Voters can choose between the two House of Representatives candidates during the general election on Nov. 3. The two candidates include incumbent Democratic Rep. Salud Carbajal, a career politician seeking re-election, and Bob Smith, an independent and retired Navy engineer who spent 26 years in the military.
Eligible voters can cast their ballots in person on Nov. 3 or mail their ballots, which must be postmarked prior to Nov. 3.
The House of Representatives is represented by members from specific districts across the country. It has 435 voting members, with each state’s number of representatives based on its population. House members propose and vote on federal laws and the national budget while representing their district’s residents. Laws must pass through the House before entering the Senate.
The candidates’ experience
Salud Carbajal
Salud Carbajal is entering his 10th year serving as the Central Coast’s representative. Carbajal believes his familiarity with Congress is his strength.
“I have a proven track record of governing not only in local office but now in Congress,” Carbajal said in an interview with Mustang News. “I’ve signed much legislation into law. I have been successful in bringing in over $1 billion into the Central Coast to help towards our infrastructure, roads, highways, waterworks, broadband.”
Carbajal said his past experience shows that he follows through with his promises.
“I think that when you look at my track record and all that I’ve done and continue to advocate for, it’s very clear,” Carbajal said. “There’s a big contrast because I’m not saying I’m going to do it. I’ve done it.”
Bob Smith
Bob Smith operates as an independent who wants politicians to “take off the red and blue jerseys and just represent your district.” He believes that party loyalty has made politicians incapable of solving problems adequately. His campaign centers on not being a career politician.
“I’ve never campaigned before. I’ve never been political before. I mean, you won’t find a single political statement for me before running for this office,” Smith said in an interview with Mustang News.
Despite lacking political experience, Smith cites his time in Washington, D.C., as his driving credential behind his candidacy.
“I’m professionally trained in the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C., in major defense programs, so I understand how these things work on the professional behind-the-scenes side,” he said.
Economic development
Salud Carbajal
Affordability is a pillar of Carbajal’s campaign and he’s using legislation to foster it.
“Tuition costs have gone up dramatically in the past years,” Carbajal said. “And right now with the cost of living that has skyrocketed for everybody, whether it’s housing, groceries, gas, that is the main issue front and center.”
Carbajal plans to address college costs through his Degrees Not Debt Act. The act would double the Pell Grant and index it to the Consumer Price Index so it keeps pace with the cost of living.
“It would actually help students reduce their loan debt that currently many people have to get to finish their university education,” Carbajal said.
He also co-sponsored the OH SNAP Act, which would make EBT more accessible for students.
Both bills are in their introductory stages and would need to pass through the Assembly and Senate before reaching the governor’s desk.
Bob Smith
Smith’s campaign focuses on affordability, education and reliable energy. He believes the space industry is a way to “immediately get investment back to our district” and create aerospace jobs for Cal Poly students and Central Coast residents.
“In 10, 20 years from now, people are going to be participating in the space industry,” Smith said. “There is going to be space tourism. There’s going to be people staying in hotels in space. There’s going to be space mining. There’s going to be space satellite repair.”
Smith hopes that his ties with the space industry will help make the Central Coast more affordable, given the area’s high housing costs. He also plans to create more STEM programs in schools and connect students with internships and jobs. He believes aerospace jobs could help college students stay in San Luis Obispo after graduating.
Smith continued to look to the future when discussing his plans for getting federal funding into San Luis Obispo.
“You could have some agricultural product from here on sale in a market on the other side of the world in 60 minutes with renewable rocket launches,” Smith said.
Energy and the environment
Salud Carbajal
Carbajal said he wants to slow down climate change using offshore wind.
“I have been a proponent of making sure that we transition to renewable energy, but also supporting our open spaces here so that we can support good public lands proposals that would put a lot of the public lands into wilderness,” Carbajal said. “And I have a bill called the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act that would do that as well.”
He hopes that offshore wind turbines will create renewable energy and make San Luis Obispo more affordable.
Bob Smith
Smith’s campaign voices for “a balanced grid with reliable baseload power, coastline protection, and secure water storage and drought resilience.”
Immigration
Salud Carbajal
Carbajal’s campaign focuses on updating immigration policies. He is a strong opponent of ICE who wants all immigrants to leave without fear.
“The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has given nearly 800,000 young people a shot at the American Dream, allowing them to come forward, live, work and learn in the United States legally and without fear of deportation. This includes the over 9,000 students, entrepreneurs and military members eligible for the program on the Central Coast,” Carbajal wrote in a press release. “I am proud to co-sponsor and vote in support of the DREAM and Promise Act, to permanently codify DACA.”
Bob Smith
Smith has a neutral stance but advocates for a secure border.
“Enforcement needs to happen. You need to know who’s in your country, and you need to control immigration at the border,” Smith said. “What happens when you control immigration at the border is that’s the most humane place to do it.”
While Smith wants the border closed, he wants to prioritize Dreamers and long-term, non-criminal residents to get them citizenship.
“If you came here as a minor, you graduated from our schools, you have no criminal record, you’re an adult now, we need to do something that takes care of you,” Smith said. “I think the only humane path is an expedited green card and let that person earn citizenship.”