Puncher's chance

Congressional candidate Jennifer Tran grabs attention with unorthodox campaign video; More on the allegation against Price; Berkeley police union joins effort to recall Price

ELECTION 2024

22 days to Election Day

12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

—PUNCHER’S CHANCE—In the East Bay, you don’t often see campaign videos like the two-minute ad released over the weekend by Jennifer Tran, a candidate in the Dem-on-Dem race against Lateefah Simon in the 12th Congressional District.

—Tran, who finished a distant second in the top two March Primary, disrobes in the video only to reveal workout gear. The pace of the ad slowly reveals that Tran is preparing to workout with a speed bag. [Click the video above]

—At the same time, Tran is aggressively calling out Simon for dodging debates, a lack of policy positions, along with an assertion that Simon was the choice of party insiders even before the race began.

—“The corporate mega-party is trying to steal our seat in D.C. while everybody is distracted with the wild news cycle,” Tran said in the ad.

—“I’m running for office to keep Lateefah Simon and all these other fake political actors from ruining The Town and the rest of the East Bay.”

—Simon’s rise to the frontrunner status following Rep. Barbara Lee’s decision to not seek re-election was extremely quick.

—What should have been one of the top races in the East Bay this election cycle, with candidates clamoring for a once-in-a-generation chance to represent the Greater East Bay in Congress, instead, was over before it started.

—Simon has essentially run her campaign like an entrenched incumbent, avoiding confrontation with her opponent, and providing little specificity about her policy positions.

—It’s unclear if Tran’s ad moves the needle much. Simon remains a prohibitive favorite to succeed Lee in Congress next month.

—GREAT SCOTT!—Check me out on the latest episode of Gotham Oakland with host, Seneca Scott. Together we breakdown Oakland’s City Council races, and Alameda County Board of Supervisors race in District 5.

—411 ON THE 510—There’s much more inside! Become an East Bay Insiders subscriber today and get full access to the inside scoop every weekday morning at 6 a.m. It’s what the insiders read.

MORE INSIDE(RS):

• COUNTY NEWS: Will the attorney general investigate DA Price?

• Court filing includes suggestion that Price subjected others to a “shakedown” for recall campaign donations

• CITY NEWS: Oakland doesn’t have money for police cruisers

• Dublin to consider purchasing 82 automated license plate readers

• CAMPAIGN FINANCE: Berkeley police union adds money to Price recall

• Fremont mayoral candidate tops $200k in recent self-funding of his campaign

• Supervisor Carson adds cash to his endorsement of Bauters.

• Campaign finance data