‘Career Politician’ Attacks Emerge at CA14 Candidate Forum
With Election Day nearing, challengers in CA14 race sharpened contrasts around affordability and political ambition during a restrained League of Women Voters forum; Oakland city administrator is out
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Vol. VI, No. 1,270
🗓️15 days to June Primary
—A Saturday morning candidate forum for the East Bay’s open 14th Congressional District seat lacked the fireworks, but subtle lines of attack nonetheless emerged as several candidates took indirect aim at state Sen. Aisha Wahab and BART Boardmember Melissa Hernandez over their years in elected office.
The League of Women Voters forum included explicit rules barring candidates from attacking one another. Yet repeated references to “career politicians” were allowed to pass without intervention, becoming one of the dominant themes of the event with two weeks before the June 2 primary.
The attacks reflected the growing contours of a race in which many political observers increasingly believe Wahab is likely to finish in the top two.
Hernandez is also viewed by many insiders as a strong contender to advance to the November general election, although Democratic newcomer Rakhi Israni appears to be mounting a significant late push.
Israni repeatedly framed herself as an outsider focused on affordability issues, despite self-funding roughly $1.2 million of her campaign.
—“I’m not running to start a career in politics,” Israni said. “It’s not about the next rung in the political ladder.”
Democrat Carin Elam struck a similar tone, suggesting some “career politicians” communicate with constituents only when they are seeking re-election.
Wendy Huang, one of two Republicans in the nine-person primary, focused heavily on rising grocery and healthcare costs while pitching himself as someone engaged directly with residents instead of cultivating a public image online.
“I just don’t take pictures and put them on Facebook,” Huang said, in remarks that appeared aimed at Hernandez, whose social media presence frequently highlights appearances with elected officials, and Wahab, whose legislative and campaign activities are each extensively chronicled online.
—The forum unfolded as Alameda County election officials prepare to mail vote-by-mail ballots this week for the June 16 special primary election to fill the remainder of former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s term through December.
The special election field largely mirrors the June 2 regular primary and includes 11 candidates, making it unlikely any contender will secure the outright majority needed to avoid an Aug. 18 runoff between the top two finishers.
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