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Gil Cisneros, CA-31 candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire

May 5, 2026

Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

Name: Gil Cisneros

Current job title: U.S. Representative for CA-31

Age: 55

Political party affiliation: Democratic

Incumbent: Yes

Other political positions held: US House of Representatives (CA-39), 2019-2021; Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, 2021 – 2023

City where you reside: Covina

Campaign website or social media: gilonthehill.com/

From voter ID to war powers and from immigration to tariffs, Congress has tackled many issues over the past year. What do you, though, see as the top three issues impacting Californians, and what specifically could you do as a lawmaker to address these issues? (Please answer in 250 words or less, and keep your response to future proposals.)

Affordability, healthcare, and reining in ICE are the top three priorities I hear from our community. Every single day, I hear the same things: costs for groceries, medicine, gas, and housing are skyrocketing. Simultaneously, the Republican government is slashing healthcare for seniors and bankrolling ICE’s harassment in my district.

Over the past year, I’ve worked to pass legislation that relieves the pain of high costs and protects the pockets of hardworking families. I voted no on all cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. I joined my colleagues to introduce a healthcare action plan to protect and expand healthcare access for seniors and working families. I’ve held ICE accountable by voting against blank checks to fund ICE’s reign of terror on our communities.

Speaking of voter ID, the president has implored Congress to approve legislation that would require people to show proof of citizenship in order to vote. What role do you believe the federal government plays in telling states how to conduct their own elections, as dictated by the U.S. Constitution? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

The Constitution is very clear. States have the right to oversee their elections. The president’s SAVE Act is a legislative attempt to rig elections to keep Republicans in power and push their unpopular agenda that is hurting the American people.

The federal government should support states in protecting and expanding the right to vote for all citizens, like with the Voting Rights Act. However, the Trump administration’s SAVE Act does the opposite. If passed, it will disenfranchise millions of voters by imposing unnecessary hurdles that disproportionately affect people who cannot afford a passport, veterans, even women who changed their names after marriage. This isn’t voter protection, it’s voter suppression.

What, in your opinion, should the federal government focus on when it comes to immigration policy? For example, do you place a priority on border security, visas for high-skilled workers, refuge for asylum seekers, etc., and why? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

Something we can all agree on—we need to reform our immigration system. To me, that means protecting pathways to citizenship that do not take 15 plus years. Immigrants make a positive contribution to our economy. If someone comes here legally, follows all the laws, and wants to be a citizen, they deserve a chance. Additionally, we must protect DACA recipients, TPS, and asylum seekers.

It’s been over a year since Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the federal government for supplemental disaster aid to help Southern California communities rebuild after the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires, but neither President Donald Trump nor Congress has acted. What would you do to push for the funding, besides writing letters to the Trump administration or the leaders of Congress? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I am so proud of our community’s resilience and support during the life-altering fires. But it should not have been on our community to bear the burden. President Trump’s neglect during California’s wildfire recovery was unprecedented and deadly.

In Congress, I have sought to hold the administration and the Republican Congress accountable so that our community can receive the funding they need. I have supported legislative efforts, including the FIRE Act, to expand wildfire prevention and recovery efforts. I joined my colleagues earlier this year, on the one-year anniversary of the fires, to renew the call for disaster assistance and protect our community from another tragedy. The president and Republicans have been cruel not only to California, but they have also denied numerous states natural disaster relief.

Do you support a ban or restriction on congressional lawmakers and their families from buying or selling individual stocks? Why or why not? And what would you propose to ensure lawmakers aren’t using their positions to engage in insider trading? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

The American people don’t trust the government, and it’s no secret why. Every day, they watch the administration abuse their position to further the Trump family’s business ventures. When I was at the Pentagon, I had specific restrictions and oversight from the Office of Government Ethics in order to prevent any conflicts of interest.

Unfortunately, the executive branch under Trump is allowed to run rampant, and there is currently no enforcement in place. In order to restore trust, ethics reform should be required not only for Congress, but across all three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Furthermore, we must ensure that the Office of Government Ethics has the necessary resources to enforce these rules throughout the federal government and hold our leaders accountable. But first, we must rein in the corruption in the executive branch and prevent people with insider information from controlling the stock market.

Do you support stronger regulations on pollution and carbon emissions? If so, how would you ensure those regulations aren’t overly burdensome on small businesses or lower-income families? And if not, how do you propose lawmakers protect the environment and curtail the impacts of climate change? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

California leads the nation on environmental policy, and many of these regulations and changes have led to tangible improvements to Southern California residents’ quality of life while at the same time developing the fourth-largest economy in the world. It is possible to achieve both. I remember the smog in Los Angeles prior to the implementation of stronger pollution and carbon emission standards. The improvement in our air quality cannot be understated. As policymakers, it’s imperative to engage with our constituents and business leaders to get a gut check on how future proposed policies could impact their budgets and bottom lines. That’s why I make it a priority to stay connected with local officials and business owners, host roundtables, and work with our community leaders to find solutions that preserve our state’s environmental progress, while ensuring we are creating a business climate that harnesses the collective strength of our state.

President Donald Trump has significantly increased spending for the U.S. Department of Defense. Would you, as a member of Congress, approve additional dollars for the military if the president were to ask for more funding? How would you ensure that any military spending does not end up putting the American people or national security in harm’s way? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I voted against the additional funds during reconciliation, and I will not support any additional funding for Trump’s illegal war. Unlike my Republican colleagues, I’m not signing a blank check for the president to act like a bully around the world. He has not made his case for military action to Congress or the American people, nor does he have a plan to. Only Congress can authorize military action, and I will not support any supplemental package for funding that finances any of the president’s illegal activities.

Under what specific circumstances do you believe the U.S. should engage in a war? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

War should be a last resort, not a flippant decision the president makes when he wants to stir conflict. War should only be declared when we are attacked or there is an imminent threat to the safety and security of our country. That decision is to be made by and only by the United States Congress. And when we are in a war, there must be clearly defined goals, priorities, and an exit ramp. The Trump administration has failed to provide justification for entering war with Iran, failed to secure approval from Congress, and failed to provide any clear plan for engagement.

Do you believe a president should seek congressional approval before engaging in military action overseas? Why, or why not? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

The Constitution is crystal clear: only Congress can declare war. Only Congress can authorize the use of military action. The president can defend the nation if it is under attack or threat, but it is never meant to be for an extended period of time without the approval of Congress.

Congress, in theory, is supposed to serve as a check on the president through budgetary, legislative and oversight powers. Do you believe Congress has fulfilled that obligation during the past two administrations, with one being a Democrat and the other a Republican? Why or why not? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

The Republican majority in the House of Representatives refuses to exercise any oversight on the Trump administration. Each of my four subcommittees held only one hearing a piece last year. That is ridiculous. When I served on the House Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee under Chairwoman Jackie Speier, she held numerous oversight hearings on various topics. When I served as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness during the Biden administration, I was called to testify numerous times under both Democratic and Republican majorities in both the House and Senate. As an administration official, it was my responsibility to respect congressional authority and comply with any requests, no matter who the president or speaker was. That has not been the case under the current administration. President Trump’s administration has consistently resisted oversight from Congress. Moreover, the Republican majority actively acquiesces to the president and his interests, effectively ceding the constitutional authority.

Governments around the world are increasingly considering an age ban or other restrictions on social media use among young people, citing mental health and other concerns. Should Congress adopt such restrictions? If so, what specific restrictions do you propose? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I applaud school districts that have taken action to limit access to phones in schools. As a recent court case has shown, these social media companies are working to addict kids to their various social media platforms. Mental health continues to be a major issue for our youth, and ensuring guardrails are in place to protect our children from the well-documented negative impacts of these platforms is paramount.

As parents of young children know, our kids are vulnerable, and what they consume digitally can have lasting impacts on their development. As Congress, we need to set the rules to protect our children instead of allowing tech companies to dictate what our kids can and cannot consume. That means passing legislation to mandate parental approvals and account supervision and protecting minors from harassment, data harvesting, and exploitative content.

Statistically, violent crime rates in California are on the decline, yet residents still don’t feel safe or at ease in their communities. How do you see your role in Congress in addressing the underlying issues that make Californians feel unsafe in their own neighborhoods? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

Citizens are getting harassed and detained, families are being separated, and people are disappearing without a trace. And when people spoke up against these abuses in our community, the president sent the National Guard against our own people in LA and killed American citizens in Minnesota. ICE is inciting fear in our communities and fanning the flames of violence. If we want people to feel safe, let local law enforcement do their jobs, and rein in ICE. Our communities want law enforcement that they can rely on when they are needed. We must provide local law enforcement with the tools they need to enable them to keep our communities safe while ensuring they are receiving the best training available and are able to de-escalate situations.

There are term limits to serve in the California Legislature, but none to serve in Congress. Would you advocate for term limits for House members? Why or why not? If you support term limits, how many years maximum should a House member be allowed to serve? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I do not support term limits for members of the House. As voters, we have a vehicle to impose a limit on a representative’s term, and it’s called elections.

What’s a hidden talent you have? (Please answer in 250 words or less.)

I am a VPN (Verace Pizza Napoletana) certified Neapolitan pizza maker.

Orange County Register

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Gil Cisneros, CA-31 candidate, 2026 primary election questionnaire

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