Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: Chris Ahuja
Current job title: Small Business Owner / Talent Agent
Age: 45
Political party affiliation: Democratic
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: Tarzana Neighborhood Council member
City where you reside: Tarzana
Campaign website or social media: chrisahuja.com
From voter ID to war powers and from immigration to tariffs, Congress has tackled many issues over the past year. What do you, though, see as the top three issues impacting Californians, and what specifically could you do as a lawmaker to address these issues? (Please answer in 250 words or less, and keep your response to future proposals.)
The cost of living, from groceries to childcare, rent, and healthcare. Working Californians need their government to work for them to have dignified lives, and Rep. Brad Sherman is not meeting this moment with failed policies for our district.
ICE is running rogue throughout our communities, terrorizing businesses, families and destroying communities that need solidarity, not seniority. Abolishing and prosecuting ICE for the crimes they have committed will be a priority for my office, to ensure accountability is met
Californians do not support forever wars perpetuated by the MAGA regime and Benjamin Netanyahu. Our tax dollars are being spent every day on genocide in Gaza and an illegal war in Iran, yet working people in our state don’t have Medicare for All or quality education for our children. We must change this with a new policy and vision for our community.
Moral and authentic leadership is what I will bring to our 32nd District.
Speaking of voter ID, the president has implored Congress to approve legislation that would require people to show proof of citizenship in order to vote. What role do you believe the federal government plays in telling states how to conduct their own elections, as dictated by the U.S. Constitution? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
The policy is redundant and is meant to suppress voters. Donald Trump doesn’t care about the laws that are already in place to ensure fair elections that protect voters; he is more concerned with preventing a loss to his party and his presidency. We saw what happened on Jan. 6, so it’s important to be proactive about protecting voters.
What, in your opinion, should the federal government focus on when it comes to immigration policy? For example, do you place a priority on border security, visas for high-skilled workers, refuge for asylum seekers, etc., and why? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
We must focus on human rights, legal pathways and abolishing ICE. ICE is terrorizing our communities, the process is inhumane, unconstitutional, and unaccountable. By expanding legal pathways, workers, families, and asylum seekers will have accessible routes to safety and opportunities. This is how we make immigration work. The policies of ICE treat immigration as a criminal issue, not a humanitarian one, and that’s the core problem with ICE. It is a rogue agency that hurts America both economically and morally.
It’s been over a year since Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the federal government for supplemental disaster aid to help Southern California communities rebuild after the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires, but neither President Donald Trump nor Congress has acted. What would you do to push for the funding, besides writing letters to the Trump administration or the leaders of Congress? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I would organize a bipartisan coalition of representatives for the western United States who have similar fire risk problems to force a vote on supplemental wildfire disaster relief. Building bridges with my colleagues to build solidarity on urgent issues that are human and non-partisan. Enact public hearings, working at the local level to mobilize organizations and support both city and state agencies, and must-pass legislation with fire relief, so there’s a sense of urgency to support our communities that have been affected.
Do you support a ban or restriction on congressional lawmakers and their families from buying or selling individual stocks? Why or why not? And what would you propose to ensure lawmakers aren’t using their positions to engage in insider trading? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Yes, a full ban on congressional lawmakers and their families from buying or selling individual stocks. We have seen elected officials and their family members engage in stock trading that clearly enriched them due to inside information. When elected officials are making votes based on how the stock of that company will perform afterwards, it is the highest violation of a congressperson’s duty to represent people and not special interests. There must be stricter rules, accountability, disclosure rules that have teeth and urgency to them, with strict penalties, both monetary and removal for committees.
Do you support stronger regulations on pollution and carbon emissions? If so, how would you ensure those regulations aren’t overly burdensome on small businesses or lower-income families? And if not, how do you propose lawmakers protect the environment and curtail the impacts of climate change? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Yes. We need stronger regulations on pollution and carbon emissions. Working people who have small businesses should not fall burden to this, while large corporations get a free pass. We protect the environment and curtail the impacts of climate change by being proactive, not reactive. The Sepulveda Transit Corridor project not only increases the quality of life for people by decreasing the amount of time sitting on the freeway, but fewer cars on the road decreases the amount of pollution. Introducing tax incentives and rebates for small businesses to ensure they’re getting the support they need.
President Donald Trump has significantly increased spending for the U.S. Department of Defense. Would you, as a member of Congress, approve additional dollars for the military if the president were to ask for more funding? How would you ensure that any military spending does not end up putting the American people or national security in harm’s way? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
No, I would not approve of increased dollars if the president asked. The Pentagon has not passed an audit. I would support independent audits to create transparency and oversight to ensure that what the Pentagon has been doing for years is on the up and up. Constituents in our 32nd District deserve to understand where their tax dollars are going, as well as supporting a watchdog agency to be aware of conflict of interest violations.
Under what specific circumstances do you believe the U.S. should engage in a war? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Self-defense, congressional authorization, and diplomacy have been exhausted under good faith negotiations.
Do you believe a president should seek congressional approval before engaging in military action overseas? Why, or why not? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Yes. We have seen Donald Trump engage in unconstitutional acts repeatedly that result in death and destruction overseas. The Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war. We must have fighters in Congress to speak loudly when Trump disregards Congress.
Congress, in theory, is supposed to serve as a check on the president through budgetary, legislative and oversight powers. Do you believe Congress has fulfilled that obligation during the past two administrations, with one being a Democrat and the other a Republican? Why or why not? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
No, Congress has not fulfilled this obligation. Failure with oversight and war powers. The inability of Congress to legislate has made many Americans angry and see zero support from their elected representatives. It will be my obligation to treat oversight as a responsibility, enforcing war powers, transparency and upholding our constitution. The executive branch must be held accountable, full stop.
Governments around the world are increasingly considering an age ban or other restrictions on social media use among young people, citing mental health and other concerns. Should Congress adopt such restrictions? If so, what specific restrictions do you propose? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Yes. There are studies that show the harm that young people face with social media and the addictive nature that has brought so much negativity to their lives. Meta, and other social media companies, must be transparent about their algorithm and internal studies just as cigarette companies misled the pubic for countless years to find that their products were causing cancer. It is our job to protect young people from these corporations that put profit over them.
Statistically, violent crime rates in California are on the decline, yet residents still don’t feel safe or at ease in their communities. How do you see your role in Congress in addressing the underlying issues that make Californians feel unsafe in their own neighborhoods? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
We must answer the question of why residents don’t feel safe, even if violent crime rates in California are on the decline. I will address the root causes of crime and instability and meet people where they are. Creating economic opportunities, mental health care for the unhoused who desperately need it, and expanding access to housing.
Addressing these problems and separating the idea that because someone is unhoused, they’re criminals. Safety isn’t about policing; it’s about stability, and although it’s good that data shows crime rates down, people must feel it in their neighborhoods.
There are term limits to serve in the California Legislature, but none to serve in Congress. Would you advocate for term limits for House members? Why or why not? If you support term limits, how many years maximum should a House member be allowed to serve? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
Yes, I would absolutely advocate for term limits for House members. Our elected officials in the House were never meant to serve terms forever. Representatives like Brad Sherman have been in office for 30 years, and they become disconnected with our communities and the constituents that are meant to be represented. I propose six terms for a total of 12 years in office.
In addition, overturning Citizens United, getting corporate money, and foreign lobbies, like AIPAC, out of our electoral politics.
What’s a hidden talent you have? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I am an active Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, coached under Erik Paulson (CSW) and Master Rigan Machado. Most people probably don’t know that my Triangle Choke secured my first medal in a jiu-jitsu competition. I also make a killer Neapolitan pizza.