Ritesh Tandon
Republican | California
Candidate Profile*
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Ritesh Tandon
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 17
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, MBA, 2007
Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, MS (Computer Engineering), 2001
LD Engineering, Ahmedabad, BS (Mechanical Enginering), 1996
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, Post Doctorate Research Fellow, 2021
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Sankara Eye Foundation, Volunteer, Uttar Pradesh Mandal of America
Vice Chairman, Smart Village Movement, Chief Liaison Officer
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (3)
*California ProLife Council PAC
California Republican Party
The American Council
OTHER (1)
Silicon Valley Chinese Association Foundation (SVCAF)
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (5)
CAGOP
Silicon Valley Chinese Association
Hindus for American Foundation
Silicon Valley Republican Women Association
Silicon Valley Republican GOP
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022)
State Republican Party Organizations (2022)
WinRed (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Huck PAC (2022)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022)
WinRed (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Life is a precious god gift, everyone should work to find solution to live happily.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
When mother life is in danger
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Disagree
Instead of redistributing income, everyone needs to be given an equal opportunity to work hard and live the American Dream.
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Agree
The Government can be creative and spend what they generate in tax revenue.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The SALT Tax deduction limit of $10K is a punishment to all of California and needs to be removed. Reduction in income tax and tax incentives to manufacturing and startups, more tax incentives for donations to school STEM programs.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Neutral
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Neutral
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
Did not answer
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Did not answer
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
B
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
B
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Neutral
This is a complicated subject and needs a wider discussion.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Neutral
We need to work with China; this is a vast subject and is in need of relationship building with China.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The US needs to be very objective in involvement with activity/groups. Any state or country sponsoring terrorism must be punished while protecting people who are no threat.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Agree
That is one of the many metrics we need to follow. We need to follow our laws, and illegal immigrants need to be tracked/deported, including eliminating their job opportunities.
State and federal funds shall be denied to any public or private entity, such as a sanctuary city, that is not in compliance with immigration laws.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Immigration needs to be based on the need of the Country and not random or emotional. There needs to be a systematic method/body to review the system and make honest immigration recommendations. All illegal immigration needs to be halted.
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Neutral
Our laws should be equal for everybody. Law should protect all people equally regardless of sex, race, etc. Therefore, this whole space needs to be carefully reviewed, and all existing laws need to be revised to ensure that everyone should get equal treatment.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Those are personal values, and I respect everyone's spiritual beliefs and values.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Only citizens should be allowed to vote.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Check ID for every voter, and ONLY US citizens should be allowed to vote. Also, fair and open election verifiable (audit) by all parties at any time / any place.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism itself by anyone is a vicious idea. Therefore, no one should practice racism in any form, instead they should always treat people equally.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
This is a complicated subject, so it needs to be discussed in a well-balanced way to the extent that it will not impact the environment in any harmful way.
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
All laws need to be examined and simplified. They should be fair/balanced and not burden society unnecessarily.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Choose not to answer
Classification is not applicable. I would like to go over all views and take a well-balanced approach. I am an issue-based candidate and objectively look at what is essential for constituents and America.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
www.tandonforcongress.com
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
The economy is the most important that is not covered here. I want to help all segments of society and improve economic well-being. We should not blame or burden any part of society in doing so. The economy should allow everyone to have an equal opportunity to move forward and grow.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
If police officers follow departmental policies, officers need to be protected.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Gun ownership is a constitutional right. However, there needs to be a balanced approach to gun ownership. Background checks need to be done; people should not own guns if they have a history of violence. Gun owners need to ensure that firearms are kept in a safe/secure place.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
