An America that works for Everyone
STEVE DUNWOODY FOR CONGRESS (CA-30)
Steve is a veteran, educator, environmental champion, and lifelong public servant who cares deeply for his community. He was born in Detroit, the son of union auto workers and entrepreneurs whose families moved from the deep South for jobs and opportunities. Steve is the 6th generation in his family to serve in the military going back to the Revolutionary War. He joined the Air National Guard under its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy to help pay for school, serving in Iraq. Upon returning, he completed college at Kent State University, graduating with a degree in Political Science. On the recommendation of a friend, he went to hear a speech by then-Senator Barack Obama on ending our dependence on fossil fuels and transitioning to renewable energy and was moved to join the Obama campaign in 2008. He was honored to serve in the first-term administration at the White House and U.S. Department of Energy.
Since moving to Los Angeles, Steve has worked as an environmental advocate helping protect the San Gabriel Mountains and ending urban oil drilling. He proudly campaigned with Senator Bernie Sanders on a statewide ballot proposition to bring down the costs of prescription drugs. He is an experienced educator, having taught courses in political science at UCLA and UC Berkeley, as well as holding a Master’s degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy there and studied Anti-Trust and Constitutional Law at UCLA Law School. In addition, he served as an administrator at UCLA and helped run a center to boost diversity in the STEM fields. Steve is an elected Democratic Party delegate and serves on the Sierra Club “Angeles” Chapter board. He is running because business-as-usual politics have failed to address the crises we’re experiencing—gun violence, income inequality, social injustice, housing affordability, and the climate crisis. Instead, we need an America that works for everyone.
Lifelong service.
Progressive values.
My experiences serving my country and community have been among the proudest achievements of my life. Now, I want to bring those experiences, and my lifelong passion for justice and advocacy, to Congress as the next representative for California’s 30th Congressional District.
Veteran. Educator. Environmental champion.
“Across the country, we see an attack on our civil and democratic rights, crippling economic inequality, a housing crisis, and gun violence; we need to work for an America that works for US to deal with these issues and make a better future for everyone.”
— Steve Dunwoody
Ending Gun Violence
On day one, as a member of Congress, I will work to pass an assault weapons ban and mandatory background checks on all arms sales to keep weapons that belong in a war zone off our streets, as well as invest in mental health services, youth, and job programs.
Reimagining and Ensuring Public Safety
Investing in public safety and ensuring accountability shouldn’t be mutually exclusive terms. We can ensure we are reinvesting in communities, youth, and mental health services and non-lethal responses while ensuring public safety officers can focus on violent crime and be accountable, because no one is above the law.
Supporting Working Families and People
Our families and people are the bedrock of our nation. In Congress, I will work to ensure we support them by raising the minimum wage to a living one, renewing the earned income tax credit, paid childcare and leave, supporting maternal health, and boosting retirement and Social Security.
Dealing with the Climate Crisis and Championing a Green New Deal
As a member of Congress, I will keep up the pressure on Congress and the Administration to deal with the climate crisis, as well as champion a just transition to clean energy union jobs, energy-efficient homes, buildings, and electric vehicles through a Green New Deal that the Inflation Reduction Act makes a down payment on.
The Right to a Home: Ensuring Housing is Affordable and Available to Everyone
We are in a housing crisis. If the Covid-19 pandemic taught us anything, it taught us that having a home is essential for everyone as a human right. I will work for HUD programs to build more medium, low, and fixed-income housing, keep costs low for renters (including me) and first-time homebuyers, and help struggling renters and homeowners stay in their homes as well as provide support to mental health and drug treatment services to help the unhoused get off the streets.
A Transportation System that Works for Everyone
Transportation is the lifeblood of our district and cities. As a member of Congress, I will work to provide funds from the Department of Transportation and Energy made available from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to make our traffic system more efficient and drivable. As well as rebuilding roads, providing tax credits for electric vehicles, more charging stations, and championing mass transit and walkable and bikeable streets for all.
Defending Our Communities and Democracy from Hate
Our communities across the spectrum are facing an unprecedented amount of anti-Black, Latino, AAPI, Armenian, Semitic, Muslim, immigrant, and LGBTrans hate. I will champion intersectionality throughout the communities in our district creating bridges and providing support for public education, cultural learning centers, and programs rooted in making diversity, equity, and inclusion practices the law.
Investing in K-12 Education, Debt & Tuition-Free Public College
We must fully invest in K-12 education for our students and pay educators of every level what they’re worth. Student debt is holding back an entire generation from being able to pursue goals, own homes, start families and become financially secure. As a member of Congress, I will support student loan forgiveness programs and work towards the goal of tuition-free college at public schools.
Guaranteed Healthcare and Medicare for All
We must work for the day when every single American can have healthcare without having to worry about the cost of care. I will work to bring healthcare costs down and champion the vision of single-payer healthcare through Medicare-for-All
Fixing Income Inequality
The top 1% own 37% of the wealth. This is unsustainable. We must work to close tax loopholes for the 1% and large corporations that pay 0 in taxes while lowering taxes for working families, single-income earners, and small businesses. This is in addition to fixing the gender and racial pay gap. We must also make it easier for workers to collectively bargain for higher pay and working conditions by forming unions without fear of reprisal or “union-busting tactics”.
Defending Our Veterans
Veterans defended us, so Washington should defend them. As a Veteran myself, I understand the challenges that veterans face re-entering civilian society. I’ll work towards ensuring veterans get their benefits, cutting wait times for VA services, and helping house homeless veterans.
Supporting Women
I fully support a woman’s right to choose and will defend this right as a member of Congress, especially in a post-Roe world. I also pledge to fight for pay equity across all genders and recognition for women and people engaging in the informal economy and unpaid labor.
Support for Artsakh
The U.S. government must end the supply of weapons and money to Azerbaijan, support the Republic of Artsakh and recognize the Armenian Genocide, so there isn’t another one.
Putting Justice in the Justice System
The United States has less than 5% of the world’s population, but nearly 25% of its prisoners. A lack of accountability has eroded our communities’ trust in law enforcement. I will work to end federal subsidies directly contributing to mass incarceration and to pass the George Floyd Policing Act to combat police misconduct, excessive force, and racial bias in policing.
Immigration: Breaking Down Barriers
Our country is made better by immigrants. As a member of Congress, I will support DACA, work to expand the legal definition of asylum and work towards creating a pathway to citizenship for those seeking to immigrate to the U.S.