Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, speaks during a Sacramento Bee subscriber-only town hall meeting at the historic Loomis Train Depot in Placer County on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
HECTOR AMEZCUA
hamezcua@sacbee.com
Here is how I would explain to my liberal friends why, contrary to what they might believe, Rep. Kevin Kiley is awesome.
The two-term congressman recently decided to run for reelection in the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District, which includes my house in Placer County, and he’s conducting a bold experiment by running as an independent.
Kiley has proven to be an effective and independent representative for the region – something in short supply in Congress – and by becoming a “No Party Preference” candidate, he’s showing that he’s still the same guy he’s always been.
“As an elected representative, I’ve always seen my role as being an independent voice for our community, holding politicians in Sacramento and Washington accountable to serve my constituents,” Kiley said in his announcement. “I answer to you, not party leaders, and that’s the kind of representation I believe the newly drawn 6th District deserves.”
Throughout Kiley’s career in politics – in the Legislature and then in Congress – he has been a free thinker with no problem breaking from party leadership. He was a Republican until recently.
For example, Kiley pushed hard to increase the federal SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction, because California has high state and local taxes. Kiley’s efforts here are not the slam dunk it might seem as most Republicans nationally come from low-tax states and don’t love the idea of bailing out the costly choices made in Democratic states, but he won them over and scored a major victory for Californians.
It’s actually kind of funny, in a sad way, that Southern Republicans were more willing than California Democrats to support Kiley’s tax relief bid for Californians. But that’s why Kiley is a good representative.
Kiley also bucked Republican leadership by pushing for a release of the full Epstein files, banning congressional stock trading and extending health care subsidies. He’s also fought against gerrymandering and was one of six Republicans to vote against Trump’s emergency tariffs on Canada.
Don’t get me wrong; Kiley is not a liberal. But he is someone reasonable enough to work with anyone.
Kiley was recently forced to find a new congressional district after Gov. Gavin Newsom, in an effort to further his own career, conspired with national Democrats to gerrymander California’s congressional districts. The vehicle for this was Proposition 50, passed by voters last November. Kiley was left with few good options and ultimately decided to run in a challenging, but not impossible, seat that leans left.
Congress is facing a wave of retirements as many members are sick of dealing with the toxicity of Washington or don’t feel like dealing with a tough reelection campaign. This makes Kiley’s decision even more admirable.
Of course, not everyone is a fan.
“Goes independent? No, he registered (No Party Preference) to try to fool voters in the district into not knowing he’s a Trumper,” said Lorena Gonzalez, a labor boss and former lawmaker who served with Kiley in the Legislature. “He’s still caucusing with the Republicans, still one of them. This is the height of electoral cynicism.”
No, Lorena. The height of electoral cynicism was Prop 50, which you supported, and which sliced up the state’s carefully designed congressional districts purely for partisan advantage.
As for Kiley being a “Trumper,” it’s not a claim supported by evidence. Kiley isn’t a Trumper. He’s also not a “Never Trumper.” He’s Kevin Kiley of Placer County who works with anyone if it helps his constituents.
It’s true that Trump endorsed Kiley in 2022 and said nice things about him. But Trump also said Newsom was a “good guy” with whom he used to “get along great.” Is Newsom a Trumper too?
This isn’t even about Trump. This is about results, and right now partisanship is the biggest enemy of results.
Only 16% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, and it’s been that way for quite some time. The House of Representatives seems long removed from the founding vision of a body representing local interests and working to solve the nation’s problems. Instead, we have mob rule and what little gets done has almost no buy-in from the other side. As a result, we’re in a perpetual state of angst.
Compromise is dead and it was killed by hyperpartisanship.
As Kiley pointed out in his announcement, the vast majority of elected offices are nonpartisan: most city councils, county supervisors, sheriffs, district attorneys and school boards. It’s not surprising that those bodies are generally more effective and more representative of their electorates.
So what do we want? Another partisan hack who goes to Congress and spends all his or her time on cable news and social media? Or someone who actually acts in the best interest of their district and brings victories back home?
The choice seems clear. Congress would be better off with more indepedent voices like Kiley’s and voters throughout the 6th district should hear what he has to say.
Matt Fleming is an opinion writer living in Placer County. You can follow him on X @Flemingwords or connect via email: flemingwords@gmail.com
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