Rep. Young Kim is vying for a third term in Congress, and retired firefighter Joe Kerr is battling her to represent California’s 40th congressional district.
CA-40, which spans western San Bernardino and Riverside counties and eastern Orange County, is one of several competitive House races in Southern California; albeit, Republicans hold the advantage.
Kim, a Republican from Anaheim Hills, unseated a Democratic incumbent in a tight race in 2020, flipping the seat red after it had gone blue in 2018. It was a marked victory for Kim: She’s in just one of 13 House seats across the country that voted for a president and a representative from different political parties. She and Rep. Michelle Steel are among the first Korean American women sworn into Congress.
A second-generation firefighter, Kerr served as a captain with the Orange County Fire Authority for 34 years. He’s a labor leader who has received several awards and recognitions for his work responding to crises.
And Kerr, 64, has an eye on federal aid for first responders as he vies for the congressional seat. He said, in a questionnaire posed by the Orange County Register, that he would like to see federal dollars used for wildfire detection technology or a special pressure vessel for human occupancy that could improve the safety and working conditions for local firefighters.
Wildfires, too, create problems for the environment, Kerr said.
“One 100,000-acre wildfire created as much greenhouse gas emissions as millions of cars running simultaneously for a year,” said Kerr, a Democrat. “We can improve our environment while also resolving climatic extremes by solving the wildfire crisis. CA-40 is right in the heart of wildfire country; every home and person is at risk.”
Kim, meanwhile, said concern for the climate and the nation’s economy can go hand-in-hand. She is supportive of legislation that would expand the use of clean geothermal energy — something that can be produced in the U.S., enhancing the country’s energy security, she noted.
“Through U.S. energy innovation, we can reduce emissions, lower costs and expand our energy supply,” Kim said.
When it comes to the federal government’s role in aiding local municipalities with homelessness, Kim, 62, said, “The federal government can be the most effective in helping local municipalities tackle homelessness by getting resources where they are needed locally through the appropriations process, grant funding and public-private partnerships.”
Kerr said he, if elected, would focus on securing federal dollars to support local first responders and agencies that aid homeless people with mental health support or drug overdose prevention.
Kerr also wants to see the federal government turn unused property into affordable housing.
“Additionally, we can prevent major corporations from owning single-family homes across the country,” Kerr said. “As it stands, these massive corporations artificially inflate the cost of homes for buyers or renters.”
As for public safety, Kim said she’s already working on bipartisan efforts to increase coordination between law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels to address retail theft.
But she’s also focused on combatting mail and package theft. There were more than 1.1 million complaints of mail theft in the U.S. between 2018 to 2023, according to a CBS News analysis, with a rise in reported incidents starting in 2020.
“Currently, certain punishments only apply if USPS packages are stolen, and the Porch Pirates Act ensures those stealing packages from private companies like FedEx, UPS or Amazon receive the same punishment,” Kim said of a bill from Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minnesota, of which she’s a co-sponsor.
Kerr said he supports rolling back parts of Proposition 47, a 2014 voter-approved measure that reduced penalties for certain drug and theft offenses. California voters this year are asked to decide on a measure that increases penalties for certain drug and retail theft crime, including for repeat offenders.
“Criminals need to be held accountable for their actions, and victims need to be prioritized. We can support efforts to keep Californians safe in their homes, neighborhoods and schools by securing federal funding for critical security measures and programs,” Kerr said. “We must ensure that law enforcement and first responders have the tools to do their jobs and do them well.”
California’s 40th congressional district includes Yorba Linda, sweeping down to pick up Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and Trabuco Canyon. It also includes Chino Hills.
As of Sept. 6, the latest report from the secretary of state, 38.33% of registered voters in the district are Republicans, 33.6% are Democrats and 21.78% are no party preference. Nonpartisan election forecasters consider the seat to be “likely” Republican.
Kim has raised nearly $8 million this cycle and has about $3.3 million cash on hand. In comparison, Kerr has raked in nearly $2 million and has about $400,000 cash on hand.
Find out more about Kerr and Kim — and other candidates on your ballot — with the Register’s Voter Guide. Both candidates were sent questionnaires and in their own words, detailed their plans on various issues, from artificial intelligence to housing and from the U.S. Supreme Court to access to fertility treatments. You can also find what’s on their playlists as they’re on the campaign trail.
• California’s 45th congressional race is a close one between Rep. Michelle Steel and Derek Tran
• In California’s 46th congressional district, Rep. Lou Correa faces David Pan
• California’s 47th congressional district is a close race between Scott Baugh and Dave Min
• In California’s 49th congressional race, it’s a contest between Rep. Mike Levin and Matt Gunderson
