L. John Mackenzie is military veteran, healthcare professional, and small business owner running for Congress to bring accountability, discipline, and common-sense leadership to Washington.

After 10 years of service in the Marine Corps and 15 years of service in the Airforce Reserve, John continued serving his community on the front lines of healthcare, working directly with individuals and families navigating complex medical and mental health challenges. He understands how federal policy affects real people — from access to care and public safety to small business stability.

John is committed to fiscal responsibility, constitutional rights, strong communities, and practical solutions that put citizens before politics. He believes leadership means service — and he is ready to serve again.

I am running for Congress because I’m tired of Americans paying more for less. Every year we pay more at the grocery store, for healthcare, to PG&E, and for housing and we get less. Every year we pay more in taxes and we get fewer police officers, decaying streets , children that can’t read, more homelessness, and less healthy communities. This has to stop NOW! Our government need to put Americans needs first again. I pledge to restore accountability and common sense to our government. I will put the needs of our community first. Together we will demand a government that improves our lives, not one that makes them worse every year.

Priorities

1. Affordability

My top priority will be making life more affordable for Californians. We need lower taxes, lower fees and fewer regulations to make sure workers keep more of their hard earned paychecks. We need to encourage energy production in California to reduce gas prices and power bills. We need to build more housing, so that home ownership doesn’t become out of reach for more Californians every year. I won’t be satisfied until I have reversed all of the massive cost increases we have seen over the last ten years.

2. Government Fraud and Waste

Too much money is wasted our government our outright stolen, especially as our needs are going unmet. Stealing our tax dollars is stealing from all of us. We need to prosecute all the criminals that are stealing billions of our tax dollars each year. I will demand a complete audit of government spending to root our fraud and waste across our government. I will pass legislation making it harder for criminals to steal from our government and increase criminal penalties for those who do.

3. Public Safety

Crime is out of control, especially in California. We need to get back to the basic principle that we should enforce the law whether it’s on homelessness, open air drug markets, shoplifting, auto theft or violent crime. People need to know that if they commit a crime they will be caught, prosecuted and convicted. A small number of criminals commit most of the crime, especially violent crime. I will make sure dangerous repeat offenders stay locked up. In Congress, I will ensure our brave law enforcement officers are fully supported in enforcing the law.

4. Mental Health

America is experiencing a mental health crisis. With 1 in ten Americans suffering from chronic mental illness, it is still far too difficult to access quality mental healthcare for many Americans. Our failure to properly invest in mental healthcare results in more homelessness, less economic productivity, and unnecessary suffering for many Americans and their families. We need to make sure quality mental healthcare is available to all Americans and support the families of those suffering from mental illness. Properly treating mental illness will save money for America by improving economic productivity and reducing costs such as homelessness and incarceration.

5. Improve Our Education System

Our schools are failing our children. Just 29% of California 4th graders are proficient in reading, despite school funding being higher than ever before. We need to fix our schools before a poor education leaves an entire generation unprepared to find a stable job. I support career and vocational education in schools to help prepare students for the jobs of the future.