Dawit Kallel responses:

1. People with disabilities represent more than 20 percent of the California population. If elected, what would you do to make sure that disabled people have a voice in your administration? Would you appoint a senior advisor on disability issues to help you set goals, track progress, and integrate disability issues throughout your administration?

California has a diverse population including those with numerous and diverse disabilities. As you know there are many different appointments for roles that focus on strengthening disability representation in areas like employment, developmental services, and community living. I would do the same for my fellow Californians.

2. Please describe how you have worked with disabled people and disability-led organizations in the leadership roles you have held to date.

While in my time in active duty service of the US Navy, I had interactions with many disabled veterans and was in a position to guide them to the right disability institutions that were right for their needs.

3. HR 1 cuts $30 billion a year from Medi-Cal, which represents a significant threat to the disabled children and adults and older Californians who rely on Medi-Cal to live in the community. What would you do to mitigate the impact of these cuts on disabled Californians? Can you promise to protect home and community based (HCBS) services from cuts? How can California better include peers, who can support outreach to communities who may be fearful of participating in safety-net programs, as the first point of contact to build on inherent trust and connection with people in need?

I want to help those Californians who are qualified and in need of help while mitigating waste, fraud and abuse in the system.

4. Our state has made immense progress in providing Medi-Cal to people regardless of immigration status, but the 2025 budget bill reversed most of this progress. How would you advance immigrant justice and disability rights through the Medi-Cal program? How would you raise needed revenue to ensure that cuts to federal funding are not borne primarily by people with disabilities and immigrants in the state?

Medi-Cal should be for qualified California residents. Unfortunately, the budget is straining under the pressure of the influx of undocumented immigrants being added to the system. It is not sustainable. The state should not be responsible for taking care of undocumented immigrants. There are NGOs who can better assist with that and we should have access to more cash clinics for those in need of treatment who are not qualified for Medi-Cal.

5. Governor Newsom developed master plans for aging and for developmental services. What ideas do you have for leveraging these plans or updating them to reflect current priorities?

Once in office, I will look into the programs that are currently in place and give priorities to high-ROI initiatives.

6. What strategies would you use to improve outcomes for people who are currently unhoused and unsheltered, including the over 40% who qualify as people with disabilities?

The approach is simple. Utilize California’s state owned buildings and lands to combat homelessness including those for disabled personnel.

7. How would you work to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in the State government and in the delivery of services funded by the government?

California already has inclusion programs that facilitate equity and funding services for diversity. The plan is already in place serving the goals for the community.

8. The representation of state workers with disabilities decreased significantly during Governor Newsom’s two terms. What ideas do you have to improve recruiting, retention, and career development for state workers with disabilities?

There are already laws in place to protect those through ADA for those with disabilities in the work force and different training that can be reiterated throughout their career with companies that can help improve retention outcomes.

9. In November, we marked the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). What ideas do you have for protecting adequate funds for special education and improving outcomes for students with disabilities in California? Do you have specific ideas for improving outcomes and equal access for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing? Or students with disabilities caught in the school-prison nexus and involved in the juvenile legal system?

As a father, I have seen first hand how this IDEA act has helped individuals. I do feel these programs are a key part of helping families and individuals succeed in their schooling. I would  make it an integral part of my administration to look at these programs and audit all resources to see where there can be improvements to these budgets to ensure those who need this resource are not left out.

10. Wildfires, earthquakes, flooding and other disasters have disproportionate impacts on people with disabilities and older adults. What ideas do you have for improving emergency preparedness and response for these populations?

DDAR, ILCs, OAFN, DDS and FEMA are great examples of systems put in place by the state. The infrastructure put in place has been working for our state. The improvements I would look into would be fiscal and how to make sure that these resources are budgeted properly.

11. Transportation continues to be a major barrier to employment, access to healthcare and school, and community engagement for many Californians. What ideas do you have to improve transportation access, particularly in rural parts of the state?

On my website, I go into detail on how I will improve infrastructure and make transportation more accessible for all individuals. This state needs a major overhaul of its transportation systems and I intend to make that a top priority to give access for transportation for all.

12. California is home to the leading companies that develop new technologies for the world. How would you work with technology companies to improve technology accessibility and affordability for people with disabilities in California and beyond? Do you have a plan to address the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and ensure equitable measures to include diverse populations, including Californians with disabilities?

While California is home to top companies in this field, we are quickly losing them to neighboring states due to the lack of incentives such as tax breaks to stay in the state. We first need to encourage these companies to stay and work with the state to incentive programs that could potentially advance systems for those with disabilities to be able to work alongside AI creative processes and ideas.

13. Despite decades of state and federal legal requirements, both public and private sector entities continue to provide web content that is inaccessible to persons with disabilities, especially persons who are blind or have low vision. What commitments would you make to more stringent laws and increased enforcement of state law to ensure websites that are fully accessible to people with disabilities?

There are already several websites and apps that provide comprehensive help. Such as Seeing AI, Google Lookout, Be My eyes, Envision AI, Live read Ect.  that are well implemented programs for people with vision disabilities.

14. California’s mental health system is struggling to keep up with major policy and funding changes implemented in the past five years—including CARE Court, SB 43, and Proposition 1—while one in seven adults live with a mental illness and many Californians struggle to find providers who accept their insurance. What is your plan to improve mental health care in California? What role do you see for peer leaders with lived experience with mental illness and substance abuse to help shape your approach, and what is your plan to fund and support consumer-operated, peer-led services—such as wellness centers and peer support? How can California work with private insurers to be more responsive to the growing need for care?

Mental Illness is a growing issue every year. There is ongoing demand for facilities and resources for people who are in need of this care. Mental Illness will be a priority when I am in office. We first need to balance the budget to be able to fund these important programs that will not only help the individual, but their surrounding neighbors and communities.

15. Many disabled Californians have been traumatized by the racial profiling and aggressive tactics being used by ICE employees in our State. How will you protect Californians from illegal harassment by the federal government and their contractors?

If it is an illegal act, then it will be met with the full hand of the law. Californians should not have to worry about illegal harassment.

16. What ideas do you have to improve our state’s understanding and support for people with Long COVID?

The Federal Government as of 2026 is expanding its effort for education and resources for long covid. I would support the federal government and its efforts here in the state.

17. Access to healthcare is vitally important to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community who often face barriers to care. What ideas do you have to increase equal access to healthcare for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing?

Ideas that can be implemented in a healthcare field is to make Sure healthcare providers have the already accessible apps that have sign language translators installed for better communication purposes.

18. In 2024, California’s poverty rate tied (with Louisiana) for the highest in the United States. What ideas do you have for helping Californians get the resources they need to meet their basic needs, and be able to afford to live here?

First, we need to balance the budget to be able to prioritize the needs of our citizens through resources provided.

19. California incarcerates a higher percentage of its people than almost any democratic country, and Black Californians are nine times more likely to be imprisoned than white Californians. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, at least 40 percent of people in state prisons have a disability. As Governor, what would be your approach to public safety and racial equity as it relates to the criminal justice system?

We should be treating everyone the same no matter their racial background. There are mental health and disability programs for those incarcerated. We have counseling and accommodations for inmates. We need to support those providers to be able to have greater outcomes for those with disabilities for chances for rehabilitation and integration back into society.

20. In 2020, Governor Newsom signed SB 823 to close California’s youth prison system, which transferred the responsibility to care for young people charged with the most serious offenses from the state to the counties. Many young people who are currently detained in county-run juvenile detention facilities are disabled and reenter their communities with unaddressed and/or additional disabilities. There are also some juvenile detention facilities that the Board of State and Community Corrections have deemed unsuitable for housing young people, and yet they remain open. What ideas do you have to support young people with disabilities before and while they encounter the juvenile legal system?

Based on the individual's need, the county is the right move. However, there needs to be more accountability and access to programs and better living conditions for those receiving treatment and rehabilitation. An audit system would need to be put in place for accountability and guidance.

21. With federal civil rights enforcement severely weakened, state agencies are now carrying more of the burden. What specific steps will you take to strengthen California’s civil rights enforcement agencies—through funding, staffing, authority, and coordination—so that rights violations are investigated and remedied promptly and effectively across the state, including violations that implicate AI developers and deployers?

While California has a CRD in place, I would need to see a full workup of the system before addressing the needs outlined in this question. However, Civil rights enforcement is something that should be easily accessible and resolved in a timely manner. That said, once in office, this would need to be addressed by further study of the program.