State Senator Mike McGuire, who represents California’s 2nd state senate district, has announced his plans to run for reelection in 2018.
McGuire, a member of the democratic party, was elected in 2014 to lead California’s 2nd district, which spans from Marin County to the Oregon Border and encompasses seven counties in Northern California. McGuire, deeply passionate about his position, is launching an unusually early and aggressive campaign for reelection.
“I made a commitment that I’d be active, engaged, and involved,” said McGuire. “I’m a big believer in following through on promises, and same goes for this upcoming election—we’re starting early, and we’re working hard, to ensure that we’re going to be able to deliver on these promises for the unique community of Northern California.”
The 38-year-old Healdsburg local began his career in local politics as president of his senior class, soon after which he made local history for being the youngest person ever elected to local school board at 19 years old. He then went on to serve on the city council for six years, including serving as Healdsburg’s mayor.
Since McGuire’s 2014 election, his office has focused on implementing policy that addresses both local and state issues.
“We’re very involved in the community, but also very focused on moving California forward,” McGuire said. “For me, over the last one and a half years, I’ve been very focused on jobs and economic development.”
McGuire said that California, over the past two years, has had the highest job growth rate in the country and is on track to surpass the United Kingdom as the fifth largest global economic power. However, he said, California officials have managed to maintain this economic growth while also focusing on important social issues.
“We’ve managed to create this economic engine while also advancing the most comprehensive climate policy in the nation,” said McGuire, referencing the recently passed proposal to extend the state’s carbon emission-reducing Cap and Trade bill. “81 percent of Californians believe that climate change is a significant threat to their livelihood, and that is why we can’t afford not to act. We’ve been able to prove that having a strong economy and protecting your environment are not mutually exclusive.”
In addition to advancing environmental regulations, McGuire’s office has also been focused on other major social issues concerning Northern California. McGuire has refunded struggling high school job-training programs, such as the Future Farmers of America, of which he was a member of during his time at Healdsburg High School. He worked to secure a $116 million budget to repave highway 101 from Windsor to Cloverdale. Additionally, the state Senate recently passed a $3 billion housing bond to create affordable housing options for California’s middle class.
“I think one of the biggest challenges this state has is being able to build housing for the middle class,” said McGuire. “Sonoma County and the state of California is stronger when we have a thriving middle class. We’re going to continue to be very focused on getting this housing bond passed and homes built.”
But despite such advancements, McGuire’s first term in office has not been without difficulties. In 2015, shortly after his election. Lake County was devastated by massive fires that left hundreds of McGuire’s constituents displaced.
“An experience that has changed my life is going into Lake County during the Valley Fire,” McGuire said. “It was like driving through the gates of hell. We have made it our mission to rebuild Lake County, stronger than ever.”
McGuire is planning to break ground on a new sewer system for the city of Anderson, the epicenter of the fire, by early September. Additionally, the state is funding the construction of almost 100 new homes for citizens who lost their houses in the fire.
Additionally, McGuire said his first term was greatly disrupted by the 2016 election of President Donald Trump, who has threatened many of California’s existing environmental regulations.
“We’re leading the charge in the State Senate to stop the federal government from reopening California coastal waters to offshore oil and gas,” said McGuire, who noted that no new oil rigs have been opened off the California coast since 1969.
McGuire said he is determined to defend his constituents from the federal government’s attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
“Over 3.2 million Californians received their healthcare from the ACA, I’m going to be fighting like hell to protect healthcare for those 3.2 million Californians, tens of thousands of our neighbors in Sonoma County,” he said.
As the only democrat in the state Senate who represents a rural county, McGuire has often reached across party lines and said he believes bipartisan cooperation is necessary for the state Senate to best serve the people of California.
“I’m a big believer that when we work together, California is stronger,” said McGuire. “We can lead the country on so many issues, but first we have to put our political affiliation behind us and put the people first.”
McGuire said that significant pieces of legislation, including the Cap and Trade Bill, a $2 billion bond directed towards helping California’s homeless, and sweeping regulations on cannabis production in California had all been passed with bipartisan support.
Looking forward, McGuire is gearing up for his reelection efforts while also remaining focused on finishing the work he’s begun in his first term.
“We’ve accomplished a lot, but there’s still a lot to be done,” he said. “The best part of this job is working with the hard-working folks who call the North Coast home. I could not be more grateful to have this position, and I couldn’t be more excited for the next two years.”
