By Commander (Retired) Bob Smith, Candidate for Congress

My fellow Central Coast neighbors, I’m Bob Smith, a retired Navy combat veteran, a fighter for our values, and a candidate running against Salud Carbajal for California’s 24th Congressional District. I’m not a career politician; I’m a patriot who has served our nation and now wants to serve you. But I need your help—your votes, your volunteer energy, and yes, your financial support—to challenge the entrenched political machine and bring real change to Washington.

Let’s discuss the stakes involved. For too long, Salud Carbajal has taken our district for granted. He has become comfortable with a system that is failing us, plagued by excessive spending and disconnected from the hardworking people of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties. I’m running as the underdog, but I’m not afraid to fight. If you place your trust in me, I will go to Congress and work daily to cut wasteful spending, reduce costs, and create economic opportunities so that our families, small businesses, and communities can thrive.

Let’s begin with a scandal that exposes the rot in Washington: the autopen fiasco. Credible reports emerged last year revealing that President Biden’s signature was affixed to official documents—including executive orders and pardons—using an autopen, a mechanical device that mimics handwriting. This wasn’t a harmless clerical shortcut. It raised serious concerns about who was actually making decisions in the White House—and whether the President was even aware of what he was authorizing.

As this was occurring, Salud Carbajal silently stood by the administration. He didn’t question the process. He didn’t demand transparency. He said nothing while reports from The Hill, The Heritage Foundation, and an ongoing House Oversight investigation indicated that unelected aides were quietly executing policy behind the scenes. The issue wasn’t just the use of a machine—it was the erosion of presidential accountability. And Carbajal chose to uphold the party line instead of speaking up for the public’s right to know.

That’s not leadership; it’s complicity in a government that increasingly operates without the consent or even the awareness of the people it’s meant to serve.

The American people deserve better. They deserve a government that works for them, not hiding behind machines and media statements. The autopen controversy is no conspiracy theory; it’s a documented failure of leadership and transparency.

Carbajal’s complicity in the Biden cover-up demands answers. In a July 23, 2024 interview with The Independent, Congressman Salud Carbajal claimed that President Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race was “absolutely” a political decision unrelated to cognitive decline. When pressed by Jerry Roberts about concerns regarding Biden’s capacity to serve as Commander in Chief, particularly in controlling nuclear launch codes, Carbajal dismissed it outright: “It’s ridiculous. I’m not going to dignify such ridiculous, bizarre statements. They are coming up with things that are obnoxious and out there. This is Republicans being Republicans.”

Now, we know better. Multiple books, congressional testimony, and the release of the Hur interview tapes—recorded in October 2023—confirm what Carbajal denied: the President was already struggling with severe memory issues a year before Election Day. In hindsight, “Republicans being Republicans” meant asking the hard questions, defending democracy, and demanding transparency while Carbajal parroted party spin and helped shield the truth from the American people.

Carbajal’s collusion in this mess is no surprise. He’s been a loyal foot soldier for the Democrat elite establishment, voting in lockstep with Nancy Pelosi, Hakeem Jeffries, and the Biden agenda 100% of the time, according to his voting record.

Let’s stop pretending these Democrat career politicians still believe in democracy. They haven’t had a real, open primary since 2008. In 2016, they rigged it for Hillary Clinton. In 2020, they cleared the field to stop Bernie Sanders. And in 2024, they crossed a line—hiding the President’s mental decline from the American people and then bypassing voters completely to install Kamala Harris in a closed-door process. That’s not democracy. That’s what authoritarian regimes do. When a ruling party conceals the truth, protects power, and substitutes the will of the people with party elites, it’s not just dishonest, it’s dangerous. The American people deserve transparency, not manipulation. They deserve genuine elections, not party-engineered coronations. If you’re a Democrat who still believes in honest leadership and democratic principles, then demand better. Hold your party accountable. It’s time to replace those who prioritize power over truth.

I’m running to restore sanity, lead by example, and build a future of opportunity for every family. I want my son to grow up knowing that authentic leadership is about integrity, responsibility, and doing what’s right—even when it’s hard. That’s the standard I lived by as a Navy Commander and will bring to Congress.

In Washington, I’ll tackle the waste and inefficiency draining our economy, starting with the bloated bureaucracies and pet projects that Congressman Carbajal supports. Every dollar of waste we eliminate is a dollar we can use better: lowering your tax burden or investing in real priorities like job creation, home ownership, and local infrastructure.

My plan focuses on unleashing economic growth by cutting red tape, supporting our agriculture and tourism industries, and ensuring our veterans—my brothers and sisters in arms—get the care they deserve.

But I can’t do this alone. I’m up against Carbajal’s war chest, funded by coastal elites and special interests who want to keep the status quo. That’s why I’m asking for your support. Volunteer with our campaign—knock on doors, make calls, spread the word. Please donate whatever you can, even $10 or $20, to help us compete with Carbajal’s DNC slush fund of millions. Every bit counts in this David-versus-Goliath fight.

In the Navy, I learned that courage, grit, and a clear mission can overcome any challenge. My last job in the Navy was to deliver a 40-year technological leap for our Ballistic Missile Defense System against all odds. I proactively dismantled the DoD bureaucracy to deliver on time, the most capable naval defense system on Earth that will protect your families for decades. I solve complex problems and get things done. The Central Coast deserves a congressman who fights for you, not for Washington insiders. If you’re fed up with a government that uses autopen signatures to feign leadership while our economy struggles, join me. Together, we’ll send a message to Carbajal: no more shadow government, no more reckless spending, no more inept leadership, no more coverups, no more excuses.

Volunteer or donate today. Let’s take back our district and build a future where every Central Coast family has a shot at the American Dream.

Commander (Retired) Bob Smith is a retired Navy veteran running as a Republican for California’s 24th Congressional District. During his 26 years of active service, he participated in several combat tours supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). He has held various leadership roles in Washington, D.C., focusing on major defense acquisition programs. In those positions, he oversaw multi-billion-dollar development and procurement efforts for the Navy’s most technologically advanced weapon systems, including delivering the Navy’s newest ballistic missile defense platform, which earned him the U.S. Navy’s Best Engineer of the Year award for 2023.