Jim Erwin
Sunday, November 4, 2018 – 12:30 p.m.

Now that I finally have some time to do some writing on politics, let’s get to it!

I prefer to render political observations after taking in data from a broad spectrum of sources and feedback. Two years ago it had become pretty clear to me in the final four weeks leading up to the presidential Election that Donald Trump would prevail.

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Jim Erwin
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 – 09:00 p.m.

The main stream media says one thing. But voters are saying something different.

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Candidates for the 35th Congressional district, from the left; Joe Baca, Democratic candidate, Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, incumbent, Christian Leonel Valiente, Republican candidate. (Courtesy photos)

By Jeff Horseman | jhorseman@scng.com | The Press-Enterprise
Published: May 22, 2018 at 3:28 pm | Updated: May 23, 2018 at 4:07 pm

The Inland Empire’s political past and present will clash in the June 5 primary for the 35th Congressional District.

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Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Redlands, Kaisar Ahmed and Sean Flynn, from left, are running for the 31st Congressional District. (Photos courtesy of the candidates)

By Jeff Horseman | jhorseman@scng.com | The Press-Enterprise
Published: May 21, 2018 at 4:41 pm | Updated: May 22, 2018 at 11:45 am

A congressman from Redlands serves for decades on Capitol Hill and rises to become chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

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For the first time in a quarter century U.S. Representative Ed Royce won’t be running for the House. His constituents in the 39th Congressional District have a choice from 17 candidates. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo for The Orange County Register/SCNG)

By Jordan Graham | jgraham@scng.com | Orange County Register
Published: May 18, 2018 at 5:38 pm | Updated: May 21, 2018 at 11:32 am

The tit-for-tat political attack ads between two Democratic congressional hopefuls suddenly disappeared from the web this week in the race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ed Royce. So did their intraparty mudslinging websites.

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By Shea Johnson, Staff Writer
Posted Apr 29, 2018 at 8:16 AM

Congressional races throughout California promise to be particularly interesting this year as the state has positioned itself as a key bulwark against the Trump administration.

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Joshua Stewart
March 15, 2018

After an extended deadline, 16 candidates have completed paperwork to run for an open seat in Congress, held by retiring Rep. Darrell Issa, making it the busiest race in the San Diego area.

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Former Inland congressman Joe Baca speaks at a 31st Congressional District candidate forum in this 2013 file photo (File photo by Stan Lim, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG).

By Jeff Horseman | jhorseman@scng.com | The Press-Enterprise
February 27, 2018 at 3:25 pm

Another election year, another comeback attempt for former Inland Rep. Joe Baca.

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By Jim Erwin
Saturday, February 3, 2018 – 07:30 p.m.

Well the pot is boiling now that the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Intelligence memo, drafted by the committee majority, commonly-referred to as the Nunes-Memo, has been declassified by President Donald Trump.

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Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., rallies in support of the “Dreamers” during a protest on Capitol Hill. (Photo: Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press)

By Carolyn Lochhead
Published: January 27, 2018
Updated: January 27, 2018 8:36 p.m.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s newly released plan to resolve the fate of young immigrants who arrived in the country illegally as children would constitute the biggest change to immigration policy in decades, putting Democrats and their allies in a painful vise.

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A photo of Congressman Pete Aguilar is making the rounds on Facebook. Read the rest of this entry »

By Erica Werner and Alan Fram
May 4, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) — Delivering at last, triumphant House Republicans voted Thursday to repeal and replace the “Obamacare” health plan they have reviled for so long, overcoming united Democratic opposition and their own deep divisions to hand a major win to President Donald Trump.

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Sarah D. Wire
April 6, 2017 – 10:24 a.m.

Reporting from Washington—

Democrat Kia Hamadanchy announced he’ll run for the 45th Congressional District Thursday, becoming the third Democrat this week to announce plans to challenge Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Irvine) for the seat.

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AP Top News
By Thomas Beaumont and Bill Barrow
Mar. 27, 2017

The Republican Party of “no” for Democrat Barack Obama’s eight years is having a hard time getting to “yes” in the early Donald Trump era.

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By Jeff Horseman, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 02/16/17 – 8:11 PM PST |

Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, is among a group of Congressional Hispanic Caucus members who said Republicans kicked them out of a meeting with the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Thursday, Feb. 16.

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Christine Mai-Duc
Feb. 15, 2017 – 1:55 p.m.

The Republicans have named their top 10 most vulnerable incumbents in Congress, and three Californians are among them.

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Capitol Alert
By Christopher Cadelago and Alexei Koseff
ccadelago@sacbee.com
January 24, 2017 – 10:44 AM

Gov. Jerry Brown, plunging into position as a Democratic bulwark against Donald Trump’s presidency, warned Tuesday of looming battles with Republican-controlled Washington, using his State of the State address to assuage fears that California would turn its back on progressive policies.

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Clockwise from top left: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Grace Napolitano (Lauren Victoria Burke, Mark Wilson, Bill Clark/ AP, Getty Images, Roll Call)

Sarah D. Wire
December 28, 2016

So far, none of California’s 55 senators and representatives have announced plans to retire ahead of the 2018 election. But after weeks at home with family during the holidays to talk about the future, such declarations could come soon.

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Wednesday, November 16, 2016 – 09:15 p.m.

GOP Congressman Darrell Issa will retain his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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The move ensures a two-week debate about the minority leader’s future, though no one has stepped up to challenge her yet.

By Heather Caygle and John Bresnahan
Published: 11/15/16 – 09:03 AM EST
Updated: 11/15/16 – 06:52 PM EST

Nancy Pelosi’s hold on the House Democratic Caucus is being tested.

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Some Republicans are speculating that House Speaker Paul Ryan might just step aside if he can’t muster the votes. | AP Photo

By John Bresnahan and Rachael Bade
Published: 10/27/16 – 11:55 PM EDT
Updated: 10/27/16 – 11:55 PM EDT

• Republicans are already buzzing about who might step up if the speaker steps aside.

Speaker Paul Ryan’s suddenly shaky future as House speaker is already prompting closed-door talk among House Republicans about who’d take over if he steps aside or is spurned by archconservatives.

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Phil Willon
Oct. 17, 2016, 1:18 p.m.

A super PAC backing Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Orange) for U.S. Senate launched a radio ad targeting Republican voters and attacking her rival, California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, as “another Barbara Boxer — a Bay Area liberal backed by the Democratic Party establishment.”

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Opponents are accusing Abigail Medina, left, and Pete Aguilar of dodging political debates. (File)

By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 10/12/16 – 11:29 PM PDT |

As Election Day approaches, some candidates have been skipping the debates that give voters the chance to hear directly from them.

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An online document produced by the Pete Aguilar congressional campaign tries to link Aguilar’s opponent, Republican Paul Chabot, to Donald Trump.

By Jeff Horseman / Staff Writer
Published: Oct. 4, 2016 – Updated: 4:13 p.m.

The acrimony continues in California’s 31st Congressional District, with the campaign of Democratic incumbent Pete Aguilar trying to link Republican Paul Chabot to Donald Trump and Chabot accusing Aguilar of using Chabot’s children in a smear attempt.

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Republican Paul Chabot, left, and Democrat Pete Aguilar were all smiles when they greeted each other before a debate at the University of Redlands in October 2014. But their rematch this year has been marked by personal attacks and accusations. (Kurt Miller/File Photo)

By Jeff Horseman, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 09/09/16 – 10:34 PM PDT |

Election Day is almost two months away, but there’s already a front-runner for the ugliest Inland political contest of 2016.

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By Jeff McDonald |
Sept. 8, 2016 – 5 p.m. |
Sept. 9, 2016 – Updated 7:37 a.m.

Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Loretta Sanchez called Thursday for a federal takeover of the criminal investigation into the California Public Utilities Commission from her political rival, Attorney General Kamala Harris.

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By Sarah D. Wire
September 5, 2016

With just over a month left before California starts sending out vote by mail ballots, congressional races are starting to heat up.

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By Jeff Horseman / Staff Writer
Published: Aug. 26, 2016 – Updated: 6:06 p.m.

Inland Rep. Pete Aguilar’s campaign took aim at his GOP opponent’s recordkeeping as the first-term Democratic incumbent went on the attack in the race for a San Bernardino County congressional seat.

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Republican congressional candidate Paul Chabot.

By JEFF HORSEMAN / STAFF WRITER
Published: Aug. 17, 2016 Updated: 4:05 p.m.

Unless it’s an ultra-competitive toss-up race, there’s typically not a lot of publicly available polling for congressional elections.

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Friday, August 5, 2016 – 09:00 a.m.

The race between incumbent democrat Pete Aguilar and republican challenger Paul Chabot in the 31st Congressional District has taken on a little bit of a sharp tone.

A new campaign sign has surfaced that is humorous to say the least.

Hopefully the Chabot campaign, or someone, has some untruth to attribute to the first-term congressman.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez, left, and California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris. (Associated Press)

Phil Willon
July 27, 2016 – 9:00.P.M.

Half of California’s likely Republican voters and a third of independents said they wouldn’t vote for either candidate in the state’s U.S. Senate race this November, according to a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.

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U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez left. California Attorney General Kamala Harris right.

Capitol Alert
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
June 22, 2016 – 2:20 PM

• Ex-Los Angeles mayor calls her an ‘independent thinker’
• Sanchez: ‘I will work with leaders across the aisle’
• Harris has strong support from Democrats and leads in poll

Democrat Loretta Sanchez’s gambit to attract dissident Republicans to her U.S. Senate campaign received a shot of encouragement Wednesday with the endorsement of former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.

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8th Congressional District candidate Tim Donnelly. (James Quigg, Daily Press)

By Shea Johnson
Staff Writer
Posted: Jun. 13, 2016 at 5:39 PM
Updated: Jun 13, 2016 at 5:40 PM

• Former Assemblyman behind 847 votes to Ramirez as of Monday

Former Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly carved ever so slightly into Democrat Dr. Rita Ramirez’ second-place edge Monday in the 8th Congressional District race, but the window to catch up continued to tighten.

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Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez left. California Attorney General Kamala Harris right.

Capitol Alert
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
June 8, 2016 – 5:51 PM

• Harris more than doubled Sanchez’s vote percentage
• Sanchez will have to increase fundraising clip to compete
• Republican donors are considering financial support

State Attorney General Kamala Harris carried at least 50 of 58 California counties in the U.S. Senate primary Tuesday, collecting twice the percentage of votes that went to fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez.

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Former Assemblyman Tim Donnelly goes over strategy of campaigning door to door on April 23. Donnelly is now running for Congress. (Photo by Sarah Alvarado)

By Beau Yarbrough, The Sun
Posted: 05/15/16 – 7:34 PM PDT |

HESPERIA >> On a recent Saturday morning, former Assemblyman Tim Donnelly rallied the troops — in this case, seven volunteers — just off the 15 Freeway.

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U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez left. California Attorney General Kamala Harris right.

By Joe Garofoli
May 13, 2016
Updated: May 13, 2016 – 2:57pm

California’s U.S. Senate race has been overshadowed by the high-profile presidential campaign but that might change a bit Friday when Democrats Kamala Harris and Loretta Sanchez launched TV commercials.

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Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) shares remarks at Girl Scouts At 100: The Launch of ToGetHerThere at Capitol Hill Cannon House Office Bldg, Caucus Room on Feb. 1, 2012, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Girl Scouts of America)

By The Southern California News Group, San Bernardino County Sun
Posted: 05/06/16 – 4:50 PM PDT |

California in November will elect a new U.S. senator for the first time in 24 years. To replace four-term Sen. Barbara Boxer, who decided not to seek re-election, we endorse Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Orange, because she has demonstrated incredible judgment on the most crucial issues of our generation, taking tough stands in the face of tremendous opposition.

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In this Sept. 30, 2014 file photo, House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. listens during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. One of the Obama administration’s harshest congressional critics will get a final high-profile shot Tuesday when the committee grills witnesses about the president’s health care law and a former adviser’s comments that “the stupidity of the America voter” helped Democrats pass the complex legislation. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite – File)

By Joshua Stewart |
May 5, 2016 – 3:16 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — A little over two months after he said that Donald Trump would be disastrous for the Republican Party, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, on Thursday said the business tycoon is the best candidate for president.

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Campaign reports show that Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Los Angeles) has spent $306,470 of his reelection fund on legal services from five area firms. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Sarah D. Wire
May 5, 2016

U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Los Angeles) has poured more than $300,000 from his reelection campaign fund into legal services with five Los Angeles law firms in the last year, but his attorney says there is no indication the congressman is the subject of a rumored federal investigation.

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Republican Congressional candidate Paul Chabot meets with volunteers in Rancho Cucamonga in 2014. Although he lost that election to Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino, Chabot has essentially kept campaigning for the 31st Congressional District for the past two years. Both the San Bernardino GOP and the Redlands Tea Party Patriots have endorsed him for the upcoming June 7 primary. (File photo by James Carbone for the San Bernardino Sun)

By Beau Yarbrough, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 05/03/16 – 6:42 PM PDT |

San Bernardino County conservative organizations like Paul Chabot, the once and future challenger to Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino but are split on whether they should endorse Rep. Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley or former assemblyman Tim Donnelly.

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Phil Willon
May 3, 3016 – 7:51 P.M.

A competitive California presidential primary had all sorts of potential to scramble the other races on June 7. One possible outcome: A surge in Republican turnout could have dashed Senate candidate Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s hopes of making it past the primary and to the general election.

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Pete Aguilar, left, and Paul Chabot.

By Jeff Horseman, The Press-Enterprise
Posted: 04/27/16 – 5:54 PM PDT |

Redlands police are investigating a report from Republican congressional candidate Paul Chabot that one of his campaign signs was stolen and replaced with a rival’s sign.

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A photo posted on Rep. Duncan Hunter’s Facebook page about the time his campaign paid expenses on his trip to Italy.

By Morgan Cook |
April 28, 2016 – 7 a.m.

• CREW also has concerns about oral surgery, video games, other expenses

An ethics advocacy group has filed complaints with two federal oversight agencies, asking officials to investigate what the group describes as a pattern of questionable campaign spending by Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-Alpine.

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Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa, lashed out at former county GOP chief Scott Baugh for raising money to campaign for his congressional seat, expressing concern Friday that his longtime friend would run against him. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP File)

By Martin Wisckol
April 15, 2016
Updated April 16, 2016 – 3:20 p.m.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has lashed out at former county GOP chief Scott Baugh for raising money to campaign for his congressional seat, expressing concern Friday that his longtime friend would run against him.

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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, from left, talks with Democratic U.S. Reps. Janice Hahn of San Pedro, Lucille Roybal-Allard of Downey and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio on the steps of the Capitol. (Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call)

Phil Willon
April 13, 2016

The calls to Encino attorney Janice Kamenir-Reznik came every few weeks, pleading for her to run for the California state Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Fran Pavley.

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The DA is returning contributions from an auto repair business that’s been penalized for fraud.

Published: April 12, 2016 – Updated: 11:02 p.m.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin on Tuesday, April 12, said he would return donations made to his campaign by Certified Tire & Service Centers and its owner, Jeffrey Alan Darrow, after news surfaced of past penalties for defrauding customers that cost the company at least $750,000.

To read article by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.

(Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

Sarah D. Wire
April 7, 2016

Rep. Mimi Walters’ chief of staff, David Bowser, has resigned following news of federal corruption charges related to his work in another congressional office.

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Published: April 1, 2016
Updated:   April 3, 2016 – 10:52 p.m.

Four years ago, Republicans and Democrats at the national level used California’s 41st Congressional District to fight the ongoing war for control of the the House of Representatives.

To read article by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.

By Shea Johnson, Staff Writer
Posted Apr. 3, 2016 at 3:21 PM

The California Secretary of State and San Bernardino County Election’s office released their lists of certified candidates Friday, detailing the make-up of six pivotal local races. The lists show not much changed in recent weeks with the exception of some fringe candidates not qualifying for the ballot.

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Democratic incumbent Raul Ruiz faces a challenge from Republicans Jeff Stone and Steven Wolkowicz.

Published: March 25, 2016 – 6:03 p.m.

California’s 36th Congressional District reflects how much Riverside County’s political landscape has changed.

To read article by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.

I’m the most qualified for the U.S. Senate, says Rep. Loretta Sanchez. The 20-year veteran of Congress is running against California Attorney General Kamala Harris in the June 7 primary.

By Sean Cockerham
scockerham@mcclatchydc.com
March 22, 2016 – 10:50 AM

• Sanchez is running in the June primary to replace Barbara Boxer, who’s retiring
• A rare elected Democrat from Orange County, she’s served in Congress for two decades
• Statements have stirred controversy, but she’s gained respect on military issues

WASHINGTON —

Whether she’s sending out cat Christmas cards, mimicking a Native American war whoop, or suggesting that up to 20 percent of Muslims might resort to violence to overthrow the Western way of life, U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez of California is known as much for her personality as her policy.

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Calls for presidential primary debates and strong candidates add interest to 31st District battle

Published: March 20, 2016 – Updated: 9:54 p.m.

Two years ago, an open San Bernardino County congressional seat drew seven candidates, national attention and millions of dollars in spending by out-of-town groups.

The 31st Congressional District race is heating up this year.

To read article by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.

By Beau Yarbrough, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 03/14/16 – 2:33 PM PDT |

SAN BERNARDINO >> The last Democratic presidential debate before California’s June 7 primary might be held in San Bernardino.

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By Monica Rodriguez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 03/12/16 – 7:48 PM PST |

After meeting Friday’s deadline for submitting nomination papers to county Registrar of Voters offices, scores of candidates seeking seats at the local, state and federal level are gearing up for the June 7 primary election.

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Former Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, seen in January, is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas for a San Fernando Valley House seat. (Los Angeles Times)

David Zahniser and Sarah D. Wire
March 11, 2016

Former Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, who saw his convictions for perjury and voter fraud thrown out two months ago, has another curve ball in store for the San Fernando Valley: He’s running for Congress.

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Donnelly

Capitol Alert
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
March 11, 2016 2:59 PM

• Former California assemblyman challenging fellow Republican
• Donnelly made headlines for bringing loaded gun to airport
• Donnelly brings stint as radio show host to close

Former Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, a tea party favorite and unsuccessful candidate for governor, said Friday he is running for Congress, bidding to unseat fellow Republican Paul Cook in Southern California’s desert region.

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Then California State Sen. Joe Baca, center, and his wife react after being told Baca took an early lead over Elia Pirozzi for the U.S. Congressman 42nd District seat in 1999. (File Photo)

By Beau Yarbrough, The Sun
Posted: 03/09/16 – 10:24 PM PST |

“Working Joe” Baca wants his job back.

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House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy

Capitol Alert
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
March 10, 2016 – 3:09 PM

• Majority leader says turnout higher among Republicans
• Says electorate frustrated with President Barack Obama
• Wants House of Representatives to become ‘place of ideas’

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Thursday rejected the possible calamitous effects a Donald Trump nomination could have on the Republican Party, arguing instead that the businessman and political newcomer may improve the chances of GOP House challengers in November.

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Chabot

By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 03/08/16 – 9:01 PM PST |

The race to represent the 31st District in Congress is officially under way.

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Congressional candidate Sean Flynn. (Sean Flynn for Congress)

Javier Panzar
February 2, 2016

Another Republican has entered the race to challenge Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), a first-term congressman whose Inland Empire seat is considered vulnerable this fall by both national Democrats and Republicans.

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Former state Senator Lou Correa listens to Joe Dunn during a debate of candidates seeking to replace outgoing Rep. Loretta Sanchez at the League of United Latin American Citizens in Garden Grove Saturday. (Kevin Sullivan – Staff Photographer)

By Teri Sforza
Feb. 1, 2016
Updated Feb. 2, 2016 – 12:07 a.m.

The battle for the congressional seat being vacated by Loretta Sanchez is firming up as a faceoff between two longtime O.C. Democrats: Lou Correa and Joe Dunn.

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Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.

Capitol Alert
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
January 20, 2016 – 5:43 PM

• Rep. Sanchez takes aim at rival Kamala Harris
• Republicans also pile on with critiques of front-runner
• Harris aide says her approach is resonating with Californians

Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez, campaigning Wednesday in Sacramento, again put aside conventional political subtleties and cut right to the point: “I think we need a Latina in the U.S. Senate.”

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Kevin McCarthy’s successful fundraising year was, in some part, due to the idea that he could become the next speaker of the House.

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By Jake Sherman
01/20/16 – 05:18 AM EST

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy raised more than $11 million last year, a sum that places him near the top of the Republican fundraising pyramid on Capitol Hill, according to sources familiar with his operation.

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Nancy Pelosi has given no signs she’s headed for the exit, saying only that she’ll continue to serve as minority leader for the foreseeable future. | AP Photo

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By Lauren French
01/20/16 – 05:14 AM EST

• The party has talked about new blood at the leadership table, but changes don’t seem imminent.

A group of senior House Democrats is pushing for Nancy Pelosi to stay on as minority leader until 2018 — a nod to the California Democrat’s leadership and fundraising prowess, despite growing tension in the party around the need to elevate younger members.

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By California Water News Daily
January 15, 2016

Before leaving Washington for Christmas break, nine Members of Congress sent a letter to Neil Kornze, the Director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), encouraging him to reconsider the agency’s recent guidance regarding the Cadiz Water Project.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert

Published: Jan. 11, 2016 – Updated: 3:11 p.m.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is calling on Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, to donating $17,600 in campaign donations he received from actor Sean Penn to heroin treatment clinics in Ruiz’s district.

To read post by Jeff Horseman in The P-E Political Empire Blog, click here.

Paul Ryan in 2016 faces an uphill battle for his ideas to become law. | Getty

As presidential hopefuls slug it out in a nasty primary, the speaker is trying to build a different identity for House Republicans.

By Jake Sherman
01/10/16 – 03:50 PM EST
Updated: 01/10/16 – 05:30 PM EST

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Paul Ryan talked about the ills of the criminal-justice system. He quizzed GOP presidential hopefuls at a forum here about what they’ve done to help the impoverished and vowed that Republicans, if they put their minds to it, could “make breakthroughs” in the war on poverty.

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Republican state Sen. Jeff Stone announced his candidacy for Congress on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Published: Jan. 9, 2016 – Updated: 9:41 p.m.

• The 36th Congressional District race now features two well-funded politicians

Republican state Sen. Jeff Stone announced his candidacy for Congress on Saturday, Jan. 9, setting up a heavyweight contest between a veteran Inland lawmaker and a well-financed Democratic incumbent.

To read article by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.

Pete Aguilar

By Beau Yarbrough, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 01/09/16 – 8:21 PM PST |
REDLANDS >> There’s political experience, and then there’s political experience.

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino, spent eight years on the Redlands City Council, including six years as mayor, but his first year on Capitol Hill was a brand-new experience, starting with his swearing-in one year ago.

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Published: Jan. 7, 2016 – Updated: 10:24 p.m.

Most if not all of the elected offices on the 2016 Inland ballot will have a choice between two or more candidates.

But right now, a handful of races for assembly, state senate and congressional seats appear to be more competitive than others. Incumbents tend to have a big advantage because they can raise more money and enjoy greater name recognition than their opponents, and many legislative districts are drawn in a way that favors one party.

To read article by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.

Capitol Alert
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
January 6, 2016 4:01 PM

• Two Democrats still hold top-two places
• Twice as many GOP voters remain undecided
• Harris does well with liberals, while Sanchez leads among Latinos

Attorney General Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez continue to lead the contest to succeed U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, but the all-Democratic dynamic could change once more Republican voters begin engaging in the race, according to the new Field Poll.

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By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
December 31, 2015 – 2:26 PM

• U.S. Senate race will be top contest
• California could play presidential role
• High-dollar ballot measures abound

Since 2016 is a number divisible by 2, this is also an election year, and that biennial fact will dominate – and perhaps distort – California politics in the forthcoming months.

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By Scott Wong
12/26/15 – 12:02 PM EST

Outside the Beltway, the right is livid with new Speaker Paul Ryan’s trillion-dollar spending deal with Democrats.

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By Christine Mai-Duc
December 18, 2015

The sweeping budget deal — a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill — tackles a number of policy areas, including making some $650 billion in tax breaks permanent, adopting new cybersecurity rules and repealing a decades-old ban on crude oil exports.

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House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) on Capitol Hill. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

Lisa Mascaro
December 17, 2015

By approving a massive package of tax breaks Thursday, House Republicans — who have made deficit-slashing the holy grail of their majority — just piled on nearly $650 billion in red ink.

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Congress released more than 2,200 pages of legislation in the dead of night. | AP

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What’s really in the year-end tax and spending bill?

By Bernie Becker
12/16/15 – 04:24 PM EST

Congress released more than 2,200 pages of legislation in the dead of night — containing $1.1 trillion in spending, about $680 billion in tax cuts and a string of other policy changes.

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By Roll Call Staff
Posted on Dec. 16 at 10:52 a.m.

Both Democrats and Republicans won a few and lost a few in the $1.1 trillion spending bill and package of tax extensions that congressional negotiators agreed on late Tuesday.

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House Speaker Paul Ryan announces the bipartisan budget agreement on Wednesday. (Michael Reynolds / European Pressphoto Agency)

Michael Hiltzik
December 16, 2015

When Congress legislates at night and in haste, you can be sure mischief is being done. Sure enough, the budget deal announced late Tuesday by House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), takes an ax to efforts to limit the torrent of big money into politics.

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Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana), shown in November, is facing criticism over a comment she made about the percentage of Muslims who support a caliphate. (Tomas Ovalle)

Phil Willon
December 11, 2015

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is trying to beat back criticism over a comment she made about the percentage of Muslims who support a caliphate — the establishment of a strict Islamic state — to defend and advance their religious ideology.

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Rep. Loretta Sanchez, who upended Orange County politics by ousting Republican Bob Dornan from Congress in 1996, announced in May she was running for U.S Senate. Mark Boster TNS

Capitol Alert
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
December 10, 2015

• Sanchez says they are willing to use terrorism to target ‘our way of life’
• Her office issues statement seeking to clarify remarks to Larry King
• Sanchez adds: ‘I strongly support the Muslim community in America’

California Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, said as many as 20 percent of Muslims desire to form an Islamic caliphate, “to institute that in any way possible,” and go after Western norms, “our way of life.”

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By Brian Faler
12/02/15 – 05:37 PM EST

• Budget hawks cry foul as Democratic and GOP wish lists find their way into a developing year-end bargain on tax breaks.

Congress is eyeing a year-end budget-busting tax cut blowout.

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Kealy

December 1, 2015 – 3:09 pm

An attorney and former Marine Corps intelligence officer has announced plans to run against Inland Rep. Raul Ruiz in 2016.

To read post by Jeff Horseman in The P-E Political Empire Blog, click here.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Orange (Sam Gangwer/Staff Photographer)

By Martin Wisckol / Staff Columnist
Nov. 29, 2015 – Updated 12:00 a.m.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s campaign for U.S. Senate is showing signs of expanding its base beyond Southern California, giving frontrunner Kamala Harris, the state’s attorney general, reason to keep an eye on the rear-view mirror.

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By Alexander Bolton – 11/25/15 06:01 AM EST

Congressional leaders face several hurdles to getting a budget deal done by the Dec. 11 deadline, including a fight over health funding that is holding up the omnibus spending package.

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House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill. (Win McNamee / Getty Images)

Lisa Mascaro
November 19, 2015

Tapping into heightened security fears after the Paris terrorist attacks, House Republicans — joined by many Democrats — rebuffed President Obama on Thursday and overwhelmingly approved legislation that would in effect halt the resettlement of refugees from Syria and Iraq to the U.S.

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