Candidates for California’s new District 6 pitch to Sacramento voters

Candidates running for California’s newly formed 6th Congressional District made their case to voters Wednesday night during a forum focused on issues including the cost of living, housing and immigration.The district stretches from West Sacramento to Rocklin and Roseville, and the race has drawn seven candidates: West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, Rep. Kevin Kiley, former state Sen. Dr. Richard Pan, Republican Michael Stansfield, Planned Parenthood executive Lauren Babb Tomlinson, and retired Marine Tyler Vandenberg.Six of the seven candidates appeared on stage at Wednesday’s forum, answering questions about how they would represent the district in Congress.“I am going to go to Congress and fight. I’m going to do what I’ve been doing as mayor, as a public servant,” Guerrero said.“I’m not a career politician. This moment demands something different, though,” Babb Tomlinson said.Ho pointed to his record as Sacramento County’s top prosecutor, saying, “As a district attorney in Sacramento County, my office has repeatedly gone after corporations that have polluted our environment.”Pan highlighted his legislative experience on climate policy.“When I was in the state legislature, we worked hard to actually set climate goals and reduce our carbon footprint,” Pan said.Vandenberg said his campaign is centered on three priorities.“We’re going to need to hold Trump accountable, build a better future, and ensure that America is safe for everyone in our communities,” he said.Stansfield framed his campaign around constitutional concerns.“The Constitution is an agreement between the people and the government. And right now, every red line has been crossed,” he said.Among the key topics discussed were affordability and immigration.Ho said he supports tax credits to encourage affordable housing, particularly near transit.“We need to, first of all, provide tax credits to different organizations to go ahead and make sure that they promote affordable housing, especially around transit,” Ho said.Babb Tomlinson said more housing options and incentives are needed to help younger residents.“We’ve got to incentivize tax credits that allow young people to be able to afford to buy homes or rent,” she said. “We also need to look at different types of housing, condos, other ways in which people can be able to get housing.”Vandenberg said he would support a preferential loan program for workers, including teachers, nurses, and first responders.On immigration, Guerrero said stronger reforms are needed, while Stansfield said immigration is also important to the nation’s long-term economic stability.”I want to make sure that if anybody gets injured, that we video recorded, not only do we have to protect our essential workers to keep them safe, our children on DACA, we also need stronger immigration reform,” said Guerrero.“My wife is an immigrant,” Stansfield said. “If you want to retire someday, we don’t have enough kids to pay for Social Security unless you have more people coming into the system.”Pan said he supports a legal pathway to citizenship.“That’s why it’s important that we have a legal path to citizenship,” Pan said.The primary election is June 2. Vote-by-mail ballots are scheduled to begin going out May 4, and the top two finishers will advance to the November general election.The forum was hosted by the League of Women Voters. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Candidates running for California’s newly formed 6th Congressional District made their case to voters Wednesday night during a forum focused on issues including the cost of living, housing and immigration.

The district stretches from West Sacramento to Rocklin and Roseville, and the race has drawn seven candidates: West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, Rep. Kevin Kiley, former state Sen. Dr. Richard Pan, Republican Michael Stansfield, Planned Parenthood executive Lauren Babb Tomlinson, and retired Marine Tyler Vandenberg.

Six of the seven candidates appeared on stage at Wednesday’s forum, answering questions about how they would represent the district in Congress.

“I am going to go to Congress and fight. I’m going to do what I’ve been doing as mayor, as a public servant,” Guerrero said.

“I’m not a career politician. This moment demands something different, though,” Babb Tomlinson said.

Ho pointed to his record as Sacramento County’s top prosecutor, saying, “As a district attorney in Sacramento County, my office has repeatedly gone after corporations that have polluted our environment.”

Pan highlighted his legislative experience on climate policy.

“When I was in the state legislature, we worked hard to actually set climate goals and reduce our carbon footprint,” Pan said.

Vandenberg said his campaign is centered on three priorities.

“We’re going to need to hold Trump accountable, build a better future, and ensure that America is safe for everyone in our communities,” he said.

Stansfield framed his campaign around constitutional concerns.

“The Constitution is an agreement between the people and the government. And right now, every red line has been crossed,” he said.

Among the key topics discussed were affordability and immigration.

Ho said he supports tax credits to encourage affordable housing, particularly near transit.

“We need to, first of all, provide tax credits to different organizations to go ahead and make sure that they promote affordable housing, especially around transit,” Ho said.

Babb Tomlinson said more housing options and incentives are needed to help younger residents.

“We’ve got to incentivize tax credits that allow young people to be able to afford to buy homes or rent,” she said. “We also need to look at different types of housing, condos, other ways in which people can be able to get housing.”

Vandenberg said he would support a preferential loan program for workers, including teachers, nurses, and first responders.

On immigration, Guerrero said stronger reforms are needed, while Stansfield said immigration is also important to the nation’s long-term economic stability.

“I want to make sure that if anybody gets injured, that we video recorded, not only do we have to protect our essential workers to keep them safe, our children on DACA, we also need stronger immigration reform,” said Guerrero.

“My wife is an immigrant,” Stansfield said. “If you want to retire someday, we don’t have enough kids to pay for Social Security unless you have more people coming into the system.”

Pan said he supports a legal pathway to citizenship.

“That’s why it’s important that we have a legal path to citizenship,” Pan said.

The primary election is June 2. Vote-by-mail ballots are scheduled to begin going out May 4, and the top two finishers will advance to the November general election.

The forum was hosted by the League of Women Voters.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel