Joe Kerr, CA-40 candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire

Joe Kerr, a 56-year-old retired Firefighter Captain from Coto de Caza, is running as a Democrat in the 2026 primary election for CA-40. Kerr identifies three key issues impacting Californians: affordability, protecting democracy, and wildfire mitigation. To address affordability, Kerr proposes increasing affordable housing by cutting federal red tape, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, and capping out-of-pocket prescription costs. To protect democracy, Kerr suggests restoring Voting Rights Act protections, establishing national standards for early voting and vote by mail, and opposing proof-of-citizenship requirements. For wildfire mitigation, Kerr recommends securing federal funding for early detection systems, promoting new fire suppression technologies, and fully funding FEMA pre-disaster mitigation grants. Kerr believes the federal government has a role in ensuring fair and accessible elections while avoiding unnecessary barriers for eligible voters.