CA-17 primary: first place
$17.2K
JUN 6, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleComputer industry professional
PartyLibertarian
Political ideologyLibertarian
Age72 years old (Jun 29, 1954)
LocationCalifornia
Show moreShow less
BackgroundComputer industry professional
EducationMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (degree)
Notable personal detailsJoseph W. Dehn III is a Libertarian Party activist and congressional candidate in California’s 17th Congressional District. He is chair of the Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County and has served on the Libertarian National Committee, including two terms as national secretary. Dehn earned an electrical engineering and computer science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and worked in the computer industry. He is also active in the square-dancing community as a caller/instructor.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports significant tax reductions and elimination of many taxes, opposes any tax increases or new taxes, and calls for lowering federal spending to enable tax cuts. Advocates flattening income-tax rates and rolling back tariffs and other taxes as part of a market-oriented, small-government approach.
Healthcare
Supports removing government involvement in health care, opposing single-payer/Medicare-for-All, and moving insurance and health services to a deregulated private-market model. Proposes decoupling employer-provided insurance via tax changes, repealing laws that restrict cross-state or international drug purchases, eliminating certificates of need, and preserving targeted government aid for vulnerable populations while keeping insurance private.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports greatly expanded legal immigration pathways and protection for long-term residents, including eliminating caps on H‑1B visas and allowing residents of five years without serious crimes to become citizens; favors privatizing refugee and asylum resettlement and dismantling government enforcement programs that target undocumented immigrants.
Climate & Energy
Joe Dehn criticizes aggressive climate regulations in California and emphasizes reducing government regulation and intervention, favoring market-driven approaches. His campaign materials express skepticism about state climate policy impacts on innovation and call for smaller federal government and fewer regulations that he views as burdensome to businesses.
Public Safety & Guns
Opposes local and municipal gun-control measures that add fees or insurance requirements and calls for ending the “war on guns,” arguing for reduced government restrictions on firearm ownership while supporting individual self-defense rights.
Endorsements
Endorsers of Joe Dehn for CA-17 primary: first place
Libertarian Party of California
Public endorsement
Libertarian Party of California endorsed Joe Dehn
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- News
- Polls
- Fundraising