Debra Bowen enters race to succeed Jane Harman
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California Secretary of State Debra Bowen on Tuesday jumped into the race to succeed retiring Rep. Jane Harman of Venice, setting up what is expected to be a lively contest between two prominent Democratic women for the largely coastal 36th Congressional District.
‘This was not an easy decision,’ said Bowen, who was just elected to a second four-year term as the state’s top elections official. ‘I spent the past week discussing a potential run with my family and close friends, and thinking how I can best serve the public,’ she said in a statement announcing her candidacy.
Once Harman resigns her seat to take a job leading a Washington think tank, expected Feb. 28, the governor will have 14 days to call a special general election, probably in June, with a special primary to be held eight weeks earlier.
Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn announced her candidacy for Harman’s seat and set up her campaign within hours of the congresswoman’s announcement that she would be resigning her seat in the strongly Democratic district. Hahn has been lining up endorsements, including ones from U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Assembly Speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles) and several local labor groups.
At least three other, relatively unknown Democrats have said they will run, and several Republican past and present office-holders said they are considering making the race.
In announcing her candidacy, Bowen touted her accomplishments as secretary of state, including improving voting systems security. She said that her present job is one ‘I truly love’ but that she wants to take on national challenges, including creating jobs and ‘jump-starting our struggling economy.’
Congressional seats are not subject to term limits. Such limits would force Bowen from the state post in 2014, while they require Hahn to give up her City Council seat in 2013.
Bowen served 14 years in the state Legislature, in districts which overlapped much of the congressional district, so she is well known. Hahn’s San Pedro home is in the southern part of the district but she has run for a congressional seat before in the area and has made a point of appearing at events in the beach cities and other communities in the district.
If Bowen won the congressional seat, the governor would appoint someone to fill the secretary of state post; no special election would be required.
-- Jean Merl
