I have confirmed that Marta Jorgensen is going to end her campaign for the Democratic nomination for congress. She faced an uphill battle in the primary against Tim Allison and of course after that the winner will be facing Rep. Elton Gallegly.

I have often given Marta Jorgensen a hard time for her campaigning skills but at a time like this we should remember that she did what so many of us will never do. She stepped into the arena and declared she is running for office. Marta, this TR quote goes out to you:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

I haven't seen Marie Panec or Shawn Stern campaigning much lately. So far Tim Allison is the clear favorite for the nomination.

In related news Marta Jorgensen long agoendorsed Das Williams in his race against Susan Jordan for the Democratic nomination in the 35th State Assembly District.

The Marta Jorgensen campaign sent out a press release announcing their addition of a new field director to their staff.

Click on continue reading for details.

Marta Jorgensen was at the last Simi Valley Democratic Club meeting campaigning. That was a reminder that the district is huge. It goes from Simi Valley all the way to Solvang.

I have more videos and pictures to post later this week. If you have videos of pictures from today you want posted send them to me.

Former State Assembly candidate Ferial Masry has news regarding her intentions:

Candidate for Sheriff Geoff Dean (R) worked the crowd. Here he is speaking to Ventura City Council Members Brian Brennan and Ed Summers. I expect Geoff Dean's list of endorsements will be updated with new bipartisan additions soon.

I ran into a friend of this blog Denis O'Leary of Oxnard. Denis has been a long time activist for a variety of progressive causes.

State Assembly candidate Susan Jordan gave a speech that outlined her life story and the causes she supports. Her opponent Das Williams was there too. I will post his picture later. Das, if you have pictures from today you want posted send them in.

Here are a bunch of polls related to the labor day picnic and candidates that were there.

Click here for the news story from The Star.

Marta Jorgenson is running again for the Democratic nomination in the 24th congressional district.

After she dropped and endorsed another candidate last time she entered the race again and won the nomination. Ventura County Star reporter Timm Herdt wrote an article speculating it was her choice of ballot designation that earned her the nomination. David Atkins blogged over at Calitics what he influenced that elected.

I have sent her a request to interview her on this blog.

Note: I bumped this to the top of my blog because this is the biggest annual Democratic event.

UPDATE: State Senator Fran Pavley, recently back from meeting with President Barack Obama, will be attending. Here is a photo of her meeting President Barack Obama:

Fran Pavley pushed through legislation that would have allowed California to set a different standard for new vehicles. Under President George W. Bush the EPA didn't allow the legislation to go into effect. But President Obama brought together environmentalists and automanufacturers together to agree on some changes that create higher federal standards. Her legislation started here in California but will be going into effect across the nation.

Click here for an article from Michael Collins explaining this in more detail.

The Ventura County Democratic Central Committee holds an annual Spring Fling Party to raise money for their organization and to have a good time. This event is great for aspiring candidates to meet with activists, get a quick introduction, and practice their stump speech.

There is room set out for those that want to put up a table to support their causes and candidates.

To purchase tickets, reserve space for a table, or to make sure your candidate is introduced click on continue reading for the contact information for the committee putting on the event.

This year they are also inviting all of the Democratic candidates for attorney general to speak. There will be opportunities to meet the candidates, ask them questions, and sign up to help their campaigns. I haven't yet confirmed the list of Attorney General candidates that will be there.

Candidates or elected officials I expect to be there ( beyond the attorney general candidates):

House of Representatives CA 24 ( Currently Gallegly)

Confirmed with me that they are attending:

Shawn Stern (Officially declared)
Marie Panec ( Possible candidate)
Tim Allison ( Possible candidate)

Haven't heard if she is attending:

Marta Jorgenson ( Officially declared)

Democrat Shawn Stern has a great looking website put together. I am sure more policy positions and future events will be posted in the coming months. He does know a way to drive up his google rank and to catch my attention is to post a link to this blog.

Shawn, thanks for the link on your website. Here is a return favor:

State Assembly 35th District ( Currently Pedro Nava)

Confirmed by me that they are attending:

Susan Jordan
"Absolutely. Wouldn't miss it for the world!"

Das Williams
"organizing and participating with the local Democratic Party is the best way to move forward a progressive agenda."

Others:

Ventura City Council Member Ed Summers

Any other candidates that you have heard will be attending?

Here is a recent email from Marta Jorgensen asking for help for Pine Ridge Native Americans:

Dear Friends, Political Leaders and Activists, This is the second notice I have received on the plight of the Lakota in Pine Ridge. The first was an Op-ed in the Op Ed News. We just had an election and I ran for Congress in the 24th CD to help address the forgotten and disenfranchised. Here we have the Lakota being disenfranchised again. Where do the Native Americans fit in our great new Obama universe? There is no fancy casinos in Pine Ridge. I have been there. Leave it to Bob Banner to send out an alarm. He is my hero every time I open the email. Sure the Lakota are a sovereign nation and not part of the system but for God's sake when are we going to help this reservation out of its poverty? I wish I had won this seat. Our current congressman will just roll over and go back to sleep. There is contact info in the email. Let's show we have a heart and help them out. Thanks and keep up the good work! Pass this along to your netroots. Marta Jorgensen marta@jorgensenforcongress.com

( As a test of your political geek skill, who is the woman standing next to Marta Jorgenson?)

Marta Jorgenson is having a fundraiser in Simi Valley in her effort to take on Elton Gallegly.

Click on continue reading for details.

( Rep. Gallegly talking about the surge.)

Democratic nominee to take on Rep. Elton Gallegly has some new events scheduled. Click on continue reading to see them.

I called Rep. Gallegly's office but he isn't doing any public events in the next few months. If he announces an event I will post it.

Also, his website continues not to mention the war in Iraq. Is he really afraid of Marta Jorgenson? Is the issue not important enough for him to post his position?

I would think Elton Gallegly, who is in the district often, would schedule something not behind closed doors or unannounced.

The Thousand Oaks campaign office for Hannah-Beth Jackson is this Thursday. Click on continue reading for details.

Who's going? If you want me to post a photo of the event, please email it in. I don't plan on attending as of now.

Tony Strickland's supporters are also planning to go negative early. Click on continue reading for a press release about their planned attacks on Hannah-Beth Jackson.

At the same time Tony Strickland's campaign has an ad up. Here is the youtube version of it.

And here are some photos from Tony Strickland's team out at a Ventura parade. Do you think both candidates will be in the Simi Valley days Parade about a month?

Thanks to the Tony Strickland campaign for sending me the photos to post.

The Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley is hosting a candidate's forum Wednesday night with State Senate, State Assembly, and Congressional candidates scheduled to appear. Click on continue reading for details.

I went to Donna Prenta's house for a garden party to support Hannah-Beth Jackson on Sunday. There was about 30 plus people including school board members from Simi Valley and Moorpark. I took some photos but none of them came out great. Have both candidates been contacting pretty much every school board member across Ventura County?

State Assembly candidate Carole Lutness ( D ) has a campaign update that she sent out tonight. See it by clicking on continue reading.

Her campaign against Cameron Smyth ( R- Santa Clarita ) might depend on the polling numbers for Barack Obama in the 38th Assembly District. In her update she said Democratic Party leaders will be looking at those numbers to see if a wave is forming for Barack Obama that could bring other people into office. What do you think? Campaign talk or could Barack Obama perform rather well in this area?

( Map of the 38th Assembly District. Don't click on it.)

Which candidate in this area has the best chance of pulling an upset? Marta Jorgenson, Ferial Masry, or Carole Lutness? Or do you think another candidate could be putting together a campaign that will surprise us?

( Another blog called Hannah-Beth Jackson out for having her picture taken with Firefighters in uniform and then using it on her campaign website . That other blog said that laws were broken. I wonder where the outrage will be over this photo from Elton Gallegly's campaign website? This photo or the other photo isn't a top concern for me. I understand it was just a political attack. The state budget seems much more important.)

Both Rep. Lois Capps and Rep. Elton Gallegly have not turned in their political courage test to Project Vote Smart. Call their offices and ask them to answer the questions.

Here are the phone numbers:

Elton Gallegly: (805) 497-2224
Lois Capps: (805)985-6807

Neither of them has a tough competitor thus far so it shouldn't take to much courage to return it. After you call post what their response is to your request.

Call me a cynic but if Rep. Gallegly doesn't address the Iraq war on his campaign website I doubt he is interested in answering other questions. Maybe somebody will stop by the Ventura County Fair booth and film him as they ask questions...

Is Rep. Gallegly really afraid of giving Marta Jorgenson an opening to attack him or is he just not interested in discussing Iraq?

To view the questions click here.

Click on continue reading for more details.