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Julianne Benzel
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Julianne Benzel (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 4th Congressional District. She lost in the primary on March 3, 2020.
Benzel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Julianne Benzel was born in Walnut Creek, California. She received an associate degree from Diablo Valley College and master's degrees in American history and political science from California State University, Sacramento, in 2005. She attended Point Loma University. Benzel's professional experience includes being an American historian and educating at the high school, junior college, and university levels.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: California's 4th Congressional District election, 2020
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 4
Incumbent Tom McClintock defeated Brynne Kennedy in the general election for U.S. House California District 4 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tom McClintock (R) | 55.9 | 247,291 |
 | Brynne Kennedy (D) | 44.1 | 194,731 | |
| Total votes: 442,022 | |||
 = 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 4
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 4 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tom McClintock (R) | 50.7 | 141,244 |
| ✔ | | Brynne Kennedy (D) | 39.8 | 110,771 |
 | Julianne Benzel (R) | 4.4 | 12,138 | |
 | Robert Lawton (Independent) | 1.7 | 4,848 | |
 | Jamie Byers (R) | 1.7 | 4,822 | |
 | Jacob Thomas (R) | 1.6 | 4,527 | |
| Total votes: 278,350 | |||
| = 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Julianne Benzel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Benzel's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I'm an American historian, Wife, Mother of 5 daughters, concerned native Californian, and a sincere Populist. As an originalist to the US Constitution, I am gravely bereaved at the state of our nation. We are losing sight of our basic founding principles. The First Amendment is under assault; civil discourse must return. I've analyzed, researched, and taught both domestic and foreign policy for the past 25 years. I have a unique historical perspective on all of the pertinent, political issues today. In my estimation and experience, the vast majority of Americans are kind, gracious, and extremely accommodating; most orbit in the 'center.' It has never been healthy for our democratic Republic to swing too far to the Left or to the Right. Commonality is our strength; we must harness it once again. Hyper-partisanship does not lead to real, long-term, sustainable solutions, which is was Americans desire and deserve from their elected officials. I have an advantage over all other candidates: I have invested my entire life into CA-04, and I will, therefore, be the best voice to represent it. As an educator, I'm a life-long learner: I am willing to listen, learn, and consider all sides of an issue prior to drawing my own, objective conclusion. I reject hyperbole and demand results. CA-04 deserves fresh, passionate, and sincere representation at the national level; what we have right now is a 'placeholder.' We don't need a placeholder, we need a 'firebrand.' I am that candidate.
- Fighting for Your Families, Freedom, and Future!
- Back to the Basics' of our unique democratic Republic
- Let's Keep the Populist Revolt Moving!
-Healthcare Reform (NOT Medicare for All) but reasonable, efficient, cost-effective and convenient access for all Americans -Parents Rights/First Amendment: If we lose the First Amendment, we have lost everything. Parents know their children best and should be at the forefront of educational and medical decisions, NOT the 'state.' -Focus on Economic Stability and 'Dignity of Work.' Most reasonable, rational Americans want the intrinsic reward from a 'hard day's work and a job well done.' We must rethink the traditional path of a 4-year university degree only. Apprenticeships and Trade Certificates must be validated and applauded. Release the regulatory and tax burdens on small businesses and harness the entrepreneurial energy that continues to be on the cusp of cutting edge technology and innovation. -I support sound, logical, and collaborative environmental policies. Harness the ingenuity of the Oxy's Carbon Capture Technology, the Ocean Cleanup Project, and the Breakthrough Energy Coalition. Forest and Land Management policies must be restored that place the lowest amount of risk to potential fire regions. Forest thinning and rollback of excessive regulations are key. The U.S. worker must always be at the nexus of all policy decisions.
Jesus is my Hero. Fiercely independent thinker who challenged the orthodoxy and 'status quo,' loved and transformed everyone he interacted with; a revolutionary figure who turned the world upside down.
As an avid reader, there are too many to list, but the most recent I would suggest is Jon Meacham's 'The Soul of America: The Search for Our Better Angels.' Our history is too rich and this nation is too resilient to continue this trajectory of divisiveness; we are so much better than this.
Integrity, authenticity, love for the country and a desire to serve.
Empathic, passionate, objective, principled, and an Originalist to the US Constitution
Advocate for their constituents whenever and however possible. Listen, listen, listen. No one is going to have all the answers and be able to 'fix' everything but empathy for another person's plight is a great starting point.
I want to leave the America that I grew up in and sincerely love to be a reality for our 5 daughters. The First Amendment must and will be fortified for future generations. They must be about to live out their sincere faith in the greatest political experiment this world has ever known: the United States of America.
Unequivocally, the Challenger explosion, circa 1986. I was 14 years old, sitting in my freshman high school computer class. Our principal came over the intercom, we took a moment of silence, and President Reagan gave his iconic 'We will never forget them, not the last time we saw them this morning as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.' I registered as a Republican as soon as I turned 18.
I worked at the 'Hot Dog Palace' in downtown Concord. Slicing potatoes in the backroom for fresh french fries, flipping hamburgers, and topping hot dogs with an array of condiments. Bussing tables, ringing up customers, and the laborious task of 'cleaning up' after hours. Very, very hard work. I believe I worked there for almost 2 years?
John Adams by David McCullough. A true American patriot. One of the most underrated Presidents in U.S. History (Polk and Truman are a close 2nd & 3rd). Adams cared far more about principles than party lines: (Feds vs. anti-Feds) he forsook his own political career for the betterment of the newly formed nation. #hero
Laura Ingles Wilder: I have always thought it would be wonderfully nostalgic and somewhat 'romantic' to live on the prairie in the 19th century: working on the 'family farm,' (Jeffersonian ideal?) tilling the soil, planting seeds, making candles, and baking bread. Reading books endlessly by candlelight and playing cards with the family by the fire. This may sound 'pollyanish' but I'll keep my idealistic notions of the 'Wild West,' thank you very much.
'Brown Eyed Girl' is always playing in my mind; (even though my eyes are hazel!) It's such an iconic classic song that does never, ever gets old.
My dad is a liberal agnostic and my mom is a conservative Christian. They've been married for 50 years. I have always had to 'wrestle' with what is true, noble, and right. This high level of critical thinking forced me to grapple with intensely complex issues and come to a rational, reasonable conclusion. No single person or political 'party' has all the answers or is always correct all the time. If more of our elected leaders had this vision, wisdom, and insight, we would not be in the mess we find ourselves today. I'm not sure I would call this a 'struggle' in my life, but it certainly has shaped who I am and my overall perspective.
Well, theoretically it is the 'People's House,' but it certainly is not operating as it was intended. Congress has a 14% approval rating right now. (Below a cockroach, I believe?) We can do so much better. Let's continue the Populist Revolt: kick out the established, tenured, elite, out-of-touch representatives and usher in a 'New Era' of true public servants who sincerely want to accomplish change on behalf of all Americans. I believe in our 3-Branch structure; the framers were incredibly insightful to create such a system of checks and balances. I wish they would have emulated English parliament more than they did: the two-party system divides and tears our country apart. We need less extremism in Congress, and far more collaborative efforts by our elected officials.
Experience is great but fresh, new, bold ideas are what has always moved us forward as a country. I would love to enact a law that requires all members of Congress to live a 'real, everyday, common' life for at least 10 years and THEN go try to represent the rest of us. Eliminate the possibility of going straight from college to County Supervisor, State Assembly, State Senate, and then Congress. 'We the People' would actually mean something if politicians viewed the issues through the lens of the general populous.
If we do not return to some 'basic, founding principles' we will become 'just another country' in the annals of world history. China has sought global domination since its communist regime in 1950. Their 'One-Hundred Year Marathon' (blueprint to economic empire) is set for 2050, and they are well on their way. (Belt & Road Initiative...why is no one talking about this?) America must retain its leadership and keep its commitment to democracy; as Turgot wisely stated: 'America is the last best hope.'
I'd like to serve on the Appropriations, Energy & Commerce, and Oversight & Reform Committees.
Yes. It allows for a Rep to be constantly in touch with their constituents and held accountable every 2 years. Rotation in this role is crucial, in my estimation. Too many elected officials get comfortable and 'check out' from genuinely serving their district.
I highly favor them because I sincerely believe that the more candidates and the more options are healthy for our electoral process. I also strongly believe in the next generation. 'Passing the Torch' is a must for progress.
As a freshman congresswoman, my singular goal will be to 'get things done' for CA-04. This is not about me, this is about CA-04. I will listen, learn, understand the process and respect protocol but at the end of the day, I'm advocating for CA-04 first and foremost.
Absolutely! Henry Clay, conscience Whig of the 19th century. Known as the 'Great Compromiser' who loved this country with every fiber of his being. He was a statesman extraordinaire, and highly effective and influential in determining national policy in the Antebellum Era.
Of course. My entire adult life has been on the football and softball fields, where real and genuine Americans reside. I listen to moms talk about their son's $250 asthma inhaler or their daughter's 2-pack EpiPen for $600! My friend who is a trained, skilled dental hygienist can't find steady, full-time employment because employers don't want to payout benefits. I grew up hiking, biking, camping, and skiing all throughout CA-04 and all constituents I engage with want clean air to breathe, rivers and lakes free from contamination and affordable fire insurance. They also have the same genuine desire: economic stability, a wide array of educational options for their children, and a safe community in which to live.
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.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 12, 2019
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
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
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)
