By David Courtland and Carlos Garcia
Chris Espinosa says running for Congress is just a continuation of the career path he has been on since he moved to Washington, D.C. in 2006.
“Everything I have done my entire career has been oriented toward helping my community,” said Espinosa to VIDA Newspaper, who is running for the seat currently occupied by fellow Democrat Julia Brownley. The Primary Elections will take place June 2, 2026.
Brownley, who has represented the 26th Congressional District – and thus most of Ventura County – since 2012, has announced she is retiring at the end of this term. She has endorsed Democrat Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin to succeed her.
Espinosa, who now lives in Santa Paula where he was born and raised, told VIDA Newspaper that Brownley’s retirement gives him a chance to use what he learned from the late Democrat Congressman Raul Grijalva, who represented Arizona’s 7th District for many years.
As a member of Grijalva’s staff Espinosa worked with him on the House Natural Resources Committee, which Grijalva chaired. Espinosa was also at the swearing in ceremony for Adelita Grijalva in December when she succeeded her father in the House of Representatives.
“Chairman Grijalva demonstrated to me how someone dedicated to their community can wield the tools of Congress to help their community, that’s what inspired me,” said Espinosa.
Espinosa says one his main priorities would be to dismantle Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency that has been in the news for its tactics when arresting alleged undocumented immigrants.
“ICE is a rogue agency,” said Espinosa, adding that ICE is doing harm to the sense of safety and economic security of the community.
Affordability is also a problem Espinosa says he would tackle as a member of Congress.
“Cost of living is a real issue, I see the impact it has on families,” said Espinosa. “We can take on the corporations and landlords that are behind the cost of living.”
One way to do that is to create strong union jobs that can’t be shipped overseas, said Espinosa. But to do that takes a Congress willing to reassert its Constitutional authority, he added.
“Right now (Congress) capitulates to an administration that sees this country as a grift,” said Espinosa. “We’re going to change that – what I mean by ‘we’ is the people of this district.”
“What I have seen with Chairman Grijalva is a participatory relationship, working with the community to change things,” Espinosa continued, adding that to make that happen there has to be a more democratic process than has been followed lately.
“We can deal with a lot of issues that affect the community, but our first priority has to be strengthening and protecting democracy,” Espinosa said. “We’ve seen rampant corruption and abuse of executive power.”
“We have to reaffirm Congress as a coequal branch of government, starting with the Department of Justice, the Federal Reserve – all of these agencies and branches must be restored,” Espinosa said.
Espinosa wants to strengthen the Voting Rights Act, the Environmental Justice For All Act and to protect workers’ right to “organize and collectively bargain without intimidation or retaliation.”
Healthcare is a human right, according to Espinosa, who supports Medicare For All.
“Healthcare should not be contingent on how much money you have,” said Espinosa. “We need to make sure people not only have quality healthcare coverage but have access to the services that keep them healthy.”
Espinosa said he is running for Congress because he believes leaders should know how democracy works and to fight for justice.
“We have a president who is living in a fantasy, he’s trying to tell people that they’re well off,” said Espinosa. “The people know the truth – everything costs too much and the pain is real.”