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Ritesh Tandon Advances to Runoff
in Congressional Race

by Roger Riffenburgh

Congressional candidate Ritesh Tandon has successfully secured a place in the top two and will advance to the November runoff. Tandon is an engineer, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader in Silicon Valley.  He says, “Our campaign is focused on the real issues people face every day — jobs, the high cost of living, taxes driven up by the wrong policies, election integrity and voter ID, and the safety of our communities. Too many people and businesses are leaving California, and we’re running to change the policies pushing them out.”

Immigration, AI education, and affordability are among Ritesh Tandon’s highest priorities. With regard to immigration, he supports securing the border, tracking visa overstays, prioritizing skills-based legal immigration, protecting American workers, and making deportation humane and efficient. His AI Education Agenda is interesting – he says every student should graduate AI-literate, and American workers should be retrained if necessary. He would improve affordability by cutting costs of healthcare and housing, cutting taxes, cutting regulations, and restoring fiscal discipline.

Tandon built a successful career in the technology industry. After working for major technology companies, he founded his own business, Kricel, and also became deeply involved in charitable work, helping raise funds for hospitals that provide free eye surgeries for disadvantaged children and supporting educational programs for low-income families.

Ritesh Tandon is running again in Congressional District 17. It includes Milpitas, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, the Alviso and Berryessa areas of San Jose, and part of Fremont. The incumbent is Ro Khanna, an outspoken progressive who served in 2020 as a national co-chair for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.

According to Tandon, “It’s time for all Americans, regardless of party, to unite around what’s good for our country and our people. We cannot let America slide toward socialism — which is exactly the direction my opponent wants to take us. This is bigger than politics. It’s about saving the America we love for the next generation.”

The grandson of a freedom fighter for Indian independence, Ritesh Tandon grew up in northern India and earned a B.S. degree in engineering. After coming to the United States, he earned an M.S. in computer engineering and an MBA both at Santa Clara University, where he also met Zurica, a fellow computer engineer, who is now his wife. They have two children and live in San Jose.

You can find out more about Ritesh Tandon on his campaign website, tandonforcongress.com.

Ritesh Tandon Advances to Runoff
in Congressional Race

by Roger Riffenburgh

Congressional candidate Ritesh Tandon has successfully secured a place in the top two and will advance to the November runoff. Tandon is an engineer, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader in Silicon Valley.  He says, “Our campaign is focused on the real issues people face every day — jobs, the high cost of living, taxes driven up by the wrong policies, election integrity and voter ID, and the safety of our communities. Too many people and businesses are leaving California, and we’re running to change the policies pushing them out.”

Immigration, AI education, and affordability are among Ritesh Tandon’s highest priorities. With regard to immigration, he supports securing the border, tracking visa overstays, prioritizing skills-based legal immigration, protecting American workers, and making deportation humane and efficient. His AI Education Agenda is interesting – he says every student should graduate AI-literate, and American workers should be retrained if necessary. He would improve affordability by cutting costs of healthcare and housing, cutting taxes, cutting regulations, and restoring fiscal discipline.

Tandon built a successful career in the technology industry. After working for major technology companies, he founded his own business, Kricel, and also became deeply involved in charitable work, helping raise funds for hospitals that provide free eye surgeries for disadvantaged children and supporting educational programs for low-income families.

Ritesh Tandon is running again in Congressional District 17. It includes Milpitas, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, the Alviso and Berryessa areas of San Jose, and part of Fremont. The incumbent is Ro Khanna, an outspoken progressive who served in 2020 as a national co-chair for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.

According to Tandon, “It’s time for all Americans, regardless of party, to unite around what’s good for our country and our people. We cannot let America slide toward socialism — which is exactly the direction my opponent wants to take us. This is bigger than politics. It’s about saving the America we love for the next generation.”

The grandson of a freedom fighter for Indian independence, Ritesh Tandon grew up in northern India and earned a B.S. degree in engineering. After coming to the United States, he earned an M.S. in computer engineering and an MBA both at Santa Clara University, where he also met Zurica, a fellow computer engineer, who is now his wife. They have two children and live in San Jose.

You can find out more about Ritesh Tandon on his campaign website, tandonforcongress.com.

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LIST OF UPCOMING GOP EVENTS

View more details for events on the Calendar of Upcoming Events or view the Monthly Calendar of Events.

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Paid for by the Sonoma County Republican Party

California State Budget:
WHILE YOU SLEPT, THEY RAISED YOUR TAXES

California Democrats approved a $355 billion state budget during an overnight legislative session, drawing criticism from Republican lawmakers who argue the spending plan raises costs on working families while failing to adequately address public safety concerns.

Assembly Republicans Criticize Overnight Budget Vote

California Assembly Republicans issued a statement criticizing Democrats for passing the budget late at night.  “If Democrats were proud of this budget, they would not have passed it while most Californians were asleep,” Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora said.

Flora argued that the governor and legislative leaders continue to increase spending without sufficient accountability.  “The governor continues to spend with no accountability, and now he wants to raise taxes on working Californians while the cost of living is already at an all-time high. We need a budget that cuts taxes, fully funds Proposition 36, and puts affordability first.”

Assembly Republicans also argued that the budget increases healthcare costs, expands spending on services for undocumented immigrants, and fails to fully fund Proposition 36, the voter-approved crime measure passed in 2024.

Senator Valladares: “California Has a Spending Problem”

According to State Senator Suzette Valladares, the $355 billion budget represents a record level of state spending and includes more than $14 billion in new taxes and fees identified by the California Taxpayers Association.

“California does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem,” Valladares said.

She argued that state spending has doubled over the past decade while affordability continues to worsen.

Valladares cited several potential impacts:

    • Approximately $1.5 billion in additional commercial health insurance costs.
    • Higher gasoline prices due to refinery supply requirements.
    • New taxes affecting software and technology services.
    • Permanent limitations on certain business tax credits, including research and development incentives.
    • Insufficient funding for Proposition 36 implementation despite voter approval.

Valladares noted that Proposition 36 received nearly 60 percent support from California voters and argued that local governments may lack the resources necessary to implement the measure.

Where Were the Moderate Democrats?

Questions have also emerged regarding moderate Democrats who often claim they oppose raising taxes.

According to California Playbook:  “Moderate Assembly Democrats overcame their distaste for revenue-raising by voting for new fees on health insurers and software companies…Moderates made it possible for Democrats to get the two-thirds support needed for tax legislation…”

California Playbook noted that some lawmakers facing reelection in more competitive districts were allowed to avoid taking politically difficult votes.

“While allowing lawmakers running for reelection in purple districts … to lay off the votes.”

Voters Should Remember

The budget debate will likely become a major political issue heading into the November elections.

Assemblymember David Tangipa stated:  “This budget is a reflection of the majority’s values. If you’re a hard-working Californian or a business owner, your taxes are going up. If you pay for private insurance, your bill is going up.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton also criticized the proposed increases.  “They’ve just put up your taxes in Sacramento even though we already have the highest cost of living in the country. The best way to fight the cost of living crisis is for government to take less of your money in the first place.”

Legislative negotiations with Governor Gavin Newsom remain ongoing, and Republicans have stated they will continue efforts to remove or reduce the proposed taxes and fees.

Californians Deserve Better

Senator Valladares summarized the concerns expressed by Republican lawmakers: “The people of California deserve so much better than this.”

Editors note: The legislature passed a final budget of $351.7 billion on June 29.

California Congressional Redistricting Maps: Current and Proposed Districts

Source: Statewide Database

View Interactive Map

California Citizens Redistricting Commission – District Viewer

The Commission has developed a district viewer that allows you to more easily navigate visualizations and zoom in and out of geographic areas while layering congressional, State Senate and Assembly boundaries.

District Viewer Tool

Paid for by the San Francisco GOP

Paid for by the South Peninsula Area Republican Coalition (SPARC)

Paid for by the Sonoma County Republican Party

California State Budget:
WHILE YOU SLEPT, THEY RAISED YOUR TAXES

California Democrats approved a $355 billion state budget during an overnight legislative session, drawing criticism from Republican lawmakers who argue the spending plan raises costs on working families while failing to adequately address public safety concerns.

Assembly Republicans Criticize Overnight Budget Vote

California Assembly Republicans issued a statement criticizing Democrats for passing the budget late at night.  “If Democrats were proud of this budget, they would not have passed it while most Californians were asleep,” Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora said.

Flora argued that the governor and legislative leaders continue to increase spending without sufficient accountability.  “The governor continues to spend with no accountability, and now he wants to raise taxes on working Californians while the cost of living is already at an all-time high. We need a budget that cuts taxes, fully funds Proposition 36, and puts affordability first.”

Assembly Republicans also argued that the budget increases healthcare costs, expands spending on services for undocumented immigrants, and fails to fully fund Proposition 36, the voter-approved crime measure passed in 2024.

Senator Valladares: “California Has a Spending Problem”

According to State Senator Suzette Valladares, the $355 billion budget represents a record level of state spending and includes more than $14 billion in new taxes and fees identified by the California Taxpayers Association.

“California does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem,” Valladares said.

She argued that state spending has doubled over the past decade while affordability continues to worsen.

Valladares cited several potential impacts:

    • Approximately $1.5 billion in additional commercial health insurance costs.
    • Higher gasoline prices due to refinery supply requirements.
    • New taxes affecting software and technology services.
    • Permanent limitations on certain business tax credits, including research and development incentives.
    • Insufficient funding for Proposition 36 implementation despite voter approval.

Valladares noted that Proposition 36 received nearly 60 percent support from California voters and argued that local governments may lack the resources necessary to implement the measure.

Where Were the Moderate Democrats?

Questions have also emerged regarding moderate Democrats who often claim they oppose raising taxes.

According to California Playbook:  “Moderate Assembly Democrats overcame their distaste for revenue-raising by voting for new fees on health insurers and software companies…Moderates made it possible for Democrats to get the two-thirds support needed for tax legislation…”

California Playbook noted that some lawmakers facing reelection in more competitive districts were allowed to avoid taking politically difficult votes.

“While allowing lawmakers running for reelection in purple districts … to lay off the votes.”

Voters Should Remember

The budget debate will likely become a major political issue heading into the November elections.

Assemblymember David Tangipa stated:  “This budget is a reflection of the majority’s values. If you’re a hard-working Californian or a business owner, your taxes are going up. If you pay for private insurance, your bill is going up.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton also criticized the proposed increases.  “They’ve just put up your taxes in Sacramento even though we already have the highest cost of living in the country. The best way to fight the cost of living crisis is for government to take less of your money in the first place.”

Legislative negotiations with Governor Gavin Newsom remain ongoing, and Republicans have stated they will continue efforts to remove or reduce the proposed taxes and fees.

Californians Deserve Better

Senator Valladares summarized the concerns expressed by Republican lawmakers: “The people of California deserve so much better than this.”

Editors note: The legislature passed a final budget of $351.7 billion on June 29.

LIST OF UPCOMING GOP EVENTS

View more details for events on the Calendar of Upcoming Events or view the Monthly Calendar of Events.

California Congressional Redistricting Maps: Current and Proposed Districts

Source: Statewide Database

View Interactive Map

California Citizens Redistricting Commission – District Viewer

The Commission has developed a district viewer that allows you to more easily navigate visualizations and zoom in and out of geographic areas while layering congressional, State Senate and Assembly boundaries.

District Viewer Tool
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