RACE TO FILL THE 50TH

Tell us a little about yourself, where you live and why you are running for Congress.

AMMAR CAMPA-NAJJAR:

I was born in East County and raised by my working-class Christian mother. Growing up with a single parent, I worked as a janitor and groundskee­per at my evangelical church to help support my family. My mother and faith inspired me to graduate from San Diego State University and pursue a life of service.

Before running for office, I worked at the White House, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and as a federal official at the U.S. Department of Labor serv­ing working families like the ones I grew up with.

I’m running because I’m done letting politicians look down at the people I’ve looked up to my whole life. I’m running for Congress to bring some East County grit to Washington, honor my mother’s generation and help people live and retire with dignity.

Washington politicians have given billionaires and big cor­porations all the breaks, while the rest of us work hard to keep up with the high cost of living.

I’ll be an independent voice in Congress who will fight for tax cuts for the middle class, veterans and small businesses – not the rich. I’m the only can­didate prioritizing lowering prescription drug costs and has said they’ll hold pharmaceuti­cal companies accountable. I’ll also stand up to anyone who wants to cut Medicare and Social Security; fix our failed immigration system and help hard-working Americans afford the cost of housing, health care, and education.

I pledge to honor the Ameri­can traditions and values hand­ed down by our Founders. And as your independent voice in Congress, I’ll always put people first.

What are your top three priorities at the national level and how do you expect to make an impact?

CAMPA-NAJJAR:

1. Cost of living and housing: California is the fifth-largest economy in the world. One thing that really frustrates me, in addition to the state taxes we pay, is that Cali­fornians pay more federal taxes than any other state in the na­tion, and yet, we don’t get back what we put into it. That’s why, when elected, I’ll fight to bring home our tax dollars and put them to work for us by invest­ing in affordable and middle-in­come housing, infrastructure, public education, wildfire relief and more. San Diego has the fourth biggest homeless popu­lation in the country, yet it’s ranked 20th in terms of HUD funding when it should be ranked fourth commensurate with its overall homeless popu­lation. Reallocating HUD fund­ing to the county, and working with the county government to ensure federal dollars are being properly spent will help folks keep a roof over their heads.
2. Middle-class and Small business tax cuts: As a busi­ness owner myself and a former executive director for a national chamber of commerce, I know small businesses are the life­blood of our economy and cre­ate two-thirds of all new jobs. I’ve also experienced the bur­dens small businesses face due to unnecessary red tape. That’s why one of my top small busi­ness priorities is to eliminate the barriers entrepreneurs face trying to afford healthcare for themselves and employers.

As your congressman, instead of tax breaks to multinational companies that ship our jobs overseas, I’ll work to provide American small businesses ac­cess to more tax credits, capital, government contracts, and cor­porate procurement opportuni­ties to help our local economy thrive.

3. Healthcare and Social Se­curity: Stand up to the health insurance and pharmaceuti­cal companies and prioritize patients over profits. End the billions of taxpayer dollars we give to drug companies and use those funds to lower health care and prescription drug costs while protecting Medicare and Social Security. I pledge to pro­tect Social Security by secur­ing funds into a “lockbox” that bars the government from raid­ing the earned benefits of se­niors; raising the $137,000 cap to better fund Social Security; and filling the 7 million job va­cancies in America today with skilled workers who will grow our tax base and add billions to Social Security.

What makes you the best candidate for the 50th District and why?

CAMPA-NAJJAR:

Being from East County and raised by a sin­gle, working-class mom, you see the world a little differently. As a Christian, I’m called to serve my faith by showing compas­sion to my neighbors, being a person of character, and hold­ing corrupt political leaders ac­countable to a moral code.

I’m uniquely positioned given that nearly half the district en­trusted me to be their congress­man in this district [in the 2018 election].

Our “People over Politics” campaign garnered 48.3% of the vote in 2018. Now is the time to come together, pick up the pieces, move forward as a district. I’m the only candidate running who wants to represent everyone, not just put one party ahead of the other, but genuine­ly put country over party. For me, this isn’t about personal politics — it’s about your per­sonal health, safety, and finan­cial dignity.