From the WaPo:
Word is that Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on strategic forces and a staunch superdelegate for presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, is in line for a top post at the State Department, most likely for the undersecretary for arms control and nonproliferation slot.
It had been widely reported that highly regarded arms control guru Robert Einhorn, who had been assistant secretary for arms control in the Clinton administration, was penciled in to move up to that post, but we’re hearing he has turned it down for personal reasons. And Secretary of State Clinton did, after all, win the California primary.
Well, I don’t really see what Hillary’s California primary win has to do with any of this, but that’s neither here nor there. Assuming Tauscher is tapped for this gig, we’ll have another California special election on our hands (Hilda Solis’ vacancy in CA-32 being the other). While Tauscher used to hold a competitive district in the ’90s, her CD was redrawn after the most recent census to include more Democratic turf — on top of that, the 10th CD has taken a sharp turn in the Democratic direction over the last pair of Presidential elections. According to SSP’s Prez-by-CD analysis, Obama carried the 10th district by a 65-33 margin, a significant jump from the 59-40 Kerry win here four years earlier (and the 55-41 performance by Gore in 2000).
If a special election happens here, Team Blue will be in pretty good shape. Anyone have any ideas as to who may run?
(Hat-tip: mikeel)
UPDATE: Roll Call says that it’s a done deal:
Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) will be tapped for a top State Department post, sources with knowledge of the pending nomination said.
Good riddance to Tauscher, she’s been one of the problem members on the House side and her district is blue enough that we should get a strong progressive in there.
Her house seat is safe and anyone would be better than her.
Who picks these sub-cabinet level positions? Does Hillary pick the undersecretary or does Obama?
Won’t that be one of the districts that should be weakened a bit in 2012 in order to make McNerney’s adjacent district more favorable for him?
If so then clever work on Obama’s part
Tom Torlakson would be a good choice to run in this district. He is termed out of the assembly in 2010 and he has already announced his candidacy for California Superintendent of Public Instruction. However, I think he would put that on hold for a chance at this seat. He is a solid progressive and would be an upgrade over Tauscher.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T…
dominoes are being very good to us so far minus the Senate seats.
State Senator Mark DeSaulnier is an obvious candidate to run for the seat. He currently represents almost all of the district and is well-known and well-liked in the area.
Other possible candidates include Contra Costa Supervisors Susan Bonilla and Federal Glover and Orinda Councilmember Amy Worth.
Why don’t we just appoint every Democrat in congress to a position in the executive branch in order to give the Republicans a realistic chance of winning back congress. No need to hold the 2010 midterms then.
To slow down debate on a DADT repeal, which Tauscher has been spearheading after introducing legislation in this Congress.
She has lots of cosponsors sure, but she’s been one of the most vocal advocates. Maybe Obama thinks her advocacy is too outspoken right now, and he and Hillary move her to State…
Shes blasted by many on the left for being too moderate, but if she were to have moved to the left (after redistricting) shed have been considered, by the center and right, not have much political convictions. Kind of a ‘damned if i do, damned if i dont’ situation.
A couple years ago. She was not a great fit for the district politically but she was ok. I also worked in the district at this time at a restaurant and some of our better customers who knew me well would tell me stories about her. Supposedly, she is not the kindest person and her constituent services werent great either. I cant speak of any direct knowledge, especially after 2006, but take that for what its worth.
Also, as has been mentioned DeSaulnier and Torlakson would be fantastic candidates. I met DeSaulnier once and he was engaging and personable. Intuitively, seemed like he possessed the ideal personality for a legislator. I havent followed his politics closely enough to give a good, practical opinion of DeSaulnier, but I do like Torlakson. Buchanan is good too but she needs to build her legislative cred in the state legislature so I really dont see her running for this seat, but stranger things have happened.
I know Lt. Gov. Garamendi lives in this district but i doubt hed give up ambitions to run for Gov. to run for Congress. Going from Lt. Gov. in CA to being one of like 52 is perhaps a step down.