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Kermit Jones
Kermit Jones (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 3rd Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Jones completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Kermit Jones was born in Michigan. Jones served in the U.S. Navy from 2005 to 2009. He earned degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1997, Duke University School of Law in 2005, and Duke University School of Medicine in 2005.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: California's 3rd Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 3
Kevin Kiley defeated Kermit Jones in the general election for U.S. House California District 3 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kevin Kiley (R) | 53.6 | 181,438 |
 | Kermit Jones (D)  | 46.4 | 156,761 | |
| Total votes: 338,199 | |||
| = 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 3
Kevin Kiley and Kermit Jones defeated Scott Jones and David Peterson in the primary for U.S. House California District 3 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Kiley (R) | 39.7 | 93,552 |
| ✔ | | Kermit Jones (D) | 38.7 | 91,217 |
 | Scott Jones (R) | 16.2 | 38,288 | |
 | David Peterson (D) | 5.4 | 12,675 | |
| Total votes: 235,732 | |||
| = 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Monika Sheldon-London (R)
- Peter Delle (D)
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kermit Jones completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jones' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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A doctor, Navy veteran, and lawyer, I was raised on a small farm in South Haven, where I learned the importance of family, community, and hard work.
As a practicing physician, I have put my health care expertise to work, treating over 20,000 patients in rural areas, inner cities, and overseas. After our nation was attacked on September 11th, I joined the Navy where I served as the Navy Physician for a Marine helicopter squadron, caring for U.S. Service Members and ensuring that injured troops returned home safely. After returning from Iraq, I served as a White House fellow where I had the opportunity to work on veterans’ health issues and make our healthcare system more accessible to everyone.
For me, it’s not about partisan politics, it’s about helping people. Far too many D.C. politicians have forgotten what I have learned from many years working alongside nurses, fellow U.S. service members, and community leaders: that American democracy means we’re all in this together. In Congress, I plan to lead the same way I practice medicine – by listening, making evidence-based decisions, and putting people - and California’s [3rd] district - first.
Our Health is our Freedom. If you can’t afford insulin and have to worry every day if you’ll be able to maintain your blood sugar, you are not free. If you are stuck in a job that doesn’t pay what you are worth, but cannot get health coverage elsewhere, you are not free. Affordable, quality, health care should be a right for every American. California’s [3rd] district faces a mounting crisis as healthcare in rural areas of the district becomes increasingly inaccessible for hardworking folks. In Congress, I will fight to lower insurance and prescription drug prices, bring more primary care physicians to the [3rd] district, protect Medicare, and improve Medicaid. Our health is our freedom. It’s time to take it back.
One of the best ways to invest in our economy and our future is to invest in our infrastructure, from our roads and bridges to improving broadband access for rural communities. Too often though, rural communities are overlooked by Washington politicians. Right now, thousands of households throughout the Sierras have no access to high-speed internet. That's unacceptable. As part of a larger infrastructure package that will ensure all our roads, along with Highway 50, 49, and I-80 are repaired and maintained, I will also work to secure funding for complete broadband coverage for [CA-03] and make sure it is affordable for all Americans.
- Climate change threatens every aspect of our lives. Each year, wildfires destroy homes and natural habitats alike. They spew toxic smoke into the air, affecting the health of our communities in California, and across the West. Our local economy is also threatened by climate change. The ski industry in our mountain towns brings more than half a billion dollars and thousands of jobs to our district each year. That won’t happen without snow. Likewise, our district’s agriculture and recreation continue to be harmed by dry winters and burning hot summers. The climate crisis is at our doorstep. In Congress, I'll fight to combat climate change while creating millions of high-quality jobs by investing in American-made clean energy.
Veterans Issues: During my tours in Iraq as a Navy flight surgeon, I served beside Americans who risked their lives to promote security and peace. Too many veterans that I served with have not been protected by the America they fought for. It is imperative that we provide veterans the care they need to recover from the physical and mental wounds of war. In Congress, I will fight for our veterans the same way they fought for us.
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
Jones' campaign website stated the following:
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Healthcare When it comes to healthcare, even if they have insurance, Americans pay too much and receive too little. After treating over 20,000 patients throughout my career, I’ve seen first-hand where our healthcare system fails patients. In Congress, I’ll work to make sure our healthcare system puts the needs of patients first by addressing the drivers of cost, improving the quality of care, and increasing access to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. Funding for the public health component of our healthcare system has remained stagnant for decades, and the price of medicines and prescription drugs have skyrocketed. As a result, Americans pay more for medical treatment than any other developed country in the world. In Congress, I’ll fight to implement common sense proposals to lower our healthcare costs by empowering Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate prescription drug prices, and creating a public option health insurance plan that caps out-of-pocket expenses. I’ll work to tackle the lack of access to doctors and medical treatment in rural areas because every American should have access to the best healthcare in the world, regardless of their zip code. In Congress, I’ll also work to secure federal funding to increase the number of doctors and nurses in rural areas and improve the reliability and access of telemedicine by ensuring that 100% of Americans have access to broadband internet. Healthcare is a unique service that should always put a patient’s needs first. Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed too many patients be denied coverage by their insurance companies for life-saving screenings and medical treatments, all while those same insurance companies post record profits and pay their executives millions of dollars in bonuses. I’ll take on companies that gouge patients and families when they are in most need. I’ll sponsor legislation that will provide better oversight to ensure patients’ premiums are directed to better their health, not to increase the already bloated bonuses for healthcare executives. No one should be allowed to excessively profit off the illness or treatment of a patient. In Congress, I won’t stop until every American has quality, affordable healthcare. On December 8th, Dr. Kermit released one of the most detailed healthcare plans ever proposed by a congressional candidate.
Right now, thousands of households throughout the Sierras have no access to high-speed internet. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that access to broadband is the dividing line between the haves and the have nots. Too many good people of CA-03 have been deprived of the broadband technology that can help keep them safe and informed when the next pandemic comes. As part of a larger infrastructure package to ensure that our roads, like Highway 50 and 49, are in the best condition, I’ll also work to secure funding for 100% broadband coverage for CA-03 and make sure it is affordable for all Americans.
Nearly a quarter of the homeless in our country live in California. While we have some of the most beautiful land in America, we also have some of the most expensive. I support the President’s efforts to reduce regulations and exclusionary zoning laws that are driving up the price of houses and keeping people out of homes. In Congress, I’ll also fight to make sure a portion of the $213 billion the President plans to invest in our country’s housing system comes to help families in our district.
Climate change is a challenge we must rise to, and an opportunity we can’t pass up. With the drought and fires getting worse every year, we see the devastating impacts of climate change every day in California. In order to better protect those who live in fire risk areas, I’ll sponsor legislation in Congress that would enact a federal fire insurance program for existing structures. To lower the risk of fires, I’ll work with the U.S. Forest Service, CAL Fire, and local groups to ensure they get the funding necessary to clear millions of fire-risk acres. I’ll sponsor legislation to support in-district biomass power plants to produce clean, local power. I’ll also fight for tax benefits for microgrids and to help people harden their homes against wildfires.
In America, a child’s zip code shouldn’t determine their destiny. For many families like mine, good schools and affordable colleges are the keys to economic mobility and a better life. But now, classroom sizes are rising and the student loan crisis is a huge financial burden on families. We need to rethink K-12 education, college, and vocational training so that every student obtains the skills they need to succeed at a price they can afford. In Congress, I’ll advocate for affordable paths to college degrees and investments in trade schools so that every child and adult has a path to a well-paying career.
Building a strong economy is a team effort. One of the main things you learn in the military is that we’ll only succeed if we all do our part. Unfortunately, our economy is leaving many Americans behind. The costs of child care, healthcare, housing, and utilities are all rising, while wages stay stagnant. In Congress, I’ll fight to make big corporations pay taxes to support the economy and country, while working to level the playing field for small businesses, so that we can invest in our communities.
We should fight COVID and infectious disease as a community. We are all in this together. When I see a patient struggling to breathe with COVID, or I comfort a family member who has lost a loved one, politics never enters the conversation. Compassion and empathy, service and understanding define our discussion. When we fought the Soviets, when we confronted terrorism, and when we came together after 9/11, it wasn’t based upon which news station one tuned into or which TV talking head someone followed. We understood the external threat to our freedom, to our way of life, and to our loved ones and communities. COVID is no different. This virus doesn’t pick sides. It doesn’t decide to infect someone because they are a Democrat or Republican. It simply sickens and kills. We’ll win this fight through empathy, listening, and trusting each other as Americans to fight for each other. And we’ll lose this fight, if we don’t.
We need a citizen-led government, not career politicians. It’s time for a new generation of leaders in Congress who are willing to stand up to special interests and party leaders to do what’s right. We need election reform with term limits, voting rights protections, and an end to gerrymandering. Voters should choose who represents them, instead of politicians choosing their voters.[2] |
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| —Kermit Jones' campaign website (2022)[3] | ||
See also
2022 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House California District 3 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 26, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Kermit Jones for Congress, “What I Believe,” accessed May 26, 2022
