OC Democratic Congressional candidates Dave Min (CA-47) and Derek Tran (CA-45) have made the DCCC’s “Red to Blue” list meaning thier campaigns are priorities for donors, activists, and party leaders. This is a list of races where there is a Repubican incumbent or a Republican-leaning seat where Joe Biden outperformed Donald Trump in 2020. While Rep. Katie Porter won in 2022, Republican Scott Baugh and Min are virtually tied.
And the two primary campaigns were a real contrast. Garden Grove council member Kim Nguyen Penaloza had the local and state party endorsements plus the endorsements of a number of labor groups. Tran had a decided advantage in fundraising. Thier race was close. When the votes were counted, Kim graciously conceded/endorsed/offered support and her words were embraced by Tran. During the election, neither said anything bad about eachother, targeting instead the disasterous legacy of Michelle Steel.
The CA-45 primary was quite a constrast to the nasty CA-47 primary where Joanna Weiss was the beneficiary of IE money from Republican donors and her surrogates all wanted voters to know Min couldn’t be trusted. But in this primary, Min’s record in the state senate and his positive, but sometimes, defensive, campaign won voters over. It was a primary where longtime friends were pitted against each other and some of those relationships will never be repaired.
Contrast the CA-47 primary on the GOP side. Scott Baugh was the presumptive leader with Trumper Max Ukropina running a strong campaign. Did anyone hear either of them talk smack about eachother? I didn’t (though Republicans, please enlighten me).
But its clear, Democrats have to hold on in CA47 and we have to replace Steel in CA45.
Count me as one of many who hope to never see Joanna Weiss in CA47 (where she doesn’t live) run for office again.
I notice WAVE has changed its mission and will only support candidates who are women. WIL already does that in OC. Where was WAVE for so many women on the Ballot?
WAVE is changing its mission now to hide the fact they broke so many of their own rules in endorsing Weiss for a primary, the first time they have ever endorsed anyone in a primary and without consensus of its membership.
no wonder thy are losing so many members
I noticed that Assm. Cottie Petrie-Norris, who originally supported Joanna Weiss, has graciously come out in support of Dave Min for the general election, as her name is now listed on Dave’s endorsement page, https://davemin.com/endorsements. But it’s noteable for who’s still NOT listed on his endorsement page. 😉
All I want to know is, have Weiss, Foley, Anas, and Napuri all written checks yet? Has Cottie? She’s the recipient of lots of Corporate PAC money, so I guess that’s ok