California Congressional District 40 guide: Kim vs. Mahmood

Abortion

Kim
Kim has consistently voted against measures to protect abortion access, including the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022, the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022 and the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021.

“I respect the Supreme Court’s decision and believe abortion should be largely left to the states. As a mother and new grandmother, I am pro-life and will always stand up for the most vulnerable among us,” Kim told The Times in answer to a questionnaire sent to candidates in key races. She did not answer the portion of the question regarding whether there should be exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the pregnant person.

Mahmood

Mahmood said he would fight in Congress to codify Roe vs. Wade as federal law, calling the Supreme Court decision overturning the landmark 1973 ruling “an attack on women.”

“In my work as a physician, I have seen just how personal these decisions are. The difficult choice to terminate a pregnancy should remain between the patient and physician. I believe there should be federal protections for abortion access,” he told The Times, and criticized lawmakers who “insert themselves into these very personal decisions.”

Immigration

Kim
Kim’s campaign texts before the primary touted her support for border security, including “Keeping Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy,” which forced asylum seekers who went through Mexico to reach the U.S. border to wait in that country for their cases to be processed.

“I do not support a blanket amnesty for those who entered our country illegally,” said Kim, who often points out that she came to the U.S. through proper channels. “I do believe in a path to legal status for ‘Dreamers’ — people who came as children and have [resided] in our country for many years.”

Mahmood
“Our immigration system needs a massive overhaul. I support comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship for those who follow the rules,” Mahmood said.

“As an immigrant myself, I know how life-changing it is to be able to come to this country in search of a better life,” he said. “However, we need to support those who do it the right way and wait their turn in line. Border security is an important part of the equation and must be strengthened.”