Down to the Wire in California 25
[guest post by JVW]
The House race between incumbent Congressman Mike Garcia who was only recently elected back in May to finish the term of disgraced Congresswoman Katie Hill, and his Democrat challenger state Assemblywoman Christy Smith is, as Frank Sinatra used to sing, closer than smog when it clings to El Lay. Mr. Garcia, who defeated Ms. Smith in the May special election runoff by a 55%-45% margin, ended last Tuesday’s election evening with a small lead, only to see Ms. Smith jump ahead over the weekend by about 1,000 votes. In the past couple of days, however, the lead has swung back ever-so-slightly to the incumbent, with Mr. Garcia as of this writing holding a tiny .048% lead (yes, you read that correctly) of 159 votes out of over 330,000 counted. This is a good time to remind everyone that California has given itself until December 4 to complete their counts and December 11 to certify results, so expect this to end up dragging on through to a recount.
I mention this today because Congressman Garcia, who flew missions in Iraq as a Navy fighter pilot, spoke this morning at a Veteran’s Day commemoration event held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library which is located in his California 25th Congressional District. It was a fine speech in which he referred to the Reagan Library as “my Graceland,” eliciting an appreciative chuckle from the audience. Unfortunately it does not appear that his remarks have been posted to YouTube just yet, so I’ll try to add them if they do appear later today. In the meantime, the main address was delivered by Mr. Garcia’s Washington DC colleague, Congressman Dan Crenshaw, who as usual hit it out of the park. Enjoy, and here’s saluting our Veterans on this day of remembrance.
– JVW
Nothing against Ms. Smith, who I am sure is a fine upstanding citizen, but I prefer people with Mr. Garcia’s background to people with Ms. Smith’s background, which seems to consist of only public sector jobs (though I don’t want to diminish the years she apparently spent working inside the home and raising her children, I just wish she had spent some time in the private sector).
It’s still possible that the GOP ends up with 214 House seats which would leave the Democrats with a razor-thin seven seat margin and make life incredibly complicated for Aunt Nancy Pelosi or whomever takes over for her.
JVW (ee64e4) — 11/11/2020 @ 2:06 pmFox handicaps the CA senate replacement:
A lot of Dems reportedly think there may be a second vacancy before too long.
Dave (1bb933) — 11/11/2020 @ 2:13 pma Navy fighter pilot,
Correction: he’d disagree. Wally Schirra did – to my face.
‘They’re called aviators. They say they’re better than pilots.” – The Right Stuff’ 1983
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/11/2020 @ 2:14 pmDemographic magic bullet for a statewide office sometime soon…hope he keeps his lead.
urbanleftbehind (1b3465) — 11/11/2020 @ 2:24 pmFox handicaps the CA senate replacement:
Yeah, I saw that too. Really interesting. I would have thought that after totally botching the motor voter registrations and then getting caught spending $35 million for what is supposed to be a nonpartisan get out the vote campaign on a PR firm with deep Democrat ties (allegedly no-bid, to boot) that my old friend Secretary Padilla might be a bit too controversial right now. But I guess when you’re a buddy of Gavin’s, you’re dialed in for good.
JVW (ee64e4) — 11/11/2020 @ 2:24 pm@5. Check out the 2020 Social Security longevity actuary tables for an 87 year old Caucasian woman.
Feinstein will turn 88 in June.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/11/2020 @ 2:32 pmWhile we are lambasting Trump’s refusal to acknowledge the results, Pelosi and company are contesting every close race they lost. Young Kim, for example, has led since election day by the same margin as votes have come in, but she might well lose if she gets outlawyered. She’s asking for support.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 11/11/2020 @ 2:32 pmGood point Kevin.
Dustin (4237e0) — 11/11/2020 @ 2:36 pmCalifornia has made numerous changes in their election laws and practices in the last few years, all of which favor low-information voters.
Mailing out ballots to last-known-addresses makes it too easy to vote, and encourages those who otherwise would not vote to participate. Most of those so added to the total have only superficial knowledge.
Same-day registration, allows people to vote who haven’t taken the time to register, let alone pay attention to the issues.
This on top of motor-voter laws and the jungle primaries. People thought that the redistricting commission might help, but the Democrats gamed that with bogus community groups arguing for what turned out to be highly partisan lines.
It is no surprise to me that the Democrats are doing so well, as they continue to tilt the table their way. It’s actually surprising hat a few Congressional upsets happened in a presidential year (where many Republicans knew voting for Trump was pointless, even if they were so inclined).
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 11/11/2020 @ 2:43 pmMailing out ballots to last-known-addresses makes it too easy to vote, and encourages those who otherwise would not vote to participate. Most of those so added to the total have only superficial knowledge.
Same-day registration, allows people to vote who haven’t taken the time to register, let alone pay attention to the issues.
That’s America, where nobody should be expected to put forth a modicum of effort towards being a responsible citizen.
It’s the same problem as people expecting others to pay for their health care.
norcal (a5428a) — 11/11/2020 @ 3:25 pmNow do masks in the midst of a raging pandemic.
Dave (1bb933) — 11/11/2020 @ 4:42 pm11.That’s America, where nobody should be expected to put forth a modicum of effort towards being a responsible citizen.
Now you know why, back in the day at CBS, we actually had lapel buttons which read: “Media Elite.”
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/11/2020 @ 4:46 pmYou don’t need a license or pass a test to have kids or vote.
Hoi Polloi (66077a) — 11/11/2020 @ 6:18 pmNow do masks in the midst of a raging pandemic.
Dave (1bb933) — 11/11/2020 @ 4:42 pm
I wear a mask whenever I go in a business. But outside, by myself, walking down the street and away from other people? Lunacy. And yet some locales mandate it.
norcal (a5428a) — 11/11/2020 @ 8:24 pmRefreshing when we remember so many republican office holders are super patriotic vietnam war draft dodger chicken hawks. At least the democrat vietnam war draft dodgers were not hypocrites and opposed the war.
asset (36c2b7) — 11/12/2020 @ 12:14 am@14. Been wearing a mask since Feb., A neighbor is a Marine. Jarhead steadfastly will not wear one. Refuses.
Guess who he voted for.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/12/2020 @ 12:18 am