![\"Rep.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774082597_249_SAC_5528_RepKevinKiley_HA_260217.JPG\" "\\"Rep.")
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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.<\/p>\n
HECTOR AMEZCUA<\/p>\n
hamezcua@sacbee.com<\/p>\n
Here is how I would explain to my liberal friends why, contrary to what they might believe, Rep. Kevin Kiley is awesome.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s conducting a bold experiment by running as an independent.<\/p>\n
Kiley has proven to be an effective and independent representative for the region \u2013 something in short supply in Congress \u2013 and by becoming a \u201cNo Party Preference\u201d candidate, he\u2019s showing that he\u2019s still the same guy he\u2019s always been.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs an elected representative, I\u2019ve always seen my role as being an independent voice for our community, holding politicians in Sacramento and Washington accountable to serve my constituents,\u201d Kiley said<\/a> in his announcement. \u201cI answer to you, not party leaders, and that\u2019s the kind of representation I believe the newly drawn 6th District deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n Throughout Kiley\u2019s career in politics \u2013 in the Legislature and then in Congress \u2013 he has been a free thinker with no problem breaking from party leadership. He was a Republican until recently.<\/p>\n For example, Kiley pushed hard to increase the federal SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction, because California has high state and local taxes. Kiley\u2019s efforts here are not the slam dunk it might seem as most Republicans nationally come from low-tax states and don\u2019t 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.<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s actually kind of funny, in a sad way, that Southern Republicans were more willing than California Democrats to support Kiley\u2019s tax relief bid for Californians. But that\u2019s why Kiley is a good representative.<\/p>\n Kiley also bucked Republican leadership by pushing for a release of the full Epstein files,<\/a> banning congressional stock trading<\/a> and extending health care subsidies.<\/a> He\u2019s also fought against gerrymandering and was one of six Republicans to vote against Trump\u2019s emergency tariffs on Canada.<\/a><\/p>\n Don\u2019t get me wrong; Kiley is not a liberal. But he is someone reasonable enough to work with anyone.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Congress is facing a wave of retirements<\/a> as many members are sick of dealing with the toxicity of Washington or don\u2019t feel like dealing with a tough reelection campaign. This makes Kiley\u2019s decision even more admirable.<\/p>\n Of course, not everyone is a fan.<\/p>\n \u201cGoes independent? No, he registered (No Party Preference) to try to fool voters in the district into not knowing he\u2019s a Trumper,\u201d said Lorena Gonzalez, a labor boss and former lawmaker who served with Kiley in the Legislature. \u201cHe\u2019s still caucusing with the Republicans, still one of them. This is the height of electoral cynicism.\u201d<\/p>\n No, Lorena. The height of electoral cynicism was Prop 50, which you supported, and which sliced up the state\u2019s carefully designed congressional districts purely for partisan advantage.<\/p>\n As for Kiley being a \u201cTrumper,\u201d it\u2019s not a claim supported by evidence. Kiley isn\u2019t a Trumper. He\u2019s also not a \u201cNever Trumper.\u201d He\u2019s Kevin Kiley of Placer County who works with anyone if it helps his constituents.<\/p>\n It\u2019s true that Trump endorsed Kiley in 2022 and said nice things about him. But Trump also said Newsom was a \u201cgood guy\u201d<\/a> with whom he used to \u201cget along great.\u201d Is Newsom a Trumper too?<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t even about Trump. This is about results, and right now partisanship is the biggest enemy of results.<\/p>\n