SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Republican candidate Christine Bish announced her plan to run for the House seat in the new congressional district CA-03. Bish previously ran against incumbent Democrat Ami Bera in CA-06, and her connections to Tahoe, Pollock Pines and Sacramento are what she says makes her a perfect fit for the race.
Bish works as a real estate agent in Sacramento, though she has longstanding connections with Lake Tahoe, where she used to work at her mother’s restaurant. “It’s great to come home,” she said—something she doesn’t take lightly. Bish says she experienced homelessness as a child, living in a car until they eventually settled in Del Paso Heights.
“My mother was the first woman in my family who was born with the right to vote. And now, me—a homeless little girl from Del Paso Heights is running for Congress,” said Bish, “That’s amazing, isn’t it?”
Her experience as a real estate agent and skip tracer is what she believes makes her a great “boots on the ground” candidate who is embedded and connected with her community. It’s also what has embroiled her in an investigation on Senator Adam Schiff regarding mortgage fraud. Bish says that fraud could have also led to election, wire and tax fraud.
Bish’s entrance into the political sphere came from frustration with her then-representative Doris Matsui, who she said never responded to her requests to investigate a groundwater and well contamination issue that directly impacted her neighborhood.
“We all want to be heard,” said Bish. “That’s the job of a representative. And when I saw Matsui on television, I realized, ‘You don’t want this job. So, I want that job.'” Her involvement in politics came from an environmental and public health perspective, which she feels are issues that often push people into politics, especially after COVID-19 impacted people’s lives so drastically.
While Bish is running as a Republican, she says she is tired of both sides. “They think the voters are their servants. But we can’t continue with chaos, and we need people who can do the job.”
Bish had critiques for Kevin Kiley, who she felt was throwing a “temper tantrum” after attempting to switch districts, run against a Republican and filing as no party preference. “In CA-06, we didn’t like being his last choice.” She also felt he often ignored the mountain regions, citing a storm incident where she felt Kiley could have done more to close roads and prevent traffic from overwhelming Pollock Pines.
The new redistricting from Proposition 50 gave Bish a chance to represent the many areas that she feels passionate about. “This is one of the most important refuges for the environment,” said Bish, stating that she would establish an office in the region if she won. “Now, people are going to see how important the mountains are.”
Bish believes Bera also lacks the context for running in the district, while Heidi Hall lacks the care for other agencies, critiquing that Hall had not even sent a representative to a large annual Area 4 Agency on Aging meeting. According to Bish, she was the only Congressional candidate to attend their meeting in the last 14 years.
Bish’s major platforms include environmental conservation, social security and veteran protections, parent rights in education, a pro-life stance and barring illegal immigration. She says, “Everything in my platform is about life and passions.”
While Bish says she is a major supporter of legal immigration, she said, “I will not accept the excuse for what’s happening at our borders.” Bish’s daughter died from a fentanyl overdose, and she says illegal immigration and the open border policy provide a cover for dangerous drug trafficking.
Her experience as a parent is also why she is passionate about education in California, where she says teaching diversity and equity (or DEI) policies is creating division in schools. She advocates for parent rights in education to produce a less adversarial relationship between teachers and parents, along with a reduction of technology and strict programming. “Education should be a place to foster the unique gifts of children, not putting them in boxes.”
Unusually, Bish was previously endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans, an LGBT Republican group. Though she says that transgender ideologies are “teaching people to hate themselves,” and believes marriage is between a man and a woman, she also expressed support for gay people living their lives normally.
She was also endorsed by the American Independent Party, Moms for America Action, Peter Kuo (who served as vice chair for the California Republican Party) and Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost.
Bish’s strong stance about protecting the environment and ensuring clean water, along with her personal connection to both Pollock Pines and Tahoe is what she feels will make her a strong candidate here. Even prior to running in CA-03, Bish actually visited the local chapter of the Republican Women of California.
“The campaign is an interview process, and I have to be transparent if I’m applying for a job that requires you to be truthful,” said Bish. “If there’s a group that wants me to come up here, invite me up and let’s talk. And ask the hard questions—if I can’t answer them now, then you probably don’t want me as your candidate.”
Bish’s total receipts for her campaign are $58,592, with $17,718 in total contributions. The ending cash on hand is $38,723 with $38,645 in debts/loans owed by her committee. “Always be aware, you’re spending other people’s money,” said Bish.
“Everything a politician does affects our lives,” said Bish. “This is a real opportunity and I’m excited to run in Lake Tahoe, which I’m so passionate about and connected to. What happens here in this district affects the rest of California.”
You can read more about Bish’s platform and information at bishforcongress.com
