We’re hoping to see a race between Republican Pete McCloskey and
Democrat Jerry McNerney this November.
Not too long ago, no one was willing to challenge incumbent Congressman Richard Pombo (R-Tracy) for his District 11 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Now two other Republicans and three Democrats are vying to compete in November for the seat that Pombo has held for seven terms.
On the Democratic side, three qualified, informed, well-spoken candidates are seeking their party’s nomination. While we feel the residents of District 11 would be well served by Steve Thomas, Steve Filson or Jerry McNerney, we’re endorsing McNerney for the Democratic nomination.
McNerney stepped up to challenge Pombo when no one else would. He came remarkably close two years ago to toppling the powerful incumbent, without the support of the Democratic party machinery.
It’s due in large part to McNerney’s good showing that so many Democrats and Republicans are eager to challenge Pombo this election year. With the full support of the Democratic Party that now sees the District 11 seat as winnable, McNerney can do even better this fall.
McNerney rightly sees energy as a top issue for this district and the country. It’s not only an economic issue, it’s also a national security issue. He’s for fiscal responsibility and recognizes that health care is an issue that concerns everyone.
But perhaps his strongest asset is that he has the best shot at beating Pombo in November.
And replacing Pombo is important for District 11 and for the nation.
That’s why we’re urging Republicans to choose Pete McCloskey as their candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the November election.
The number of candidates vying to replace Pombo is one indicator of his vulnerability this year. As a member of the far right wing of the Republican Party, a close ally of the Bush-Cheney administration, and with a questionable (at best) record on environmental protection, Pombo is clearly out of step with his District 11 constituents.
McCloskey, who co-authored the Endangered Species Act that Pombo wants to revise, represents the “old-school” Republican Party – before it was co-opted by the religious right. He is a conservative in the best sense: He wants to conserve our fiscal resources, conserve our environmental resources and limit the size of the federal government.
McCloskey’s campaign is a long shot against a powerful, well-connected incumbent, but if Republicans choose McCloskey over Pombo, they’ll give Democrats, fiscal conservatives and environmentalists a tough choice in the November general election.
