PDA Candidates Make Overwhelming Gains in California Primary

By PDA Deputy Director Kevin Spidel

A volunteer, Mimi Kennedy, and Marcy Winograd looking over Kevin Spidel's computer at the results. Photo by Dr. Bill Honigman.

June 7, 2006--Last night, as the polls came to a close, you could feel progressive hope in the air. I sat with hundreds of volunteers for Marcy Winograd, glued to the computers looking for returns to roll. Overall, yesterday was a good day for the progressive movement as eight of 12 PDA-endorsed candidates in California made it through the primaries last night.

National Board member Rep. Lynn Woolsey, an incumbent facing a strong challenge in the primary, came away with 66% of the vote.

Jerry McNerney walked away with a huge 52% of the vote in a three-way primary battle. Congrats Jerry!

Bob Filner also ended the primary election with 52% in a three-way race. Another congrats to Bob!

PDA Board and Progressive Caucus member Rep. Diane Watson was also contested in the primary, yet garnered 91% of the vote.

Rep. Maxine Waters, PDA Board member, Progressive Caucus member, and Chair of the Out-of-Iraq Caucus in Congress, received 86% in a contested primary.

Rep. Barbara Lee also swept past an uncontested priamry and onward to the General election.

PDA-endorsed candidate and PDA activist Jeeni Criscenzo was uncontested in the primary, along with Steve Young. These two will take their peace message to the general election with PDA's support.

Finally, PDA-endorsed candidate Francine Busby won the primary in the 50th Congressional District to become the Democratic candidate in the fall.

Although Busby came up short in the race to fill the seat of Randy Cunningham for the next seven months, we still have the ability to win in the fall based on so much great success built on the ground. Her candidacy and victory in the primary will be the stepping stone to taking back the House seat. With more than twice as much money available to his cause, particularly from the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, Brian Bilbray was victorious with just under 4% more votes in this Congressional District, despite the fact that there are 14% more Republican voters registered in the 50th CD than Democrats. This cannot be seen as a real victory for Republicans. They know this challenge continues.

One of the most important races for PDA's election protection work is the office of Secretary of State. We are thrilled to see a true election protection expert win the Democratic primary. Debra Bowen won by a landslide last night! She is not a PDA-endorsed candidate because we are a federal PAC and work on federal races, but each and every PDA activist on the ground is working on her campaign. She will be a step in the right direction to securing our elections!

As for California's 36th district...

Marcy Winograd, a PDA activist, stood up one morning frustrated at the representation of Rep. Jane Harman. She said, "I am going to do something. I am going to run for Congress to send a message!" As I drove into the district yesterday and saw hundreds of signs plastered in each intersection of the district with Out-of-Iraq signs, I knew the message was clear. Based on our own internal PDA polling, we have seen that her candidacy has now pushed the antiwar "Out Now" voting bloc to over 81%. Her initiative to "do something" has clearly been felt. And Rep. Harman knows this. In Marcy's election-night speech to her supporters, she said, "I knew we made an impact when I began seeing comments that Jane Harman has made in magazines as of late, saying she now wants to troops home sooner then later. We have moved her, and we will continue to be vocal." We have not seen the last of candidate Marcy Winograd, I can assure you.

Running a progressive campaign against an incumbent is never easy, and rarely is done the first time out. Marcy, her campaign staff, and the volunteers know this. PDLA is stronger now than ever. They are ever vigilant, and will not rest. The momentum Marcy has built in California's 36th CD will continue to grow. Rep. Harman knows this. She understands she must ally with this voting bloc to keep her seat in Congress. Let us remember that. As we move forward to challenge her on issues, keep in mind that in order to see the above victories mold future members of Congress, we must never give up and always move forward. After all, we are progressives!

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PDA Candidates Make Overwhelming Gains in California Primary

By PDA Deputy Director Kevin Spidel