California's 36th congressional district special election, 2011

California's 36th congressional district special election, 2011

July 12, 2011

Nominee Janice Hahn Craig Huey Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 47,000 38,624 Percentage 54.9% 45.1%

Representative before election Jane Harman Democratic Elected Representative Janice Hahn Democratic

A 2011 special election in California's 36th congressional district filled the vacancy in California's 36th congressional district after the resignation of incumbent Jane Harman on February 28, 2011, who vacated her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to become head of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.^[1]

The special primary election occurred on May 17, 2011. Democrat Janice Hahn received the highest number of votes, with Republican Craig Huey taking second place. Because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary, a special general election was held on July 12, 2011, between the top two vote recipients. The runoff election was won by Janice Hahn.^[2]

Background and procedures

An election was called to fill the rest of Harman's term, which ends January 2013. An all-party primary was held on May 17. Since no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the top two primary finishers, regardless of party, met in a run-off on July 12.^[3]

The special election was held under California statutes regarding special elections and not under California's newly in force Proposition 14, which does not apply to special elections.^[4]

General Candidates

• Janice Hahn, Democratic Party
• Craig Huey, Republican Party

Primary Candidates

Democratic Party

• Dan Adler, businessman from Los Angeles^[5]
• Debra Bowen, Secretary of State of California from Marina Del Rey^[6]
• Loraine Goodwin, physician/arbitrator/teacher^[7]
• Janice Hahn, Los Angeles City Councilwoman from San Pedro^[8]
• Marcy Winograd, teacher and community organizer from Venice^[9]

Republican Party

• Kit Bobko, Hermosa Beach City Councilman and former Mayor^[10]
• Stephen Eisele, Marina del Rey businessman^[7]
• Mike Gin, Redondo Beach Mayor^[11]
• Craig Huey, Rolling Hills Estates businessman^[12]
• George Newberry, businessman^[7]
• Mike Webb, Redondo Beach City Attorney^[13]

Peace and Freedom Party

• Maria E. Montaño, teacher^[7]

Libertarian Party

• Steve Collett, certified public accountant^[7]

Independent

• Michael T. Chamness, consultant^[14]
• Katherine Pilot, longshore office clerk^[7]
• Matthew Roozee, executive at 20th Century Fox^[7]

Polling

Primary election

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Debra Bowen (D)	Mike Gin (R)	Janice Hahn (D)	Marcy Winograd (D)	Undecided
Feldman Group •	April 4–7, 2011	401	± 4.9%	20%	8%	20%	6%	24%

•  • Commissioned by the Bowen campaign

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Janice Hahn (D)	Craig Huey (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling ^+	July 8–10, 2011	619	± 3.9%	52%	44%	—	4%

• ⁺ Commissioned by Daily Kos and the SEIU

Results

Primary

California's 36th congressional district special primary, 2011[15]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Janice Hahn	15,647	24.61
	Republican	Craig Huey	14,116	22.20
	Democratic	Debra Bowen	13,407	21.09
	Democratic	Marcy Winograd	5,905	9.29
	Republican	Mike Gin	4,997	7.86
	Republican	Mike Webb	3,895	6.13
	Republican	Kit Bobko	2,296	3.61
	Libertarian	Steve Collett	896	1.41
	Republican	Stephen Eisele	788	1.24
	Democratic	Dan Adler	361	0.57
	Democratic	Loraine Goodwin	325	0.51
	Peace and Freedom	Maria E. Montano	324	0.51
	Republican	George Newberry	234	0.37
	Independent	Matthew Roozee	157	0.25
	Independent	Katherine Pilot	126	0.20
	Independent	Michael T. Chamness	108	0.17
Total votes			63,582	100.00

General

California's 36th congressional district special general, 2011[16]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Janice Hahn	47,000	54.89
	Republican	Craig Huey	38,624	45.11
Total votes			85,624	100.0
Voter turnout			25%
	Democratic hold

References

1. Cillizza, Chris (February 7, 2011). "Jane Harman to resign from Congress". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
2. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2011/by_county/CA_Page_0712.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=POLITICS
3. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html California Elections Code - Sections 10700 through 10707
4. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html California Constitution - Article 2 - Section 5
5. "Democrat Dan Adler Files to run in California 36th Congressional District Special Election". CNBC. March 30, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
6. Merl, Jean (February 15, 2011). "Debra Bowen enters race to succeed Jane Harman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
7. "United States Representative; District 36 Voter Information". League of Women Voters of California Education Fund. July 11, 2011.
8. Miller, Sean J. (February 7, 2011). "LA councilwoman enters race to succeed Rep. Harman". The Hill. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
9. "Marcy Winograd Runs for Congress 2011 Special Election". LA Progressive. February 25, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
10. Stitt, Eric Michael (March 9, 2011). "City Councilman Kit Bobko is running for Congress". The Beach Reporter. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
11. Merl, Jean (March 2, 2011). "Redondo Beach mayor joins crowded race to succeed Rep. Jane Harman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
12. Chavez, Paul (April 20, 2011). "Hahn, Huey Lead Campaign Fundraising in 36th Congressional District Race". Patch.com. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
13. Van Oot, Torey (February 17, 2011). "Republican Mike Webb to run in 36th Congressional District". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
14. "House Candidates Get Lively Reception".
15. 2011 primary election results
16. 2011 general election Results

External links

• Janice Hahn for Congress
• Craig Huey for Congress