Free Republic

Republicans on Monday accused the state Democratic Party and Secretary of State Debra Bowen of using "illegal campaign tactics" to influence voters to cast a ballot for late Sen. Jenny Oropeza in a Long Beach state Senate district. Democrat Oropeza died unexpectedly last month but remains as a candidate for re-election on today's ballot. The California Democratic Party recently sent Democratic and decline-to-state voters in the district a letter from Bowen, a Democrat, outlining what would happen if Oropeza wins. "Jenny Oropeza's name is on the ballot. You have the right to vote for her," the letter reads. "If you...

(Newser) – In California, one literally does not need a pulse to win an election. State Sen. Jenny Oropeza zipped to victory last night, capturing 57.8% of the vote in her heavily Democratic district some two weeks after she died. Republican John Stammreich, who might have expected that being alive would boost his chances, managed to reel in only 36.3% of the vote, reports the Daily Breeze. A special election will be held to fill the seat.

Democrats urge reelection of dead Long Beach senator October 29, 2010 | 3:18 pm A week after the death of state Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach), Democrats have sent mailers to residents urging them to vote to reelect her. That would trigger a special election and give the party a chance to put up a new candidate. The mailers featuring Secretary of State Debra Bowen and Democratic Party general counsel Martha Escutia do not say explicitly that Oropeza has died or that a vote for her will allow another Democrat to be considered. "Senator Jenny Oropeza’s illness has been a...