JOE KERR LAUNCHES 2026 CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS IN CALIFORNIA’S DISTRICT 40

 

Retired firefighter and labor leader vows to finish what he started and flip the seat

Coto de Caza, CA — Retired firefighter, labor leader, and leader in wildfire detection technology, Joe Kerr officially announced his candidacy for Congress in California’s 40th Congressional District.

“I’ve spent my entire life in service—to my community, to working families, and to the country I love,” said Kerr. “I’m running for Congress because families in this district are being crushed by rising costs—and instead of showing up to listen or lead, Young Kim refuses to answer
questions or even face the people she was elected to serve. In Congress, I’ll focus on expanding affordable housing, tackling out-of-control insurance costs, investing in lower utility bills through clean energy infrastructure, and rolling back tariffs that are driving up prices for working families.”

Joe Kerr’s campaign has already garnered early support from respected leaders across California, including United States Representatives Mike Levin, Dave Min, Lou Correa, Linda Sánchez and Adam Gray, as well as California State Senators Josh Newman and Tom Umberg.

“These early endorsements are a testament to the strength of our campaign and the urgency of our mission,” Kerr said. “This coalition of congressional and state legislative leaders understand that flipping CA-40 is critical to restoring balance in Washington, and I’m proud to have their
trust as we fight to deliver for working families, defend our freedoms, and tackle the wildfire and climate crisis head-on.”

Kerr, a second-generation firefighter who served 34 years with the Orange County Fire Authority, is no stranger to crisis leadership. As the founding president of Orange County Professional Firefighters Local 3631, he led over 1,200 firefighters through some of the toughest periods in the county’s history—including the bankruptcy and the Great Recession. He later represented more than 30,000 firefighters statewide as Vice President of the California Professional Firefighters, and served as Vice President of the Orange County Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO), helping lead a coalition of over 270,000 working people across the region.

After retiring from the fire service, Kerr partnered with leading wildfire scientists to develop and deploy early-detection camera systems that help stop wildfires before they spread—a breakthrough in protecting lives, cutting carbon emissions, and defending communities from climate disaster.

He was also appointed by Governor Gray Davis to the California Workforce Development Board, where he helped shape statewide job training policy, and later appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he led efforts to
hold major polluters accountable—work that continues to benefit working families and safeguard the environment.

But Kerr’s campaign isn’t just about credentials—it’s about results. In 2024, without party backing or national support, Kerr ran a grassroots campaign that shifted the district three points to the left—producing the fifth-largest swing in the country and turning CA-40 into one of the most flippable seats in the nation. Now, he’s running to finish what he started.

“I’m running to restore sanity, protect working families, defend reproductive freedom, and stand up to the rising tide of authoritarianism that’s threatening the foundations of our democracy,” Kerr said. “This district is winnable—and we’ve already built the foundation to win it. We’ve
significantly moved the needle, built name recognition, and this time, we’re going all the way.”

Kerr’s campaign is focused on pragmatic leadership rooted in service. He is the only candidate in the race with a proven bipartisan record, a deep understanding of public safety, and real experience delivering for Southern California families. His work in wildfire prevention, climate
mitigation, and frontline healthcare access has already made an impact statewide—and now, he’s ready to take that fight to Washington.

“This campaign isn’t about left vs. right—it’s about right vs. wrong,” Kerr said. “Voters are tired of the noise. They want leaders who will cut through the nonsense and actually get things done. I’ve built my career on bringing people tog together to solve tough problems—and that’s the kind of
leadership I’ll bring to Congress.”

Kerr resides in Coto de Caza with his wife China and their son Joey. His campaign has already begun mobilizing grassroots support across Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. Join the movement at www.JoeKerrForCongress.com.

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Editor’s note: The CA40 race has attracted four to five possible opponents for Kerr on the Democratic front.  Only one appears to have an address in the district (and she’s renting), and the candidates who live in Seal Beach, Ontario, and even Ventura County.  And only one who’s run a campaign before.  Kerr has been a longtime resident in Orange County.

I’ve heard all the Joe Kerr complaints.  He’s a Republican cos-playing as a Democrat; he lost by 10 points to Young Kim in 2024.  The thought really should be Kerr can work both sides of the aisle and he significantly closed the gap between Ds and Rs in CA40.  He needs to close another 5% of the electorate in a mid-term where the president’s party should lose their razor-thin majority.  Young Kim’s vote for the “Big Beautiful Bill” is going to cause her to lose votes among older voters in this district — with an average age in the 50s.