Tim Donnelly to walk precincts for Knight in congressional race

GOP Assemblyman Tim Donnelly of Twin Peaks, perhaps the most outspoken conservative in the Legislature, plans to campaign this weekend for state Sen. Stephen Knight, one of two Republicans battling to succeed a retiring congressman this fall.

Knight, of Palmdale, is competing with former state legislator Tony Strickland for the seat being vacated by Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita).

Donnelly, an unsuccessful candidate for governor in the June primary, sent email to supporters announcing that he would be walking precincts with Knight in Santa Clarita on Saturday morning. He urged volunteers to meet him and Knight at Republican headquarters in Santa Clarita.

“Steve and I have fought shoulder-to-shoulder to defend our 2nd Amendment Constitutional Civil Rights,” Donnelly said in the email addressed “Dear Patriots.”

“In contrast, Steve’s opponent left the state Senate with the distinction of being one of the most anti-hunting Republican [sic] to ever serve that body,” Donnelly continued.

Donnelly also praised Knight for his opposition to abortion.

Knight, who recently sparked controversy by voting, along with Donnelly, against a ban on selling images of the Confederate flag on state-owned sites, said Tuesday that he welcomed Donnelly’s help.

Donnelly’s support is not likely to sit too well with the district’s growing numbers of Democrats, whom both Knight and Strickland have been courting in their efforts to win the seat. No Democrat placed first or second in the primary, leaving members of that party to choose between the two Republicans or sit out the race.

Local Democratic leaders have urged their party members to vote and to choose the candidate they feel could better represent them.

McKeon has endorsed Strickland, who finished first in the primary, and several local elected officials, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, have lined up behind Knight.

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