“Voters, Not Pan’s Special Interest Friends Should Decide this Election”
June 22 | 2:00 PM PST | Roseville — Kevin Kiley, after becoming the first Independent running for Congress in California to finish first in the top-two primary era, kicked off the Fall campaign today by challenging his opponent Richard Pan to a minimum of 5 debates before voting begins for the November election. Kiley said, “It’s time for Richard Pan to stop hiding behind the special interests that secretly funded his primary and the party bosses that prepare his talking points. It’s time for Pan to face voters directly for a real debate,” said Kiley.
Pan termed out of the California Legislature in 2022. In 2024, he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Sacramento, failing to advance in the top-two primary. In 2025 he announced a campaign for the new District 3 under the gerrymandered map; he dropped that bid later in the year, only to launch yet another campaign for District 6. Pan barely qualified for the top two in District 6 after exploiting a campaign finance loophole to coordinate spending with a SuperPAC, ultimately receiving a $1.5 million boost in outside spending.
“The choice this Fall could not be clearer,” said Kiley. “I’ve brought down taxes and the cost of living for every taxpayer, protected key programs like Social Security and Medicare where my work has been recognized by the AARP, fought to protect our public lands, and as the only independent Member of the House, I’ve stood with California families to fight for or against Administrations of both parties when that’s what was required for our district.”
“Richard Pan will have to answer for his lockstep support of the Newsom Administration, which has given us the highest cost of living in the country.” Kiley noted. “He’ll need to explain why he thinks seniors should keep less of their Social Security benefits, why parents should surrender their child tax credit, why already struggling homeowners should lose most of their state and local tax deduction, and why affordable housing projects in our area should be killed because he wants to repeal crucial tax incentives.”
Kiley, a former inner city high school teacher who Chairs the House Committee on K through 12 education, noted that “a debate means that Pan will also answer for his extreme ideology which led to the longest school shutdowns in the United States and an achievement gap from which we still haven’t recovered.”
“All students in California were affected, but those from poorer families were especially hard hit because of Pan’s radical and cruel policies,” said Kiley, who continued. “The wealthy and well-connected were insulated, but millions of less fortunate California families paid a price that was clear to every parent.”
“The best way to resolve these questions is through open debate and dialogue,” said Kiley, “This campaign should be a contest of ideas where the voters decide.”
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To schedule an interview with the Congressman, let me know! You can text me at (530) 774-6096 or email alex@electkevinkiley.com.