|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) is set to face off against four challengers in the upcoming primary election Tuesday, three of whom live in the Tri-Valley.
DeSaulnier is seeking a sixth term in congress, having represented Congressional District 10 — which includes the San Ramon Valley — in that role since 2015.
His opponents include Nolan Chen (R-San Ramon) Joe Sweeny (NP-Dublin), Mohammed Elsherbini (NP-Danville), and Katherine Piccinini (R-Oakley), all seeking to be among the two candidates on the November ballot who will compete in the general election.
While most of the challengers are political newcomers, Piccinini previously ran for the same office in the 2022 primary election where she earned 1.1% of the vote and was beat out by Green Party candidate Michael Kerr, whose 14.9% of the vote made him the second top vote-getter with DeSaulnier earning 84% of the vote. DeSaulnier later beat out Kerr to be reelected to his current term with 78.9% of the vote in the general election that year.
Piccinini’s platform is centered on serving as a conservative alternative to DeSaulnier, pledging on her campaign page to focus on “traditional and patriotic values of God, family, life and country against the Biden-supporting incumbent Mark DeSaulnier.”
“I will be unwavering in my pursuit of truth and freedoms for We the People,” Piccinini continued on her campaign page. “Your issues will be my issues as we continue Putting People First.”
Fellow Republican candidate Chen’s campaign priorities, according to his website, are combating inequality and upholding the Civil Rights Act, balancing the benefits with the potential risks of artificial intelligence, combating inflation, prioritizing policing and public safety, energy independence, and fortifying security at the U.S. border.
Chen is a graduate of the San Ramon Citizens Police Academy and has served as chair of the city’s Transportation Advisory Committee.
Elsherbini, who is currently the CEO of the travel company King Tut Tours, is seeking to present himself as an alternative to DeSaulnier who will emphasize the priorities of local voters ahead of the Democratic party’s platform.
“I am wholeheartedly committed to being a steadfast advocate for the people of this district,” Elsherbini said in his campaign announcement. “Together, we can tackle the pressing issues and challenges our community faces. Your input and collaboration are invaluable as we work towards solutions that will positively impact our district.”
Sweeney said on his campaign website that he would seek to prioritize what he sees as the top issues for local voters, including ending illegal immigration and improving legal immigration pathways, curbing inflation and government spending, and reducing involvement in overseas conflicts.
“Our country is in rapid decline, the two-party system is broken, and we have to turn things around NOW,” Sweeney said on his campaign website.
The top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s election are set to be the two candidates on the ballot in the general election this fall, with the winner of that race set to be sworn-in for a two-year term representing the newly designated Congressional District 10 that DeSaulnier represents currently, following the redistricting process that was finalized in 2022.
Mail-in ballots are already being collected from county voters, with Tuesday (March 5) marking the deadline to submit ballots.
We need new leadership in Congress. DeSaulnier has served for about the last nine years and is over 70 years old. He has voted consistently for all of Biden’s policies. He talks about equality and other buzz words but ignores our open borders, escalating drug deaths, high taxes and other issues that plague the common citizen and their families. I know it is difficult to remove an incumbent but take a close look at DeSaulnier before you vote.
Congress approved a resolution a while back congratulating Israel on its 75th anniversary and urging expansion of the Abraham Accords, a 2020 agreement that normalized relations between Israel and some of its neighbors, including the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
The resolution passed on April 25 with an overwhelming 401-19 vote. All but one of the “no” votes came from Democrats, including two who represent the Bay Area. Fifteen representatives did not vote, including two Democrats from Northern California and two Democrats from Southern California.
Well, guess out of the two who voted, “Nay?” Rep. Mark DeSaulnier. Vote this clown out of office.