Entering the last three weeks of Campaign 2014, I’ll post a weekly piece updating readers on the week’s latest campaign news. This is an abbreviated version of the Hot Sheet, which is regularly emailed to subscribers of the California Target Book.
SD32: GOP looking for a major upset? In the Democratic battle to maintain their super-majority in the state Senate, it’s long been known that the two most competitive races where in SD14, held by GOP Sen. Andy Vidak, and SD34, an Orange County seat that is open due to Sen. Lou Correa being termed out. But it now appears that the GOP leadership is looking to make a serious challenge in the heavily Democratic SD32, where former Democratic Asm. Tony Mendoza is running against Republican Mario Guerra, the mayor of Downey.
AD21: GOP dumps over $280,00 in race to defeat Adam Gray. This is not a safe seat for Democrats and the CA Republican Party this past week put in over $280,000 for an independent expenditure committee in support of their candidate, U.S. Air Force veteran Jack Mobley. Asm. Adam Gray’s ties to disgraced state Sen. Ron Calderon – serving as his legislative director from 2008 to 2011 — and his having to pay a fine last August to the FPPC for a campaign reporting violation might be issues the GOP and Mobley might try to exploit.
CD36: National Republicans and their allies – so far — are not funding Nestande. All candidates for Congress must file their FEC report by 5 p.m. today (Weds) showing dollars raised and spent this calendar year. Eyes will be on the report filed by GOP Asm. Bruce Nestande, who has been criticized by Republican leaders for “his lackluster fundraising.” Meanwhile his opponent, Democratic Rep. Raul Ruiz is running TV spots being broadcast throughout the Los Angeles media market. View spot seen on CBS This morning.