Under California law, the two top vote-getters in the primary will face each other in November, meaning that the senate race could end up being a contest between Democrats Harris and Sanchez.
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Democratic Attorney General Kamala Harris declared victory before a crowd of supporters in San Francisco around 10 p.m., after the Associated Press projected that she would advance to the November runoff.
They were among 34 candidates seeking the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. The matchup, the Los Angeles Times reports, signals the first time that California has sent off two Democrats for the general election- leaving out a Republican candidate-since the state’s first direct election of senators in 1914. And I am just thrilled.
When they face off in the general election in November, Harris or Sanchez could add some much needed racial and gender diversity to the federal government. Barbara Boxer. Donors favored Harris, who raised $11 million – more than three times Sanchez’ total. She also is favored by younger voters, drawing 31 percent from 18 to 29 year olds, versus Harris with 16 percent. Sanchez, meanwhile, would be the first Latina ever in the U.S. Senate.
The 51-year-old Harris – the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica – could become the first Indian woman to hold a Senate seat and the second black woman elected to the Senate.
Nearly on cue the day after the election, a Sacramento-based GOP political consultant announced plans for a super PAC-funded “Sanchez for California Project” to increase her support among California Republicans. She said her general election campaign will be about rejecting people that she said “try and divide us”.
Harris strategist Sean Clegg called the notion of a Hispanic-Republican alliance uniting behind Sanchez “misguided”.
The two women led in polling during the past year, owing to a significant Democratic registration advantage and a roster of Republicans who lacked statewide name recognition.
“We’ll have to work with the people and through the people to get this vote in”, she said. She also boasts the endorsement of California Gov.
The congresswoman, who serves on the Armed Forces and Homeland Security committees, also is hoping to get support from Republicans, who might find her more politically palatable than Harris.
“She’s incredibly personable in a one-on-one context, but it doesn’t come across in a debate.” said Fullerton College political scientist Jodi Balma. California has what’s known as a “jungle” primary system, where candidates from all party affiliations compete against each other in the nominating contest.
General elections will take place November 8. She would need to base her overtures to those communities on a mostly negative campaign against Harris, Merrill said. Sanchez can drive the storyline of the race, Merrill said, “but she is going to have to do a series of disruptive things to draw attention” and court Latinos and Republicans.
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Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders remained locked in a Democratic presidential primary contest while Donald Trump easily won on the Republican side as voters also cast ballots for a new USA senator and a host of other offices in California’s late-season primary.
