Screenshot from forum on YouTube
By G. A. McNeeley
May 3, 2026 (San Diego County) — On Thursday, April 9, the League of Women Voters of North County San Diego facilitated a forum (click here to watch it on YouTube) hosted by the Ocean Hills Country Club Democracy Defenders that brought together eight of the candidates who are running for California’s 48th Congressional District.
This forum was structured by the League of Women Voters (a non-partisan organization) to give the candidates equal time to answer questions, and they were encouraged to share civil and substantive answers, focused on their own priorities, plans and positions.
Get To Know The Eight Candidates
Ammar Campa-Najjar (Democrat) is a naval officer, who was also a runner-up for being Chula Vista’s mayor in 2022, as well as the 48th district in 2018 and 2020.
Abel Chavez (Democrat) is president of the Nuview Union School District Board.
Stephen Clemons (Democrat) is an energy systems executive.
Corinna Contreras (Democrat) has been a Vista City council member since 2018.
Kevin Patrick O’Neil (Republican) is a computer software engineer.
Luis F. Reyna (No Party Preference) is a civil rights organizer.
Brandon Riker (Democrat) is an entrepreneur, who was also a candidate for Virginia’s lieutenant governor in 2016.
Marni Von Wilpert (Democrat) has been a San Diego city councilor since 2020.
What Do They Think Are The Most Important Issues?
Chavez said he’d let high school students have access to early college programs, and promote “trades” for students who don’t want to go to college. Campa-Najjar said he’d spend money domestically on childcare and first time home owners, and lower prices.
O’Neil talked about data breaches, saying that “we have no privacy in this country,” and also wanting to have “safe AI,” while Contreras talked about modernizing infrastructure, and wanting to make it “strong and safer.”
Riker talked about the “cost of living crisis,” and how people “need help staying in their home,” and added that social security should be solvent. Reyna talked about the “systemic problems” that have been going on for years, while mentioning gas, rent and taxes.
Von Wilpert talked about the “chaos and corruption” coming out of The Trump Administration, and added that she wants to fight against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and tariffs. Clemons said he wanted to encourage small businesses, and added that “AI is gonna start taking jobs” and that “we have to get ahead of it.”
What Is Their Absolute Top Priority?
Chavez and Campa-Najjar both talked about being against “Citizens United,” and Chavez added wanting to see everyone have access to Medicare. O’Neil mentioned AI accountability, and he asked people to “please go to my site, and look at my app,” while Contreras talked about wanting to impeach Trump.
Riker said he wanted people to be able to pay for groceries, homes and childcare, while Reyna said he wanted to focus on tackling political corruption. Von Wilpert said she wanted to stand up to President Donald Trump, have decent education and protect veterans, while Clemons said he wanted to have more housing, and tackle homelessness.
How Do They Plan To Meet Everyone’s Needs?
Chavez talked about wanting to talk to people in the community, while Campa-Najjar said he wanted to have frequent town hall meetings, and multiple district offices. O’Neil said he “will meet with every one of you, if I can,” and Contreras said she wants to connect with people, and try to find solutions together.
Riker said he wanted to have town hall meetings, and to “feel free to call me,” while Reyna mentioned the Hispanic, senior, and veteran populations. Von Wilpert said she wanted to have town hall and community meetings, while Clemons said he’s met parents and teachers.
How Often Do They Plan To Hold Town Hall Meetings?
Chavez, Campa-Najjar, and Clemons said once a week, Contreras said multiple times a week, Riker said one weekend a month, Reyna said once a month (and an extra meeting, once every quarter) and Von Wilpert said every weekend she’s able to.
Instead of providing a straightforward answer, O’Neil said he wanted to “create technology.”
What Ideas Do They Have To Address Housing Costs?
Chavez said he’d want to give tax credits to home builders and make homes affordable, while Campa-Najjar said he’d want to have more housing and increase wages. Reyna said he’d want to streamline regulations and zoning, and put ownership back into American’s hands, while Von Wilpert said she’d want to make housing affordable, have developers pay their “fair share,” and have down payment assistance plans funded by developers.
This was the first part of a two-part question, and O’Neil, Contreras, Riker and Clemons were not asked to answer this question.
What Ideas Do They Have To Address Homelessness?
O’Neil continued to focus on technology, and talked about wanting robots to build houses, while Contreras said she’d want to ask for the data on this topic, and also help seniors and people with disabilities. Riker said he’d try to tackle home owners insurance and Federal Insurance Contributions Act, while Clemons said he’d look at all the factors that go into homelessness, and figure out “how to stop people” from becoming homeless in the first place.
This was the second part of a two-part question, and Chavez, Campa-Najjar, Reyna and Von Wilpert were not asked to answer this question.
What Is A Specific Tax Or Subsidy They’d Propose Or Eliminate?
Chavez talked about FICA cuts, and Campa-Najjar talked about reducing Defense Department funding, and spending more money here at home, rather than abroad. O’Neil said he wanted to sustain abundance for all, and Contreras said she’d want to connect farmers to markers, have produce delivered to people and credits to purchase “good food.”
Riker said he’d eliminate the FICA tax, Reyna said he’d reinstate tax cuts for middle Americans and Clemons said he’d try to realign California’s tax laws. Von Wilpert said she’d undo the 2017 tax cuts for the ultra wealthy and restore Affordable Care Act tax subsidies.
Would They Repeal, Modify Or Expand The Affordable Care Act?
During a quick, one-word answer question, Chavez, Campa-Najjar, Contreras, Riker, Von Wilpert and Clemons said “expand.” Additionally, Reyna said “modify,” and O’Neil said “innovate,” which wasn’t one of the three given choices.
How Would They Plan To Reform Immigration?
O’Neil said he loves immigrants, because “I am an immigrant,” and then asked people to “swear an allegiance to this country” when they come here. Contreras said she’d want to defund ICE and take a hard look at the Department of Homeland Security, Reyna talked about how anyone who serves the military shouldn’t get deported, and Clemons said we need to have secure borders and not let drugs across our border.
This was the first part of a two-part question, and Chavez, Campa-Najjar, Riker and Von Wilpert were not asked to answer this question.
How Would They Plan To Secure The Border?
Chavez said we need to have a system between nations, and that anyone who pays taxes and doesn’t commit crimes should be eligible for citizenship, while Campa-Najjar said that we need to improve ports of entry, and also humanize others. Riker said we need to have more asylum judges, and Von Wilpert said we need a government that promotes dignity and respect.
This was the second part of a two-part question, and O’Neil, Contreras, Reyna, and Clemons were not asked to answer this question.
Should ICE Agents Follow The Same Rules As Other Federal Agencies?
During a quick, one-word answer question, Chavez, Campa-Najjar, O’Neil, Contreras, Riker, Reyna, Von Wilpert, and Clemons all said “yes.”
Would They Support ICE If It Was Reformed For Its Original Intentions?
Chavez said he’d want to dismantle it in its current structure, and target criminals instead of regular people, while Campa-Najjar he’d also dismantle it, and create a new agency. Contreras said she’d want to stop mass surveillance.
Riker said he’d want to return ICE back to the Department of Justice, while Reyna and Clemons both said they’d want to dismantle and restructure it. Von Wilpert said she’d also want a comprehensive ICE reform, and treat immigrants with dignity and respect.
O’Neil was accidentally skipped over by the moderator, but he also didn’t speak up to provide an answer for this question.
What Would They Do To Address Wildfires & Water Scarcity?
Chavez said he’d want to collect rain water and other reusable water, to filter it, while Campa-Najjar said he’d refund the EPA. O’Neil simply said water systems need to be corrected, while Contreras said we need to build infrastructure, and harden the electrical grid to save money on bills.
Riker said we need to harden homes, have fireproof panels, have a cap and trade system, and recycle water, while Reyna said we have the potential to reroute water and clean it. Von Wilpert said we need to “defend natural resources,” while Clemons said we need to invest in our water system and manage our environment.
Do They Support Term Limits For The Supreme Court?
During a quick, one-word answer question, which was also the last question for the panel, Chavez, Campa-Najjar, O’Neil, Contreras, Riker, Reyna, Von Wilpert and Clemons all said “yes.”