California — 52nd District

Deborah Calhoun Rhodes, 75, a Democrat and entrepreneur, is running for Congress representing southeastern San Diego, the South Bay and areas inland in California’s 52nd Congressional District.

Calhoun Rhodes is a San Diego native who now splits her time between San Diego and Rialto in the Inland Empire.

The San Diego Union-Tribune emailed a series of questions to Calhoun Rhodes and other candidates to help inform voters about their positions, priorities and plans if elected.

Calhoun Rhodes did not respond to a question about whether she used AI tools in responding.

1) Why are you running, and what makes you the best candidate? (150 words max)

I’m running because I was born and raised in San Diego and watched development through the years. Portions of the congressional district don’t reflect needed progress. My belief is that we need more effective leadership at the legislative level. My experience at managing on the local level as an elected mayor gives me a perspective on addressing crime, fiscal responsibility and affecting change to the issues affecting families, and from the legislative level, that experience helps. Families want to see relief from the economic pressures of higher prices at the gas station, buying a home and getting groceries from the supermarket.

2) What are the top 3 issues facing this district? (150 words max)

The three top issues are those that I give for my running for office in the first place. Families in the 52nd District are looking for economic relief. People want to be able to afford to live comfortably. Right now in the 52nd District, it’s getting more and more difficult to do that. Families are seeking relief from the high cost of living, along with housing that is affordable and affordable child care.

3) What are the first 3 things you would do in your first/next term in Congress? (150 words max)

The first three things I would do is to address the issues that are important to my district. My priorities would be to: 1) look at affordable housing, jobs and infrastructure, 2) healthcare access and affordability and 3) protect voting rights.

4) If your party wins control of Congress, what should be its first priority? If your party loses control of Congress, what should be its first priority? (100 words max)

In winning, the first priority should be to reassure the American people of our commitment to keep our nation safe, improve affordability in housing and address support for public education. In the event of a loss, my party’s first priority should be to oppose any legislation that would further deteriorate a family’s ability to have affordable housing, jobs and security.

5) President Trump has made cracking down on immigration a cornerstone of his administration, ordering widespread arrests and detentions of immigrants nationwide and directing military resources to a new military zone along the U.S.-Mexico border. What impact have these had on this district? What are your goals on immigrants, immigration and the border, and how would you pursue them if elected? What is your message to constituents who are immigrants? (150 words max)

Trump’s policy impacts have created uncertainty and fear for families of the 52nd District, along with cross-border economic activities having slowed, with residents feeling targeted. My goals on immigrants are to ensure that immigration policy is fair and humane. If elected I want to work collaboratively with Congress to pass reforms that strengthen the border while respecting human dignity. My message to constituents is: Let’s work together to make things better, by fixing what is broken and fighting for what matters.

6) It’s been nearly two months since the United States began a war with Iran. Do you believe Americans are better or worse off for it? What should Congress’s role be? Would you vote to let the president continue the war beyond the 60 days after which congressional authorization is required? (150 words max)

The war with Iran has made Americans worse off. The impact is seen in the economic fallout and a higher cost of living for most every American family. The role of Congress should be to reverse course and protect constitutional authority that supports the separation of powers. I would not vote in favor of the president to continue the war beyond the 60 days without congressional authorization.

7) Recent jumps in the cost of fuel, food and other goods — combined with federal cuts to safety-net programs, new limits on certain federal loans and more — are squeezing residents already struggling with San Diego County’s high costs of living. What relief would you seek to offer, and how? (150 words max)

As the congressional representative, I will look at the impact of federal safety-net cuts, loan restrictions and pursue federal relief that directly addresses the district’s rising cost of living, including the rising costs in fuel, food and essential goods. How? By introducing legislation, advocating through committee work, building coalitions with other high‑cost districts and working directly with federal agencies to obtain grants, waivers and emergency allocations.

I will plan for the restoration of affordability and protect vulnerable households by reprioritizing the areas of greatest need, especially housing, healthcare and transportation — including with fuel cost assistance, transit funding, expanded affordable‑housing investments, increased FHA and VA loan limits, stronger support for small‑business and student borrowers and oversight of price‑gouging in essential goods.

8) Like much of California, this district has been affected by the effects of climate change. How should Congress mitigate those impacts, and what would you do to pursue such efforts? (100 words max)

Tackling climate change through a mix of federal funding, local resilience planning and advocacy for emission reductions. Key strategies would include larger investments in EV charging networks, wildfire mitigation, clean energy jobs and coastal conservation. Review the impact of the cost of green regulations and fossil fuel industry oversight.

Congress should support communities facing extreme weather by taking actions that combine legislation, federal grants and partnerships with states and industry to mitigate climate‑change impacts — California being a “donor” state. My pursuit would be to advocate and fight to strengthen emissions standards, expand clean‑energy investment, seek to fund climate‑resilient infrastructure, protect natural resources and integrate a holistic approach to climate change mitigation and adoption at our local level.

9) Polling underscores that one chief concern of California voters in the 2026 midterm elections is the issue of threats to democracy. What do you believe are the greatest threats to American democracy? How would you, and how should Congress, protect against these? (100 words max)

I believe that the greatest threats to American democracy are a lack of oversight within the three branches of government, and the Trump administration. I will work to protect voting rights, defend an independent judiciary and create and continue efforts to strengthen oversight and transparency. Congress should protect against a lack of oversight and be accountable for its responsibilities by providing greater transparency in campaign finance, supporting civic education and enforcing accountability for any efforts to undermine democratic institutions.

10) Do you support a ban or restriction on congressional lawmakers and their families buying or selling individual stocks? Why or why not? And what would you propose to ensure lawmakers aren’t using their positions to engage in insider trading? (100 words max)

I support a restriction on congressional lawmakers and their families buying or selling individual stocks, because stock trading by elected officials undermines trust in government and creates the appearance of insider advantage, even when no wrongdoing is proven. I would propose the drafting of legislation to address restrictions, including the proposition that the Ethics Committee be an external body, and disclosure of assets be known and continue to be reported versus holding assets in a “blind trusts.”

11) By design Congress is supposed to serve as a check on the executive branch through budgetary, legislative and oversight powers. Do you believe that Congress has fulfilled that obligation in recent years? Why or why not? Should Congress do more to hold the president accountable? Explain. (150 words max)

No, I don’t believe it has fulfilled that obligation. I do feel that there’s a level of complacency, and the party representation for Democrats is in the minority.

12) A recent San Diego Union-Tribune poll found voters overwhelmingly disapprove of the job Congress is doing, by higher margins than they disapprove of the job Trump is doing. Why do you think this is? How can Congress win back voters’ hope and trust, and what would you personally do to achieve this? (150 words max)

I’m in Washington to work on behalf of my constituents; they do not work for me.

There’s 52 congressional members representing the state of California. For me, the urgency is now — so I would hope my California colleagues would work in unison for the whole state. Currently, the sitting member has not always voted in the best interest of California. If so, he would have understood his voting decisions would have significant impacts on our state.