Senate & House Primaries
June 7, 2022
Primary election day in California is here, and the Jewish Political guide is closely monitoring developments affecting our Jewish communities. With 53 Congressional districts, one of which is the newly drawn CA-13 with no incumbent, and a seat in the U.S. Senate up for grabs, both major parties are pushing full steam ahead.
With the rise of domestic terrorism, the need to monitor extremist content on social media, advocacy for Israel, and the necessity of broader denouncement of antisemitic undertakings in Congress – so much is at stake. As with all California elections, it is vital to remember that the electoral system in the State has some significant differences, which could translate into what candidates move onto General Elections in November. As explained by the CA Secretary of State: “All candidates for voter-nominated offices are listed on one ballot, and only the top two vote-getters in the primary election – regardless of party preference – move on to the general election.”
See below for some race-by-race breakdowns and election day highlights we think should be on your radar:
A Battle For House Leadership
On the House side, both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy are fighting primary battles of their own. With discussion as to which party will ultimately craft a majority in the 118th Congress, these elections could dictate who we will see with the Speakers gavel next January. From the lens of the Jewish Community, both the Speaker and Republican leader have served as fervent supporters of Israel and have called out antisemitic acts by members in both of their Conferences.
- California’s 11th Congressional District – Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
In the newly drawn Congressional maps for the state of California – Speaker Pelosi is seeking reelection for her 18th term, this time to California’s 11th district. Pelosi has been a vocal supporter of the Iran nuclear deal but continues to reassure Israel that the United States is and will always be in its corner. In a February visit to Israel, Speaker Pelosi proclaimed, “We’re together in the fight against terrorism posed by Iran, both in the region and its nuclear development,” and “Israel’s proximity to Iran is a concern to all of us.”. During that same trip, the Speaker tweeted praise about Israel’s Iron Dome. On issues of BDS, the speaker has denounced the practice and has been a friend of Jewish communities across the country. She has supported efforts to increase non-profit security grants, an initiative of great importance to the AJCongress. She has highlighted Jewish contributions to the United States by saying: “From public service and entrepreneurship to the arts and sciences, the achievements of America’s Jewish community have strengthened our nation and our democracy.”
In addition to the Speaker, five other candidates are joining the race for California’s 11th district. While most do not carry voting history on issues of significant importance to the Jewish community, some do have qualities worth noting to our audience. They include:
Shahid Buttar – A Democratic Socialist who has called Israel a “settler-colonial state supported by U.S. military aid.”
Bianca Von Krieg – Running to become the 1st Transgender Woman in Congress.
John Dennis – The current Chairman of the San Francisco Republican Party, where he has served since 2008. He has been a delegate to the California GOP since 2010.
- California’s 20th District – House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy
California’s 20th District represents a significant race for the 2022 election season. Due to redrawn maps in California, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy will be running for the seat – currently held by Democrat Jimmy Panetta, who will be running for California’s 19th. The race boasts five candidates, with the Republican leader serving as the front runner.
Republican Leader McCarthy has been vocal on multiple Jewish issues, including:
Israel Advocacy – Leader McCarthy has been a consistent ally of the Jewish State – voting to increase defense cooperation and multilateral funding for Israeli security throughout his congressional career. In February of this year, McCarthy led a delegation of GOP members to Israel to solidify collaboration and strengthen the relationship between our two countries. During his Feb. 2022 visit, he said: “I am proud to lead this group of mostly freshman Republican lawmakers to proclaim in-person what has been true for a generation: America supports Israel. And Israel supports America.”
Condemnation of Antisemitism and BDS – The Republican Leader has been a significantly outspoken critic of the rise of antisemitic activities in the US – along with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction movement targeting Israel.
Stance on Iran – In addition to the GOP Leader’s consistent dissent over the Iran nuclear deal, he has verbalized that Iran serves as one of, if not the most, principal threat to the U.S. and our allies by saying: “Remember, Iran’s parliament has chanted ‘death to America,’ and the commander and chief of the Revolutionary Guard have vowed to ‘set ablaze’ Israel.
Calling out Hamas – On numerous occasions, Leader McCarthy has spoken of his condemnation of terrorist actors targeting Israel and has called on the Administration to take any measures necessary to protect the Jewish State. He has said: “ Rocket attacks [by Hamas, targetting Israel] confirm once again that there is no moral equivalency between Israel and Hamas. Hamas seeks in no uncertain terms to destroy Israel and murder its people. They are a terrorist organization that feeds off conflict and hatred. They will never accept peace but will sink to the lowest levels of inhumanity to promote violence, including attacking Israeli civilians and civilian targets and using Palestinian women and children as human shields.”
- US Senate Primary – California
Twenty-three candidates are fighting to unseat incumbent Alex Padilla, who replaced now Vice President Kamala Harris upon her departure from the Capitol. In this heated and contentious electoral battle – both major parities are pouring in resources with the hopes of prevailing on top. Regarding Campaign finance – Senator Padilla leads the pack with the cash on hand, which is vital going into election day. Padilla is currently serving on the Judiciary Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Rules and Administration Committee. In addition, Senator Padilla signed a letter voicing support for providing Israel with $500 million in funding for the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow 3 missile-defense programs.
As with all CA races, the top two vote-getters in the primary election – regardless of party affiliation – move on to the general election.
Stay tuned to our Jewish Political Guide updates for the best information on the important races that have direct consequences on the interests of the Jewish community.