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Since California’s redistricting following the 2022 general election, San Benito County has been part of the 18th Congressional District, which includes East Monterey County and east Santa Clara County.
Four candidates are challenging Zoe Lofgren for the 18th district seat: Luis Arreguin, Chris Demers, and Shane Lewis. All are newcomers except Arreguin, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2022.
The two top vote-getters move on to the general election ballot in November.
BenitoLink submitted questions to all candidates and only Arreguin did not respond by publication time.
Chris Demers, 52, is a sustainable technology director who has lived in Gilroy for six years. He has not held elected office but has been appointed to various commission positions in San Jose and Gilroy.
Why are you running for the 18th District seat?
It’s time for something different, and better. An independent voice focused on results.
People in this district are working hard and falling behind. Housing costs are out of control. Healthcare is more expensive every year. Everyday life is harder than it should be. Young people are losing hope in their future.
Our two large political parties are not fixing it. They are dividing the country and not always treating everyone with dignity. They are stuck in the same partisan fights, driven by the same interests, and they are not making your economic reality better.
I’m not running to join partisan fights. I’m running to represent this district.
No corporate PAC money. No party bosses. A clear focus on lowering the cost of living and delivering results people can sense and feel.
This campaign is about delivering for you. And not losing sight of your concerns: What it costs to live here. What it takes to raise a family here, and whether people can stay here.
That is what I will be focused on every day in Congress.
What are two key issues in the district, and how do you intend to address them if elected?
The first is our cost of living. Inflation well over 2% is unacceptable this far after the pandemic. We must address the core reasons for this, such as tariffs and the cost of input commodities like oil. And we must keep or reinstate subsidies that ease the burden of core expenses like healthcare and food (think Medicaid and SNAP).
Housing, healthcare, and everyday expenses are squeezing families across this district. People are making good incomes and still cannot get ahead. The out of touch politicians in Washington do not seem to get this.
In Congress, I will focus on bringing real resources back to this region and cutting through the federal barriers that slow housing, infrastructure, and local investment. We need practical solutions that increase supply, lower costs, and make it possible for people to stay.
The second is ethics.
Voters are tired of politicians who answer to parties and special interests instead of the people they represent. They are tired of double standards and self-dealings by those in Congress. They are tired of politicians who use their bully pulpit to pit Americans against each other. That is why I am running as an independent.
No PAC money. A self-imposed term limit. Exemplifying ethical treatment toward everyone. And public progress reports so you can see exactly what I am doing.
If you cannot show yourself to be distant from special interests, and also show your results, nothing changes. I will be different.
Residential and commercial development have led to loss of productive farmland. In what ways could the federal government help streamline regulations and strengthen local economies that depend on agriculture?
This region depends on agriculture, and right now we are making it harder for it to survive.
The federal government needs to do less in some areas and better in others. We must have effective supports and incentives for the productivity and wellbeing of the agriculture sector and its workers.
This not only means straightforward loans/grants, insurance and disaster assistance, it also means adequately funding programs like SNAP that support food production and feeding Americans.
We need to streamline regulations so farmers are not dealing with too many agencies, conflicting rules, and endless delays. That drives up costs and pushes land out of production. At the same time, we need to invest where it matters: water infrastructure, roads and transportation, and workforce stability. The basic things that allow agriculture to remain viable.
If we want to protect farmland and local economies, we need to stop creating unnecessary barriers and start supporting the people who produce.
San Benito County faces challenges in providing affordable, timely health care with a limited number of physicians and a small local hospital that has had financial challenges. What can you do as a congressional representative to address healthcare accessibility?
This is a kitchen table issue. Rural healthcare in America is slipping through the political cracks.
If you cannot get an appointment, if your copays and medications costs are overwhelming, and if you have to drive long distances for routine care, the system is not working.
We need to focus on access and cost at the same time. That means bringing more providers into underserved areas with targeted federal incentives. It means stabilizing small hospitals so they can stay open and serve their communities. And it means expanding tele-health in ways that work for patients.
We cannot lose Hazel Hawkins hospital and I will fight to keep it open! We must either reinstate the Medicare and Medicaid cuts that are at the core of its solvency or find other funding.
Decent healthcare should not depend on where you live or how far you are from a major city.
This is not theoretical. It is about whether people can get care when they need it. That is the standard.
Hollister’s airport is part of the advanced air mobility corridor project on the Central Coast. What legislation do you think is necessary, or unnecessary, in order to begin the commercialization of passenger drones, flying cars?
This is an opportunity, but only if we handle it the right way. We do not need more red tape. We need clear rules.
If companies are going to invest here, they need a predictable regulatory path. Clear safety standards. Coordination between agencies. A process that allows innovation to move forward.
At the same time, this must benefit the community. It must show investment, jobs, and real economic activity, not just experimentation.
My approach is simple. Support innovation, set clear expectations, and make sure projects like this deliver for the people who live here.
That is the role of government. Not to get in the way, but to make sure progress actually happens and benefits the district.
Shane Lewis, 54, is an electrical test engineer/failure analyst who has lived in Santa Clara County for 30 years. He has not previously held elected office but ran for Santa Clara County Board of Education in 2024.
Why are you running for the 18th District seat?
We have some fundamental issues in our district that are making it unnecessarily difficult for our Federal government to fulfill its role as a supportive organization and how to identify how it can best serve the American People. And, since these issues break down into how the government serves the people, it defines theoretical and untested policy objectives, actual negative policy outcomes, and ultimately whether the government is creating an undue burden on our communities.
What are two key issues in the district, and how do you intend to address them if elected?
My campaign focuses on restoring local government control to our communities.
Immigration: My wife is from Guatemala so Naturalization and immigration is a huge part of our life together. So, I want to prevent our Federal Government from steamrolling over our local communities and instead listen to our needs.
Education: I believe the solution is straightforward: reward schools that actually improve—by tying federal funding to real, measurable progress on state standards. When test scores rise because of clear short-term fixes and smart long-term plans, schools should get more support. That creates real accountability and incentives for excellence.
Federal policies—especially immigration—play a huge role here. Sudden shifts in federal rules create chaos for local districts. Student numbers swing, budgets get unpredictable, and schools are stuck reacting instead of planning. That “firefighting mode” hurts kids and families the most.
We need our governments to start sharing common goals so we can promote the success of local governments. When federal, state, and local governments work together with common sense and stability, our children win—and so does California.
Residential and commercial development have led to loss of productive farmland. In what ways could the federal government help streamline regulations and strengthen local economies that depend on agriculture?
We can look to strengthen water accessibility for our farmers to expand markets, lower overall cost of production, and strengthen the federal guest worker program and benefits.
San Benito County faces challenges in providing affordable, timely health care with a limited number of physicians and a small local hospital that has had financial challenges. What can you do as a congressional representative to address healthcare accessibility?
Reduce borrowing. There is an increased burden on every single working American. A $39T deficit represents an approximate $230,000 burden on every single person working in America. And, the less a person makes, the more of a burden it is.
In 2025, the Federal government borrowed $1.8T for the federal budget. That is a $10,000 liability for every working person in America.
Making matters worse, Healthcare expenses have gone up 200% since 2011. Healthcare is a liability expense on working Americans that comes directly out of their paychecks and federal borrowing results in additional tax burdens in the form of inflation that is outpacing wages and salaries.
Hollister’s airport is part of the advanced air mobility corridor project on the Central Coast. What legislation do you think is necessary, or unnecessary, in order to begin the commercialization of passenger drones, flying cars?
It doesn’t matter what I think. What matters is if San Benito County wants this project. The San Benito County Board of Supervisors unanimously opposed this project. This is an example where local control matters.
We need to keep people out of government that have lofty goals at the expense of our local communities and return government to a humble act of service for communities. I would suggest San Benito County residents come up with a counter proposal to strengthen the existing framework of the county and take this project completely off of the table.
It is not enough to simply say or vote, “No.” San Benito County needs to strengthen its overall purpose as a county. This will help guide your local government to support your community.
Zoe Lofgren, 78, currently holds the 18th Congressional District seat. She has lived in San Jose since 1973. In addition to Congress, she has served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Trustees of a community college district.
Why are you running for the 18th District seat?
I’m at an age where retirement beckons and there are many capable people who can serve in Congress when I retire. But I’m running to continue representing the 18th district because I believe at a time like this where our country is facing multiple crises, we need experienced and level-headed leadership.
If the House majority shifts, we will need a quick pivot for a better direction for our country and so at this moment in time I think my experience is necessary. I have the energy and strength to serve, and I am therefore willing to serve if my constituents want me to.
I’ve not been someone who goes to Washington to put on a show or make a name for myself, but to work every day to rein in the chaos and deliver results for Californians. I’ve delivered hundreds of millions of dollars for community projects in the 18th district, and I want to ensure that federal support continues.
As the only former immigration law teacher in Congress, my colleagues value my expertise in the policymaking process. I also served in local government and know about all the various issues that localities must deal with. If you choose me to serve again, I will be a representative who is familiar with the complexities of these issues and can be effective on day one of the 120th Congress.
What are two key issues in the district, and how do you intend to address them if elected?
Healthcare is certainly a big issue I’ve been hearing a lot about from constituents. Because Trump and Republicans let the ACA tax credits expire, we are facing a healthcare crisis in America. About 23,000 people in the 18th District are seeing their healthcare costs go up, and nearly 7,000 will lose health coverage altogether because they can’t afford it. For a family of four in the 18th District earning $130,000 a year, annual premiums will more than TRIPLE.
I voted for a bill that would extend the tax credits for 3 years, but Mike Johnson and Donald Trump killed the bill. Republicans are also responsible for cutting $1 trillion from Medicaid in the Big, Ugly Law, the biggest cut in history. I’m going to keep the pressure up and support legislation that will revive the ACA tax credits and reverses the disastrous cuts that Republicans passed in the Big, Ugly Law.
The other big issue that’s impacted nearly everybody in our district is Trump’s illegal tariffs, which cost the average family $1,700 last year. They are driving up the price of just about everything, especially at the grocery store. The typical family spent $310 more for groceries in Trump’s first year than they did in 2024.
President Trump has claimed that the affordability crisis is a “Democratic hoax”, but anybody who actually does their own grocery shopping can see that’s a lie. I’m proud to represent a heavily agricultural area, and I know that these tariffs have been especially harmful to our farmers. There’s 15,000 less farms in America since Trump took over due to bankruptcies. In addition to agriculture, we’ve lost over 63,000 manufacturing jobs since the tariffs were announced.
We had the worst year for job gains since 2003 outside of a recession. These tariffs have been an unequivocal disaster, and we need a member of Congress who will vote to end this failed economic agenda and relieve the financial burden that President Trump has placed on Americans.
Residential and commercial development have led to loss of productive farmland. In what ways could the federal government help streamline regulations and strengthen local economies that depend on agriculture?
There’s lots of red tape that we could cut in Washington that could help lessen the paperwork for farmers and rural communities benefitting from USDA programs. Congress must do more to support agricultural economies, like investing in rural infrastructure. I am also the author of the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would help stabilize our agricultural sector and protect the future of our farms and food supply.
San Benito County faces challenges in providing affordable, timely health care with a limited number of physicians and a small local hospital that has had financial challenges. What can you do as a congressional representative to address healthcare accessibility?
First and foremost, we need to address the healthcare crisis that Republicans have caused with their Big Ugly Law and their refusal to extend the ACA tax credits. I will continue supporting legislation to reverse their disastrous Medicaid cuts and revive the tax credits. Additionally, I introduced legislation that will help lower prescription drug costs and preserve patient access to affordable medications. Congress should also invest in programs that incentivize physicians to work in rural communities as well as expanding broadband for telehealth.
Hollister’s airport is part of the advanced air mobility corridor project on the Central Coast. What legislation do you think is necessary, or unnecessary, in order to begin the commercialization of passenger drones, flying cars?
As the lead Democrat on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I’m excited by the advanced air mobility research that’s happening at NASA, which is under our jurisdiction. It’s critical that any new flying technologies are integrated into the airspace safely, so that will require some very strict safety standards and cross-agency coordination to be codified into law.
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