Bowen, Hahn tout new endorsements as filing to replace Harman gets underway
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
On the day after the governor set a May 17 special primary election to replace former Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice), the two most prominent Democratic candidates trotted out some new endorsements.
Secretary of State Debra Bowen of Marina del Rey, who represented much of the largely coastal 36th Congressional District during her 14 years in the Legislature, announced backing from Laura Chick, who served on the Los Angeles City Council and as city controller before being appointed state Inspector General.
Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn of San Pedro added former lieutenant governor and current Rep. John Garamendi (D-Elk Grove) and recently retired Rep. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) to her long list of supporters.
The Hahn campaign, trying to demonstrate momentum, has been collecting and publicizing endorsements from area elected officials, labor groups and environmental leaders since she jumped into the race on the day Harman said she was resigning to head a Washington think tank. Hardly a day has gone by without an endorsement announcement from the Hahn campaign.
The Bowen camp waited until the election was set to fire up its publicity operations. The campaign announced some earlier endorsements only after word leaked out of backing from three current or former area Democratic state legislators -- Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey), state Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) and former state Sen. Sheila Kuehl. More endorsements will be announced this week, Bowen strategist Steve Barkan said.
The field to replace Harman got crowded well ahead of the governor’s setting the election, with several more Democrats and at least three Republican elected officials announcing they will run.
Candidates have until the close of business March 25 to file their nomination papers, Los Angeles County elections officials said. Forms are available now from the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
Unless someone wins a majority in the primary -- which seems unlikely given the potentially large field -- a July 12 runoff will be held using the new election system approved by voters last year. The top two vote-getters -- and not the top vote-getters from each party as was previously allowed -- will compete. Some observers anticipate this congressional primary might set up the state’s first-ever runoff between two members of the same party.
Democrats hold a 45% to 28% registration edge over Republicans, with 22% of district voters declining to affiliate with a state-recognized political party.
-- Jean Merl
