Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime.
That has been congressional candidate and complex litigator Eric J. Troutman’s approach to debating the issues ahead of California’s June 2, 2026 primary.
To put his money where his mouth is, the Troutman For America campaign offered to pay for the staging of a large-scale debate on the main stage following Law Conference of Champions May 5, 2026. This was timed to coincide with the issuance of primary ballots set to go out to district voters the next day.
The debate would have taken place at the Irvine Spectrum Marriott–right in the middle of District 47– with hundreds of people in attendance at a virtual audience spanning the nation.
Just one little problem– most of the candidates refused to show up.
Troutman is currently running for Congress in California’s crowded 47th Congressional District. The field is littered with would-be politicians who have lost other races. Jenny Rae Le Roux, who was crushed in a long-shot governor’s bid back in 2022. Christopher Gonzales who was utterly destroyed by Lou Correa in a failed Congressional bid for District 46 back in 2022. And former-assemblyman Will Brough– who was kicked off a committee assignment after allegedly sexually harassing some folks–and then lost a primary back in 2020.
Real junkyard here.
Little surprise none of these candidates responded to Troutman’s call for a debate.
Also failing to respond were Incumbent Dave Min and Republican front-runner Michael Maxsenti.
On the other hand two candidates were brave enough to accept the debate request– socialist dreamboat Hunter Miranda and long-time Libertarian trouble maker Derrick Michael Reid.
While Troutman was impressed with both Miranda and Reid for heeding his call for a debate, the fringe nature of their platforms were deemed insufficient to occupy the big stage at Law Conference of Champions— the session will be replaced by a fireside with Beast Games Season 1 winner Jeffrey Randall Allen– but Troutman For America will agree to a different debate format with these two candidates.
“It really is unfortunate the mainstream candidates were too afraid to debate– but let’s be real, nobody wants to go head to head against Troutman.” Troutman says. “I’d destroy these guys and they know it. They’re very smart to stay off the stage against me.”
Troutman continues to dominate social media with over 60,000 followers on his YouTube page (TroutmanForAmerica) and over 270,000 followers on his popular political blog AmericaDeservesToWin.com.
Troutman also held his first townhall event this week and had over 3,000 attendees.
“We are crushing right now. People are done with the parties. They want the cost of living to come down. They know the parties can’t get it done.” Troutman concludes. “They want someone who can actually protect them and who isn’t in anybody’s pocket. And that’s just Troutman.”
Troutman will be hosting his second townhall event to hear from the people of District 47 next Wednesday April 15, 2026 at 6:10 pm. Those who want to attend can sign up to stream the event here:
