Republicans Battle for Votes in California Senator Primary Set for June 8, 2010

San Francisco -- The stakes are very high in the United States Senate these days, and President Obama would like every Democratic incumbent senator to keep his or her Senate seat. But Republicans in California have their eye on Barbara Boxer's Senate job.

If you have been watching the news these days, you may have noticed that Obama has had some success in the U.S. Senate because of the large majority of Democrats in the Senate. Up until recently the Senate had a full 60 votes, which is often enough to pass major legislation.

But recently the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate fell to 59 votes, and things got a bit more difficult for the Senate and the president. Financial reform is still likely to pass with this kind of majority, but it will take a lot more effort than when the president had 60 votes to count on.

As many people in California know, one of the two U.S. Senate seats from California is up for grabs this year. The Senatorial seat now held by Sen. Barbara Boxer will be contested in a general election on November 2, 2010, in California. For general information on California elections, visit the California Secretary of State's website.

It is a near certainty that incumbent Barbara Boxer will breeze through the Democratic primary election on June 8, 2010, because there is no significant opposition within the Democratic party against her.

However, there is plenty of competition among Republicans for the right to face off against Barbara Boxer in November. The big fight will be between now and until early June when California voters will need to decide on the best choice for a Republican to go against Barbara Boxer.

There are three main candidates for the Republican nomination for Senate for Boxer's seat. The Republican primary on June 8 will be fought between Tom Campbell, Chuck DeVore and Carly Fiorina.

Chuck DeVore is the Republican candidate with the least amount of name recognition. However, according to the Associated Press, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee endorsed DeVore for the California Republican Senate race. It may or may not be enough for DeVore to get him to finish first, but this kind of endorsement carries a lot of weight.

If this endorsement does not make DeVore surge in the polls, the race will likely come down to a battle between Fiorina and Campbell. Fiorina is a well-known business executive from her days as CEO of Hewlett-Packard Company. But Tom Campbell, a former congressman, recently jumped to a substantial lead over Ms. Fiorina, according to the Mercury News.

What is at stake in the Republican primary? Well, it will determine the candidate who will face Barbara Boxer in November and Republicans will surely want a candidate with big name recognition and lots of momentum. Voters in California will want someone who can make sure that the Senator who wins in November will do what is best for California and what is best is jobs and more jobs.

References

"Campbell jumps to big lead in Senate contest, poll shows," Mike Zapler, Mercury News, April 22, 2010.

"Huckabee backs DeVore in Calif. GOP Senate primary," The Associated Press/ Mercury News, April 28, 2010.

Carly Fiorina, carlyforca.com

California Secretary of State, Official June 8, 2010 Elections Website

Tom Campbell, Campbell.org

Chuck DeVore, ChuckDeVore.com