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: Ted W. Lieu
Current job title: Congressman
Age: 57
Political party affiliation: Democratic
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: State Senate and Assembly, Torrance Council
City where you reside: Torrance
Campaign website or social media: lieuforcongress.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.)
Reversing surging health care costs: I have and will continue to champion legislation to reverse the extreme health care cuts in the Republican reconciliation budget bill. We must reverse the Republican cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, and restore the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act.
Stopping rising inflation: I have and will continue to champion legislation to reverse the disastrous tariffs imposed by the president. Tariffs are an illegal tax increase that raises prices. The Supreme Court agreed and struck down the tariffs. The president stated he would impose temporary tariffs. I will vote to stop the temporary tariffs. I also will vote to return the money that the president stole from the American people through the tariffs. American businesses paid the tariffs to the U.S. Treasury, and many businesses passed the costs to the American people. This administration must pay back the money that they illegally stole from American businesses and the American people.
Ensuring only Congress can declare war: I served on active duty in the Air Force for four years and 21 years in the Reserves. I’m not opposed to war; I’m opposed to unconstitutional war. The president violated the Constitution by going to war against Iran without presenting a case to the American people and Congress for approval. I have and will continue to vote yes on the War Powers Resolutions, which require the president to seek approval from Congress for wars.
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.)
I’m not opposed to voter ID requirements for elections; I’m opposed to insane voter ID requirements. The SAVE Act’s requirements are insane. A California driver’s license will not work. A California ID will not work. A military ID will not work. A student ID will not work. What will work for voting under the SAVE Act? A passport. Or a birth certificate, unless your name has changed. This disproportionately harms women who changed their name because of marriage, military members, students and basically anyone who can’t show a passport or a birth certificate with the exact matching name.
In addition, voting by undocumented immigrants is a nonexistent problem. Voting is a two-step process. The first step is voter registration. How many undocumented immigrants are going to send their information to the government that might be trying to deport them? Near zero. That’s why instances of undocumented immigrants voting are infinitesimal. The Brennan Center did a study of 42 jurisdictions in the 2016 elections and found just 30 cases of suspected noncitizens voting out of 23.5 million votes cast, or 0.0001%. The SAVE Act would disenfranchise millions and millions of Americans to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.
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.)
Having served on active duty and in the reserves, I believe the U.S. must have strong borders. I would prioritize border security. I also believe undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes or have final orders for removal should be deported.
I am opposed, however, to mass deportations because it is impractical and hurts our economy. I also oppose the use of masked ICE and Border Patrol agents. Anonymity has led to abuse by federal agents. And it’s cowardly and un-American. Real police officers don’t wear masks; they wear body cameras. That’s what ICE and Border Patrol agents should do as well.
I support visas for high-skilled workers. I support comprehensive immigration reform that would fix our broken immigration system, fund strong border security, reform our antiquated asylum process, and provide a pathway to citizenship.
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.)
The president is one of the worst in American history because he does not view himself as president for all Americans, just those who aren’t Democrats. The president falsely called the Democratic Party the “greatest enemy” of the United States. The president falsely called Democrats “terrible,” “bad people,” “not people that love our country,” and “very sick people.”
The president is not just divisive in words; he is divisive in actions. A recent media investigation found that it is three times harder for blue states to get disaster relief under this administration. That’s despicable, shameful and un-American. It is very difficult to work with a president who hates half of America. The best way to stop this administration from hurting disaster victims who happen to reside in blue states is to flip the House this November.
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.)
I support a ban on members of Congress and their families from buying or selling individual stocks. My family and I don’t buy or sell individual stocks.
I also think it’s absurd to focus on Congress without focusing on the immense corruption of this administration. The president and his family members have gained billions of dollars in profits from domestic and foreign interests since Jan. 20, 2025. From digital grift to pay-to-play schemes to a foreign country explicitly giving a Boeing 747 to the president, the corruption is off the charts with this administration. That’s another reason we need to flip the House.
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.)
One of the main reasons I first ran for Congress was to tackle climate change. I co-authored California’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 when I was in the state legislature. That law was one of the first in the world to mandate a reduction in greenhouse gases. At the time, California’s economy was ranked eighth in the world. Earlier this year, California’s economy was ranked fourth in the world. It is false to assert that smart environmental regulations hurt the economy. They don’t.
In Congress, I have introduced the Climate Solutions Act, which is modeled on California’s law. It is not going to pass this term because Republicans control the House. Yet another reason we need to flip the House.
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.)
The president violated the Constitution by going to war with Iran without presenting a case to Congress and the American people. Under the Constitution, only Congress can declare war. I will not vote to spend one additional penny on the unconstitutional war in Iran until the president follows the Constitution. The president must present an authorization for the use of military force in Iran for Congress to vote on and the American people to consider.
Under what specific circumstances do you believe the U.S. should engage in a war? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I believe the Constitution means what it says. Only Congress can declare war. I have had this view regardless of who happened to be president. I stated that President Obama’s strikes in Syria were unconstitutional at the time. The current war in Iran is unconstitutional because this administration made no effort to seek Congressional authorization for the war as required by the Constitution.
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.)
Only Congress can declare war. So if the military action overseas means killing people and blowing things up, then yes, the president needs to seek congressional approval. If the military action involves moving forces and equipment around, then the president does not need to seek congressional approval.
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.)
Under Republican control, the House of Representatives has been emasculated. It is a shadow of what Congress used to be. The Republican House speaker simply rubber stamps whatever the president wants, no matter how harmful or unconstitutional. Speaker Pelosi, in contrast, was a forceful speaker who fulfilled the Framers vision of what it means for Congress to be a coequal branch of government.
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.)
I’m not necessarily opposed to an age ban for social media, but I would like to see how it can be implemented and whether there are unintended consequences. To do a ban would require personal information from the user, such as age. That ends up giving social media companies even more information. Other countries have tried various forms of such a ban, and I would like to see how that works out.
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.)
As a former prosecutor, I believe public safety is the first priority of government. At the federal level, we can help fund public safety. For example, I fought for and secured a grant of over $1 million in 2026 to help the Torrance Police Department expand the capabilities of its Real Time Response Center. I will continue to seek out and fight for funding for local police departments.
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.)
I generally oppose term limits. I lose my job automatically every two years, and the voters have to re-elect me to put me back. If the voters don’t like what I’m doing, they can vote me out. That’s democracy.
You know who we can’t vote out? Supreme Court justices. I would support term limits of 18 years on Supreme Court justices.
What’s a hidden talent you have? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)
I married up.