SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Congresswoman Sara Jacobs defeated El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells in the race for California's 51st congressional district in the Presidential General Election.
The district includes central portions of San Diego and parts of East County including El Cajon, La Mesa and Spring Valley.
LIVE ELECTION RESULTS FOR CA 51st DISTRICT NOVEMBER 5, 2024 ELECTION:
The 35-year-old Jacobs is the youngest member of California's House delegation. She said addressing the high costs of living in San Diego County is one of her major concerns and pursuing affordable access to housing and childcare are among her other priorities.
Wells says if elected, he would work to secure the border, shore up public safety concerns by addressing police staffing issues and would address homelessness by enforcing laws and treating addiction as opposed to housing.
Ahead of the election, CBS 8's Heather Myers sat down with the candidates and asked them to detail their vision for San Diego and the nation, focusing on the issues of immigration, the War in Ukraine, and the economy.
Below are excerpts from each candidate's response.
Immigration Reform
The Question:
What specific policies do you support for comprehensive immigration reform to address the ongoing migrant crisis?
The Answers:
Representative Sara Jacobs emphasized the need for comprehensive policies to address the ongoing crisis. She outlined three key areas of focus:
- Expanding legal pathways for immigration
- Fixing problems in the asylum system
- Investing in commercial transportation at the border
"It's been over 40 years since Congress has passed any sort of real, meaningful immigration reform. That's longer than I've been alive," Jacobs told CBS 8. Jacobs stressed the importance of addressing these issues to meet the needs of the economy and border communities like San Diego.
Mayor Bill Wells says to address any issues at the border, the country should step back in time and return former policies.
"The border problem is probably the biggest issue that we face, and 75% of the people in America say the country's going in the wrong direction, and it's one of the big issues," said Wells.
"We need to go back to the way things were before the Biden administration, where you go to the country next door to you, you apply for asylum, you say that you have your reasons for wanting to come in, and you wait for a court hearing. That court hearing then looks at the evidence and decides whether or not you're a good fit to come into America."
The War in Ukraine
The Question:
What is your stance on the level of military and financial support the US should provide to Ukraine in its fight against Russia?
The Answers:
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs pledged her support for Ukraine and stressed the importance of the country's fight against Russia.
Jacobs says Ukraine's success will help stabilize Europe and help promote democracy in the region.
"I was part of the last American delegation to visit Ukraine before Russia's invasion," said Jacobs. "It's important that the US supports Ukraine in their efforts to address Russia's. Invasion, and that we also support Ukraine to build a brighter future, a more democratic future for Ukraine and the people of Europe."
However, Mayor Wells says the US should let Ukraine and Europe handle those issues.
"I think we've got so many pressing problems at home, like what just happened with the hurricane, we don't have enough money to take care of those people," he said.
While not advocating for cutting aid entirely, Wells suggested that Europe should take the lead in supporting Ukraine.
Economic Initiatives
When discussing economic initiatives to support local businesses and promote job creation, Jacobs highlighted the importance of addressing childcare costs. She argued that investing in childcare is not only crucial for families but also beneficial for the economy and federal budget.
Jacobs explained, "We actually lose billions of dollars in GDP because parents can't enter the workforce because they can't find care that meets their needs, and the federal government saves $6 for every $1 that we invest in high-quality early childhood programs."
The Final Word:
What is your pitch to voters about why you should be elected, or re-elected, to Congress?
The Answers:
Sara Jacobs:
"At 35 years old, I am one of the youngest members of Congress and the youngest member of House leadership, where I have a direct seat to advocate for San Diego's needs. In my first four years in Congress, despite all of the chaos, I've been able to deliver and work with anyone to address the needs of our community, passing bipartisan bills to address housing, food security, child care, and drug shortages. I believe that by working together, we can continue to address the needs of our community and build the future that we all deserve."
Bill Wells
"75 percent of the people in America think that the country is going in the wrong direction. I've had a history of doing things in El Cajon, that I think people like, and we need to act. If we want things to change, we have to stop doing things the way we've been doing it. I believe that my opponent is a new crop of Democrats that are much more extreme and radical than traditional Democrats. And this is an experiment that we've tried as a country for a while. I think it's failed miserably. It's time to try something different,"
Watch the complete interviews with each candidate below: