The 26th District in California has historically been composed of slightly more Republicans than Democrats. Therefore, David Dreier, Republican House Rep for the district, has continually won reelection in the district since his first victory in 1981. However, the tide is changing, voters are fed up with the republican agenda and ready to usher in an era of Democratic leadership. We will be able to witness this change in the congressional race in the CA 26th District, as a democratic candidate will have the opportunity to end Dreier's 27 year reign over the district.
Hoyt Hilsman will be the perfect candidate to oust Dreier. He is a director at the Hope Street Group, a bipartisan think tank of professionals who are committed to the equality of opportunity and economic growth. He is also a respected community volunteer. He has taught creative writing classes in public schools, volunteered at Union Station (a homeless shelter) and become an active member of the Writer's Guild.
Hoyt Hilsman was raised in Washington DC. His father was Assistant Secretary of State during the Kennedy Administration. Hilsman attended Columbia University and then went on to Columbia Law School. During this time he worked with some prominent leaders of our time, such as Bill Clinton.
After finishing law school Hilsman began working at the Federal Legal Services Program with the poor, unemployed and disabled at a state prison. However, eventually Hilsman left the legal field behind and began making a name for himself as an award winning writer. He has been a contributor to the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. In addition, he has written several plays that have been produced throughout the US as well as other countries and written screenplays for major movie studios and television networks.
Hoyt Hilsman has followed in his father's civic footsteps by becoming a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He has also been a key advisor to many candidates during their campaigns.
Congressman David Dreier (Rep) has been representing CA-26 District since 1981. It is about time someone gives him a run for his money! Yesterday, the New York Times Reported that Hoyt Hilsman (Dem), "director of a nonprofit organization promoting equality of opportunity and economic growth", has loaned his campaign $100,000 and has raised an addition $60,000 in the hopes of challenging Dreier in the 2008 elections. What the article doesn't mention is that after Law School Hilsman worked in the Federal Legal Services program, helping the poor, unemployed and disabled, at a state prison representing indigent inmates. He is also a successful writer and community volunteer.
There may be hope yet for the democrats of CA-26. However, first Hilsman must win the primary against Russell Warner and Cynthia Matthews. I don't know about you but I am rooting for Hilsman in this one.
There are no Senate seats up in California in 2008, and no statewide offices up for election, so the biggest seats outside of the Presidency will be in the House of Representatives. While we're 18 months out, I thought I'd give a snapshot of what races are most inviting for a Democratic pickup.
I'm going to concern myself solely with pickup opportunities, because the only realistic possibility of a GOP pickup is in CA-11, and I'm confident that Jerry McNerney and his grassroots army can handle whatever's thrown at him, plus he'll have the power of incumbency and the focus of the CDP. There may be some retirements that would make things interesting (Lantos, Stark, Woolsey), but those are very blue areas. So let's look at the best opportunities to add to the Democratic majority:
(An interesting discussion of an unexpectedly renominated Cynthia Matthews. - promoted by SFBrianCL)
As promised, I went to the campaign office of Cynthia Matthews (D, CA-26) yesterday. It is a typical nondescript office space in a small shopping center along California’s historic Route 66 (corner of Towne and Foothill). The office is not clearly visible from the road; I didn’t actually see it until I had driven around the parking lot.
But don’t let the search deter you; the destination is worth the journey. Upon entering the office I was pleased and surprised to find Matthews personally manning the office. The surprise came only from my personal experience of working on Presidential and Senatorial campaigns that are not centralized in the manner of a House of Representatives campaign. Matthews was dressed casually in a yellow shirt and greeted me warmly, as if inviting me into her home for a beverage and reprieve from the summer heat. I knew immediately that I had been missing something by not being more engaged in politics at this local level.
A week ago, I wrote a diary here asking for suggestions for starting a new blog to cover the race in CA-26. Two nights ago, I watched and reloaded, slightly disbelieving the preliminary results in the Democratic primary in CA-26, David Dreier (R-Closet)'s district. Russ Warner, endorsed by Gen. Wesley Clark, ran on a moderate platform of "protecting the middle class, promoting small business, and supporting our troops, honoring our veterans." Clark came to the district, raised money for Warner, and even recorded a robocall for him. Warner was supposed to be the best chance in awhile to defeat Dreier, a tough prospect considering Dreier's power as Rules Committee chairman and the Republican registration advantage in the district (46% R to 35% D).
Meanwhile, Cynthia Rodriguez Matthews, who came out of the closet during the 2004 election and challenged Dreier to do the same ran again. Matthews gave Dreier the closest margin of any reelected congressman in California in 2004 (54-42), thanks in no small part to the anti-Dreier activism of two radio hosts surrounding immigration. Yet Matthews had raised only $516 as of mid-May and $5,361 as of June 1. Her website is a nightmare. Watching the election from afar, I pretty much wrote her off.
