Kim Williams (California)
Kim Williams (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 16th Congressional District. She lost in the primary on March 3, 2020.
Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Williams was born in Falls Church, Virginia. She obtained an undergraduate degree from Georgia State University in June 1996 and a graduate degree from East Carolina University in December 2000.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: California's 16th Congressional District election, 2020
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 16
Incumbent Jim Costa defeated Kevin Cookingham in the general election for U.S. House California District 16 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jim Costa (D) | 59.4 | 128,690 |
 | Kevin Cookingham (R)  | 40.6 | 88,039 | |
| Total votes: 216,729 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 16
Incumbent Jim Costa and Kevin Cookingham defeated Esmeralda Soria and Kim Williams in the primary for U.S. House California District 16 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Costa (D) | 37.5 | 41,228 |
| ✔ | | Kevin Cookingham (R) | 35.2 | 38,652 |
 | Esmeralda Soria (D) | 21.4 | 23,484 | |
 | Kim Williams (D) | 5.9 | 6,458 | |
| Total votes: 109,822 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kim Williams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Williams' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- We need a progressive Congress to stand with a progressive president if we going to pass true economic and social reform.
- It's time to elect a leader who will center social, racial, and economic justice in the fight for a more equitable future.
- California's 16th district is home to some of the hardest working people in the country. They deserve a representative who is ready to work with them.
Progressive policies can also place the next generation on a solid path towards the American dream. Universal Pre-K, paid for through taxes on the ultra-wealthy, would relieve parents of the high cost of childcare, create better paying, federally-funded jobs in the middle of a childcare desert, while ensuring our youngest residents get the care and attention they need to succeed. Even better, we can guarantee funding for higher education, incentivising more people to grow their careers, achieve financial independence, and support a thriving economy right here in the Central Valley.
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
Williams' campaign website stated the following:
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Medicare for All "Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. It’s time to pass Medicare for All." Americans spend twice as much per person on healthcare than people in any other industrialized nation on Earth. And while benefits have remained largely unchanged over the last 30 years, California’s family coverage premiums have increased by 248.8%. This high cost has not improved the quality of our healthcare or increased access. In our district, 62,000 individuals have no coverage at all. Medicare for All will ensure all our hard working families have access to the care they need regardless of their employer. This will eliminate excess costs, reduce out-of-pocket expenses, and put an average of $3,000 back into the pockets of Valley residents each year. It is time to expand coverage to include dental and mental healthcare, end medical bankruptcies, and create a system where healthcare is a guaranteed right, not a privilege. The majority of Americans want Medicare for All, but many of our representatives have yet to sign on to this plan. As insurance costs pile up and our district faces greater health hazards than ever before, the current system must be replaced. It’s time to prioritize constituent needs over corporate interests and ensure every individual in this valley has the healthcare they deserve. Green New Deal "We must be daring and courageous in response to our climate crisis. It’s happening right here at home." The Green New Deal is a fast and necessary transition to 100% renewable energy for everyone. We need to eliminate fossil fuel use everywhere, and we need to cut off the social licensing and financing of fossil fuel companies. We must divest, desponsor, and defund these companies and finally put an end to this industry’s legal immunity. The Green New Deal also puts people at the center of the plan to transition to a sustainable and equitable world. It provides Americans with the training, education, and job guarantees needed to ensure a feasible and just transition, especially for those communities that are the least responsible for climate change and the most affected by it: working class families, low-income workers, people of color, and indigenous peoples. Political Reform "We deserve a government that uses taxpayer money to benefit the lives of everyday working people and prioritizes us over the profits of corporations and wealthy individuals." It’s time to get the corruption of big money out of Washington to ensure legislation isn’t written by the highest bidder. Industry lobbyists, corporations, and wealthy individuals spend billions every year to influence Congress and federal agencies to put corporate interests above all else. Closing loopholes on lobbying and overturning Citizens United will help to get big, unaccountable, foreign, and secret money out of politics. The American people deserve representatives who will fight for the dignity, health, and prosperity of their constituents—and that starts with holding our leaders accountable. We must also enact automatic voter registration for every 18 year-old citizen, expand access to online registration and early voting, and make Election Day a federal holiday. We must also impose term limits on the House and Senate in order to bring new voices to Congress and make publicly funded elections a reality. Economic Dignity "We deserve a representative who will dismantle wealth inequalities. Job creation and economic growth are among my top priorities." California’s 16th Congressional District has some of the highest poverty rates in the country, and incomes are stagnant. This is unacceptable. The federal government can and should make investments in our communities to address the housing shortage, bring down rents, and create new jobs in this district. Wage distribution, particularly in our agriculture industry, is top heavy, enriching corporations and business owners while employees experience poverty and food insecurity. We can make investments that create economic opportunity while addressing rural neglect and a legacy of racial discrimination. We must also make quality education a higher priority if we are going to provide opportunities for good jobs, stronger families and more resilient communities. We know what needs to be done to refocus education to prepare our kids for the future because teachers have been telling us, and I’m listening. We have to invest in K12 public schools and ensure all our teachers earn a living wage. It means maintaining small class sizes, de-emphasizing high-stakes tests, and providing resources that support teachers and encourage STEM skills for the 21st-century economy. Debt-Free College "Education is key to breaking generational poverty. Higher education leads to greater social mobility and economic opportunity, and when we prioritize education in all communities, the middle class will grow." As a former community college student and professor, I understand the direct impact higher education can make on individuals and our economy. In my youth, I was able to string together part-time jobs and graduate debt free. Later, I helped students with families and jobs navigate the same process. But today, it is nearly impossible for students to afford the education they need to launch their careers. The high cost of tuition comes with a high cost for society. When young people opt out of college because they can’t afford it, we lose scientists, engineers, and other professionals who could grow our economy right here at home. For those that do take on the high costs of tuition, many won’t be able to buy cars, a house, or start their families until this debt is paid. When we invest in students, we invest in communities, and when we cancel student debt, we boost the economy, which creates greater housing stability and increased support for local businesses. This is why I support student debt cancellation of up to $50,000 and public service loan forgiveness programs that connect graduates with high need communities like those in California’s 16th congressional district. I also support tuition-free community colleges and technical schools as well as tuition-free education at public four-year schools for financially-challenged families. Immigration Reform "We need real reform that addresses the root causes of migration, and provides an achievable path to status and citizenship so that our neighbors don’t have to live in fear." CA-16 is a diverse community, and every member of our community deserves respect, equality, and safety. I am committed to combating systemic racism and bias by lifting up marginalized communities and expanding equal opportunity for all. We must overturn this Administration’s policy of cruelty and division by ending private detention facilities that create inhumane conditions and separate families at our border. I am committed to work towards a clear path for citizenship for all undocumented immigrants. We must also address the root causes that drive individuals from their homes and take concrete steps to combat the violence, climate change, and injustice that has displaced millions. Criminal Justice Reform "For too long, we have bought into the idea that our safety depends on high incarceration rates. We’ve spent billions stacking the deck against the poor and communities of color in order to support an entire industry that profits from mass incarceration. As a result, we imprison more people than any other country on earth." And we are no safer for it. It’s time to redesign our criminal justice systems to be effective, fair, and humane for the entire population.This will require investments in rehabilitation, mental health care, and providing reintegration opportunities that are less destructive and more cost-effective. We must also reexamine the failed War on Drugs, eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, get rid of cash bail, and implement training to reduce racial bias. The United States operates separate criminal justice systems for the wealthy and the poor, and we must address these disparities by ensuing equal justice, which requires a new commitment to prosecuting giant corporations – and their leaders – when they cheat customers, stomp out their competitors, or rob their workers. Women's Rights "Women’s reproductive freedom is deeply tied to women’s economic security. Congress should pass new federal laws that protect access to reproductive care regardless of what the Supreme Court does." Through each passing generation, the accomplishments of women in our democracy are remarkable. From securing the right to vote to demanding equal treatment in the workplace, women have made landmark achievements to secure their equality in society. However, there is still work to be done. Our basic rights are under threat. Women should have access to reproductive healthcare; to pay equity and to a harassment-free workplace. More than 50% of my district identifies as female, and I commit to giving women an equal voice on the issues they care about the most. Universal Pre-K "Two expenses per month — my rent and my childcare exceeded my monthly paycheck. This is unacceptable and not sustainable for working families." The proper development and well-being of our children is the stepping stone to a better future. Federally funded, locally managed, and universally-available pre-K would create one of the biggest advantages for working families since unions. When workers are freed from the high cost and stress of access childcare, they are freed to pursue a career vigorously and invest their savings back into their communities. In addition, businesses benefit tremendously from a stable workforce that will grow our local economy. Not only will free universal Pre-K give children a good foundation for a healthy, productive life, it will create good-paying, protected jobs in the childcare industry. Economically and socially, it’s a win-win.[2] |
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| —Kim Williams' campaign website (2020)[3] | ||
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 28, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Kim Williams 2020 campaign website, “Vision For The Valley,” accessed February 12, 2020
