ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — U.S. Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., representing California’s 39th congressional district, has issued and supported a flurry of bills as she gears up for the midterm elections.
Kim narrowly won her seat over Gil Cisneros in 2020 and could face another tough election in Orange County, which has seen a steady rise in influence from Democrats.
In recent weeks, Kim has pushed for a bill to measure the effects of inflation, and another to maintain funding for police. Kim said her work across the aisle highlights a campaign promise she has stood by.
“Even before I got here, I was in the California state legislature. I’ve always had the same attitude that if you want to be an effective policy maker, you have to do things that are right for the district,” she said. “I kept my promise. I kept my promise to work across the ail and through the gridlock.”
Among House freshman representatives, 58% of the bills Kim supported were sponsored by a Democrat, first among all new members, Axios reported in May 2021. Data from the Luger Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy recently ranked her the most bipartisan freshman and in the top 10 among all House members.
Among the recent bill she’s championed as the primary nears is the Combatting Painful Inflation (CPI) Act. Introduced with Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., it aims to collect information on the impact of inflation on American families, what it does to the competitiveness of the economy, and make recommendations for government spending.
Kim hopes it will prevent the House from pushing forward legislation that could aggravate inflation.
Kim’s new seat will be another battleground as Republicans push to take over the House in the midterm elections. Kim enjoys the endorsement of the local party with national money expected to flow. Democrats are intent on defeating Kim, who defeated Cisneros after Democrats had swept all seats touching the county in a 2018 midterm blue wave.
There’s less optimism for Democrats in 2022 as inflation, a down stock market, and war have hurt confidence in the economy and spiked oil prices.
Kim’s next election will be for the redrawn 40th district, with several Republicans lined up to challenge in the June 7 primary. Greg Raths, who ran against U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., for the 45th congressional district in the 2020 general election, lost decisively. Nick Taurus will also be on the ballot for Republicans with the winner to face Democrat physician Asif Mahmood.