Posted on 02/07/2011 9:14:18 AM PST by Islander7
California Rep. Jane Harman (D) will resign from Congress, according to two senior Democratic leadership aides, a surprise announcement that will set off a special election in her 36th district.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
A potential opportunity for us. When Harman retired previously, Republican Steve Kuykendall won the seat (but lost it when Harman returned 2 years later). The former RNC Chairman Steele couldn’t be bothered with important special elections (except for funding the Socialist phony in NY), so this will be a test for the new Chairman to see if he understands how vital it is to make gains in Congress and vigorously contest these seats.
My first question exactly.
She’s been flying under the radar for some time now, keeping her nose clean in the media. I think something big was about to hit the presses that would have sunk her.
Special election, huh? NY-29 went for months without representation in the House. We missed over 400 roll call votes. If it looks like Pubbies stand a chance at the seat, I wonder if the special election will be forthcoming.
Thats a pretty wealthy area.
Many, many defense contractors reside in her district.
You have to wonder if it has something to do with her husband, owner of Newsweak.
That’s what I was thinking. It sounded like an affluent area.
Jane Harman reportedly leaving Capitol Hill
To become head of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Okaaaaay....
Unlikely GOP pickup the way this district is gerrymandered. The elected state officials in this area are all democrats.
I agree that a Republican might win. The last time her district had an open race, 1998, a Republican won. At that time, she was the congressman, and she ran for governor. She lost the primary, and, in 2000, she was elected to Congress.
More likely, it’s her husband and Outsourced, no-bid Intelligence contracts that she directly profited from as Intelligence chair...
Difi sets the standard there - she had to quit some military appropriations committee due to millions in contracts being steered to her husband Richard Blum's company.
But she's still in congress and the media uttered not a peep.
That district in the South Bay has deteriorated politically since then. We used to hold the occasional Assembly seat down there, but haven't been able to come close in any race for some time. I'd be really surprised (but won't rule it out) if we had a shot. I'd say Kuykendall himself would have the best shot if he's willing to have ago at it again. I'll send him an email and let y'all know what he says.
Kuykendall lost d/t gerrymandering. He was my rep at one time...now its Maxine Waters and probably always will be, because they drew the line from Inglewood to include most of Westchester and Playa del Rey.
A progressive think-tank.
It’s news on MSBHO when it’s not about Rush, Beck, Palin or Bachmann.
Woodrow Wilson and the Roots of Modern Liberalism, by Ronald J. Pestritto.
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