Tony Strickland, Karen Bass set for congressional runs

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Two expected candidates for area congressional seats are making it official — state Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Moorpark) will announce Tuesday that he is running for a new Ventura County seat and freshman Rep. Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) made her reelection plans known Sunday.

Strickland, who was placed in the same district as state Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) in last year’s redrawing of the state’s political maps, decided to get into the race after Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) said he would retire. Strickland will kick off his campaign at the Aviation Museum in Camarillo.

Several other Democrats and at least one other Republican already have announced for this district, in which Democrats have a slight registration edge. Both parties are likely to target this district, the 26th.

Bass, a former Assembly speaker, will be seeking a second term from the newly drawn, strongly Democratic 37th District, one of three locally that were created to encourage the election of an African American. She revealed her plans during a telephone ‘town hall’ and is planning an official campaign kickoff event for later this month in Culver City.

Perennial candidate Mervin Evans, also a black Democrat, is the only other announced candidate.

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-- Jean Merl

Photos, from top: U.S. Rep. Karen Bass announcing her first run for Congress in 2010; California state Sen. Tony Strickland in 2004. Credits: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times; Los Angeles Times