GOP leader enters California fray
Congressional committee chief set to campaign for candidates in state
A Republican congressional leader is venturing into the wilds of bluest California this week in an effort to win back at least some of the ground the GOP has been losing in the state.
Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, will be barnstorming through the state, headlining fundraisers and looking to rev up the troops in eight House districts that Republicans are targeting.
“We’re delighted to see (Walden) here,” said Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Marysville (Yuba County), who is challenging Democratic Rep. John Garamendi of Walnut Grove (Sacramento County). “The campaign is going great, and this visit shows how important our race is.”
Besides the Monday evening fundraiser for Logue in Marysville, Walden also will attend a $1,000-per-couple lunch for Doug Ose in Fairfield on Tuesday. Ose, who spent six years in Congress before declining to run for re-election in 2006, is looking to unseat Democrat Ami Bera of Elk Grove in a district that covers the Sacramento suburbs.
Bera — and the possibility of political payback — is one of the reasons Walden is making the California swing. Two years ago, the physician was one of four Democrats to take over Republican-held seats in a disastrous election for the GOP, edging incumbent Rep. Dan Lungren.
Walden is making stops in all four of those districts, as well as in a couple of others that Democrats hope to take away from the GOP, including the Central Valley seat held by Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford (Kings County).
Democratic leaders have
been quick to dismiss Walden’s campaign effort as little more than wishful thinking, arguing that even races that may have been close in the June 3 primary will move toward their party with the much higher — and, they hope, more liberal — turnout in the November election.
“Walden is parachuting into California to reward his ally Congressman David Valadao and his other hand-picked darlings for their pledge to continue this Congress’ dysfunctional agenda,” said Tyrone Gayle, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The Democratic candidates themselves are less sanguine, especially those making their first bid for re-election.
Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Oak Park (Ventura County), for example, won a tight race two years ago to grab the seat of a retiring Republican
“The campaign is going great, and (Greg Walden’s) visit shows how important our race is.” Assemblyman Dan Logue, a candidate for the House
and then barely finished ahead of GOP Assemblyman Jeff Gorell of Camarillo (Ventura County), 45 to 44 percent, in the June primary. The two will meet again in the Nov. 4 general election.
As soon as Walden’s fundraiser for Gorell was announced, Brownley sent out an urgent fundraising request to supporters, warning that her campaign needs money to counter the backing and cash GOP leaders are bringing to her district.