Kopp Decides Against Run for U.S. Senate

State Sen. Quentin L. Kopp of San Francisco, a onetime conservative Democrat who became an independent in the mid-1980s, announced Monday that he will not seek election to the U.S. Senate from California as an independent this year.

Kopp had considered seeking a spot on the ballot for the six-year seat held by Democrat Alan Cranston, who is retiring at the end of this year. The major party nominees for the post are Democrat Barbara Boxer of Marin County and Republican Bruce Herschensohn of Los Angeles.

“Today, there is an independent movement that is growing in momentum,” Kopp said in a statement issued by his Sacramento office. “I believe that more independent voices are needed in both Sacramento and Washington.

“Being realistic, however, the outrageous cost of mounting a statewide campaign and the lateness of date make the success of such a noble effort marginal in probability.”

To qualify for the ballot, Kopp would have had to collect 134,781 voter signatures by Aug. 7.

“Shortness of time to plan and implement a campaign, to raise funds and to create support in parts of California in which I am not known militate against such a candidacy,” he said.

After serving as a San Francisco city-county supervisor from 1972 to 1986, Kopp won election in 1986 to the Senate seat, which covers the southern part of the city and portions of San Mateo County. His term lasts two more years to run.