The race is finally “on” for Congressional District 10 to replace former Congressman Ellen Tauscher who just did a double-swearing in last Friday. She was married again and was sworn in as the Arms Control chief for the Obama Administration.
Key Dates have been announced, so get your game face “on” if you vote in this district or have designs of representing us in Congress.
July 20th is the date when candidates must complete paperwork and pay the $1,740 filing fee to be listed on the special election primary ballot.
September 1st is the special election primary. This isn’t a real primary. It is actually a run-off where all candidates from all parties appear. The top vote getter from the majority parties face off on November 3rd. This is a regularly scheduled election date in several municipalities within the CD-10 district. The Democrats have a 19 point registration advantage in this district which was once represented by Congressman Bill Baker and became a poster child for redistricting with neighboring CD-11.
For the Democrats, frontrunners are Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, State Senator Mark DeSaulnier and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan.
Garamendi is everywhere. I’ve seen him at the Contra Costa State Fair and at an Innovation Forum sponsored by the Livermore Chamber of Commerce. His signs are in every corner and every throughway of the district. He told me he really wants the job. He enjoyed his tenure as a sub-cabinet member under President Clinton and wants to go back to hang out with his old colleagues.
DeSaulnier seems to have the most fun campaign with a Pasta Feed, Neighborhood Meet-Ups, and I think I even saw a Cinco de Mayo Party a few months back. Buchanan is doing the traditional things like the Orinda parade and focusing on her parents’ blue collar roots. Garamendi and DeSaulnier share the Alameda County Central Labor endorsement, but DeSaulnier got the powerful Contra Costa Central Labor endorsement as well as that of Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher and Tom Torlakson, now a candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Both are popular figures in Contra Costa, the majority county.
The most interesting fact of the week is likely the strong showing of Anthony Woods – an African American Democrat from Fairfield who served two tours in Iraq. Woods left military service due to issues with the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy.
The San Francisco Sentinel ran a story this week which said that Woods has raised more than $100,000 and recruited more than 800 donors. According to ActBlue.com, Woods has far outpaced DeSaulnier and Buchanan in Internet fundraising and organized 4,700 supporters on Facebook. He says he has recruited twice the amount of donors as Garamendi. If true at filing time, these are exceptionally impressive stats.
Another interesting candidate about to unveil herself is Marianne Williamson – a Hollywood favorite apparently of note due to her appearances on Oprah and New York Times best selling books. Hit Google to see her website which is quite fascinating.
For Republicans, it appears as of now that Chris Bunch and Catherine Moy, both of Fairfield, took a pass. A couple of lesser candidates have filed. Sheriff Warren Rupf of Contra Costa wisely took a pass after meetings with the powers that be at the National Republican Congressional Committee. He would have been the hands down favorite for the GOP had he run.
Now, all eyes are now on David Harmer – charming, intelligent, articulate, and serious. Harmer is a man with an exceptionally picturesque family and some real qualifications. Harmer served in the Halls of Congress around the same time I was a staffer and narrowly lost a Congressional race in Utah during Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America in 1994. I saw Harmer last week at the movie premiere of “Ronald Reagan – Rendezvous with Destiny” and had the chance to see him greet Bunch who was among the participants.
Harmer is going to show some good fundraising numbers – more than $175,000 raised with more than 350 donors. This is impressive for a Republican in a race where the odds so heavily favor Democrats. Harmer has a vast network among the Mormon community and his father was the former Lt. Governor of California and State Senate Leader under Governor Ronald Reagan. Expect that Harmer will appeal – he is a good man who will emerge as the frontrunner for Republicans.
That’s the only prediction I will make this week. Stay tuned.