Rep. Mike Levin, a three-term Democrat, is running for re-election to his coastal North County and Orange County congressional district, considered one of the region’s more competitive.
To help inform voters, the San Diego Union-Tribune asked all the candidates a series of the same questions about their priorities, positions and campaigns. Their emailed answers have been lightly edited for clarity.
Why are you running, and what makes you the best candidate?
I’m running for reelection to continue fighting for this district, to bring more federal resources that improve the lives of residents and to work on bipartisan solutions to our country’s pressing challenges.
I have a proven track record of delivering for the 49th, including bringing over $835 million in federal funding for projects throughout the district and passing 30 bipartisan laws to improve veterans’ services, tackle climate change and lower costs. I am the best candidate in this race because I have the experience and knowledge of navigating a complex Congress and working across the aisle to deliver results.
What are the top 3 issues facing this district and California generally?
1. Cost of living: The prices for health care, housing and groceries are still too high. I voted for landmark laws that brought down inflation, capped insulin costs at $35 per month and capped out-of-pocket medical costs for seniors. I also support legislation to hold corporations accountable for price-gouging consumers at the pump and supermarket.
2. Climate change: We are seeing the effects of climate change all around us. I support a transition to clean, renewable energy to move us away from relying on fossil fuels, and voted for historic investments in projects to mitigate the effects of climate change.
3. Border security: I am a cosponsor of the bipartisan Dignity Act, the most promising comprehensive immigration reform and border protection legislation that would address border security challenges, provide a solution for undocumented immigration and strengthen our workforce.
What are the first 3 things you would do in your next term in Congress?
I’ll continue working on priorities that are crucial to the 49th, including:
1. Removal of spent nuclear fuel: Since entering Congress in 2019, one of my top priorities has been the safe removal of spent nuclear fuel at San Onofre out of the region. I’ve secured $93 million in federal funding to restart a program to find communities that want the economic benefits that will come with taking the fuel. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made.
2. Completion of sand replenishment projects: Our beaches are shrinking and we need more sand to ensure their viability for future generations. I fought for the sand replenishment projects currently underway in Encinitas, Solana Beach and San Clemente and will fight to bring more to the district.
3. Protect the LOSSAN Corridor: I’ll continue to fight for more federal resources to protect the LOSSAN Corridor, the second busiest rail corridor in the country.
What would you do to curb climate change and its effects on California?
I support investing in the development of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, to help transition our economy and bring good-paying clean energy jobs to the district.
I voted for the most ambitious climate law in history that put us on a path to reducing emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030 and is making historic investments in clean energy. I also recently introduced critical legislation to expand and strengthen our electric grid so that renewable energy can make it to our homes from where it is generated.
How should U.S. migration and asylum policy change, what should guide it, and what specifically will you pursue in Congress?
We must give Customs and Border Protection the resources it needs to secure the border and ensure orderly processing of asylum seekers. I voted for increased funding for Border Patrol, law enforcement and related community organizations to provide them with the tools they need.
I am a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Dignity Act, the most promising comprehensive immigration reform and border protection legislation. It would address border security challenges, provide a solution for undocumented immigration and strengthen our workforce. This bill is gaining momentum in the House and it is a pragmatic starting point to our border and immigration challenges.
What is your stance on the war in Gaza, and on U.S. involvement in and support of it?
The United States must support our allies that are rooted in democracy with the resources necessary to meet complex challenges. I support aid to Israel to defeat Hamas and for the defense of the Israeli people, and I also support humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
We must move towards a two-state solution that gives both peoples the chance to live in peace, security and dignity. That requires new leadership on both sides.
Would you support federal statutory restrictions on, or protections of, abortion rights? Which, and to what extent?
I strongly support abortion rights. Women should have the right to make their own health care decisions, and the government should not dictate what a woman can or cannot do with her own body. I fully support enshrining Roe v. Wade into federal law, and I have cosponsored and voted for legislation that would do just this.
Would you support or oppose stricter federal gun laws and background checks? Which, and to what extent?
We have a gun violence epidemic in America that is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 18. It is unacceptable, and we do not have to live like this.
I supported the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was the most significant gun safety legislation in 30 years, but we must do more. I support an assault weapons ban as well as universal and enhanced background checks.
