Condit Faces Challenge by a Former Political Protege

Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza announced Monday that he would seek the congressional seat of fellow Democrat Gary Condit, raising the prospect of a bitter primary between the beleaguered lawmaker and his former political protege.

Cardoza, of Merced, planned to announce his candidacy today, making him the second Democrat to challenge Condit, who began collecting signatures for reelection last month. Two Republicans also have announced their candidacies.

“I don’t believe Congressman Condit is electable at this point,” Cardoza said in an interview. “He’s strained relationships throughout Washington and at home.”

Cardoza called the decision to run “extremely difficult” and said he related his plans to Condit about 10 days ago in a conversation that was tense but cordial.

“I have nothing but the best regard for the Condit family,” Cardoza said. “I wish them no pain. I take no glee in what’s happened in this whole situation. It’s been a very painful summer in the Central Valley.”

Cardoza, 42, a friend and former Condit staff aide, presents a formidable threat to the seven-term incumbent. He shares many of the same moderate-to-conservative views as Condit and already represents roughly two-thirds of the voters in the redrawn 18th Congressional District.

In addition, Cardoza is expected to announce the endorsement today of several Assembly colleagues--among them Speaker Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks)--and the backing of several erstwhile Condit supporters, including local union leaders and the head of the Stanislaus County Democratic Party.

Chairman Art Torres said the state Democratic Party would stay neutral in the primary. “But I’ve got to be honest,” he said. “The prevailing view is that Dennis is the candidate who can win” in November 2002 and keep the seat in Democratic hands.

With Monday’s developments, pressure began building on Condit to step aside rather than seek another term.

“It’s a big, fat hint to Condit: Don’t run,” said Tony Quinn, a political analyst in Sacramento.

Although Condit is gathering signatures to qualify for the March primary, he has yet to declare his candidacy and can wait until December--the filing deadline--to decide whether to seek reelection.

“This is America,” Mike Lynch, Condit’s chief of staff, said in response to Cardoza’s announcement. “Anybody can run for anything.”

Condit, who routinely waltzed to reelection, has seen his political standing plummet since he was linked last spring to Chandra Levy, the missing federal intern. Although Condit has been repeatedly questioned in connection with her disappearance, Washington police have said he is not suspected of any criminal wrongdoing. Levy’s family has said the two were having an extramarital affair, which Condit has never acknowledged.

The scandal has sent political ripples throughout the Central Valley. Originally, Cardoza was expected to run for the state Senate and his Assembly seat was being eyed by Condit’s son, Chad, a former aide to Gov. Gray Davis.

With Cardoza now running for Congress, Democrats are scrambling to find a viable state Senate candidate. Chad Condit, who quit Davis’ office after the governor criticized his father, has apparently abandoned plans to seek elected office.

Two Republicans, Modesto Councilman Bill Conrad and state Sen. Dick Monteith of Modesto, also have announced their candidacies in the 18th District, which runs roughly north from Modesto to Stockton. But the political makeup strongly favors Democrats, who enjoy a 52% to 35% registration edge under political lines drawn last summer.

Democrat Tom Ciccarelli, director of Inter-Faith Ministries in Modesto and a former Condit backer, announced his candidacy last week.