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“Kevin Kiley is an out-of-touch politician who would rather spread conspiracy theories than solve the problems families in California’s 3rd Congressional District are facing. That’s why there’s no one better than Jessica Morse – the fifth-generation Californian, wildfire resilience expert, and career problem solver – to give Northern California families the representation they deserve. Jessica deeply understands the concerns of this district and will put the needs of Northern California above all else,” said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene.
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To: Interested Parties
From: Dan Gottlieb
Date: March 5, 2024
Subject: The Case Against Kevin Kiley
In his short and historically unproductive stint in Congress, Kevin Kiley has come to embody the worst kind of hyper-partisan, power-craven politics that Californians hate and communities in the 3rd Congressional District can’t afford.
From using his elected office to litigate conspiracy theories, to openly voting to restrict women’s reproductive freedoms instead of delivering the health care resources his district desperately needs, Kiley has shamelessly exacerbated the political divisions that have taken hold in California for the sake of his shameless personal gain. He has abused the trust his constituents placed in him, and communities in CA-03 deserve better.
Enter Jessica Morse – a fifth-generation Northern Californian who previously served as Deputy Secretary for Forest and Wildland Resilience at the California Natural Resources Agency, and is a former national security staffer with the know-how, background, and backbone to solve some of the 3rd Congressional District’s most pressing problems. As the Sacramento Bee puts it, “Morse represents the kind of candidate that both major parties need to advance in far greater numbers,” and “can put out every type of fire,” – including those that Kiley and his far-right allies are helping start in the halls of Congress.
In a district trending in Democrats’ direction, thanks in part to the rapidly growing Sacramento suburbs, Morse has the record, the resources, and the reach to meet Northern Californians where they are all across the district and protect the lands, rights, and pocketbooks of her neighbors in Congress.
KILEY IS PLAYING POLITICS, THREATENING CALIFORNIA FIRE RESILIENCE AND RESOURCES
The dangers of Kevin Kiley’s political games in Washington D.C. are real and present in California. When Kiley and his far-right GOP colleagues almost forced a government shutdown, they put wages for federal firefighters in jeopardy. Kiley also abandoned his community by voting for a nearly 44% reduction in wildfire suppression funding. In the process, Kiley also threatened an estimated 248,000 jobs in California, critical funding for more than 44,000 veterans, and health care coverage for roughly 226,000 seniors, children, and disabled Americans who rely on Medicaid.
By contrast, Jessica Morse has been working on the frontline of California’s wildfire crisis since the Paradise Fire in 2018. She’s an advocate for California’s wildlife resilience; safeguarding public lands, fighting for fire resilience and affordable fire insurance coverage, and actually getting things done for her neighbors – and she’s partnered with firefighters, environmentalists, and members of both parties to get it done. She’ll do the same in Congress.
KILEY IS WORSENING CALIFORNIA’S DIVISIONS
Ever since receiving Trump’s endorsement and being named a ‘MAGA’ champion by the criminally indicted former president, Kiley has spent his time in Congress working on far-right legislation that does nothing but divide residents of the district and sow fear.
Locally, he has supported extreme candidates for school district races who have antagonized transgender students. Nationally, he’s refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential results and shared a stage with QAnon conspiracists. In the process, he’s left the needs of his constituents behind.
KILEY IS ENDANGERING REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOMS, DESPITE THE WISHES OF CALIFORNIANS
Kevin Kiley has spent his tenure in Congress endangering the rights of California women and sowing divisions to get ahead. Kiley has already established a disturbing anti-choice record: voting against expanding access to reproductive health care in the state legislature, denouncing calls to protect Roe v. Wade, and consistently voting against women’s reproductive rights nationwide in Congress – despite the fact that a majority of 3rd Congressional District residents voted to preserve reproductive freedoms on the state level in 2022.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Sacramento Bee: The Bee’s endorsement for the big 3rd congressional district centers on the Sierra | Opinion. [Sacramento Bee, 2/8/24]
“Jessica Morse represents the kind of candidate that both major parties need to advance in far greater numbers. Morse can put out every type of fire.”
“It is unfortunate that her opponent, Republican incumbent Kevin Kiley of Placer County, has chosen to focus on the political wars in Washington and cultural wars back home. The misdirection of Kiley’s clear talents is in direct conflict with what his district needs.”
KCRA: “Morse has spent her life throwing herself into challenges – from spending time in Iraq while working in national security, to confronting wildfires as an appointee to state and federal groups tasked with preventing and addressing the catastrophe, and now her latest challenge: trying to unseat Kiley in Congress.” [KCRA, 2/21/24]
KCRA: “Morse is a 5th-generation Californian whose ancestors settled in the area she’s hoping to represent. […] ‘I want to actually be the advocate that our community needs. I am not going to be a political bomb thrower like Kevin Kiley. I will be a problem solver because that is what my family here raised me to do.’” [KCRA, 2/21/24]
The Sacramento Bee: Kevin Kiley is a snowflake who isn’t ready for a few questions, let alone Congress. [The Sacramento Bee, 4/23/22]
Lake County Record-Bee: House Republican dysfunction couldn’t come at a worse time. [Lake County Record-Bee, 10/24/23]
Los Angeles Times: Column: These California Republicans voted for Jim Jordan and against the good of the country. Remember their names. [Los Angeles Times, 10/17/23]
PATH TO VICTORY
Kiley is a vulnerable freshman Republican with a dangerous voting record who will be forced to defend a seat that continues to trend toward Democrats. California’s 3rd Congressional District is an increasingly suburban district where President Biden garnered 49.1% of the two-way vote in 2020 – more than 3 points better than Secretary Clinton in 2016 – and where Democratic voter registration shares continue to grow. Factor that on top of Morse’s strong and district-wide footprint, and the Democratic candidate will have the resources and support she needs to oust Kiley.
The geographically diverse communities of CA-03 – spanning from the Sacramento suburbs to the Sierra Nevada and the Mojave Desert – deserve a unified voice in Congress that will lead the fight to support the many Sierra communities facing cycles of wildfires, floods, and droughts, lower the cost of health care and housing, and protect women’s abortion rights nationwide. On all of those issues and more, Jessica Morse is the right leader to step up and prioritize the needs of Northern California’s working families over partisan considerations. Kevin Kiley, as voters have learned, is not.
As a proven vote-getter, Morse will be able to attract moderate, NPP, and Democratic-leaning voters from all across the district, center the everyday issues that matter most to them, and restore common-sense leadership in Washington to deliver results for the place her family has called home for five generations. |
