Marine veteran Jacquie Atkinson announced Wednesday morning that she will challenge Democratic Rep. Scott Peters for his San Diego congressional seat in 2016.
“I have served my country in combat and I am prepared to serve my country in Congress,” the Republican said in her announcement.
Peters, a former San Diego city councilman, narrowly won re-election to his second term in the 52nd Congressional District by besting Republican Carl DeMaio last year.
Peters' office issued the following statement in response to Atkinson's announcement:
“Rep. Peters was just re-elected, and the last thing San Diegans want to hear about right now is another campaign. The Congressman is focused on his doing his job: growing our economy, investing in the next generation of hi tech and biotech jobs, fighting for veterans to get the care they deserve and fixing a broken Congress."
In March, Atkinson stepped forward as a potential challenger.
She served as a Marine platoon commander and company commander in Iraq and is a Wounded Warrior alumna, according to her campaign announcement. She was honorably discharged and then took a job as a portfolio manager for the Joint Improvised Explosives Device Defeat Organization, working to reduce the impacts of improvised explosive devices.
Atkinson also serves on Mayor Kevin Faulconer's LGBT Advisory Board and is co‐chair of the San Diego County Sheriff's Advisory Board.
She is openly gay and engaged to be married to Annette Renee GrandPre. She also competes in ultramarathons and ironman competitions.
The 52nd Congressional District runs north from Coronado to La Jolla, and then east to include Carmel Valley, Scripps Ranch, Poway and Rancho Bernardo. It has almost an equal number of Republicans, Democrats and independents among registered voters.
