In her new book I Never Thought of It That Way, journalist Monica Guzman urges readers to bridge the political divides that threaten to fragment communities by listening to each other with empathy and without judgment.
With the upcoming election, this message has particular relevance for local voters weighing the positions of Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat, and Chris Coulombe, his Republican challenger, on critical issues like immigration.
In a recent interview as part of KZYX's election coverage, Huffman spoke candidly about the situation at the southern border, acknowledging that it’s “hard to defend the kind of chaos and humanitarian crisis” there. He emphasized that while drug issues, such as fentanyl trafficking, need attention, focusing resources on ports of entry rather than on desperate migrants is key to addressing the problem.
Huffman also advocated for stronger U.S. engagement with neighboring countries in Central America and beyond to help alleviate the conditions driving people to flee their homelands.
For his part, Coulombe proposed sealing the border and establishing immigration intake centers at U.S. embassies across Central and South America. This, he argued, would help avoid the humanitarian crises that have plagued border crossings and reduce the influence of cartels profiting from the immigration process.
He pointed to whistleblower accounts from border agents who have reported lapses in enforcement, asserting the need for more structured immigration controls.
While differing in approach, both candidates stressed the importance of effective border solutions, highlighting a rare alignment across party lines.
Guzman’s book notes the existence of hidden alignment across the political spectrum, finding that many Republicans and Democrats share beliefs on controlled immigration but underestimate the similarities they share with the opposing party.
For voters interested in hearing the candidates’ full perspectives, interviews with Huffman and Coulombe are available here on the KZYX website and in our KZYX news podcast.