(SACRAMENTO, CA.) — U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley has emerged as one of the leading candidates in California's newly drawn 6th Congressional District, positioning himself as an independent voice in Congress after leaving the Republican Party earlier this year.
Speaking to supporters on election night, Kiley framed the race as a rejection of partisan politics and political redistricting.
(Credit: Kevin Kiley X post.)
"Certain politicians think they can move lines around on a map and choose your representative for you," Kiley said. "But they forgot one thing. We still get to vote. We still have a democracy."
Kiley also pledged to defend local interests against what he described as political interference from Sacramento and Washington.
"We will not let self-serving politicians of either party take away our representation," he said. "We will not let political insiders in Sacramento or Washington attack the values that make our area special."
According to the U.S. House of Representatives, Kiley officially changed his party affiliation from Republican to Independent on March 19, while continuing to serve California in the 119th Congress.
The Rocklin native was first elected to Congress in 2022 after serving in the California State Assembly. He previously worked as a deputy attorney general for the California Department of Justice and holds degrees from Harvard University, Yale Law School, and Loyola Marymount University.
In recent months, Kiley has emphasized bipartisan governance and opposition to political gridlock. Following congressional action to fund the Department of Homeland Security, Kiley said Americans are "asking us to move on from this era of shutdowns, gridlock, and hyper-partisanship, and to find common ground for the good of the country."
That message was echoed in his election-night speech, where he argued that voters are increasingly frustrated with partisan divisions.
"My friends, this is a campaign about charting a new course together," Kiley said. "Our coalition for common sense in California, composed of Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and everything in between, is charting a different course."
Kiley highlighted several policy victories he said were achieved through bipartisan cooperation, including the passage of Proposition 36, efforts to reverse California's planned phaseout of new gasoline-powered vehicles, tax relief measures, and federal support for new water storage projects.
"This is what putting partisan politics aside makes possible," Kiley told supporters. "It means our district, our constituents, always come first."
Kiley has also made election reform and redistricting a central issue of his congressional work. In an April statement, he called for national limits on congressional redistricting, arguing that voters deserve fair district boundaries and that lawmakers should work together to "end gerrymandering for good."
According to his congressional office, the district has received more than $300 million in federal grants since he took office. His office also reports closing more than 5,300 constituent service cases and helping return more than $20 million to residents who needed assistance with federal agencies.
As vote counting continues in California's primary election, Kiley remains among the top candidates seeking to advance to the November general election in one of the state's most closely watched congressional races. The battle for the second spot remains tight, with former state Sen. Dr. Richard Pan emerging as a leading Democratic contender as ballots continue to be counted. Under California's top-two primary system, the two highest vote-getters advance to the November general election regardless of party, making the outcome of the closely contested race critical for both parties as they compete for control of the U.S. House.
(Image credit: Decision Desk HQ X post.)
Supporters flooded social media with congratulatory messages following Kiley's strong showing in Tuesday's election. Many praised his leadership and willingness to work across traditional party lines.
One supporter called it "the most impressive election win in California," while another wrote, "We need more politicians like you representing the people." Others pointed to Kiley's independent affiliation and what they described as his focus on bipartisan problem-solving.
The responses reflected enthusiasm among many of Kiley's supporters as ballot counting continued and attention shifted toward the general election campaign.
If you’d like to add or correct anything in this report, feel free to reach out to me or leave a comment below. Submit Sacramento County tips and story ideas to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com.
0
0
Comments