Staff Reports
Oh, California. Land of sunshine, palm trees, and liberal Democrats. It seems like the left just can’t catch a break in the Golden State. According to a recent report from Politico, California Democrats could be losing their chance to challenge a Republican incumbent in a battleground district, thanks to a contentious open primary.
‘Nightmare Scenario’: Messy Dem Primary Could Box Party Out Of General Election In Swing Districthttps://t.co/QRwfZV0cyz
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 15, 2024
State Sen. Melissa Hurtado and former state Rep. Rudy Salas are the brave souls vying for the opportunity to take on GOP Rep. David Valadao in the general election. But here’s the twist: thanks to California’s “Jungle” primary system, which sounds more like a bad reality TV show than a fair election process, only Valadao and his GOP opponent have a guaranteed spot on the November ballot. That means both Hurtado and Salas could end up on the sidelines, watching from the bleachers.
You know, it’s almost comical how the Democrats keep shooting themselves in the foot. They spend big bucks, over $2 million in this case, to boost Salas’ candidacy in the primary. But all that money might go down the drain if he doesn’t make it to the general election. Talk about a waste of resources.
Of course, the Democrats aren’t going down without a fight. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the House Majority PAC are pulling out all the stops to ensure Valadao’s demise. They claim Salas is the best candidate to get the job done, even though he already lost to Valadao by a slim margin in the previous election. I guess they believe in second chances, but wow, can’t they find someone better?
Meanwhile, Hurtado is feeling the pressure to step aside and let Salas take the reins. I mean, if another Democrat is going to challenge Valadao, shouldn’t it be the guy who came oh-so-close last time? But Hurtado isn’t backing down. She’s got the support of EMILYs List, a pro-abortion advocacy group, and she’s not afraid to stand up for herself. In fact, she’s accusing Salas of lying about her record on abortion. Shots fired!
In the fundraising department, Salas is leaving Hurtado in the dust. He raked in a whopping $275,884 in the last quarter, while Hurtado only managed a measly $20,129. Looks like donors are putting their money on the horse they think has the best chance of winning. And that horse is not Hurtado.
Now, let’s not forget the main man himself, Rep. David Valadao. He lost his seat to a Democrat in 2018 but managed to win it back just two years later. Talk about a political comeback! And now, thanks to redistricting, he’s in a new district looking to hold on to his power. The Cook Political Report has his seat listed as a toss-up for the upcoming election. Looks like Valadao is in for a tough fight, but hey, he’s been there before and come out on top.
In the end, the California Democrats might just have to face the music. If they can’t navigate the tricky waters of their own primary system, how can they expect to win in the general election? Maybe they should take a step back, reassess their strategy, and find some candidates who can actually sway voters to their side. But hey, I’m just an observer, watching the circus unfold. Good luck, California Democrats. You’re gonna need it.
