EDITORIAL: Raymond Liu, state senatorial candidate, answers Bay Area News Group's primary questionnaire

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Ahead of the June primary election, the Bay Area News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates for California State Senate District 10. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and clarity.

You can read our endorsement in this race here.

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Name: Raymond LiuCurrent job title: Fremont city councilmanDate of birth: October 16, 1997

Political party affiliation: DemocratOther political positions held: Fremont City Council, D6City where you reside: Fremont

What are the top three problems you're seeking to solve if elected SD 10 senator?

1. The top issue I am focused on is California's housing crisis. We need to increase housing supply, streamline approvals and ensure more affordable housing is actually built.

2. Second is the broader cost of living. We need practical solutions that lower costs and improve access, including exploring options like a public option for health care.

3. Third is protecting civil rights and ensuring California remains a leader in defending reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections and the rights of immigrant communities, especially in the face of a federal government that remains actively hostile to those communities.

Why are you uniquely qualified to address the three problems you've identified above?

On housing, I bring a perspective that no other candidate in this race has: I do not own a home. That means I am directly impacted by the housing crisis, just like many residents in this district. I am also the only candidate who does not stand to personally benefit if housing prices continue to rise. As a Fremont city councilman, I have helped deliver over 500 units of affordable housing that are already built and housing residents today. I've also worked to expand public services and maintain a balanced budget during this time of economic uncertainty.

What differentiates you from your most serious competitors for this seat?

A combination of independence, lived experience and a willingness to challenge the status quo. First, I bring a new generation of leadership, as I am the only person in this race who is part of Generation Z. Second, I am independent from many of the traditional political and special interest structures that often shape these races. Third, my housing perspective is fundamentally different. As the only candidate in this race who doesn't own a home, I approach the housing crisis without the inherent conflict of benefiting from rising property values. I've already helped build housing, improve services and govern responsibly.

What Senate committee would you most like to chair, if given the opportunity? And how would that position serve your constituents?

As most of my policies revolve around solving our housing crisis, it should be to no surprise that I'd wish to chair the Housing Committee. That would be the number one way in which I can push for more housing to be built, and ensure that my constituents can continue to afford to live in the Bay Area.

You're running to be a lawmaker. If you were going to be remembered for writing and passing one law, what would it be?

It would be a comprehensive housing reform bill that meaningfully increases housing supply while ensuring affordability for working families. My goal would be to create a framework that streamlines approvals for housing, especially near transit and job centers, while holding jurisdictions accountable for actually building new units. It would also include strong incentives for affordable housing production and protections to ensure that development benefits existing communities. I want to be remembered for helping to turn the tide, and moving from incremental progress to real, measurable increases in housing that make California more affordable and accessible for the next generation.

You're running to replace Sen. Aisha Wahab. What has Sen. Wahab done right while representing this district?

Sen. Aisha Wahab has been a strong advocate on issues of economic justice and consumer protection. She has taken meaningful positions on holding corporations accountable and has worked to highlight the struggles that many working families face across our district. I also respect her willingness to take on difficult issues and speak to the affordability challenges that are impacting residents throughout the Bay Area. Representing a district as diverse and complex as SD 10 requires engagement across many communities, and she has helped elevate conversations around equity and access.

How has Sen. Wahab failed this district? And what would you do differently?

One area where I was disappointed was Sen. Wahab's "no" vote on SB 79, a bill aimed at increasing housing production near transit. At a time when our region is facing a severe housing shortage, we should be prioritizing smart, transit-oriented development that reduces costs, shortens commutes and supports sustainability goals. I would take a more proactive approach to housing. That means supporting policies that increase supply, streamline development and ensure that housing is actually built.

What solutions would you support to reduce housing costs in your district? If that's increasing supply, explain the policies you'd support.

I support a multi-pronged approach to increasing supply. First, we need to streamline the approval process and reduce unnecessary delays that prevent projects from moving forward. Second, I support increasing housing near transit and job centers through smart, transit-oriented development. Third, we need stronger accountability. Cities should meet their housing goals, and when they don't, there should be real consequences. From my experience on the Fremont City Council, where we've delivered over 500 affordable units that are already built, I've seen that policy alone is not enough. Execution of policy also matters.

Why should renters who live in your district vote for you? (If you think you've addressed this in prior answers, then note that.)

As mentioned, I am the only person in this race who does not own a home. I approach the housing crisis without the inherent conflict of interest about benefiting from rising property values. For many candidates, high housing prices can be an asset. For me, it is a barrier, one which drives my commitment to solving it.

Why should first-time homebuyers vote for you?

The same argument above also applies to this one. I am the only candidate in this race who plans to purchase his own home, and thus I know firsthand the struggles first-time homebuyers have. I am not someone who bought their house decades ago, and thus has no experience navigating the difficulties of buying a home today.

What actions would you take to tackle homelessness? Do cities and counties need more control over the problem or does the state need to demand more coordination and accountability? How are your policy prescriptions different than what's already been done?

I support a housing-first approach, but with stronger accountability. We need clear performance metrics and transparency. State funding should be tied to measurable results. At the same time, local governments need flexibility to respond to their specific conditions. The state should set standards and provide funding, but allow local governments to implement solutions. On encampments, I believe they should be cleared when there is a real alternative available. What I would do differently is focus heavily on accountability and outcomes. We need to move beyond just funding programs and ensure those programs are actually reducing homelessness in a measurable way.

Bay Area counties will lose billions in coming years as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These federal cuts, particularly to health care, are expected to hit Alameda and Santa Clara counties' residents hard. What actions, if any, would you support to protect these counties' budgets, in general, and health care services, in particular?

At the state level, we need to be prepared to backfill critical funding where possible, especially for essential services like Medi-Cal, public health programs and safety net services. We should also look at stabilizing funding streams for counties, ensuring they are not forced into sudden service cuts due to federal actions beyond their control. This could include reserve funds or targeted allocations to counties most impacted by federal reductions. In addition, we need to improve efficiency in how health care dollars are spent. Expanding access through approaches like a public option can help reduce overall costs while maintaining coverage.

Should California have a single-payer universal health care system? Explain.

No, a single-payer system is unrealistic and unfeasible on a state level. It could work on the federal level, but I have my doubts about it working on the state level. Instead, we should pursue having a public option - that would give a significant amount of Californians the health coverage they so desperately need. Other states such as Nevada and Oregon have already implemented something similar, so there's no need to wait.

Why should your district's commuters vote for you?

I have a strong track record of supporting alternatives to driving here in the city of Fremont. I've made sure that bike lanes in Fremont are built with separated bollards, in order to ensure the safety of bike riders.

Do you think BART has made enough of the difficult financial choices to right-size the agency? Do you support the proposed sales tax on the November ballot? If not, what should BART be doing to stabilize the transit system?

Yes and yes.

Please list Bay Area transit governance reform legislation that you would support?

I'd look into how to make BART sustainable. At its core, I believe the issue stems from the COVID-era slump, when people decided against taking BART. However, looking at ridership numbers, we are slowly starting to rebound again.

Explain your position on California's High-Speed Rail project.

I think it's been clear that it's a failure, and we should not throw good money after bad. At some point we'll need to acknowledge that it's a sunk cost fallacy and cut our losses. The idea was great, but it's been clear that this simply is not happening.

Joint Venture Silicon Valley estimates 400,000 Bay Area jobs are at risk of being replaced by AI. What role should the state play, if at all, in regulating AI to protect Bay Area workers and/or consumers?

I don't think AI will cause more disruption than the advent of the internet did. Yes, there'll be some jobs lost, but I am convinced that there will be more jobs created as the result of AI becoming widespread. Thirty years ago, no one would've envisioned multiple people becoming self-made millionaires by playing video games or streaming content - AI will provide similar opportunities. The role the state should play is making re-training available to those whose jobs might be impacted.

Would you support legislation to curb children's use of social media?

Yes, but in the forms of requiring social media companies to put in more parental controls. I am against any form of legislation that will require users to upload their ID in order to use common websites such as YouTube or Instagram.

What actions would you support to help California balance its chronic deficit? If that's by raising revenues, explain how. If that's by cutting spending, explain how.

First, we need to take a hard look at spending. That does not mean cutting essential services, but it does mean improving accountability and efficiency. Second, we need to stabilize our revenue system. California's budget is highly dependent on volatile income tax revenue, particularly from high earners. Instead of a broad wealth tax that may drive people out of the state, I support more targeted and sustainable approaches. Finally, we need to prioritize long-term fiscal planning. During strong economic years, we should be building reserves to prepare for downturns, not overcommitting to ongoing spending.

In what ways, if at all, would you support modifying Proposition 13?

We should look into possible reforms, but with Prop. 13 lasting for so many decades, any changes should be done with precision.

What are the biggest challenges facing your district's public schools? What actions would you take to improve them?

As mentioned before, the biggest problem is declining enrollment. This is another example of where the lack of housing is now having second-order effects. Families simply cannot afford to raise their children in a place where the average house costs $1.5 million.

What do the biggest contributors to your campaign expect from you?

As I am running a grassroots campaign, my biggest contributors will be the average person living in the Bay Area. They'll expect me to lead with integrity and make the best decisions for the average resident, and not for special interest groups.

What more should we know about you that might inform our board's judgment of your capacity to serve this district's constituents?

Feel free to visit my website: electraymondliu.com.

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