Politics

Paint San Diego County election 2016 blue

A big win locally for Democrats was declared Friday by the chairwoman of the San Diego County Democratic Party, one day after the registrar of voters certified the November election. “San Diego County is no longer a Republican stronghold or even a swing county in California,” Chairwoman Francine Busby said in an email memo. “Signaling changing demographics and a shift in the political landscape, the San Diego…


Congressional candidates spent almost $5 million on TV ads in San Diego

Local congressional candidates and their supporters bought more than $4.7 million in broadcast TV advertising in the general election, largely in the 49th District where incumbent Republican Darrell Issa squeaked past Democratic challenger Doug Applegate for another term. The Issa and Applegate camps bought a total of almost $3.7 million in ads on San Diego’s five major broadcast channels: CBS 8, ABC 10, NBC 7, Fox 5…


Scott Peters, helped and hindered by Citizens United, decries its impact

At a Clairemont community park Congressman Scott Peters marked the sixth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling by speaking plainly about the deleterious effects it’s had on politics. “There’s way too much attention on this big money, secret money and raising money for this government to work very well,” Peters said, flanked by a handful of UC San Diego students. It’s something the San…


What? Me Worry? Believe it or not…

Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, is one of only 30 persons undergoing the highest U.S. security rating reviews for a top national security or defense department job, NBC News said Thursday evening. Two published reports said Hunter might even be named National Security Advisor. “Early endorsers, like Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), could be in line for top posts as well,” at the Department of Defense or as National Security…


Election 2016: None came running

ESCONDIDO, CA. — Voting was brisk around Escondido, San Marcos and Valley Center polling stations in Tuesday’s general election, but with a caveat: Many voters weren’t happy to be there. “I don’t know what will happen,” Do-Art  Shoe Repair Owner Lucia Capuano said of the presidential election, “but I wasn’t happy with both of them. We’ll just see how it goes.” Capuano proudly wore her “I Voted”…


Election 2016: That’s the way it was

San Diego County Registrar of Voters related these vote totals Tuesda morning for local candidates and measures. In the Carlsbad City Council race, challenger Cori Schumacher has taken a slight lead over incumbent Lorraine Wood. Schumacher has 20.15 percent (10,471) of the vote, while Wood follows closely with 20.01 percent (10,398), for a 73 vote difference. Incumbent Keith Blackburn leads by nearly 2,000 votes and…


Go time for Election 2016

San Diego County is one of only 127 in the nation, according to the Washington Post, that has voted for the winner in the last four presidential elections. Headed out to vote Tuesday? Well if so, you may end up at one of these spots. Here are some of the most unusual polling stations in San Diego County: Ranch House at Del Sur in Black…


Hunter mortgages home third time to repay $49K illegal campaign spending bill

Rep. Duncan Hunter is betting his Alpine home on being re-elected to Congress. Or at least for repaying money spent from his election campaign fund on personal expenses like Disneyland trips, hotels and travel, 16 trips to Jack-in-the-Box, online video games, and more, much more. Hunter apparently is hoping that the third home mortgage is the charm as it was reported he took out a third…


First Lady weighs in on San Diego elections

First Lady Michelle Obama is the star of new television and radio advertisements airing in San Diego. While she doesn’t mention a specific candidate or race, the ads appear aimed at getting out the vote against Rep. Darrell Issa and Rep. Duncan Hunter and ensuring that Rep. Scott Peters is reelected. The San Diego ad is being paid for by the California Democratic Party, and comes…


Hunter repays illegal campaign spending: $49K for Disneyland, video games, hotels

Rep. Duncan Hunter spent $49,000 in campaign funds on video games, a Disneyland trip and other personal expenses. Some of the expenditures from his campaign included: a $229 charge at a Disneyland gift shop; more than $2,000 on restaurants, hotels and train travel in Rome and Florence during the 2015 Thanksgiving holiday; and $1,300 spent at the Cardiff-by-the-Sea restaurant that provides lunches to Hunter’s children…