Marianne Shamma

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Marianne Shamma completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Shamma's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-424394-2026-04-10\" id=\"heading-bio-424394-2026-04-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-424394-2026-04-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-424394-2026-04-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-424394-2026-04-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-424394-2026-04-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI am a Palestinian American, community advocate, nursing student, and lifelong resident of Los Angeles. Born in Santa Monica, California, I am the daughter of parents who immigrated to the United States in 1967 seeking safety, opportunity, and freedom from systemic oppression. Their values, service, integrity, and civic responsibility continue to guide my work. My professional journey has been shaped by resilience and accountability. I have worked at Costco for 14 years, where I developed strong skills in teamwork, reliability, and community engagement. I am currently completing my nursing education and will graduate in June 2026, followed by completion of my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Nursing represents my commitment to ethical care, public health, and advocacy for vulnerable populations. In addition to my professional and academic work, I am actively engaged in civic and human rights advocacy. I am particularly focused on government accountability, human rights protections, and the ethical responsibilities of democratic institutions—both domestically and internationally. I believe meaningful change requires transparency, informed public engagement, and community-centered solutions. I bring lived experience, professional discipline, and a deep commitment to justice-based service. My goal is to contribute to organizations and initiatives that prioritize equity, accountability, and the well-being of communities at every level.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-424394-2026-04-10\" id=\"heading-key-message-424394-2026-04-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-424394-2026-04-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-424394-2026-04-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-424394-2026-04-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-424394-2026-04-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>Marianne's candidacy was the result of months of frustration by CA-36 constituents feeling unrepresented, ignored and gaslit by their currently elected leaders. We know we can count on Marianne to be one more voice and vote within congress to push for the things that we want (healthcare for all, climate justice, affordable housing) and AGAINST things like genocide and ICE brutality. We feel these things shouldn't even be controversial, but here we are.</li><li>A common theme in Marianne's life is helping and standing up for others. This is just what she does. During this campaign and when she is elected to represent her constituents, you will not see her grandstanding and using the excuse \"but, Trump\". If you witness Marianne, you will find her at actions supporting human rights and fighting against brutality; or in clinicals for her nursing degree so she can save people's lives. She is the candidate of our time.</li><li>Incumbent Ted Lieu exercises his power in congress to benefit his big-money donors. To this day he has not spoken out against the genocide in Gaza and has funded every weapons transfer to Israel. He is a recipient of hundreds of thousands of dollars of AIPAC money. He's voted to fund ICE. He ran cover for big-money elites by allowing the Epstein Files to be sealed for decades.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-424394-2026-04-10\" id=\"heading1-424394-2026-04-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-424394-2026-04-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-424394-2026-04-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-424394-2026-04-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-424394-2026-04-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tConfirming the obvious, 500 Genocide Scholars published a report in Sep 2025 declaring that Israel was committing a genocide. It continues to this day. Ted Lieu and most other US Reps are complicit.<br/><br/>\n<p>Lieu, along with most US Reps, has voted for every weapons transfer to Israel since the genocide started. They are bought by AIPAC and the Military Industrial Complex. They avoid this topic with their constituents because they know they are unable to defend the indefensible.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nMarianne will represent the 80 percent of all Democratic voters who want the mass-murder to end. She will be a strong voice and another vote against all weapons transfers to Israel.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nMarianne Shamma completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Shamma's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I am a Palestinian American, community advocate, nursing student, and lifelong resident of Los Angeles. Born in Santa Monica, California, I am the daughter of parents who immigrated to the United States in 1967 seeking safety, opportunity, and freedom from systemic oppression. Their values, service, integrity, and civic responsibility continue to guide my work. My professional journey has been shaped by resilience and accountability. I have worked at Costco for 14 years, where I developed strong skills in teamwork, reliability, and community engagement. I am currently completing my nursing education and will graduate in June 2026, followed by completion of my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Nursing represents my commitment to ethical care, public health, and advocacy for vulnerable populations. In addition to my professional and academic work, I am actively engaged in civic and human rights advocacy. I am particularly focused on government accountability, human rights protections, and the ethical responsibilities of democratic institutions—both domestically and internationally. I believe meaningful change requires transparency, informed public engagement, and community-centered solutions. I bring lived experience, professional discipline, and a deep commitment to justice-based service. My goal is to contribute to organizations and initiatives that prioritize equity, accountability, and the well-being of communities at every level. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? Marianne's candidacy was the result of months of frustration by CA-36 constituents feeling unrepresented, ignored and gaslit by their currently elected leaders. We know we can count on Marianne to be one more voice and vote within congress to push for the things that we want (healthcare for all, climate justice, affordable housing) and AGAINST things like genocide and ICE brutality. We feel these things shouldn't even be controversial, but here we are. A common theme in Marianne's life is helping and standing up for others. This is just what she does. During this campaign and when she is elected to represent her constituents, you will not see her grandstanding and using the excuse \"but, Trump\". If you witness Marianne, you will find her at actions supporting human rights and fighting against brutality; or in clinicals for her nursing degree so she can save people's lives. She is the candidate of our time. Incumbent Ted Lieu exercises his power in congress to benefit his big-money donors. To this day he has not spoken out against the genocide in Gaza and has funded every weapons transfer to Israel. He is a recipient of hundreds of thousands of dollars of AIPAC money. He's voted to fund ICE. He ran cover for big-money elites by allowing the Epstein Files to be sealed for decades. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Confirming the obvious, 500 Genocide Scholars published a report in Sep 2025 declaring that Israel was committing a genocide. It continues to this day. Ted Lieu and most other US Reps are complicit. Lieu, along with most US Reps, has voted for every weapons transfer to Israel since the genocide started. They are bought by AIPAC and the Military Industrial Complex. They avoid this topic with their constituents because they know they are unable to defend the indefensible. Marianne will represent the 80 percent of all Democratic voters who want the mass-murder to end. She will be a strong voice and another vote against all weapons transfers to Israel.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}]