The district was almost 40% Hispanic (redistricting in 2000 made it 53% Hispanic) and heavily Democratic, and his victory in November (with 57 percent of the vote) was a foregone conclusion. He has been reelected six times with no substantive Republican opposition. He ran unopposed in 1998.
Filner is ranking Democrat on the United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation. He is a founding member of the Progressive Caucus. In 2007 Filner became chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Filner has a bitter rivalry with Juan Vargas, another Democratic politician who has run against Filner in the Democratic primary three times. Filner won the latest Democratic primary, on June 6, 2006, with 51% of the vote, in a race against Vargas and two minor challengers, Danny Ramirez and Jesse Bresnihan. Filner and Vargas have accused each other of corruption.
He was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the 2004 presidential election. [3]
Given IN 1 is a lost cause, I have gladly donated to “reejin” native Nick Popaditch. He is the real deal; and any support people can give to “Gunny Nick” wil be appreciated