Rep. Sara Jacobs, a San Diego Democrat, is seeking a third term in Congress representing California’s 51st Congressional District, which stretches from Lemon Grove north to Mira Mesa and from Clairemont east to El Cajon. To help inform voters, the San Diego Union-Tribune asked all the candidates a series of the same questions about their priorities, positions and campaigns. Their emailed answers have been lightly edited for clarity. Why are you running, and what makes you the best candidate? At 35 years old, I’m proud to be the youngest member of House leadership — and to represent a new generation of leaders who can bring people together to get things done. Our politics are more divided than ever, but in my first two terms in Congress, I’ve proven that I’ll work with anyone to deliver for my community. I’ve worked across the aisle to pass bipartisan laws to help more people put food on the table, improve the quality of privatized military housing, expand housing access for military families and bring home more than $498 million in federal funds. My record is proof that bipartisanship doesn’t have to mean compromising our values, but finding the common ground where we agree. I’ve also continued to push for big ideas and big solutions — like universal and affordable child care, reimagining our social safety net and overhauling our approach to housing and homelessness. What are the top 3 issues facing this district and California generally? San Diego is one of the most expensive places to rent and own a home in the country! That’s why I’ve prioritized addressing our housing and homelessness crises by leading efforts to address youth, family, and veteran homelessness, expand Section 8 vouchers and rental assistance and incentivize more building through tax credits. It’s also incredibly difficult for parents to afford raising their children. That’s why I’m leading the effort to reinstate the permanent and expanded Child Tax Credit and to enact a universal, affordable child care system. San Diego is on the front lines of our country’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform. I secured $150 million for local nonprofits to care for migrants and asylum seekers and humanely address some of our most pressing challenges — but this isn’t a permanent solution. I will keep working to pass permanent reform to relieve the strain on our border. What are the first 3 things you would do in your next term in Congress? In my next term in Congress, I will continue to focus on three urgent priorities to alleviate the skyrocketing cost of living in San Diego that especially burdens low- and middle-income families. First, I will push to expand affordable, accessible and high-quality child care that prevents so many parents from re-entering and thriving in the workforce. Second, I will prioritize providing relief to renters and expanding the housing supply by supporting policies that promote housing that’s affordable. Third, recognizing that most Amyericans can’t afford a $500 emergency, I will work to strengthen and reimagine our social safety net, ensuring that one economic setback doesn’t push families into poverty. By addressing child care, housing, and economic security, we can create a San Diego where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. What would you do to curb climate change and its effects on California? We’ve suffered the consequences of the climate crisis up close — from painfully long droughts to year-round fire seasons to the historic flooding that devastated our communities earlier this year. I believe it’s morally and economically imperative to address the climate crisis now. I’m proud to have helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act — the largest investment in climate action in our history. But there is more work to do, and I will continue to push for more federal investments to transition to a 100% clean, renewable energy economy and invest in smart, sustainable infrastructure powered by union jobs across America. How should U.S. migration and asylum policy change, what should guide it, and what specifically will you pursue in Congress? It’s been over 40 years — longer than I’ve been alive — since Congress passed meaningful immigration reform, leaving communities like San Diego to deal with the consequences. Rather than fear mongering, we need to address the root causes of migration, relieve the strain on the asylum processing system by increasing judges and case officers and expand legal pathways to enter, work and stay here. I’ve talked with Border Patrol agents who agree that restricting asylum is ineffective. We need to pass comprehensive immigration reform that keeps our country safe, supports our workforce and treats migrants and asylum seekers with dignity and respect. It’s been nearly a year since Hamas attacks in Israel sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, which has recently escalated conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah that threatens another war. What is your stance on the war in Gaza and what the U.S.’s role in the region should be? I’m still grappling with the aftermath of Oct. 7 — the innocent loss of life, the trauma of those assaulted, tortured and taken hostage and the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia. I will continue to support Israel’s defense against Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran or elsewhere. At the same time, I don’t believe Israel’s response has advanced its safety and security. The IDF has unacceptably killed tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, and the escalation with Hezbollah risks a catastrophic regional war. The U.S. must use our significant leverage to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, which will also de-escalate tensions in Lebanon. Would you support federal statutory restrictions on, or protections of, abortion rights? Which, and to what extent? As a young woman, reproductive health care is my health care. I want the freedom to make the best choices for my body and life — and I want that for every American, too. It’s clear that one-size-fits-all abortion bans don’t work and can’t account for the variety of valid reasons for an abortion. That’s why I support federally protecting the right to access the full range of reproductive health care options, including abortion and IVF. I’ve also introduced legislation to protect our reproductive and sexual health data from misuse in the digital age. Would you support or oppose stricter federal gun laws and background checks? Which, and to what extent? I’m a part of the Columbine generation — the first, and unfortunately not the last, generation that’s had to deal with school shootings. In 2022, I voted to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — the first major gun safety law in 30 years. Since then, there has been a historic decline in homicides, but there’s still much more to do. I support reinstating the federal assault weapons ban, strengthening federal background checks and closing loopholes that allow dangerous people to get guns.