Dornan, Kim Appear Likely GOP Winners

Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) seemed likely to capture the GOP nomination for the 46th Congressional District, while three Democrats were locked in a tight battle Tuesday night to challenge Dornan in November.

In the 41st Congressional District, which dips into Orange County, incumbent Rep. Jay C. Kim (R-Diamond Bar) appeared likely to overcome an ongoing federal probe into his campaign finances and capture the GOP nomination over Upland businessman Bob Kerns. If he wins, Kim will face Democratic challenger Richard L. Waldron, who ran unopposed, as well as candidates from the Libertarian and Natural Law parties.

None of the other candidates in Orange County’s congressional districts--the 39th, 45th, 47th and 48th--faced primary opposition. They were automatically nominated by their respective parties and will face off in November.

In the 46th district, Dornan was fending off two challengers from his own party and appeared to be on his way to capturing the GOP nomination. Dornan’s challengers, Felix Rocha Jr. and Katherine H. Smith, had both asserted that Dornan had neglected voters by also pursuing the Republican presidential nomination.

The voters of the 46th District seemed forgiving late Tuesday.

Dornan, a conservative firebrand who has represented the heavily Democratic district since 1984, said he was looking forward to the November general election.

Dornan spoke to a crowd of supporters at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel in Costa Mesa, introducing 11 members of his family one by one. Then, even though far ahead, he attacked Smith, his GOP opponent. Dornan stood on the stage and publicly accused Smith of various election code violations.

“Wherever you are, whatever your name is, Smith,” Dornan said, “Shame on you.”

Dornan will face either Michael P. Farber, James Prince or Loretta Sanchez in the November election. The three Democrats were locked in a close battle late Tuesday, with Farber leading.

Farber said he hoped a big push by his campaign to target absentee voters would pay off.

“It’s a start,” a hopeful Farber said at his campaign headquarters.

The Democrats have high hopes of unseating Dornan. The district, which covers Garden Grove and parts of Santa Ana and Anaheim has a Democratic majority of 54% to 46%.

But the Democrats have been confident before, and Dornan has always managed to defeat them.

This year, four Democrats challenged Dornan: Farber, a 35-year-old businessman; Robert J. Brennan, 56, a heavy-equipment operator of Anaheim; Prince, 33, a former congressional aide of Santa Ana; and Sanchez, 36, a public-finance specialist of Garden Grove.

Farber emphasized economic issues, saying the government needed to take a more active role in helping workers deal with changes in business.

Farber was the party’s nominee in 1994. This time around, he was chided for not showing up at several candidate forums. Farber responded that he could reach far more voters by mail and telephone--and he had the money to do it. Farber raised nearly $500,000, more than any other candidate.

Farber campaigned without the endorsement of the Democratic Party, which backed Prince.

Prince worked for the Farber campaign for several months in 1994. He raised some $203,000.

Dornan, 63, is something of a political institution in Southern California. The former talk show host served as U.S. representative from the Santa Monica area from 1976 to 1982, then lost a run for the U.S. Senate before winning in Orange County in 1984.

Dornan is an outspoken conservative and one of President Clinton’s most caustic critics. He champions the free market, denounces abortion rights and is critical of the U.S. deployment of troops in Bosnia. He wants to abolish the income tax and the Internal Revenue Service.

Dornan has not faced a congressional primary challenge since his 1992 tussle with former Orange County Superior Court Judge Judith M. Ryan, considered a moderate Republican. He remained uncharacteristically above the fray during the June 1994 primary, while seven Democrats clamored for the right to take him on.