James Cardoza
James Cardoza (No party preference) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 20th Congressional District. He lost as a write-in in the primary on March 5, 2024.
Cardoza also ran in a special election to the U.S. House to represent California's 20th Congressional District. He lost in the special primary on March 19, 2024.
Cardoza completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
James Cardoza was born in Tulare, California. Cardoza's professional experience includes working as a small business owner. He earned a bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University in 1999, a graduate degree from Fresno State University in 2010, and a J.D. from Northwestern California University School of Law in 2019.[1]
Cardoza has been affiliated with the Fresno Association of Realtors and Tulare County Association of Realtors.[1]
Elections
2024
U.S. House regular election
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 20
Incumbent Vince Fong defeated Mike Boudreaux (Unofficially withdrew) in the general election for U.S. House California District 20 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Vince Fong (R) | 65.1 | 187,862 |
 | Mike Boudreaux (R) (Unofficially withdrew) | 34.9 | 100,926 | |
| Total votes: 288,788 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 20
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 20 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Vince Fong (R) | 41.9 | 66,160 |
| ✔ | | Mike Boudreaux (R) | 24.0 | 37,883 |
 | Marisa Wood (D) | 21.2 | 33,509 | |
 | Kyle Kirkland (R) | 4.1 | 6,429 | |
 | Andy Morales (D) | 2.8 | 4,381 | |
 | Stan Ellis (R) | 2.1 | 3,252 | |
 | David Giglio (R) (Unofficially withdrew) | 1.4 | 2,224 | |
 | Ben Dewell (No party preference) | 1.0 | 1,509 | |
 | Matt Stoll (R) | 0.7 | 1,131 | |
| Kelly Kulikoff (R) | 0.5 | 724 | ||
 | T.J. Esposito (No party preference) | 0.3 | 541 | |
 | James Cardoza (No party preference) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 9 | |
| Total votes: 157,752 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Matthew Piatt (R)
- Nathaniel Bruce (R)
- Johnathon Burrows (D)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cardoza in this election.
U.S. House special election
General election
Special general election for U.S. House California District 20
Vince Fong defeated Mike Boudreaux in the special general election for U.S. House California District 20 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Vince Fong (R) | 60.6 | 50,643 |
| Mike Boudreaux (R) | 39.4 | 32,952 | |
| Total votes: 83,595 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Special nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 20
The following candidates ran in the special primary for U.S. House California District 20 on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Vince Fong (R) | 42.3 | 51,194 |
| ✔ | | Mike Boudreaux (R) | 25.8 | 31,202 |
| Marisa Wood (D) | 22.6 | 27,337 | |
| Kyle Kirkland (R) | 4.9 | 5,941 | |
 | Harmesh Kumar (D) | 2.4 | 2,885 | |
| Ben Dewell (No party preference) | 0.9 | 1,074 | |
| David Fluhart (No party preference) | 0.7 | 878 | ||
| James Cardoza (No party preference) | 0.2 | 298 | |
 | Anna Zoë Cohen (R) | 0.2 | 289 | |
| Total votes: 121,098 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cardoza in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
U.S. House regular election
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
James Cardoza did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Cardoza’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Top Priorities Parents' Rights - Will propose legislation to codify a long line of U.S. Supreme Court opinions that declare biological parents' rights "to direct the upbringing of their children" as "fundamental liberty rights", protected under the 1st Amendment and 14th Amendment. Additional Issues and Agenda Ground Water - 2/14/24 Update: Based on feedback received by hydrology and water policy experts at the World Ag Expo, this specific water policy goal is in the process of being revised/modified***. Will propose legislation to have the federal government declare that groundwater aquifer recharge for certain specified purposes is a "beneficial use" of surface water to better manage water resources, reduce outflow of snow-melt and rainwater runnof to the Pacific Ocean in excess of what is absolutely necessary to preserve bay-delta biodiversity and proper salinity balance, prevent land subsidence in California's Central Valley, to preserve the Central Valley's agricultural economy, and to continue leveraging the U.S. agricultural economy as a strategic advantage in international security and conflict negotiations. Surface Water - Will seek the formation of a committee or agency to study the viability of east-to-west water conveyance infrastructure to take some strain off of Colorado river resources, with the long-term goal of making more Colorado River water available to southern California, thereby reducing the need to bypass the Central Valley with some of the water that is presently being transferred over the Grapevine to southern California. Will also confer with other Representatives regarding the feasibility of and national appetite for a midwest (e.g. Duluth, MN) to Ogalala Aquifer (Texas and surrounding) water conveyance system. Dams and Water Infrastructure - Continue lobbying for funding for the expansion of temperance flat dam, as well as other water infrastructure projects, including both groundwater recharge, desal, and conveyance. Agricultural Spray Drones, U.S./Mexico Border Security Drones, and U.S. Military Drones - Will propose legislation for the creation and funding of the Mojave Drone Research and Development Center, which will have as its primary stated purpose, "The development of U.S. manufactured drones for use in U.S. agricultural, U.S.-Mexico Border Security, U.S. Military, and other federal, state, and local government uses." This concept will help offset the potential loss of access to foreign-made drones for government use, which was recently proposed on the basis of national security concerns. Note: This concept is still in its earliest stages of development, and will evolve pending additional discussions with executives and engineers at and around the Mojave Air and Space Port regarding infrastucture, education, and other matters affecting the Mojave region of Kern County. Immigration and Border Enforcement - Will support legislation that provides a path to citizenship (that includes a work requirement and some sort of fee payment) for new immigrants who go through the proper channels for authorized entry - before they cross the border, coupled with increased border security and immediate deportations for any new entrants who enter illegally and cannot prove that they have a clean criminal record in their country of origin. I would also support an immediate deportation (following expedited court hearing) and permanent ban on reentry for anyone here illegally who has been convicted of drug trafficking. Transgenders in College and Scholastic Athletics - Will propose and/or support legislation to ban biological males from competing in the women's division in scholastic and collegiate athletics, but which will allow student athletes identifying themselves as "transgender" to compete in a separate "open division" that allows entry of all student athletes, regardless of how they identify themselves, provided that the student athletes are in compliance with all regular policies against the use of performance enhancing substances. This will protect and respect the safety and privacy of biologically female student athletes, as well as guarantee continued opportunity for all student athletes, regardless of personal gender identification, to compete. Gender Transition of Minors - Will propose a complete federal ban (with very limited medical exceptions*) on the administration of puberty blockers and gender transition hormones; and a ban on genital-altering and breast-removal surgery on children age 17 and younger (with very limited medical exceptions*). The limited medical except include instances of ambiguous genitalia, chromosomal abnormality, early-puberty, or for gender de-transition / gender change reversal. I will not support a ban on such hormone treatment or surgery for adults, as adults should be permitted to do whatever they want with their OWN body, except that I would seek to have such hormone treatments and surgeries classified as "elective" or "cosmetic", and as such not to be covered by medical insurance. Gay Marriage - I will not support a ban on gay marriage; if two consentual adults of the same sex want to get married, then they should be allowed to get married. Department of Education - Audit - I will support a full audit of the U.S. Department of Education, both to identify wasteful and/or inefficient spending, as well as to identify areas in which the Department is diverging from its primary mission of teaching core subjects and pushing propaganda. Department of Education - Aerospace Education - I will propose that a portion of U.S. Department of Education Career Technical Education funding or general education funding be earmarked for aerospace education, to be conducted at or in conjunction with the United States' 20 Spaceports, including the Mojave Air & Space Port in Kern County. Note: This proposal may include a reqeust that some of the Department of Education or other federal agency funding be earmarked for training and certifying former U.S. military personnel and/or oil industry workers in aerospace industry professions. Note: This concept is still in its earliest stages of development and will evolve based on future proposed conversations with aerospace industry, oil industry, and military professionals. Domestic Violence - I will propose a renaming of the "Violence Against Women Act" (VAWA) to the "Violence Against Intimate Partners Act" (VAIPA) to better address the needs and struggles of all victims and survivors of domestic violence, regardless of gender. In addition, I will propose a federal adoption of a "gender-neutral" "Duluth Model of Domestic Violence Power and Control" to better address the wide variety of forms of domestic violence that are not being addressed under the current "Duluth Model" of Domestic Violence Power and Control. Russia/Ukraine Conflict - Because of the significant role of Ukranian wheat on the global commodity market, as well as the humanitarian issues and danger of letting Russia bully its way into Ukraine and other territories, the U.S. should participate to some degree in the Russia/Ukraine conflict, though with caution and accountability, so as to not merely engage in war that is lining the pockets of international tank, jet, and weapons manufacturers. The U.S. should avoid sending U.S. troops to the region unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Israel/Palestine Conflict - The U.S. should continue supporting Israel in this conflict, though the focus of direct involvement of any U.S. military equipment and personnel should be limited to protecting shipping routes in the region. Although I do support some financial contribution to Israel's efforts, I urge against putting U.S. military personnel directly on the ground in Israel; Israel needs to fight its own war. I do not support a "two state solution" as this would legitimize and embolden Palestine. Realtor / Real Estate Agent Commission / Anti-Trust Lawsuits - I will propose and/or support legislation reducing the statute of limitations for federal real estate commission anti-trust complaints from five years to one or two years, as well as consult with local FHA and VA lenders on a proposal to ensure that FHA and Veteran home buyers are able to continue receiving buyer representation (and enable buyer's agents to continue getting paid) in real estate purchase transactions, coupled with a removal of the cooperating broker fee exemption to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act - RESPA. Although this will likely result in a reduction of the average commission amount or average commission rate paid on real estate purchase/sale transactions, it will also help agents by drastically reducing the risk of commission-related lawsuits, and invite greater competition and variety of business models to the real estate brokerage industry. Efforts to ensure that FHA and VA home buyers will still be able to receive representation may include provisions to allow real estate agent fees to be financed as part of the home loan. Net Neutrality - I will support legislation that continues to defend "net neutrality", which will help guarantee that small business owners are able to have their small business websites accessed by their customers without their upload/download speeds being "throttled". Second Amendment - I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, especially for farmers, ranchers, truck drivers, rural residents, and convenience store owners, who need access to firearms to protect themselves and their property; I do recognize that gun safety education requirements are reasonable and prudent pre-requisites to gun ownership. I would also support legislation permitting school administrators and school site custodians and/or school site security professionals to concealed carry in order to deter school shootings as well as to limit damage in cases where a school shooting cannot be deterred. Prayer in School - I will not propose any legislation regarding prayer in schools, but would be inclined to support legislation mandating that schools that receive any federal funding be required to provide a reasonable accommodation (e.g. access to a separate room) for students who wish to conduct prayer activities during school hours, subject to the use of the rooms being during normal recess times or class breaks. Energy - The United States should rely on a variety of energy sources, including oil, natural gas, wind, solar, ethanol, and nuclear, but renewable fuels mandates need to be kept in check so as to not excessively inflate food and cattle feed prices through the diversion of too much corn to ethanol production. Although electrical vehicles are nice in concept, gas-electric hybrids are a more realistic solution. Diesel trucks and tractors that are not yet at the end of their useful economic life should not be taken off the road, but rather should be allowed to operate until the end of their normal useful life. Private sector economic sustainability should be a factor in determining whether a proposed energy-related policy is sustainable. Right to Repair (Farm Equipment) - I will not propose any legislation regarding "right to repair" (farm equipment and if applicable, semi-trucks), but will support such legislation that gives farmers and truckers the right to repair their own equipment. Additional issues - Please check back again in the future, as this list is still in development (and will be modified over time as I gather feedback from everyday ordinary people living in the 20th District). If there is an issue relevant to the 20th District, Central California, or California that I have not addressed here (e.g. how to fix healthcare; other specific recommended changes to the federal tax code; C.O.O.L. - Country of Origin Labeling for Beef), please text me at 559-612-6629 and we can set up a time to talk. Approach to Position (Assuming Elected) 2. Read - To execute this position effectively requires a tremendous amount of reading and analysis, and I'm willing to read and analyze the fine print of current law and proposed legislation as well as any supplemental research, reports, and testimony necessary to cast the right vote or lobby other members of Congress to make the right decision on proposed legislation. 3. Write - For matters that will have a specific or significant impact on the 20th District, Central California, the entire state of California, or which I have a greater degree of expertise, I intend to write legislation (and pitch it to other members of Congress). 3. Investigage - One of Congress' powers and duties is that of investigating and overseeing the actions and budgets of federal government agencies. As someone with a longstanding reputation for asking tough questions, I will ask the tough questions in Congress if appointed to a committee where such duty is required. 5. Speak Up and Vote - Based on the feedback I receive from the people I represent, coupled with my own reading and analysis, I intend to speak up about important issues and vote accordingly. 6. Serve - Congressional representatives have a dual role of legislator for their district and customer service representative for the people in their district. I intend to assemble a team of legally and politically astute as well as customer service oriented aides, interns, and analysts to provide responsive customer service to the people I will be representing in the 20th Congressional District on federal matters.[2] |
” |
| —James Cardoza’s campaign website (2024)[3] | ||
U.S. House special election
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
James Cardoza completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cardoza's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- The U.S. is a nation of both immigrants and natives, as well as a nation of laws. Immigration policy needs to emphasize strong border security, pathway to citizenship for non-criminals who enter the U.S. through proper channels (application before entry), and deportation of drug traffickers and violent criminals. Amnesty and asylum needs proper verification of actual danger, fear for life and safety, and/or fear of persecution in home country.
- The 2nd Amendment needs to be protected. The right to bear arms serves the personal safety needs of citizens, as well as the safety needs of communities; firearms in the hands of law abiding citizens is just as effective a deterrent against crime as is disarming violent criminals. Restriction of an individuals 2nd Amendment rights must not be done willy nilly but rather must undergo strict scrutiny.
- Government that governs least, governs best, though some level of government needs to remain in place to maintain order, guarantee national security, protect the enforceability of private property rights & arms-length contracts, and manage externalities. A diverse domestic energy supply, along with a domestic agricultural industry, domestic high-tech manufacturing, domestic heavy industrial manufacturing, and domestic raw materials mining industry are keys to national security, as is a strong military. Children, the elderly & the disabled deserve protection. Government regulation should be restrained to limit negative economic impacts on entrepreneurship, individual financial & social mobility & small businesses.
2. Biological women in scholastic and collegiate sports need to be protected against biological men competing in the women’s division. Trans people should be allowed to compete, but only in the men’s or open division.
3. Federally funded benefits programs need to be audited for fraud.
my body language to not match what I am feeling or trying to express. And there have been times that people who are not very nice have tried to use it as an excuse to try to bully me, make fun of me, or talk down to me. On the bright side though, I am lightning smart, and the occasional bullying I receive does sometimes help me identify whether the person I am dealing with is of good character or of bad character. I think it also helps keep me humble, and because it can sometimes appear somewhat embarrassing, I think people are sometimes more willing to open up to me about things they are self-conscious about and as such would otherwise be uncomfortable talking with someone else about.
murder the children in her family. Because her family was wealthy in Mexico and had some political connections, she managed to come here on a visa, but ultimately overstayed her visa. When she and the rest of her family came to the U.S. they had to leave everything they owned - including their land and cattle, behind. Based on her story, it would appear that she would qualify for some sort of asylum; however despite having tried to go through the proper channels, she has been waiting years and years with no significant progress toward lawful permanent residence or citizenship, beyond having what she referred to as a work permit. Her children are all U.S. Citizens, and she pushes them to do well in school, but she unfortunately is not yet, but wishes she could someday become a Citizen, so that she can feel “part of something”.
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Specific to the U.S. dairy industry, I think U.S. dairy farmers could possibly be helped by at least temporarily reducing the tax rate on gains from the sale of culled dairy cattle. This could help bring the U.S. dairy cattle herd and milk supply back into balance, provide consumers some relief in terms of lower grocery store ground beef prices (due to it bringing more ground beef into the market), and will allow non-profitable dairy farmers to exit the industry without losing all of their equity to capital gains taxes. In addition, this would help solve a current agricultural industry crisis without the federal government increasing expenditures.
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Campaign finance summary
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House California District 20 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 2, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ James Cardoza for Congress, “Issues,” accessed March 4, 2024
