Suzanne Till became a Marine officer and conquered cancer. Now her mission is to beat entrenched incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa in the 48th Congressional District.
A teacher at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista, Till is among six Democrats looking to upset Republican Issa in the GOP-leaning East County.
That’s a record number of Issa challengers.
East County-born Till calls herself a “nonpartisan moderate Democrat” who doesn’t do party politics.
But she declares: “If I do not receive the … California Democratic Party endorsement, I will drop out of this 2026 congressional elections.”
Her record in nonpartisan races is 100%, though.
She prides herself on helping her late dad, Joe Till, get elected to the Riverview (now Lakeside) Water District board in 2000 — and following him onto another water board.
“In 2020, my students pestered me to do something about climate change, so I did,” she told Times of San Diego. “I decided to run for political office” — a seat on the Padre Dam Municipal Water District.
That year she was elected Division 2 director, beating the Republican incumbent by 17 percentage points.
“I was re-elected in 2024 against a well-funded Republican challenger,” she said of Robert Lloyd Sr., winning by 24 points.
“Padre Dam MWD serves approximately 125,000 people in the 48th District,” she said. “My dedication to fiscal responsibility is unwavering. I have NEVER voted for a water or sewer rate increase.”
In 2022, she was diagnosed with lung cancer.
“The medical doctor and staff at the UCSD Moore Cancer Center saved my life,” Till said. “I am on targeted therapy and am currently in remission.”
Lakeside resident Till is the second woman hoping to advance out of the June 2026 primary — after Whitney Shanahan of Fallbrook. Other Democrats in the race are Curtis Morrison, Albert James Mora, Brian Nash and Nicholas “Nick” Davis — with Till a July entrant.
David didn’t respond to a Q&A request.
But Till told a fascinating immigrant tale about her late mom, Femie.
“My mother’s life story is one of courage and compassion,” she said. “In her early teens, Femie survived one of the largest forced migrations in history — fleeing World War II’s Eastern Front, the brutal war between Nazi Germany and the former Soviet Union in East Prussia.”
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“As a wife and mother of five children in Lakeside (Suzanne being the eldest), Femie was active at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and worked tirelessly to feed and clothe the homeless.”
Till benefits from local name recognition — her Marine veteran father, Joe, taught math and coached football for 35 years at El Capitan High School.
A divorced mother of one son — SDSU music theater graduate Johnathon — she boasts a White Swiss Shepherd rescue named Yuki, “my campaign superstar.”
“When I campaign, going door to door, Yuki is there along with my son Johnathon, who manages our campaign voter database,” she said.
Till graduated from UCLA and, like her dad, was commissioned a Marine Corps officer.
She earned a master’s at SDSU in geography and urban planning and a Ph.D. in water resources geography at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Till is a published author in water resources geography and was the watershed coordinator for the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project.
This interview was conducted by email in mid-July:
TIMES OF SAN DIEGO: Did anyone encourage you to run?
SUZANNE TILL: I was attending the Roosevelt Dinner the annual dinner for San Diego County Democrats in May 2025. At the dinner, I quipped about running for Congress, and then soooo many Democrats let me know all that night how happy they were that I was thinking of running.
I asked my oncologist if I should run, and she said yes please run, we will keep you healthy. So here I am.
Why are you running for Congress? Main issues?
When I was first elected in 2020, at my swearing in, I dedicated my work as an elected official to the youth of East County. I know our youth are faced with the overwhelming challenge of adapting to and solving climate change.
Now in 2024, our young people can’t afford to live here in California due to rising housing, water and energy costs. Our adult children who love California are leaving the state.
Finally, we are in trouble concerning our water supply. Due to climate change, the Colorado River, which supplies 70% of water for the 48th District, is drying up. San Diego and Riverside Counties have the most expensive water supplies in the State. So my main platform is: Affordable housing, water and energy. What needs of CA48 most need addressing? How would you help to fulfill these needs?
As an elected official, I am currently addressing one key issue, reliable and affordable water supply. As director and vice president of the Padre Dam Water Board, I am committed to the completion of the East County Advanced Water Purification Program (East County AWP).
Operational in 2026, the East County AWP will produce 30% of water supplies for East San Diego County. I helped secure $935 million in federal and state funds for the East County AWP. The AWP has created 2,500 good paying jobs in the 48th district.
Unlike the expensive water supplies such as imported water and water from the Carlsbad desalination plant, the East County AWP is locally produced, high quality water. With the East County AWP, Padre Dam MWD will stabilize water rates in East County.
Clean energy, solar and wind are currently the lowest cost energy sources in California. I don’t understand why the Republican Big Beautiful Bill is trying to replace affordable clean energy with expensive, polluting fossil fuels that accelerate climate change.
I will work to bring back the clean energy economy and jobs to the 48th. We should reinstate the electric car subsidy. Tax incentives and subsidies for rooftop solar are a must not only for homes, but also schools, parking lots and even Padre Dam MWD. If our energy bills go up, so do water rates.
I am a nonpartisan moderate Democrat, I do not do party politics and serve the voters first. The Padre Dam MWD Board of Directors is bipartisan and an example of great governance.
We need more elected officials like me who can and desire to work in a bipartisan environment in Washington, DC. I want to continue the flow of federal funds and jobs for infrastructure in the 48th.
We need legislative reform for the California housing market — a housing market that serves multinational investment corporations — not affordable housing for California’s working families.
As a veteran, I am currently disturbed by how the military is being used as a political tool domestically within the U.S. borders. I would love to be part of a movement to dismantle partisan politics in Washington, DC.
How do you plan to displace an entrenched GOP incumbent in a district with 41% Republican registration, compared with 29% Democrats and 21% independents?
My current water district has the same voter profile, and I won 64% of the vote in 2024. I will use the same successful strategy I utilized in my campaign for director, Division 2, Padre Dam MWD. I will go door to door, do town halls and listen to voters.
It is my job to listen and earn the people’s vote no matter what party affiliation, including independent voters. This strategy seems to work.
How will you finance your campaign? Do you expect DCCC or local Democratic Party help? How much self-financing will you do?
I am a high school teacher, not a multimillionaire like Congressman Issa. At the California Democratic Party convention in June 2025, my candidacy was well received. Yes, it is our target to receive assistance from DCCC. In the Democratic Party, there is a movement to get more veterans in Congress, I believe I am just that veteran to succeed and serve the 48th.
How are you better prepared to challenge Mr. Issa than your Democratic rivals?
Unlike Darrell Issa, I was born in the 48th, grew up in the 48th, raised my family in the 48th and I am an elected official in the 48th. I have run successful in two political campaigns in the 48th. I am a USMC veteran. My experience as an elected official in successful bipartisan governance stands out.
Tell about your main campaign staff (paid or unpaid) — manager, fundraiser, social media person, media coordinator?
We declared candidacy on July 1 — we are still growing. The campaign team is small and extremely efficient. Volunteers from all over the USA are helping. Locally, I have a group of high school and college students working on this campaign.
How will you appeal to decline-to-state voters? Will a major independent vote be needed to overcome the GOP advantage?
Many voters, especially independents, are tired of party politics. My current elected position is nonpartisan. I am very pragmatic and seek science/data driven, commonsense solutions. I have support from independent voters. Will you seek support from disaffected Republicans?
My current elected position is nonpartisan. I have challenged Republican and Democratic elected officials who continue to raise water rates on imported and desalinated water sold to us by the San Diego County Water Authority.
There are other local, low-cost and sustainable water supplies for the 48th District, such as the East County AWP. I have support of Republican voters and elected officials.
If elected, what would be your major priorities in Congress?
A few more priorities:
As the proud daughter of an immigrant, I know firsthand USA is a country of hard working immigrants. Immigrants and immigrant families must not be portrayed as or treated as criminals.
We need smart ways to keep our border secure, allow for a prosperous cross-border economy, reform a broken immigration system, and stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities.
I am alive and very active as an educator and serving the local community due to lung cancer research and cutting edge treatments at UCSD. I am committed to federal support for cancer research and cutting edge treatments throughout the United States.
Fun fact: The 48th District is home to almost all of San Diego and Riverside Counties’ drinking water reservoirs. Many of these reservoirs cannot even be filled to full capacity, due to a history of deferred maintenance. I will bring in federal resources to fix and upgrade our aging water storage and transportation infrastructure.
Laying off teachers, counselors and librarians (as done by the Grossmont Union High School District in May 2025) does not support our children’s future. I am a teacher — I know what works for our students. I support smaller class sizes, more STEM (science, technology engineering and mathematics) education, more arts education, and increasing teacher pay.
Finally, when I went to school at El Capitan High School, many teachers, including my dad, had master’s degrees. We had so many career technical education (CTE) classes. We need those teachers with advanced degrees back in the classroom, along with more CTE, such as auto mechanics and agriculture.
If Dems take control in early 2027, Would you support the impeachment of Donald Trump?
Washington politics is chaotic and changes hour to hour. Consequently, I prefer not to commit to anything in the future.
If elected, would you support term limits for House members?
Yes.
If elected, would you pledge to hold regular in-person town halls in the district?
I currently do voter outreach as a director for Padre Dam MWD, so yes.
Anything else readers should know about your candidacy?
I am very healthy, an athlete, and have never smoked in my life. This lung cancer diagnosis came as a total surprise for my family and friends. In the USA, more women are diagnosed with breast cancer, but more women die of lung cancer every year. Prayers do work — my students and co-workers pray every day for my cancer recovery journey and continued remission.
I just adored Pope Francis, and I am very excited about our American Pope Leo, who will bring much needed love, kindness and compassion for all humanity, biodiversity and the Earth.
This year was amazing. My cancer is in remission. I got re-elected in a very tough race AND I served as a volunteer coach with the Santana High School girls basketball team. The team was so cohesive and hard-working and then, unexpectedly, we won the 2025 San Diego County CIF championship!
I wish they would have auditioned Yuki for the part of Super Dog in Superman. She is my Super Dog!
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