Spring has arrived in the Eastern Sierra, but as I write this it’s beautifully quiet because snow is falling outside my window. Snow falling or not, it is time for action. The California primary is in two months and I have some good news to share with you.
After our campaign in 2020, I wanted to use the lessons I learned, the support I received from wonderful people like you, and the momentum we created to continue to move our country and communities forward. We needed a congressional district where we could elect someone who understood our unique challenges: an economy dependent upon tourism; the responsibility of stewardship for Federal lands with chronically limited resources; a lack of critical infrastructure like broadband and ready access to quality healthcare.
A small group of committed citizens and nonprofits worked through much of 2021 to make our voices heard on California redistricting.
Now, the new maps have been certified, revealing a completely new district. While old CA-08, where I ran in 2020, skewed way more Republican (+11) the new CA-03 only has a 2 point difference.
2012-2020 Congressional Districts
2022-2030 Congressional Districts
This is a dramatic shift.
Yes, it will be hard to win this seat. But the new district is a lot more winnable than it was in 2020, and look how far we got. We have to do everything we can to win it this cycle. Why?
CA-03 is an open seat. Tom McClintock, who has represented the old Tahoe District since 2012, is running in a safer, more Republican seat on the western side of the Sierra.
We have an amazing candidate! Dr. Kermit Jones declared for Congress in early 2021 and has been working hard to create a coalition of folks across CA-03. He lives in Roseville, the heart of the new district, and has been fundraising, developing a campaign infrastructure, and gaining endorsements at the local, state, and federal levels. He is doing the work to flip this seat. If all of us who live in the Eastern Sierra, and even those who don’t, help in this race we will help hold the House in 2022. The Republicans running, Kevin Kiley and Sheriff Scott Jones, will not represent the needs of this unique district.
Help us when Dr. Jones comes to the Eastern Sierra May 21. We will be hosting canvassing and meet and greets throughout the weekend. Please reach out to me if you want to co-host the event at my home May 21, 2022 or to help us organize the weekend.
I remain hopeful that the enormous support that like-minded people brought forth in 2018 and 2020 will re-emerge even stronger in 2022 and this will be the year we say no to autocracy and yes to the ideals upon which our country was founded.
