SWC alumnus runs for congress

Congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar does not subscribe to tribalism. His mission is to explore unity rather than exploit division. His life experience and multi-cultural upbringing undoubtedly influenced his passion for uniting people over party lines.

The Southwestern College alumnus is the son of two immigrants. As a Latino Arab-American he was both an example of his community’s melting pot and rejected by it.
“I never had that luxury (of tribalism)” he said. “I was never embraced fully by any one community.”

Campa-Najjar was raised by a single mother in East County for most of his childhood, but also lived with his father in Gaza, which exposed him to the trauma of warzones.

He said he developed a purpose from his pain.

“I think that at the age of 29 I’ve been able to pull from different strands of my life to bring people together,” Campa-Najjar said. “Notice all the things I told you that make me who I am – I didn’t choose any of those.”

Many have doubted his ability to flip the historically conservative 50th district, but he is steadfast. Incumbent Duncan Hunter and his father have held the 50th seat for almost 40 years.

San Diego has a large military population. Though veterans tend to vote conservatively, Campa-Najjar worked hard to form relationships with local veterans. Improving veteran reintegration resources such as mental health care, wrap-around services, vocational training and housing assistance is one of his top priorities.

Despite not being a veteran himself, Campa-Najjar found common ground with them.
“I didn’t choose to live in a warzone when I lived in Gaza,” he said, “but that gave me a bond with veterans that I can’t explain. War changes you.”

These qualities might be why some veterans prefer Campa-Najjar over his opponent, Hunter.
“I think that man who served our country never made it back from the battlefield,” said Campa-Najjar about Hunter. “He lost his way.”

Campa-Najjar said he questions whether Hunter should make laws when he can not follow them. Hunter and his wife were indicted by a federal grand jury in August for personal use of campaign funds. Since the indictment, Campa-Najjar’s campaign has picked up speed.

“I think there’s a difference between the way you treat something that you earn as opposed to something that’s given to you,’ Campa-Najjar said. “I think in Hunter we’ve seen a congressman who inherited a seat from his father and since day one has been selling his votes to the highest bidder.”

June’s polls reported Hunter had a large lead over Campa-Najjar. Five months later the two candidates are tied.

The indictment is not Hunter’s only controversy. Hunter was criticized for alleging Campa-Najjar is a security risk with ties to Islamic terrorism. Campa-Najjar is a Christian who attended EastLake Church.

EastLake Church Pastor Luke Crosby said he has known Campa-Najjar since about 2003 he said. Crosby said Campa-Najjar is “one of the most brilliant young men” he has worked with.

“He loves his fellow human beings,” he said. “I can say that for certain.”

Campa-Najjar’s ability to discuss policy and heated subjects was molded while he was a student at SWC. He said faculty influenced his interest in

political thinking and active civic engagement. His classmates also stoked his interest in nuanced discussion.

“I felt like I was able to sway opinion and influence other people’s thinking,” he said. “Not just because I was a good student, but, I think that I coupled my academic experience with my lived experience.”

“After each class, me and my group of friends would just sit and talk for an hour or two,” he said. “I’d be smoking cigars and talking about philosophy. I just really found myself the leader of those discussions.”

Those who have known Campa-Najjar are not surprised by his drive or success.

Katie Meyer, who is field director of the Ammar Campa for Congress Campaign said she has known Campa-Najjar since she was 16.

“Most of us knew he was going to run at some point,” said Meyer. “Because of his ability to tell his story, his passion, his work ethic, we knew that he was going to run.”

Campa-Najjar had an internship at the White House in 2013 when Barack Obama was President. He read thousands of letters during the internship which he said put him on “the fast track to internalize the voice of the American people all around the country, not just in the places I grew up.”

He said helping America is simpler than most realize.

“We have to invest in people,” he said. “I think in all these things, injustice economic and socially, it comes down to making sure people who have been very successful are not avoiding the obligation they have to the very country that made their success possible.”

Campa-Najjar is a supporter of DACA recipients, veterans, environment protection, and LGBTQIA persons. Campa-Najjar also aims to better the quality of life for indigenous persons who live on reservations and belong to the 14 tribes present in the 50th district.

The basis of Campa-Najjar’s campaign is to improve equity and opportunity for individuals and families, not corporations.

He said the “basic bargain (is) that if you take responsibility in America, you’re given opportunity.”