Taxes, economy dominate key California congressional race

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(The Center Square) – Taxes, affordability and immigration are among the top issues in a Northern California congressional district that Democrats redrew to pick up a seat in the House.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, an independent who caucuses with Republicans, and Dr. Richard Pan, a Sacramento Democrat who's a pediatrician, are running in the 6th Congressional District, which was redrawn under Proposition 50. Kiley, who previously was in District 3 along the California-Nevada border, is now running in a district that took a turn to the left, both geographically and politically. The newly defined District 6 includes the blue county of Sacramento, home to the state's capital.

In a recent interview with The Center Square, Kiley outlined his top priorities for his district, addressing key voter concerns ranging from rising housing costs to immigration enforcement, education reform, and taxes on gasoline and healthcare.

The Center Square reached out to Pan and his campaign for comment, but did not receive a response by publication time.

In 2025, Kiley voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Kiley said he liked that it offered “major tax relief” for Californians. He also praised the legislation for its support for education, defense and border security, as well as its protections of public lands and rural hospitals.

Kiley also expressed concern over recent state tax hikes on healthcare plans, which he noted could raise insurance costs for a California family of four by up to $400 annually.

Kiley partnered with U.S. Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-Saratoga, Calif., to co-author the Fix-It Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at extending expiring tax credits under the Affordable Care Act to prevent dramatic cost spikes for millions of Americans. However, Kiley expressed frustration with congressional leadership for letting those relief measures expire over political posturing.

"That's a good example of how Congress is really not working the way that it should, and how we need to chart a different course," Kiley told The Center Square during the interview.

Kiley emphasized his campaign’s focus on direct voter interaction, pointing to dozens of town hall-style community conversations held throughout the district.

"Our focus is just on talking to voters, hearing what's on folks' minds, what they want to see in their next representative," said Kiley.

Kiley, a Republican who turned independent in March 2026 after voters passed Prop. 50 in November 2025, drew a sharp contrast between his campaign and Pan's.

He criticized Pan for avoiding open public events and declining televised debate invitations. Kiley also pushed back against campaign advertisements funded by outside super PACs, calling claims about his legislative record and stats manufactured.

"This is someone whose entire campaign is predicated on hiding from voters, and he's hoping that lies will simply fill in the vacuum," said Kiley.

Meanwhile, affordability remains a central concern for district residents, and Kiley pointed to state-level policies in Sacramento as a primary driver of high prices for gas, electricity, housing, groceries and water.

To tackle these financial burdens, Kiley, who served in the California Assembly in 2016 to his election to Congress in 2022, highlighted his efforts to act as a check and balance at both the state and federal levels. In Congress, he introduced a bill aimed at capping the states' gas tax increases, contrasting his stance with past state votes that contributed to tax hikes. At the federal level, Kiley opposed broad tariffs and joined bipartisan efforts in the House to protect consumers from tariff-driven price increases. On the housing front, Kiley supported bipartisan legislation, including the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, to lower housing costs and spur development.

"I think that's what folks are looking for in a representative — someone who will hold both sides accountable, who will be a check and balance against both Sacramento and Washington, and who will actually work with both sides in order to lower costs," Kiley said.

On federal immigration enforcement, Kiley advocated for a targeted approach focused on public safety and commonsense reforms. He stressed that enforcement should prioritize individuals who pose a threat to public safety because they have committed serious crimes, while facilitating better coordination between local law enforcement and federal officials regarding serious offenders. Kiley also called for operational reforms within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including mandatory body cameras, updated training, official search warrants for residential entries and the maintenance of non-enforcement zones around schools.

Regarding local development issues — such as the rapid growth of data centers across Northern California — Kiley emphasized the necessity of local governance and community input.

"Whatever is built needs to be adapted to the character of the local community and done with the consent and buy-in of the folks who live there," Kiley said.

A former high school teacher, Kiley currently serves as chair of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. His priorities for K-12 schools include expanding career and technical education programs, supporting special education funding, and addressing the impacts of excessive screen time on devices in classrooms. Kiley also expressed firm opposition to proposals aimed at dismantling the federal Department of Education, maintaining that education must remain an important national priority.

When asked about his political transition from registered Republican to serving as an independent, Kiley framed the decision as a commitment to putting policy results ahead of party politics.

"For me, it's the right move for my district, for our state, and for the country to just put partisanship aside and to focus on finding commonsense solutions to improve the lives of the folks I represent," Kiley said.

As Pan campaigns in the race, he has emphasized his career as a pediatrician.

In June, during a press conference outside the California Democratic Party office in Sacramento, Pan said that, as a doctor, he has devoted his life to protecting the life and safety of the region's families. Now, Pan said that he is running for Congress to improve lives and make government work for people.

“Kevin Kiley chose a different path,” said Pan, who is also an educator, small business owner and former state senator for the Sacramento region. “As a career politician, Kiley first ran for Congress in 2022, taking extreme positions on immigration, voting rights, public health and earned Trump's endorsement as his MAGA champion.”

Based on his campaign platform, Pan outlines several core priorities he wants to address if elected to Congress. Central to his platform is protecting and expanding healthcare access — a focus rooted in his background as a pediatrician and former California state senator, where he helped implement the Affordable Care Act and work to reduce insulin prices.

In Washington, Pan said he plans to safeguard the Affordable Care Act and Medicare, lower prescription drug costs, and prevent insurance companies from denying critical doctor-prescribed care. He also advocates for evidence-based policies on public health, vaccinations and the environment, while pledging to hold officials accountable for spreading health disinformation or undermining U.S. agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.

Pan’s platform also addresses the everyday financial and safety concerns of district families.

To lower the cost of living, he pledges to make daily necessities more affordable, ease the burden of educational debt, and oppose tariffs that increase consumer prices. Pan also champions comprehensive, evidence-based gun violence prevention, including universal background checks, bans on assault weapons, secure firearm storage initiatives, and funding for community violence prevention programs.

Finally, Pan highlights immigration reform, small business support and regulatory balance.

As the son of Taiwanese immigrants, he advocates for a clear path to citizenship, strong protections for immigrant rights, and an overhaul of enforcement agencies to prevent family separations and guarantee constitutional rights. Drawing on his experience as a small business owner, Pan rounds out his platform with economic policies designed to reduce regulatory red tape, broaden access to affordable capital, and expand workforce training and apprenticeship programs.