Good morning.

By: Mike McPhate

Source: CALIFORNIA TODAY

Today’s introduction comes from Nathalie Nieves, a reporter based in Washington.

Ammar Campa-Najjar, 28, is one of five Democrats vying for a congressional House seat in California’s 50th district. He also is of Palestinian and Mexican descent. In an interview, he shared his experiences campaigning as an Arab-Latino and his plans to bring SpaceX to San Diego. Here are edited excerpts from an interview in Washington, where he was visiting to hold a fund-raiser.

Your mother is Mexican-American and your father is Palestinian-American. In what ways has that influenced you?

I think it has helped me in politics and my career by allowing me to understand people who are not like me and their experiences. That made me step outside of my own issues and see people’s lives objectively, for what they were.

When I talk to people in my district who say they are an illness away from losing their home, I don’t really care about what their political persuasion is. I think when people really cling to their identities they don’t really have sympathy for other communities and their struggles.

What has your experience been like running a campaign as a Latino-Arab under the Trump administration?

It’s been challenging but extremely promising. We need to be able to represent everyone, not specific pockets of the country. A lot of Trump supporters are not all racists, or a lot of them aren’t ignorant; they are ignored. I want people to understand, they just need a voice. That is what Trump tapped into. If I lose this race, it won’t be because I played the same partisan game.

How do you plan to implement environmentally sustainable practices?

We’ve reached out to Elon Musk’s company to make solar farming available to constituents. I also want to bring the SpaceX program to the district. Elon Musk is well on his way to privatizing space travel, and if we could tap into that by creating launch sites here, that would help create jobs.

Duncan Hunter Jr., the incumbent, is under investigation for alleged violations of campaign finance laws.

When it comes to Hunter, one thing I will say is that he served in our military. People like him fight the wars we wage abroad so people like me can fight the wars within. But at the same time, I am appalled. There is a dereliction of duty. If we learned anything about 2016, people are fed up with political dynasties.

How has social media influenced your campaign?

I have had the opportunity to multiply my message through social media. The Obama campaign showed us how far-reaching and effective a social media initiative can be. I think it would be a really redemptive thing if I, as an Arab-Latino, could win. That would show us everything that is wrong with America cannot eclipse everything that is right.