Doris Matsui vs. Tom Silva for California Congress race: Candidates answer key questions
Longtime Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, faces Republican Army veteran Tom Silva in California's 7th Congressional District in November.
The 7th covers southern Sacramento County — including downtown Sacramento and Elk Grove — and bits of Solano and Yolo counties, including West Sacramento. It is solidly Democratic.
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The Bee asked the candidates to fill out a survey. Their responses were checked and slightly edited for spelling and grammar.
Doris Matsui
Political party:
Age:
Birthplace: Poston Camp, Arizona
Residence:
Occupation: U.S. Representative
Education: University of California, Berkeley (Bachelor of Arts in psychology)
Offices held: U.S. Representative (2005-present)
Campaign website address: MatsuiForCongress.com
Q. What steps will you urge to improve cost of living and quality of life for people?
I will continue to support programs that help individuals get back on their feet and improve their quality of life. We need to do more to improve housing affordability, grow wages, and combat inflation and homelessness.
I co-authored the CHIPS Act to create opportunity across all sectors of the economy. I supported programs that folks depend on, like SNAP and the child tax credit.
I will fight for federal investments necessary to build our Sacramento economy, our innovators, and job creators because these economic drivers support job and community growth today and sustain them for generations.
Q. What changes, if any, do you support for immigration and border policy?
We shouldn't be playing politics with immigration. Immigrants have shaped our nation's history, which is why I support programs that ensure they can live with safety, opportunity, and dignity.
No one can look at what has been going on at the Southern border and believe we can continue with business as usual. We must reinforce border security and ensure that those working at the border have resources they need to enforce our laws effectively and maintain order.
I am a strong supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, such as the U.S. Citizenship Act, and tackling the root causes of migration.
Q. Other than cost of living, immigration and the border, what is one of the greatest issues Californians are facing and what tangible measures do you propose Congress take to address it?
I'm always looking for new ways to create jobs and improve the economy.
There's much more my Democratic colleagues and I want to do on homelessness, affordable housing, fighting for lower costs across the board, safer communities, addressing the climate crisis and growing the middle class.
I have fought for the Sacramento region's priorities, from successfully securing higher levels of flood protection to ensuring that mental health services are affordable and accessible for those in need.
I'll also continue to fight to protect reproductive rights and access to quality, affordable health care.
Tom Silva
Political party:
Age:
Birthplace:
Residence:
Occupation: Retired soldier
Education: University of the Pacific (Bachelor of Science in business administration)
Offices held: Galt Joint Union Elementary School District Board Trustee (2018-2022)
Campaign website address: silvaforcongress.com
Q. What steps will you urge to improve cost of living and quality of life for people?
We need to eliminate the inflationary habit of deficit spending in the federal government.
Q. What changes, if any, do you support for immigration and border policy?
I support reforms to immigration policy that are fair and sustainable.
Q. Other than cost of living, immigration and the border, what is one of the greatest issues Californians are facing and what tangible measures do you propose Congress take to address it?
A lot of Californians view crime in this state as out of control. I would advocate that the federal law enforcement agencies that already operate here in California are fully funded, staffed and supported.
