Oceanside Republican Rocky Chavez’s sudden exit from the U.S. Senate race this week could actually bolster the GOP’s chances of winning a spot on the November ballot.
Californians vote on a successor to Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer first in the June 7 primary, where the top two finishers, regardless of party, go on to the Nov. 8 general election.
The seat is considered a safe win for Democrats. But a Republican could now at least make it onto the November ballot. Doing so may come down to GOP unity.
The two leading Republicans — Duf Sundheim and Tom Del Becarro — are both lawyers and also former state GOP chairmen.
“They probably should go behind closed doors and flip a coin,” said Mesa College political science professor Carl Luna. “It’s kind of like the Democrats fighting over a Senate seat. You don't want to have two reasonably strong Republicans fighting over the nomination. This is one of those times where ego and ambition could get in the way of party loyalty."
Chavez quit at the start of a debate on KOGO-AM Monday. Although he polled ahead of his Republican rivals in the race to replace Boxer, he said he could not overcome weak fundraising.
“It was a matter of economics,” Chavez told KPBS Midday Edition Tuesday.
The former Marine Corps colonel from Oceanside is choosing instead to run for re-election for his state assembly seat in the 76th District. He faces Oceanside Councilman Jerry Kern and Phil Graham, who is former Gov. Pete Wilson’s stepson.
Chavez said he’s uncertain if his withdrawal from the Senate contest boosts the odds of a Republican making it into the fall runoff against either California Attorney General Kamala Harris or Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, both Democrats.
Democrats have a 15 percent advantage over Republicans in California.
Chavez called California a pragmatic state where residents are less focused on party politics and more concerned with water, housing, schools and roads.
“The two Republicans who are running — I think they have a very traditional Republican message and I don’t know if that’s going to resonate,” Chavez said.
