Son of Rep. Hunter may run to succeed him
The son of Rep. Duncan Hunter, the El Cajon Republican running a long-shot campaign for president, said Wednesday he was “strongly considering” seeking the congressional seat his father plans to vacate at the end of his term.
Duncan D. Hunter, 30, said that when it comes to politics, he is “pretty much eye to eye with Dad’s views.”
“I’d say I’m in the conservative wing of the Republican Party,” he said.
The former Marine, who served two tours in Iraq, said he volunteers full time for his father’s campaign and expects to formally announce his candidacy for the House next month.
When the elder Hunter, the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, declared his candidacy for president in October, he said he would not seek reelection to Congress. Hunter was first elected to California’s 52nd District in 1980.
“It wasn’t his intention to run for two offices simultaneously,” said spokesman Joe Kasper.
Like his father, Duncan D. Hunter said that he would be tough on national security issues and that he backs the expansion of fences along the border with Mexico. The Lakeside resident also said he supports tougher penalties against sexual predators. He and his wife, Margaret, have three children.
Jess Durfee, San Diego County Democratic Party chairman, said names of possible candidates were already “floating around,” although no one had officially come forward. He expressed hope that Democrats could reclaim the seat for the first time in nearly three decades.
“If national politics continue to go the way they’ve been going,” he said, “any open seat could be up for grabs.”
*
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
