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Jess Phoenix
Jess Phoenix (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 25th Congressional District. She lost in the primary on June 5, 2018.
Biography
Phoenix received a bachelor's degree in history from Smith College in 2005 and a master's degree in geology from California State University, Los Angeles in 2010. She also completed work towards a Ph.D. in geology at Queensland University of Technology. Phoenix began working as a geologist in 2008. She did state government archive work from 2005 to 2007. A list of her affiliations is below:[1]
- Board member, Blueprint Earth
- Fellow, The Explorers Club
- Member, Smith College Club of Los Angeles
- Member, Retired Racehorse Project
- Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Member, Geological Society of America
- Member, American Geophysical Union
- Member, International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior
- Member, Association of Women Geoscientists
- Member, Earth Science Women's Network
Elections
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 25
Katie Hill defeated incumbent Stephen Knight in the general election for U.S. House California District 25 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Katie Hill (D) | 54.4 | 133,209 |
 | Stephen Knight (R) | 45.6 | 111,813 | |
| Total votes: 245,022 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 25
Incumbent Stephen Knight and Katie Hill defeated Bryan Caforio, Jess Phoenix, and Mary Pallant in the primary for U.S. House California District 25 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stephen Knight (R) | 51.8 | 61,411 |
| ✔ | | Katie Hill (D) | 20.7 | 24,507 |
 | Bryan Caforio (D) | 18.4 | 21,821 | |
 | Jess Phoenix (D) | 6.4 | 7,549 | |
| Mary Pallant (D) | 2.7 | 3,157 | ||
| Total votes: 118,445 | |||
| = 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Diedra Greenaway (D)
- Daniel Fleming (D)
- Kelan Farrell-Smith (D)
- Michael Masterman-Smith (D)
- Scott McVarish (D)
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia tracks endorsements by organizations and elected officials. To notify us of other endorsements, please email us.
| Primary election endorsements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement |  Caforio[2]
|
Hill[3]
|
 Knight
|
Phoenix[4]
|
| Federal officials | ||||
| Jerry McNerney, U.S. representative | ✔ | |||
| Nanette Barragan, U.S. representative | ✔ | |||
| Judy Chu, U.S. representative | ✔ | |||
| Lois Frankel, U.S. representative | ✔ | |||
| Jimmy Gomez, U.S. representative | ✔ | |||
| Jackie Speier, U.S. representative | ✔ | |||
| Lois Capps, former U.S. representative | ✔ | |||
| State figures | ||||
| Sharon Davis, former California first lady | ✔ | |||
| Gavin Newsom, lieutenant governor of California | ✔ | |||
| Ben Allen, California state senator | ✔ | |||
| Henry Stern, California state senator | ✔ | |||
| Dante Acosta, California state assemblyman | ✔ | |||
| Laura Friedman, California state assemblywoman | ✔ | |||
| Jacqui Irwin, California state assemblywoman | ✔ | |||
| Tom Lackey, California state assemblyman | ✔ | |||
| Fran Pavley, former California state senator | ✔ | |||
| Local figures | ||||
| Sheila Kuehl, Los Angeles County supervisor | ✔ | |||
| Don Knabe, former Los Angeles County supervisor | ✔ | |||
| Susan Rose, former Santa Barbara County supervisor | ✔ | |||
| Peter Foy, Ventura County supervisor | ✔ | |||
| Kathy Long, former Ventura County supervisor | ✔ | |||
| Cameron Smyth, mayor of Santa Clarita | ✔ | |||
| Bob Huber, mayor of Simi Valley | ✔ | |||
| Mike Judge, Simi Valley mayor pro tem | ✔ | |||
| Mike Bonin, Los Angeles city councilman | ✔ | |||
| Paul Koretz, Los Angeles city councilman | ✔ | |||
| Joy Picus, former Los Angeles city councilwoman | ✔ | |||
| Dee Dee Cavanaugh, Simi Valley city councilwoman | ✔ | |||
| Keith Mashburn, Simi Valley city councilman | ✔ | |||
| Cheryl Heitmann, Ventura city councilwoman | ✔ | |||
| Lindsey Horvath, West Hollywood city councilwoman | ✔ | |||
| Wendy Greuel, former Los Angeles city controller | ✔ | |||
| Rick Tuttle, former Los Angeles city controller | ✔ | |||
| Juan Carillo, Palmdale city councilman | ✔ | |||
| Michael Dutton, Antelope Valley Union High School District board member | ✔ | |||
| Jannie Dutton, Keppel Union School District board president | ✔ | |||
| Manuel Magana, Keppel Union School District board member | ✔ | |||
| Christy Smith, Newhall School District board president[5][6] | ✔ | |||
| Joyce Ricks, Palmdale School District president | ✔ | |||
| Ralph Velador, Palmdale School District board member | ✔ | |||
| Christopher Trunkey, Saugus Union School District president | ✔ | |||
| Gonzalo Freixes, former Newhall School District president | ✔ | |||
| Robert "Bo" Bynum, former Palmdale School District board member | ✔ | |||
| Arleigh Kidd, former Simi Valley Unified School District president | ✔ | |||
| Kathy MacLaren, Palmdale Water Board director | ✔ | |||
| Gloria Dizmang, former Palmdale Water Board director | ✔ | |||
| Organizations | ||||
| Our Revolution, Santa Clarita | ✔ | |||
| Greater and Grander | ✔ | |||
| Americans for Democratic Action of Southern California | ✔ | |||
| Free Thought Equality | ✔ | |||
| Gaaays in Spaaace | ✔ | |||
| Blue Grizzlies | ✔ | |||
| Party of Reason and Progress | ✔ | |||
| Blue Wave Crowdsource | ✔ | |||
| Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1277 | ✔ | |||
| American Nurses Association | ✔ | |||
| American Postal Workers Union | ✔ | |||
| Blue America | ✔ | |||
| Communications Workers of America, Southern California Council | ✔ | |||
| Democracy for America | ✔ | |||
| EMILY's List | ✔ | |||
| Equality California | ✔ | |||
| The Feminist Majority | ✔ | |||
| Heart of L.A. Democratic Club | ✔ | |||
| International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 416 and Local 433 | ✔ | |||
| International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 40 | ✔ | |||
| International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12 | ✔ | |||
| International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36 | ✔ | |||
| Justice Democrats | ✔ | |||
| L.A. County Young Democrats | ✔ | |||
| Laborers' International Union of North America Local 300 | ✔ | |||
| NARAL | ✔ | |||
| National Association of Letter Carriers Local 2200, Local 4430, and Local 2902 | ✔ | |||
| National Nurses United | ✔ | |||
| North Valley Democratic Club | ✔ | |||
| Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains | ✔ | |||
| Santa Clarita Valley Young Democrats | ✔ | |||
| Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local Union 105 | ✔ | |||
| Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters | ✔ | |||
| Southeast Antelope Valley Initiative | ✔ | |||
| Southern California District Council of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union | ✔ | |||
| Stonewall Democratic Club | ✔ | |||
| The Suburban Women's Action Network | ✔ | |||
| Teamsters Joint Council 42 | ✔ | |||
| United Aerospace Workers Local 887 | ✔ | |||
| United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Welders Local 761 | ✔ | |||
| United Steelworkers Los Angeles and Orange County Legislative Education Committee | ✔ | |||
| Utility Workers Union of America | ✔ | |||
| Victory Fund | ✔ | |||
| The Women's Political Committee | ✔ | |||
Campaign themes
2018
The campaign themes below were taken from Phoenix's 2018 campaign website.
Economy
The United States, and California in particular has long been a global leader in research, development and manufacturing of new technologies. We need to prepare for the coming decades by giving American workers the tools to succeed in the economy of the future. I will work to bring federal investment in the technologies of the future home to the people in our community, creating an environment of innovation.
Environment
The greatest threat to our security and prosperity is global climate change. Scientists agree - human activity is a big factor. When Republicans in Congress deny this reality, they are setting Americans up for suffering. I've studied climate change around the world during my decade of work as a scientist, and I will bring truth and facts to the table.
Healthcare
As one of the strongest and wealthiest countries in the world, we must do more to provide healthcare to every American. I strongly support the ACA, but I know we can do more. The Trump/Knight plan is a disaster that would cause over 70,000 of our neighbors to lose coverage. I will be a strong advocate for Medicare for all Americans.
Education
As a scientist and educator, I know how critical education is. Every child deserves a world-class education that gives them the opportunity and skills to compete. I will stand up to the Betsy DeVos and Steve Knight agenda that threatens our children's education and makes college impossible.
Gun Violence Prevention
I was a seventeen year old high school student living in Littleton, Colorado in 1999 when the Columbine shootings occurred. I saw firsthand how gun violence shatters lives and tears apart communities. Since then, we have seen too many mass shootings with no end in sight. Domestic violence and suicide attempts are also made worse when guns are involved. We need common-sense gun reforms that will help prevent mass shootings, domestic violence, and suicides. This means closing background check loopholes, opposing Concealed Carry Reciprocity, directing the Centers for Disease Control to study the gun violence epidemic and fully funding their efforts, and forming a Congressional Select Committee to investigate the causes and solutions to our country's gun violence problem.
Our Veterans
Since the conception of our Constitution, serving our veterans has been the one obligation we commit to in exchange for protection by our military. The Trump administration’s budget will increase funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, but it doesn’t come close to the increase given to the Department of Defense. Their proposal also cuts programs in the VA’s budget, which will harm our service members and their families. In Congress, I will stand up for our veterans, here in CA-25 and across the nation.
Immigration
We need a clean bill, and then we must pursue comprehensive, bipartisan immigration reform. We need to immediately approve citizenship for DACA recipients who are in good standing, and create a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants with no criminal record who meet requirements like paying back taxes and holding jobs. Our immigration policies must be revamped to be both fair and humane. We also need to focus on border security measures and deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories. We must balance family-based immigration with a merit-based system to insure we’re being humane and compassionate while securing our borders.
LGBTQ+ Rights
I believe access to healthcare, protection against discrimination, and bullying prevention are some of the most critical issues facing our LGBTQ+ communities today. I will work to enact legislation that creates federal programs that fund training for healthcare providers specifically around LGBTQ-specific issues, with an emphasis on Transgender healthcare. I will work for taking California’s Gender Recognition Act nationwide, and advocate for a non-binary gender option to be included on the US Census. We must prioritize work on legislation that would direct federal agencies to collect gender and sexual orientation data to ensure that LGBTQ community needs are addressed by federal programs, and particularly those that involve workplace rights.
Justice Reform
I will introduce legislation to strengthen the Voting Rights Act, and fight against discriminatory policies like voter identification laws and the elimination of early voting in predominantly minority communities. Our justice system should not be privatized. We need to eliminate private prisons, eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, and pursue treatment before incarceration for drug offenses. Our bail system must be reformed immediately to prevent further civil rights abuses. We must incorporate civilians into the law enforcement oversight process, as well as community policing initiatives. Recruiting officers from the communities in which they will serve is critical to fairness in the justice system.
Drug Policy
I am firmly committed to drug law reform and supporting Senator Booker's Marijuana Justice Act. Marijuana has excellent potential for helping our veteran population and patients suffering from serious medical conditions. The mass incarceration of people who have committed marijuana-related offenses is a travesty. In addition, we must address our nation's opioid and heroin crisis. We need compassion and evidence-based treatment options that are accessible to everyone. We need funding for treatment and rehabilitation programs which have been proven to help people with addiction. We need to expand healthcare coverage to include every American, not take it away.
Women's Rights
I support passing the Equal Rights Amendment immediately. Affirmative consent laws are necessary, and consent needs to be discussed thoroughly with children, so future generations understand why enthusiastic, continued consent is essential for all sexual relations. A woman’s right to an abortion is between her and her doctor, and I will protect reproductive healthcare providers and those who use their services. We must fund science-based sex education in public schools, and ensure that contraceptives are accessible and affordable for all who need them . Sexual harassment or assault against anyone of any gender must be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.
Net Neutrality
Net Neutrality is the principle of an open internet, where service providers do not unfairly block or favor particular content, products, or sites. It levels the playing field for all internet users, and we must preserve this principle in our country. The free and open exchange of information is vital for the pursuit of knowledge. I will resist attempts to remove or modify net neutrality, and I will work to introduce legislation to protect this important principle for generations to come.[7]
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Jess Pelaez Phoenix participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on May 11, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Jess Pelaez Phoenix's responses follow below.[8]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Healthcare |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | Campaign finance form. I am running a true grassroots campaign, and I have witnessed firsthand the corrupting influence big and dark money have on our political process. I am committed to working for a system that opens doors for voter participation, and for candidates from non-traditional backgrounds to enter the political arena.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[10]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Jess Pelaez Phoenix answered the following:
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
| “ | Integrity, honesty, and optimism.[10] | ” |
| “ | My training in the scientific method has shown me how to analyze a problem or situation from all possible angles, to always ask for help from experts when I am not familiar with a particular topic, and to solve problems creatively when few resources or options are available.[10] | ” |
| “ | I believe that truly listening to voters in my community and providing reasons for making the decisions that I make is key. Accountability is an absolute must in a Member of Congress.[10] | ” |
| “ | I remember the Challenger Space Shuttle tragedy. I was 4 years old at the time.[10] | ” |
| “ | I worked at Best Buy as a Home Audio Sales Representative. I worked there for 8 months.[10] | ” |
| “ | Climate change is the greatest threat to national security this century. It is a threat multiplier, which means that the effects of issues like terrorism, food scarcity, and forced migration are all intensified by climate change.[10] | ” |
| “ | I would like to serve on the Space, Science & Technology Committee, the Committee on Energy & Commerce, and the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.[10] | ” |
| “ | I support term limits for Representatives. I believe that limits of between 10-16 years for Representatives would help in fostering truer representation for our citizens.[10] | ” |
Biographical information submission
Phoenix answered the question, "What is your political philosophy?" on Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form. Below is her response:
| “ | I decided to run because I witnessed an ongoing assault on facts and the truth by our elected officials, including my current Representative, Steve Knight. I want to bring my experience as a scientist and nonprofit founder to Congress to make policies based on facts and evidence. Without strong advocates, the green technology revolution will miss our country entirely. I want to position California's 25th district as a global hub for green technology research and development. We need representatives who understand that a healthy, educated population is the foundation of our country, and as an educator and scientist I am uniquely positioned to advocate for lasting initiatives from the federal level that will complement state and local efforts to successfully power our country through the challenges of the 21st century.[10] | ” |
| —Jess Phoenix[1] | ||
See also
- United States House of Representatives
- California's 25th Congressional District election, 2018
- California's 25th Congressional District
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form on May 10, 2018
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcaforioendorsements - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedhillendorsements - ↑ Elisabeth Moore, "Email exchange with Carlos Phoenix," May 22, 2018
- ↑ Smith initially endorsed Caforio but changed her endorsement to Hill in February 2018.
- ↑ The Signal, "Dems choice for 38th Assembly District changes support for 25th Congressional District," February 27, 2018
- ↑ Jess Phoenix 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed May 30, 2018
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Jess Pelaez Phoenix's responses," May 11, 2018
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
