GOP Tests Gay Candidate as ‘New Generation Republican’ in Poll #CA52

Peters is vulnerable in 2014. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

A new GOP poll tested former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, an openly gay Republican and potential congressional candidate, as a “new generation Republican” in the highly competitive 52nd District.

DeMaio, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor last year, posted solid favorable ratings. He led freshman Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., in a hypothetical general-election matchup.

The poll informed likely voters that DeMaio is openly gay and he would prefer that the GOP focus on fixing the federal government’s finances rather than on social issues. According to the polling memo, the results of pitching that kind of a profile in this moderate district were encouraging across the political spectrum.

“The data from this survey shows that DeMaio could be very successful in a congressional race portraying himself as a ‘new generation Republican,’” Tarrance Group pollster Dave Sackett wrote.

The survey memo, obtained by CQ Roll Call, was paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

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California: Republicans Eyeing DeMaio to Challenge Freshman Peters

Peters is a top 2014 target for Republicans. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Republican strategists believe former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio is considering a challenge to freshman Democratic Rep. Scott Peters, a top GOP target in 2014.

DeMaio boasts strong name ID in the 52nd District after losing to former Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., by a slim margin, in the San Diego mayoral election last year. But DeMaio performed well in the area where the district and city overlapped, according to one GOP strategist.

Reached for comment, DeMaio spokeswoman Jennifer Jacobs downplayed the rumors, saying “there is significant discussion and speculation about Carl’s future elective opportunities. However, at this time, Carl is focusing on opportunities to promote reform throughout California and for that matter, the country.” Full story

DCCC Announces 26 Members on Frontline Incumbent Retention Program

Israel leads the DCCC. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel named 26 of his colleagues to the Frontline program, a committee program designed to protect their most vulnerable incumbents.

“We call this program Frontline for a reason – these Members are on the vanguard of protecting and expanding the middle class,” Israel said in a written statement released Tuesday morning.

“While the 2014 campaign will be dominated by a strong offense taking on the Tea Party Republican Congress, our success begins with our Members,” added Israel, a Democrat from New York. “These battle-tested men and women have proven time and again that they can win because no one better reflects the values of their districts.”

Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn. will spearhead the program as its chairman. He’s a Frontline alumnus as recently as the 2012 cycle.

Otherwise, the list includes several freshman members and Blue Dog Democrats:

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California: Bilbray Concedes to Peters

Democrat Scott Peters will be the next congressman from California's 52nd District after he defeated an incumbent. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Brian P. Bilbray, R-Calif., has conceded his re-election bid in the 52nd District to Democrat Scott Peters.

Bilbray called Peters Friday to deliver the news, a spokesman said, and released a statement to the press.

Peters, a San Diego port commissioner, led Bilbray by 2,660 votes when counting concluded on Thursday, according to the California secretary of state’s office. His lead grew in the week and a half since Election Day, when the two were separated by fewer than 1,000 votes. Full story

Day 9: Latest Update on Outstanding House Races

Patrick Murphy is on Capitol Hill this week for new member orientation even though his race against Rep. Allen B. West hasn't been called yet. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Democratic candidates continue to hold on to their small leads in the five outstanding House races. Here are the latest numbers as of Wednesday afternoon:

• Arizona’s 2nd
  Democratic Rep. Ron Barber has about a 650 vote lead over Republican Martha McSally, according to the Arizona Secretary of State Office’s latest numbers.

• California’s 7th
  Democrat Ami Bera is well ahead of Republican Rep. Dan Lungren by about 3,800 votes. Full story

Five House Races Still Outstanding

Rep. Ron Barber leads his GOP challenger, but the race has not yet been called. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Five House races remain unresolved almost a week after Election Day.

The two main developments since Friday in uncalled races were in California and Arizona. Earlier today, Democratic former state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema won the race against Republican Vernon Parker in Arizona’s 9th district. On Friday night, Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R) formally conceded to Democrat Raul Ruiz. Here are the races still up in the air: Full story

Handful of House Races Still Uncalled

The 113th Congress isn’t set yet. The winners in six House races remain unclear.

Here’s an update on those races:

• In Arizona’s 2nd district, retired Air Force Col. Martha McSally (R) led Rep. Ron Barber (D), but there are early ballots and provisional ballots left to be counted. Both parties felt confident that the outcome of this race would be in their favor, but it might take a while to find out who is right. “It’s just gonna drag on there for a week or two,” one Arizona Democratic political insider said.
• In Arizona’s new 9th district, former state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D) led ex-Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker (R) by about 2,700 votes, but many, many ballots remained to be counted, and the race has not yet been called by the Associated Press.
• In California’s 7th district, physician Ami Bera (D) led Rep. Dan Lungren (R) by the slimmest of margins — 184 votes, according to the AP. A margin like that could make this race ripe for a recount, which must be requested by one of the candidates. Full story

House Majority PAC Airs Final Spots in Nine Races

Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC today will announce its final flight of advertisements in nine key races.

According to a copy of the spots provided early to Roll Call, House Majority PAC will target the following districts with six-figure buys:

In Arizona’s 1st district, the Democratic group and EMILY’s List will jointly air “Why” through Election Day in the Phoenix market for $120,000:

In Arizona’s new 9th district, it will join with EMILY’s List to air “About Women” through Election Day in the Phoenix market for $120,000:

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California: Flurry of Polling in Close 52nd District

San Diego Port Commissioner Scott Peters (above) is in what appears to be a close race with Rep. Brian Bilbray. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

A flurry of polls were released over the last few days in the battleground 52nd district, where Rep. Brian Bilbray (R) is attempting to hold off a challenge from San Diego Port Commissioner Scott Peters (D).

Until now, there had been a dearth of polling on this competitive race. None of the three polls now out match each other, and the race is likely closer than any of the numbers suggest.

Sixty percent of the redrawn district is new to Bilbray, and the race has attracted a torrent of outside spending in recent weeks as both parties push to get out the early vote for this race and the competitive mayoral election.

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Bill Clinton to Rally for Southern California House Candidates

Former President Bill Clinton introduces musician Bruce Springsteen as they campaign for President Barack Obama's reelection during an appearance at Cuyahoga Community College in Parma. Ohio. (Photo by Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

Bill Clinton will attend a Southern California rally on Tuesday to formally endorse Democratic Congressional candidates in a region fertile with pickup opportunities for the party.

The former president is scheduled to attend a “California’s Voice” afternoon rally at the University of California, Irvine, a serene, suburban Orange County campus between Los Angeles and San Diego. There he will endorse five candidates either challenging a Republican incumbent or running for an open seat. Full story

California: Scott Peters Hits the Road in Tight Race

Scott Peters (center), Democratic candidate for California's 52nd Congressional district, shakes hands with supporters at a pre-canvassing labor rally in San Diego on Saturday. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

SAN DIEGO — Democrat Scott Peters on Saturday rallied more than 400 labor volunteers who were preparing to canvass for voters across the city to support his bid to oust Rep. Brian Bilbray (R) in California’s newly drawn 52nd district and to help Democrats running in other local races.

Before setting out on a chilly (for this city) morning, state Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (I), who made national headlines earlier this year when he left the GOP during his run for mayor, introduced Peters to the large labor council gathering in a parking lot near Qualcomm Stadium, home of the National Football League’s San Diego Chargers.

With early voting under way in the Golden State, it was part of Peters’ initial push in this Tossup race — one that he participated in as he knocked on doors in the company of Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.) to ask voters for their support. Full story

California: Former Republican Backs Scott Peters

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

San Diego Port Commissioner Scott Peters (D) announced Tuesday the endorsement of state Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, who left the Republican Party in March to become an independent during his run for San Diego mayor.

“If you backed me for Mayor because you want leaders who put people ahead of party politics, then I urge you to vote for Scott Peters, too,” Fletcher said, according to a campaign release.

Peters, who is challenging Rep. Brian Bilbray (R), hopes the Fletcher endorsement will help him win over some of the large chunk of “decline-to-state” voters in the 52nd district.

California: Scott Peters Launches First TV Ad

In a top pickup opportunity for Democrats in California, San Diego Port Commissioner Scott Peters (D) launched the first television ad of his bid to defeat Rep. Brian Bilbray (R).

The clever ad features young children sitting around a boardroom table arguing, screaming and pounding their fists. Full story

Nancy Pelosi Rallies California Delegates for House Race Push

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and a number of other Democratic leaders packed an expansive hotel ballroom this morning to rally the California delegation, highlighting the state’s importance in winning back the House.

Along with numerous mentions of President Barack Obama, the breakfast program focused largely on House races. Guest speakers include Reps. Jared Polis (Colo.) and Donna Edwards (Md.), who co-chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue program that helps candidates running for GOP-held seats.

“California is essential to it all,” Pelosi said. Full story

California Poll: Brian Bilbray, Scott Peters Tied in 52nd District

Rep. Brian Bilbray tied with his Democratic opponent for California's 52nd district in a recent poll. (Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

A poll conducted for San Diego Port Commissioner Scott Peters found the Democrat tied with Rep. Brian Bilbray (R) in the 52nd district.

Peters and Bilbray both took 40 percent, including those only leaning toward either candidate, with 19 percent undecided. This is a top pickup opportunity for Democrats, who need to capitalize in California for a chance at the House majority.

Both parties’ House campaign committees have reserved about $1.6 million in fall TV time in San Diego. Full story