Ken Calvert

Kenneth Stanton Calvert is the U.S. Representative for California's 41st Congressional District, having served in the House of Representatives since 1993. A member of the Republican Party, Calvert was first elected in 1992 and is currently the Dean of the California Republican Delegation. Born and raised in Corona, California, he graduated from Corona High School in 1971 before attending Chaffey College, where he earned an Associate of Arts in 1973. He later graduated from San Diego State University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Before his election to Congress, Calvert was a small business owner for 17 years in the restaurant and real estate industries and served as the Chairman of the Riverside County Republican Party from 1984 to 1988. In Congress, Calvert has held several leadership roles, most notably as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Throughout his tenure, he has served on the House Science, Resources, and Agriculture Committees, where he focused on issues critical to the Inland Empire, including water infrastructure, energy, and transportation. He is recognized for authoring the legislation that established the E-Verify system, a federal program used by employers to check the legal status of employees. His legislative work often centers on regional environmental policy, specifically regarding the Endangered Species Act and water supply reliability in Southern California.

Calvert's policy platform emphasizes fiscal conservatism, national security, and border enforcement. He advocates for pro-growth economic policies, including lower corporate and individual tax rates, a simplified tax code, and the reduction of federal regulations to encourage job growth. On immigration, Calvert is a proponent of strict border security and the mandatory nationwide use of the E-Verify system, while consistently opposing amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Regarding healthcare, he supports 'patient-centered' solutions that protect individuals with pre-existing conditions and allow dependents to remain on parental coverage until age 26, though he has frequently criticized the Affordable Care Act for rising premiums. His energy policy follows an 'all-of-the-above' strategy, supporting increased domestic production of oil and gas to achieve energy independence alongside long-term investments in renewable energy technologies. As Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, he maintains that a well-funded military is essential for national defense and global deterrence.