Why I’m Running
Today, hardworking Californians face some of the highest costs in the nation. Our state ranks near the bottom in affordability, access to homeownership, energy costs, and the overall cost of living, the very factors that determine whether families can build a future here.
I served our country for 26 years in the United States Navy, rising from junior enlisted sailor to senior Commander. As a Naval Officer and systems engineer, I led complex national security programs and operations, helping solve some of our military’s toughest technological challenges.
Service has always defined my life.
I’m running for Congress to continue that service — not to build a career in politics, but to deliver real solutions for our country, our state, and the Central Coast.
My priorities are clear:
- Restore affordability and expand homeownership
- Strengthen education and workforce pathways
- Secure reliable energy and water resources
- Advance responsible immigration reform
- Defend our nation and support our veterans
The challenges we face are not partisan; they are practical. Washington must move beyond ideological gridlock and return to solving problems for the American people.
I will work to bring federal resources home to our district and strengthen our local economy.
Most importantly, I want to ensure our children and grandchildren can live and work in the communities they call home.
I respectfully ask for your vote.
About Bob
Bob Smith is not a career politician. He’s a problem solver, a leader, and someone who has spent his life serving his country. Having seen the dysfunction in Washington firsthand during his years in D.C., Bob knows Californians are not getting what they deserve: strong, principled leadership.
A retired U.S. Navy officer and combat veteran, Bob served over 26 years, leading sailors in multiple combat deployments and overseeing the development of the Navy’s most advanced weapon systems. He earned recognition as the Navy’s Best Engineer of the Year in 2023 and holds both a B.S. in General Engineering Technology and an M.S. in Systems Engineering.
Born and raised in a low-income family in the Philadelphia area. Throughout his career, he engaged in combat and humanitarian missions, demonstrating leadership, ingenuity, and dedication to service.
Bob and his wife Adriana have lived in Carpinteria for over a decade, raising their children Joaquin and Gabriella close to Adriana’s extended family. Bob is running for Congress to give families like his the opportunities he grew up with. His mission is to restore the American Dream by returning to law and order, fixing our economy, and bringing sanity to our immigration system.