![\"Rep.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SAC_6297_RepKevinKiley_HA_260217.JPG\" "\\"Rep.")
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Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, speaks during a Sacramento Bee town hall meeting at the historic Loomis Train Depot in Placer County on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n
HECTOR AMEZCUA<\/p>\n
hamezcua@sacbee.com<\/p>\n
Rep. Kevin Kiley is betting that a change of party registration from Republican to No Party Preference<\/a> will win him favor with Democrats and independents, a population he\u2019ll need to get elected in a redrawn congressional district that now leans left.<\/a><\/p>\n Kiley\u2019s challenge will be that his conservative voting record (and a resume that includes the vigorous endorsement of President Donald Trump) will no longer be a strength \u2014 and very likely could be a liability.<\/p>\n When California voters passed Proposition 50 last year, state congressional districts were altered to benefit Democrats and Kiley\u2019s \u201csafe\u201d 3rd District was carved up, making him a political orphan.<\/p>\n Now running in the newly drawn 6th Congressional District, Kiley has gone from favorite to underdog; from facing longshot challengers, to big name Democrats; and from voters who appreciate his record to those who will be skeptical at best \u2014 and hostile at worst.<\/p>\n Starting in January, the 6th District will cover Rocklin, Roseville, Citrus Heights, the city of West Sacramento and a large part of northern and eastern Sacramento. The race is crowded with successful Democrats, including Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho; former Sen. Richard Pan; West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero; and reproductive rights advocate Lauren Babb Tomlinson, among others.<\/p>\n How Kiley will do remains to be seen. What is certain is that Democrats in the new 6th District will remember Kiley\u2019s previous votes<\/a> on these three top-of-mind issues \u2014 and they may have a hard time forgiving and forgetting:<\/p>\n Kiley on abortion<\/p>\n Kiley has long been a vocal opponent of abortion rights<\/a>, and a staunch pro-life supporter, but 84% of Democrats and Democratic leaners in California say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to the Pew Research Center.<\/a><\/p>\n Last year, Kiley voted \u201cyea\u201d for the \u201cBorn-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act\u201d which required hospital transportation and medical care for aborted fetuses, and criminalized medical professionals\u2019 failure to comply.<\/p>\n In 2024, Kiley voted against Proposition 1, which enshrined reproductive freedom in the California Constitution. He has been rated the highest possible score by the California Pro-Life Council<\/a>, and the lowest possible scores by Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice California.<\/p>\n Also in 2024, Kiley voted in favor of the Van Duyne Amendment<\/a>, which blocked veterans and service members from accessing abortion services, and voted for an amendment prohibiting the Department of Defense from covering abortion-related travel or services for service members.<\/p>\n Kiley on Medicare<\/p>\n Kiley drew heat from some of his constituents in the 3rd District last year, when he voted in favor of President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cBig Beautiful Bill.\u201d<\/a> The legislation created significant reductions to Medicaid funding while increasing funding for immigration enforcement and border security,<\/a> and hundreds of Kiley\u2019s constituents held massive protests outside his Rocklin office expressing their concerns but were generally ignored by the congressman and his staff.<\/a><\/p>\n Medicaid \u2014 called Medi-Cal in California \u2014 is a public health insurance program for low-income communities. In early 2024, California expanded the state\u2019s Medi-Cal benefits to all undocumented immigrants, increasing services for about 750,000 adults overall, funding that has since been cut.<\/a> In response, Kiley introduced the \u201cNo Medicaid for Illegal Immigrants Act<\/a>\u201d the following year, which prohibits state Medicaid programs from covering immigrants without legal residence in the U.S.<\/p>\n According to the Public Policy Institute of California<\/a>, seven in 10 California voters oppose the federal cuts to Medicaid.<\/p>\n Kiley on climate<\/p>\n Kiley has criticized aggressive climate policies,<\/a> including California mandates to transition to zero-emission vehicles and tighter emissions regulations, and California\u2019s goal for 100% clean electricity by 2045<\/a>, which may be essential for combating climate change.<\/p>\n In 2025, Kiley voted for the \u201cProtecting American Energy Production Act,\u201d<\/a> which blocked a presidential ban on fracking, and recently initiated efforts to limit the California Coastal Commission\u2019s authority, arguing that the state\u2019s environmental review process could delay projects related to national security.<\/p>\n A new poll by the Sacramento-based group, California Environmental Voters<\/a> finds that 68% of voters support increasing California\u2019s investment in clean energy sources, and 70% of voters want California to lead on environmental protection, even without the federal government\u2019s support.<\/p>\n Kiley\u2019s move away from the Republican Party in this election cycle has been met with no shortage of experts who are down on his chances.<\/p>\n \u201cSome people have said \u2018How would (Kiley) win otherwise?\u2019\u201d said California political data consultant, Paul Mitchell. \u201cBut if he does this, (Kiley) also doesn\u2019t have a future in the Republican Party. He\u2019s trying to do this magic trick and I don\u2019t think voters are going to go for it.\u201d<\/p>\n So: Can Kiley win?<\/p>\n \u201cPeople don\u2019t approach it from the perspective of, \u2018What party are you?\u2019 They approach it from the perspective of, \u2018OK, how do we come together to solve problems?\u2019\u201d Kiley told NPR\u2019s Morning Edition last week.<\/a><\/p>\n Stranger things have happened, but in California, lacking an R or a D next to your name on a ballot has usually meant a tough election night for the candidate. In the end, Kiley voted the way he voted before Prop. 50 upended his political fortunes.<\/p>\n This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 5:00 AM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
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