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  • PRESS RELEASE
    Dr. Karen Matthews Earns Independent Veterans of America Endorsement
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    STATEMENT FROM INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS KAREN LEIGH MATTHEWS ON APPROVAL OF PROPOSITION 50

  • PRESS RELEASE

    KAREN LEIGH MATTHEWS LAUNCHES INDEPENDENT, GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

May
23
2026
PRESS RELEASE

Dr. Karen Matthews Earns Independent Veterans of America Endorsement

LOMA LINDA, CA - Dr. Karen Leigh Matthews’ Independent campaign for Congress in California’s 23rd District earned the endorsement of Independent Veterans of America, an organization dedicated to identifying and empowering politically independent American veterans to defend and strengthen our democracy. This builds on recent endorsements from the Forward Party and Independent Candidates Action ahead of the primary on June 2nd. 

“Karen Matthews is a leader we can all be proud of and that we can all rally behind,” said Paul Rieckhoff, Iraq veteran and president and founder of Independent Veterans of America. “Her incumbent opponent stands with the billionaires, the partisans and the dark money special interests. Karen is not going to stand aside while both parties fail the people who work, serve, and keep this country running every day.”

“Leadership is about service. It’s about showing up, listening, and putting people before politics. I’ve spent more than 20 years serving this country in uniform, in medicine, and solving real problems for people,” Matthews said. “I’m honored to have the support of Independent Veterans of America and the many veterans who understand that service doesn't end when you take off the uniform.”

If elected, Matthews would make history as one of the few independent women ever elected to Congress, and among a small number of women veterans to serve.

Born in Loma Linda, Karen Matthews earned her degree in physical therapy, became a doctor, and joined the U.S. Navy, serving for 22 years. She rose through the ranks as a radiologist, preventive medicine specialist, data systems innovator, global health leader, and senior policy advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services, working at the Pentagon helping lead the Navy’s health tech modernization to deliver care more efficiently and save taxpayer dollars. After leaving the Navy, Dr. Matthews started a small business to help veterans get the benefits they deserve. Dr. Matthews is now running for Congress to fix the broken status quo that has caused rising rent, higher costs, and paychecks that aren’t keeping up for families across California’s 23rd Congressional District. To learn more, visit www.MatthewsforCongress.com.  

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