a couple of them here and I'm going to explain here in the in this uh when we started to do this there wasn't a special primary. So when we organize this and uh uh so Wendy Wang is uh is in the June 2nd and the June 16th special primary. He's a Republican and Matt Ortega Democrat.
and he is uh he's only in the June 2nd primary. So, you're going to get that ballot like in 3 days, 4 days. Uh and then two weeks later, you'll get another ballot. It's all going to be confusing. Britney's big insiders. I'll try to tell you, but uh you asked me to send them both at the same time. That's my goal. And we'll have uh so yeah, first Wendy, thank you. uh you can uh give us your stump. Okay. So, my name is Wendy Wong. I'm running for Congress in Congress of District 14 and um I'm running both in just like his speech said. I appreciate Thank you. Thank you for sticking around. Thank you for paying attention. Um I'm running in the June 2nd um primary and also the June 16th special primary and I have heard I thanked all the other uh candidates for coming for the Senate. But this is the reason why I'm running because uh the reason I'm running is I I really feel that you know right now we have a constitutional debt and a fraud crisis that you know um that we have to address at a congressional level. Um right now our national debt is $39 trillion. It's going to go up to about a trillion every 93 days. What does that mean to each person? Each person sitting here listening. If you are a born US citizen, you are in debt about 200 uh uh 200 and uh $200,000. And that's about $1,000 each day. If you don't understand that, every day you wake up, the national debt, the state debt, and also the unfunded social uh uh social security and Medicare liability is about $1,000 for a citizen. And you know what is that for taxpayers that you're sitting here? It's $2400 every day you wake up. That's your liability and debt. And it's rolling. And right now when we have an attack, a political attack based on your political views and also we have um uh there's no freedom of speech. We're under a constitutional crisis. This is not a partisan debate. This is not Republican versus Democrat. This is not right versus left. This is right versus wrong. This is unAmerican. What's happening in light of what happened the last weekend, Saturday, the attack on our political leaders, regardless of your view, how you feel like, but there is no place for political violence and attack in this country. and we must stand up and we must condemn it right now. I would like to also say that the fraud and waste and abuse abuse is not just the taxpayer hundreds of billions of dollars. It's according to the secretary of treasury. It's about 2% of our GDP that's u being wasted. Our tax dollar is being wasted that's not addressed not bringing to light. But it's another abuse that I want to talk about. It's by the people in positions of power, the sexual abuse, the uh the power abuse, by the powerful and also by the enablers of all these fraud, waste and abuse. Why are we talking about it? Have we not we not known anything about the Eric Swall scandals as the political insiders? Why we say nothing until it's inconvenient? me as an outsider, I have proven that I I can deliver. I have the courage to call people out. And this is the reason why I'm running because America is at a crossroad. We're one nation under God or one nation going under. Because liberty without morality is anarchy. And if we have authority without morality, it's tyranny. Um, I'm a longtime resident of an uh Alama County, especially in district 24. I lived 40 years in Alama County. I I got married at 24 and bought my first house at 26 without taxpayer assistance, without your assistance because with this country, the American dreams that I was able to achieve with hard work, merit, and performance. And I raised two sons still in the house I still live in. 24 and 25 who attended the public schools. I'm a former uh mission seek I led uh mission trips. I packed thousands of Operation Christmas shoe shoe boxes and also I'm a retired tech executive with decades with a decade of experience working with high-tech innovating producing products that people want not manufacturing dependencies that rely on taxpayers dollar that we don't have. We have $39 trillion in debt, hundred $1,000 per citizen, and $2,400 per taxpayer. Keep that in mind. And that's not including the personal debt that you own. And right now, I just wanted to say, why you vote for me? Cuz I'm the only candidate has proven um that I can I know what representatives is elected for is to protect and defend our inaliable rights. and the constitution constitutions if we have more than one con state constitutions and also I have successfully defended uh uh safety also uh uh liberty and also property especially during the state mandates and also uh fought off the uh high uh prone to business prone to high crime in residential area near school. There was a cannabis store that was going uh was going to open in residential area and I fought it off twice. So why um I have the courage uh to show up and speak up and never give up just like this one when it was canceled. So I thank you and professional. So I went over professionally and how about leadership. So, I'm an elected central committee members of Alama County Republican Party in uh Assembly District 20 and I was a uh CAGOP delegates and also a former city council candidate. So I have been fighting to put people first and I'm also endorsed by Howard Jarus Taxpayers Association, Reform California, California parents in union and also California Chinese Association also uh California rifle and pistol uh association and also supported by longer liberty. So my pledge is this. My pledge and promise is this. I pledge to put lawful citizens and residents first morally and constitutionally. And I pledge to put the elected officials in their lanes. Okay? Do not cross into our lanes in our families, our own business. It is not their job to provide goods and services. And they have failed. They have failed repeatedly. And this is the reason why I want them in their lanes. and my name is Wendy Hong. Uh, vote Wendy Hong for Congress June 2nd and June 16th. And let's win with Wendy. Thank you.
Thank you, Wendy. Wendy's the only one who called me or or noticed that I was on Fox News. You know that.
I want we'll get to Matt in a sec. I just want to acknowledge first and then we'll we'll talk. This is uh uh he won't be on the ballot you're getting. He'll be on the second ballot you get in two weeks. You got that? Everybody always I don't know. I don't know how this is going to work. I don't know. But before Matt Ortega, he's a Democrat. Matt Ortega from uh Pleasant Sam Sam one of you one of my favorite kids as I said earlier. Uh yeah, give us your your your your stump here and tell us about it. Uh and we're gonna we'll talk to to the picture in a second. And then um I want I got one question about what didn't happen today for you guys when you thought Matt Ortega. Uh my name is Matt Ortega. I'm a husband, father, small business owner, and union member. Um I grew up here in Hayward just admission. Um shortly after my mother passed away from cancer in 1992. Uh she was only 37 years old. my father uh remarried and we moved to the tribe valley where I went to high school in Danville. Uh I went to the University of Arizona for political science and came back and my very first campaign I worked on was actually in the history part of this district to unseat one of the last Republican members of Congress. I worked on healthcare here in the state with health access and SEIU uh before I went to DC where I worked uh at the DNC serving under Governor Howard Dean's uh leadership of the DNC. Uh, and it turns out when you work in uh, digital doing graphic design development in politics that DC was a place for more gainful employment. So I ended up sticking around for a while and I worked on a number of um, the biggest issues of the last 15 years. Um, you know, whether it was healthcare, whether it was fighting for better pay, better working conditions for uh, workers, whether it was uh, trying to pass clean energy and climate legislation at the federal level um, and uh, ensuring clean water and clean air and uh tackling the climate crisis to ensure that future generations have an inhabitable planet. Um and as well as taking on immigration, I worked with America's Voice and a number of other immigration groups um to push for comprehensive immigration reform and was part of the DACA DAPA uh fight under the uh second term of Barack Obama. Um I I've also um uh moved back to California with my uh my wife now. Um we uh we had our first son right as uh co started and um you know that was kind of an interesting introduction to fatherhood uh to be uh putting on a bandana to go to a grocery store uh to ensure my infant child had had uh everything that he needed. And so for me, you know, that was um a learning experience um being kind of thrust into fatherhood under those conditions and also just understanding that um you know with this this particular fight for is is that future. You know, right now, um, we're facing with a a criminal president who's breaking, uh, all kinds of laws, who's rolling back environmental protections that threatens our health, uh, to the point where they don't even count the impact on our on people anymore with regards to um, uh, how they uh, choose corporate profits uh, by hurting us and with the environment. Um, in addition to that, you know, we're seeing this administration attack our rights. um they're going after green card people, evil green cards, because of what they wrote online about uh Israel and Palestine or about immigration raids. We're seeing US citizens wrapped up in these uh brutal ICE raids. Uh and so to me, I got this race because I'm very concerned about the direction of the country. I'm just I'm very concerned about the future that my two boys seem to inherit. Uh and I felt that I had to do something about it. uh you know posting on social media and attending protest felt like not enough for me. Um and it's very important to me that uh you know when my kids get older whatever their station is in life they turn and look at me and say what did you do in that moment when uh things were going downhill. I could tell them I did everything I could and so that's why I'm in this race. Uh I'm in it to earn your support. Um I'm in it to fight for you just as I would fight for my own family. Uh because I believe in the richest nation on earth life should be easier than it is right now. And it isn't. uh and that's what I'm fighting for and so I I hope to be able to earn your support and I I look forward to this discussion. Thank you. Democrat and uh picture just you know a couple couple minutes uh tell tell us about you because I don't know much about I know the name you came up to me and I was like oh and tell us why why if anything I want to like so why didn't you you weren't in the in the regular primary and then maybe I would like to know like why why didn't why the second first of all pleasure to meet everybody Everybody here today as you know my name is Victor Salos. I'm running for the special election of the 14th attacking the other party so focused on everything else and protecting their special interest that they've forgotten about us the American people. And I think the chance of being an independent candidate when 50% of the nation today is independent gives us a good opportunity to go and be able to do what's the right thing is without having to worry about what the party is saying, falling in line, following special instructions or special interests. Most candidates once they win if they want to become a career politician they have to continue following the party availability. So I think for me I have no interest in being a career politician. I wanted to run on the special election because it's a short term that would allow me the opportunity to go into Washington talk to the people and remind Washington that they need to represent us instead of fighting each other instead of causing more tribalism instead of causing more hate around and division around the country. And also affordability is on top of everyone's mind. I think if anybody had to raise their hand, nobody's going to raise their hand if I asked that question. If your groceries have gotten cheaper over the last couple of months, we need to focus on that main issue which is making things better for us instead of sending all this money outside of the nation whether it's for good intentions or not. We need to focus on Americans first. We need to focus at home first. Charity starts at home. And that's my message and that's what motivated me to run in this special election. I have my wife and my two kids here. They're my inspiration to make a better America as well. And I think that by being able to be a loud voice in the room in a short amount of time where I cannot possibly run for the next election frees me from a lot of the things that other candidates are going to be uh unfortunately shackled by as the time goes on. And that's my uh my pitch. Thank you. Uh so just one question because we're going to lose our audio and video guys a couple minutes. So but uh yeah. So this will be all between all of us. Okay, don't tell nobody. We're going to talk real. We're going to talk real. Uh with that happened this debate uh about a month started this you know sent to you guys send emails in invites Matt Wandy enthusiastic. Yes. Okay. This is what this is working out well. Uh and it seemed to work out well. The state senate people were just absolutely wonderful to work with. Their their staff was professional. Uh I was like this is great. After I had already cancelled uh I was in transit. I was like transit were you like by uh like a carriage? Were you in the 1800s? What are you talking about? So uh that was Rocky is Ronnie. the reason why there's there was less people because we had like 190 that were signed up on the Eventbrite and so they probably suppressed it. Um there's less democrac
and then then u uh yeah they had something to do. So um I was like yeah I gave you 250 people maybe who knows but I'm going to come and they didn't want you. So, uh, so Aisha Wahhab did not say no, did not say yes. And that came down to a what was communicated to me as a game time decision at 11:00 a.m. or something. And so, I wasn't going to do that. And so, that's when the plug was was pulled um on that on that. So, that's what what happened. Um, I will tell you that it told me, I don't know what to tell you, but it told me as a reporter in watching that race that it gave me graves concerns that nobody in that race is ready. Those three at least are ready for the cauldron, the terrible cauldron of Congress. So, that's something I'm going to be watching and be writing about just to put that filter through. Nothing necessarily negative, but um, they should have been talking to you guys here. And I think they were worried about being attacked, which is even worse, or maybe being exposed for not knowing what's up. Um, I don't know why. It's a confusing thing because the state senate people you saw, they were they were great. Um, do you any any thoughts because you you could have been I thought you could have been the beneficiary because you have been proven for the last six weeks or more that you were the guy with the the biting, you know, you know, the the comebacks, the the attacks, I guess we'll call them. Um, well, I mean, you know, um, I mean, this format would have been good for you. That's what I'm I I have my suspicions about why people would not want to come uh who are um expected to be the front runners in the race. I worked in politics for 20 years now. I I know how these things tend to go. Uh and this was a confirmation to me that like you said, uh some people are not ready for the prime time. Um you know, I I've worked at the national level. I know what Congress is like. I know what those fights are. I've been attacked by Republicans and online, print, and on television since I was 22 years old. Uh so I know what that fight is. I know what that that that uh being in, as you said, the cauldron is going to be like. And if you're not willing to face the voters, how are you going to face down this administration who is attacking people's rights who is uh essentially sending people off to a foreign goolog uh regardless of whatever crime they may or may not have committed. Um you know, these are serious issues and it requires standing in front of people uh and asking them for their vote. And so for me, um that was my first reaction. Uh and on top of that, you know, I think it's also important that you know what they stand for. um for many many weeks in this campaign I I always talked about how until recently all their websites didn't list issues. They didn't tell you what they stood for. Uh my website is very thorough in what I stand for, what I believe. Um I think it's very important you know that going in. I'm not uh writing two sentences and saying that's what I believe on this particular issue. Um I think that gives them wiggle room to get away from things that you want to bring them down on. Uh I'm very firm in what I believe and what I stand for. I intend to fight for it uh in this campaign. I believe I'm offering the boldest agenda of any candidate. Uh I'm not uh running based on just what's feasible. I'm running on what I think we need to do and my job if elected is to make that a reality and working with you to make that a reality. So I think it's important you know where we stand. Um and this is one of those kinds of forums where that is established and it's unfortunate that um other than talking to the voters, they feel they have something better to do. So I'm here uh Wendy's here. Uh, and I think that's important and I think that says something. Yeah. And Wendy, you were uh, you know, you got you got you're in an area where there's not a lot of register Republicans. You're you're not, you know, you're not as funded as the other those like at least those three that didn't show up. You you could have used this as an opportunity. And this way what this is why I designed it wanted it this way because my thought was because we talk about there's too much much money in politics right well I was like well this you don't need any money other than your wits so you could have no money maybe you get maybe you resonate you say something you hit the right tone at the right moment um and you could gain so you don't it doesn't cost money so that's what it was you were somebody that you could have I think could have benefited from this but how you and also how you going to get you guys basically you got to get the top two. So, how are you going to get how can you do it with 11 people in the race? Well, you do what is right? Uh this is what people ask me. See, yeah, it's true that there's not a lot of Republicans uh registered Republicans, but I've been talking to a lot of um voters recently because they also was fed up from both parties as well. Not that they're they're not conservative. In people in my district, they are either religious conservative, they're actually socially conservative or physically conservative and uh uh culturally conservative. It's just that they're fed up with this um our political system that all they're doing is power. They just want to stay in power. They do not put the interest of we the people first. And I have been attacked by the people in position of power from both all sides and not just Democrat. Actually the ones who who helped me out when I ran for city council were Democrats. Uh so I really thank the uh the common sense courageous that they have integrity democrats that actually sued by because I focus on issues that matter to all people and this is about defending our inaliable rights and and the constitutions and protect the constitutions and regardless your faith, your ethnicity or your preferences,
we have to be able as a representative you have to be able to defend that. But the different issues right now we're arguing is goods and services. What is the goods and services is government has no money to provide goods and service without first taking it from somebody. So the government that's big enough to take it to give you everything is a government big enough to take away everything. I'm from Taiwan. I immigrated to this country when I was 13. I was literally uh kind of like you say unaccompanied minors. I came this country with my siblings 18, 15, 13. I was 13 and my sister was 12. We lived independently but we were imprinted uh um because our parents' moral values and also I was very blessed and grateful for a church family a community that kept my path straight and that I'm living the American dream and I just wanted to make sure that this generation and going forward that where they will have American dream and that I can thank the people who came before me that fought for this country. This is the 250 year anniversary of America. There's not a better place for me to go to to take my children to like my parents have sacrificed. And one thing I want to say before I leave, don't hate someone because media tells you to because this is why how attacks on people. I've been attacked from all sides. I put I don't just say the stuff I do. I put on my social media. And you know who benefits when I'm attacked from all sides that I put we the people first? My opponents. So I have I want us to say to you all get to know your candidates. Don't hate them because the media tell you to and we're on otherwise it's amoral amoral collectivism versus a moral liberalism that this country is built upon. It's one nation under God. And I thank you. Thank you so much. And win with Wendy. Win Wendy. I I wrote about it, but you got to mention this is the new thing in Eastbay polit political uh fashion, the stash. I was like I was going to get I like it. I mean, I like I wasn't making fun of it at all. I was like I like it like that's the way something different, right? Mr. Liberty because I've seen it all and it's all usually boring in these politics. That's why I have to spice it up, right? But uh yeah, so I just want to end it like I don't know. So yeah, I was I was very upset about how how this happened and uh you know I was somebody was asking me do you think it was like they were afraid of me whatever. Um I don't think so. All I did was I just organized this thing. David Bonorsy in the in the Senate I didn't know those I have no I had no idea uh about the questions and and I wanted that because I just wanted to write it. I thought that was the best way to do it. Write about it and be a set. So, we didn't really talk about that was that was him and it was going to be the same. We had Fong Law from uh who's our assessor Al County elected assessor. He was going to do the congressional one. I think he's sad and uh we'll get we'll we'll find another one for him to to to moderate, but he was going to do it himself, too. So, uh it's a mystery and we'll see. We'll we'll put that there. Like I said, keep uh reading Eastbay Insiders at.substat.com. Uh every What time do you get it? 6 like 6. The other day I came out 612. I don't know how it's very early. I don't know what's But 6:00 a.m. is when I And I stay up all night. All night until 5:55 a.m. All kidding. I I sometimes one:00. But it's a pleasure. And and one last thing to just say uh earlier that um you know I write I I'm from here. I write for you guys. I absolutely do. And when I'm writing at like midnight wrapping it up where the whole day I'm thinking envisioning you when I'm writing like I don't see the faces but I'm thinking what do people need? I'm from here. I want to fix this place. It's going to get fixed. And the problem is now that people are um they're going to jail sometimes if but we're gonna uh if that has that's what it's going to be. We're going to find it and let the feds do their job. But uh we're going to clean it up. I'm going to clean it up. You're helping me when you subscribe. You're helping me. And uh I just want to ask one more thing. One more thing. Trishala Vin Dakota who is in the uh we we be recording a podcast. She's our new co-host. And uh people like her. They think she has a great voice, but I was like, well, what about her intellect? I think her intellect intellect is better. Even better. But I also want to thank Trish Trish Shala because if you read if you're reading every day, you might notice that there's I think the quality is getting better and I would I've learned as a businessman you get quality people and it that's what you start the product starts showing. It's 100%. so we can get more and when there's more and we got more. Oh man, every we got to clean up this place really fast. But in the meantime, it's just me. But uh thank you to everybody. And Joe Girkart, he's running for Al County Board of Education. He's also on the ballot coming up. What's that? Area four. Area four. Anybody else? Anybody running? Dog catcher. Thank you everybody. Thank you. George is also on the ballot in November in Thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank you. Thank you for sound are you and your brothers. Thank you again.
Sprinkler Fitters Local 483 Union
Headquarters Hayward, CA
Saturday, May 2 • 12 PM - 2:30 PM
Overview
Candidates for the 14th Congressional District race to replace Eric Swalwell, and candidates for the 10th State Senate District face off
--14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT DEBATE, SCHEDULED FOR 1PM, HAS BEEN CANCELED.
THE 10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT DEBATE IS STILL SCHEDULED FOR NOON--
Join us for an in-depth, high-stakes debate-not a candidate forum-spotlighting one of the most consequential races on the June 2, 2026 primary ballot: the East bay's State Senate District 10 primary
Debate Day in the East Bay brings together leading candidates, engaged voters, and political insiders for a rare opportunity to hear directly from those vying to shape the future of the East Bay and beyond.
The event will be followed by a live recording of the East Bay Insiders Podcast for instant analysis of the two debates.
