Big and Bold: The High Stakes Politics of Kaniela Ing

Candidate Kaniela Ing talks about his progressive campaign to represent Hawaii in the United States Congress.

Down to earth in his manner and direct in his approach to politics, Kaniela Ing’s ambitious vision for the United States is rooted in what he hears from everyday people. His determination was apparent when he talked with us last week about his campaign goals: to get big money out of politics, create a single-payer Medicare for All system and even pass a Housing for All bill. He’s made it his priority to knock on doors and talk to people about what they need; he says we can all benefit from these social goods.

“There’s no such thing as red disease or blue disease,” Candidate Ing told us. “Everyone needs healthcare. And everyone will pay less if we pass Medicare for All.”

Ing’s integrity and dedication to his constituents stem from the fact that he gets where people are coming from. Circumstance forced him to support his family at age 14. He learned early on about the importance of community and how hard it is to survive, even when you have a job. He knows what it’s like to work hard and have others depend upon you. He was drawn into politics because of the hardships he faced. “Politics finds you,” he told us, “when it threatens your existence and your way of life.” Ing believes that anyone who grows up facing similar challenges, whether it’s poverty, racism, or sexism, will be drawn to politics out of necessity.

“Politics finds you, when it threatens your existence and your way of life.”

For Ing, it started with activism and protest — the need to be seen and heard. It grew into organized politics when he attended University of Hawaii and again when he was elected to serve the 11th House District in Hawaii in 2012.

From University of Hawaii to US Congress

Reflecting on his time at UH, Ing recalled how the student government did nothing to represent its student body. Members of the government, for example, were primarily wealthy and from out-of-state, whereas 70% of the students were in-state and many lacked the same resources. Leadership had no idea what its students needed, so Ing decided to run for president.

“We won despite the competition getting $4,000 from his dad,” Ing recalled, “by 40 votes.” With such a close margin, he had a lot of work to do with the existing senate. “They hated me at first,” he said, because they had run alongside his opponent. “But I won their trust.” Together they introduced the idea for LED lights on campus, transitioned the University email system to Gmail and implemented a socialist public transport policy giving all students access to the bus system. “Everyone loved it,” said Ing.

There are parallels between Ing’s initial campaign at UH and the political task progressive candidates are facing today. Such candidates are fighting against big money and corporate influence. They are campaigning for concrete and progressive policies which benefit everyday people. These candidates come from working backgrounds and therefore identify with our needs. Yet they are jeered at by existing politicians, both Republicans and Democrats, and are told that the vision is too big, too ambitious and that they cannot win.

Big and Bold

Ing’s recent campaign video has been making press. His frank declaration of what he believes in, alongside his open chastisement of the Democratic Party, has prompted a great deal of discussion and debate.

“It’s easy to blame Republicans, to blame Trump for our problems, but we have to look in the mirror.”

We asked Ing about his outspoken words and if his message will appeal to voters. “I’ve been very forthright about solutions we need,” he told us, “because the stakes are so high. It’s getting more dire every generation.”

Ing is running against six other candidates this primary, of which five are Democrats. He believes his opponents lack a “sense of urgency’’ in their politics, and, win or lose, he wants to shift political dialogue to the left. “We’ve got to come out strong and take action.”

“We’ve got to come out strong, and take action.”

Ing reflected on the 2016 election and Hillary Clinton’s attempt to address Donald Trump’s call to “make America great again,” claiming that “America is already great.” “When you are suffering,” said Ing, “and you have this millionaire politician telling you America is already great, you are going to feel slighted and ignored and unseen.” He believes that the victories of Trump and the Republican Party were the result of Democrats failing to go big and bold. Democrats didn’t reach out to all Americans, so America voted big and bold, and voted wrong.

“When you are suffering and you have this millionaire politician tell you America is already great, you are going to feel slighted and ignored and unseen.”

Speaking to the needs of the community

Ing is no stranger to big and bold policy and has proven that it is possible to get bilateral support for his initiatives. He talked of his first year as member of Hawaii’s House of Representatives and how, in 2013, he managed to get the most amount of funding for his district since statehood. “We didn’t even have a high school,” said Ing, “and it was the number one issue when I knocked on doors, for both Republicans and Democrats.” When he first took office, 40,000 students in his district had to commute to school. By sharing stories of these students and parents, he garnered enough public support to increase funding. “I’m proud of meeting people where they are, and speaking to the needs of the community,” said Ing.

“I am proud of meeting people where they are, and speaking to the needs of the community.”

A bigger, bolder, Housing for All policy

Ing hasn’t stopped taking action. Since May this year, he’s been writing and promoting a national Housing for All policy based on his work in state government.

“Housing is a pain point in Hawaii,” said Ing, referring to statistics in Hawaii such as the fact that the median price for a single family home is $795,000, and that Hawaii is short over 60,000 thousand homes. “70% of my classmates had to move to the mainland after college. Everyone is talking about housing and homelessness.”

This is what motivated Ing to create his Housing for All Bill, which includes a national Tenants Bill of Rights and policies which would protect renters from unjust evictions, promote diverse communities and ensure the majority of rental housing costs less than 30% of the median income in that area. “This is the first bill that will actually address the problem of affordable housing,” said Ing. Win or lose, he will be continuing to promote the bill, with a vision to help people all over the USA.

Solidarity and Support

Ing’s ideas are important. As a US Congressman, he will represent the voice of the people. He will not only vote for progressive bills, but generate policy himself which benefits everyday people. He will shift political dialogue to the left, encourage fellow Democrats to do the same, and his influence will impact all of us. It’s our job to show solidarity and to help candidates like Ing get elected. Ing himself acknowledges that he needs help:

“All politics are local. We have commonalities, but frankly if we are going to take on the establishment we need outside help from like-minded folks.”

“All politics are local. We have commonalities, but frankly if we are going to take on the establishment we need outside help from like-minded folks.”

Candidates like Kaniela Ing, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Abdul El-Sayed and, of course, Bernie Sanders, are mobilizing voters and activists all across the nation. This movement is changing the way we engage with politics but it will only be successful if we act now. We have to get big money out of politics. We have to support outspoken and honest candidates.

Let’s get out and vote.