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CA-32: Obama Picks Solis for Labor Sec'y

by: James L.

Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 2:21 PM EST

It's a done deal, apparently. This comes as something of a surprise, since I don't believe Solis was even mentioned as a contender for this job -- the most recent name with traction appeared to be Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro.

And for the special election handwringers, barring some truly bizarre events, there's nothing to worry about here: this Los Angeles-based district has a PVI of D+17.

James L. :: CA-32: Obama Picks Solis for Labor Sec'y

Tags: CA-32, 2010 House Open Seat Watch, (All Tags)

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CA-32: Obama Picks Solis for Labor Sec'y | 24 comments

Good

I was wondering about the PVI, I am happy with this pick then.

by: trowaman @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 13:25:21 PM CST

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First off, this is a great progressive pick

And we don't have to deal with "fashion nightmare" Rosa anywhere near the cameras.

It looks like Gloria Romera holds her former State Senate seat, and as the Democratic majority leader would seem to have pull over the establishment.

She's also a leader in prison reform, something on which too few members of Congress are willing to speak up.

Anyone know more about her? From what I read she seems like a logical and promising choice.

by: adam.kretz @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 13:26:42 PM CST

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Fantastic pick

Exactly what we need at Labor.

by: ChadInFL @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 13:45:35 PM CST

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Exactly.

I've liked her for a long time, even before we chatted at FireDogLake last year. I am "Sara", my first name, in that chat.

http://firedoglake.com/2007/06...

Check out the 2010 California races and help us take back Red California!

by: californianintexas @ Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 03:52:44 AM CST

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Solis has been a great representative

trivia: she was also the first Latina woman in the California state senate.

She also chaired the Progressive Caucus at one point.

by: skaje @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 13:54:04 PM CST

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Best pick so far

by: Paleo @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 14:37:41 PM CST

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gotta give that to Chu

so progressive but so qualified.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 15:55:00 PM CST

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sorry, replace the but with and

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:08:02 PM CST

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Judy Chu?

Are you endorsing her for CA-32?

C4O Democrats: A Place for All Democrats

by: atdleft @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:08:18 PM CST

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no, the new secretary of Energy

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 20:53:55 PM CST

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yup

those two are my favorite picks.

by: Andrew @ Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 13:21:02 PM CST

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Hooray!

I LOVE Hilda Solis! She'll be a fabulous Labor Secretary! And don't worry about CA-32, we'll get another great Rep. there. I'm sure Assm. Judy Chu wants to run, and she'll continue the great progressive tradition in this district started by Hilda.

C4O Democrats: A Place for All Democrats

by: atdleft @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:02:58 PM CST

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Assm. Judy Chu?

Judy Chu was termed out of the Assembly two years ago and replaced in that seat by her husband Mike Eng. She is now a member of the Board of Equalization, which is the state tax board. It is the only elected body I know that has a Chinese-American majority. Chu serves along with Betty Yee (of S.F.) and Controller John Chiang on the five member board.
As far as whether she is the most likely replacement in Congress I am not so sure. The district is probably majority Latino (or at least a plurality) so maybe one of the area's state legislators might get it. You could do worse than Gloria Romero. I just hope it is someone that is both energetic and progressive like Hilda Solis.

by: Zack from the SFV @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 19:56:05 PM CST

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Whoops...

Silly me, I forgot about her being termed out. Still, don't count her out yet. The special election here will likely be like the special in CA-37 in 2007, but hopefully not as nasty. Even though Latinos are the majority population in both districts, they're not always the majority voting populace. Laura Richardson won in CA-37 because she turned out her African-American supporters, and the same could be done in CA-32 by Chu or any other Asian-American candidate there. There's a large enough Asian-American population here that they may end up turning out in greater numbers than Latinos in a low turnout special election.

C4O Democrats: A Place for All Democrats

by: atdleft @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 20:43:49 PM CST

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That may be possible.

But I'm not sure the upcoming CA-32 special will be like a CA-37 redux. The 37th is 25% Black and 43.2% Hispanic. The 32nd is 18.4% Asian and 62.3% Hispanic. In the 37th it is easy for black voters to surpass Hispanic voters. Not so much in the 32nd. Even if Asians maxed out their turnout here I don't think they'd be able to cancel out the Hispanic votes. And even Richardson in CA-37 got some crossover Hispanic support, and still only narrowly won the primary.

Check out the 2010 California races and help us take back Red California!

by: californianintexas @ Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 03:24:18 AM CST

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Further note on the CA state board of equalization

Michelle Steele, the 3rd-district board member, is Korean-American. So, on a five member board (the State Controller serves as the chair), there are 3 Chinese-Americans, one Korean-American, and one white man.

by: adamnvillani @ Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 04:09:12 AM CST

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Wait wait wait?!

It's ONLY D+17??!! Is Obama crazy!!!!???? We can't be giving away seats like this! What if Peter King moves out to California!? People keep telling me that he'll kick ass and take names in the D+22 New York, so this should be downright easy for him!
We are soooo screwed you guys. I wish Obama hadn't of won. Why didn't I just vote for McCain? Then we could have gotten more and better Democrats into Congress which is utterly and completely and obviously IMPOSSIBLE now and we could have seen more of Sarah Palin and her ridiculous little red skirts.

by: Nico @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 17:38:10 PM CST

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D+17 when Kerry and Gore won CA by 10 points

With Obama's unprecedented 24 point win in California, I'm looking forward to hearing how he fared in districts like CA-32.

by: skaje @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 19:57:01 PM CST

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I fail ridiculously at snark n/t

by: Nico @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 20:00:35 PM CST

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Nah, you were pretty funny.

I loved the combination hand-ringer/shrill-blogger tone.

by: nrimmer @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 20:18:49 PM CST

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nah I got it :)

just thought it would be a good place to wonder about Obama's performance in the district. Considering how well he did with Latinos in California he must have broke 70% at least.

by: skaje @ Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 03:20:06 AM CST

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I've compiled the results for most of California's congressional districts.

Obama came close, winning 68% of the vote in CA-32. He did break 70% in the neighboring CA-38, which is slightly more Hispanic than the 32nd.

http://spreadsheets.google.com...

And here is a great exchange I and some other people had with Hilda on FireDogLake last year. I am "Sara" in that chat.

http://firedoglake.com/2007/06...

Check out the 2010 California races and help us take back Red California!

by: californianintexas @ Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 03:34:35 AM CST

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Excellent work

This is why I love SSP!

by: skaje @ Fri Dec 19, 2008 at 14:24:04 PM CST

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I'm a CA-32 voter...

And in the general election this year Solis was literally the only person on the ballot. The Republicans didn't even bother propping up a warm body.

I'm not exactly sure if Judy Chu lives in the 32nd, but I'd definitely support her if she does.

Also, about majority-Chinese-American elected bodies, the Monterey Park City Council is 3/5 Chinese. This is the City where Judy Chu got her political start.

The City Council of Westminster, CA is 3/5 Vietnamese-American.

The City Council of Cerritos, CA is 3/5 Asian-American, with two Chinese and one Korean.

by: adamnvillani @ Sun Dec 21, 2008 at 14:35:13 PM CST

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CA-32: Obama Picks Solis for Labor Sec'y | 24 comments