Democratic Party California

The Assembly's majority Democrats voted Wednesday in support of Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) as the next speaker of the lower house, as they were expected to do. Although the Democrats control enough Assembly votes to elect a speaker, formal installation of Villaraigosa awaits a vote of the full house, possibly today. Other contenders withdrew days ago.

The late-hour jockeying for a spot in California's upcoming governor's race continued Wednesday with Rep. Jane Harman, a wealthy and moderate Los Angeles Democrat, indicating through her aides that she is exploring a bid. Harman, who is said to have a considerable fortune of her own that she could spend in a statewide race, was one of the key Democrats urging U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein to enter the race.

As a rising star in the Democratic Party in Orange County, former Assemblyman Tom Umberg developed a can-do attitude and learned to be politically adept in dealing with the Republican majority in the county. His experience as a former military and federal prosecutor, as well as his political savvy and connections, helped him land a post earlier this year in the Clinton administration as a top official in the U.S. drug czar's office. Now, Gov.

Is the election of Gray Davis as governor ominous for business? Or potentially positive? The answer is probably more positive than many business people anticipate. With a Democratic governor and Legislature in control in Sacramento for the first time in 16 years, the business community fears a return of anti-business sentiment in state government. Davis' closeness to labor unions, environmental groups and trial lawyers arouses particular concern. But not all business people hold such views.

With few exceptions, Tuesday's Democratic landslide in California seeped into the most hotly contested local legislative and congressional races, including the open Long Beach/Palos Verdes 54th Assembly District seat. The district moved from the Republican column into Democrats' hands in a cliffhanger that the losing camp reluctantly conceded Wednesday. By the time the last of the regular ballots were counted early in the morning, Long Beach Councilman Alan Lowenthal had emerged with a 49.

There they were--four candidates from two parties vying for one office. In this first real glimpse at the new political world created by this year's blanket primary, one part Republican politics was mixed with three parts Democratic as Dan Lungren, the lone GOP entry, faced a trio of rivals--businessman Al Checchi, U.S. Rep. Jane Harman and Lt. Gov. Gray Davis. Was it a fair fight? Since this has never been done before in California, political observers were not sure what to expect.

Republican Dan Lungren is shouting into the mike--again--and beseeching the party faithful to listen up: "Think of Gray Davis in the governor's chair and Democrats holding control of both houses of the Legislature. It's a scary thought, because the last time that happened Jerry Brown was sitting in that chair and at his right hand was none other than Gray Davis. "We got one of the worst gerrymanders in the history of California." There are some low-level hisses at the mention of the enemy.

Hoping to take control of the House of Representatives, Democrats have targeted what they believe are vulnerable Republican incumbents. Three are in California: * Republican Incumbent Rep. James E. Rogan (Glendale) * Rep. Steven T. Kuykendall (Rancho Palos Verdes) * Rep. Brian P. Bilbray (San Diego) * Democratic Opponent State Sen.

Proclaiming that "Californians came through like champs," Gov. Gray Davis on Wednesday touted better-than-passing grades from voters on his midterm election tests--even as some of his fellow Democrats groused that he offered them little help. The governor claimed credit for victories on four ballot initiatives this year, most prominently Proposition 39, which will allow voters to approve local school construction bonds by a 55% tally rather than the previous two-thirds majority.

The fate of the republic is not at stake in Tuesday's election--despite all the spin--but the future of the Republican Party in California may well be. At least for this decade. We should know by Wednesday morning whether the California GOP has staunched the bleeding and begun to fight back--or whether the Democratic Party has become even more dominant. Already, Democrats dominate politics in California as they do in only one other state: Hawaii.