Rocky Chavez in 2016 CA Senate race

On Homeland Security: Block Syrian refugees until we upgrade our intel and vetting

Another Republican Senate candidate, former state party chief Tom Del Beccaro, was more comfortable with blocking refugees. "The wise thing would be to upgrade our ability and our intel and if we are satisfied, if we are able to vet people, we could look to resuming it," he said. "We shouldn't move too quickly. Just like our mothers taught us, safety first." But he too expressed hope that the discussion of refugees could lead to a refreshed conversation about immigration.

On Immigration: We are home for the tired and oppressed, even Syrians

Republican Rocky Chavez sounded remarkably like her. "One, security is important, but two, we need to understand we are a country that has always been a home for those who are hungry and tired and oppressed," said Chavez. He recalled the internment in the 1940s of Japanese Americans who posed no threat, and of America's earlier reluctance to accept Jews escaping Nazi Germany. "That didn't set well in history," he said, adding that "a measured approach is often the best approach. We should not take counsel from our fears and we should not take positions that go against our values."

On Civil Rights: Moderate who supports gay marriage

On Education: Supports charter schools, and founded one in Oceanside

On Homeland Security: Focus on national security: prepared to deal with ISIS