If I Wasn’t Running for the 47th District, Who Would I Actually Vote For? 2026 Voter Guide: CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 47 (CA-47 Orange County, Irvine, Laguna, Lake Forest, Aliso V May 20, 2026

I’ve spent some time looking over the other candidates' platforms—or rather, their lack thereof—and I wanted to do an honest, unfiltered breakdown.

Recently, one of the other candidates actually reviewed me, and honestly? It was hilarious. I loved it. But what I’m about to say might sound a little harsh. Maybe I’m just frustrated. I tried to set up debates with these people, but nobody wanted to step on stage.

And that’s the problem with politics today. Elections should be an exchange of ideas and real solutions so you can make an informed decision. Instead, we’ve got a damn popularity contest.

So, let's pull back the curtain and look at the options.

Candidate 1: "Money Bags"

First up is the candidate who’s already raised millions. Let's call him "Money Bags."

I went to his website to find a concrete plan for this district, and it’s… well, it’s vague. It feels like he’s terrified to take a stand on anything because he might upset a big donor or alienate a specific voting bloc. When you look at his voting history in Congress, it tells a story of consistently playing it safe.

Right now, Congress acts like a college student who has a massive final exam tomorrow, but instead of studying, they decide to go clean a slightly dirty kitchen. Sure, the kitchen needed a wipe-down, but the exam is what actually matters! They tackle tiny issues that won't anger anyone, while the massive problems—the ones that actually affect your daily life—get completely ignored just so the campaign checks keep clearing.

A Quick Policy Note: Let's look at H.R. 2071, the Save Our Shrimpers Act. My stance is simple: taxpayer money should fund American farms in America. Money Bags voted "No." Now, you can argue for a free market there, so I won’t grill him too hard on that specific vote, but it’s a perfect example of the disconnect between politicians and straightforward, common-sense priorities.

Candidate 2: "Blue 2" (The Backup)

Then we have the backup. We'll call him "Blue 2."

He mentions more topics on his site than Money Bags does, but he’s just as vague on the actual details. I messaged him for a debate, too. Cold shoulder.

This is exactly why voters have to rely on partisan voter guides; people are desperate for a straight answer because politicians are too busy dancing around the questions. Honestly, I guess his whole campaign strategy is just praying Money Bags gets hit by a bus so he can slide right into the slot.

The Republican Block

Now, let's talk about the Republicans. I’m sorry guys, but the messaging is identical across the board: "Blue is the problem, vote Red."

It’s entirely focused on who supports Trump the most, or accusing the other guy of being a "fake Republican." They talk endlessly about fraud, waste, and corruption, but they offer absolutely no new energy. Looking at the lineup, I have to ask… why are these politicians all so ancient? Is there really nobody else willing to step up? It’s weird.

The Libertarian & The Independent

Then there’s the Libertarian guy. I’d love to talk about his platform, but his website is broken half the time, and it says nothing when it actually works. And his candidate photo? It’s a total catfish. It’s like some people are just running because they’re bored on a Tuesday. If you're going to run for Congress, please do the bare minimum: have a working website and say something that matters.

Finally, we have the "No Party" daredevil, like myself: The Independent. He recently overhauled his entire website, and I have to ask... what happened? It feels like he hired a slick campaign manager who told him to delete everything interesting and just copy the "Money Bags" strategy of being as vague as possible. I liked what you had up there before! Why did you hide it?

The Final Verdict: Who Gets My (Hypothetical) Vote?

So, after looking at the entire field, we get to the final question: If I wasn't on the ballot, who would I actually vote for?

Honestly? I’d probably go with Money Bag’s backup—"Blue 2."

Here is my rationale:

• Normally, I’d be pulling for the Independent. I want to support a fellow "No Party" candidate. But like I said, he erased everything he stands for. You can't vote for a ghost. If you hide your platform, you lose my trust entirely.

• As for the "Red" team, I’ve gotta be real: the constant anger and negativity is just exhausting. Their messaging makes it feel like the world is literally ending if we don't vote for them, and honestly, that’s a huge turn-off. People are looking for solutions and a reason to be hopeful, not a reason to be terrified.

So, by process of elimination, that leaves the backup. He’s vague, sure, but at least he isn't trying to scare me into a vote or actively hiding his past stances.

But here is the good news: I am running.

And because I'm running, we can do a whole lot better than settling for "the least bad option." We don't have to choose between vague, angry, or absent. Let's actually talk about the issues.