California State Senate

California Senate District 2

California
State
Election

about this guide

To help voters better understand where each candidate stands on issues that matter to people of faith, candidates were invited to respond to a set of specific questions. Their answers are presented below in their own words, without commentary or endorsement, so that voters can weigh each candidate's positions and make an informed decision.

Candidates

Pick candidates to set them head-to-head and compare their answers on the issues, side by side (the candidates will sort in alphabetical order).
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Damon Connolly

Democrat
D

Tief Gibbs

Republican
R

How did they answer?

Candidates were asked specific questions to help voters better understand their views on issues important to people of faith.

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Damon Connolly
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The issues

Damon Connolly

Damon Connolly

Democrat
D
Clear Selection

Tief Gibbs

Republican
R
Clear Selection

The issues

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Voter ID

Share your view on the 2026 California ballot proposition that requires voters to show a government-issued photo identification to vote.
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No response was submitted for this question.
I will be voting yes on this ballot proposition. I believe that elections should be one day, citizens should show their ID to vote in person on a paper ballot and that those ballots should be counted on the same day and the results of the election should be immediate.

Budget

Share your views on California's budget shortfalls and mounting debt. Do you favor cutting spending, raising taxes, or a mix of both to achieve fiscal responsibility?
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No response was submitted for this question.
A stat senator's role in addressing the budget deficit in California is to work with the other legislators find ways to cut government regulation so people can work, open businesses and be productive and thrive in the state. We should also look at ways to cut costs for those same citizens such as becoming energy independent. For example, we should be using the oil located in our state instead of letting it lie fallow in the ground. We should also be looking at every government program and audit that program for performance accountability, fraud and waste. If that program is not functioning, it should be shut down.

Israel

Share your view on America's support for Israel.
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No response was submitted for this question.
I believe all foreign aid to any foreign country should end at this time. There should be a serious discussion on whether foreign aid benefits America and Americans. If a definitive benefit cannot be determined, that aid should be discontinued permanently. We are in serious financial crisis in American and we need to be focused on America and Americans and their wellbeing first and foremost.

Border

What is your view of President Donald Trump's measures to enhance border security?
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No response was submitted for this question.
I am very pleased that our border is now secure. I think we should be doing massive deportations. All people who are here in America illegally, should be encouraged to self deport, all legal immigration should be stopped until we determine exactly who and how many illegal non-citizens are in America, and until every single one has left. I also believe anybody here with any kind of temporary visa or "protected status" should be sent to their home country immediately. I also believe we should be denaturalizing people who hate America and clearly lied on their immigration paperwork.

Marriage

In 2024, Californians voted to amend the state Constitution to establish marriage as a fundamental right regardless of sex. What is your view on this amendment?
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No response was submitted for this question.
I believe marriage is biblical and is between a man and a woman.

Abortion

After the Supreme Court returned abortion policymaking to the states, do you believe that is the correct level of government to decide this issue, or should Congress or the Constitution establish a national standard?
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No response was submitted for this question.
I believe every human is made in the image of God and that abortion at any stage of pregnancy is murder of that human. The return of the right to determine whether someone can kill an unborn child to the state was a good first step but clearly does not stop abortion, in fact, abortions have increased due to the legal mailing of the abortion pill. So the bottom line is, we need to be very clear that killing your baby whether in or out of the womb, is murder and murder is already illegal.

Parental Rights

What is your view of the Supreme Court’s decision supporting a parents’ right to know about their child’s gender issues at school?
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No response was submitted for this question.
Parents should be told about anything concerning their child at school.

Vaccines

What is your view of California's vaccine mandate for public school students?
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No response was submitted for this question.
I believe that the decision to give children vaccines should be between the parents and doctors. I believe in informed consent for any medical procedure. Currently, the vaccine mandate includes any school in California, including private schools. The state government appears to have the right to mandate vaccines because they run the schools, based on supreme court precedent. However, mandating that private schools require vaccines is clearly wrong, although the argument for it is "public health". Parents should definitely have the right to choose a private school that does not require vaccines if they and the school so choose. Currently, the only way to avoid vaccination is to home school or get a vaccine waiver, which in California is nearly impossible.

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