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CA-26: Will Jess Herrera Play Spoiler to Democrat Julia Brownley?
Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Jess Herrera
Democrat Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Jess Herrera may just deliver a top two victory to No Party Preference candidate Linda Parks.
It’s difficult to assess Herrera’s chances on Tuesday. He has a chance to perform well in Oxnard, where he has lived his entire life and has consistently been the leading vote-getter in elections for the Harbor District. In addition, he has been targeting working-class Latino voters in other areas of the district, notably Santa Paula and Fillmore. Depending on Latino turnout and how fractured the overall vote turns out to be, an upset may not be inconceivable. But at the very least, he has the potential to play the role of a spoiler, siphoning away from Brownley a share of the Democratic vote that she may need to outpoll Parks.
But, will Herrera be enough of a vote siphon to drop Julia Brownley below Linda Parks?
The Democratic Party and Democratic independent expenditure Super PACS are not taking any chances and are heavily running ads for Brownley.
Here is Herrera’s web ad:
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Alan Werbalowsky, CA-26, David Cruz Thayne, David Pollock, Jess Herrera, Julia Brownley, Linda Parks, Tony Strickland
CA-26: Democrat David Pollock Will NOT Run for Congress
The Bad New Bears Star and Moorpark City Councilman has decided not to file tomorrow for a Congressional race.“I am writing to let you know that I have suspended my campaign for Congress,” Pollock said in prepared statement emailed to supporters. “This was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make, and I want to assure you that my campaign team and consultants considered every possible path forward.
“Because of the way the candidate field formed, there was a strong possibility of an unfavorable outcome not only for me but the other Democrats in the race. From the beginning, this race was not about me; it was about bringing real change to our representation in Ventura County and a voice of reason to Congress.”
Obviously, Democratic Party leaders have prevailed on Pollock to get out of the race. This is to give Democratic California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley a chance at winning a top two spot in the June primary election against two better known Ventura County politicians, Tony Strickland and Linda Parks.
I doubt the other two remaining Democrats will withdraw since they have already stated they are in for good.
But, you never know what the Democratic Party will offer to clear a field.
Tomorrow night at 5 PM, the filing deadline we will be able to examine the field of candidates.
So far, this is what we have:
- Republican California State Senator Tony Strickland
- Independent/No Party Preference Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks
- Democrat California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley
- Democrat Oxnard Harbor Commissioner Jess Herrera
- Democrat Westlake Village businessman David Cruz Thayne
- Libertarian/Republican Akiva Werbalowsky
Stay tuned….
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CA-26: Democrats Attacking Democrats Over Julia Brownley Carpetbagging Issue
Well, I said it would be an issue and some of the Democrats in this congressional race cannot help themselves from piling on Democratic California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley.Democrats David Pollock, David Cruz Thayne, Jess Herrera and Assemblywoman Julia Brownley are all vying for the democratic vote after county supervisor and front-runner Steve Bennett backed out of the race on the verge of receiving an endorsement at the party’s state convention on Feb. 11.
Here is the action:
“This is about stating the facts,” said Alex Thompson, campaign manager for Thayne. “The matter is, Brownley has said she represents 50,000 people in Ventura County. The matter is, she represents them but doesn’t have an office here. She is trying to hide the fact she is from Santa Monica.” Thompson said there is “absolutely not a chance” for Thayne to pull out of the race.
Candidate and Oxnard Harbor District Commissioner Herrera said the district needs somebody who was born and raised in the area to rightly understand its constituents. The fact that Brownley recently moved here from Santa Monica doesn’t sit well with Herrera.
“When have you seen someone from Oxnard or Camarillo represent L.A. County or Santa Barbara?” asked Herrera, who said he also has no intention of backing out of the race.
In the meantime, Republican State Senator Tony Strickland and independent Ventura county Supervisor Linda Parks will sit back and let the numerous Democrats divide up the vote and portray the one Democrat who could possible beat them as a carpetbagger.
The filing deadline is tomorrow at 5 PM.
Wonder if any of these candidates will be persuaded by the Democratic Party to withdraw.
We will see.
