SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Heidi Hall, Nevada County supervisor and Democrat with three decades in public service, had announced her decision to run for Congress in April of last year—before Proposition 50 redrew the district lines.
Now, in the new CA-03, Hall is still going strong in her home district, despite challenges from incumbent Congressmen Ami Bera. “Bera is taking me on, since I chose to run here first,” said Hall.
Hall is chair of the Nevada County Board of Supervisors, was a program manager at the California State Department of Water Resources and worked for the Environmental Protection Agency.
She said her primary reason that she chose to run for Congress was because, “This district, both the old and the new one, is my home. I want to stand up for my community, and it is clear to me that more needs to be done in politics.”
Previously, Hall was challenging Republican Kevin Kiley. Since Proposition 50 and Bera joining the race, she is now challenging another incumbent.
“Proposition 50 was intended to create new blue seats, but it was not intended to provide a place for incumbents to do district shopping. Neither candidate has lived here or worked here the way that I have.”
Hall bills herself as a more progressive voice than Bera. She previously flipped a red seat when she became a supervisor and cited her experience in rural areas as a strength of hers. “I am persistent and not afraid to get things done. I see a path to victory through rural areas where I have experience and through suburban and urban areas where people want more than they have been getting.”
On the campaign trail, she says that a key issue has been the economy, where she wants to institute a wealth tax, support unions and living wages, create affordable housing and remove tariffs. She also cited healthcare as a major topic, stating her support for Medicare for All, protecting reproductive health rights, LGBTQ+ rights, as well as supporting rural hospitals and their reimbursement rates.
A major part of her progressive stance is pushing back on the current administration and holding them accountable. She stated she would abolish ICE, repeal Kristi Noem, and reform the Supreme Court. “The current state of things demands bold vision and bold action.”
Hall is endorsed by former South Lake Tahoe councilmember John Friedrich. As far as local issues to Tahoe, she said she sees similarities between Nevada County and the basin. “We depend on our outdoor recreation economy, we love our public lands—I would lay down my life to protect our lands,” said Hall. “We want someone in Congress who would protect these gorgeous ecological assets.”
Hall cited her experience in advocating against the sale of public lands, as well as her advocacy for increased staffing for USFS and BLM.
She also acknowledged the need for funding for wildfire mitigation. “So many of us live in the WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) and we put so much work into mitigation. We put work into home hardening and vegetation management and that should translate to savings for our insurance as well,” she said, referencing her testimonies on behalf of rural counties impacted by wildfires.
On the global level, Hall is responsive to her constituents’ concerns over the conflict in Palestine, which is why she has called for an end to the genocide in Gaza, to stop the transfer of arms to Israel and to fund aid to Gaza. She says she has also been appalled at what’s been happening given her background in international relations.
She has refused to take corporate PAC or AIPAC money for her campaign. “I think it’s important to not be beholden to corporations, and we are relying on people power.” She said they have 4,000 donors and an average contribution of $57. “We are relying on people power.”
In total, Heidi Hall for Congress has a total of $388,835, with $20,000 in debts.
Hall also noted that she was concerned about Bera’s acceptance of PAC money, especially from pro-Israel donors and from pharmaceutical companies. “He has the expertise to do something great in the 14 years he’s been in Congress, but I feel he has been compromised by the money he takes,” said Hall.
As the primary race continues, Hall feels confident about her position. “This is a blue seat, and we have the opportunity to choose the kind of Democrat we want to represent us,” she said. “And I’m bold. I’ve been here. I’m a fighter.”
Hall’s platform and further information on her campaign can be found on her website at https://www.heidihall.com/
