California Republican Says He'll Bring Direct Democracy to Congress

California Republican Says He'll Bring Direct Democracy to Congress
Published: 22 May, 2018
1 min read

In the latest episode of "Deconstructed," I talk with Republican California congressional candidate Michael Allman. Michael, running in California's 52nd Congressional District, is the first candidate to run for a national office on a platform of direct democracy.

Michael and I deconstruct what exactly direct democracy would mean for the constituents of CA-52, and how his representation is designed to actively engage voters in his district. They also discuss the broader implications the direct democracy approach could have for the country at large, and the power Michael could leverage in the House.

Support IVN’s independent podcasts and video series by donating to our co-publisher: www.independentvoterproject.org/.

Michael Allman's campaign website says he "is a long-time San Diego County resident, is an experienced businessman with a distinguished career spanning technology, energy, and international businesses."

Michael's business experience includes being chairman, president, and CEO of the Southern California Gas Company -- the largest natural gas distribution company in the US. He was also the president and CEO of Sempra Generation, where his website says he built the largest renewable energy business in the country.

More recently, Michael was president, COO, and CFO of Bit Stew, a software company that operated in the "Industrial Internet of Things." The company was bought by General Electric in 2016.

You Might Also Like

New IVP 2026 California Governor Poll: What the Toplines Don’t Tell You
New IVP 2026 California Governor Poll: What the Toplines Don’t Tell You
Using verified California voter file data, IVP surveyed high-propensity voters from February 13 through 20. The poll tested first-choice ballot preferences alongside issue intensity on affordability and the cost of living, immigration enforcement, more choice reform, and more....
23 Feb, 2026
-
10 min read
81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics – Can a Constitutional Amendment Fix It?
81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics – Can a Constitutional Amendment Fix It?
Polls consistently show that nearly all Americans across the political spectrum agree that there is too much money in politics – whether from foreign sources, corporations, or so-called “dark money” groups. ...
23 Feb, 2026
-
13 min read
10 Reasons Why the Congressional Stock Trading Ban Will Never Pass
10 Reasons Why the Congressional Stock Trading Ban Will Never Pass
The overlap between committee assignments and stock ownership is not automatically illegal. Because the current legal framework permits this proximity as long as disclosure rules are followed, lawmakers are not operating under a system that forces change....
20 Feb, 2026
-
4 min read