Whitney Shanahan is an abortion rights advocate and Democrat who is running for Rep. Darrell Issa’s congressional district representing much of inland North County and East County.
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 Congress to secure our reproductive rights nationwide, end gun violence and make raising and housing a family affordable. I’ve spent the last 5 years advocating for reproductive rights and collected over 270,000 signatures to go to Congress and do just that. I’m not part of the political establishment, I’m just a mother who wants access to healthcare, a safe world for my kid and affordable food and housing so we don’t have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Whitney Shanahan, 2024 primary candidate for California’s 48th Congressional District
(Courtesy of Whitney Shanahan)
What are the top 3 issues facing this district and California generally?
Affordable housing and overall affordability of raising a family is a huge issue to families in CA-48 and my family personally. And it’s not being addressed because we are currently represented by the richest member in all of Congress — Rep. Darrell Issa. He’s out of touch with the realities of most families — including my own — that live paycheck to paycheck.
Access to healthcare and reproductive rights is also a very improvement issue, because even though California has statewide protections to abortion, if Republicans pass a nationwide ban, we will lose those protections.
Finally, gun violence is a huge issue for families in our district ,as gun violence is now the No. 1 cause of death of kids in the U.S. It absolutely doesn’t have to be this way — our kids and families deserve better.
What are the first 3 things you would do in your first term in Congress?
When I’m in Congress, I will work to pass nationwide protections to abortion rights, and help pass gun violence prevention laws such as Ethan’s law. I lost my brother to gun violence as a child and am personally invested in making our country safe for children.
And I will hold space for the people of the district to tell me what is needed most, with public town halls both in person and online. Our current representative Issa is never available and won’t even show up for a debate — my family lives in the district, I’m not interested in being a politician. My goal is to represent our families in Congress.
What would you do to curb climate change and its effects on California?
Climate change is a huge issue, especially for us in California. The responsibility needs to fall on the big corporations who caused it — not on families who are just trying to make ends meet. I will hold corporations accountable, and I will have the ability to do that in Congress because I’m NOT taking corporate PAC money.
How should U.S. migration and asylum policy change, what should guide it, and what specifically will you pursue in Congress?
We need clear and attainable paths to citizenship, with human rights and family-centered policy that keeps families together and creates pathways to success. This country’s strength and backbone are immigrants, and they should be treated with respect.
What is your stance on the war in Gaza, and on U.S. involvement in and support of it?
When in Congress, I will sign a resolution for ceasefire the moment it crosses my desk, and if by the time I get there — there still isn’t one — I will cosponsor a resolution for ceasefire myself.
Would you support federal statutory restrictions on, or protections of, abortion rights? Which, and to what extent?
In 2019, I was pregnant and in a red state. I found myself having pregnancy complications and was questioned about what I’d done to “cause” them.
After a personal experience with the criminalization of pregnancy, I became a national abortion rights advocate.
I have spent the last five years holding hundreds of rallies to protect abortion rights, I have amassed a social media following of over half a million, and I have collected over 270,000 signatures to go to Congress and protect abortion rights nationwide!
Would you support or oppose stricter federal gun laws and background checks? Which, and to what extent?
When I was a child I lost my brother to gun violence. As a millennial I watched Columbine unfold from my classroom, and ever since then, gun violence has gotten worse. Now, as a parent, gun violence is the No. 1 cause of death of children in the U.S.
It absolutely shouldn’t be this way and doesn’t have to be this way. Passing legislation to prevent gun violence is personal to me, and I’ll fight like hell to stop this unnecessary loss of life.
