Tonight CDP Chair John Burton emailed party delegates to announce Jane Harman’s resignation. But what was most interesting was who he mentioned as the only candidate who has told the CDP they’re running for the CA-36 seat – and it wasn’t Janice Hahn:
As of the sending of this email, the only candidate that has officially informed the California Democratic Party that they are running in the 36th congressional district is Debra Bowen. Bowen has been our Secretary of State since 2007 and she is a former State Senator and State Assemblymember from the area.
Yep. Debra Bowen appears to be running for Congress. She has an ActBlue page up as well. Although she’s made no formal announcement, she did tell Bob Brigham earlier today that she was “giving it very serious thought”.
It makes sense for Bowen to jump into the race. She’s termed out in 2014, and in 2018 the race for governor will be a slugfest between Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and maybe some other folks as well. Bowen has served her terms in the Legislature, and so there isn’t much else for her to do in Sacramento. As much as I liked the idea of Governor Bowen, Congresswoman Bowen works too.
So too does Senator Bowen – as in United States Senator. Dianne Feinstein is likely to run for re-election in 2012 and will probably win. But by 2018 she might be ready to hang it up, and the House of Representatives would be a good place to launch a campaign for Senate – just ask Barbara Boxer.
Most importantly, Bowen has shown herself to be a strong progressive leader during her time in Sacramento – not just as one of the best Secretaries of State in the country, but as a good progressive legislator during her years in the State Capitol. She won’t be just one of 435 Representatives – she’ll be a strong voice for change and for 21st century solutions to our problems.
Janice Hahn has run for the seat before and has a local base, but so too does Bowen. Bowen’s ability to raise money statewide outstrips Hahn’s, and Bowen is likely to get more grassroots support, although one should never dismiss what Hahn can bring to the table.
It should be an interesting race between Hahn, Bowen, and who knows who else that jumps in. Either one would be a huge upgrade over the anti-Constitution Jane Harman, even if my support will ultimately lie with Bowen.