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Morgan Murtaugh
Morgan Murtaugh (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 53rd Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Murtaugh completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 53
Incumbent Susan Davis defeated Morgan Murtaugh in the general election for U.S. House California District 53 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Susan Davis (D) | 69.1 | 185,667 |
 | Morgan Murtaugh (R)  | 30.9 | 83,127 | |
| Total votes: 268,794 | |||
| = 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
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 53
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 53 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Susan Davis (D) | 64.1 | 93,051 |
| ✔ | | Morgan Murtaugh (R) | 14.3 | 20,827 |
| Matt Mendoza (R) | 13.6 | 19,710 | ||
 | Shawn Gino Kane (R) | 3.7 | 5,319 | |
| Bryan Kim (Independent) | 2.4 | 3,460 | ||
 | Brett Goda (R) | 2.0 | 2,898 | |
| Total votes: 145,265 | |||
| = 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
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Morgan Murtaugh completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Murtaugh's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
As I've campaigned my priorities have changed because now I know exactly what my district is concerned about: homelessness, cost of living and the border. My mission with homelessness is to do something proactive and open up a line of communication between non-profit organizations and local / state governments so that there is less chaos and more working together. When it comes to cost of living which is coupled with the housing crisis, my plan is to help lower taxes and promote development. Right now, people in California are being taxed so much they're leaving. People also can not afford housing because the cost to develop is so high that the cost of housing is high as well; we need to reduce regulations so that development can happen. Lastly, on the border, it's a federal issue and an issue of national security. We need to not only secure the border but clean up the toxic waste that has destroyed our beaches in the southernmost part of our city. These are just three of the many things I hope to accomplish.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Personally, I'm very passionate about immigration reform and securing our border. Right now they're seen as one in the same but they are two very separate issues. Border security is about national security: knowing who is coming into our country, when and why. Right now our system is being abused by people claiming false amnesty and in some cases smuggling children in who aren't even their own. Right now we have 30 million people here illegally (about 10 percent of our total population) and have no idea where they are or who they are. That needs to change. On top of that, the pollution at our southern border that has gone on for decades is so toxic that it's hospitalizing people. These are issues I'm passionate about solving through bipartisan efforts because everyone is being affected by our lack of action.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty, integrity and strength. Right now we are lacking a lot of that in our leadership. Too many false promises being made, too much manipulation of voters and not a lot of backbone when it comes down to it. I hope to change that.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
9/11. I was 9 years old and I just remember sitting at home getting ready for school, the news on, watching buildings crumble, and my mom keeping us home that day. I remember feeling scared but hopeful when everyone in the country came together as brothers and sisters to work together and help each other. One thing that makes me lose sleep at night today, the fact that we are so divided as a nation — I hope it doesn't take a tragedy to bring us back together again.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I worked for the U.S. Navy as Assistant Protocol to Commander Naval Air Forces. I was in the front office flag staff of a 3-Star Admiral and worked there for 3 years while attending community college. It was one of the best learning experiences of my life and definitely left a soft spot in my heart for our navy pilots.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas. It's the one time of year that my entire extended family comes together to just be together. I love that.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My dog, Maverick. He's the light of my life and I would be lost without him.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Mac Miller's Come Back to Earth (RIP 😞).
What are your thoughts on term limits?
We need them. As a society we tell people to retire in their 60s but we have legislators who are in office until they're 90s or until they pass away. We need to promote fresh ideas and we do that by encouraging retirement after a certain period of time. But at the same time, good luck getting a body of people to vote to end their careers.
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
- United States House of Representatives
- California's 53rd Congressional District election, 2018
- California's 53rd Congressional District
External links
Footnotes
