Gaza, enabling negotiations to free all Israeli hostages and all Palestinian political prisoners, many being held without charges or evidence. Rush massive humanitarian aid to Gaza, then employ multilateral diplomacy to rebuild it. Demand self-determination for Palestinians, full human rights under international law, and an end Israeli occupation and apartheid with military “aid” and diplomatic backing against the will of most of the world. Use diplomacy to insist on full equality for all and restorative justice to bring peace and safety to Israeli Jews and Palestinians alike.
Environment & Climate: Commit to aggressive environmental protection and climate change initiatives, including transitioning to renewable energy, ending fracking, and advocating for sustainable, environmentally responsible trade policies. End our dependence on fossil fuels and break the influence of the energy lobby. Promote sustainable trade based on environmental responsibility. Address the environmental impact of militarism.
Healthcare for & All Public Health: Recognize healthcare as a fundamental human right, pushing for universal, single-payer healthcare systems, and restructuring the healthcare sector to prioritize public health over profit. Bring down the cost medication and regulate the for-profit pharmacudical industry. Restructure the healthcare sector to prioritize public health.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I personally have been passionate about peace for Israeli Jews and Palestinians and working towards this goal for decades. join the demand – supported by a large majority of Americans -- for an immediate cease-fire and massive amounts of humanitarian aid, to be followed by a diplomatic process to ensure self-determination, equality, human rights, restorative justice and safety for Palestinians and Israeli Jews alike.

I am not a career politician, but for decades I’ve been an advocate for honesty, peace and social justice, as a partner, father and grandparent, in my work as a journalist and an attorney for the disadvantaged and oppressed, and as a dedicated volunteer with numerous organizations carrying on the fight for a better world. I have campaigned for many like-minded candidates will work to mobilize the best parts of the movements they inspired, joining with the growing number in Congress determined to create a better country and world, while I continue to help building people’s movements in our neighborhoods, at workplaces and in the streets.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

At the moment, I most look up to Bernie Sanders. Though I don't agree with everything he’s done and every stance he takes, he has been an important voice of conscience and clarity in a time of rampant corruption and abuse of power. For many progressives and leftists, young and old, the Bernie Sanders campaign was the first time they felt that it was possible to have a President (and a government on the whole) that might represent the will of the people without being held to corporate interests. I plan to carry that torch, to be an unwavering voice for justice and progress, and provide solidarity not only to my fellow progressives in Congress but to every American.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The most important characteristics for an elected official are honesty, transparency, and an unwavering dedication to the interests of the working people.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I would be a successful representative because of my curiosity, persistence, and commitment to service. I have an innate appetite for learning about issues and how they affect people firsthand, delving into the details and seeking the full picture so I can fight for solutions that not only solve the problem, but serve the needs of those most impacted. I have a track record of being a persistent fighter for justice in my work as a journalist, as an attorney for the disadvantaged and oppressed, and as a dedicated volunteer with numerous organizations carrying on the fight for a better world.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember when I was 5 years old, my parents sat me down in front of the TV where some old man was droning on and on. Later I realized that this was the inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first serious job was as a typesetter my junior and senior years of college. I worked at that job for around 18 months, and it helped spark my passion for journalism and speaking truth to power.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Usually it's whatever Beethoven quartet I've played lately!

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

I believe that the United States' greatest challenge in the next decade will be mobilizing to aggressively take action to prevent climate catastrophe for America and the world. Every other struggle, from the fight for racial equality to pursuing international peace, is intertwined in the fight for our climate. In one of Bernie Sanders' early debates in 2016, he was asked what the biggest security challenge facing the United States was. While other candidates answered Russia, China, or terrorism, Bernie answered "climate catastrophe". I agree wholeheartedly. We cannot have a safe and secure state while our lands are eroding, natural disasters destroy entire communities, and increasingly scarce water and arable land lead to violent clashes.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I plan to model myself after Representative Rashida Tlaib. She stands as a beacon in the darkness and a leading voice of moral clarity on all issues of human rights, including calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Last June, I, along with 100 Jewish Voice for Peace members from around the country visited Washington to lobby for, among other things, the Palestinian Children and Families act, which would stop U.S. funds from being used to arrest kids, demolish homes and support illegal settlements; against a number of measures that falsely label criticism of Israel as antisemitism; and for a resolution recognizing the historical fact of the Nakba – the expulsion of most Palestinians from what became Israel in 1948. It has continued ever since, now more horrifically than ever before, in Gaza. My meetings on our lobby day were with California members and staff, butI was back in the area a couple of days later and decided to see if I could meet the person who I consider my my real representative -- who truly represents my interests: Rashida Tlaib. To my good fortune, she took the time to chat for 15 minutes or so, about Palestine, politics, and our families. I came out starstruck.

There are plenty of causes to fight for in Washington: Green New Deal, healthcare, housing, education as human rights for all, cut the military budget progressive tax policy … and much more. Rashida is leading on all of these issues too, and I plan to join her. I will stand beside Rashida Tlaib in her fight for justice, freedom, and dignity for every living human being.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

In the last few months, as I have traveled around the district meeting with members of my community, my life has been changed by the stories I have heard from my Palestinian neighbors about their experiences in the last few months of Israel's relentless attack, as well as over the years. One man I spoke to lost 74 members of his family just in the last four months. And though our neighbors are grieving, our local representatives refuse to even meet with us. None of our region’s representatives stand on the right side of this issue and other measures, let alone use their power and privilege to speak out on Palestine.

Although I have long campaigned for justice, peace, and freedom for Palestine, hearing these stories in recent months has strengthened my resolve. Sacramento, and the United States as a whole, deserves representatives who are committed to fighting for human rights at home and abroad.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Wellstone Democrats of Sacramento, California Progressive Alliance, Green Party of Sacramento, Our Revolution

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Mandel’s campaign website stated the following:

“

Ceasefire Now! Freedom & Justicefor All Palestinians
Use U.S. leverage to enforce an immediate, permanent cease-fire in Gaza, enabling negotiations to free all Israeli hostages and all Palestinian political prisoners, many being held without charges or evidence. Rush massive humanitarian aid to Gaza, then employ multilateral diplomacy to rebuild it. Demand self-determination for Palestinians, full human rights under international law, and an end Israeli occupation and apartheid with military “aid” and diplomatic backing against the will of most of the world. Use diplomacy to insist on full equality for all and restorative justice to bring peace and safety to Israeli Jews and Palestinians alike.

Foreign Policy & International Justice:
Focus on promoting human rights, peace, diplomacy, international cooperation, and fostering equitable trade practices that will promote environmental sustainability. Assume a human-rights-based foreign policy that includes no U.S. weapons sales, militray aid, or political cover for any human rights-violating governments or entity. Pursue multilateral, diplomatic solutions, including through the United Nations, instead of unilateral or military intervention. Pursue international agreements for fair trade and their right to unionize. Advocate for equitable trade practices that respect human rights and the environment.

Environment & Climate
Commit to aggressive environmental protection and climate change initiatives, including transitioning to renewable energy, ending fracking, and advocating for sustainable, environmentally responsible trade policies. End our dependence on fossil fuels and break the influence of the energy lobby. Promote sustainable trade based on environmental responsibility. Address the environmental impact of militarism.

Social Justice & Equity:
Address comprehensive social justice issues, including immigration reform, disability rights, gender equality, reproductive rights, and racial justice, emphasizing inclusivity, equal rights, and comprehensive reforms. Implement comprehensive immigration and refugee support policies. Ensure disability rights and equal access. Overcome gender and sexual orientation discrimination.

Domestic Policy & Human Rights:
Advocate for fundamental human rights in housing and education, along with police reform that the fosters true public safety, focusing on creating equitable and supportive domestic policies. Advocate for affordable housing and tenant rights. Increase investment in public education. Reform policing practices and enhance public safety measures.

Healthcare for & All Public Health:
Recognize healthcare as a fundamental human right, pushing for universal, single-payer healthcare systems, and restructuring the healthcare sector to prioritize public health over profit. Bring down the cost medication and regulate the for-profit pharmacudical industry. Restructure the healthcare sector to prioritize public health.

Fair Market Economy & Labor Rights:
Promote economic justice and labor rights, focusing on fair wage policies, tax reforms, workers' rights to unionize, and support for small and cooperatively owned businesses, the development of economic models that serve the broader population. Overhaul tax laws for economic fairness. Strengthen labor rights and support unionization. Raise the minimum wage

Governance & Democracy Reform:
Emphasize the importance of voting rights, election fairness, and democratic governance, including campaign finance reform, voting technology improvements, and the elimination of undemocratic practices like the Electoral College. Ensure easy and secure voting access. Reform campaign finance to reduce monetary influence. Promote electoral reforms that promote democracy.

Public Safety and Gun Control:
Address public safety through comprehensive gun control measures and police reform, aiming to reduce gun violence and ensure community-based approaches to public safety. Implement comprehensive gun control measures. Focus on community-based, including restorative justice approaches to public safety.^[3]

”

—David Mandel’s campaign website (2024)^[4]

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

David Mandel campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House California District 7	Lost primary	$147,051	$151,531
Grand total			$147,051	$151,531
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

U.S. House California District 7

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Mandel for Congress, "Biography," accessed January 27, 2024
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 5, 2024
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Mandel for Congress, “Platform,” accessed January 27, 2024

[show]

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Alex Padilla (D)

Adam Schiff (D)

Representatives

District 1

Doug LaMalfa (R)

District 2

Jared Huffman (D)

District 3

Kevin Kiley (R)

District 4

Mike Thompson (D)

District 5

Tom McClintock (R)

District 6

Ami Bera (D)

District 7

Doris Matsui (D)

District 8

John Garamendi (D)

District 9

Josh Harder (D)

District 10

Mark DeSaulnier (D)

District 11

Nancy Pelosi (D)

District 12

Lateefah Simon (D)

District 13

Adam Gray (D)

District 14

Eric Swalwell (D)

District 15

Kevin Mullin (D)

District 16

Sam Liccardo (D)

District 17

Ro Khanna (D)

District 18

Zoe Lofgren (D)

District 19

Jimmy Panetta (D)

District 20

Vince Fong (R)

District 21

Jim Costa (D)

District 22

David Valadao (R)

District 23

Jay Obernolte (R)

District 24

Salud Carbajal (D)

District 25

Raul Ruiz (D)

District 26

Julia Brownley (D)

District 27

George Whitesides (D)

District 28

Judy Chu (D)

District 29

Luz Rivas (D)

District 30

Laura Friedman (D)

District 31

Gil Cisneros (D)

District 32

Brad Sherman (D)

District 33

Pete Aguilar (D)

District 34

Jimmy Gomez (D)

District 35

Norma Torres (D)

District 36

Ted Lieu (D)

District 37

Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)

District 38

Linda Sánchez (D)

District 39

Mark Takano (D)

District 40

Young Kim (R)

District 41

Ken Calvert (R)

District 42

Robert Garcia (D)

District 43

Maxine Waters (D)

District 44

Nanette Barragán (D)

District 45

Derek Tran (D)

District 46

Lou Correa (D)

District 47

Dave Min (D)

District 48

Darrell Issa (R)

District 49

Mike Levin (D)

District 50

Scott Peters (D)

District 51

Sara Jacobs (D)

District 52

Juan Vargas (D)

Democratic Party (45)

Republican Party (9)

[1] Mandel for Congress, "Biography," accessed January 27, 2024

[2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 5, 2024

[quotedisclaimer-3] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[4] Mandel for Congress, “Platform,” accessed January 27, 2024

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David Mandel

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for U.S. House California District 7

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 7

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign website

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

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Public Policy

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