Trump triggers flood of Democratic candidates
For better and for worse, crowded House primaries are becoming a familiar sight on the Democratic side.
By CARLA MARINUCCI and MATT FRIEDMAN 07/16/2017 07:25 AM EDT
Fueled by antipathy toward Donald Trump and high expectations about the party’s fortunes in the 2018 midterms, Democrats are lining up to run for House seats, creating crowded primary fields in some of the most competitive races in the country.
In California this week, Vietnam-era veteran Paul Kerr, who’s never run for political office, jumped into the race to take on seven-term GOP Rep. Darrell Issa — the richest member of Congress. Kerr, a real estate investor and a Navy veteran, is the third challenger to date seeking to defeat Issa, the high-profile former chair of the House Oversight Committee who barely survived a 2016 challenge.
Issa is considered the most vulnerable of seven California GOP House members representing districts that voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. But his colleagues have even more contenders to worry about.
Eight challengers have lined up to take Central Valley Republican Jeff Denham. An equal number have jumped into the fray against embattled San Diego-area Rep. Duncan Hunter, the focus of a Justice Department criminal investigation regarding his alleged use of campaign funds to pay for family expenses.
Controversial Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of Huntington Beach, recently in the headlines for his own dealings with Russia, has seven Democrats contesting his re-election. Rep. Steve Knight of Palmdale has six.
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http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/16/trump-triggers-flood-of-democratic-candidates-240597
