With Labor Day coming up, races shifting into gear

by Brian Leubitz

With the national political conventions starting up, the political season is here. And so, with that, how about a look at three races in the Assembly that could be good news for Speaker John Pérez and the Democratic caucus.

AD-8 (Dem Ken Cooley(pictured) v Rep. Peter Tateishi)

The Citizens Redistricting Commission rejiggered two suburban Sacramento district held by Democrats to create this new district. Those seats were held by retiring Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, who was elected in 2008, and Dr. Richard Pan, who upset Republican Andy Pugno in 2010 (Pugno is now running in another seat against fellow Republican Assemblywoman Beth Gaines, and Dr. Pan is in another Sacramento district). The new AD-8 has a 1.1% Dem. registration advantage.

Cooley, a founding Rancho Cordova City Council member matches up well against Tateishi, Dan Lungren’s Chief of Staff. Cooley has a cash on hand advantage and Tateishi is being dogged by the Sacramento county voter registration fraud scandal.

AD-32 (Dem. Rudy Salas v. Rep. Pedro Rios)

This long-time competitive seat in the Central Valley now tilts Democratic. The Citizens Redistricting Commission removed Republican portions of Fresno and Tulare and added a larger portion of Democratic-leaning neighborhoods in Bakersfield. With these changes, Dems now command a big registration advantage. However, turnout will still be critical come election day.

Salas, the first Latino elected to the Bakersfield City Council in its 138 year history, has a big cash advantage over former Delano councilman Rios.  In fact, Rios is in a cash hole that the GOP caucus doesn’t seem to be interested in repairing. Rios was an insurgent that defeated the party favorite, and faces an uphill battle without significant institutional support.

I’ll look at two more districts in the second part coming soon.