A Democrat from California vying for a place in Congress was arrested for driving under the influence. State Senator Dave Min was detained after driving a state vehicle through a traffic light with no lights on, close to the state Capitol. The lawmaker admitted the misdemeanor and pleaded guilty to the charges in a statement where he expressed regret. In his apology, he stated that it was irresponsible of him to have driven under the influence and he owned up to his misdeed, taking responsibility for it. The Democrat Senator is in contention for Representative Katie Porter’s seat. Porter, who is currently running for Dianne Feinstein’s position as a senator also endorsed Min.
Despite the arrest, the Democrats’ chances remain fairly high, but it is unsure if the national implications will affect his chances of election. Congress forecaster for the non-partisan Cook Political Report, David Wasserman said that it was still too early to make any definitive statement about the situation. The Los Angeles Times also confirmed that Democrats could still have a chance of holding their advantage, as the election comes up in over a year, and there is enough time for Weiss to pick up momentum.
The stakes are even higher considering that the 47th congressional district, which Min is seeking to represent, comprises cities such as Huntington Beach, Irvine, and Laguna Beach. This area is situated in a purple region like Orange County, and it could be a major determinant in deciding the balance of power in the narrowly-divided US House of Representatives. To achieve their aim to take control of the house, Democrats particularly need to nab five seats nationwide. However, they can’t afford to lose what they presently hold.
Since Min’s arrest, Republicans have pounced on it, nicknaming him “DUI Dave.” It is not unknown for conservatives to use “nick-naming” in politics to sway the electorate into seeing a candidate in a negative light. Regardless of their strategy, Min’s run considering the current circumstances may be at risk, and the political stakes remain higher.
.@DaveMinCA was arrested last night for drunk driving after recklessly putting others’ lives at risk.
Do his endorsers like @KatiePorterOC still support his race for #CA47 after his complete and utter disregard for Californians' safety?⁰
Here’s who’s backing DUI Dave. pic.twitter.com/PrWTiWGm8b— CAGOP (@CAGOP) May 3, 2023
Source: Townhall