Dr. Timothy Bilash, an OB-GYN, is challenging Rep. Scott Peters, a fellow Democrat, for his seat in Congress.
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 will be the only women’s physician in the House and have extensive scientific expertise to offer in drafting federal legislation.
What are the top 3 issues facing this district and California generally?
—Universal single-payer healthcare
—Reproductive and gender rights ensured at the federal level
—Environmental mitigation
Dr. Timothy Bilash, 2024 primary candidate for California’s 50th Congressional District
(Courtesy of Timothy Bilash)
What are the first 3 things you would do in your first term in Congress?
—Provide stable federal budgets
—Create state-level universal healthcare coverage
—Protect individual federal rights, which are being chipped away
What would you do to curb climate change and its effects on California?
Reduce total vehicle miles traveled on roadways. Require sustainable farming methods, regenerative soil husbandry and local production of produce. Leave fossil fuel in the ground.
How should U.S. migration and asylum policy change, what should guide it, and what specifically will you pursue in Congress?
Pass the bipartisan legislation already sent to the House. Provide federal funding for Homeland Security at the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry.
What is your stance on the war in Gaza, and on U.S. involvement in and support of it?
We have been encouraging violence as policy, and allowing and funding totalitarian Leaders to kill without consequence.
Would you support federal statutory restrictions on, or protections of, abortion rights? Which, and to what extent?
I answer NO to restriction. I answer YES to protection
I absolutely support gender and reproductive medical services and the personal decisions by the pregnant mother carrying the unborn child, within the general guidelines of Roe v. Wade, at the federal level, guided by medical Judgment offered by the physician for each individual patient.
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” Women are citizens and have individual federal and state rights.
Would you support or oppose stricter federal gun laws and background checks? Which, and to what extent?
Gun violence requires urgent attention. I demand registration of war weapons and high-capacity ammunition that continue to be used for indiscriminate civilian mass killing rather than incapacitation. They afford no opportunity to de-escalate violence and avoid mortal outcome. It is one-sided absolute justice.
We must currently rely on state-level safety rules, such as Virginia’s SB 2, for safe storage, while enacting federal legislation that improves on recent White House actions. These are sorely needed to protect our children.
