Charlie Kim: 2026 candidate for 11th Congressional District

Bio

Party: Republican

Office sought: 11th Congressional District

City: Aurora

Age: 59

Occupation: International business owner

Previous offices held: Civil servant

Q&A

What is your top issue and how do you propose to address it?

The Economy. Congress must have better regulations to promote American businesses and farms, increasing exports of U.S. manufactured products, and reducing favorite trade status to countries that are not mutually supporting the U.S.A.

The solution is better regulations to promote American businesses and farms by supporting the middle class communities, local businesses, exporting U.S. manufactured products, and reducing favorite trade status to countries that are not mutually supporting the U.S.A.

We can expand businesses while supporting workers with less government interference, allowing business development for more profits to businesses and more income wages to workers.

Businesses and nonprofit organizations need more direct financial support, and larger companies need indirect tax savings and direct incentives to work with smaller businesses and self-employment entities, thereby, mutually benefiting from one another to be productive and prosperous with less government involvement.

Our government must enact laws for innovative regulations, equal opportunity funds, and adequate resources.

Do you support the unilateral foreign policy course President Trump has taken with such actions as the bombing of Iran, assaults on Venezuelan ships and the seizure of the Venezuelan president?

The Venezuelan president violated the criminal law of New York state, so this matter was not related to the United States of America at a federal level and the U.S. legal system will decide his outcome.

In regard to the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers, I support the act of protecting the U.S.A. from threat of danger and to seize oil or other possibilities of threat to the U.S.A. because this material was fuel for likely military purpose against the U.S.A. However, with regards to selling the seized oil, Trump needs Congress' approval to take action against a foreign adversary unless we are in immediate danger.

The bombing of Iran was necessary if there was an immediate threat to Israel and/or the U.S.A. because of our responsibility to protect America allies in which the U.S. President should immediately act to defend Israel and/or the U.S.A.

The executive branch has expanded its powers in recent years on foreign policy, economic tariffs, executive orders and more. Are you satisfied with the direction these activities are moving? If so, why? If not, what needs to be done differently?

I agree with having tariffs to support domestic development, i.e., foreign direct investments into the U.S. to build manufacturing and growth within communities. We have invest in U.S. manufactured goods and promote U.S. export of goods to have a positive development of our country.

However, we should be careful to not be hasty in our practices to damage trade relationships with other country, i.e., Canada, China, and Mexico, when we are dependent of goods and services are affordable costs because of quickly increasing cost of goods and services will immediately increase prices and be unaffordable for Americans, causing hardship to Americans. Hence, people first is America first.

What should U.S. border policy be? If elected, what would you do to make it happen?

U.S. border policy should be to enforce the Secure the Border Act of 2023 and not support legislation that is for purely political interests, i.e., National Security and Border Act of 2024, which supports more assistance to foreign countries than the U.S.A. My solution shall be an immigration process that is efficient and well-managed to benefit U.S. citizens as well as immigrants, preventing uninvited responsibilities and unreasonable costs to American taxpayers for the chaos of illegal immigration.

What should be the government’s role in assuring health care for Americans? What should be done regarding the ACA to better perform this function?

The government's role in assuring health care for Americans should be decreased. There should be a comprehensive healthcare system including patients, providers, and insurance companies in industries of medical, pharmaceutical, and insurance.

It is also imperative that our government implement a better healthcare system than the current Affordable Care Act/Obamacare. I propose an effective and efficient affordable healthcare system that will not be paid by taxpayers.

The U.S. Congress should pass H.R. 6703 to have the low-cost healthcare for all Americans Act, which would have association health plans, increase transparency requirements for pharmacy benefits managers, reduce fund cost-share, and other benefits.

What is your vision for a solution to conflicts involving Israel and the Palestinians? What should the United States be doing to advance this position?

The U.S. has to defend under its treaty with Israel. However, other countries have a right to protect their own sovereignty and it is not within our authority to advance military, especially soldiers, to attack another country without the approval of the U.S. Congress and the support of international organizations, e.g. North Atlantic Treaty Organization and/or the United Nations Armed Forces.

The U.S. should seek a mediation between Israel and Palestine to prevent a war in which both countries as well as the U.S.A. would be at risk to lose relationships and resources, including harm of U.S. soldiers and citizens.