Today there is a lot of action going on in "The OC" — as I write this post, Assemblyman Van Tran is getting ready to announce his candidacy for the 34th State Senate District, setting the stage for quite a donnybrook between Tran and Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher – Tran being the more conservative of the two. I’m sure we’ll be writing plenty about this race as it shapes up. But Tran’s candidacy isn’t ‘news’ at this point as he has been running an ‘exploratory effort’ for weeks — but here is something new, to satiate the appetites of those who "need to know" on a minute-by-minute basis what is happening. Tran’s decision to run for the State Senate instead of for re-election leaves the 68th Assembly District up for grabs. Yesterday, fellow FR contributor Adam Probolsky talked about how Garden Grove Councilwoman Janet Nguyen was actively courting support for the seat, and how perhaps Garden Grove… Read More

Okay, this has nothing to do with California other than the fact that it is one of Rep. Darrell Issa’s opponents for Policy Chairman. But this letter to the GOP Conference from Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan is too entertaining not to share.

In the wee hours of Tuesday the 10th there were still some 1,600 ballots to count in the hotly contested +/- $2 million fight for control of San Diego’s 2nd City Council District. The spread was 500 some odd votes, with Republican Kevin Faulconer in the lead, but with no concession from Bustamonte aide-de-camp Lorena Gonzalez. The last votes have now been counted and the tally is 15,038 Faulconer v. 14,316 Gonzalez, a 722 vote victory for the reformers. Gonzalez has conceded. So I guessits officially the first GOP victory of2006 here in California.

However, because the 2nd council district was a special to fill the seat vacated by the ongoing city corruption scandals (more indictments last week), the seat will be open for election again in June. During the primary, Gonzalez indicated in writing that she would not run against whoever won the special, but her comments thereafter leave some doubt. However, Gonzalez does own a $1.2 million house in San Diego’s 7th council district, which is opening in 2008. She had just purchased the home when the 2nd district, where she rents, came open. Reliable rumors from deep in labor have it she had… Read More

We continue to follow, with interest, the race in Congress to replace Tom DeLay. Two days ago, one of the two candidates, Roy Blunt (R-Mo) announced he had the votes to take the prize. But as this entry in today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary tells, Blunt only has only about 85 "public" supporters… So let’s all root on John Shadegg, the conservative candidate out of the Republican Study Committee. Why is this important? Click here if you haven’t read FR’s endorsement of Shadegg: FROM WSJ’s POLITICAL DIARY:

Condi bows out (again) The contributors to the FlashReport can breath a sigh of relief. As you know, our primary focus on this sight is California politics. Well, a Californian running for President would pretty much make us a national website! That said, the only Californian who has seriously been discussed as a candidate for the Presidency is Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice. (As a matter of fact, Dick Morris has written an entire book on her candidacy – oops.) Dr. Rice, in a speech yesterday, made it very clear that she does NOT want to seek the Presidency, or Vice Presidency for that matter. Rice was on the faculty and in the administration at Stanford University for years before being tapped first as W’s National Security Advisor, and then as SoS. BIG BOND Cattle Call … Read More

Condi bows out (again) The contributors to the FlashReport can breath a sigh of relief. As you know, our primary focus on this sight is California politics. Well, a Californian running for President would pretty much make us a national website! That said, the only Californian who has seriously been discussed as a candidate for the Presidency is Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice. (As a matter of fact, Dick Morris has written an entire book on her candidacy – oops.) Dr. Rice, in a speech yesterday, made it very clear that she does NOT want to seek the Presidency, or Vice Presidency for that matter. Rice was on the faculty and in the administration at Stanford University for years before being tapped first as W’s National Security Advisor, and then as SoS. BIG BOND Cattle Call … Read More

While the California Border Police Ballot Measure proposed by one of my favorite members of the California Legislature, Ray Haynes (R-Temecula), fell short of the signatures to make it to the ballot, the idea is catching on in some communities as evidenced by this story in the Californian today. Doug McAllister is one of the bright spots on the non functioning Murrieta City Council.

Councilman wants to crack down on immigration law

By: LAURA MITCHELL – Staff Writer MURRIETA —- Councilman Doug McAllister is proposing that Murrieta become one of the first cities in California to have its Police Department enforce federal immigration laws.

McAllister is asking the council to allow Murrieta police to have the authority to be able to question suspects about their residency once they are detained or arrested. He’s not getting much support from the rest of the council, though. The program is already being used in a few states and being pursued in Costa Mesa, which would be the first city in California to have an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to… Read More

Darrell Issa is seeking the fifth highest spot in the House GOP leadership, Policy Chairman. The Policy Committee helps formulate policy for the Republican Majority and until June of last year, it was led by Californian Chris Cox. When President Bush nominated Cox to serve as SEC Chairman, California lost a powerful seat in the GOP leadership.

With John Shadegg resigning as Policy Chairman to seek the post of Majority Leader, Issa, a member of the committee, has thrown his hat in the ring. Here’s a look at his opposition:

Adam Putnam, Florida. Putnam, a member of the Rules Committee, and in his third term, is one of the youngest members of Congress. Putnam was elected to the state legislature in his early twenties and is one of the smartest members of the Florida delegation and highly respected. He is very close to the Speaker and aside from the occasional trade vote, rarely bucks the leadership. ACU rating: 95%.… Read More