Of all places…
2010 was a banner year for the GOP, as the grassroots grew in their direction and got them control of the House (they’ll never admit that the tea party delivered it for them…whatever). The “Conservative Tidal Wave” rolled across the country – and smacked into the Colorado River, bouncing off California.
Yeah, we know disappointment here.
For the 2012 races, it got worse. 13-term Republican Elton Gallegly retired which gave California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley a way into the newly redrawn 26th District.
In her time in the House, she’s managed to earn a Club for Growth score even lower than that of Nancy Pelosi, an “F” from the NRA, and a 100% from Planned Parenthood. In short, a California leftist.
Ventura County, California has always been a more conservative area of So Cal, so it was a relief when Navy Reserve Commander Jeff Gorell, California Assemblyman from California’s 44th State Assembly district, decided to throw his hat into the ring.
Jeff Gorell’s bio can be found here and here, but the quick version is: he’s deployed to Afghanistan twice (in 2001 and again in 2011 – the second time as a sitting Assemblyman), he was a prosecutor with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, and he teaches public policy at California Lutheran University.
The NRCC polls released in the beginning of February showed Brownley as weak:
Brownley only registers 32 percent on whether she deserves reelection. While the president received 54 percent of the vote in 2012, his disapproval is now up at 52 percent. In fact, one of Brownley’s potential opponents, Republican Jeff Gorell, is already beating her in a head-to-head match-up: 44 to 42.
Julia Brownley, CA-26 (PVI, D+4)
Generic Ballot
GOP: 45%
Democrat: 42%
Jeff Gorell/Julia Brownley Head to Head
Gorell: 44%
Brownley: 42%
Brownley Job Approval
Approve: 32%
Disapparove: 32%
Brownley Reelect
Deserves reelection: 32%
Someone else: 42%
Check and Balance
Republican check: 48%
Democrat ally: 42%
Obama Job Approval
Approve: 38%
Disapprove: 52%
Harper Polling; January 28-29, 2014; N=586; MOE +/- 4.05%
Polls of course can end up anywhere in months or even weeks, and the June 3 Primary will come up fast in a state where few citizens pay attention to anything but reality shows and 6PM soundbites, but Assemblyman Gorell has what looks like an outstanding change to toss the incumbent Democrat Brownley and return Ventura County to pink from sky blue (doubtful we’ll see red in my lifetime, but anything can happen).
There are other challengers on the GOP side that I’ve seen, but none have any traction to date.
So we have one truly viable candidate, Jeff Gorell, who fought not only crime but also in the war on terror. The incumbent fights in the war on jobs against people who need them, and votes consistently left: voted “No” on the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 (likes citizens with the IRS boot on their necks, I guess), Voted “No” on H.R. 3964, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act (which passed despite her), you can go through the list, she’s leftist.
Gorell’s Assembly voting record shows him to be right of center, but not maybe as far-right as many would like. Even the “Ecovote” people give him a 38% rating, which from scanning thru their concerns seems he gives it a more common sense approach than they’d like.
Find out more here.
Crossposted to Red State and Unified Patriots
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A TowDog 
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