California Republican Rep. Ed Royce announces he'll retire from Congress

[brooklynite]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Republican Rep. Ed Royce of Fullerton was among the House lawmakers considered vulnerable in the midterms, and winning his seat is key to the Democrats' attempts to win back control of the U.S. House.

Here’s the 13-term congressman’s statement:

“It’s truly an honor to represent the people of California’s 39th Congressional District. Every day, it’s my mission to fight for freedom, opportunity and a limited government. In recent years, we’ve made a real difference. From Sacramento to Washington, we’ve enacted critical reforms to combat the modern day slavery of human trafficking. We’ve achieved commonsense tax and regulatory reforms to help small businesses and middle class families realize their American dream. And with great persistence, we’ve helped shut down the global ivory trade to save the world’s most majestic animals and deny vital funding to terrorist groups and criminal networks.

"In this final year of my Foreign Affairs Committee chairmanship, I want to focus fully on the urgent threats facing our nation, including: the brutal, corrupt and dangerous regimes in Pyongyang and Tehran, Vladimir Putin’s continued efforts to weaponize information to fracture western democracies, and growing terrorist threats in Africa and Central Asia. With this in mind, and with the support of my wife Marie, I have decided not to seek reelection in November.

“I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the people of the 39th District for entrusting me with the responsibility to represent them. Our district is blessed to be diverse, and I’ve been successful in part because of my great staff and the relationships we’ve built with families, businesses and leaders in each of our communities. We’ve personally helped countless Southern Californians.

“Orange County will always be home to Marie and me, and we look forward to being with all our friends at Lunar New Years, Korean American Days, Fourth of Julys and many other community events for years to come.”

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-california-rep-ed-royce-announces-he-ll-1515449555-htmlstory.html

[AllyCat]

1. So what is it? They all got their huge tax break, are set for life, and

now plan to work even less than they do now? Slime. Good riddance to the lot of them.

[Liberalagogo]

2. More rats...

[pbmus]

3. Another one bites the dust....

[BigmanPigman]

6. This CD is in my car on # 11!

And another one gone, and another one gone.... Go Freddie go!

CA has enough GOP reps in our state to flip the entire House if we can flip them at the midterms.

[SunSeeker]

4. Excellent! Another flippable seat! Hillary won Orange County!

Last edited Mon Jan 8, 2018, 07:52 PM - Edit history (1)

And she won Royce's district by 9 points.
http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/house-2018-crossover-appeal/

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

8. The only thing that keeps Orange Country red is terrible Democratic candidates

Bored millionaires, born losers and professional NIMBYs.

Bob Citron's corpse couldn't do worse.

[crazycatlady]

11. DemocratIC candidates

"Democrat" instead of "Democratic" is straight from the GOP playbook.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

13. "Democrat Party" is a Republican idiom

Democrat is a noun.

[SunSeeker]

15. Yes, Democrat is a noun; Democratic is an adjective.

Hence it's Democratic candidate, not "Democrat candidate."

[SunSeeker]

14. We have great DEMOCRATIC candidates. They just need money and support.

After Hillary did something Obama could not--she won Orange County--she showed OC is flippable and not a lost cause. Money and support are now coming to Dems in OC. Our main problem these days is TOO MANY good Democratic candidates.

This June will be a "jungle primary" with the top two, regardless of party, moving on to a runoff. We have over 8 good Democratic candidates in my district alone (District 38, currently held by Dana Rohrabacher). As far as I know, there are only two GOP candidates: Dana Rohrabacher and Scott Baugh. We could end up with Baugh and Rohrabacher in the runoff even though the Democratic candidates as a whole got more votes.

And please, drop the Limbaugh ("Democrat candidate" ) terminology.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

16. So who are these "great" candidates I have missed out on?

Ron Varasteh?
Suzanne Savary?
Ken Arnold?

Debbie Cook as much as I dislike her at least ran a credible campaign, but wasn't even close either.

I will never use the phrase "Democrat party" and if merely using the word Democrat to describe a Democrat bothers I won't do that either.

[SunSeeker]

17. Harley Rouda, for one, who is polling even with Rohrabacher.

A survey, conducted by Tulchin Research, shows Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and technology entrepreneur Harley Rouda in a statistical tie – with Rohrabacher leading 48% to 44%. This is a shockingly weak position for an incumbent to be in before his challenger has begun advertising to voters.

https://www.harleyforcongress.com/2017/10/25/new-poll-shows-rohrabacher-major-trouble-against-r/

If you live in Orange County, I am surprised you never heard of him.

And you can certainly say someone is a Democrat, because you would be using that word as what it is, a NOUN.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

18. I have already replied to you on this

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1950856

But to be clear, do you believe the failure of previous candidates of the Democratic Party was purely one of resources?

[SunSeeker]

22. Your calling a great candidate like Rouda a "bored millionaire" is really offensive.

You sure have a tendency to emit GOP talking points. Harley is anything but bored or boring. He is an attractive, charismatic, passionate progressive. Any Democrat who heard him speak would like him. I sure did when he came to speak to my little Democratic group in OC.

And I already replied to you why I think local Democratic candidates were not successful in OC, particularly in 2016. Yes, I think it was a matter of resources. Before that, the demographics were not in our favor. Demographics have changed dramatically over the last 10 years. Republicans used to be the majority in OC. Now they are the minority.

How about you stop bashing our Democratic candidates and join me in phone banking or canvassing to help flip OC blue? We could use your help. Sign up to volunteer here: http://grodpoc.com/leadership-opportunities/

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

24. We have been here before when Jim Brandt was supposed to defeat Rohrabacher

he was supposed to be the "perfect candidate". A technology CEO, football star, fighter pilot and policy geek with impeccable party credentials.

If Rouda wins I will have an effusive apology ready to go, but I have been here too many times before to get all that invested in any wealthy individual who happens to decide to run for Congress.

I will financially support Democrats I think are competitive but I won't be deferential to Democrats I think are effete or unelectable. With the possible exception of Debbie Cook I don't think any of those I listed going back to 2008 could win today because they were just lousy candidates. Cook wasn't a lousy candidate but she ran a lousy campaign.

[SunSeeker]

27. Demographics have changed dramatically since Jim Brandt ran in 2006.

No Democratic candidate is "effete." No one is asking you to be "deferential," just stop insulting Democratic candidates. If you aren't going to help, then at least stop bad-mouthing our candidates. Sheesh.

Are you sure you're on the right website?

[SunSeeker]

30. Yes, it has. And there you go using Democrat like an adjective again.

Anyone living in a nice home in OC is a millionaire, since that's how much a nice home is worth here. Good luck finding a Democratic candidate who is perfect for you. While you "wait" and hurl insults from the sidelines, I'll be working to elect OC Democrats.

[SpankMe]

5. Royce was a fairly moderate Republican on many issues

The area around his district wasn't radically right when he first took office, and has even "blued" a little since he's been there. It's definitely a winnable seat. This would be a good place for some of that Tom Steyer cash.

[SunSeeker]

7. Hillary carried his district by 9 points!

[IronLionZion]

9. This district was won by Hillary, Obama, Brown, Boxer, Feinstein, Kerry,

If Dems run a good enough candidate, we can flip this district. It looks like it's fairly diverse and competitive.



Let's do this!

[SunSeeker]

19. Actually, Obama lost Royce's district to Romney, but Hillary won it by 9%.

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/house-2018-crossover-appeal/

[IronLionZion]

20. 2008 was an Obama win

We can do this. We won't know for sure if we don't try.

[SunSeeker]

23. Yes we can and we are trying hard! I am canvassing with a great grassroots group in OC.

http://grodpoc.com/leadership-opportunities/

[benld74]

10. Hey do retiring critters keep their war chests??

[xxqqqzme]

12. yes

n/t

[clementine613]

21. Another not-yet-convicted-felon quits

[lagomorph777]

25. Do these clowns think quitting will protect them from legal jeopardy?

Not likely!

[Justice]

26. Maddow made point that his wife just nominated for juicy State Dept

Post which is agency his committee oversees.

[Judi Lynn]

29. Rep. Royce, getting out while it's good.