No Republican should be allowed to run unopposed by Democrats, anywhere. Especially not for a seat like the US House of Representatives.
I am hoping we have one Democratic candidate that we can all get behind, who can get to the top two in the Primary, and then press whoever is left. Maybe CA-40 is lost to us, but why make it easy for them?
We worked hard for Joe Kerr last year, despite zero support from the party as a whole, and that forced Young Kim to run ads, print signs, and otherwise campaign.
If her money had gone to other district fights, would we have won those nail-biters like getting Derek Tran into office?
With the 2026 race heating up, it’s time for Democrats in CA-40 to get focused and united. I want to thank Christina Gagniera for having the wisdom and perspective to step back, recognizing that splitting the vote only strengthens the incumbent. That’s real leadership — putting the party and the mission above ego.
Now the rest of us need to follow that example. We can’t afford to divide resources or confuse voters. If we want to defeat Young Kim, we must rally behind the most viable Democrat and speak with one strong, clear voice.
Let’s do what’s best for the party — and for the people who deserve real representation in this district.
Gagnier was...OK, IMO. She wasn't the strongest as far as I'm concerned.
I will continue to stand behind Joe Kerr. He's a solid moderate, being a fellow former republican like I am, and, as you said in your piece yesterday, he has a lot of good things supporting his reputation, even though your piece was not complimentary. He now has name recognition due to his run in '24. With no funding from the Dem party, he still managed to gain points with voters against Kim, despite his loss.
It'll be interesting to see how the primaries play out, but I'll stand behind Joe until he's not on the ticket anymore.
Joe represents what the Democratic Party needs to move away from. We don’t need more moderates, we need inspiring leaders who can make change happen. If you want to somehow pull off the upset in CA-40, people need to be excited. Nobody is inspired or excited by moderates.
I hear you, everyone wants leaders who inspire. But inspiration doesn’t mean ideology. It means trust, credibility, and the ability to connect with all kinds of voters, including the independents and moderate conservatives who will help decide the election in CA-40.
This isn’t New York (i.e. Rep. Ocasio Cortez's D+29 in NY14) or San Francisco. It’s one of the most Republican-leaning districts still considered competitive in CA. A far-left Democrat simply can’t win here. But a center-left candidate like Joe Kerr, with deep community roots, a firefighter’s record of service, and credibility among moderates and working families, can. And let’s be honest, this seat isn’t going to be flipped by an art dealer, a DEI consultant, a single-issue lawyer, or a 26-year old still finding his footing. It’s going to take someone with real-world experience, bipartisan respect, and the ability to earn trust across the political spectrum.
The math matters. When a Republican peels the MAGA stickers off his truck, he’s not suddenly voting for a socialist. He’s looking for someone steady, pragmatic, and principled who shares his values of service, fairness, and accountability. That’s Joe Kerr to the core.
We need to get focused and disciplined. If Democrats want to actually flip this seat, we need someone who can build bridges, not burn them. And Joe’s got my vote because he’s proven he can do exactly that. None of these other candidates even comes close.
Back in 2017, House Minority Leader Pelosi was asked if she was bothered by Democrats campaigning in swing districts by pledging not to support her for Speaker.
Her response?
"Just win baby. I think if they have to do that to win the election, I’m all for winning,”
If memory serves me. That mindset and strategy flipped 40 seats.
That’s completely fair, I do see your point. I think I’m just tired of mediocrity from Dems. I don’t expect CA-40 to be the site of the next Mamdani, but in general I wish the Dems would stop being pushed to the right. Stop trying to be moderate, because the republicans will just vote for a Republican. Why would they vote for the center-right when they can go full right wing, yknow?
For the record, I’m an independent. A lot of people more left leaning are independent because they feel like neither party represents them. I don’t think Joe Kerr is the person to win this race or to inspire those otherwise unlikely to vote. I could be wrong, definitely, but I’m tired of mediocre middle aged white men who want to play friendly with the fascist right.
really sorry to see her go, but she does have the principles to know that Prop 50 is good for the country though it dashed her path. That woman was the hardest working person I saw in the CA40 race. It hurts because with prop50 I still am a part of CA40... and I see no representation of worth in the path forward
No Republican should be allowed to run unopposed by Democrats, anywhere. Especially not for a seat like the US House of Representatives.
I am hoping we have one Democratic candidate that we can all get behind, who can get to the top two in the Primary, and then press whoever is left. Maybe CA-40 is lost to us, but why make it easy for them?
We worked hard for Joe Kerr last year, despite zero support from the party as a whole, and that forced Young Kim to run ads, print signs, and otherwise campaign.
If her money had gone to other district fights, would we have won those nail-biters like getting Derek Tran into office?
With the 2026 race heating up, it’s time for Democrats in CA-40 to get focused and united. I want to thank Christina Gagniera for having the wisdom and perspective to step back, recognizing that splitting the vote only strengthens the incumbent. That’s real leadership — putting the party and the mission above ego.
Now the rest of us need to follow that example. We can’t afford to divide resources or confuse voters. If we want to defeat Young Kim, we must rally behind the most viable Democrat and speak with one strong, clear voice.
Let’s do what’s best for the party — and for the people who deserve real representation in this district.
Gagnier was...OK, IMO. She wasn't the strongest as far as I'm concerned.
I will continue to stand behind Joe Kerr. He's a solid moderate, being a fellow former republican like I am, and, as you said in your piece yesterday, he has a lot of good things supporting his reputation, even though your piece was not complimentary. He now has name recognition due to his run in '24. With no funding from the Dem party, he still managed to gain points with voters against Kim, despite his loss.
It'll be interesting to see how the primaries play out, but I'll stand behind Joe until he's not on the ticket anymore.
Joe represents what the Democratic Party needs to move away from. We don’t need more moderates, we need inspiring leaders who can make change happen. If you want to somehow pull off the upset in CA-40, people need to be excited. Nobody is inspired or excited by moderates.
I hear you, everyone wants leaders who inspire. But inspiration doesn’t mean ideology. It means trust, credibility, and the ability to connect with all kinds of voters, including the independents and moderate conservatives who will help decide the election in CA-40.
This isn’t New York (i.e. Rep. Ocasio Cortez's D+29 in NY14) or San Francisco. It’s one of the most Republican-leaning districts still considered competitive in CA. A far-left Democrat simply can’t win here. But a center-left candidate like Joe Kerr, with deep community roots, a firefighter’s record of service, and credibility among moderates and working families, can. And let’s be honest, this seat isn’t going to be flipped by an art dealer, a DEI consultant, a single-issue lawyer, or a 26-year old still finding his footing. It’s going to take someone with real-world experience, bipartisan respect, and the ability to earn trust across the political spectrum.
The math matters. When a Republican peels the MAGA stickers off his truck, he’s not suddenly voting for a socialist. He’s looking for someone steady, pragmatic, and principled who shares his values of service, fairness, and accountability. That’s Joe Kerr to the core.
We need to get focused and disciplined. If Democrats want to actually flip this seat, we need someone who can build bridges, not burn them. And Joe’s got my vote because he’s proven he can do exactly that. None of these other candidates even comes close.
Back in 2017, House Minority Leader Pelosi was asked if she was bothered by Democrats campaigning in swing districts by pledging not to support her for Speaker.
Her response?
"Just win baby. I think if they have to do that to win the election, I’m all for winning,”
If memory serves me. That mindset and strategy flipped 40 seats.
Let's win first. Worry about inspiration later.
That’s completely fair, I do see your point. I think I’m just tired of mediocrity from Dems. I don’t expect CA-40 to be the site of the next Mamdani, but in general I wish the Dems would stop being pushed to the right. Stop trying to be moderate, because the republicans will just vote for a Republican. Why would they vote for the center-right when they can go full right wing, yknow?
For the record, I’m an independent. A lot of people more left leaning are independent because they feel like neither party represents them. I don’t think Joe Kerr is the person to win this race or to inspire those otherwise unlikely to vote. I could be wrong, definitely, but I’m tired of mediocre middle aged white men who want to play friendly with the fascist right.
I share your frustration with some of the Dem leadership. I have seen Joe Kerr in person several times. He does not come across as mediocre.
I would rather win with someone who will support 95% of what I am wanting. Instead of losing to someone who will oppose me 100% of the time.
Once again. I use the Rep. Pelosi comments from 2017.
"Just win."
She told candidates to be the candidates they needed to be to win their districts.
That’s fair. I’ve never met Joe Kerr so I can’t speak to him as a person. I’m sure he is a lovely guy, though.
really sorry to see her go, but she does have the principles to know that Prop 50 is good for the country though it dashed her path. That woman was the hardest working person I saw in the CA40 race. It hurts because with prop50 I still am a part of CA40... and I see no representation of worth in the path forward