California - U.S. Senate and House Candidate Endorsements based on drug war policy reform Note: This is an old Voting Guide. Go to the New Drug WarRant.net Voting Guide Make a difference in California Drug WarRant is providing information to help you make decisions on voting and supporting candidates. Be aware that the information provided here ONLY relates to drug policy reform, and there are other reasons to vote for a candidate. However, drug policy reform is a critical issue, and one that is too often neglected by candidates, unless the voters make it critical. Below each candidate, you will see information about their drug policy reform views and/or voting record. (see the criteria at right for definitions). A red check mark is a Drug WarRant endorsement. A vote for them will be a vote for drug policy reform. In some cases there may be multiple good options. In other cases, there just isn't a good candidate. More endorsements will come as the election nears. If you have additional information about a candidate's drug policy positions, please contact Drug WarRant. If you don't know your district, go to Project Vote Smart and enter your zip code to find out your district and detailed information on all the candidates. Note: For another great resource on voting in California, visit the Drug Policy Forum of California Election Guide. Criteria 1. The National Political Awareness Test (NPAT) asks candidates which items they will support if elected. Not all candidates have answered the questionaire. For the purposes of Drug WarRant's endorsements, we have focused on the following specific items from the NPAT: NPAT Drugs: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding drugs. Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs. Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs. Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes. Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs." Other or expanded principles For the purposes of endorsement, clearly the most important areas are "c, d, and f." A candidate with all three is gold. Selection "a" is a negative factor (although some consider this only for violent or major drug dealers). Selection "e" should be negative, but is confusing. There are some candidates who have an enlightened view of drug policy, who still choose "e" simply because of the heightened border concerns since 9/11, so there may be more involved in that response. At a minimum, a candidate should have chosen "d." The choice of "c" and/or "f" add greatly to their attractiveness. NPAT Colombia funding: Should the United States increase its financial support to Colombia to combat "the war on drugs"? "No" is the preferred answer here (at a minimum -- in fact, the answer should be to reduce funding, rather than just not increasing it). It is possible that someone could claim they are for increased funding to Colombia, but not for spraying or military purposes, but rather humanitarian purposes -- this seems a stretch, however, so I am looking for a solid "No" here. 2. The Hinchey Amendment. The incumbents have had two opportunities (2003/2004) to vote on an amendment that would stop the federal government from interfering with medical marijuana in states where it is legal. There was no legitimate reason to vote against this (and it was a bipartisan amendment), so a "no" vote is generally an indication of ignorance, or being in the pocket of the drug warriors. The proper response is: "Hinchey: Yes/Yes." There is no excuse for California representatives to vote "No." Since California is one of the medical marijuana states, a "No" vote on Hinchey is inviting the feds to come in and harrass their own constitutents for following state law! 3. Other criteria. Where there is useful information from campaign web sites or news reports, those details are added here. If you have additional information (preferably with links), please let me know. US Senate Marsha J. Feinland (Peace and Freedom) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Don J. Grundmann (American Independent) NPAT Drugs: c,d,e,f,g GREATLY INCREASE PENALTIES FOR LAUNDERING OF DRUG MONEY. ELIMINATE MANDATORY SENTENCE LAWS FOR LOW LEVEL ASSOCIATES OF OR INTERACTORS WITH DRUG DEALERS.; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes Barbara Boxer (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: No answers; NPAT Colombia funding: No answer James P. Gray (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUT OF MARIJUANA PROHIBITION, AND LEAVE THAT FOR THE STATES.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Bill Jones (R) No NPAT James P. Gray is a former California Supreme Court Judge and author of "Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It: A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs". He is running completely on a platform of drug policy reform, so every vote for him is a specific and clear statement. He won't win, but this is one race where all votes in losing battle count if he can make a good showing. US House 1 Pamela Elizondo (G) NPAT Drugs: f,g drug use is a prochoice issue its unconstitutional for anyone to tell us what we or ours can injest; NPAT Columbia funding: No C. Michael "Mike" Thompson (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Lawrence R. Wiesner (R) NPAT Drugs: d; NPAT Colombia funding: Undecided The incumbent has a good record, so I'm sticking with him, unless I hear more US House 2 Walter "Wally" Herger (R) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,b,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes; Hinchey: No/No Michael D. Johnson (D) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No This one's easy. Herger has completely abdicated his responsibilities by defying California voters on medical marijuana and inviting the feds to come arrest them for following state laws. Johnson's got excellent drug policy views. US House 3 Gabe Castillo (D) NPAT Drugs: a,b,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Undecided Dan Lungren (R) No NPAT Douglas Arthur Tuma (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g End the Drug War. Release Drug War prisoners. Pay reparations.; NPAT Colombia funding: No This is an open seat, and Dan Lungren is leading by a long shot in the amount of fundraising. Lungren is real drug warrior -- a former California Attorney General who targeted medical marijuana users. Having him in Congress would be bad news. I'm not thrilled with Castillo's answers, but at least he favors medical marijuana, and he has a better chance to beat Lungren than Tuma, who has great answers, but appears to have very limited visibility. If you don't want to vote for Castillo, be sure to go out and vote for Tuma. US House 4 John T. Doolittle (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No David I Winters (D) No NPAT Not a great choice here. Winters hasn't said much that I can find about drug policy, but I'll pretty much give an automatic endorsement to any opponent of a California incumbent, when the current officeholder has actually voted against the Hinchey amendment. US House 5 Pat W. Driscoll (G) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f,g The only thing the "war on drugs" has accomplished is to help the U.S. achieve the dubious distinction of incarcerating more people, and primarily young men of color, than any other nation both on a total and a per-capita basis.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Mike R. Dugas (R) NPAT Drugs: d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No Robert T. Matsui (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/NV John C. Reiger (Peace and Freedom) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; Colombia funding: No US House 6 Paul L. Erickson (R) NPAT Drugs: c,d; Colombia funding: Yes Lynn C. Woolsey (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,e,g EXPAND E - ASSIST DEVELOPING LOCAL ECONOMIES SO PEOPLE CAN PROSPER AND SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY; NPAT Colombia funding: No; Hinchey: Yes/Yes US House 7 Charles R. Hargrave (R) NPAT Drugs: a,b,c,d,e,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No George Miller (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: NV/Yes This endorsement came about through the assistance of Drug Policy Forum of California, which states that Rep. George Miller ... has been a strong supporter of MJ reform for 30 years. His voting record is 90%+ on drug reform issues over this time. US House 8 Leilani Dowell (Peace and Freedom) No NPAT Jennifer A. Depalma (R) NPAT Drugs: c,d; NPAT Colombia funding: No Nancy Pelosi (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes US House 9 James M. "Jim" Eyer (L) NPAT Drugs: g Only physical or financial harm to non-participants should be illegal. h) prohibition does not work. i) per 10th Ammendment drug laws should be prerogative of states.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Barbara Lee (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,d,e; NPAT Colombia: No; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Claudia Bermudez (R) No NPAT US House 10 Jeff R. Ketelson (R) NPAT Drugs: a,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Undecided Ellen O. Tauscher (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,b,d,e SUPPORT DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE TREATMENT FOR 1ST TIME DRUG OFFENDERS.; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes; Hinchey: Yes/Yes US House 11 Richard W. Pombo (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No Gerald "Jerry" McNerney (D) No NPAT Again, it almost doesn't matter who the opponent was, when the incumbent voted against the Hinchey amendment. US House 12 Mike Garza (R) No NPAT Patricia "Pat" Gray (G) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f,g get the CIA out of the drug running business; NPAT Colombia funding: No Harland Harrison (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Tom Lantos (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes US House 13 Fortney H. "Pete" Stark (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No; Hinchey: Yes/Yes George I. Bruno (R) NPAT Drugs: a,b,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Undecided Mark W. Stroberg (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No US House 14 Anna G. Eshoo (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No; Hinchey: Yes/Yes John C. "Chris" Haugen (R) NPAT Drugs: a,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes Brian Holtz (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g Allow adults to decide what substances to consume. No prior restraint, but massive punishment for negligence.; NPAT Colombia funding: No US House 15 Raymond L. Chukwu (R) NPAT Drugs: a,b,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes Michael M. "Mike" Honda (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No; Hinchey: Yes/NV US House 16 Zoe Lofgren (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Douglas Adams McNea (R) NPAT Drugs: a,d: NPAT Colombia funding: Undecided Markus Welch (L) No NPAT US House 17 Sam Farr (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No: Hinchey: Yes/Yes Mark J. Risely (R) NPAT Drugs: a,b,c,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes Joel R. Smolen (L) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,g The current "war on drugs" is not working and instead we are creating a drug dependent society where drug trafficking is creating a rich and well organized crime culture. Just a prohibition did not work, I suggest we re examine our drug policy and look to decimalization and treatment as an effective way to remove the money incentive from drugs and concentrate on education and as an appropriate alternative.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Raymond C. Glock-Grueneich (G) No NPAT Joseph B. Williams (Peace and Freedom) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia: No Some interesting choices, but the incumbent already voted the right way on Hinchey. Risely, on the other hand, seems to be a bit confused. US House 18 Dennis A. Cardoza (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,d,c,e; NPAT Colombia: Undecided; Hinchey: No/No Charles F. Pringle (R) No NPAT Cardoza makes no sense. He says he's for medical marijuana and then votes to have the feds come and arrest them! US House 19 James A. "Lex" Bufford (D) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f,g END THE PROHIBITION OF MARIJUANA, TAX AND REGULATE. REFORM DRUG LAWS. I SUPPORT MEDICAL MARIJUANA AMNESTY FOR THOSE IMPRISONED SOLELY FOR MARIJUANA VIOLATIONS.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Larry R. Mullen (G) No NPAT George P. Radanovich (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No US House 20 Roy Ashburn (R) NPAT Drugs: a,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No Answer Jim Costa (D) NPAT Drugs: b,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes This is a bad one. We need some new candidates here. US House 21 Devin G. Nunes (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No Fred B. Davis (D) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No US House 22 William M. "Bill" Thomas (R) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,g Support local youth programs like the Police Activities League to encourage children to reject drugs.; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Another bad one. The only one running is unacceptable. Go to the polls and vote for other races, but leave this one blank. (and then start thinking about running in opposition in two years) US House 23 Lois Capps (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Donald E. Regan (R) NPAT Drugs: a,b,c,d; NPAT Colombia funding: No Michael Favorite (L) No NPAT US House 24 Stuart A. Bechman (G) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Elton W. Gallegly (R) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Undecided; Hinchey: No/No Brett Wagner (D) NPAT Drugs: b,d; NPAT Columbia funding: No Both Bechman and Wagner would be a great improvement over Gallegly. US House 25 Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No Fred "Tim" Willoughby (D) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d; NPAT Colombia funding: No US House 26 David T. Dreier (R) Incumbent No NPAT: Hinchey: No/No Cynthia M. Matthews (D) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Randall G. Weissbuch (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g End the insane, immoral, racist, failed war on drugs: NPAT Colombia funding: No A couple of excellent choices here, and the incumbent Dreier isn't one of them. US House 27 Eric J. Carter (G) No NPAT Robert M. Levy (R) NPAT Drugs: a,b,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No Answer Brad J. Sherman (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes US House 28 Howard L. Berman (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes David R. Hernandez (R) NPAT Drugs: a,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No Kelley L. Ross (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g end federal drug laws, all unconstitutional; NPAT Colombia funding: No US House 29 Ted Brown (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g There should be no drug laws. Adults should be allowed to put any substance in their bodies that they choose. NPAT Colombia funding: No Adam B. Schiff (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Philip Koebel (G) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Harry Frank Scolinos (R) No NPAT US House 30 Victor D. Elizalde (R) NPAT Drugs: b,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes Henry A. Waxman (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No; Hinchey: Yes/Yes US House 31 Xavier Becerra (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Luis Vega (R) NPAT Drugs: b; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes US House 32 Leland Thomas Faegre (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Hilda L. Solis (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b; NPAT Colombia funding: No; Hinchey: Yes/Yes This is a change of endorsement. While I applaud Solis for voting "Yes" on Hinchey, Faegre has the better overall drug policy, and deserves the endorsement. US House 33 Diane E. Watson (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Rebert G. Weber (L) No NPAT US House 34 Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Wayne Miller (R) No NPAT US House 35 Charles Tate (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g Prohibition does not work; NPAT Columbia funding: No Ross Moen (R) No NPAT Maxine Waters (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Gordon Michael Mego (American Independent) NPAT Drugs: b,e,g Investigate, Eliminate, and Prosecute Individuals, Organizations, and Financial Institutions Involved with Depositing, Laundering, etc. of Profits from Illegal Drug Trade.; NPAT Colombia funding: No US House 36 Jane Harman (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Paul Whitehead (R) No NPAT Mike Binkley (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g THE FEDERAL GOV'T HAS NO CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY TO PASS ANY DRUG LAW. HOWEVER FOOLISH ALCOHOL PROHIBITION WAS, IT HAD 18TH AMENDMENT.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Alice M. Stek (Peace and Freedom) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No US House 37 Juanita Millender-McDonald (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Herbert G. "Herb" Peters (L) No NPAT Vernon V. Van (R) No NPAT US House 38 Grace Flores Napolitano (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes US House 39 Tim Escobar (R) No NPAT Linda T. Sanchez (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: b,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No; Hinchey: Yes/Yes US House 40 Edard R. "Ed" Royce (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No J. Tillman Williams (D) No NPAT Endorsement based on any alternative to the incumbent's vote on Hinchey being an improvement. US House 41 Jerry Lewis (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No Peymon Mottahedek (L) NPAT Drugs: c,f,g LEGALIZE ALL DRUGS.; NPAT Colombia funding: No This is a very clear and easy choice! US House 42 Gary G. Miller (R) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,b,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Yes; Hinchey: No/No Lewis M. Myers (D) NPAT Drugs: a,b,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No Answer US House 43 Joe Baca (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No Ed Laning (R) No NPAT US House 44 Kevin D. Akin (Peace and Freedom) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f Free and freely available drug treament programs are needed. Most drug use is a medical problem, and the futile (but profitable) "war on drugs" is a destructive fiasco.; NPAT Colombia funding: No Ken S. Calvert (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No Louis Vandenberg (D) No NPAT Calvert needs to go. Don't know anything about Vandenberg. US House 45 Mary Whitaker Bono (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Richard J. Meyer (D) No NPAT US House 46 Jim D. Brandt (D) NPAT Drugs: b,d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No Keith D. Gann (L) No NPAT Thomas "Tom" W. Lash (G) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Dana T. Rohrabacher (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes While there are other candidates with good views in this race, Dana Rohrabacher has co-sponsored the Hinchey amendment both years, and has consistently stood up for the rights of California constituents against federal instrusion. US House 47 Alexandria A. "Alex" Coronado (R) No NPAT Loretta B. Sanchez (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes US House 48 Bruce D. Cohen (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Christopher Cox (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No John L. Graham (D) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Take your pick. Either Cohen or Graham would be better than Cox. US House 49 Darrell Issa (R) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: No/No Michael P. Byron (D) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,e,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Lars R. Grossmith (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g END THE DRUG WAR; NPAT Colombia funding: No Either Byron or Grossmith would be a vast improvement over Issa. US House 50 Francine P. Busby (D) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,g; NPAT Colombia funding: No Randall H. "Duke" "Randy" Cunningham (R) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No Answer; Hinchey: No/No Brandon C. Osborne (L) No NPAT Gary M. Waayers (G) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Diane J. Templin (American Independent) NPAT Drugs: d,e; NPAT Colombia funding: No I don't know enough here to call it. Just don't vote for Cunningham. US House 51 Bob Filner (D) Incumbent No NPAT; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Michael S. Metti (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Michael Steven Giorgino (R) No NPAT The incumbent has already shown the right vote on Hinchey. US House 52 Michael Benoit (L) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f,g End the War on Drugs; NPAT Colombia funding: No Duncan L. Hunter (R) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Undecided; Hinchey: No/No Brian S. Keliher (D) NPAT Drugs: b,c,d; NPAT Colombia funding: No Hunter needs to go. Take your pick: Benoit's got a great view on the drug war, Keliher has a much better approach than Hunter and a better chance of winning. US House 53 Susan A. Davis (D) Incumbent NPAT Drugs: a,b,d,e,g I support increased funding for drug demand reduction programs. We must reduce demand in conjunction with our foreign counter-narcotics efforts.; NPAT Colombia funding: No; Hinchey: Yes/Yes Adam Van Susteren (L) No NPAT Darin S. Hunzeker (R) NPAT Drugs: a,e; NPAT Colombia funding: Undecided Lawrence P. Rockwood (G) NPAT Drugs: c,d,f; NPAT Colombia funding: No Susan's a little confused about demand and supply and needs some educating. However, as an incumbent, she voted the right way on Hinchey and have the correct view on Colombia. (and Hunzeker would be unacceptable) Back to main voting guide page.