Congressional Candidates Discuss Climate Change, War, and Immigration in Oxnard

On May 8, a debate featuring seven candidates for Ventura County’s largest House seat took place at Pacifica High School in Oxnard. Organized by the League of Women Voters and the local chapter of Delta Sigma Theta alumni, the event saw four Democrats and three Republicans on stage, as two candidates were absent. The top two vote-getters in the upcoming June primary will advance to the November general election.

This debate showcased the candidates’ views on pivotal issues, including the federal deficit, healthcare, climate change, and international conflicts. California’s 26th District encompasses all of Ventura County, excluding Ventura, as well as much of Ojai, Simi Valley, and parts of Los Angeles County. The seat is open this election cycle following the retirement of incumbent Democrat Julia Brownley, who held the position since 2013.

A total of nine candidates—five Democrats and four Republicans—are vying for votes in the June 2 primary. While all candidates received invitations to participate in the debate, only seven attended. Notably absent were Democrat Sasan Samadzadeh and Republican William Scott. During the event, the remaining candidates faced a fast-paced, 90-minute questioning session led by moderator David Mallon from the League of Women Voters, covering vital topics such as immigration, climate change, budget concerns, healthcare policy, and ongoing international conflicts.

Immigration Reform Perspectives

Across party lines, candidates expressed a need for reforms in immigration policy and enforcement. Democrats Liam Hernandez and Chris Espinosa called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In contrast, fellow Democrats Jackie Irwin and Sonia Kakkar supported strong border security while criticizing ICE’s operations.

Irwin voiced concerns about the agency’s budget increases under the Trump administration, labeling it as “lawless” and accusing it of racial profiling. Republican Pastor Sam Gallucci shared his church’s support for many undocumented immigrants, advocating for immigration reform that would allow law-abiding individuals to remain in the U.S. “All these workers need to stay and the criminals need to go,” he stated succinctly.

Republican Michael Koslow, formerly a criminal investigator at the Pentagon, proposed legal work visas for undocumented immigrants, though he opposed any pathways to citizenship. Notably, Daniel Miller, a Republican from Lancaster, diverged from the reform consensus, asserting that California’s government “spends egregious amounts of money on illegal immigration.”

Addressing Climate Change

Six of the seven candidates acknowledged climate change as a pressing issue, though Miller expressed skepticism, questioning the authenticity of some claims regarding its impact. Irwin highlighted his role in reintroducing California’s cap-and-trade program, a market-based approach aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through allowances for trading.

Espinosa critiqued cap-and-trade for its tendency to concentrate pollution in marginalized communities, while Koslow also criticized the program. Gallucci deemed California’s cuts to subsidies for solar energy as detrimental to climate progress. Kakkar, a physician from Thousand Oaks, opposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, asserting her commitment to defend scientific integrity in policymaking.

Federal Budget Concerns

The candidates were unanimous in their view that the federal budget deficit is unmanageable. “If I ran my business the way they manage the budget, I’d be bankrupt tomorrow,” Hernandez remarked, suggesting the U.S. should halt foreign aid to Israel and redirect funds toward social programs. Both Irwin and Espinosa stressed the necessity for wealthier individuals and corporations to contribute more to taxes.

Republicans Koslow, Kakkar, and Gallucci discussed the need to eliminate “fraud, waste, and abuse” from government spending, with Koslow emphasizing accountability: “Congress shouldn’t get paid if it can’t pass a budget.”

Healthcare Accessibility

Kakkar pointed out the rising costs of healthcare influenced by the substantial funds channeled to insurance companies, leading to decreased accessibility for patients. Gallucci echoed this sentiment, arguing that excessive spending on insurance hampers efficient healthcare delivery.

Both Hernandez and Espinosa endorsed the notion of “Medicare for All,” a proposal for a single-payer national health insurance model akin to the program available for Americans over 65. Irwin added that Congress needs to counteract cuts to federal healthcare programs initiated during the Trump administration.

Foreign Policy and the Iranian Conflict

In a discussion on foreign policy, Koslow remarked on the current global turmoil. While he, along with Irwin, Gallucci, and Miller, emphasized the importance of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, opinions diverged regarding military actions taken by the Trump administration. Gallucci firmly supported America’s military endeavors in Iran, while Koslow described the situation as “very complex.”

Conversely, Irwin, Espinosa, Hernandez, and Kakkar condemned the military actions as not only unauthorized by Congress but also unnecessary. Espinosa characterized the war as “the most ridiculous and unstrategic conflict ever fought,” stating that a deal negotiated by former President Obama would have effectively curtailed Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Kakkar criticized the ongoing war as another instance of governmental overreach that might lead the nation into recession, asserting that the promise of prioritizing “America First” has been abandoned.

Tony Biasotti is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. This article was made possible through a grant from the Community Foundation of Ventura County’s Local Journalism Support Fund.