The California primary elections, which require more than a month of vote counting, have not yet concluded. However, the two federal candidates for the 6th Congressional District who will advance to the general election in November have been confirmed. As of Thursday (25th), Kevin Kiley leads with 24.3% (47,169 votes), ahead of Democratic candidate Richard Pan at 23.2% (45,006 votes), along with five other candidates.
Kevin Kiley served as a California State Assembly member for the 6th District from 2016 to 2022, and has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 3rd District since 2023. Following the redrawing of California districts last year, the original district became more favorable to the Democratic party. This March, he announced his candidacy as an independent for the 6th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Sacramento County.
Kiley emphasized that political polarization has become a serious issue, with both parties contributing to an atmosphere of extreme partisanship. “We need to find consensus and unite the American people,” stated Kiley, emphasizing accountability to voters rather than party leadership.
On the primary election day (2nd), Republican candidate Michael Stansfield ranked second with 22.20%, trailing behind Kiley’s 26.8%. However, as more mail-in ballots were counted, Pan moved into second place, and the total vote percentage for Democratic candidates increased from 51% to 55.70%.
Pan, a practicing pediatrician and a professor at UC Davis, served as a California State Assembly member for the 5th and 9th Districts from 2010-2014, and as a State Senator for the 6th District from 2014-2022. He garnered endorsements from various unions, including the California Teachers Association, AFL-CIO, and nine Democratic members of Congress.
Following the confirmation of both candidates advancing to the general election, Pan criticized Kiley for “attempting to disguise his true party affiliation and political stance in front of voters,” urging people to see through this disguise. He accused Kiley of voting for the “Big and Beautiful Bill” (H.R.1) supported by the majority of Republicans.
Kiley, in a recent statement on social media, highlighted Pan as one of the most radical legislators in the country. He criticized Pan for proposing bills during his 12 years in the state legislature that not only stripped away parental rights but also went against scientific consensus, often being rejected by the majority Democratic camp for being too extreme.
Kiley pointed out instances where Pan, along with Governor Newsom, blocked his proposals to reopen schools in March 2021 and threatened further school closures in May 2022. Pan later proposed mandatory COVID vaccine mandates for all children and students in California, including those in private schools, without religious exemptions.
In the non-partisan Freedom Index rating, Pan scored zero, which evaluates lawmakers based on their adherence to constitutional principles without bias towards any party or candidate. With Pan advancing in the race, the group “Parents Against Pan” has launched a petition drive to prevent his entry into Congress. The website listed a series of his proposed bills:
• SB871 (2022), which aimed to include COVID vaccines in California’s mandatory vaccination program for preschool and K-12 students without a “personal belief exemption” clause, failed to pass. The radical nature of the policy surpassed even the CDC and Anthony Fauci, and no state implemented it.
• SB866 (2022), co-sponsored by Pan and Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener, allowed minors to receive vaccines without parental knowledge or consent, sparking strong parental backlash. Wiener, leading in the primary in Pelosi’s 11th District, is likely to enter Congress.
• AB1993 (2022), requiring all employees and independent contractors in California to show proof of vaccination or face unemployment, did not pass.
• AB2098 (2022), seeking to restrict the speech of doctors who question the official description of the COVID pandemic and revoke their medical licenses, was halted by federal judges.
• SB1464 (2022), aimed at reducing law enforcement costs for agencies that did not strictly enforce public health orders and reallocating resources from crime prevention, did not pass.
• SB472 (2021), proposing to establish “speech-free zones” in pharmacies, supermarkets, vaccine distribution points, and their surroundings, allowing specific groups to gather while prohibiting citizens with opposing views from expressing dissent, was declared unconstitutional by the courts, violating the First Amendment.
• SB277 (2015), co-authored by Pan and Democratic State Senator Benjamin Allen, mandated compulsory vaccination for California students to attend school, eliminating philosophical and religious exemptions. The proposal was approved and put into effect.
The bill stemmed from a measles outbreak at Disneyland in 2014, affecting about 133 children. Pan attributed the outbreak to low vaccination rates among California children, with some schools reporting rates below 60%, prompting the mandate for all California children to be vaccinated.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were approximately 8.38 million children in California aged 0-17 in 2014. Following the implementation of the law, parents or guardians were not allowed to apply for a “personal belief exemption” for current vaccinations for students attending public, private schools, or childcare facilities.
At the time, over 11,000 residents petitioned for the recall of both senators, arguing that the law deprived people of basic medical freedom while ensuring future profits for the pharmaceutical industry. Counter-proposals opposing the law were also raised but not successful. Parents against vaccination argued in court that it violated educational rights, religious freedom, and parental rights, but the California court rejected these claims. Some media reports highlighted pharmaceutical companies donating millions to California legislators to help pass the bill.
On Pan’s campaign website, amidst malicious attacks from anti-vaccine extremists, he touted landmark legislation that increased school vaccination rates and contained the Disneyland measles outbreak, earning him the title of “hero” by Time magazine.