New district, new candidates: Here's who's running for Congress this primary election
It’s election year, and if you haven’t seen yard signs in support of an array of candidates for multiple races, the start of the electoral process is upon us.
In two weeks, San Joaquin County residents will cast their primary election ballots on Tuesday, June 7. This primary election not only includes local representation, but state and federal, too.
After U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Stockton, announced he’s no longer running for Congress and district line changes, who’s running for Congress District 9? These are the eight candidates seeking to represent San Joaquin County federally.
Mark T. Andrews
Age: 55
Occupation: business owner
Party preference: None (Independent)
Andrews decided to run for Congress, “after experiencing denial of my basic civil rights guaranteed to me by the Constitution,” he said. “I took my case to federal court where I caught a local judge altering case records to cover up a crime of deception.” Not getting the results he wanted, “the only way to make changes in the system is to become part of the system and change it from within.”
Additional to this experience, Andrews believes his background as a court officer over the past 14 years makes him, “uniquely qualified to deal with legal issues within the government,” he said. “Working for 15 investigators has provided me with the necessary skill set for identifying the problem, stating the facts, creating solutions and solving the issues.”
If elected to Congress, Andres has four platforms to work on according to his website: water infrastructure money, family law Bill of Rights, get homeless and veterans off the streets and campaign finance reform.
Primary election FAQ: Here are a few to know about San Joaquin County's June 7 primary election
Harpreet Singh Chima
Age: 32
Occupation: union organizer and researcher
Party preference: Democratic
Chima is a native Californian and grew up in Stockton. He graduated from the University of California, Davis and as the son of immigrants living the American Dream, “Now I’m fighting to keep it alive for future generations,” Chima said.
For him, that means championing tuition-free college and trade school, quality public schools, expanding Social Security, ending homelessness, Medicare for all and fighting climate change while securing the country’s energy independence.
Chima has further organized coalitions supporting cheaper student housing, demilitarizing the police and the Green New Deal. He has raised relief funds for undocumented neighbors during the pandemic, introduced and helped pass a mobile crisis intervention program in Stockton, “that will respond to non-violent emergencies instead of armed police officers,” he said.
Karena Apple Feng
Age: 46
Occupation: real estate and political consultant
Party preference: Democratic
Feng is from the San Francisco Bay Area wishing to represent District 9. Though she is not “entrenched within the current problems,” in the district, “if elected, I am bringing with me the biggest investors to fund San Joaquin County to benefit all, the most advanced team of scientists and experts, to create jobs and to end the unemployed,” she said.
Feng has two law degrees and a master's in political governance from DC's George Washington University and has interacted with congressional members for more than two decades, according to her website.
Additional to her volunteer and advocacy work, Feng said she’s helped increase minimum wage, incentivize zero-emission vehicles, obtain grants for K-12 students to have more arts and music in curriculums, and more. “I continue to battle for the great communities of San Joaquin County and the rest of California,” she said.
Josh Harder
Age: 35
Occupation: father and agricultural committeeman
Party preference: Democratic
Harder has previously represented parts of San Joaquin County in Congress as the elected official for District 10. “I’ve seen our Valley left behind by politicians,” Harder said. “I ran for office when those same politicians threatened to take healthcare away from people with preexisting medical conditions.”
“We need leaders to put Valley families first,” the Turlock native said. With the costs of gas, housing and health care rising, Harder said he is working to lower costs, bring good-paying jobs into the Valley and address homelessness. Additional to those efforts, “I’m also working to cut prescription drug and medical costs, protect Medicare and bring 10,000 doctors to California,” he said.
With more than two dozen town halls, countless hours spent with small businesses, churches and community centers, Harder’s office has helped thousands of families and veterans recover lost benefits, “and brought money home to keep our small businesses afloat during the pandemic,” he said. “It’s been my honor to serve you. I hope you’ll consider putting your faith in me again.”
Khalid Jeffrey Jafri
Age: 77
Occupation: engineer, farmer and businessman
Party preference: Democratic
Jafri is a San Joaquin County-based electrical engineer and retiree from the California Department of Water resources, according to his website. He’s also been a farmer and member of the Lodi Wine Grape Growers Association and the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau.
Given his personal and professional experiences, “I am committed to advocating for job growth, business investment as well as transparent and fiscally responsible state policies,” Jafri said. Part of his platform includes increasing educational opportunities, creating jobs, lowering taxes, addressing homelessness, improving immigration policy and health care among other goals.
Jafri’s background, “will make it possible for me to bring state and federally funded economic development programs to San Joaquin County, as well as attractive foreign investment in the high-tech and agri-business sectors,” he said. “Greater investment in our community will lead to higher property values, more jobs, better education and greater opportunity.”
Jonathan Madison
Age: 33
Occupation: litigator, business owner and FOX News co-host
Party preference: Republican
Madison is a lifelong Northern Californian, Howard University honors graduate and former Congress staffer. He first interned for several United States Senate and House of Representatives members, which then lead to a professional policy staff position for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, during the 112th Congress (2011-13).
With homelessness increasing and housing insecurity, “rampant throughout the Valley,” Madison seeks to improve families’ safety and reduce their hardships. “To protect our neighborhoods, we need to invest more in police,” he said. “In addition, we can bolster our economy by minimizing the regulatory burden on small business and farmers while cutting taxes for businesses and individuals alike.”
If elected as District 9’s congressman, “I will tackle skyrocketing inflation by reducing our $30 trillion national debt without raising taxes and using the same fiscal discipline most families exhibit every day,” Madison said. “Furthermore, I will demand the empowerment of school boards to make local decisions and allow families to choose better-performing schools.”
Tom Patti
Age: 58
Occupation: county supervisor and businessman
Party preference: Republican
Raised in San Joaquin Valley, Patti attended Stagg High and San Joaquin Delta College. He currently serves in San Joaquin County’s Board of Supervisors representing District 3. “I’m running for Congress because I believe we deserve better than what we are getting out of Washington,” he said.
If elected, Patti says he will help expand opportunities through four initiatives: demanding a national emergency on homelessness and acting on it, reducing gas taxes and spending to end inflation, supporting parental rights so students can get a great education and launching job training programs, “to help our youth get good-paying jobs, grow our economy and reduce crime,” he said.
Patti further seeks to, “keep us safe and secure,” by increasing the country’s military strength, making the nation energy independent, building water storage infrastructure and securing borders from drug and human trafficking, he said. “If we want a better government, we need to change now.”
Jim Shoemaker
Age: 60
Occupation: tradesman and business owner
Party preference: Republican
Shoemaker moved to the district more than 30 years ago, raised his family and started a business. “The current state of our district deeply troubles me,” he said. Because of so, and wanting to represent Californians, he’s running for Congress.
“We need to be represented and not ignored by professional bought-out politicians,” Shoemaker said. “I believe in less regulation and smaller government. I am against growing the government.” Issues to address listed on his platform include economic deregulation, medical freedom, educational system reform, water accessibility and more.
If elected, Shoemaker said he would work to get the country back to energy independence, and bring manufacturing of health products, microchips and essential industries back so the nation is not dependent on foreign countries for supplies and resources, the Lodi News-Sentinel reported.
A closer look: Here’s who’s running for California state Assembly, 13th District
SJ schools chief race: San Joaquin County primary election candidates for superintendent of schools
SJ ballot guide: Here's who's running for public office in San Joaquin County in the June 7 primaries
Record reporter Laura Diaz covers social justice and societal issues. She can be reached at ldiaz@recordnet.com or on Twitter @laurasdiaz_. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Congress District 9 primary: 8 run to represent San Joaquin County
