Democrats target GOP House Seats

Leftist Democratic Socialists zero in on two Republican districts


The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee elevated Dr. Ami Bera of Sacramento County and former astronaut Jose Hernandez of San Joaquin County to the highest priority in the party's bid to reclaim the House reports the Sacramento Bee.

Bera and Hernandez joined 16 other top-ranked Democrats on the party's designated first team of challengers, dubbed "Red to Blue" candidates for their potential to take back Republican seats.

Bera is mounting his second challenge against Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, in a newly redrawn district that's centered in eastern Sacramento County. Democratic presidential candidates carried the newly redrawn and renumbered 7th Congressional District in both 2004 and 2008.

Hernandez is challenging Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Atwater, to represent a district that includes Stanislaus County and portions of southern San Joaquin County. The population of the newly redrawn and renumbered 10th Congressional District is 40 percent Latino.

The Republicans, moreover, maintain their own means of marketing candidates. The GOP campaign organization includes a "Patriot Program" to help targeted incumbents raise money, as well as a "Young Guns" program whose participants include 24-year-old San Joaquin County resident Ricky Gill, now challenging Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton.

Bera reported raising $1.1 million last year and had $918,873 on hand as of Dec. 31. A spokesman for Lungren's campaign could not be reached to discuss campaign fundraising. Denham, who moved to Turlock, will report having raised about $900,000 last year.
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(Sacramento Bee)