On Sunday, June 25, City of Alameda Vice Mayor Tony Daysog formally announced his candidacy for the 12th Congressional District of California of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Daysog made the announcement in a press release.

“I am running for Congress as a pro-choice Democrat to continue my work in making all of our’s a better, a more fair, and a more peaceful world,” wrote Daysog in the statement. “I will bring a new perspective, a new voice, and a new passion and energy to Washington D.C. in favor of peace, reinvesting in our communities, and strengthening our social safety nets.”

Daysog, who has lived in Alameda since 1974 and graduated from Encinal High School, has spent 19 years on the Alameda City Council. He said his experience on the council has prepared him to take on the new responsibility.

"I am in my 19th year on our City Council, and this is the third time I am the Vice Mayor, so I know I am very prepared in taking this step,” said Daysog in an email to the Alameda Sun.

On his campaign website, Daysog said he will be running on a 20-point “peace and fairness” platform. It includes plans on sea level rise, “grants for dealing with sea-level rise infrastructure impacts;" domestic peace, “gun control: minimum age requirement (21-25 years old), mandatory testing/licensing, background checks, national ‘red flag’ law;” and more.

Along with Daysog, four other people have announced they will be running for the 12th Congressional District of California seat. Candidates who have already announced include Jennifer Tran, a professor at California State University East Bay in Hayward; Denard Ingram, chair of Oakland's Housing, Residential Rent and Relocation Board; Lateefah Simon, a BART board member; and Tim Sanchez, an entrepreneur and U.S. Navy Veteran. All five candidates are registered Democrats.

"My family’s experience with the Nagasaki atomic bomb is what distinguishes me from the other Democrats, and it helps explain the pride I take in helping convert our former military base in Alameda to peaceful uses, and it helps explain my emphasis, if elected to Congress, on reducing our military budget to achieve peaceful change,” said Daysog. "We must significantly reduce military spending so that we can finally achieve universal healthcare for all ages, and finally make college, university, and trade schools truly affordable, especially for young adults burdened by student loan debt."

Other candidates could still enter the race. The filing deadline to run is Dec. 8.

The five potential candidates will be running to fill the seat currently occupied by Representative Barbara Lee. Lee, who has held the seat since 1998, announced she will be running for the U.S. Senate seat that will be open when current U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California leaves office. On Feb. 14, Feinstein announced she will not run for re-election when her term expires in 2024. Feinstein has been on the senate since 1992. Lee will run against fellow U.S. Representatives from California Adam B. Schiff (30th district) and Katie Porter (47th district).

"The fact that the two State Senators (Nancy Skinner and Steven Glazer) and two State Assemblymembers (Mia Bonta and Buffy Wicks), along with the former Oakland Mayor [Libby} Schaff, are not running to fill the seat being vacated by Congressmember Barbara Lee suggests, to me, the next level of elected officials such as City Councilmembers need to 'step up,'" said Daysog.

The Primary election is scheduled for March 5, 2024. The top two vote getters in the primary will run for the open seat in the General Election on Nov. 5, 2024. The 12th Congressional District of California represents Oakland, Alameda, Albany, Emeryville, Berkeley and San Leandro.