I am getting my information, and therefore am giving a shoutout to Democrats.com.

Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) read his Articles of Impeachment on Monday.
Robert Wexler (D-FL 19) co-sponsored on Tuesday.
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA 06) co-sponsored on Wednesday.
Barbara Lee (D-CA 09) co-sponsored today.

I like it!

Well, one thing's for sure: Democrats are tired of big business and the insurance industry.  So much so, in fact, that Democrats in CA-24 elected to vote in landslide numbers for Marta Jorgensen, a candidate who did little traditional campaigning to speak of--including, apparently, not even purchasing the state voter file--simply on the basis of the ballot designation "educator".

The Democratic primary race in CA-24 to challenge perennial do-nothing Republican Elton Gallegly was a 3-way contest between progressive favorite Mary Pallant, the previous Democratic contestant Jill Martinez, and political neophyte Marta Jorgensen.

But, it's not who you think.

First off, this one did hurt.  Kossack Ron Shepston (CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream) finished third in the CA-42 primary, finishing behind a virulent anti-immigrant Minuteman-type guy who for some reason filed as a Democrat, and eventual winner Ed Chau.

But in a turn of events even us bloggers weren't expecting, Kossack Marta Jorgensen (pcmedia) won her 3-way primary race in CA-24!  (She had originally announced her campaign on DailyKos back in March.)

Disclaimer: I volunteer as the Netroots Outreach Coordinator for the Mary Pallant Campaign

Mary Pallant's campaign (which I have written about here, here, here and elsewhere) got a big new boost today: the endorsement of progressive CA State Senator Sheila Kuehl.

Full disclosure: I serve as a the (volunteer) Netroots Coordinator for the Mary Pallant campaign

If we learned nothing else from Travis Childers' incredible victory in the R+10 MS-01, it is that all but the verry most conservative Republican House seats are in play and winnable this election cycle.  Democrats who may not have had a legitimate shot in other election years have a decent shot of taking over otherwise impossible districts this year.

What that also means is that many Democrats in swing districts that are trending blue may actually be favored to win this year--even if they're not technically on the front radars of organizations like Blue Majority or the DCCC's Red to Blue list.  Of course, demographics aren't everything: the candidates themselves have to be capable, determined and charismatic.

Those of you who follow California politics closely know that CA-24 is one of the under-the-radar races to watch this year.  Though it's not getting a lot of attention in the national media, this district is one that could end up surprising a lot of people who aren't watching the trends on the ground.

The race features Mary Pallant, the progressive Democrat, going up against Elton Gallegly, a do-nothing rubberstamp Republican, in an already purple district that is turning increasingly blue and is filled with abnormally large numbers of independent voters.  Pallant is also being challenged in the primary by Jill Martinez; however, given that Martinez is still over $93,000 in debt from her previous campaign, it is unclear how vigorous a challenge she will be able to mount to either Pallant or Gallegly.  
Full disclosure: I serve as the volunteer Netroots Coordinator for the Mary Pallant campaign

Okay I don't do this often... except when it seems right.

There a diary on the Recent list that is in danger of scrolling off.

Please help us here in Ventura, CA

It's a diary about Mary Pallant, a 44-year-old Dem candidate for CA-24 which includes Simi Valley. Simi, if you don't already know, is known as the home of the Ronald Reagan Library... and you have to take the Ronald Reagan Freeway to get there.

What could be sweeter than seeing a progressive Dem take Simi. It's a tough battle but a deeply symbolic one.

I'll 'fess up - I never heard of Mary Pallant until I read thereisnospoon's diary... but she deserves a look.

As most of us progressives sit on pins and needles helplessly watchful on the eve of the eagerly awaited Pennsylvania primary, I want to ask you for your help.  I have often written in support of Barack Obama, but tonight there is little I or other Obama supporters can do to help Obama.

What we can do, however, is support Democrats looking to fulfill Obama's vision: expand the map, compete everywhere against the Republicans, stand unabashedly for Democratic values, and win in races that we should win, but that no one thought possible before.

Here in Ventura where I live, we have just such a Democrat, and her name is Mary Pallant.

I met Darcy Burner for the second time last night.

It was pretty exciting, meeting a future president.  If you have to ask why I would say that, why, then, you haven't had the pleasure of meeting Darcy Burner.  

As a responsible citizen and congressional candidate I have decided to endorse the Responsible Plan to end the occupation of Iraq. This plan encompasses more than withdrawal from Iraq: it addresses other imperative issues that have arisen as a result of our invasion. Iraq is one of the worst foreign policy debacles in the history of our nation and has resulted in far more devastating consequences beyond Iraq.  The Responsible Plan is a responsible course of action with steps to be taken that we as a nation must embrace in order to ensure that when we leave Iraq we restore more than Iraq.

Hello all!  This is actually thereisnospoon, and I'm writing today on behalf of Mary Pallant, the candidate I believe is best-suited to take CA-24 by storm and turn this district a bright shade of Progressive blue!  I've had several meetings with Mary over the last few years, and she has impressed me greatly with her tough-mindedness, can-do spirit, strong knowledge of the issues, organizational prowess, and personal charisma and charm.  I believe in Mary and her ability to win this seat--and now that I live and work in Ventura County, I've signed on to be the Netroots Coordinator for her campaign.  From now until November, you'll see Mary and I posting under this account to give you updates on the progress of our campaign to get rid of Elton Gallegly, one of the worst rubber-stamp Republicans in the Congress.

(See update from Roll Call at bottom of text ... Gallegly is rumored to announce today he's back in.)

The weird just got weirder in CA-24.

First, we had 10-term incumbent Elton Gallegly (R) drop out of the race for health reasons last Friday only a few hours before the filing deadline closed, leaving the GOP in the lurch.

Now this morning, the Los Angeles Times reports that Mary Pallant, one of only two Democratic candidates in the primary, dropped out as well due to the "sleazy lies and attacks" of her opponent, Jill Martinez. (Yesterday's Congressional Quarterly account, it should be noted, reported that Pallant "said she would run but had not filed" and made no mention of problems with her opponent.)

The Times reports:

Martinez did not return phone calls or e-mails seeking comment. But a Democratic operative said Pallant's sudden departure suggests she was unprepared for the rough-and-tumble nature of politics.

"When you decide to drop out, then maybe drop back in and then really drop out, people look at you kind of strange," said Bob Handy, regional director for the California Democratic Party.

Pallant's drop-out leaves relative unknown Martinez, a Presbyterian minister from Oxnard, the sole candidate in the Democratic primary. Brett Wagner, the 2002 Democratic candidate for the seat, decided earlier this month to lead a recall campaign and present himself as a candidate against Republican Brooks Firestone in the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors race.

On the GOP side, California election law requires Gallegly to remain on the ballot despite his retirement, facing unknown Michael Tenenbaum, a Westlake Village attorney. Yesterday's CQ article voiced local Republicans' hopes that Gallegly would endorse Tenenbaum, but today's Times report shoots that one down, with Gallegly saying he'd never met his primary opponent and that he "was not pleased" with criticism Tenenbaum had tossed his way. "You should at least wait until the filing is closed before you start trashing people," Gallegly said. Oops.

According to the Times, Gallegly mistakenly thought that his abrupt departure from the race would trigger a five-day extension for filing. He said he intends to seek permission from a court or the State Legislature for a formal extension. If that doesn't meet with success, he will seek vague "other options."

Gallegly didn't elaborate on what those other options might be. But in an interview over the weekend, he appeared hesitant about resuming a reelection bid, even if voters didn't have a full slate of choices in his absence.

"Maybe I am being very selfish right now, but I have to get this [medical] issue resolved, and I'm hopeful it will be resolved," he said Saturday. "I will continue to do everything I can to serve out the rest of this year.... But I have seven grandkids, and I'd like to spend time with them."

Gallegly left open the possibility of reentering the campaign if his health problems are settled.

Several potential GOP write-in candidates are mentioned, including Jeff Gorell, a Ventura County prosecutor who lost a primary bid for State Assembly two years ago, and Mike Stoker, a former member of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors who lost to Democrat Lois Capps (CA-23) in 2000.

As Gorell put it: "Everyone is kind of waiting for Elton to do something. It's like Caesar on the cusp of the Rubicon River -- everyone's waiting for him to make a move."

Yesterday's CQ article speculated:

Gallegly might seek to win the primary and then withdraw in order to allow Republican officials to handpick a replacement candidate — or pursue a general election victory and then resign to initiate a special election process to replace him.

Update: Roll Call is now reporting Gallegly WILL run: “Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) has reconsidered a last-minute decision to retire and will announce Tuesday that he intends to seek re-election this year after all, a move that comes at the urging of House leaders and members of California’s GOP delegation, a knowledgeable source said late Monday.”

Thanks to EsotericallyInclinded for the heads-up.

Race tracker wiki: CA-24

I'm going to describe the recent drama unfolding in CA-24, which contains portions of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, north west of Los Angeles.

    Well, here's the play so far:

1. Rep Elton Gallegly announced withdrawl from the race for CA-24, on Mar 10,2006, at the very last `minute' for filing candidacy papers.

2. Brett Wagner, the Dem candidate from 2004,with 34% of the vote, withdrew from the race the day after being cleared and vindicated by the state party officials who were looking into `allegations' against him, this on Mar 3, 2006.

3. Mary Pallant has emailed people that she is out, not filed,quit, as of Mar 12, 2006. See hekebolo's diary on it.

4. Questions:
   

Who filed in time?
Are the two announced Democratic Party candidates filed and running?
What's the buzz?
Inquiring minds want to know!
    Read on for more facts, links, rumor, speculation and raw career ruining innuendo...
---------------------------

Mary Pallant, who was in my view the best candidate to challenge for the seat recently made open by the impending retirement of Elton Gallegly in California's 24th District, has decided not to file her candidacy and is thus withdrawing from the race.

I was a supporter of Mary Pallant's campaign, and was on her official campaign staff, though not compensated in any form.  I haven't talked to her personally about this decision, and it caught me by surprise, but she cited impending personal attacks by her primary opponent Jill Martinez and the harm it was doing to her family as the primary reason for her withdrawal.  The full text of her announcement, and more commentary by me, is below the fold.

FULL OF LINKS
    There are two new retirements and two new "forced retirements" from the House in California by Republicans, CA-22 and CA-24 along with CA-50, and possibly CA-26 and CA-42!!

Elton Gallegly (R-CA-24) , in his 11th term, has announced his retirement for health reasons.

CA-24 candidate Brett Wagner dropped out of the race against Elton Gallegly in his own style and on his own terms announcing his new quest to recall a local county supervisor  because of this Republican rancher's less than wonderful environmental record.
      Wagner quit a day after it was announced that a series of complaints that were brought against him by some local dems were totally discredited. The effort to force him out of the race started last October. Scandal or wise politics, I don't know.           This all by the way of introduction, read all the way through to the end, thanks.

   

Hi Kossacks and Kosmopolitans!

I'm new to blogging, so I'm going to give it my best shot--and hopefully it'll be the first of many more to come.

My name is Mary Pallant, and I'm vying for the Democratic nomination to challenge ten-time Republican incumbent Elton Gallegly in California's 24th Congressional district, which stretches from Ventura county up through Central California (click here for map of the district--PDF format).

I believe it's important to have a strong challenger in every district across the nation, and I believe I'm the right candidate to challenge Elton Gallegly in the 2006 midterms.

More below the fold.