Rivals Rogan, Schiff Gain Endorsements

Rep. James E. Rogan (R-Glendale) and his Democratic challenger, state Sen. Adam Schiff of Burbank, each scored endorsements Tuesday from Armenian American groups.

Both candidates are aggressively courting the district’s Armenian American voters, a key swing bloc in the 27th District, covering Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena and adjacent areas.

Rogan won the support of the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party on Tuesday, a day after his endorsement by the Ramgavar Party, also known as the Armenian Democratic Liberal Organization.

Each party says it has several hundred members in the district, but expects to influence many others.

They cited Rogan’s support for U.S. aid to Armenia and his House resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide.

“Congressman Rogan’s record is a shining example of a politician whose deeds surpass his words pertaining to issues that are critical to Armenians,” the Ramgavar Party said in a statement.

Schiff was endorsed Tuesday by the Armenian National Committee’s political action committee. The committee describes itself as the largest grass-roots political organization for Armenian Americans in the United States.

The committee backed Rogan in his last two congressional races, but switched to Schiff because he is “more proactive and forward-looking,” said Vicken Papazian, executive director of the committee’s western regional office.

The committee applauded Schiff for securing state funds for a documentary film on the Armenian genocide of 1915 to 1923, pushing legislation to benefit genocide survivors and promoting economic ties between California and the Republic of Armenia.

An estimated 23,000 Armenian Americans are registered to vote in the district.