Jay Chen is the president of the board of trustees for Mt. San Antonio community college; an intelligence officer, lieutenant commander in the U.S. naval reserves; and a small business owner.

​

In Congress Jay will work to restore integrity and accountability in Washington DC. He will stand up to insurance and pharmaceutical companies to make health care more affordable and covid-19 testing and treatment free. He will fight to increase the size and scope of small business loans so that our local economy can recover, and work across the aisle to invest in education and classroom funding so our schools can reopen safely. 
From Chen’s campaign website:

 

EXPERIENCE

Jay Chen went to Harvard on a Navy ROTC scholarship and then studied Chinese in Beijing for a year.

​

In 2002 he joined Bain & Co, where he worked extensively with Fortune 500 businesses in the software and logistics industries to manage mergers, build new products, and streamline operations.

​

He now runs his own local real estate business.

​

Chen has been active in the Naval Reserves, where, he says, “it doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican, you work together to complete the mission,” and Jay has served honorably from the Korean peninsula to the middle east.

 

ISSUES

Infrastructure

Chen knows that maintaining roads and bridges and modernizing transit and railway systems create good local jobs and is a critical investment in our future. Investing in America’s infrastructure is the best way to improve and create sustainable, clean transportation options for millions of Americans who commute daily while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and gridlock.

​

Our reliance on lead pipes and service lines has gone on far too long. Millions of Americans go without clean drinking water including 400,000 schools and childcare facilities. In Congress Chen will fight to replace these pipes and work to ensure every child has clean drinking water.

 

Education

In Congress Chen will work to ensure that local public schools receive the resources and funding they need to reduce class sizes, invest in STEM programs, and hire exceptional teachers.

He supports efforts to make college more affordable and accessible to everyone, no matter their background or income level.

 

Veteran Services

In Congress Chen will work to streamline the VA, make it easier for younger veterans to enter the system, ensure quicker access to treatment, and make sure that all veterans can access the health care they deserve.He supports expanding mental health and suicide prevention services for all those who sacrifice for our country.

​

Women’s Rights

Chen believes that reproductive rights should be protected at all cost and health care decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor, without interference from politicians.In Congress he will support legislation to expand funding for reproductive healthcare services like Planned Parenthood as well as services that provide preventive health care, education, and access to contraceptives.

​

Chen will fight to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act which aims to increase pay equity along gender and racial lines. He will work to ensure that every family has the security to take the time they need to care for their loved ones by promoting paid family leave, and … the expansion of childcare options.

 

Small Business Support

In Congress Chen will increase programs that assist small businesses in obtaining the resources they need to stay open in their communities. He will also support efforts to streamline the opening of new businesses and fight for policies that make it more attractive for entrepreneurs to grow their companies here in California.

 

Human Rights and Democracy

Chen led an intelligence team in the fight against the terrorist group ISIS and understands the critical role the United States plays as a beacon of democracy and as a leader on human rights. 

​

“We must restore our standing in the world and among our allies by upholding human rights and democratic principles here at home, by honoring our commitments to our international partners, and by holding to account those who abuse human rights and flout international law.” As a member of the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, he is proud to be part of the military command ensuring security for our democratic allies in the Western Pacific.

At home, the right to vote must be protected at all cost. In Congress, Chen will work to pass legislation that strengthens voting rights, fights discriminatory policies, and bolsters public confidence in our democratic system.

 

Healthcare

“In Congress, ensuring that every American has quality affordable coverage will be my top priority."

​

“The United States spends more money on healthcare than almost any other country in the world and we have little to show for it. If we want this to change, we must reduce hospital and pharmaceutical costs through managed competition and create a public option to lower costs and compete with private insurance.”

​

POLITICS IN CA 45

CA 45 is in Orange County, south of Los Angeles.  CA 45 has been represented since the 2018 election by Democrat Katie Porter.  She has been redistricted to CA 47. 

​

Chen’s opponent is incumbent Michelle Steel who is seeking her second term in a district Biden won by 6 points on 2020 a significant shift to the left from her old district. While this is an excellent opportunity for a Democrat pick-up, Steel won 57% of the “all primary” vote under the California primary system suggesting her overall strength and the likely competitiveness of this race.

​

In the 2020 presidential race, Biden won 53.6% to 42.5%; in 2016, Clinton won 49.8% to 44.4%.