Richard Pan's Record on Parental Rights Disqualifies Him for Congress
Source: Chris Bray. "The Weirdo King Of Anti-Parent Democrats Is Running For Congress." October 5, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that California politician Richard Pan is unfit for Congress because his policy record consistently prioritized medical privacy for minors (including secret abortions, STD treatment, and vaccines) over parental rights and knowledge. The author bolsters this political critique with personal attacks on Pan's demeanor, public speaking skills, and treatment of journalists, concluding that voters should choose his opponent Kevin Kiley instead.
Conclusion
Richard Pan is an appalling figure unfit for Congress, and voters should instead support Kevin Kiley.
Premises
- Pan authored California legislation banning personal belief exemptions for vaccines, removing parental choice
- Pan co-sponsored a 2022 bill that would have allowed minors to consent to COVID-19 vaccines without parental knowledge
- Pan defended existing laws allowing abortions and STD treatment for minors (including 12-year-olds) without parental notification
- Pan publicly celebrated excluding parents from sexually themed medical decisions for their children, including in cases of pregnancy, STDs, or rape
- Pan barred unfriendly journalists from a campaign event and refused to answer questions about this when confronted
- Pan is personally awkward, performs poorly in debates, and has a weak political track record (failed Sacramento mayoral bid)
- Kevin Kiley, by contrast, has stated support for 'bodily autonomy' and is an acceptable alternative for conservative voters
Assumptions
- Parental involvement in all medical decisions for minors is inherently correct and should not be overridden by medical privacy protections
- Supporting minors' confidential access to medical care for sensitive issues (STDs, pregnancy, abuse) is equivalent to being 'anti-parent' rather than child-protective
- A candidate's personal awkwardness, debate performance, or treatment of media is relevant to their fitness for office
- Policies protecting minor patients' privacy in cases of abuse/STDs necessarily undermine rather than support family welfare
- The reader shares the author's view that parental authority should be near-absolute in medical decisions for minors