Marta Jorgensen, reached by phone Tuesday evening and informed of the early returns, was incredulous. “You’re kidding! That’s a pretty amazing thing.”

For three weeks during the campaign, Jorgensen had suspended campaigning and announced she was supporting Jill Martinez, a developer of affordable housing and the Democratic nominee from two years ago.

But, saying she thought Martinez and Oak Park insurance agent Mary Pallant were not paying enough attention to Santa Barbara County voters, Jorgensen jumped back in.

“I was certain I had shot myself in the foot on that,” she said. “I thought maybe I’d get 8 or 10 percent.”

With 83 percent of the returns counted, Jorgensen was leading, with 47 percent of the vote, over Martinez, with 32 percent, and Pallant, with 21 percent.

The winner will face incumbent Rep. Elton Gallegly, who easily prevailed in the Republican primary over Westlake Village attorney Michael Tenenbaum. Gallegly led, 77 percent to 23 percent.

So, why did this unknown, underfunded and almost random person win the Democrat nomination. I mean are the Democrats that stupid and uninformed?

Timm Herdt at the VC Star says it was the ballot designations:

• Marta Jorgensen – Educator

• Jill Martizez – Businesswoman/Housing Developer (Martinez ran as a minister two years ago)

• Mary Pallant – Insurance Agent

Some discussion over at Calitics, a Left-wing NUTROOTS site supports this thesis:

Nevertheless, let this be a lesson for many Democrats currently considering elected office: among the many other considerations in an election season, don’t overlook the power of a progressive-sounding ballot designation that shies away from anything having to do with business, housing development, insurance or the like. Democrats are fed up with anything related to Republican-sounding industries and are looking for a change–even if they do sometimes look for it in the most shallow ways.

And that, it must be admitted, is actually a good thing.

Thus, the Democrats are fickle and shallow?

Flap says RIGHT. After all, Marta Jorgensen just a few weeks ago begged off campaigning down south in Simi Valley because she could not afford the gas to get there.

By the way, Elton Gallegly now competing for his 12th term in Congress at the last reporting period boasted over $900,000 in his campaign coffers.

Marta Jorgensen in November will be another failed Democrat challenger to Congressman Elton Gallegly.

Rate the California 24th Congressional District as SAFE GOP.

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