Wright Won’t Challenge Davis for Senate Seat

For state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia), the New Year brought news that any officeholder would celebrate: He won’t face a tough 1988 primary reelection challenge.

Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) made it official this week, announcing after months of consideration that she will not oppose Davis for the Republican nomination.

“I decided it would cost the party too much money,” Wright said. “And reapportionment is the most important thing.”

The Republicans hope to overcome Democratic majorities in the Assembly and Senate before the Legislature and governor redraw California’s congressional boundaries for the 1990s. Wright said a divisive primary could siphon off more than $1 million that would otherwise be directed to competitive legislative campaigns against Democrats next November.

Instead, Wright, 58, said she will seek reelection to a fifth two-year term in her Republican-dominated 37th Assembly District. Davis, 71, is running for his third four-year term in the heavily GOP 19th Senate District that extends across the West San Fernando Valley, western Antelope Valley and much of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

No Serious Foes

Neither incumbent is expected to face serious opposition, and both have accumulated substantial campaign war chests.

“Cathie has been lusting for my job for a long time,” said Davis, who had predicted for months that Wright would not oppose him. “I’m happy she’s not going to run.”

The ex-Los Angeles police chief disputed Wright’s contention, based on a poll she recently commissioned, that she could have mounted a viable challenge. Davis said a poll taken for him last spring gave him nearly a 3-to-1 margin over Wright.

“I’ll bet your boots that, if she could clearly see in her survey that she could steal this seat, she’d do it,” Davis said. “Who would just sacrifice themselves for the good of their party? It’s a nice frosting to put on her disappointment.”

Wright did leave the door open if Davis should announce that he is not going to follow through on his frequent declarations that he will seek a third term.

“If Ed Davis drops out before the final filing deadline, I’m ready to go,” Wright said.

Replied Davis: “That’s wishful thinking. I have no current plans ever to retire.”