The responses to these questions were edited for length and clarity by the Georgia Decides team. Each candidate was allotted 150 words for each answer and some answers were trimmed in order to abide by that length requirement. Other edits were made to make sure readers can fully follow and understand the candidate responses.
Campaigning for: US House Georgia District 11
How does your background equip you for the job you are seeking?
I’m the candidate for Congressional District 11 which supports justice, democracy, equity, and equality. As an immigrant, a refugee, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a recent graduate with a major in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies, as well as a small business owner, I am qualified to see where we are falling short to address true liberty for all people in the United States. As one who has escaped dictatorship, I had a front-row seat witnessing how democracy was overthrown in my home country of Venezuela. And it is because I have a personal relationship with each of these things – they drive the story of my decision to run for Congress.
What role should government have in the lives of Georgians? How would you apply that philosophy to the job you are seeking?
Government should be maximizing value to its constituents. Government should be maximizing freedoms and ensuring that multi-billion dollar companies are not abusing the citizens.
If you are elected (or re-elected), what problems will you spend the most time solving and why?
Defending our voting rights is my No.1 priority. If the citizens of Georgia are prevented from participating in their own government, we are depriving them of principles laid out in the Declaration of Independence.
Georgia is a politically diverse state. How will you work to represent Georgians whose political views differ from your own?
I start with believing that am not an expert on all things. I will listen to the people who are directly affected. I will educate myself on the issues and read the sources that both challenge and confirm my thinking. Information and context are the keys to being a representative to everyone in Georgia’s 11th Congressional District.
Who has been the biggest influence on how you view state government and politics? What have you learned from this person?
I didn’t look to state officials for inspiration. My experiences in Venezuela have shown me how not to lead, leaving me free to let my values and actions speak for themselves.
Georgia has a lot to offer current and potential residents, but many parts of the state are becoming increasingly unaffordable. Please explain your proposed approach to address housing affordability through federal legislation and executive actions?
The first step is addressing venture capital firms buying up single-family homes. The next step would be addressing multi-billion-dollar companies buying up single-family homes driving up costs, and keeping families from creating value and net worth for themselves when they buy a home.
Politics is often about compromise. How do you decide when to compromise and take small, incremental wins, and when to refuse compromise?
I don’t have much that I won’t compromise on. The rights of Georgians to vote and have an active voice in their government; the rights of people to make medical decisions for themselves, including the rights to reproductive care; and the rights of Georgians to love and marry whom they wish are not negotiable. Almost everything else I look forward to discussing with my fellow members of Congress.
There were politicians who questioned the outcomes of Georgia elections in 2018 and 2020. Do you think Georgia’s elections are secure and will you stand by the results?
The law provides mechanisms to ensure that every vote is counted that should count. I will abide by those processes and respect any verdict handed down. I will not perpetuate any claim that the system did not work, when it performed as intended.
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, state law and local enforcement authority will determine access to abortion. If elected, how will you use your authority in the U.S. House to influence abortion access or enforcement of abortion restrictions?
Limiting this to abortion access hides the real issue. The underlying issue is taking away the right of bodily autonomy from half the population. As a member of Congress, I will sponsor or co-sponsor bills that will ensure that everyone has the right to make medical decisions for themselves. The more freedom we secure for others, the more freedom we secure for ourselves.
The U.S. Congress often votes along party lines. When would you seek bipartisan action and what issues merit such consensus?
When elected, I see it as my duty to conduct the people’s business. Congress has been plagued by partisan votes that get nothing done. I am willing to listen to my Republican colleagues if they are willing to negotiate in good faith. I especially look forward to working with Republicans on refining and updating gun laws and our healthcare system.