Lois Capps Seeks 9th Term in Congress

Lois Capps filled her late husband’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives 16 years ago. She is now running for her 9th term.

Lois and Walter Capps were married for 37 years. They attended Yale together and then settled in Santa Barbara where she worked as a public school nurse and he taught courses on religion and the Vietnam War at UCSB.

Walter Capps died during his first time en route to Washington.

Capps was urged to run and has never lost a race.

But during her time in office she experienced another tragedy, the loss of one of her daughters to lung cancer.

Capps, the daughter of a Luthern Minister, wanted to keep working to help families like hers that have endured ups and downs.

On a typical day in the nation’s capitol she said she does her best to work with the opposing party to get things down. She also serves on the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce. When she is not on the house floor the former in her 24th district office. She said she is concerned about the future of children, the economy, and war.

Her recent tenure has been marked by controversy. Protesters picketed outside her Santa Barbara campaign office this month. They blame Capps and her district director for enabling a war veteran staffer to drink and drive the night to beloved local bar tender died. The victim’s father wrote a letter opposing her re-election.

Capps said women are still the minority in the House. She said she hope to see the house better reflect the population in years to come.

Her opponent is Republican Chris Mitchum, the son of late actor Robert Mitchum.

Both candidates have plenty of name recognition.

On Nov. 4th voters will decide what name to put at the helm of the 24th district.