Congressional forum puts key issues in the spotlight

The race to succeed longtime Rep. Julia Brownley in Congress drew sharp lines Sept. 25, when Republican Sam Gallucci and Democratic Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin met for a debate at Moorpark's High Street Arts Center that put immigration, gun laws, transgender rights and the war with Iran squarely in the spotlight.

For Simi Valley residents, the contest next door matters well beyond the district's borders. The newly drawn 26th District includes Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Fillmore and Oak Park, plus parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties — communities that share schools, freeways, housing pressures and public safety concerns with Simi Valley. The winner will be a key voice in Washington on issues that hit the entire Conejo and Santa Clara river valleys, from gas prices to farmworker policy.

The forum, hosted by the Ventura County League of Women Voters and co-hosted by the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce, was covered by the Simi Valley Acorn.

Two Familiar Names, Two Very Different Pitch

Gallucci, 67, a pastor and former technology executive, cited his ministry career and his organization's work with roughly 3,000 undocumented farmworkers as evidence he understands the district's working families. He argued government has overreached and called for stronger enforcement of existing laws rather than new ones.

Irwin, 64, pointed to 22 years in elected office — a decade on the Thousand Oaks City Council and 12 years in the state Assembly representing the 42nd District — along with her background as an engineer and the daughter of immigrants. She defended government protections and called for greater accountability in Washington.

The seat is open because Brownley, a Democrat who has held the seat for more than a decade, decided to leave Congress.

Immigration and ICE Draw the Sharpest Divide

No issue separated the candidates more than the Trump administration's immigration enforcement.

Irwin called for a secure border paired with comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for longtime farmworkers and a congressional fix for Dreamers — immigrants brought to the country as children, including those protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. She was unsparing in her criticism of federal enforcement, saying, "I think ICE is a lawless agency," and accusing it of "racially profiling" and "terrorizing people in our communities."

Gallucci took a different approach, drawing on his direct work with agricultural workers. He argued that farmworkers who have been in the country for decades should be allowed to remain. "All the workers need to stay. All the criminals need to go," he said.

Guns, Iran and Transgender Rights

On firearms, Irwin said she would push for stronger red-flag laws — which allow courts to temporarily restrict firearm access for people deemed a danger to themselves or others — and expanded background checks. She highlighted her legislative work after the Borderline shooting, including a 2025 California law creating a pilot program allowing prosecutors in Ventura and three other counties to seek gun-violence restraining orders.

Gallucci said gun restrictions aren't a top priority among voters he speaks with in the district, noting California already has "some of the tightest gun laws in the country." He framed gun violence primarily as a mental health issue, while agreeing that keeping firearms from criminals and conducting background checks matter.

On the war with Iran, both candidates agreed Tehran must never obtain a nuclear weapon — but split on the administration's military campaign. Irwin questioned the campaign's objectives and said Congress deserves a greater role in war decisions, tying the conflict to rising costs. "This war in Iran is chaotic, it lacks a plan, it lacks an exit strategy and it's costing U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars," she said.

Gallucci was more direct: "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. We have to crush this regime." He said the administration seeks to resolve the threat without deploying U.S. ground troops.

Transgender policy produced another clear contrast. Gallucci said California policies on bathrooms, locker rooms and school sports have gone too far, arguing parents' concerns deserve greater weight and religious beliefs should be protected. Irwin defended protections for transgender people and said fairness and safety in athletics should be decided by sports governing bodies, doctors and coaches — not politicians. "We can address fairness and safety in competitive athletics without creating more cultural discord," she said.

The pair also clashed over the Supreme Court, with Gallucci opposing any expansion of the court and defending its role as a check on the other branches, while Irwin backed term limits for justices and said she was open to considering expansion while weighing the consequences. Housing affordability, voter identification and taxes on billionaires rounded out the topics.

What Comes Next for 805 Voters

In closing statements, Irwin called the 2026 election "one of the most important elections of our lifetime" and emphasized her decades of public service. Gallucci urged voters to weigh the results of long Democratic leadership in California — pointing to high gas and housing prices and problems in the education system — offering what he called "a fresh new set of eyes."

The Acorn reported the forum drew sustained engagement from the audience on the district's most contentious issues, a sign of the stakes in an open-seat race that both parties are watching closely.

For Simi Valley households, the practical effects are real regardless of district lines: the next member from the 26th will vote on the federal policies shaping local gas prices, housing costs, immigration enforcement in Ventura County's agricultural communities, and veterans' and public-safety funding across the region. Voters countywide can expect more forums and increased campaign activity heading toward Election Day in November 2026.