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California Counts: What do you want to ask our US Senate candidates?
California Attorney General Kamala Harris favors national climate change legislation, backs immigration reform and supports President Barack Obama's plan for free tuition at community colleges. Orange County Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez describes her platform for the Senate as pro-environment, pro-labor and pro-civil rights.
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Courtesy candidates' campaigns
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Duf Sundheim, a former state GOP chairman and lawyer, backs gay rights, abortion rights and immigration reform. Tom Del Beccaro is also a former state GOP chairman and lawyer. He has said his campaign is focused on California's water issues and prosperity.
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Courtesy candidates campaigns
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Newcomer Ron Unz is a Republican entrepreneur, writer and publisher based in the Bay area. He says his main issue will be preserving Proposition 227, the ban on bilingual education that he sponsored in 1998.
In the months leading up to California's primary election, we've been closely following our state's U.S. Senate campaign.
U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer is retiring, and our partner station, KPBS in San Diego, will host a live debate May 10 with the top five candidates running to replace her. California Attorney General Kamala Harris, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, Duf Sundheim, Tom Del Beccaro and Ron Unz will answer questions on the economy, immigration, health care, crime and policing.
We'll also be incorporating one question from you: our listeners. You can share your questions on Facebook , Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #CAcounts . We're accepting questions through April 22. Then, we'll tally up the responses, and give you a chance to vote on which one we should ask the night of the debate.
Harris is the Democratic Party's pick to fill the seat that will be vacated when Boxer retires. Boxer has held the seat for 24 years. Harris favors national climate change legislation, backs immigration reform and supports President Barack Obama's plan for free tuition at community colleges. Orange County Congresswoman Sanchez is also a Democrat. Sanchez describes her platform for the Senate as pro-environment, pro-labor and pro-civil rights.
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Sundheim, a former state GOP chairman and lawyer, backs gay rights, abortion rights and immigration reform. Del Beccaro is also a former state GOP chairman and lawyer. He has said his campaign is focused on California's water issues and prosperity. Newcomer Ron Unz is a Republican entrepreneur, writer and publisher based in the Bay Area. He says his main issue will be preserving Proposition 227, the ban on bilingual education that he sponsored in 1998.
The debate is part of California Counts, an election coverage initiative by the state’s leading public media newsrooms — KPBS in San Diego, KPCC in Los Angeles, KQED in San Francisco and Capital Public Radio in Sacramento.
The debate will air live on 89.3FM and stream on KPCC.org 7 p.m. May 10. Be sure to tune back in then. And check KPBS's Facebook page around 5:30 p.m. that night for a special live pre-show.
This story has been updated to reflect the addition of candidate Ron Unz.
Copyright 2016 KPBS. To see more election coverage, visit http://www.kpbs.org/ .
Series: California Counts
California Counts is a collaboration of KPBS, KPCC, KQED and Capital Public Radio to report on the 2016 election. The coverage focuses on major issues and solicits diverse voices on what's important to the future of California.
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Read more in this series and let us know your thoughts on Twitter using the hashtag # CACounts .
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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