Posted on 09/02/2009 6:16:16 AM PDT by SmithL
It may be premature for Lt. Gov. John Garamendi to start printing new business cards, but he could be placing an order for them soon.
The well-known 64-year-old lawmaker and rancher from Walnut Grove triumphed over his Democratic competitors in Tuesday's special 10th Congressional District primary.
"I have represented every part of this district for the past 10-1/2 years," Garamendi said via telephone over the din of his campaign party in Walnut Creek late Tuesday. "The people of this district understood that I knew the issues that they cared about and that I could be a good and forceful representative."
The well-known Garamendi will advance to the Nov. 3 runoff as the prohibitive favorite in this heavily Democratic district.
He will most likely face Dougherty Valley attorney David Harmer, who won by a substantial margin among the field of six Republican candidates.
The returns also showed Garamendi beating, respectively, fellow Democrats state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, of Concord; Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, of Alamo; Iraq war veteran Anthony Woods, of Fairfield; and investigator Adriel Hampton, of Dublin.
In addition to the top Republican and Democrat finishers, three minor party candidates who had no primary challengers will compete in the runoff.
Garamendi abandoned his bid for governor earlier this year and set his sights on the rare -- and more attainable -- open congressional seat.
He ran on his broad name recognition and a deep political resume that includes elected positions in both houses of the California Legislature, two stints as state insurance commissioner and a deputy secretary assignment in the Clinton administration.
Garamendi successfully fended off accusations during the campaign that he was a carpetbagger from a neighboring congressional district who chose an easy contest rather than take on Republican incumbent Rep. Dan Lungren in his home district.
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
Garamendi couldn't even vote for himself since he doesn't live here.
I miss Bill Baker.
Garamendi switched residences in an effort to ease into Congress. Just another Democrat cheater, he should do well in Washington.
This man has spent much of his political life doing whatever it took to be well-known, to the detriment of many Californians.
odd - he has been positioning himself for years to run for governor, and he dropped all that to be a freshman member of the House.
It was a joy to talk to him last night at the David Harmer victory party. Mayor Abram Wilson of San Ramon was also there. It's encouraging to find that there are still some good guys to support in local politics.
Me too. I worked hard for him.
Those were good years for this district, compared to now.
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