MIKE MURPHY

ON THE ISSUES

I'm running for Assembly to get results on the issues most important for the Central Valley:

California's cost-of-living crisis is out of control. Gas shouldn't cost this much. A roof over your head shouldn't cost an arm and a leg. And our families shouldn’t be paying the highest utility rates in the country.



I'll vote to lower gas and diesel prices by cutting the gas tax and rolling back the regulations that drive up costs at the pump. I'll cut the red tape and fees that make it so expensive to build, so working families can actually afford a home. And I'll work to scale back the Sacramento mandates that make electricity rates so expensive. 

Parents shouldn't have to worry when their kids play outside. But today, too many do, because dangerous criminals are released without being held accountable. That needs to change.

I believe child molesters and violent sexual predators belong in prison. You should be able to live, work, and raise your family without looking over your shoulder. I'll vote to make sure the law puts victims and families first, not criminals. 

California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 36 in 2024 to hold criminals accountable and also mandate rehabilitation treatment. The legislature hasn’t adequately funded Proposition 36. I will. 

Hundreds of dollars for an X-ray? Blood tests that cost a week's pay? A doctor's appointment shouldn't break the bank, and if you're sick, you shouldn't have to wait months to be seen. Too many Valley families are one medical bill away from crisis, and too many of our communities don't have enough doctors to begin with.

I'll work on your behalf to lower healthcare costs, expand access to care in the Valley, and make sure every California family can see a doctor when they need one. Investing in UC Merced’s medical school to educate more doctors from our Valley is critical. 

Every year, California flushes millions of gallons of fresh water out to sea instead of storing it for our farms and communities. That's water we can't afford to waste.

I'll work to build the water storage the Valley has needed for decades, so we capture water in wet years instead of losing it. And I'll work to guarantee our farmers a reliable water supply they can count on, because Valley agriculture feeds the nation, grows our economy, and provides good-paying jobs for our communities.

A quality education sets students up for life. As the first to graduate from college in my family, I know that education opens doors. As Mayor of Merced, I expanded higher education opportunities for Central Valley students, and in the Assembly I'll keep advocating for our kids.



That starts with getting back to basics: reading, writing, and math in our public school system. Our schools should graduate students with the skills they need to build successful careers, whether that's college, a trade, or a good job right here in the Valley.