REPLACING:

Mike Garcia (R) [i]

WORK HISTORY:

Virgin Galactic Space Advisory Board (Board Member); Virgin Galactic (Chief of Staff; CEO); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Chief of Staff) [ii]

EDUCATION:

MPhil, King’s College (Cambridge); BS, Princeton University; Fulbright Scholar (Tunisia) [iii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Expand Local Jobs And Businesses & Reduce Your Commute; Lower Inflation & Cost of Living; Defend Reproductive Freedom & Women’s Health; End Congressional Stock Trading & Corruption in Congress; Protect Our Communities from Catastrophic Wildfires & Address the Home Fire Insurance Crisis; Combat Crime & Support Public Safety; Secure Our Border & Fix Our Broken Immigration System; Create an Apollo Program for Housing in America to Address Affordability & Homelessness; Protect Our Kids Online & Address the Crisis in Teen Mental Health; Stand Up to Solve the Twin Environmental Crises at Aliso Canyon & Chiquita Canyon; Promote Private Sector Innovation [iv]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Whiteside believes individuals should have the right to make healthcare decisions without government interference, including decisions on reproductive health. He supports “access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare services” and plans to codify Roe v. Wade in Congress. [v] White is endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. [vi]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Whitesides argues that the American “immigration system is broken.” He proposes to secure the border by investing in advanced technology, hiring additional border patrol agents, increasing immigration judges, upgrading ports of entry, and building infrastructure. [vii]

ECONOMY & JOBS:

Whitesides touts creating “hundreds of good, mortgage-paying jobs” while serving as the CEO of Virgin Galactic. He commits to further expanding local employment opportunities within his district and creating an accelerated program to develop small and midsized businesses. Whitesides additionally advocates for supporting private innovation, pledging to “prioritize policies that spur innovation and support small businesses and local innovators.” He aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial and creative environment that offers tax incentives and grants to small businesses and startups. Whitesides pledges to invest in “research and development across various industries to drive technological advancements and economic growth.” He also supports regulations for the digital assets industry that protect consumers, ensure transparency, and promote the development of blockchain technologies. [viii]

TAXES:

Whitesides plans to cut taxes for homeowners and the middle class by expanding the Supporting Americans with Lower Taxes (SALT) Act deductions, which creates state and local tax deduction caps. [ix]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Whitesides advocates for increasing funding for law enforcement agencies and investing in technology that enhances public safety. During the 2024 general election, Whitesides supported a California ballot measure to reform the state’s “Prop 47,” which lessened certain low-level crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The reform of Prop 47 introduces increased penalties for fentanyl and drug-related crimes in addition to theft and property crimes. [x] [xi]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Whitesides supports addressing “crisis situations at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility and the Chiquita Canyon landfill,” arguing they pose significant risks to public health, air quality, and surrounding ecosystems. He supports policies that will reduce emissions and foster “sustainable waste management solutions.” Whitesides also touts his work with the mega fire policy organization, Megafire Action, committing to safeguarding communities “from catastrophic wildfires and addressing the home fire insurance crisis.” To combat wildfires, Whitesides advocates for increasing resources for firefighters’ response efforts, incentivizing homeowners to implement fire-resistant home improvements, and creating a new wildfire detection testing and development center in the Antelope Valley. [xii]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Whitesides supports Israel’s right to defend itself and has condemned terrorist attacks on the country. He is endorsed by the Jewish Democratic Council of America. [xiii] [xiv]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Whitesides has condemned Republicans for attempting to “gut the Affordable Care Act and harm those with pre-existing conditions like cancer and diabetes.” [xv] He has advocated for protecting Social Security and Medicare.[xvi] In September 2024, Whitesides was endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare. [xvii]

DEMOCRACY:

Whitesides advocates for banning congressional members from trading stocks while in office. [xviii]

SOCIAL ISSUES:

Whitesides argues that social media and technology have “provided incredible opportunities for connection and communication,” yet have introduced “online safety risks, cyberbullying, and the proliferation of deepfake AI-generated imagery.” He plans to address cyber issues by introducing regulations that invest in research on social media’s mental health impact on minors, partnering with technology companies to implement online safety measures, and promoting digital literacy programs to enhance online safety awareness. [xix]