EDITORIAL: Dena Maldonado, East Bay congressional candidate, answers Bay Area News Group's primary questionnaire

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Ahead of the June primary election, the Bay Area News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates for California's 14th Congressional District. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and clarity.

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Name: Dena MaldonadoCurrent job title: FloristDate of birth: January 27, 1989

Political party affiliation: RepublicanOther political positions held: NoneCity where you reside: Dublin

What are the top three problems you're seeking to solve if elected?

1. Transparency in government spending

2. Restoring parents' involvement in their children's education

3. Protecting Second Amendment rights

Why are you uniquely qualified to address the three problems you've identified above?

I'm not a career politician - and that's exactly why I approach these issues differently. As a business owner, I've had to manage real budgets, make tough tradeoffs and be accountable for every dollar. My priorities come directly from conversations with people in this district. I've knocked on thousands of doors and spoken with residents one-on-one. On education, I've heard from parents who feel shut out of decisions involving their own kids. On the Second Amendment, I've heard from people who want their rights respected and the law applied consistently. My positions reflect those conversations.

What differentiates you from your most serious competitors for this seat?

What sets me apart is how I've actually built this campaign. I'm a business owner who decided to run after seeing a real disconnect between what people are dealing with and what's coming out of Washington. I've been out knocking on doors across the district and having one-on-one conversations with people. That's shaped how I understand the issues and how I think about solutions. I also bring a practical mindset. I'm used to managing budgets, making decisions with real consequences and being accountable for results.

What one congressional committee would you most like to chair, if given the opportunity? And how would that position serve your constituents?

I'd want to serve on - and ideally chair - the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. That's where you can actually hold government accountable - how money is spent, whether programs are working and where things are falling short. This directly ties to one of my top priorities, which is transparency. People deserve a clear, straightforward understanding of where their tax dollars are going and what they're getting in return. In that role, I'd push for more accessible reporting, stronger oversight and a higher standard of accountability across the board.

You're running to be a lawmaker. If you were going to be remembered for writing and passing one law, what would it be?

I'd want to be remembered for passing a Taxpayer Transparency Act. Right now, most people have no clear way of understanding where their tax dollars actually go. The information is out there, but it's hard to find and even harder to make sense of. This would change that by requiring a simple, easy-to-understand breakdown - basically an "invoice" showing how money is spent, what it's funding and whether it's working. The goal is straightforward: give people real visibility into their government. When people can see where their money is going, it leads to better accountability and better decisions.

Since 1960, what one piece of federal legislation has benefited Americans the most?

I would point to the Freedom of Information Act. It gave everyday Americans the ability to access government records and actually see what their government is doing. That kind of transparency is foundational to accountability.

Why should renters vote for you? How will you make their lives more affordable?

What I'd focus on is making sure federal policy is actually helping bring costs down - whether that's supporting housing supply, reducing unnecessary regulatory delays or making sure tax dollars are being used effectively in ways that improve affordability. Just as important, I'd stay directly engaged with the district. I've built this campaign by having real conversations with people, and I'd continue that in office - so I'm not guessing what renters need, I'm hearing it from them.

Why should first-time homebuyers support you?

First-time homebuyers need more pathways into the market, including the ability to build on small plots of land. I support targeted tax incentives and streamlined permitting for individuals who want to build their own homes, while reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers that drive up costs and delay projects. Expanding these options can help increase housing supply and make homeownership more attainable - without forcing buyers into increasingly expensive, one-size-fits-all developments.

Explain how you would use your position to help tackle homelessness in your district.

We need to be honest about what's working and what isn't. I support redirecting funding away from programs that aren't delivering results and prioritizing mental health and addiction treatment, which are often at the root of chronic homelessness. We should absolutely help people - but that support should be tied to participation in programs that move them toward stability, employment and independence.

Bay Area transit agencies are facing a fiscal cliff. Their solvency appears to depend on the passage of a proposed November sales tax. What's your position on that tax? What changes would you demand of Bay Area transit agencies, if any, in order to receive more federal funds?

These are publicly funded systems, and they should be treated that way - with accountability to the taxpayers who support them. I do not support raising taxes or increasing federal funding without meaningful reform. Any additional funding should be conditional on measurable performance, financial transparency and a clear path toward operating more efficiently rather than relying on ongoing subsidies.

What is your position on the California High-Speed Rail project? Would you support appropriating more federal funds for it? If so, under what conditions, if any?

I do not support allocating any additional federal funding to California's High-Speed Rail project. After years of cost overruns and missed deadlines, it has become a clear example of failed government spending. Before any further discussion of funding, there should be a full independent audit and accountability for how taxpayer dollars were used. My priority is protecting taxpayers from continued waste - not doubling down on a project that has not delivered.

Joint Venture Silicon Valley estimates 400,000 Bay Area jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI. What legislation would you support, if any, to protect your district's workers and/or consumers from automation?

AI is going to transform the workforce, but rushing into heavy regulation or new taxpayer-funded programs before we understand its full impact would be a mistake. I believe we should allow innovation to continue while maintaining a flexible economy that creates new opportunities. Government's role should be limited - focused on transparency and accountability, not expanding bureaucracy or imposing new costs on taxpayers.

Would you support legislation to curb children's use of social media?

No.

Wealth inequality has hit its widest gap in more than three decades. The top 1% of households own 31% of all U.S. wealth. What policies would you support, if any, to narrow the wealth gap?

I don't support wealth redistribution as a solution. I believe the focus should be on expanding opportunity - making it easier for people to earn, build and keep their own income. That means supporting a strong economy, reducing unnecessary barriers to starting and growing businesses and ensuring people have access to good jobs. The goal should be upward mobility, not redistributing outcomes.

Explain your position on Donald Trump's military action against Iran. Would you support Rep. Ro Khanna's War Powers Resolution?

I have serious concerns about any president - Republican or Democrat - taking unilateral military action without congressional approval. The Constitution is clear that Congress has the authority to declare war, and that standard should be upheld. That's why I would support Rep. Khanna's bipartisan War Powers Resolution to ensure that decisions of this magnitude go through Congress before the United States enters into sustained conflict.

Bay Area counties will lose billions in coming years as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These federal cuts, particularly to health care, are expected to hit Alameda and Santa Clara counties' residents hard. What actions, if any, would you support to protect the health care of these counties in light of these cuts?

I believe we need to protect access to health care, especially for vulnerable populations, but simply increasing federal spending without accountability is not a sustainable solution. My focus would be on ensuring existing resources are used effectively - reducing waste, improving transparency and giving local providers more flexibility to deliver care. We should be prioritizing outcomes for patients, not just the size of government programs.

Beyond the threat of immediate cuts facing county budgets, what other health care challenges face your district's residents? What policies would you support to improve their health access and outcomes?

The biggest challenges I hear about are cost, access and mental health. People are paying more, waiting longer and still struggling to get timely care - especially when it comes to behavioral health. I'd focus on making care more accessible and affordable by increasing transparency, cutting unnecessary bureaucracy and expanding options like telehealth. The goal should be better outcomes for patients - not just more spending, but making sure resources actually reach care.

The federal government faces chronic deficits. It must either raise more revenue or cut more spending. Or both. Explain what policies you would support to raise more revenue and, if applicable, what spending you'd cut. Be specific.

I believe the deficit should be addressed primarily by fixing spending - not raising taxes on working families. That means auditing federal programs, cutting waste and duplication and tying funding to real, measurable results. We also need to reduce administrative overhead - especially in health care - so more money actually goes to services, not bureaucracy. On the revenue side, I'd focus on growing the economy and enforcing the tax laws we already have, rather than creating new taxes. The goal is simple: spend smarter and make the system more efficient.

A Bay Area News Group analysis shows that federal agents have recently increased the number of deportations of immigrants without prior criminal histories. This has affected immigrants in this specific district. Do you support the Trump administration's immigration policies? Describe the immigration policies you'd support.

I don't support or oppose immigration policy based on who's in office - I evaluate it based on whether it's effective and consistent with our values. There are aspects of Donald Trump's approach, like prioritizing border security, that I agree are necessary. But I don't support broad enforcement actions that target nonviolent individuals who are not a threat to public safety. I believe immigration policy should focus on securing the border, creating a functional legal immigration system and prioritizing enforcement on individuals who pose real risks - while respecting due process and avoiding unnecessary harm to families and communities.

What do the biggest contributors to your campaign expect from you?

I haven't taken large donations from special interests or outside groups - this campaign is funded by people who actually live here. Because of that, there aren't any hidden expectations. The expectation is pretty straightforward: represent the district honestly, be transparent and make decisions based on what's best for the community - not donors.

Do all of your policy goals above depend on your party controlling Congress? If so, how will you achieve anything if your party doesn't control Congress? How do you plan to build bipartisan coalitions to pass legislation in a divided Congress?

No - my approach doesn't depend on one party being in control. My top priority is transparency, and that's not a partisan issue. It's something people across the board want more of from their government. I'd focus on areas where there's real overlap - transparency, accountability, cost of living - and build from there. At the end of the day, it's about getting results for this district, and that means working with anyone willing to actually get something done.

What else should we know about your capacity to directly improve the lives of this district's constituents?

While knocking on hundreds of doors across the district, I've had countless residents tell me they've never had a congressional candidate take the time to speak with them - ever. That tells you everything about the disconnect people are feeling. I'm building this campaign by listening directly to residents, understanding their day-to-day challenges and staying accessible. That's how you create policies that aren't just theoretical, but actually improve people's lives.

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 5:43 PM.