Today we’d like to introduce you to Janessa Goldbeck.
Janessa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I believe we have a responsibility to take care of one another, and that has motivated me to spend my career building a safer and more equitable world for all. I was born and raised in San Diego County. My mom was a public school teacher and my dad drove a tow truck. I attended public schools, played sports, and wrote for my high school paper. I was fortunate to attend Northwestern University thanks to federal grants and loans. I then moved to Washington, DC, to become a professional human rights advocate. My job was to organize coalitions to build political will to pass legislation that protected civilians in conflict zones. In 2012, I was recognized by Diplomatic Courier magazine as one of the “Top 99 Foreign Policy Professionals Under 33.”
When Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was repealed, I knew it was time to do something I had always dreamed of but, as a gay woman, never thought was possible – join the military and serve our country. I earned a commission with the United States Marine Corps, trained as a Combat Engineer officer and deployed to Eastern Europe, leading troops alongside our NATO allies.
During my time in service, I also served as a Uniformed Victim Advocate, providing essential support and care to Marines who had experienced sexual assault. I earned the rank of Captain and was twice awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. When my mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease, I cut short my Marine Corps career and returned to my hometown of San Diego to care for her. I’ve seen firsthand how broken our health care system is – even for people who have insurance.
Once back in San Diego, in addition to taking care of my mom, I started a small business to help non-profit organizations advocate for bold, progressive change in Washington. Earlier this year, I was part of an effort that passed federal conservation legislation designating 1.3 million acres of land as protected wilderness and establishing six new national park units. From my experience working on Capitol Hill both before and after the Marine Corps, I know it’s possible to get things done in Washington – even amongst all the chaos and corruption.
That’s why when my Congresswoman, Representative Susan Davis, announced she would not seek another term, I knew it was time for me to serve my community and my country in a new capacity. San Diegans deserve a representative in Washington with the courage and conviction to stand up to special interests and fight for the things that matter – like affordable health care for everyone, tackling the climate crisis, preventing gun violence, and standing up for women’s rights and the LGBTQ+ community.
I’m running for Congress in California’s 53rd district to fight for bold, progressive solutions that make a difference in the lives of San Diegans, and to restore a sense of pride – rooted in our values – to Washington. I truly believe that with grit, imagination, and a willingness to do work together we can do big things. Let’s set the bar higher for what we can achieve and build an America that works for all of us.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
A few years ago, when my mom’s MS began to rapidly progress, I realized that as an only child it was my responsibility to come back to San Diego to take care of her. I turned down orders to be an instructor at a prestigious school in Quantico and asked the Marine Corps to get me back to San Diego. I am so grateful to the Corps for allowing me to return home to take care of her.
Over the last few years, I have navigated all the legal and financial complexities of becoming my mom’s primary caregiver, taking over her care management, and finding a housing solution that meets her needs. This isn’t something I was expecting to do in my early thirties – or felt prepared to do. It was, frankly, pretty overwhelming.
My mom has health insurance. She has a disability pension from working for more than two decades as a public school teacher. And she has some savings. Even with these things, her care costs thousands of dollars a month – out of pocket. Without my income, we would not be able to afford her care.
Coming face-to-face with the fact that that there is very little help available to someone in my mom’s position has driven home just how broken our health care system is. Health care in this country is too expensive and too complicated – and it’s certainly not designed to handle the impending senior crisis. In the next ten years, 1 in 4 Americans will be over the age of 65, and more than half will require some form of long-term care, like my mom. No American should have to worry about financial ruin from getting sick or caring for an aging loved one. That is unacceptable. And it’s why fighting for a policy solution to this crisis isn’t just politics to me – it’s personal.
Please tell us about your organization.
I’ve never been afraid to stand up and fight for what’s right. I dare to stand up to corruption in Washington, the conviction to fight for the issues that matter to San Diegans, and the experience to hit the ground running.
I’m the only candidate in this race with experience working to pass federal legislation on Capitol Hill. I’ve advocated successfully for the passage of multiple bi-partisan pieces of federal legislation and state legislation in 26 states. I’ll never compromise on my values, but I will work across the aisle to find solutions that make a real difference.
I’m an entrepreneur and I get things done. As a student, I helped found a grassroots movement to end the genocide in Darfur, Sudan and then moved to DC to turn that movement into a global human rights advocacy organization. In 2017, I started my own company right here in San Diego and was profitable within my first year of business.
Unlike some of my opponents in this race, I’m not a millionaire or a career politician. I’m just a hard-working person who knows that policy can truly shape the course of someone’s life. Federal grants and loans made my education possible. The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell made my military service possible. A VA loan made homeownership possible. And union benefits and a pension kept my mom and me from financial ruin when she got sick. I’ve seen what policy can do to lift people – and keep them down. It’s time for a new generation of leadership in Washington, and I’d be honored to lead that fight.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success means a positive forward motion. Not every endeavor will have the outcome that you want or expect. But I am a strong believer in “failing forward” – if you set the bar high enough, even if you fail to meet your goal, you will still achieve positive forward motion. True failure is the absence of trying.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.janessagoldbeck.com
- Phone: 619-431-3197
- Email: info@janessagoldbeck.com
- Instagram: @janessa4congress
- Facebook: \\janessagoldbeckca
- Twitter: @jgoldbeck
Image Credit:
Janessa Goldbeck for Congress
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
