Bob Smith shifts to independent status for CA 24th District race

Bob Smith, a candidate for California’s 24th Congressional District, has changed his voter registration to ‘No Party Preference’. While Smith will still appear as a Republican on the November ballot due to California election laws, he stated that if elected, he intends to serve in Congress as an independent.

Smith explained the move as an effort to reduce political division and prioritize the Central Coast over party politics. He noted that his policy positions remain unchanged. The candidate, who has received an endorsement from the Forward Party, expressed a desire to act as a unifying problem solver and pledged to introduce legislation regarding DACA and legal pathways for ‘Dreamers’ upon taking office.

During a recent podcast appearance, Smith criticized incumbent Salud Carbajal, describing his record in Congress as ‘invisible’ and noting a lack of leadership on national policy.