State Senate President Mike McGuire has officially entered the special election for California’s 1st Congressional District, looking to fill the seat left vacant by the late Doug LaMalfa.
The Press Democrat reports while McGuire was already campaigning for the full term in November, this surprise move puts him in an immediate, uphill battle for the August 4th special election on traditionally Republican turf.
The race is already heating up, with McGuire facing criticism of “political opportunism” from fellow Democrat Audrey Denney and pushback from Republican Assemblyman James Gallagher.
All eyes are now on the June 2nd primary, which will decide who moves forward in both the special election and the race for the full two-year term.