Posted on 01/07/2012 3:21:58 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
GOP Rep. Elton Gallegly announced today that he won't run for re-election in 2012, clearing the way for a possible congressional bid by state Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Moorpark.
Gallegly, 67, told Politico in a statement today that he will end his 25-year run in Congress instead of seeking another term. The state's new political maps had left him with the option of running against fellow GOP Rep. Buck McKeon or seeking the newly drawn 26th Congressional District, a competitive Ventura County seat with a Democratic registration edge.
Strickland, who has been widely expected to jump in the 26th Congressional District race if Gallegly bowed out, told The Bee late last year that he had yet to make a final decision on his election plans. His campaign consultant declined to comment on his 2012 plans in an email to The Bee.
"Congressman Gallegly has served our community with distinction and honor. We are grateful for his service and wish him the very best," Strickland wrote in a tweet.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.sacbee.com ...
The district in question is a marginal one where Democrats have a slight edge but local Republicans win as many elections as they lose. It’s a good thing that Tony Strickland is running, as he is remembered for winning a hot race for the state Senate in a district that supported Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer.
Is Strickland a RINO?
Strickland a RINO? I don’t think so, but don’t know much about him.
Gallegly is sick—I have heard. He did great work in a difficult place. California is Liberal land—and mostly RINOs can live here and get elected. He has stood out as a true conservative on most issues.
From what I have read of him, Gallegy always took a strong stand against illegal aliens. I will be sorry to see him go.
Is Gallegly a RINO? I meant to type.
Yeah, he’s as much a RINO as Baeey Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. /s
Best wishes to Gallegly, but he was poorly chosen by Judiciary Chair Lamar Smith to be Immigration Sub-Chair OVER Steve King (R-IA), the godfather of immigration in the House. Now with Gallegly gone, we must all demand that Smith put King in that chair.
The congressional district itself narrowly backed Fiorina so that means it’s better than Strickland’s Senate seat.
Sorry, never heard of him, so I wanted to see if his replacement will be as good as he is.
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