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Born in California, raised in Gaza — will San Diego send this millennial to Congress?

JL;DR SUMMARY Ammar Campa-Najjar, a candidate for Congress in a historically conservative Southern California district, brings a unique perspective shaped by his childhood experiences in Gaza and Southern California. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Israeli Palestinian ConflictTwo State SolutionCampaign StrategyCalifornia PoliticsEthnic IdentityCongressional RacesDarrell IssaAmmar Campa NajjarVoter Appeal

Places mentioned

California, United States
"Born in California, raised in Gaza will San Diego send this millennial to Congress?"
Gaza, Palestinian Territories
"Ammar Campa-Najjar was only 8 years old when he moved to Gaza with his mother and brother in 1997, on the eve of the second intifada."
San Diego, California, United States
"Ammar Campa-Najjar was only 8 years old when he moved to Gaza with his mother and brother in 1997, on the eve of the second intifada."
California, United States
"Campa-Najjar unequivocally condemned the massacre and the campaign attack was denounced by a group of local rabbis but still lost the election."
Poway, California, United States
"Campa-Najjars district includes the city of Poway, where last Passover a man armed with an assault rifle opened fire inside an Orthodox synagogue, killing one and injuring three."
La Mesa, California, United States
"After all, the American-born son of Mexican and Palestinian descent who was born in La Mesa and speaks Arabic, English and Spanish and is currently learning Hebrew for his Jewish girlfriend has always struggled to fit in."

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Cairo Item ID 77500
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Retrieved 2026-03-12 05:31:18 UTC
Curated 2026-03-12 08:31:30 UTC