California — 52nd District

Jeff Belle, 68, a Republican and financial professional, is running for Congress representing the South Bay in California’s 52nd Congressional District.

Belle, an Oklahoma native, lives in the Rolling Hills Ranch neighborhood of Chula Vista.

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

Belle said he did not use any AI tools in responding to the Union-Tribune’s questions.

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

I’m running for Congress not to join the political class but to represent the people of South Bay, San Diego. My mission is to improve the quality of lives for all residents in South Bay, especially regarding immigration reform, cost of living, job creation, housing, stronger businesses, safer schools and sustainable solutions to the Tijuana River environmental crisis.

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

Affordability and cost of living

Tijuana River sewage crisis

Immigration reform

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

Tijuana River crisis/military housing

Small business bailout/housing funding

Immigration reform

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

Regardless of who’s in control of Congress, my legislative strategies and priorities will remain the same. The issue in South Bay, San Diego, isn’t red or blue, it’s real issues without effective congressional representation.

The priority of an elected official is to facilitate change that improves the lives of his or her constituents.

In fact, when one party controls (government), as in California politics, a lack of accountability and loss of faith in the system ensure dismal economic outcomes, higher taxes, higher unemployment, higher rents, failed education and hurting families.

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)

My position supports secure borders, faster legal immigration, due process in asylum, respect for human dignity and earned legal “first priority” status for long-term illegal immigrants who contribute to America.

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)

Of course the U.S. and the world are better off without the nuclear weapons threat and capability of Iran.

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)

The affordability issue began years ago and has escalated with California’s one-party control and failed policies and budget deficits. Too many regulations and too many taxes are hurting people and businesses. No accountability for failed Democratic leadership in California and the anti-Trump congressional California delegation have contributed to the affordability crisis.

If elected, I’d work with our president and across the aisle to ensure more funding for housing, funding for the Tijuana River crisis, reduced taxes for families, job creation and a small business/Main Street bailout.

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)

Reduce regulations regarding energy efficiency — however, my first priority would be to provide sustainable solutions to the Tijuana River sewage crisis. That is the most important environmental issue in California.

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)

The greatest threat to democracy is one-party control as in California today! In addition, career politicians are a fundamental part of a loss of a fair democracy. Term limits are necessary at the federal level.

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)

Yes, I support a ban on congressional members buying and selling stocks while in office. More transparency, accountability and disclosure by all members of congress are necessary. Changing the House and Senate rules would be the first step to ensuring transparency.

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)

In terms of congressional oversight and accountability, the current House and Senate are doing a good job in keeping the president accountable. I would meet with the president on a monthly basis to convey issues of concern to the people within my district.

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)

Congress can win the confidence of the American people by working across the aisle more often, doing what they promise the people to do, spending more time in the districts routinely and stopping the partisan divide. Stop the political grandstanding and clickbait! Term limits are necessary!