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California's Stance On Syria: Representatives, Districts 41-53

Melissah Yang, Ben Kraus, Rachel Scott |
September 10, 2013 | 2:03 p.m. PDT

Senior News Editor, Staff Reporters

California congressional districts 41-50 (Denise Guerra/Neon Tommy)
California congressional districts 41-50 (Denise Guerra/Neon Tommy)
Mark Takano (D-Riverside) - District 41

Takano was undecided as of September 9, according to CNN. "I applaud the President for seeking congressional authority for a limited military strike against Syria and believe that Congress should only take action when it is fully informed," Takano said in a statement.

Ken Calvert (R-Riverside) - District 42

Calvert announced Monday his decision to vote against a military strike in Syria following a two-hour briefing Monday with members of the House Select Intelligence Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. "I am more convinced than I was before that President Obama's strategy is unfocused, unrealistic and unsupportable...Unless I am presented with some new evidence or compelling argument that convinces me that action is in our national security interest, I simply cannot support the use of our American military in Syria as requested by the President," Calvert said in a statement.

Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) - District 43

Waters said she would solicit opinions from her constituents and from the Obama administration before deciding on a military strike. "There are still many unanswered questions, such as what limited military action would entail, what will be the targets, what United States national interests are at stake, whether President Obama has pursued all possible diplomatic alternatives to military action, and whether military action by the U.S. will have the support of the international community,” Water said, according to the Daily Breeze.

Janice Hahn (D-San Pedro) - District 44

Hahn said on "Piers Morgan Live" she was leaning toward voting against a military strike. "I do not think this is a war we should be dragged into. And my constituents as well overwhelmingly are saying absolutely no to dragging us into another foreign war," she said.

John Campbell III (R-Irvine) - District 45 

Campbell said he might break away from his party's leadership — Speaker John Boehner  urged congressional support for Obama's request — since he saw very little reason for intervention. "Any potential military action could have the consequence of expanding into a much wider conflict and is not warranted by U.S. foreign policy interests," a Campbell spokesperson said. "We should stay out of it."

Loretta Sanchez (D-Lakewood) - District 46

Sanchez was opposed to sending US forces to Iraq in 2002 but has not taken quite as staunch of a position on Syria. "I am deeply concerned about the risk of not responding to this violation of international norms," Sanchez said via a spokesperson. "However, the course of action we take must be in the best interest of the United States and we simply cannot entangle ourselves in Syria's civil war. Any action going forward must be based upon constant communication and meaningful consultation between the White House, Congress and most importantly, the American people."

Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) - District 47

Lowenthal's main interests were having an informative discussion about whether to authorize action in Syria. "I deplore the loss of life in Syria and condemn the violence and human rights violations," Lowenthal said in a press release. "I am encouraged by the President's commitment to listen to the voice of the people."

Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) - District 48

Rohrabacher supported military intervention in Iraq 11 years ago but felt there was a lesson to be learned from that experience. Consequently, he has taken a different approach to Syria. "We should not engage in conflicts around the world unless they directly affect our national security," Rohrabacher said. "We should have learned our lesson in Iraq, which cost us the lives of 6,000 Americans ... Getting involved in Syria would be even worse because it would indicate we haven't learned our lesson."

Darrell Issa (R-Vista) - District 49

Issa did not see a common theme in the Iraqi and Syrian conflicts. After voting "yes" on authorizing military action in Iraq in 2002, Issa was undecided with his vote for a strike against Syria. "To earn my vote of support for limited military intervention, President Obama must present a clear plan focused on effective humanitarian intervention or our national security interests," Issa told the U-T San Diego.

Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon) - District 50

“I think he’s breaking the law if he strikes without congressional approval,” Hunter told The Washington Times. “And if he proceeds without Congress providing that authority, it should be considered an impeachable offense.”

Juan Vargas (D-Chula Vista) - District 51

Vargas said Thursday he supported the president's call for a military strike after viewing classified information with Obama administration officials. "What we're attempting to do here with this action is to show the world, and certainly show this dictator, that you can't use chemical weapons, that you can't gas your own children," Vargas said.

Scott Peters (D-San Diego) - District 52

Peters was undecided as of September 9, according to CNN. Peters contrasted in an interview with KPBS Americans' fatigue from Iraq and Afghanistan with a moral obligation to Syrian children allegedly killed by chemical weapons. He specifically addressed the military service of San Diegans, who "have paid a particularly heavy price for our engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past decade."

Susan Davis (D-San Diego) - District 53

Davis was undecided as of September 9, according to CNN. Davis said in an interview with KPBS the U.S. should not take on the Syria issue alone. "That is not where we want to be. At the same time, it's not clear what happens down the line," she said. "I just think it is very hard to for it to be a limited strike."

Senators Feinstein and Boxer

Districts 1-10, Representatives

Districts 11-20, Representatives

Districts 21-30, Representatives

Districts 31-40, Representatives

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