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Friday, March 10, 2006

CA-24: Gallegly (R) Retiring - But There's More!

Posted by DavidNYC

Alright, so I'm done studying. Here's a bit of interesting news: Yet another GOPer - in this case, Rep. Elton Gallegly (CA-24) - has announced his retirement. Gallegly says it's for medical reasons. Here's what makes this case interesting:

1) Today was CA's filing deadline. According to the Secretary of State (PDF) (whose website may not be completely up-to-date) and media reports (which may not be accurate) and Gallegly himself (who may be mistaken), there are no other Republicans running.

2) My reading of CA election law says that Gallegly's name has to stay on the ballot unless he either dies or gets appointed to fill a different ballot vacancy.

3) Here's where things get tricky: It's not clear whether Gallegly can simply be named to some random, vacant GOP line in some election somewhere in California, or whether the vacancy he gets appointed to has to exist only as the result of someone else's death. Sections 8802 and 8803 of the CA election code appear to be in direct conflict, and I can't find any caselaw on the matter.

4) If Gallegly dies or if he can be appointed to fill another empty ballot line, then a fellow GOPer can replace Gallegly. If not, then Gallegly must stay on the ballot.

5) Conceivably, a write-in candidate could oppose Gallegly in the primary. If that happens, then it's time for local Democrats to do what otherwise would have been unthinkable - support Gallegly!

6) If Gallegly can't be appointed to another ballot line, and he wins the primary, then his name stays on the ballot right through the general election. Conceivably he could even win that election, but I very much doubt it. A different GOPer could also run write-in for the general, but good luck with that plan.

If the GOP can't get Gallegly off the ballot and/or they don't have a stealth candidate who has actually filed (but that we don't know about yet), then this is a mistake to rival what happened in OH-06. Gallegly obviously hoped to bury the bad news by releasing it late on Friday. Hopefully we'll hear more over the weekend, but we may not get clarity from the SoS until Monday.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, CA-24 went for Bush by 56-43. Ordinarily, that's quite a steep hill to climb - but it should be a hell of a lot easier if we don't have to face a real opponent! Stay tuned!

(Via liberalminded.)

Posted at 11:37 PM in 2006 Elections - House, California | Technorati

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Comments

I'm reserving my judgment and filing this in the "too good to be true" department.

I suggest the rest of us do it, too, until the weekend passes and we get a clearer picture of the situation.

(But the prospect is TANTALYZING, David! *evil Vincent Price laugh*)

Posted by: HellofaSandwich at March 11, 2006 12:00 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

This is great news for Dems in the 24th. We were poised already to challenge in this district. Check out this great candidate, Jill Martinez. www.jillmartinez2006.com

Posted by: Laura Winchester at March 11, 2006 01:14 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

FYI--the LA Times says that there is INDEED a Republican candidate:

Just one other Republican candidate had filed papers in time for the Friday deadline, Schmit said. Westlake Village attorney Michael Tenenbaum, 37, a virtual unknown in Ventura County politics, qualified for the ballot in the district, which is 46% registered Republican.

Link

So, they have a candidate. But at least he's an unknown, and not a GOP heavy-hitter.

Posted by: HellofaSandwich at March 11, 2006 04:54 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

its actually better that tehy do have a candidate in the primary, now they cant pull any dirty tricks to get a big name in if he somehow wins the primary unopposed. This way, that guy will win the primary and the republicans are locked into a low level candidate

Posted by: yomoma2424 at March 11, 2006 08:51 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Well, Gallegly can still win the primary. As I mentioned in a DKos thread, there's a potential "Jeff Johnson" problem here - people may just vote for "the name you know".

Posted by: DavidNYC at March 11, 2006 01:01 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'm sure the GOP leaders will pump in enough money to raise Tenenbaum's name ID.

Posted by: HellofaSandwich at March 11, 2006 01:42 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Monday someone can check with the Registrar section of the County Recorder and they can give the caller the specifics of the situation.

Is he is or out? (If his signatures had been approved he's on the ballot I believe based on my experience in last years Special Election.)

Who else is in? From what party?

Sounds like we've two Republicans, one that wants to retire, and one Democrat. If the officeholder were to resign his office that would change everything. But more likely if the DarkHorse Republican has a brain he'll be making very, very nice with the officeholder and hoping the officeholder will pass along his contribution list etc.

We Dems's have solid people up there. This could get very interesting with 60% of the general public disapproving of the Presidents actions recently.

Posted by: Stuart O'Neill at March 11, 2006 05:41 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

What makes Martinez a great candidate? Her website... is very "under construction."

Posted by: Jeff Hauser at March 12, 2006 07:48 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Hauser:

Couldn't agree more. Check the comments on this same story over The Political Dogfight for a better explantion from a respected local. The website is lower priority compared to the team is the upshot I guess. But read the comment for yourself.

Posted by: Stuart O'Neill at March 12, 2006 04:34 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

PS:

Good story at The Hill except that he screwed the pooch on the CA congressional makeup. Good story on CA-24 though.

Posted by: Stuart O'Neill at March 12, 2006 04:36 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment