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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!!
Why stay in the house if you've gone over the term limits to be chairman? Bill Thomas (R-CA-22) couldn't answer that question, and so is leaving after four decades of serving the Bakersfield district (Southern Central California). Elton Gallegly (R-CA-24) is leaving because of health problems, and will no longer be representing his sections of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Obviously, Duke Cunningham (R-CA-50) left his seat in 2005 because of corruption charges and was sentenced to 8 years in prison this year. Gary Miller (R-CA-42) might also be leaving because of his involvement in a $5 million land trade scandal similar to Cunningham's. David Dreier (R-CA-26), because he's been chairman of the Rules committee for longer than the term limits, and because he has ethical scandals of his own, might be retiring, just like Bill Thomas, Gary Miller, and Cunningham.
This could potentially leave open five seats in California that could possibly go to Democrats. Since 2000, incumbents win their seats by 96.5% in the house, which means an average of 16 seats a year that are contested. This year, that number is going to increase by 5 according to my predictions.
Please help out the following Democrats in their quests...
CA-22
Sharon Beery (no website)
CA-24
Jill Martinez
http://www.jillmartinez2006.com/
CA-26
Russ Warner
http://www.warnerforcongress.com
Here are the cites...
Gallegy
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=4616746
Bill Thomas
http://www.bakersfieldonline.us/news/read/2/68277
96.5% incumbency rate
http://www.cq.com
Miller/Dreier scandal
http://www.dailykos.com/...