Harris and Sanchez dominated a crowded field of 34 candidates in today’s primary election to advance in the race for the state’s first open U.S. Senate seat in more than 20 years. Among Republicans, Harris got twice as many votes – although 85 percent in the GOP voted for Republican candidates, and Sanchez could still win their favor. But even a million-dollar campaign to lure them in, if it ever materializes, may not be almost enough in a state where Democrats hold a 3.14-million-person edge in voter registration.
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Sanchez, who represents Orange County near Los Angeles, has served in Congress since 1997.
“I think that Harris’ performance was dominant”, said Democratic political consultant Katie Merrill.
“I know a lot of Republicans who plan to vote for her, but they are the educated ones”, he said. “And even though I have never held public office, I have a record of getting things done”. She also starts the general election with $4.7 million in cash.
“It’s not impossible but it’s close to impossible”, said Tony Quinn, whose Target Book handicaps California election races.
Two Democratic women candidates, both from ethnic minorities, will compete in a run-off for California’s open seat in the US Senate, officials say. That would appear to help Sanchez, since Latinos are her biggest base of support. We had a historic election in that it was about all of us coming together whether you’re a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent a Green, we all came together and spoke in this election.
“The eyes of the country are on us”, Harris told supporters late Tuesday at a rally in San Francisco.
In this September 2, 2015 file photo, California Attorney General Kamala Harris speaks at a news conference in Los Angeles. Along with her own county, Sanchez topped Harris in Fresno, Madera, Kings and Imperial counties.
Harris recently received an endorsement from California Governor Jerry Brown, who seldom wades into contested intra-party primaries.
Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic presidential primary in New Mexico, adding another state to her tally and extending her delegate lead over rival Bernie Sanders after she claimed victory in the race for her.
The Sanchez campaign acknowledged there were “significant challenges ahead” but said Harris would be mistaken if she expects the campaign to be a cakewalk. Throughout the primary process, Sanchez has championed her progressive-friendly foreign policy experience-particularly, her votes against the Iraq War and the Patriot Act-as well as her proposals for comprehensive immigration reform.
There were 12 little-known Republicans on the ballot. She’s been around. She knows what’s going on with San Francisco. I am a proud daughter of California and I could not be more proud than tonight.
The Harris campaign brushed aside Aitken’s optimism in a Wednesday phone conference with reporters to discuss strategy for the November election. A higher Latino turnout, spurred by the fear of a Donald Trump presidency, may favor Sanchez. It can be done, he said, because Sanchez’s expertise on national defense issues, reputation as a fiscal moderate and openness to at least considering new reservoirs in California will appeal to GOP voters. “Either your candidate gets that or is part of the problem”.
U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez answers questions after casting her ballot during a short press conference as her husband Jack Einwechter of Orange listens, Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at Orange High School, in Orange, Calif. Sanchez is running against California Attorney General Kamala Harris for the United States Senate seat replacing retiring Sen.
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“Campaigns are about contrast”. She was elected attorney general in 2010 and 2014. “It’s not hard to prove”.
