Special election to replace former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher attracts 14 candidates.

Contra Costa Times ^ | 8/2/9 | Lisa Vorderbrueggen

[SmithL]

Residents of the 10th Congressional District have a rare chance next month to select a new representative.

The district has been without a vote in the Capitol since June 26, when former Democratic Rep. Ellen Tauscher resigned to take a post as undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security with the U.S. State Department.

Voters faced with this big decision have their work cut out for them.

Drawn by the infrequent opportunity to run for an open Congressional seat, 14 candidates will compete in the Sept. 1 special primary election for either an outright win or a spot as their party's top vote-getter in the Nov. 3 runoff.

At stake is the district's voice on major national issues such as health care reform, reauthorization of federal education legislation and the country's about-to-expire blueprint for transportation spending.

Tauscher had risen to considerable prominence during her 13 years in Congress, where she served as the ranking Bay Area member on the House Transportation Committee.

She also played a key role on national security as one of the few women to serve as an Armed Services subcommittee chairwoman.

The candidates who hope to fill her shoes face considerable obstacles before they can start looking for a Washington, D.C., address.

Special elections unfold on a highly accelerated schedule and the primary campaign lasts a scant two months during the summer months of July and August.

Turnout Advertisement is typically low in special elections and coupled with its timing during traditional vacation months, it could dip to new depths.

But despite the potential for flaccid voter interest, the prize remains a prestigious seat in Congress and considerable advantage as the incumbent

...two candidates with the most money are well-known politicians, Democratic Lt. Gov. John Garamendi of Walnut Grove and state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier of Concord.

[SmithL]

[SmithL]

The special primary election in the 10th Congressional District will be held on Sept. 1, and voting by mail starts this week.
Under state law, a special primary is a blanket-style election in which all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on the same ballot.
Likewise, all voters, regardless of affiliation, receive identical ballots.
The top vote-getter in each party will advance to the Nov. 3 special general election unless one candidate garners 50 percent plus 1 vote and wins the seat outright. Given the large field -- 14 candidates -- it is unlikely that someone will receive a majority vote.
The three minor party candidates have no primary competitors and will automatically advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
The winner will be sworn into office shortly after the election.
The candidates are:

• Democrats: Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan of Alamo, state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier of Concord; California Lt. Gov. and rancher John Garamendi of Walnut Grove; investigator Adriel Hampton of Dublin; and economic policy analyst Anthony Woods of Fairfield.
• Republicans: Contractor Christopher Bunch of Fairfield; retired peace officer Gary Clift of Vacaville; attorney David Harmer of Dougherty Valley; small business owner Mark Loos of Livermore; accountability system owner David Peterson of Walnut Creek; and physician John Toth of Pleasant Hill.
• Peace and Freedom: Office worker Mary McIlroy of El Cerrito
• Green: Community college professor Jeremy Cloward, of Pleasant Hill
• American Independent: Insurance agent Jerome Denham of Walnut Creek

[ThePanFromJapan]

Cook’s PVI rating: D+11

The district includes the Livermore Laboratories, so defense and medical are gonna be two big cases.

I am skeptical that a Republican will win, but with California being rear end backwards in everything, I cannot say for certain.

[Luke21]

These folks all love multiple pensions.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Don’t worry, this is another special the GOP won’t bother to try to win. 7 months since the start of Congress, and we still haven’t won a single special.

[atomic_dog]

If I don’t miss my guess isn’t DeSaulnier the single most anti-gun politician in the State of California today? Even the other Rats routinely slap down his outrageous schemes.

[airborne]

Republican politicians in California are pretty much Democrats that registered in a different party.

[ThePanFromJapan]

When the NRCC is stuck on stupid, they can’t win diddly.

See Murphy (NY), etc.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Steele should’ve resigned after that fiasco.

[SES1066]

I hold an abiding animus for Ellen Tauscher following her performance in the 'Cap & Trade' passage by the US House. She had already been confirmed in her new post by the US Senate but Nancy Pelosi had her as the 'acting Speaker' during that last day, June 26th. She was the one that lied to the Members and the American People when she said that the whole bill was at the podium for all to read. It was by her participating in this farce, after already getting and being confirmed in an Obama Administration Office that kept Madame Speaker Pelosi from having to be an even more prolific liar than she already is!

May maledictions pursue this hapless drudge to the bottom-most depts of the world slime! [Pace RAH]

[JSDude1]

It could be won from what I read on this article,

If the Republican hits the Democrat in the right places, and drives some of them to minor party candidates, the wild card -tea party activities!

[campaignPete R-CT]

I’ve been following this for a while. Harmer is the guy. Special election, so D+11 isn’t meaningful.

http://harmerforcongress.com/

[Deb]

Does the candidate have to be a drunk?

[campaignPete R-CT]

Deb, tell us who the drunk is?

[Deb]

Tauscher (of course).