Notable personal detailsKaren Leigh Matthews is an independent candidate for the U.S. House in California’s 23rd Congressional District in the June 2, 2026 primary. She is a physician and U.S. Navy veteran who served as a radiologist for more than 20 years. She earned an M.D. from Loma Linda University and later earned an MPH and MBA from Johns Hopkins University. She has worked in roles connected to military health and health information exchange and has also described starting a small business focused on helping veterans access benefits.