For our regular In-House Opinions feature, in which we poll Southern California members of Congress about their views on questions of the day, we asked them: “How has this campaign season treated you? Has it been a good civic conversation across your district — and across the nation, in other races? After gerrymandering, in the current national political rancor, is our democracy in good shape in California? Is electoral politics still a fulfilling place to be for you? What are your priorities for the autumn term in Congress?”
We received three replies:
Rep. Laura Friedman, D-Glendale: “Despite the horrific actions of the administration during the past two years, I remain hopeful that we can come together as a country to bring actual relief to the American people.
“Every day, I talk to people I represent all across the political spectrum. No matter who they voted for, their lives are more expensive than before. The Trump administration’s tariffs and illegal war have caused the price of everything from gas to groceries to shoot through the roof, and regions like ours are paying the price. I expect that next week, we will see a sharp rebuke of these unpopular policies, and next Congress, we will have the opportunity to bring accountability and oversight back to government.”
Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona: “Despite the best efforts of Gavin Newsom to silence the voice of Republicans in California, I’m determined to keep fighting for conservative principles and to take our state in a different direction. If any Californian is interested in restoring common sense in our state, they should get out vote yes on Prop. 39 to put voter ID in place and vote no on Prop. 40 to stop the latest tax grab from radicals in Sacramento. Regardless of how the election turns out, I will keep fighting to lower costs, keep taxes low, end job-killing regulations and reduce energy prices here in California.”
Rep. Mike Levin, D-Carlsbad:
How has this campaign season treated you?
“I’ve spent a lot of time talking with constituents across the district, and those conversations keep me grounded. People want lower costs, a government that plays it straight and leaders who actually listen. This year I also got to do something new, helping Democratic candidates in close races around the country, and meeting them reminded me how many good people are stepping up to serve. And I genuinely enjoyed debating my Republican opponent. Voters deserve to see candidates make their case side by side, and I’m glad we gave them that chance.”
Is our democracy in good shape in California?
“Here at home, yes. Our election officials are dedicated professionals and voting is accessible. What worries me is in Washington, where an administration is testing the limits of the rule of law and chipping away at the checks and balances that keep any one person from having too much power. I’m also troubled by how coarse our politics has become. Look at the ad Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign is running in Ohio, putting Amy Acton’s estranged mother on camera to attack her own daughter, a woman who has spoken about the abuse she endured as a child. When tactics like these become normalized, we lose the basic decency that holds a democracy together. That’s worth defending, whichever party you belong to.”
Is electoral politics still fulfilling for you?
“Very much so. Washington has its frustrating days, no question. But when a bill I worked on becomes law, or federal funding arrives for a project our neighbors have waited years on, it makes the hard days worth it. We’ve passed 35 bipartisan bills into law and brought more than $1 billion home for local projects. I’m proud of that, and I still believe there’s room to work across the aisle when people focus on results.”
What are your priorities for the autumn term in Congress?
“Two things, mainly. First, lowering energy costs. Utility bills are squeezing families across Southern California, and my Energy Bills Relief Act would bring electricity prices down, grow clean energy and make sure big data centers pay for the grid upgrades and power they use instead of passing those costs on to the rest of us. Second, cleaning up Washington. As a co-founder of the End Corruption Caucus, I’ll keep pushing to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks, to get special-interest money out of our politics and to hold this administration accountable for its pay-to-play dealings. I don’t trade stocks and I don’t take corporate PAC money, and I’m asking colleagues to meet that same standard.”