CA12 scouting report

Candidates vying for Rep. Barbara Lee's seat are off to a strong start. Check out their takes on immigration, climate change, crime, and defense spending; San Leandro's police chief is placed on leave

ELECTION 2024

12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

—SEARCH FOR A NEW VOICE—The 12th Congressional District is about as ideologically rigid as any in the state, maybe the entire country. Rep. Barbara Lee definitely speaks for the district that includes progressives bastions such as Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda.

—However, our first look at the candidates hoping to replace Lee in the Congress showed surprising flashes of nuance within their progressive beliefs. (They are also hoping Lee does not quit her U.S. Senate campaign and seek re-election before the Dec. 8 filing deadline.)

—Two of the candidates are current officeholders—BART Board Director Lateefah Simon, the presumed front runner, and Alameda Councilmember Tony Daysog.

—Newcomers include Tim Sanchez, Jennifer Tran, and Denard Ingram. A sixth candidate named Andre Todd recently filed to run for the seat, but did not attend Wednesday night's candidate forum, hosted by the City of Alameda Democratic Club.

—Here’s some highlights:

—On military spending: Sanchez, a 20-year member of the Navy Reserves, said he covets a seat on the House Armed Services Committee. “As someone who has worn the uniform and know how much waste exists in our military and the billions fund projects that are never going to returned on time or on budget, Sanchez said.

—Daysog also wants a seat on the Armed Services Committee, and said he will continue the district’s anti-war tradition of Reps. Pete Stark, Ron Dellums and Lee. Daysog listed reducing the U.S. defense budget as one of his top three goals. The U.S. Department of Defense has failed five audits, Daysog said. “By definition, they don’t know where the money is going.”

—On federal funding for cities suffering rising crime: “This issue is personal for me as queer API woman,” Tran said. Last month, Tran’s 80-year-old uncle and wife were held at gunpoint. “This not an exception, it has become the norm,”she said. Tran urged for “justice with accountability,” but offer no policy details on the matter.

—There are other ways to achieve public safety, Simon said. She wants to push labor unions to increase hiring, while making sure police are “doing the job, but not violating civil rights.”

—“People are fearful,” Ingram acknowledged, but added, “We cannot continue to throw money at our police departments without seeing the results we want.” Instead, look at the root causes, Ingram said, such as needs that are not being met, like food security and suitable housing.

—Daysog would urge the federal government to help police departments with high rates of unsolved cases. Sanchez would help cities like Oakland to hire more cops and use Federal Housing Administration loans to help police officers live in the cities they work. “We’re at a crisis-level right now,” Sanchez said of understaffed police forces.

MORE INSIDE:

• ELECTION 2024: CA12 candidates on climate change and immigration

• One candidate wants to raise the highest tax bracket to 50% for the rich

• Fremont mayor hopeful gets big South Bay endorsement

• Two new candidates challenge Buffy Wicks in AD14

• CITY NEWS: San Leandro police chief placed on leave

• Shaping an urban environment in suburban Hayward

• D.C. NEWS: Swalwell vs Gaetz vs McCarthy

• Khanna is leading delegation to China