Four Black female, Democratic candidates, with two as incumbents, vye for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
By ONME Newswire
In this episode 3 of the News Too Real Election Edition, producer host, Julia Dudley Najieb reviews the U.S. House of Representative candidates from throughout California. She also reviews the four Black female, Democratic candidates vying for three seats on the U.S. House of Representatives: While congresswomen, incumbents Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters strive to keep their seats, Sydney Kamlager and Jan Perry battle for California's 37th Congressional District. Also, two Black Republican women enter two different districts, although they have no political experience.
United States House of Representatives seats are up for grabs:
California's new redistricting maps have voters and candidates on the edge of their seats, trying to catch up with the new norm of changes since the last redistricting process 10 years ago.
According to CalMatters, six incumbents have either opted not to seek their current position or — in the case of former Rep. Devin Nunes who is now CEO of former President Trump’s nascent social media company — left early. To comply with another H.R. policy (the Voting Rights Act) — and to reflect California’s ethnic diversity — 28 of the positions are available in districts where a majority of eligible voters are not white. In 16 of those, a majority are Latino, compared to 13 in the prior congressional map. Four, Black female, Democratic candidates vye for three seats on the U.S. House of Representatives: While congresswomen, incumbents Barbara Lee (district 12) and Maxine Waters (district 43) strive to keep their seats, Sydney Kamlager and Jan Perry battle for California's 37th Congressional District.
Congresswoman Lee (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California's 13th Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2013. Her current term ends on January 3, 2023. She represented California's 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House from 1998 to 2013.
Lee is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California's 12th Congressional District.
In her two decades in the U.S. House, Lee has chaired several caucuses, including the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. After unsuccessfully running to be the Democratic Caucus chairwoman in November 2018, Lee was appointed to co-chair the Steering and Policy Committee in the 116th Congress.
Lee was the only member of Congress to vote against the authorization for the use of military force following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Lee began her political career in the California State Assembly, where she served from 1991 to 1997. She then served in the California State Senate from 1997 to 1998
Congresswoman Waters (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing California's 43rd Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2013. Her current term ends on January 3, 2023. Waters (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent California's 43rd Congressional District.
Waters has served in the U.S. House since 1991— serving California's 29th Congressional District from 1991 to 1993, the 35th District from 1993 to 2013, and the 43rd District since 2013. Waters served in the California State Assembly from 1977 to 1991.
In the June 7 Primary Elections, Waters overwhelming overran opponent, Omar Navarro (R) by earning 77.7 percent of the vote to Navarro's 11.9 percent. Waters has never garnered less than 71 percent of the vote in every general election she has run in since 1990
Kamlager (Democratic Party) is a member of the California State Senate, representing District 30. She assumed office on March 11, 2021. Her current term ends on December 5, 2022. She is running for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 37th Congressional District.
Kamlager represented California State Assembly District 54 from 2018 to 2021. She won the State Assembly seat in the special primary election on April 3, 2018.
Kamlager-Dove was born in Chicago, Illinois, and lives in View Park, California. Kamlager-Dove earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in arts management and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Her career experience includes working as the district director for former State Senator Holly J. Mitchell and in the nonprofit, entertainment, education, and government fields. Kamlager-Dove served as the president of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees.
Perry was a member of the Los Angeles City Council in California, representing District 9. Perry assumed office in 2001. Perry left office in 2013.
Meanwhile, two,Republican, Black female, candidates, Tamika Hamilton, running for California's 6th Congressional District and Aja Smith, running for the 39th Congressional District, both seem to have no political experience.
Hamilton was born in Calvert County, Maryland. Hamilton served in the United States Air Force and has served in the United States Air Force Reserve.
Smith served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Smith earned a bachelor's degree from California Baptist University in business administration and management in 2005.
The upcoming November General Election outcome will depend on what happens in California; certain election outcomes determines which party will control the U.S. House next year. Republicans in California intend to flip several seats now held by Democrats.
The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in California will be held on November 8, 2022, to elect representatives for the 52 seats in California (reduced from 53 in the redistricting cycle following the 2020 United States Census).
Also referred to as a congressman or congresswoman, each representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district. Among other duties, representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. The U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber.
U.S. House Rep. Salary:
$174,000 per year for regular members,
$193,400 for majority and minority leaders
$223,500 for House speaker
Register to Vote:
The last day to register to vote for the November 8, 2022, General Election is October 24, 2022. People can register online here.
What registered voters should know:
All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 8, General Election. The County elections office will begin mailing ballots no later than October 10, 2022.
Registered voters can return their vote-by-mail ballot by mail with prepaid postage as long as it's postmarked on or before Election Day and received by November 15, 2022, or in-person to a secure ballot drop box, to a voting location or your county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on November 8, 2022.
The General Election ballot will include:
7 Ballot Propositions
Statewide candidates for U.S. Senate, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, Member of State Board of Equalization, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
U.S. Representative in Congress, State Senator, State Assembly Member
Supreme Court Justices, as well as other local candidates and local measures.