Endorsement: The Bee picks one standout for the 6th Congressional District | Opinion

With science under attack in Washington, D.C., we believe it’s a good time to send a doctor to Congress. Dr. Richard Pan served ably in the California Senate, where he stood up to death threats and personal attacks for defending the science of vaccinations.

Pan’s wealth of knowledge and experience earns our endorsement in the race for California’s 6th Congressional District.

In a crowded field of Democrats — and one well-known former Republican — Dr. Pan stood out with well-informed, substantive answers and a long history of service in the Sacramento region.

Other Democrats in the race include Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero and Lauren Babb-Tomlinson, chief public affairs officer at Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte. The ballot also includes current Rep. Kevin Kiley, who recently changed his affiliation from Republican to independent. He will appear on the ballot as “No Party Preference.”

State congressional districts will be altered with the passage of Proposition 50 to benefit Democrats. The newly drawn 6th Congressional District will include Rocklin, Roseville, Citrus Heights, the city of West Sacramento and a large part of northern and eastern Sacramento.

Kiley has gone from a safe 3rd District before Prop. 50 to a far less safe 6th.

But given the makeup of the district and California’s “top two” primary system, Kiley could proceed to the general election in November. He is a formidable opponent, tough and smart. Kiley’s answers to some of our questions were better than those of some of the Democrats running against him.

However, we believe Pan is the most well-rounded candidate for the job. During our interview, we found that even when Pan disagreed with Kiley, it was a thoughtful and respectful disagreement, compared to some of the other candidates. Pan’s moderate stance on many issues could also be appealing to independents and right-of-center voters who may be troubled by Kiley’s support for H.R.1, President Donald Trump’s controversial budget bill that became law. Trump dubbed it his “big, beautiful bill.”

Kiley touted the tax relief H.R.1 brought to his constituents, while Pan was concerned about estimates from the Congressional Budget Office that HR. 1 will result in $911 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next 10 years. The CBO also estimates that an estimated 10 million Americans will lose their healthcare coverage by 2034.

The clear contrast between Kiley and Pan on this issue swung the endorsement for Pan because we believe the damage done to working-class people in California by H.R. 1 outweighs the tax benefits to higher income earners.

Locally, as a pediatrician, Pan founded Communities and Physicians Together, a grassroots program partnering pediatricians with local neighborhoods. He also co-founded the “Healthy Kids Healthy Future” program, which ensures health, dental and vision coverage for more than 65,000 children in the Sacramento region.

In 2015, Time magazine called Pan a “hero” for introducing legislation that increased school vaccination rates and halted the state’s measles outbreak. In 2020, Pan worked to reduce the spread of COVID, and faced physical assault, harassment and stalking at his home and business.

“We’re seeing thousands of (measles) cases in South Carolina and Texas. Well, not here in California,” Pan told us. “That’s because of the work that was done.”

All the Democrats vying for the California 6th District framed their candidacies as voices against Trump, with District Attorney Ho vowing to be a fighter, as one example, and Guerrero pitching herself as the district’s most effective advocate. None could match Pan’s credentials as a defender of science.

Pan’s presence in Congress would be a step toward opposing Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s Health and Human Services secretary, as they continue dismantling public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which faces severe budget cuts — up to 53% — in the next budget year.

Dr. Pan has been working for and serving Sacramentans for decades. Now, it’s time to send him to Congress.

This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 5:00 AM.