{"id":1928,"date":"2026-05-04T17:41:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T17:41:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/?p=1928"},"modified":"2026-05-04T17:47:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T17:47:35","slug":"tony-thurmond-outlines-bold-housing-healthcare-and-immigration-agenda-in-gubernatorial-briefing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/american-community-media\/tony-thurmond-outlines-bold-housing-healthcare-and-immigration-agenda-in-gubernatorial-briefing\/","title":{"rendered":"Tony Thurmond outlines bold housing, healthcare, and immigration agenda in gubernatorial briefing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In a wide-ranging conversation with ethnic media, candidate Tony Thurmond detailed plans to abolish ICE, implement single-payer healthcare, tax billionaires, and expand housing supply, framing affordability and equity as central pillars of his campaign for California governor.<\/strong><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A California native and current Superintendent of Public Instruction, Thurmond framed his campaign as a collective effort to \u201cbuild a better California,\u201d highlighting a proposal to construct two million housing units by 2030 while expanding access to quality jobs and public services. His policy priorities, he noted, are rooted in lived experience, including growing up in a low-income household after losing his mother at a young age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Immigration: abolishing ICE and creating pathways to citizenship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Immigration emerged as one of the most forceful components of Thurmond\u2019s platform. He reiterated his position as the first gubernatorial candidate in the race to call for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arguing that the agency has failed to fulfill its intended purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thurmond proposed working with Congress to dismantle ICE and replace it with a more humane and effective system. He also outlined state-level measures, including legislation to keep ICE out of schools and hospitals and a proposed tax on companies operating detention centers in California. According to Thurmond, these policies aim to curb what he described as the \u201cprofit-driven\u201d nature of current immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In parallel, he advocated for establishing a clear pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, emphasizing their economic contributions and role in key industries such as agriculture and construction. He also pledged to restore healthcare access for undocumented residents and protect their rights under state law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Healthcare and affordability: Single-payer system and economic relief<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On healthcare, Thurmond strongly endorsed a single-payer system, positioning it as a necessary shift to prioritize patients over profits. Drawing from personal experience, including the loss of his brother due to lack of insurance, he argued that universal coverage would reduce systemic inequities and improve outcomes across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also addressed the impact of federal policy changes, particularly cuts affecting Medi-Cal and Affordable Care Act coverage, committing to work with Congress to reverse these measures and expand access for vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Affordability, a central concern for Californians, was another key focus. Thurmond proposed implementing a tax on billionaires to fund tax credits for working- and middle-class residents, providing immediate financial relief amid rising living costs. He acknowledged that while the state cannot directly lower prices, it can create conditions to ease economic pressure through targeted policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His long-term affordability strategy includes increasing housing supply through a $10 billion bond initiative and leveraging surplus public land to accelerate development. Additionally, he proposed down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, rent control measures, and penalties for corporations that hold vacant properties for speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Education, workforce, and economic development<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the core topics, Thurmond emphasized education as a fundamental right, including for undocumented children. He pledged to protect access to free public education and expand opportunities through dual enrollment programs and workforce development initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also highlighted proposals such as the \u201cPay It Forward\u201d tuition model, which would allow students to defer college costs until after graduation, and a universal childcare program aimed at supporting working families while stimulating economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To strengthen California\u2019s economy, Thurmond underscored the importance of small businesses, proposing reduced bureaucratic barriers, financial support programs, and increased access to state contracts. He also expressed support for a national wealth tax to prevent capital flight and ensure sustainable funding for public services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Closing the session, Thurmond reaffirmed his commitment to remain in the gubernatorial race despite polling challenges, arguing that voter engagement\u2014not early polling\u2014will determine the outcome. He called on media outlets to amplify policy discussions, positioning his campaign as a platform focused on structural reform and long-term equity for California\u2019s diverse communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Know your candidate: Tony Thurmond<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tony Thurmond\u2019s trajectory into public leadership is rooted in a markedly different upbringing from many of California\u2019s political figures. The son of an immigrant mother from Panama, Thurmond experienced early hardship after losing his mother to cancer at age six. He and his brother were raised by a cousin in Philadelphia, navigating poverty, food insecurity, and reliance on public assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite these challenges, education became a turning point. Supported by mentors and teachers, Thurmond pursued higher education at Temple University, where he served as student body president while working multiple jobs to sustain himself. He later earned two master\u2019s degrees from Bryn Mawr College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His early professional path as a social worker shaped his long-term commitment to public service, particularly in supporting vulnerable youth. Thurmond developed programs focused on transitional housing for foster youth, school-based mental health, and youth civic engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These experiences informed his political career, which spans roles on the West Contra Costa School Board, Richmond City Council, and California State Assembly. In 2018, he was elected California State Superintendent of Public Instruction and re-elected in 2022, leading initiatives such as universal preschool expansion, statewide school meals, and increased mental health funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A longtime resident of Contra Costa County, Thurmond is supported by his wife Vanessa and their daughters, Maya and Jayden. His campaign reflects a consistent focus on expanding opportunity through education, economic access, and social support systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tony Thurmond presenta una ambiciosa agenda en vivienda, salud e inmigraci\u00f3n en sesi\u00f3n informativa<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>En una conversaci\u00f3n con medios comunitarios de audiencias multiculturales, el candidato Tony Thurmond detall\u00f3 propuestas para eliminar ICE, implementar un sistema de salud universal, aplicar impuestos a las grandes fortunas y ampliar la oferta de vivienda, colocando la accesibilidad y la equidad en el centro de su campa\u00f1a.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nacido en California y actual Superintendente de Instrucci\u00f3n P\u00fablica, Thurmond plante\u00f3 su candidatura como un esfuerzo colectivo para \u201cconstruir una mejor California\u201d. Entre sus principales propuestas, destac\u00f3 la meta de construir dos millones de viviendas hacia 2030, adem\u00e1s de ampliar el acceso a empleos dignos y servicios p\u00fablicos. Seg\u00fan explic\u00f3, su visi\u00f3n pol\u00edtica est\u00e1 profundamente influenciada por su propia historia de vida, marcada por la p\u00e9rdida temprana de su madre y una infancia en condiciones econ\u00f3micas dif\u00edciles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Inmigraci\u00f3n: eliminar ICE y abrir caminos hacia la ciudadan\u00eda<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La inmigraci\u00f3n fue uno de los puntos m\u00e1s s\u00f3lidos de su intervenci\u00f3n. Thurmond reiter\u00f3 su postura a favor de eliminar el Servicio de Inmigraci\u00f3n y Control de Aduanas (ICE), se\u00f1alando que la instituci\u00f3n no ha cumplido con su prop\u00f3sito y requiere ser reemplazada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">En ese sentido, plante\u00f3 trabajar junto al Congreso para dearticular la agencia y crear un sistema m\u00e1s justo y eficiente. A nivel estatal, mencion\u00f3 iniciativas como mantener a ICE fuera de escuelas y hospitales, adem\u00e1s de proponer impuestos a empresas que operan centros de detenci\u00f3n en California. Para el candidato, estas medidas buscan frenar un sistema que, seg\u00fan indic\u00f3, hoy funciona con fines de lucro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asimismo, defendi\u00f3 la necesidad de establecer una ruta para que migrantes sin papeles puedan convertirse en ciudadanos, destacando su aporte a la econom\u00eda y su presencia en sectores clave como agricultura y construcci\u00f3n. Tambi\u00e9n asegur\u00f3 que trabajar\u00e1 para restituir el acceso a servicios de salud para esta poblaci\u00f3n y garantizar su protecci\u00f3n bajo la legislaci\u00f3n estatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Salud y costo de vida: sistema universal y alivio econ\u00f3mico<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">En materia de salud, Thurmond respald\u00f3 un sistema de cobertura universal, argumentando que es clave darle mayor importancia al sentido humanitario por encima de los intereses econ\u00f3micos. Desde su experiencia personal, record\u00f3 la p\u00e9rdida de su hermano por no contar con seguro m\u00e9dico, se\u00f1alando que situaciones como esa no deber\u00edan repetirse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tambi\u00e9n se refiri\u00f3 a los recientes cambios en pol\u00edticas federales que afectan programas como Medi-Cal y el Affordable Care Act, comprometi\u00e9ndose a trabajar con el Congreso para revertir estos recortes y ampliar la cobertura, especialmente para comunidades vulnerables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El alto costo de vida fue otro de los ejes centrales. Thurmond propuso aplicar impuestos a los multimillonarios para financiar cr\u00e9ditos tributarios dirigidos a trabajadores y clase media, con el objetivo de aliviar gastos cotidianos como vivienda, alimentos y transporte. Si bien reconoci\u00f3 que el estado no puede controlar directamente los precios, s\u00ed puede generar condiciones para reducir tensiones financieras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A largo plazo, su propuesta incluye aumentar la oferta de vivienda mediante un bono de 10 mil millones de d\u00f3lares y el uso de terrenos p\u00fablicos para nuevos desarrollos. Tambi\u00e9n plante\u00f3 apoyo para compradores primerizos, control de alquileres y sanciones a empresas que mantienen propiedades vac\u00edas con fines especulativos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Educaci\u00f3n, empleo y desarrollo econ\u00f3mico<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">M\u00e1s all\u00e1 de los temas principales, Thurmond destac\u00f3 la educaci\u00f3n como un derecho b\u00e1sico para todos, incluyendo ni\u00f1os indocumentados. En ese sentido, asegur\u00f3 que trabajar\u00e1 para garantizar el acceso a la educaci\u00f3n p\u00fablica y ampliar oportunidades a trav\u00e9s de programas de formaci\u00f3n t\u00e9cnica y acad\u00e9mica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Entre sus propuestas, mencion\u00f3 el modelo \u201cPay It Forward\u201d, que permitir\u00eda a los estudiantes pagar sus estudios una vez egresados, as\u00ed como la implementaci\u00f3n de un sistema universal de cuidado infantil para apoyar a familias trabajadoras e impulsar la econom\u00eda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">En el plano econ\u00f3mico, puso \u00e9nfasis en el rol de las peque\u00f1as empresas, proponiendo reducir tr\u00e1mites, facilitar financiamiento y ampliar su acceso a contratos con el Estado. Adem\u00e1s, expres\u00f3 su apoyo a un impuesto nacional a la riqueza como medida para evitar la salida de capitales y sostener la inversi\u00f3n p\u00fablica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Al cierre del encuentro, Thurmond asegur\u00f3 que continuar\u00e1 en la carrera electoral pese a los resultados de las encuestas, afirmando que ser\u00e1n los votantes quienes definan el resultado final. Tambi\u00e9n hizo un llamado a los medios a seguir impulsando el debate sobre pol\u00edticas p\u00fablicas y a visibilizar propuestas enfocadas en generar cambios estructurales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Conoce a tu candidato: Tony Thurmond<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">La historia de Tony Thurmond est\u00e1 lejos de ser la de un pol\u00edtico tradicional. Hijo de una madre inmigrante paname\u00f1a, su vida cambi\u00f3 por completo cuando, cu\u00e1nto \u00e9l ten\u00eda apenas seis a\u00f1os, ella falleci\u00f3 de c\u00e1ncer. Desde entonces, \u00e9l y su hermano crecieron al cuidado de una prima en Filadelfia, enfrentando pobreza, inseguridad alimentaria y una infancia marcada por el esfuerzo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">En ese contexto, la educaci\u00f3n fue su punto de quiebre. Con el apoyo de docentes y mentores, logr\u00f3 abrirse camino hasta la universidad. Estudi\u00f3 en Temple University, donde fue presidente estudiantil, mientras trabajaba en distintos empleos para sostenerse. M\u00e1s adelante, obtuvo dos maestr\u00edas en Bryn Mawr College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Su carrera comenz\u00f3 en el trabajo social, donde se enfoc\u00f3 en apoyar a j\u00f3venes en situaciones vulnerables. Impuls\u00f3 programas de vivienda para j\u00f3venes que sal\u00edan del sistema de acogida, iniciativas de salud mental en escuelas y espacios de participaci\u00f3n c\u00edvica para estudiantes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Esa experiencia marc\u00f3 su paso por la pol\u00edtica, desempe\u00f1\u00e1ndose en la Junta Escolar de West Contra Costa, el Concejo Municipal de Richmond y la Asamblea Estatal de California. En 2018 fue elegido Superintendente de Instrucci\u00f3n P\u00fablica y reelegido en 2022, liderando iniciativas como la expansi\u00f3n del preescolar universal, programas de alimentaci\u00f3n escolar y financiamiento para salud mental durante la pandemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Residente del condado de Contra Costa, Thurmond cuenta con el respaldo de su esposa Vanessa y sus hijas, Maya y Jayden. Su candidatura refleja una apuesta constante por ampliar oportunidades a trav\u00e9s de la educaci\u00f3n, el acceso econ\u00f3mico y pol\u00edticas p\u00fablicas con enfoque social.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a wide-ranging conversation with ethnic media, candidate Tony Thurmond detailed plans to abolish ICE, implement single-payer healthcare, tax billionaires, and expand housing supply, framing affordability and equity as central pillars of his campaign for California governor. A California native and current Superintendent of Public Instruction, Thurmond framed his campaign as a collective effort to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[686],"tags":[3384,3387,3386,690,696,3385],"class_list":["post-1928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-community-media","tag-acm","tag-california-governor","tag-candidate","tag-healthcare","tag-ice","tag-tony-thurmond"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1928"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1928\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1931,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1928\/revisions\/1931"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lavoz.us.com\/homepage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}