WALNUT CREEK, CA — Patch reached out with identical questions to all candidates to represent California's 10th Congressional District. The 10th District spans much of Contra Costa County, including Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Danville, San Ramon, and parts of Antioch. It is currently represented by Mark DeSaulnier, who is running for re-election.
Here are the answers from Mitchell Maisler, a beer brewer from Walnut Creek. Responses have not been edited.
Can you briefly describe your background, including your professional experience, public service, and connection to the district?
My name is Mitchell Maisler and I’m running for Congress. My father was a Vietnam vet who then worked a union job as an engineer. My mother worked for a bank that was bought out by Wells Fargo and then worked for Wells Fargo, becoming a stay at home mom once my younger brother was born. I grew up in Walnut Creek, went to Walnut Acres, Foot Hill, Northgate and DVC. I was active in Boy Scouts and was a camp councilor at Wolfeboro from 2011-2018. Pre Covid I was working at a specialties cafe, but as soon as the shutdown happened the company went under. Since the end of the Covid shutdown I have worked as the brewer for Epidemic Ales in Concord.
What makes you the best candidate for this seat?
The reasons I would be the best candidate is because I won’t be bound by the norms that have held the Democratic Party back. I will push progressive legislation over the finish line and shine a light on democrats and republicans that are standing in the way.
What are the biggest challenges facing the 10th district, and how do you plan to address them?
The biggest challenge that faces the 10th district and honestly the whole county is affordability and three things that affect affordability the most are healthcare, housing and childcare.
We need affordable healthcare and we need to cut out the insurance companies who jack up our rates but still deny pre-authorized treatment.
We need more housing being built. My generation has been priced out of the area they grew up in and are forced to move out of state. We need to make it easier and with less red tape to start housing construction.
Childcare is the most prohibitive cost to having kids and childcare in the Bay Area is some of the most expensive in the country. When it’s required to have both parents working to afford to live here, how can you afford to spend an extra $35,000 a year on childcare on top of all the other bills?
Outside of politics, what do you enjoy doing?
I love watching movies with my wife and 3 cats. I enjoy building computers and playing video games like Battlefield and Satisfactory. I also love to hike and camp.
Please provide any links you’d like to share.
maislerforcongress.com Instagram: @maisler2026
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