Races Cut a Quirky Cross-Section of California

Voters often complain that politics is boring, and no wonder. When Godzilla is romping through the nation’s theaters and television is dishing up final “Seinfeld” episodes, it’s pretty hard to get worked up over the race to represent the good people of (fill in your district here).

But little is boring about the state of California if one takes the trouble to look closely, and this season’s congressional contests--both in the June 2 primary and those shaping up for November--are no exception.

We have on our ballots two widows--one the wife of an ex-rock ‘n’ roll star--a former congressman known for his outrageous rhetoric, a congressional son-in-law, a convicted criminal struggling to campaign while wearing an electronic ankle bracelet, the actor who played John-Boy’s daddy on “The Waltons.”

“It’s a weird cross-section of the bizarre nature of California,” one GOP observer said.

A series of unforeseen circumstances, some of them tragic, have made the June 2 primary a contest of reruns and a battle for open seats in several of the state’s 52 House districts.

The sudden deaths of two members in three months--Santa Barbara Democrat Walter Capps and Palm Springs Republican and former entertainer Sonny Bono--led to two high-profile special elections earlier this year.

Widows Lois Capps and Mary Bono filled their husbands’ unexpired terms. But the two were barely sworn in when they had to turn around and seek nominations for full two-year terms in Tuesday’s primary, contests they should win easily.

And in November, they almost assuredly will run against the same opponents they faced in the special elections. That means Bono will again face ex-Papa Walton Ralph Waite, a Democrat, in an election pundits predict she’ll win, especially if she repeats the strong campaign she ran in the special election. And Democrat Capps will rematch with conservative Republican Tom J. Bordonaro Jr., whom she handily beat in April.

“If it feels like deja vu all over again, it is,” one observer said.

The GOP majority in the House is a slim 11, so every seat counts this year. Among California’s 52 districts, three open seats are gaining national attention as particularly competitive. As of now, experts say Republicans have a good shot at scoring a net gain of one seat in the state (currently, the delegation consists of 29 Democrats, 23 Republicans).

One Democratic trouble spot is the South Bay’s 36th District seat left vacant by Rep. Jane Harman (D-Rolling Hills), who is running for governor.

Three strong Republicans are vying for the nomination: Susan Brooks, who almost beat Harman in 1994 and is considered the most conservative; state Assemblyman Steven T. Kuykendall, whose seat covers 30% of the district; and Los Angeles City Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr.

On the Democratic side, Janice Hahn--daughter of former county Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and sister of Los Angeles City Atty. James Hahn--appears to have a clear shot at the nomination.

Despite Harman’s success in the district, it leans Republican and whichever GOP candidate emerges from the primary will initially be given a good chance of winning it.

Another prospective GOP pickup is the Sacramento Valley seat held for 20 years by Democratic Rep. Vic Fazio, who is retiring.

The 3rd District is increasingly conservative, and battling for the Republican nomination are two aggressive candidates--Assemblywoman Barbara Alby of Fair Oaks and wealthy businessman Doug Ose. The bitterness of their contest gives the expected Democratic nominee, lawyer Sandie Dunn, virtually the only hope she has of retaining the seat for her party.

The Republicans may take these two races, but they will almost certainly lose one--the 1st District in California’s northern reaches, a polarized community of loggers and strident environmentalists that has changed hands in four of the last five elections.

Rep. Frank Riggs (R-Windsor) gave up the post to challenge California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, then dropped out of that race. Republicans have lined up behind Napa County Supervisor Mark Luce. But poised to win the Democratic nomination and the November election is state Sen. Mike Thompson of St. Helena, regarded as one of the strongest candidates Democrats have fielded anywhere in the nation.

Thompson enjoys wide name recognition and respect in the district for his work in the state Legislature. Washington-based political analyst Stuart Rothenberg, who surveys all 435 House districts, recently wrote that Republicans “have virtually conceded this open seat” to him.

Back in the Los Angeles area, in the usually quiet 41st District around Diamond Bar, one of the year’s odder races is playing out.

Incumbent Republican Jay Kim is seeking a fourth term while struggling with the stain of a campaign finance conviction. Sentenced to wear an electronic surveillance band around his ankle, Kim is forbidden to leave the Washington area and cannot campaign in person at this crucial time.

His troubles are being widely noted by his two GOP rivals--state Assemblyman Gary Miller and Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. Pete Pierce. Running unopposed for the Democratic nomination is Diamond Bar City Councilwoman Eileen R. Ansari.

Some observers say the solid GOP district will stay that way unless Kim is on the fall ballot, and then it’s anybody’s guess. “The collective wisdom is that Kim will be beaten in the primary, but I think that will be tested. He could be very viable,” said Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands).

An angry primary contest is raging among Democrats in East Los Angeles’s 34th District--in part because winning the June contest will be tantamount to election in the heavily Democratic area. The seat was left open by retiring Democratic Rep. Esteban Edward Torres, who hand-picked his successor--his son-in-law and chief of staff, Jamie Casso. But Casso is being vigorously challenged by Assemblywoman Grace Napolitano (D-Norwalk).

Napolitano is well-funded, but experts say she might as well be running against an incumbent because the popular Torres is featured in Casso’s literature and attends many of his campaign events.

Another slugfest is going on in the Garden Grove area’s 46th District, where vociferous ex-Rep. Robert K. Dornan, who outraged some while thrilling others with his pointed attacks on President Clinton, wants his old job back. Three Republicans are battling him for the nomination. The strongest are California State Lottery Commission Chairwoman Lisa Hughes and Superior Court Judge James P. Gray.

But Dornan sees his real opponent as Democratic incumbent Loretta Sanchez, who ended his long reign in Congress in 1996 in an election he spent much of the last two years angrily--and unsuccessfully--contesting.

Experts say Sanchez is a likely winner in November if her opponent is Dornan, who has fallen from grace with his party’s establishment. Against Hughes or Gray, they say, it is much more of a race.

Another race worth watching after the primary will be in the San Diego area’s 49th District, where Republican Brian Bilbray seeks a third term. The lone Democrat on the ballot is Christine T. Kehoe, a San Diego city councilwoman who also is one of four acknowledged lesbians running for Congress across the nation.

While Bilbray has a strong chance as an incumbent, Kehoe is a seasoned politician in a swing district that has elected both Democrats and Republicans in the past.