Joaquín Beltrán is running for U.S. Congress on a healthcare equity platform

Joaquín Beltrán is a former software engineer turned community organizer running for California's 42nd Congressional District. He is a Democratic candidate with a track record of advocating for community health and was among the first in his congressional race to take a public stance in favor of a ceasefire resolution. Beltrán hopes to replace incumbent Robert Garcia, as well as beat out other progressive competitors, by providing voters with a candidate that emphasizes the importance of healthcare, economic growth and community well-being.

Beltrán grew up in a large working-class family in East Los Angeles. His parents and grandparents, along with his siblings, lived under one roof. Both of his parents immigrated from Mexico; his mother was a seamstress at a sweatshop, and his father worked as a machine operator. When he was ten years old, the family moved to Downey to pursue what Beltrán called the “American Dream.” 

His family would frequently visit the Fashion District to purchase materials for his mother's business, which gave Beltrán his first real experience with door-knocking. “The whole family would go after work or after school, sometimes on the weekends, selling the clothes she made door to door,” he tells CALÓ News, “it taught me the importance of hard work and perseverance.”

As a teenager, Beltrán's family business was uprooted through eminent domain. This experience fueled his passion for community advocacy and politics.“ I remember one of my first moments of advocacy was when I was 17” he said, “when I stepped up at the Downey City Council to urge the council members to approve my mother’s plans for her new business.”

Since then, Beltrán has channeled his passion for community advocacy into politics, tackling issues such as healthcare, Medicare for all, affordable housing, climate change and public education on his platform. He has worked as a Regional Director for President Joe Biden in North Carolina and as a Deputy Field Organizer on Barack Obama's presidential campaign before that.

In 2021, Beltrán founded the ACE (Action, Care, Equity) coalition. This coalition was established with the goal of promoting community safety and bringing masking requirements back to healthcare settings in Los Angeles County. By working collaboratively with healthcare professionals, community leader, and policymakers, the ACE coalition developed innovative solutions that improve access to healthcare, enhance patient outcomes, and promote health equity. Beltrán penned a national plan that was a crucial part of the ACE coalition's efforts to improve COVID-19 protocols. The plan contained proposed suggestions for COVID-19 protocols, including resources for masking and the latest research on testing. Beltrán's plan was designed to ensure that the healthcare sector was well-equipped to handle the pandemic and prevent the spread of the virus. Beltrán was driven by an unwavering conviction that healthcare is a matter of life or death, and this conviction was the foundation of the ACE coalition's efforts. 

Beltrán also seeks to help bridge the gap between public health and Palestinian issues. He believes that both are about saving lives. Beltrán says he is committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are utilized locally and that healthcare remains at the forefront of our policies and politics. He is acutely aware of the ongoing pandemic and how it continues to impact people's lives. Beltrán stated that the pandemic has continued to impact thousands of people, many of whom are becoming disabled due to lack of treatment for long COVID. He is committed to addressing these challenges and working towards creating a better future for all.

Beltrán recently had an encounter while canvassing with a lady who said she had already voted for Beltrán. When he asked her why she voted for him, she said because residents were in need of change: “These people have been here too long…we need better representation in our community.”

Beltrán said he is committed to enhancing the quality of life for its residents by prioritizing their health, safety and economic well-being. He said he hopes that by selecting the right people to work alongside him, Beltrán will be able to make an impact at the ballot box and deliver tangible results for the constituents of the 42nd District. “I realize the government isn’t coming to save us,” he said, “that's why I'm running – so that we can have someone in office ready to take action.”