A closer look at Kern’s 2024 primary candidates: 1-on-1 with CD20 hopeful Matt Stoll

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — In the 2024 election, 11 candidates are battling over the 20th congressional district seat, formerly held by Bakersfield’s Kevin McCarthy.

17 News political reporter Jenny Huh spoke one-on-one with one of the candidates, Tulare business owner Matt Stoll. The 46-year-old is one of seven Republican candidates in this race.

Stoll is a New Jersey native who moved to California to join the Navy in 2001. He was commissioned to the Navy when he was just 21.

The candidate now lives in Visalia with his 14-year-old son, operating Visalia Landscape and Tree Company.

Stoll has previously run for Congress — for Congressional District 21 (now CD-22, held by Rep. David Valadao) and a special election for Congressional District 22 (redistricted to CD-20, the seat he is running for once again). Stoll did not make it past the primary in both.

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A former U.S. naval officer and F-18 fighter pilot, Stoll said he’s the only combat-proven candidate in the race for California’s 20th Congressional District seat.

“I love our country, and I feel like we’re under full-fledged attack and assault, part of the greater plan by the Communist Party backing liberal candidates, and I’m here to fight that and try to take them out,” Stoll said of his reason for running.

Stoll explained his family has deep military roots — with members serving in WWII and the Vietnam War — and that he was exposed to airshows from a young age.

“I did 20 years in the Navy flying F-18s, Super Hornets, seven deployments, four combat deployments,” Stoll said, estimating he’s probably flown a plane 9,000 to 10,000 times.

“I really just wanted to go out there and fight for America and kill communists,” Stoll answered when asked why he joined the Navy. “They’re really the root of evil.”

The Visalia resident of 11 years said his top three priorities are border security, the economy and energy.

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“Invasion at the southern border, which is part of a plan; we’ve got oil and energy being restricted, which is part of a plan; we’ve got water being weaponized, which is part of a plan; we have our children being indoctrinated in schools, which is part of a plan,” Stoll noted.

He further explained that “plan” is “to change the fundamental roots and foundation of the American democracy that we so much enjoy.”

Following the interview with 17 News, Stoll responded to a candidate questionnaire and stated, “We are under all-out attack by the Chinese Communists and their bought and paid for evil cronies.  This Great Cold War must be won.”

On immigration and border security, Stoll said, “Shut the border down entirely. I will roll the National Guard down there immediately, I will support that, I would bring the full-on military down there if we had to.”

Jenny Huh: “Does that mean any illegal immigrant who’s already in the country, if they are found to be of undocumented status, do you support deporting them?”

Matt Stoll: “Yes, I do. Absolutely.”

Jenny Huh: “They don’t go through a judicial process, a court process?”

Matt Stoll: “They’ve come in illegally, they’ve broken a law, it’s already established that they’re willing to break the law, and that’s the end of it.”

Stoll also touched on the partisan divide in addressing the border.

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“The border is being held hostage too now by the Democrats. That’s just showing they want the crisis to continue to perpetuate. They love the ideology that illegal immigrants can come in, they’re finding ways to register them to vote, and they’re just consolidating their control…” Stoll said, alleging in places like California, folks are registered to vote — regardless of citizenship status — after receiving a license at the DMV.

A business owner himself, Stoll stated he would try to cut all government regulations.

“I like government out of everything,” Stoll said. “There’s no purpose for government to be in anything except for the common defense. Let free enterprise do it. Don’t put up red tape.”

To Stoll, that sentiment applies to the energy and oil sector as well.

“Let the free market innovate,” he said. “We will have electric when electric is mature. Don’t you try to shove that down my throat as a government entity. Get out of our way.”

While the congressman hopeful said he acknowledges there are “good people,” he nevertheless emphasized government entities “stifle innovation and stifle capitalism.”

“That’s where we are. We’re at ultimate corruption,” said Stoll. “Every entity that is supposed to enforce is corrupt.”

On the issue of water, the candidate said the Central Valley must stop flushing.

Stoll also weighed in on topics surrounded by ongoing debates in the current session of Congress.

On funding for Israel, Stoll said he “100% support[s] Israelis.” He added that their military is “more than capable” and that the country has “been attacked by barbaric people.”

As for Ukraine, Stoll said America must first look at the accounting and see how effective Ukraine’s efforts have been thus far.

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Stoll also said he would “absolutely” endorse former President Donald Trump in 2024.

With President Joe Biden, on the other hand, Stoll stated he is the “most corrupt president in history” and compared the Democratic party to “horrible tenants.”

“You give them an inch, they want a mile, [they] never stop.”

And on Jan. 6, Stoll said, “People did not raid, rape and pillage the Capitol.”

Matt Stoll: “I don’t think it was an insurrection, no. And I would pardon every person involved.”

Jenny Huh: “All of them?”

Matt Stoll: “Let America, let America move forward.”

Jenny Huh: “Again, all of them?”

Matt Stoll: “Yes, I would.”

“If we don’t fight back now, we’re going to roll over, and it’s going to be end game for the entire public, doesn’t matter what party,” Stoll concluded.

Stoll will not be running in the CD-20 special election to fill out the remainder of Kevin McCarthy’s vacated term. He had, however, previously cited plans to do so, saying he doesn’t like the “optic of” Vince Fong running while “maneuvering the rules” via his ongoing legal battle with California’s Secretary of State.

Stoll also noted Assemblymember Fong, as well as McCarthy, were “career politicians.”

Stoll included Tulare Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, a fellow CD-20 opponent, in that categorization.

For more details on the candidate’s congressional plans and business background, you can click here for the full interview.

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