The Los Angeles Times’ Christine Mai-Duc reported over the weekend that GOP Rep. Paul Cook is considering running for an open seat on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors next year instead of seeking a fifth term in California’s reliably red 8th Congressional District.
Cook, who has not yet publicly said anything about his 2020 plans, would not be the first San Bernardino County U.S. House member to try to make this type of career switch this decade. Back in 2014, Democratic Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod decided to run for a different seat on the Board of Supervisors rather than seek a second term, but she lost the nonpartisan general election 52-48 to Republican state Assemblyman Curt Hagman; Negrete McLeod sought a rematch last June, but she lost by a larger 53-47 margin.
Unlike Negrete McLeod, though, Cook would be seeking a Board of Supervisors seat that very much favors his party: District 1, which is the seat Cook is reportedly eyeing, backed Donald Trump 54-41. And while it may seem odd for Cook to think about giving up his post in the House to run for local office, this wouldn’t exactly be a huge step down. Unlike in the House, Republicans still hold the majority on the board that governs this county of 2.17 million people.
San Bernardino County supervisors also also have a comparable salary to U.S. House members, as well as a much shorter commute. Supervisors are limited to four four-year terms, though that may not be a drawback for Cook, who will be 77 on Election Day.
No matter what Cook does, the GOP should have no trouble holding his 8th Congressional District, a 55-40 Trump seat that includes northern San Bernardino County and the geographically vast, but lightly populated, Inyo and Mono Counties. Last cycle, Democrats were even locked out of the general election after Cook and far-right former state Assemblyman Tim Donnelly won the top-two primary; Cook beat Donnelly 60-40 in November.
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