Mark Desaulnier vs ???

With Tauscher announcing she’ll be leaving Congress for the State Dept, the last few days have been filled with speculation over who will replace her in California’s 10th. The three major names that have been floated so far have been Tom Torlakson, Mark Desaulnier, and Joan Buchanan. Now while I’ve been around the blogging scene for years now, I’m actually fairly new to the local political scene, but I do live in the 10th CD and thought I would offer my perspective.

I’ve met Joan Buchanan on a few occasions, even shared a beer & a burger with her once, and while some claim that she may be the least progressive of the bunch, I actually really like her. I don’t know that it’s really fair to judge her progressive cred at this point, considering that she is still so new and hasn’t had the chance to offer up much legislation or cast many votes. I do know that from the few conversations that I have had with her that she seems to support overturning of the 2/3rds rule and I’ve also got the distinct impression from speaking with her that she is not down for the spending cap at all. As a former school board member, you can also be assured that education is at the top of her priorities. Like I said, I don’t know about her progressive cred, but I don’t think she’d be an awful choice.

As far as congress is concerned though, with Tom Torlakson announcing that he will be endorsing Mark DeSaulnier for Congress, I think that makes it pretty clear that Joan Buchanan will not be running and the Democratic establishment will be lining up behind DeSaulnier to take Tauscher vacant seat.

Although I hope to soon, I’ve never met Mark DeSaulnier personally, but I have met many progressives in the area who seem to think pretty highly of him . I’ve been getting involved with the Iron Horse Dems lately, which is a causal gathering of young dems from around Contra Costa, who meet at the Pyramid Brewery in Walnut Creek and BS about local politics. At the meeting before the first meeting I attended, Mark DeSaulnier had spoken to the group and I guess he left quite an impression. I think folks around here would be interested to know that he seemed to have a keen interest in blogging and their political and organizing potential. We have some local right wingers who have started up some Contra Costa focused news and political blogs lately, and DeSaulnier was impressing upon the group the importance of combating the right with frames with micro-targeted blogging from a more progressive perspective. He also went on to speak of the groups need to organize into a more action oriented body. Granted, this is all secondhand, but the guy seems fired up and he really stoked that fire under these young progressives.

I don’t personally have any problems with Mark DeSaulnier replacing Ellen Tauscher in Congress, but there has been some talk of a more progressive candidate waiting in the wings…a Dark Horse, if you will.

There has also been some chatter about the moderate leaning demographics of the area and some concern that a more progressive candidate couldn’t win the 10th. I’m not buying it.

Here are the latest numbers from the CA Sec of State:
Registered Voters: 524,106
Registered DEM: 263,987 (50.37%)
Registered GOP: 137,953 (26.32%)

California’s 10th is going to a Dem no matter who runs. If folks think they can find a better or more progressive candidate, then now is the time. Otherwise, Mark DeSaulnier will be the next congressman from California.